Chapter 4
(Y/N) wasn’t sure what she’d do when she got to Neji’s home.
As she drove down a fairly empty road, save the select cars passing in the opposite lane, all (Y/N) could think about was him.
Her thoughts weren’t even fruitful or really meaningful. She just had him on her mind.
All she really knew was that she was worried for him and just wanted to be there for him.
With her (E/C) colored eyes on the road ahead of her, (Y/N) quietly admired the sun that was almost completely covered by the horizon and the indigo purple color that melted into the sky as the day finally turned into night.
From the illumination of her car’s headlights, the woman could see Neji sitting on the outdoor couch on his porch as she pulled her car into his driveway. She frowned as she took in his appearance. He sat slumped, still in the same clothes he wore at school that morning. His usually silky hair was up in a messily made bun and even from where she sat in the driver’s seat, she could see the stress and exhaustion laced under his pale eyes. His chin was tucked tightly against his chest as he scrolled through his phone and (Y/N) could swear she had never seen anyone look so sad.
Neji perked up at the sound of the car door opening, finally registering that his friend had arrived.
When his eyes flickered over to (Y/N’s) form, he was reluctant to admit that his breath caught for a moment.
The man could tell that his friend was tired herself and basically ready for an early night. There she stood, leaning against her open car door with a soft smile to greet him. (Y/N) wore a pair of fuzzy plaid sweats with a form-fitting black tank top and her hair was pulled up and out of her face. The baby hairs on her hairline were covered by a soft-looking headband with a bow.
Neji, despite his underlying thoughts regarding his uncle, had to smile as he looked at the woman before him. Whether she was dressed up or dressed like a “bum”, as she herself called some of her looks when she felt too tired to dress nice, Neji couldn’t see her as less than beautiful no matter what she wore.
Standing, he could feel all his muscles and bones ache like he was a man reaching his fifties, rather than a young man in his twenties.
The Hyuuga waved at her.
“Hi.” he greeted a bit awkwardly, stepping down the porch stairs to meet his friend.
(Y/N’s) smile grew wider as she almost skipped toward him, opening her arms out to him.
“Hey.” she greeted back, her voice gentle and full of concern.
Neji thought for a moment as he looked at her open arms.
She was offering him a hug, and as she did, the man felt his brain short circuit.
Touch was, well, a touchy subject for Neji.
The idea of physical affection never really came up in the Hyuuga household, even when Neji’s father was alive. Coming from an exceedingly conservative and traditional family, ideas that came with physical touch were danced around or ignored.
When it came to the topic of touch, the man had to learn from his classmates as a boy regarding the dos and don’ts of affection.
Because physical affection was so foreign to him, as a boy he turned down or blatantly ignored offers of hugs, head pats, and other gestures. Even now as an adult, he still had some troubles from being too apprehensive and rigid when confronted by physical touch.
While coming to realize he actually enjoyed physical touch and was neglected from it for the majority of his youth, sometimes he still needed a moment if someone surprised hugged him or gave him a supportive slap on the back. The latter mostly coming from Naruto. His opinion of the touch of others was silent but appreciative because it made him feel appreciated and important.
However, the touch he seemed to crave the most was from (Y/N).
She liked to offer others passing grazes, gentle pats, rubs, and hugs. Even holding someone by the hand, even if it was just their pinky, brought her comfort. When Neji was brought into her realm of affection from their friendship, he honestly thought he might die.
Feeling the pads of her fingers on the top of his hands, or the comfort of her braiding his hair after she asks always made him melt.
Neji consciously held himself back as he accepted her hug, a whirlpool of emotions and feelings flooding through his system from her warmth. It was as if his breath was stolen from him the moment she locked her soft arms around his back and rested her cheek against his clothed chest.
The man held back a sigh as the smell of her perfume and soap invaded his senses.
He could really just stay in her arms. Stay there and forget everything.
(Y/N) gave her friend a squeeze before she pulled away, a light flush dusted against the apples of her cheeks. She rested her palms against his arms as she admired him closely.
Neji swallowed thickly, feeling nerves rush through him as her fingers tucked back loose strands of dark hair from his face.
“It’s good to see you. I know you’re not okay, but, how are you feeling?” She asked.
Neji huffed out a chuckle through his nose. The woman raised her hands from his arms giggling.
“It was a silly question, but I thought I’d ask.” She explained. Neji shook his head.
“No, please. I’m…I’m glad that you’re here.” The man admitted, albeit shyly.
(Y/N) fought the urge to giggle at his darting eyes and warmed cheeks as she gently tugged him by the arm to the car.
“I’m glad I’m here too. Now come on!” The woman squealed, her excitement spiking for a moment.
Neji looked confused.
“Where are we going?” He asked as he was urged to the passenger side of the car. (Y/N) let out a laugh, turning to him with a brow raised.
“Haven’t you ever gone on a late-night drive?”
Neji felt his face grow hotter.
“I mean I have but where are we going? What’s our destination?”
The woman across the car paused for a moment, her face focused in contemplation before she broke out in a smile again.
“Neji…a late-night drive is different from just driving somewhere late at night. We can drive anywhere as long as we want…just so you can get away from your stress for a bit,” (Y/N) explained carefully, having to remind herself that Neji never really had opportunities to be young and have fun as she had. Reaching out her hand over the hood of her car, she felt her heart skip a beat when the man tentatively took her hand in his.
