The Confession He Never Saw Coming
Theme: Humor/Comedy, Friendship
Rating: General
It's a quiet afternoon at the training grounds. Kakashi, Gai, Genma, Asuma, and Kurenai are lounging under the trees after a long day of supervising the new crop of chunin. They've decided to take a rare break from missions to relax and catch up, with a little snack spread and light conversation.
Asuma takes a drag from his cigarette, glancing over at Kakashi, who's reading his Icha Icha novel with his usual nonchalance. Genma, on the other hand, is playfully throwing senbon into a nearby tree, trying to one-up Kurenai in precision, while Gai sits cross-legged, striking a meditative pose.
Suddenly, Gai's eyes snap open, filled with the intensity of a man about to unleash a profound revelation.
"Kakashi!" he booms, his voice cutting through the peaceful air like a kunai. All heads turn toward him.
Kakashi looks up lazily, one hand still holding his book. "Mm?"
Gai leaps to his feet, pointing dramatically at Kakashi. "I don't like you!"
The silence that follows is palpable. Kurenai raises an eyebrow, while Asuma chokes on his cigarette smoke, coughing. Genma, half-amused, quirks his lips.
Kakashi, for his part, doesn't miss a beat. He snaps his book shut and regards Gai with an amused eye.
"Oh?" Kakashi says, voice as calm as ever. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to be crushed?"
Gai, fists clenched, looks ready to erupt. "Crushed?! Crushed? No! This is the part where I declare—" He pauses for effect, the wind whipping through his bowl-cut hair. "—That even though I don't like you… I RESPECT you!"
Kurenai groans, clearly not in the mood for Gai's dramatics, while Asuma slaps a hand on his forehead.
Kakashi tilts his head, considering his friend's words. "Hmm… So, let me get this straight. You don't like me… but you respect me?"
"YES!" Gai beams, his teeth practically sparkling in the sun. "You are my eternal rival, Kakashi! I must always push myself harder because of you! I don't like you because you are too cool, too calm, and too collected. But I respect you because… BECAUSE YOU MAKE ME STRONGER!"
Kakashi's eye crinkles in his usual half-smile. "You could've just said you admire me, Gai. But I appreciate the theatrics."
Genma snickers, leaning back against the tree. "Leave it to Gai to turn a simple statement into a life-or-death monologue."
"Indeed," Kakashi muses, stretching his arms lazily. "I think this counts as one of his less dramatic moments."
Gai isn't deterred. "Kakashi! Let us cement this moment with a test of strength! A race around the village—on our hands!"
Kakashi glances at the sky, then at his book. "You know, Gai, I think I'll pass on this particular test of strength."
"Of course you would!" Gai pumps his fist. "You always pass on the challenges, but that's what makes you my rival! One day, you will accept, and on that day, I will be victorious!"
Kakashi rolls his eye and resumes his book. "Sure, Gai. One day."
Asuma leans over to Kurenai, muttering, "What do you think the odds are that Gai will challenge him again before the day's over?"
Kurenai smirks. "I'd say the odds are pretty high."
But before anyone can further debate on it, Gai is already shouting. "KAKASHI! LET'S SPAR RIGHT NOW!"
Asuma chuckles. "Is it just me, or does this happen at least once a week?"
Genma nods. "At this point, I'm surprised Kakashi hasn't just accepted one of Gai's challenges to get him off his back."
Kakashi overhears them and sighs. "If I did that, Gai would just raise the stakes."
Gai, fists clenched again, stares at Kakashi with burning determination. "That's right, my eternal rival! I will never stop pushing myself until I surpass you!"
Kakashi shrugs, reopening his book. "Good luck with that."
Asuma leans back, smirking. "Poor Gai. He'll never learn."
Kurenai smirks. "And Kakashi will never stop driving him crazy."
END
A/N: I'm not promising anything, but this collection may be updated every Saturday night or until supplies last. HAHAHA! You may send prompts, the theme, and the character you wish to see and let's see whether we can come up with a fic and add it to this collection. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them! (^^,)
