Sunday had passed quickly. They spent the whole day unpacking what the delivery truck had dropped off. Kakashi had a very tearful reunion with his books while the two girls stood back judging him. Ino was happy to have all her decorating materials and Sakura could now sleep peacefully because she had all of her school supplies. She didn't like being unprepared. Both Sakura and Ino were surprised to find Kakashi excitedly unpacking an absurd amount of cookware. Surely that would be explained to them later.
Monday, the first day of classes, started off easy. After Kakashi's morning routine, he woke up the girls for breakfast. Ino had grumbled something about how he should go do something very inappropriate to himself while Sakura had just mumbled about being right down. When Sakura finally managed to stumble down to the kitchen, she was greeted with the most interesting site and enticing smells. Her coffee was already on the island ready for her to drink.
"Ah, good morning. I hope I made that right," Kakashi spoke not turning away from the stove.
Taking a tentative sip, Sakura pretended to gag but turned it to a soft smile, "Nah, good enough."
Shaking his head Kakashi motioned to a stool, "Take a seat."
Sitting she tried to peer at what he was cooking but couldn't quite make it out, "What are you making exactly?," she asked not wanting to wait and find out.
"Food."
"Ha. Ha... Kakashi, you didn't have to do this. Cereal would have been fine."
"Nonsense. It's your first day at college. You should be well fed. Plus, I wanted to."
"Do you like cooking or something?"
"You could say I find joy in it, yes."
Dishing up her plate, Sakura watched him move over to her. There was a generous helping of bacon and a perfectly sized omelette with what looked like all sorts of fillings. Sakura took a bite unable to stop herself from chewing slowly and her eyes going wide, "Woah... " she mumbled, "This is really good."
It was at that moment Ino walked in still in her sleep shorts, loose tank top, and a pair of pink bunny slippers. She was greeted with the sight of Kakashi smiling down at Sakura and Sakura smiling back up at him. "Oh, am I interrupting something?," she teased sitting down at the island next to Sakura.
Sakura glared at the blonde, "No, he just gave this to me and it tasted good is all, stupid pig," she mumbled the last part looking down at the food on her plate blushing slightly.
Ino shrugged, "If you say so forehead."
"Your breakfast…" Kakashi huffed sliding Ino's plate to her. It looked a little less, fancy. Luckily Ino didn't notice as she quickly scarfed it down. Kakashi also slid her a cup of coffee begrudgingly.
Sakura finished her food first and thanked Kakashi again as she headed upstairs to get ready for the day. Ino took the opportunity to glance up at Kakashi and speak, "She likes you."
"You're delusional."
Ino rolled her eyes, "Fine, don't listen to her best friend who knows her best," she sighed. Finishing her food she also thanked Kakashi and went upstairs.
Everyone got ready in relative silence before meeting up in the entrance area and left the house. Kakashi carried a backpack for cover and let his eyes scan the crowds of students and noticed plenty of guys eyeing Sakura and Ino making him feel uneasy. They finally made it to the gym where orientation was being held. While waiting for it to start, a couple of guys, who seemed to be upperclassmen, walked over. They invited the girls, specifically, to come to a party. It seemed as if they were completely ignoring Kakashi standing there.
Ino squealed first, "We would love to!" She not only spoke for herself but Sakura as well leaving the pinkette to just nod in agreement.
Kakashi groaned hating to put himself out there. "Mind if I tag along?" he asked looking at the male students.
They glanced each other. "Sure why not?," one of them shrugged and the grouped walked off.
Kakashi watched them walk up to another group of freshman girls and invited them too. He got that uneasy feeling again as Ino spoke up, "You better not cramp our style."
"Humph? Oh, you won't even know I'm there."
"I better not…"
"Just pour your own drinks. That's all I ask," he pleaded.
Ino was going to respond angrily but Sakura elbowed her, "We can do that Kakashi."
They fell silent as orientation started. They took the usual oath that made them promise that they wouldn't cheat, lie, and what not. When it was over the students were told to resume their schedules starting with the 10:00 am classes. Ino had to run off to her class on the other side of the large campus.
Sakura glanced up at Kakashi, "I don't have class for another hour and it's close by. Want to go to the coffee shop?"
"I suppose," he shrugged shifting his backpack.
