It was an ordinary afternoon in the Hidden Leaf Village, with the gentle breeze swaying the leaves of the trees and the distant sound of ninjas training. However, for Kakashi Hatake, something felt different. He always preferred to stay in his corner, watching life pass by without getting too involved, but his thoughts today were far from the usual tranquility. He found himself recalling something, or rather, someone.

You had always been a constant presence in his thoughts, even when he tried to push you away. Since childhood, it had been impossible not to notice you. While he hid his feelings behind a mask of indifference, his eyes could never conceal the spark you ignited within him.

The first time you entered his life was one of those simple moments, almost insignificant to most, but for him, it became a vivid memory. It was during a training session at the Ninja Academy, when your gazes crossed for the first time. It wasn’t anything grand or dramatic, but for Kakashi, it felt like time stood still. Your smile was genuine, and somehow, the world around him faded away for a moment.

Now, many years later, Kakashi no longer knew how to deal with these feelings. You had become someone important to him in a way he couldn’t express. Every time you met, he felt a pang in his chest, a desire to be closer, but his pride and fear of opening up kept him at a distance.

On a mission day, you were on the same team as him. The tension in the air between the two of you was palpable, but you seemed unaware of what was happening with him. Your usual demeanor of indifference, your mysterious nature, and at the same time, the concern he felt for you, always so well hidden.

When the mission ended and you were back in the village, Kakashi found himself watching you as you walked, your silhouette framed against the orange sky of the evening. You turned your head, and for a moment, your eyes met.