At four in the afternoon, the ninja school let them out.
As usual, Kakashi was waiting for Kyomu and the others at the school gate.
But today was strange. He felt as if he had been seen through. Whether walking together or alone, the glances from the girls leaving the school gate were peculiar.
Unable to resist, he touched the lower half of his face covered by his mask, making sure there were no holes. Only then did Kakashi breathe a sigh of relief.
However, even so, his intuition told him that things were not simple.
Until...
"Kakashi." A girl gathered her courage and approached. "Do you... have time today?"
"No."
"Just a little bit." The girl persisted with a sad expression.
Kakashi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he impatiently stood on his tiptoes, scanning the direction of the ninja school, trying to spot Kyomu and the others in the crowd.
Unfortunately, Kakashi's thoughts were in vain.
"What is it?" Kakashi could only respond coldly.
"Could you sign this drawing for me?" The girl's eyes were hopeful as she unfolded neatly folded drawing paper and handed it to Kakashi.
When Kakashi saw the half-body portrait on the paper, his eyes widened with a sense of absurdity engulfing him.
How could this be?!
How could he look so goofy, and in such a cool pose? He couldn't pull off something like this even if he tried.
Who, on earth, did this?!
The next moment, out of the corner of his eye, Kyomu's figure suddenly appeared, and Kakashi instantly had an answer and a reason to refuse the girl.
"The person I'm waiting for is coming. No time."
"It's just a signature, won't take much of your time." The girl persisted, "Besides, you're waiting for Kyomu, right? You're both boys, that's not a reason..."
With a vein throbbing on his forehead, Kakashi looked at the girl and firmly refused again, "I don't want to. That's final, okay?"
Leaving behind those words, Kakashi bypassed the girl and headed straight for Kyomu, who was chatting with Obito and Rin.
Watching Kakashi's retreating figure, the girl's eyes filled with disappointment, tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.
She liked him so much, she even spent half a month's pocket money to buy this drawing, but he didn't want to leave his name on it.
Unfortunately, Kakashi wasn't going down the path of a celebrity, and he was currently quite angry, striding forward with determination.
"Kyomu!"
A dozen steps away, Kyomu heard Kakashi's shout and looked up in surprise. "You don't have to shout, I can hear you."
"Do you think you can fool me?" Kakashi approached Kyomu, the two almost bumping shoulders, "Tell me, what good deed did you do today!"
Seeing Kakashi so close and the dead fish eyes facing him, Kyomu understood.
"Actually, wearing a mask can dampen any extra noise from breathing. You're not out of breath."
With just a sentence, the imposing aura that Kakashi had built up vanished, and he couldn't help but step back and turn his head away.
"Don't distract me. You promised not to reveal my appearance to anyone."
"I didn't tell anyone." Kyomu shrugged.
"Then what's with the portrait they have?" Kakashi clenched his fists, "And... such a goofy expression and cool pose, how could I possibly do that!"
"Next time, I'll draw your dead fish eyes accurately."
Kyomu didn't have that consciousness at all. Kakashi's emotions were stirred up again, "Kyomu! Our friendship is over, you're not trustworthy!"
"I really didn't tell anyone, it's just that I lost the drawing I made before."
"If that's the case, Kyomu, you owe me my pocket money back." Rin added a critical remark.
"Huh?!" Obito's expression became subtle, "Rin, did you also buy Kakashi's portrait?"
"Yeah, just out of curiosity..." Rin explained, "But Kakashi really looks cute, quite likable."
Is this a confession?
Obito was dumbfounded, but Kakashi wasn't thinking about that right now; he felt his face was utterly lost.
Is "cute" an adjective that should be used for boys?
"Kyomu, look what you've done!"
"I'll treat you to barbecue, how about it?" Kyomu stepped forward, putting his arm around Kakashi's shoulder, "All you can eat, unlimited juice, and... don't be so stingy."
"Let go of me!"
"Nope." Kyomu hugged tighter, "There are so many people watching, cooperate a little."
"What you did is unforgivable!" Kakashi struggled frantically, but Kyomu's strength made him secretly alarmed.
Just the day before yesterday, when the two sparred, Kyomu's strength was already considerable, but today, compared to the day before yesterday, his strength had increased a lot.
This growth rate seemed a bit faster, changing every day?
Standing behind the two, Obito was still confused, occasionally glancing at Rin, who was glowing, he really wanted to ask if Rin liked Kakashi.
"Kyomu, don't make me resort to violence!" Kakashi threatened.
"Let's go eat barbecue first, eat to our heart's content, and then we'll settle this."
"Tell me, how much money did you make?" Kakashi stopped struggling, staring at Kyomu with dead fish eyes.
"Not much, just enough to treat you guys to a barbecue."
"Tch, you're just an opportunistic guy." Kakashi shook his head, muttering, "You're making a profit off me for no reason."
"Don't talk nonsense, that's the result of my hard work, alright?" Kyomu patted Kakashi's shoulder, slowly leaning towards his ear, "Kakashi, do you want a share of the profits?"
"What are you up to?!"
"Now that others already know what you look like, I might as well sell a couple more, right?"
"You wish!" Kakashi punched Kyomu's side, "No more selling, no more drawing!"
Hiss!
Kyomu sucked in a breath of cold air, "You really mean it, Kakashi!"
"Hmph!"
Kakashi coldly responded and took the opportunity to break free from Kyomu's grip, continuing to walk forward.
Kyomu caught up, "Kakashi, my bad this time, how about we call it even over barbecue?"
Seeing Kyomu finally give in, Kakashi felt much better, but forgiving so quickly would obviously lose face.
Leaving Kyomu hanging for three to five seconds, "I'll pick the place, and I'll decide how we're going to spar today."
"As you wish."
Kyomu nodded repeatedly, and the last bit of tension in Kakashi's heart dissipated.
Watching the two of them walking side by side again, joking and laughing, Rin couldn't help but feel envious.
"Do boys always handle conflicts between each other so gracefully, with tensions resolved so quickly?"
"In most cases, yes, but it depends on the individuals." Obito added, "Besides, Kyomu is really easy to get along with. Even if he occasionally... teases a bit, it doesn't affect anything."
"That's true. It's very comfortable to be around Kyomu." Rin nodded.
"What about Kakashi, in your opinion?" Obito blurted out subconsciously.
"I think he's fine."
"But the way you looked at Kakashi just now..."
"Where did I have any extra glances!" Rin took hold of Obito's hand, "Let's go, they're both far away now."
Obito was stunned, but as he caught up with Rin's steps, a smile returned to his face.
As long as Rin doesn't like Kakashi or Kyomu, then it's good.
He could continue to like her again.
(End of Chapter)