It's me again, wohoo...

How many months has it been? Three? Four? I have no excuse, but it's been super busy lately. And I think it's gonna only get busier.

But I will still upload, although I cannot guarantee any regularity.

Sorry about that, should've seen it as I started working and doing side projects...

Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter 15.

Kakashi sat in the principal's office in front of Hiruzen's desk, trying to at least look like he was listening. Danzou was there too, watching him like a hawk. As if he were a prisoner that came to the warden's office. Kakashi's smirk at that thought caught the vice-principal's attention apparently, because the older man saw no problem in pointing it out.

"What's so funny, Hatake?" he said, pushing himself from his position at the door to hover right beside the art teacher. "We are not joking here."

'Yeah,' Kakashi thought to himself, 'I noticed.' If they didn't make him feel like a criminal being interrogated, then he was at least sure that they were being serious.

"Danzou is right, Kakashi, announcing an event without school's sanction is highly unprofessional."

"And it's not just some silly festival or fair," Danzou raised his voice, outraged, "it's a competition! With our biggest rival no less!"

"Look, I know that those snotty bastards at Dawn Academy have been getting more attention lately, but I don't see how a little competition can hurt us," Kakashi replied, already knowing what the principal was going to say.

"Except that it's not just a little competition," Hiruzen stated gravely, and Kakashi suppressed the urge to wince as his suspicions were confirmed.

"Look, I already told you that I'm paying for everything, so I don't see the problem–"

"Oh, do you?" cut him off Danzou. "Because last time I checked art teachers don't have 200,000 ryo of spare cash lying around. I hope you are a special case, since you seem to be one in everything else!" the vice-principal exploded.

"Who the hell made it 200 thousand?! We are talking about a competition, not a Super Bowl!" Kakashi was genuinely perplexed, he expected expenses within a 20-30k range, but definitely not 200k.

"You are right, Kakashi," Hiruzen said, lighting up his pipe. "It is much more expensive. We were able to pull a few favors and reduce the costs, but 200,000 is as low as it can go." Kakashi's relief at principal's first words was completely washed away by the older man's stern remark.

"But why?" was all the art teacher could say. Why was it so goddamn expensive?

"Catering, photography, video…" Danzou checked things that needed to be paid for, "not to mention that we'll have to print that comic for more than 600 people if we were to lose, which will add additional costs…"

"In the eyes of the public we, the school, are organizing this competition, Kakashi, not you. And the organization must be of an acceptable level if we don't want to embarrass ourselves for the whole country to see. We are already on a tight budget, we cannot afford to lose face in front of our potential patrons, all of whom are going to be watching any direct competition between our two schools," explained Hiruzen, taking a deep puff of his pipe.

"How the hell was I supposed to know that it was so hard to make a simple competition?!" at that point Kakashi began to fully comprehend the seriousness of their situation. Instead of having a (mostly) friendly rivalry, there was literally a backroom war between the two schools for funding and sponsorships, and every event that would allow any direct comparisons between them would automatically become a battleground.

"Maybe you should've consulted with us before starting to play an event organizer!" Danzou was practically shouting now. "Now our carefully planned budget for the quarter is down the drain thanks to your stupidity!"

"Calm down, friend," Hiruzen's warning went ignored by the vice-principal as he was ready for round two of their verbal battle. Kakashi, on the contrary, for once seemed to be in agreement with the older man.

"No, Danzou is right. It was stupid of me to declare stuff without the school's approval," the art teacher begrudgingly admitted.

"Of all the times to show your enthusiasm, Kakashi…" the kind principal didn't judge his normally callous teacher for his attempts at becoming better, but he couldn't help but let some disappointment slip in, much like the tobacco smoke that slowly trickled out of his nostrils as he spoke.

That disappointment hurt more than Danzou's insults, and Kakashi refused to acknowledge it. In his irrational pride he stood up to leave. But before that he blurted out the most idiotic thing he ever uttered to date.

"If we lose this competition I will resign. Then you won't have to deal with me anymore."

His statement seemed to have put even Danzou in a stupor. Leaving the two administrators to digest his words, Kakashi excused himself. He needed some time to cool off and think things through.

"It's not that bad," he told himself while he walked the school corridors aimlessly. "I'm sure the best our school can do will be better than the best the Dawn has."

But then Kakashi remembered who were art teachers at Dawn, and his confidence evaporated. Not only their teachers were good, but they just had more students that were capable. Dawn had an Art club since forever, with dozens of members, while his own measly endeavor only had about three and a half full time members, and that was him being generous and counting in Nagato and Yahiko as half a person both.

"Maybe it's not too late to cancel…" he muttered as he turned towards the basement on autopilot.

Maybe he could somehow reduce the cost…

Maybe he could ask Hinata for help…

Just as he was mulling the idea over, he heard a familiar voice around the corner of the empty basement corridor he was walking, just where the library should be.

"And here I thought that you came to catch up and ask how your cousin is doing." Yes, it was unmistakably Hinata.

