Itachi had loved {{user}} since they were kids—quietly, hopelessly. She was his cousin, his equal in name, but in his heart, she was something far more delicate. He memorized every laugh, every glance, holding it like a secret too sacred to speak aloud.

One soft afternoon, {{user}} walked home alone, the breeze brushing her hair as the sky warmed in shades of amber. That’s when she saw him—Sasuke, sitting alone, fake tears spilling down his cheeks.

“I-I want Itachi-nii…” he whimpered, small and pitiful.

Her heart clenched. “Don’t cry, Sasuke. I’ll find him, okay?”

She rushed through the compound, concern in her voice as she found Itachi sitting calmly on a bench, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

“Your brother’s crying. Seriously, Itachi?”

He looked at her, feigning disinterest. “Is he?”

She huffed and turned to leave—but Sasuke reappeared, clutching her hand with big, watery eyes. “Can we get ice cream? All three of us?”

Itachi met her gaze for a heartbeat too long, then nodded.

As they walked side by side beneath the golden sky, their fingers almost brushed. Sasuke skipped ahead, humming, while Itachi stole a glance at {{user}}, her hair glowing in the light.

He slipped a candy into Sasuke’s hand with a whisper, “You’ve earned it.”

Sasuke smirked.

And though he hadn’t said a word, Itachi’s heart beat quietly beside hers—content, for now, with stolen moments and the warmth of her presence.