Naoko could feel something wet on her pillow which is what roused her from her slumber. She pushed herself up into a half-sitting position to see a large wet patch on her bed. She only had to hear the heavy raindrops outside her window to understand the situation. "Momo!" That good-for-nothing cat had obviously gotten caught in the downpour on the way back to the apartment and had taken up her usual spot next to Naoko's pillow, soaking the bedding through. The ginger feline was nowhere in sight so she was hiding somewhere in the apartment, knowing full well what she had done. Naoko sighed. "I really need to get that cat a bed." When she first got Momo she had tried getting the cat her own bed, but she had decided that the spot next to Naoko's pillow was much more to her liking. Naoko didn't mind so much most of the time, but every time it rained she always ended up with a wet patch next to her pillow. Momo just didn't seem to learn. Naoko heaved another sigh when she realised the time; she had to be at work in half an hour so the bedding would have to wait until she returned home.

"Ah, Kakashi. The usual?"
It had been over three weeks since Naoko's first encounter with Kakashi Hatake, and since his first visit to the shop he had become one of her regulars. The time and day was never the same, but he was never absent for more than three days at a time. Naoko had found it weird at first that she had never seen this man before their meeting at the convenience store and now she saw him almost all the time, but she decided that it was nothing to complain about. He was always very pleasant when he arrived and he always promised to be back again soon which, although she would never admit it, made Naoko just a little bit happier every time he said it.
"Thank you as always, Naoko." (She had given up her name on Kakashi's second visit). "By the way, do you have a cat?"
The question had taken her aback, it seeming to have come from nowhere. "I do. Why do you ask?"
Kakashi casually pointed to the window of her shop, outside of which a ginger cat was sat staring at Naoko as she went about her daily business. "Momo!" What on earth was she doing here?
Kakashi followed as Naoko rushed outside to see her friend. "I noticed her sat outside when I came in. I thought perhaps it was just a stray but she hasn't moved since I arrived."
Immediately Naoko began to panic. Was something wrong? She gave Momo a once over but she appeared to be unharmed and in fine physical condition. Had something happened at the apartment? The apartment. "Ah, I forgot."
"Is everything alright?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Naoko replied reaching inside one of her pockets and pulling out a small magnet which she attached to the cat's collar. As soon as it was done, Momo was off on her way. "As punishment for getting my bed wet again this morning I took the magnet off her collar so she couldn't get back through her cat flap when I let her out." As she spoke Naoko rose to her feet, realising too late just how close Kakashi had been standing to her and knocked her head against his chin. "Oh sugar! I am so sorry. Are you alright?" On instinct, she reached out and took his chin in her hands to take a look at the damage before remembering that she couldn't see his chin because of the mask covering his face. She immediately removed her hands and looked away, embarrassed by her actions.
"Ahaha. I'm fine. Haha." Kakashi was laughing nervously, Naoko's actions having caught him off guard. He was thankful that he was wearing a mask because he was sure that his face was bright red. He had to escape quickly before Naoko noticed anything. "Thanks again for the cake." And before Naoko could say another word he was gone. Going back into her shop Naoko wondered if it was something she'd said. He seemed to leave in such a rush that she was beginning to think that she'd done something wrong. Was it what she'd said about Momo? "Oh God. Does he think I'm heartless for locking Momo outside?" Suddenly her actions towards her cat seemed very cruel and unnecessary. "But she's got to learn," she said defensively to no one in particular before slumping onto her chair, a dark cloud suddenly hanging over her. "He hates me doesn't he?"
"Who hates you?"
Naoko hadn't heard anyone come in so the sudden voice took her by surprise, shocking her temporarily out of her depression. "Ahaha," she began to laugh nervously. "No one. How can I help you?" This person was also a ninja; the village symbol worn proudly on his headband. However, unlike Kakashi, this one was only a young boy donned in an orange jumpsuit. 'I wonder if he knows Kakashi,' she wondered, the masked ninja still on her mind.
The boy smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his bright blonde hair as he explained what he wanted. "Well you see, erm, there's this girl I like and it's kind of her birthday soon so I wanted to get her a cake."
"So you want a birthday cake?"
"Yes please!"
"Do you want it just for the two of you?" He blushed. "Or is it for a party?" At this point the boy started talking to himself.
"I want it to be for just the two of us, but she probably won't accept it. I suppose I should get it to share with Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei as well. But would they eat it?" Naoko's ears pricked up. Kakashi-sensei? "I suppose I should get them some anyway, just because. Alright. I'd like a cake big enough for four people please," the boy finally decided but Naoko wasn't listening anymore.
"Did you just say Kakashi-sensei?"
"Yeah. Do you know Sensei?"
Hmm. Did she really know him? Was it okay to say she knew him? She'd only ever seen him that one time outside of work and that didn't really count. Would this kid go telling his Sensei that some woman was asking questions? Well, she wasn't doing any harm. She was just confirming what she thought she'd heard him say. Maybe she should just say that he's a customer of hers. After all, that's all he was right?
"He comes in sometimes to buy a cake every now and again." From the look on the boy's face she could see that he was confused. Had she got it wrong? Were there two Kakashi's? It wasn't really a common name.
"Kakashi-sensei comes here?"
"Yeah. You know, silver hair, wears a mask, always has his left eye covered." Even if there were two Kakashi's, surely there was only one man that fitted that description.
"That's weird," the boy replied. "Kakashi-sensei doesn't like sweet things."