At first Kakashi thought her words were addressed to him, as she'd somehow read his mind and knew he was about to ask for a favor, but then what was that part about cousins? Halting his step, the art teacher pressed up against a wall, shamelessly eavesdropping for the first time in his life. Well, the first time that it was intentional, anyway.

"Hinata, I'm just relaying Uncle's message. Let's be rational…"

"Be rational?!" Hinata couldn't believe her ears. "My Father is practically disowning me, and he didn't even have the decency to tell me personally! If he thought that coming to a meager 'blue coat school' was beneath him then he could've called me to his office at least! And you are telling me to be rational?!"

So many thoughts swirled in Hinata's mind at that moment, so many things she had to say. But even in such a state Hinata knew that it's not Neji who had to hear them – as he said earlier, he is just a messenger and does not deserve her ire.

"Please go," she said, willing herself to calm down.

"But–"

"Just go. I don't want to talk right now."

Still looking hesitant, her cousin nevertheless complied with her wish. He left with a curt goodbye. Just as Neji was turning the corner, Kakashi stole a look at the Hyuga messenger. The man was young, around Hinata's age. He was poised, walking confidently and with purpose, not even sparing the art teacher a glance. But a dead giveaway were his eyes. The familial resemblance in them was unmistakable.

'Well, that answers the question about a cousin,' Kakashi thought to himself, waiting for the Hyuga male to disappear as he strode upstairs.

While he bid his time to go in, Hinata remained rooted to her spot in front of the library door. When Kakashi heard soft sniffling he decided he had waited enough.

"What else do you need?" he heard Hinata say, before she lifted her eyes at him and her expression transformed. She quickly rubbed the tears away, somehow making the action look natural and totally inconspicuous. "Oh, it's you. Sorry, I thought it was someone else." She tried to play it cool but Kakashi could clearly see that she was on the verge of tears. Although admittedly, had he been a stranger just passing by he wouldn't have suspected a thing.

Apparently, Hinata was good at concealing her emotions.

They stood like that, in awkward silence, for about a minute. Well, for Kakashi at least it was awkward for sure, but the art teacher doubted that Hinata paid her surroundings much mind at that moment. She looked lost, the absent expression on her face causing a dull ache in his own chest. He decided that he didn't like to see her in such a state.

"Come on," he said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, lest she figures out his intentions, "let's go have lunch."

Surprisingly, or perhaps, unsurprisingly, she didn't resist when he pushed her forward with barely any pressure on the small of her back. The whole time they walked to Ichiraku's at a snail pace, she hadn't said a single word. In fact, Kakashi was pretty sure that she was operating on autopilot.

When they finally entered the cozy diner, Kakashi with a gesture of his hand let Teuchi know that they needed privacy. The kind proprietor understandingly nodded, forgoing their usual ritual of banter and allowing them to do as they pleased while he went to the kitchen for their usual order.

Deciding that it was time to pull Hinata back from her trance, Kakashi nudged her ever so slightly.

"Hinata?" he was surprised at how tentative his voice sounded, but even more surprising to him was that she actually responded.

"I just don't understand…" she said, far livelier than he expected, considering that she was practically a walking corpse minutes prior. While Kakashi was still surprised, Hinata seemed to only gain more vigor, as her emotions were pouring out in a way that was more like a stream of consciousness rather than a coherent response.

That was when Kakashi realized that she was talking to herself as much as she was talking to him.

She explained that she did everything her father asked of her, even completing his training and doing internships in his company, even though it apparently hurt her private life since she had no time for herself. She justified her working in Konoha as a small break from the constant responsibility, how couldn't Father understand? Was it much to ask for just a year of doing what she wanted? It was unfair. At some point she started babbling about less related things, like how she was jealous of Hanabi for knowing exactly what she wanted in life and having the freedom to do so.

Stunned into silence, Kakashi didn't know what to do. Awkwardly, he tried to rub soothing circles on her back, thinking to himself if it would be too much of a risk if he opened his mouth and said something, which, considering it was him, was bound to be insensitive. When he felt her back shift from under his palm and a weight press on his side, he realized that she was hugging him.

Wrapping his arms around the distressed girl, he said the first thing that came to his mind.

"I don't know about that cousin of yours, but I'm always on your side."

Hinata stilled. For but a few short moments, Kakashi held his breath, his senses becoming much more acute as he realized that he busted himself. He half-expected Hinata to break away and run. Afterall, how else could he learn about her cousin if he hadn't been eavesdropping. Securing his grip around the petite woman, he prepared for worst. That was when he heard muffled sobs. It only made him tighten his hold even more.

They remained like this for quite some time, their lukewarm food standing on the counter, untouched. With Teuchi nowhere in sight, Kakashi let a sigh of grateful relief at the older man's perceptiveness. The last thing Hinata needed was for other people to intrude.

Just as he was about to suggest they eat their order, Hinata stirred. Removing his arms from her he let her detach from his person. Somehow she once again understood what he was thinking and struggling to say, so she suggested it herself.

"Let's eat?" she tried to crack a smile, to which he eagerly responded with his own.