They left for the shop chatting about what her day would be like. Opening the door for her, Kakashi entered the little shop which was already busy with students. They both ended up ordering tea this time and Kakashi paid for their drinks. Sakura sat at a table near a large window so she could look outside. Kakashi of course sat with her.
"Nice campus," Kakashi spoke up first.
"Yea, I think it's pretty cool. Look, I am sorry about Ino. She has a habit of bugging people like that."
Kakashi waved off her sentiment, "I don't mind." His eyes shifted from looking outside to Sakura, "I know I'll be at the party tonight but I will try to stay out of sight. Just, please be careful."
"Don't worry so much. I am not stupid."
"Sakura please, it's not that," Kakashi sighed. "I know you are not stupid. And I trust you to make the right decisions but I do not trust others. You are a freshman, young, beautiful, charming, and amazing… There will be men willing to do anything to get you in the sack," He spoke honestly keeping eye contact with her.
Kakashi didn't mean for it to be so, complimenting but it sure did come across that way making Sakura blush, "Thank you… And I promise I will be careful." It was odd for Sakura to see him be so worried about her.
"Thank you…" he muttered nodding and sipping at his tea more.
Almost like it had been planned all along, a young man walked up to their table grinning a little too much for Kakashi's taste, "Hey there cutie, what are you doing with gramps here? Why don't you come hang with us?" he pointed to a table with several other people at it.
Kakashi didn't trust this guy but she did need to make more friends, "Go on," he muttered.
She looked concerned. To be honest she thought the guy had been rather rude and a little too direct. "No thanks," she turned her attention to the intruder, "I don't want to hang with someone who is so quick to judge," her statement made Kakashi grin inwardly.
The man sneered as he turned to leave muttering quietly, "Prude bitch."
Kakashi caught the words and stood up quickly nearly toppling the chair, "You think gramps is deaf?"
Sakura had heard the words too. As much as she hated them, she leaned forward and tugged on his shirt, "Kakashi please, don't."
Nodding Kakashi turned away to sit back down. "Aw, that's cute. Are you her little lap dog then? Pathetic," the young man cackled. "Better watch your back gramps," he threatened walking away this time.
Kakashi threw himself down in the chair growling, "That's why I don't trust people. Tell them no and then the true person comes out."
Sakura wanted to lighten the mood before Kakashi did anything stupid, "It's alright gramps, I'll give you a treat later for being a good boy."
Kakashi tried his damndest not to smile, "Not funny…" he crossed his arms huffing and closing his eyes. One eye peaked back open, "What's the treat?," he played along with her teasing.
"Hmm, I don't know. Belly rub? Scratch behind the ears? Play with your hair? We will see."
This made both of them laugh softly. Once they finished their tea, it was about time to head out to Sakura's first class. It wasn't a far walk and passed in pleasant silence. When they arrived at the lecture hall, they were the first ones there. Sakura stopped outside taking a deep breath.
"Nervous?" Kakashi asked leaning against the wall.
"Maybe. More excited than anything really. So meet you here in an hour?"
"Humph? No, I am sitting in on all of your classes unless there is other business I have to attend to."
"You are joking… right?"
" 'Fraid not princess," Kakashi opened the door after his teasing comment, "After you."
Sakura sighted asking what gods she pissed off to earn this punishment. Not wanting to draw attention to herself she took a seat towards the back. Kakashi sat next to her pulling out his bright green book. This made her groan again. Did he have to read that in public? Trying to ignore him she got out a notepad and a mechanical pencil. The door opened behind the and a steady trickle of students entered filling in the seats above and below them. Sakura's eyes scanned the crowd looking for anyone else that she might know but didn't see anyone. Another door opened at the bottom of the lecture hall and a little old man appeared with a brief case.
"Good morning everyone. I am Professor Nakamura and welcome to Psychology 101, " The professor had a very monotone voice that seemed to go on forever, "I am passing out your syllabus. Everything you need to know is in here. Reading assignments, homework, exams, quizzes, etc… If you need my office hours, email, or office location, you can find it on the first page. Any question? No… good. Let's get started."
Sakura seemed to be going through a never ending sigh. She took a peek at the syllabus and found she already had fifty pages of reading due on Wednesday along with a bunch of short answer question. But the worst part was the professor. How in the hell she was going to stay away in this class she had no idea. When her attention finally returned to the lesson at hand Sakura panicked. Had he really already wrote that much down on the board? This class seemed to be steaming along at breakneck speed. She quickly scribbled down notes.
