[She's forced to think about how it occurred and she realized that she didn't actually invite him.]

Forgive me, Okumura-kun. I...I was so busy that I just assumed that I had invited you and that you did not wish to attend.

It is completely my fault that you were unaware of the party, Okumura-kun. I...I am free if you would like to do something. My afternoon practice was cancelled due to the rain.

I cannot speak for your housemates. My friends, however, would never turn down a free meal, so long as they are contacted to join us.

H-however, if you do not think that we would be able to gather enough people for it to be enjoyable, I would be open to other plans.

If...If you do not mind, I would rather hold off on my friends until there is a set date, Okumura-kun. It would be rude otherwise.

[Besides, she wasn't sure how she would handle any looks from Ino or Sakura if they saw her with another boy that wasn't from Konoha, and especially if it wasn't Naruto. No, she wanted to be able to be friends with Rin without any pressure from her well-meaning friends.]

N-no, but I would not be adverse to learning how to do so...If...if it would not be an inconvenience for you to teach me.

[Hinata's not confusing. She's seriously trying here, Rin!]

[Well, this would give her opportunity to wear that swimsuit she got for Masaomi's birthday again and even use it this time.]

Today?

N-no. I just... It is nothing. When should I meet you at the Recreation Center? [Yep, she sure is checking the map of the village to make sure she knows where to go.]

O-of course. [She frowns at his questionable wording, but she's not sure if he meant it that way or not. Probably not, after their one conversation. Hinata did have some ability to gauge people correctly, despite what her father thought.]

Would twenty minutes be sufficient time for you to get there? [She's unsure where his house is, but twenty minutes was more than enough for her to go to the recreation centre, even on a bad day.]

Then I will see you there, Okumura-kun!

[She closed the journal and brushed out her hair until it was shiny and straight. Then, she made sure that her clothes were clean before running out the door to the recreation center.

When Rin got there, he would see her standing in a corner of the television room with her hands folding in front of her as she looked around it with a sort of deer-in-the-headlights expression.]

[She startles at the voice calling out to her and steps out from the corner she'd been standing in.

He looks less formal than when they'd met at the speed dating event, but he seems more comfortable. Which is more important to her in the long run.]

Y-yes, I am right here, Okumura-kun.

[As she watches him, she is reminded of Akamaru for some reason. It's comforting for her and she's able to relax a little.]

I last had popsicle...with my teammates months ago. I would love to have one with you.

[She smiles at his exuberance. She is reminded of another boy who acts like this, but she isn't crass enough to say aloud that he's behaving like Naruto-kun.

Carefully, she unwraps her own with a quiet thanks before she slowly eats it, again looking around the recreation room.]

There are...quite a few things here.

[She tries to take in the room with the eyes of a person who was semi-used to using the various items in the room and nodded a bit before moving over to the large screen that was off and reflected her image back at her.]

I will follow your lead then.