Chapter Text
It’s easier to be entranced by the shifting shadows that the passing clouds cast next to him than to wallow in his thoughts right now. Kakashi can’t even concentrate on his book, having long set it down, somewhere above his head. The grass beneath him is enticingly warm; all he wants is to curl up and go to sleep right there, right by the river, never mind what pedestrians and cyclists passing by are going to think. Go to sleep, he wishes, and then preferably never wake up again…
Just as he closes his eyes, the echoing sound of his own name forces him to turn. “Oi! Kakashi!” Obito’s loud voice shouts, and alongside it, Rin’s concerned, breathier, “Kakashi…”
Kakashi schools his face into nonchalance, feigns nothing but mild surprise when they run over to him:
“What?” he says, watching as they pause, doubled over, to catch their breaths.
“What do you mean, what?” Obito pants. “You weren’t in last period! Rin was all worried, asshole.”
Rin chuckles despite the anxious furrow of her brow. “We both were. And Minato-sensei, too.”
“When I find out who spread that rumour, I swear to God.” Obito shakes his fist at nothing. Then he turns, “You’re not moping, are you? Come on, I doubt anybody believes it.”
Rin scoops her skirt up underneath herself, sits down next to him. Kakashi shrugs, averting his gaze. “It’s not just a rumour. You know that,” he murmurs.
“Yeah, but why would I give a shit that your dad was into some shady stuff— have you seen my extended family?” Obito snorts. “We don’t care, man. Those who mind don’t matter, those who matter don’t mind.”
“Obito,” Rin chastises in her quiet way, “I don’t think it’s that simple.”
Kakashi shoves down all melancholy in favour of an annoyed sigh: “Give it up, Rin. He’ll never be mature enough to understand.”
Obito huffs, and joins them on the grass. One of his arms curls around Rin’s back to idle with the hand she rests on that side – something old, something new, Kakashi muses fondly. This thing, if it is a thing, between them, has been brewing forever and culminated just this year. At least they wouldn’t miss him too much, he thinks, if he has to move away over this. They’d have each other and hopefully always would…
“Fine, call me childish, but I do think it’s simple,” Obito says. “It’s about knowing what you want and going for it. Walking toward the future and forgetting about the past.”
Kakashi can see the depth of his eyes on Rin, even if she herself is distracted by the sunset.
“We’re not bound by the family we’re born into,” continued in an uncharacteristically soft murmur. “I don’t see why we should be held accountable for their actions. Look at Minato-sensei, right, him and Kushina-san… if they could do it, we can.”
“Do what?”
Rin tilts her head, too, making Obito colour and avert his eyes. His hand lifts up to her shoulders, wrapping around her, hesitant at first and then firmer when she leans into it. He beams. “Build, of course,” he answers. “Build better.”
Rin smiles, dropping her head onto the crook of Obito’s neck even as her eyes slide warmth toward Kakashi. “What Obito means,” she says, “Is that this changes nothing for us, and we’ll stand with you against anybody for whom it does. Promise, Kakashi.”
Kakashi exhales amusement, though it feels somewhat bittersweet. He turns toward the sky again, murmuring, “I’m okay.”