About twenty minutes in she glanced over at Kakashi who had passed out book on his face and his head tilted back. Now that just wasn't fair. Feeling cheated she jabbed him with her pencil to wake him up. The man groaned one eye cracking open to glare at her.
"If you are going to be here… stay awake," she hissed.
"Pay attention," he whispered back pulling the book down and returned to his reading.
The rest of the class passed in similar fashion as the first twenty minutes. The professor held them right to the bell despite all the students packing to leave about five minutes early. She got up to leave Kakashi following her. Getting outside, Sakura pulled her schedule out taking a look at the rest of the day. Just a chemistry lab at noon and that was it. Sakura and Ino managed to make their days end at two so they could always leave the campus together.
Kakashi peeked over her shoulder at the schedule, "Lunch?"
"Seems like it. What should we do? Food court or find a nearby restaurant?," she asked.
"Let's see what the food court has to offer us, hmm?" Kakashi started off in the direction of it.
Another relatively close location they found. Kakashi followed Sakura around the court both deciding on a rice bowl stall. Kakashi got fried rice with teriyaki pork and Sakura got plain rice with chicken katsu. They took their food outside since it was nice enough weather.
"So, what did you think of your first college class?" he asked breaking his chopsticks.
"They don't seem anything like highschool, that's for sure," she sighed hanging her backpack on the back of her chair, "I am sure that professor will be the death of me with his voice though."
"He did put me to sleep."
Sakura looked down to take a bite of her food. When she looked back up she saw Kakashi was already done with his. "What? How are you done already…"
"Practice… Plus, can't let anyone see this face of mine," he chuckled.
Sakura growled. Sure she had already seen it but… if she was to be honest she didn't get a good enough look. It was more of a general overview. She wanted to really see it, "You are too weird."
He shrugged pulling out his book, "What is your next class?" he asked.
"Chem Lab," she spoke through her mouthful of food.
"Hmm, can't really sit in on that. Alright, I will see you after. I can find something to do for two hours."
Sakura finished her food and Kakashi took their bowls and threw them away. They left together and he walked her to the door of her next classroom. Once she was inside, Kakashi got an idea for what to do.
Door bells clanged as Kakashi stepped inside the pound entrance. He walked up to the desk expressing his interest to adopt a dog or two. The young woman, who was overly excited, nodded and let him in back.
Kakshi explored the kennels and found one dog he absolutely loved. It was a pug with dark brown ears and a dark brown spot that covered most of its snout. The rest of its coat was a light brown. Even the name was cool, Pakkun. Choosing that one and resuming his search he found a little puppy. It was a husky with grey eyes and a silverish coat. For some reason, the dog reminded him of himself. Kakashi felt the abnormal teeth in his mouth. People, who had actually seen them, often compared them to dog teeth.
Kakashi went back to the front and told the attendant the two dogs he wanted. Moments later, the two came out on leashes and were handed over to him. The woman told him that the puppy hadn't been named yet and wanted to know what she should put down on the adoption papers. He thought for a moment and chose… Shiba. The woman wrote it down and handed over the papers wishing him a very nice day. As he walked outside pocketing the papers, Kakashi checked the time. There was plenty of it, so he went to the nearest pet store deciding to spoil his little puppies. He bought two collars and new leashes. Each got two sets of bowls and a bag of treats. Lastly, he bought two beds for them. Kakashi exited the shop feeling very happy with himself.
The rest of the day went pretty standard like any day. After Kakashi had dropped the dogs off at the house he drove to the school, picking up Sakura and Ino. When they got back to the house, both girls yelped excitedly when they saw the two dogs thanking Kakashi. Little did they know it was a selfish buy for himself but that didn't matter to him. He made them dinner as they got ready to go to the party. Eating in silence, Kakashi wouldn't voice his opinion about his nervousness. When they were done eating, they left the house and got in the car. Kakashi drove knowing he wouldn't be doing any drinking tonight. Pulling up in front of the house, he parked. He wanted to say something but the girls were already out of the car and on their way inside. Sighing, he got out and looked at the frat house.
"This isn't going to be easy…"