“...This can give you the chance to talk…to vent, ya know?”
With a hesitant nod, Neji entered the vehicle with his friend.
After about ten minutes of the pair driving, Neji had finally given (Y/N) the rundown of his uncle’s most recent bullshittery.
Neji glanced over with a soft smile after hearing (Y/N) let out a scoff of disbelief, her eyes still trained on the road in front of her.
“Nej, your uncle always pisses me off when you talk about him. How the hell do you live with him?” She grunted, reaching one hand to crank the volume knob on the radio up.
The Hyuuga glanced at the radio in thought, the sound of a shredding electric guitar and a screaming vocalist settled on the back burner of his mind. When he snuck a glance at (Y/N) he had to chuckle.
“Your music tastes differ a lot from your personality.”
“I’m a fan of all genres,” The woman explained with a grin, pulling into a drive-thru coffeehouse. “And you didn’t answer my question.”
Neji hummed.
“Right, right. Well, it isn’t easy, that's for sure–wait why are we here?” The man questioned as the car pulled up to the window of the coffee shop. (Y/N) turned to him.
“Coffee. You want some?”
“It’s literally evening.”
“They have Italian sodas.”
The man rolled his head over to face the woman beside him once again, his expression unamused.
“I thought late-night drives had no destination,” Neji murmured, playful tones laced within every word he uttered. When he felt his counterpart lightly smack him on the arm he had to smirk.
“Aha-aha-aha, very funny–now order or you’re not getting anything!”
After some bickering over who was paying what, there Neji sat on the passenger side, grasping a scalding paper cup of coffee, with sugar, trying not to drop it.
(Y/N) had her own drink of her fancy in the cupholder next to her as she continued their drive. As time bled on, the scenery continued to change, and Neji realized there were more and more areas of the scenery he just couldn’t recognize.
When the tall buildings and town lights began to fade, leaving the moonlight and stars to guide their way, the man allowed his mind to go blank as he stared out the window. The road was passing a massive lake surrounded by shrubs, greenery, and trees. Even though it was dark, the lake looked clean and calm, and with the reflection of the moonlight on its surface, for a moment, he forgot about all his stresses and worries.
The music had died down from earlier to a gentle hum of one song or another. The song that played at the coffee shop sounded angry and full of emotion. But the one playing now…well, it was calm and soft. Just like how he felt at that moment with (Y/N).
The car slowed to a halt as (Y/N) parked in a clearing near the lake. Taking a sip of her beverage, she turned to her friend.
Even if it was little, the moon shined pleasantly against Neji’s skin as he stared out the window. In her eyes, she was sure she hadn’t seen Neji so peaceful before this moment.
She knew that she had feelings for Neji and she was willing to at least admit that to herself. While she wanted nothing more but to be closer to him, she knew that he was a very stressed man with too many expectations for himself. She could tell that from their very first meeting. Seeing how much anxiety and stress his family gave him broke her heart.
If she were to tell him how she felt, what would that do to his mountain of worries? She wasn’t sure.
Until he was ready, she’d just be the best friend she could be for him.
“Neji, who are you going to school for?” (Y/N) asked in the middle of the silence between them.
The man turned to look at her, at first feeling confused with the question given to him.
Who am I going to school for? What's that supposed to mean?
“I’m sorry (Y/N), but I don’t understand your question.” He replied carefully. His coffee, while still hot was much cooler now from how it felt against his palms. When he went to take a sip, the sweet taste that had once surprised him wasn’t surprising anymore. He rather enjoyed it.
(Y/N) unbuckled her seatbelt to fully twist her body to face him.
“I’m asking you if there is someone that compels you to go to school? Some people go for their parents…others go for themselves…but what about you?” The woman explained, reaching her hand out to gently grasp the man’s arm. (Y/N) frowned.
"Nej please...you get so stressed out and I worry for you. I just want to remind you that your education ultimately is about you. No one else." The woman murmured, running the pad of her thumb against his forearm.
Neji let out a sigh.
He has always tried to live up to his family's expectations. He has studied hard for a degree that his family chose for him. He has always tried to be perfect for them. When (Y/N) asked him the question, he really didn't know what to say. He looked down at the coffee cup he held with both of his hands. For a drink that was supposed to be bitter, the sugar in it made it so sweet.
Did (Y/N's) lips taste sweet like that too?
Did he have the courage to find that out for himself?
The man looked back up at the woman before him, his mind racing. Even with her question, all he could think about was her.
She was so close, and Neji was okay with that. Quietly, the man set his cup down.
Without a thought, the man’s body slowly moved closer, and at that moment, he couldn’t stop staring into her eyes. Her orbs were as comforting as the lake outside. Calm and serene. He heard her mouth release a gasp as he was close enough to feel the radiance of her body heat, the smell of her perfume and soap. The same smells as when he hugged her earlier. (Y/N) shivered, licking the plump of her bottom lip as his nose bumped against her cheek.
“N-Neji…” She whispered.
(Y/N) felt her heart skip a beat when he felt his arms wrap around her waist as his chin turned to rest on her shoulder. She could feel how fast his heart was beating. Her arms wrapped around his back on instinct, as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“I don’t know anymore (Y/N),” He admitted, his voice muffled as he spoke, “But I’m hoping to find that out one day.”