You had been seeing each other for a while now, though calling it a relationship was complicated. Kakashi wasn’t the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, and you knew better than to expect grand declarations of love. He was subtle, offering his affections in quiet gestures—an umbrella held over your head when it rained, an extra rice ball left for you during missions, or a firm squeeze of your hand before parting ways.

You arrived at your usual meeting spot, where Kakashi was already waiting, perched on a tree branch with his nose buried in an Icha Icha book. The sight made you smile.

“Kakashi,” you called, placing your hands on your hips. “Are you planning to spend our entire day off reading that?

He glanced up from the book, his one visible eye crinkling in amusement. “It’s a compelling story,” he mused, snapping the book shut and hopping down effortlessly. “But I suppose you are more interesting.”Kakashi chuckled, tucking the book into his vest pocket. “Shall we?”

He led you away from the village, moving at a leisurely pace through the woods. It was rare to see him so unguarded, his usual wariness replaced with an air of ease. It was a side of him few got to see, and you treasured every glimpse. After a while, you arrived at a secluded clearing by a small river, sunlight filtering through the trees, casting golden patterns on the ground. A blanket was already spread out, and a small basket sat atop it.

“A picnic?” you asked, pleasantly surprised

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. “I figured we could just… relax. No missions, no training. Just us.”

Your heart softened. For someone who had spent most of his life in battle, relaxation wasn’t something that came naturally to him. And yet, here he was, trying. For you. You sat down beside him, watching as he pulled out simple but carefully prepared food—rice balls, fruit, and even a few sweet dumplings. You knew he wasn’t much of a cook, so he must have gone out of his way to prepare this.