"Yeah, let's…"

They ate in silence, and Kakashi couldn't help but notice that despite the mood being lighter than before, the awkwardness didn't go anywhere. His hands still shook, he was surprised that he could hold chopsticks at all. Instead of gobbling up his noodles like he usually did, he took his time, observing Hinata in the process. He couldn't help but have a feeling that something significant happened this day.

Hinata felt his eyes on her. She wanted to say something, but her embarrassment prevented her from opening her mouth for anything other than putting food in it. She recalled everything that happened in the past hour. Her happiness at Neji's visit, quickly turning into anger and then into suffocating sadness. Was she overreacting? She pondered on it the whole way here, completely ignoring Kakashi in the process, who just wanted to help. Which was very telling, considering that the art teacher normally wouldn't involve himself with other people's personal matters.

She honestly felt like a self-centered jerk, which didn't help her current situation. But that wasn't the most embarrassing part. Because then she started pouring her personal life on him, like some stupid teenager! She expected him to scold her in his usual stern manner, saying that she ought to do something about her problems rather than complain about them. She didn't know that she was so desperate to cling to the man after receiving the smallest sign of comfort from him. How awkward he must've felt at her neediness.

But then he said those words.

"I'm always on your side."

Just like that. No explanation needed. No lectures about what she should do or shouldn't. Just an honest answer and reassurance that no matter what, he'd support her. Hinata was sure he still didn't understand whatever it was that happened, but he still offered his support. For Kakashi, the stern, callous, sometimes petty, and extremely cautious man to say something like that…

But then again, in a lot of ways, it was just like Kakashi to say something like this.

In any case, that had made her extremely happy. So much that she couldn't hold back the new wave of emotions and cried like a little girl for almost half an hour.

Yeah, she totally needed to drown her sorrows in food. Preferably tasty food. As if reading her thoughts, the man beside her spoke again.

"If you want more, go ahead and order. It's my treat."

That was when she noticed that her bowl had already been emptied by her and she had been absently picking at crumbs and leftovers. Somehow what he said was just what she needed to get the ground back under her feet. His further remark that it was going to rain sounded so casually that she couldn't help but laugh a little.

He looked at her with such concern that she realized that she probably seemed crazy to him right now. She didn't mind though. In fact, she decided that some craziness was in order for todays situation. Taking his hand in hers, she moved towards the exit.

"Come on, let's have a walk."

"But what about the food?" he protested, but nevertheless allowed her to pull him.

"We'll get something on our way." 'I don't want to go to work just yet.'

The short distance they walked towards their usual spot at the park was once again filled by silence. But this time it was Hinata who felt a little weird. Where did all that boldness come from? Was it her psyche's attempts to overturn the emotional rollercoaster that she underwent today? Or was it simply her wanting to escape, if only for a little bit. Regardless, Hinata didn't care at the moment.

When they sat at their favorite bench, she finally spoke.

"Thanks."

Kakashi, relieved by the familiarity of their current situation, shook his head and easily responded.

"For what?" he asked, genuinely believing that he didn't do much.

"For bringing me to Ichiraku's. For letting me drag you around, buying snacks. For… for showing me a different way…" that last part she realized just as she uttered it.

He really did show her a different perspective on things. That she shouldn't be scared to stand up for things she considered important. That she should be selfish sometimes as well…

Not to mention that Kakashi let her in his life so much, and she only just now realized that! And in return, he barely knew the things she enjoyed and places she liked.

Perhaps that was what caused her to blurt out her next words.

"Next time let's go to my place."

If Kakashi was confused before, now he probably thought that all the emotions got to his head together with hers.

"Sure, let's go," he said easily, despite feeling completely out of his element at that moment. "I imagine Hanabi would also like to come."

Hinata smiled, shaking her head, cheeks blazing red. "I was thinking to make it just the two of us."

Kakashi turned to her, eyes wide. She didn't look at him, whether it was deliberate or not he didn't know, but she seemed to be interested in watching the small ripples made on a puddle by the falling rain droplets.

"It doesn't have to be my place," she quickly added, "we could go anywhere. Like the movies or something…" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, turning to look him in the eye. "So, what do you say?"

"I…" he didn't know what to say. Heck, it took him all his willpower to just stop his hands from trembling. He felt so many things it was like his brain was in overdrive, and the only thing left for him to do was stupidly stumble with his words before he stopped altogether.

A heavy, expectant pause hung between the two, with the drizzling rain being the only source of sound around them. Kakashi's panic grew as he watched Hinata's face fall, her once again averting her eyes to look at that blasted puddle.

"You know what, I think you are right. Hanabi would love to go with us too." Hinata suddenly said, her words sounding like a verdict. Standing up from the bench, she turned to him, offering him her hand. "We should go back to school. Lunch is over and the rain is getting worse."

It had been twenty minutes since lunch was over, but Kakashi didn't care. Taking her hand, he stood up, feeling strangely empty and cold when she let go as soon as he was on his feet. Without waiting for him she went ahead, and Kakashi couldn't help but feel that he made a huge mistake that day.