He doesn't like sweet things?
Naoko lay awake in bed that night thinking about what that boy had said. But if Kakashi didn't like sweet things then why did he always come back for more? And just what was he doing with the cakes that he bought? "He better not be wasting them!" The more Naoko thought about it the more it annoyed her. What other reason would he have to suddenly start coming to her shop to buy her delicious cakes if not to eat them? Unless… It couldn't be that. Could it? No. That was impossible. He must just be coming to buy for friends. A person is allowed to buy cake for other people even if they don't eat it themselves. It's perfectly normal. Satisfied, but not completely happy with her conclusion, Naoko rolled over and went to sleep with a final thought: 'Perhaps I should confront him the next time I see him.'

It was a couple of days before Naoko saw Kakashi again and, although she had had every intention of asking about the cakes (which was really none of her business anyway), as soon as she saw him all those thoughts flew from her mind as a wave of relief washed over her. He was smiling at her as he came in, the tell-tale signs at the corner of his visible eye, and all she could think was 'he doesn't hate me'. After he had rushed from the shop the other day a part of her had been terrified that he wouldn't come back, but all those fears were swept away by the sight of him.
"The usual, Kakashi?" She asked, trying to stop herself from grinning like an idiot as she reached for his usual slice of castella.
"You know me too well," he laughed, grabbing the money from his pocket.
"I had one of your students in here the other day," Naoko began as she wrapped up Kakashi's order. "He came to buy a birthday cake."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. A little blonde kid in an orange jumpsuit. "
"That would be Naruto," Kakashi said, inwardly groaning. "I hope he didn't bother you too much. He can be a bit of a handful that one." Although he tried not to show it, Kakashi was actually a little worried about what might have been said between Naruto and Naoko. If Naoko had mentioned anything about Kakashi's regular visits Naruto was sure to have voiced his surprise; his team knew he wasn't a big sweets fan so regular visits to a cake shop would seem a little suspicious. Was his cover blown? Naruto hadn't said anything to him, so perhaps he was safe.
"He was no trouble. A little indecisive, but polite enough," Naoko assured him, thinking back on what the boy had told her. 'Kakashi-sensei doesn't like sweet things.' Should she say something? But she didn't want to put him in an awkward position, and she also wasn't sure if she wanted to hear his response. What if they were for his girlfriend? A man like Kakashi must surely have someone waiting for him at home. No. She wouldn't say anything. She looked forward to the days he came and she didn't want to ruin that.
"Well, here's your castella," Naoko said handing the cake over the counter as Kakashi handed her the money (heaving a sigh of relief that Naoko missed). "Please come again."
"You can be sure of it," he replied with a smile, giving her a small wave as he left the shop. Naoko watched him go with a tiny ache in her heart, wishing she could have prolonged the exchange just a little longer, but she had other customers to serve and she didn't have time to spend day dreaming. She would see him again.