Chapter 3
Obito Uchiha was in love.
Not the quiet, subtle kind of love either. Not the kind of love that let itself settle gently in the background, content to exist without making a fuss. No, Obito Uchiha was very loudly, very dramatically, and very obviously in love with Kakashi Hatake.
And somehow, somehow, Kakashi remained completely oblivious.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. Obito had done everything short of carving their initials into the Hokage Monument. He brought Kakashi food after missions, not even complaining when Kakashi took it with a nonchalant ‘thanks’ and no further reaction. He praised Kakashi’s skills in battle (a big deal, considering Obito’s usual competitiveness) and threw himself in harm’s way to protect him more times than was strategically necessary. He even, on one particularly desperate occasion, tried to write a love poem.
It went terribly. He’d burned it before Rin could find it and read it out loud.
But none of it worked. Kakashi remained as emotionally responsive as a brick wall, more focused on the mission, the rules, and his ever-present copy of the shinobi handbook than on the boy who was practically setting himself on fire to get his attention.
“Rin,” Obito groaned one day, flopping dramatically onto the training field grass. “I don’t get it. What am I doing wrong?”
Rin, who had been watching this slow-moving disaster unfold for months, sighed and patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Maybe you should just tell him outright?”
Obito made a face like she’d just suggested he declare his love to a kunai mid-flight. “That’s crazy.”
“I think what’s crazy is expecting him to just figure it out,” Rin pointed out.
Obito groaned again, covering his face with his hands. “There has to be a better way.”
The universe, as it turned out, had no interest in helping him out. It wasn’t until a particularly rough mission left Kakashi injured that Obito found himself sitting by his side, watching him sleep off his wounds in the hospital. It was the perfect moment. The light was soft, the room was quiet, and Obito—heart pounding—mustered all his courage.
“Kakashi,” he whispered, leaning in. “I... I really like you.”
Kakashi, still mostly asleep, blinked blearily at him. “…I like you too, Obito.”
Obito’s heart stopped. Had it really been that easy? Had he really just—
“But you’re really loud,” Kakashi mumbled, turning over. “Let me sleep.”
Obito stared. Opened his mouth. Closed it. And then groaned into his hands, wondering if it was possible to actually die of frustration.
Rin, watching from the doorway, barely suppressed a laugh. “Told you,” she whispered.
Obito threw a pillow at her.