Falling in Love with Kakashi

"The blurb is in first person; the story is in third person"

I thought I'd be single forever. I'd never been interested in men, but then I fell in love.

My boyfriend, Hatake Kakashi, is the son of Uncle Sakumo, who lives next door to my family. He's also my childhood friend. Over the years, from little kids to grown adults, we've witnessed each other's brightest and most embarrassing moments.

We even know every embarrassing story from each other's childhoods.

You'd think that after we started dating, we'd know each other too well for anything to feel new.

But... you have no idea. Kakashi is so different now that we're dating.

He blushes, but doesn't run away. Even when I tease him, he doesn't get mad.

He's nothing like the old him, always so composed and impossible to read.

Then it dawned on me.

Kakashi is a closet romantic.

After we became a couple, I loved taking Kakashi by the hand and walking with him from one end of Konoha to the other.

At first, he would blush like he was about to explode under the gaze of friends and acquaintances. He was so obviously embarrassed that, after enjoying his discomfort for a while, I decided to let him off the hook. But the moment I loosened my grip, he clasped my hand tightly in return.

His eyes, which were always nearly shut, shifted toward me. The silent question in them was clear: "What's wrong?"

I blinked.

I got it now. Kakashi really is a closet romantic.

He doesn't say it, but he actually loves it, doesn't he?

I knew he'd been stubborn, sharp-tongued, and proud as a child, but I never expected him to grow into such a sly adult.

And he likes reading steamy books. I have no idea when he picked up that habit.

Oh well, I'll let him have it.

After I don't know how many walks through Konoha holding his hand, Kakashi finally stopped blushing.

Instead, he became completely shameless. Even in front of his juniors and students, he acted perfectly at ease, as if the hand he was holding wasn't mine, but another copy of Make-Out Paradise.

I was a little proud of him, and a little annoyed.

Oh well, then I'd find another way to tease him. I made up my mind, delighted.

After reading every one of his favorite steamy books, I found the perfect way to get back at him.

"Don't come over here while quoting lines from Make-Out Paradise! I-I don't have a roleplay fetish!"

Seeing Kakashi panic again, I was finally satisfied.

Well, what can I say? The way he looked away and tried to act calm made me want to leave him in complete disarray.

*

For years, Kakashi had kept his eyes on Yuzuki.

Yuzuki, who always said exactly what she thought, no matter whom she might offend.

Yuzuki, who scorned petty scheming and couldn't care less about the power struggles between the village and the ninja clans.

Yuzuki, who always looked after those around her, no matter how busy she was, hiding her kindness beneath a cool exterior.

Yuzuki, who had always been so reliable, the person whose presence made him feel safe.

Yuzuki, who was always surrounded by subordinates and admirers, nothing like the loner she'd been as a child.

Yuzuki, who had gone from an unknown little girl to the renowned miracle doctor of the Land of Fire, never caring about titles or money, or any other worldly possessions.

His feelings were hidden in every exchanged glance, in the anticipation of seeing her after returning from a mission, and in the cherry blossoms the spring breeze scattered across her hair... By the time he realized, "Oh, I love her," Kakashi had already been silently in love with her for a very long time.

Of course he'd thought about confessing, but because he cared too much and feared he wouldn't be able to bear being rejected, Kakashi kept holding back.

If confessing meant losing his place by her side, Kakashi would rather watch her quietly and say nothing.

Just protecting her from behind made Kakashi happy.

Content warnings:

1. Just a sweet little romance. Any OOC is on me; the characters belong to AB.

2. This Kakashi has a different past from the original, so his personality is different.

3. This is self-indulgent fanfiction. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please stop reading right away.

Theme: Everyday life dating Kakashi