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With every hour that ticked by, Iruka’s irritation grew.
He should have foreseen his dilemma earlier that week when he was cut loose before his usual shift ended. He had worked hard to catch up once he received the files from the client a day later, but it caused a backlog in his other projects. He felt like he was drowning in work and while he prided himself on being a loyal and valuable worker, he didn’t have time for it that day.
It was his Little Brother’s first basketball game of the season and Iruka would be damned if he missed it.
Looking out the floor-to-ceiling window in the lab revealed the shadows growing longer. Iruka cursed since he was running out of time but not tasks to do before he headed out. Wracking his brain, he resolved himself to calling in a favor owed to him. It would require his co-worker to put in some overtime, but it wasn’t anything he hadn’t done for the individual.
“Hey, Genma,” Iruka said, getting his friend’s attention when he walked into the marketing department, “I need you to do something for me.”
“You know I’d do anything for you,” Genma said with a grin.
“I could have asked you to wash my car with a toothbrush,” he said.
“You’re not that cruel. What’s up?”
“I have to head out but still need to copy and paste a few files. If I set the selections, can you finish them for me?” Iruka asked.
“As long as you explain it to me like a preschooler could understand, sure,” Genma replied.
“Awesome,” Iruka said, smiling happily, “Let me email the files to you. Then I’ll show you what needs to be done.”
Iruka jogged back to his office and rapidly attached his files to an email, sending it to Genma’s account a minute later. Thanking his lucky stars that every computer in the office had his design software installed, Iruka set the selection boxes for each image that required it and wrote down the file names of the information that needed to be copied into them to make things easier for his friend. Making sure Genma was set and wouldn’t cause him added stress the next morning by correcting everything, Iruka returned to his office to grab his things and rushed out of the building.
Taking time to go through a fast-food drive-thru, Iruka scarfed down a couple of double cheeseburgers on the way to his Little Brother’s foster home. He was looking forward to seeing him play in the first game of the season. He had been a star player the previous season and while he was still riding from the high, Iruka could tell the light had dimmed in his eyes as the summer progressed. He asked several times if he wanted to talk about it, but his offers were always shrugged off, his Little Brother smiling before telling him everything was alright. Trying to think of ways to encourage him to do his best during the game, Iruka’s worries vanished when he saw him standing next to the driveway, his basketball lodged in the crook of his elbow.
“I never thought you’d get here,” the teen said as he slid into the passenger seat and buckled up, “We’re going to be super late.”
“Sorry, Naruto,” Iruka apologized, “Work has been insane this week. I had to dump everything on Genma so I could leave when I did.”
“Oh, you’re screwed,” Naruto said with a laugh.
“He’s not that bad,” Iruka said, glancing at him and smiling.
“You do remember the incident with the ketchup dispenser last time we all went out for dinner?” Naruto questioned.
“Don’t remind me,” he muttered, “How was school?”
Iruka listened to Naruto ramble about every minute of his day in the way only he could. It amused him that his Little Brother brought up things that didn’t really matter in the eyes of most but meant the world to him. Thinking it an admirable quality, Iruka gave him his full attention every time he spoke.
“You ready?” Iruka asked when they pulled up to the community center.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Naruto replied, taking a deep breath before getting out of the car.
Draping an arm around the teen’s shoulders as they walked into the building, Iruka asked him where he’d like to go for dinner that evening. He was somewhat dashed when Naruto said his coach was planning on taking the team out to go over the game and correct what was needed for success during their next one. While Naruto loved the idea of free food, it annoyed him that his favorite activity in life was tainted by work.
“I’m surprised that Coach Sarutobi is doing that,” Iruka stated in perplexity.
“He’s not our coach anymore. His wife is expecting a baby and he got a new job,” Naruto said sullenly, Iruka seeing his expression darken, “We have this new guy and he’s a jerk.”
“What’s his name? Have you given him a chance?” he questioned.
“I don’t remember. We just call him Jerk,” Naruto responded, “He’s too hands off and barks orders. He’s so different than Coach Sarutobi.”
“Everyone is unique in how they approach things, Naruto,” Iruka said, “It’s how you learn. If everyone taught the same way, the world would be a boring, one-dimensional place as far as knowledge goes.”
“If you say so,” he mumbled.
“Can I meet your coach?” Iruka asked.
“You are insane,” Naruto replied, jerking his head to the other side of the court, “Come on.”
Iruka followed the teen across the polished hardwood floor to a gaggle of boys surrounding an obscured individual. He remembered most of the players and was shocked by how much a few had grown between seasons. The voice that he assumed belonged to the new coach was muffled, but he wasn’t paying much attention anyway. When the crowd around the man broke up, Iruka turned his head and was floored when his gaze fell upon him.
“Kakashi?” Iruka asked, his voice nearly squeaking in surprise.
“Hey, Iruka,” Kakashi greeted with a cheerful smile, “What are you doing here?”
“You two know each other?” Naruto inquired in shock.
“Yes. He’s the man I’ve been telling you about,” Iruka answered.
“Wait a minute. This is the guy you’ve been kinda seeing?” Naruto questioned, groaning miserably when Iruka nodded, “Great. The best thing in my life is dating my worst.”
Calling after Naruto when he stalked away, Iruka sighed and hoped the epiphany didn’t destroy his focus during the game. He felt somewhat defeated when the blond didn’t acknowledge him, choosing to talk with his teammates instead. Sighing as he turned his head to look at Kakashi, he saw compassion and sympathy in his eyes.
“I don’t think he likes me,” Kakashi said.
“Not really. He thinks you're stricter than Coach Sarutobi,” Iruka said, “I think all of them miss him.”
“They do. He’s a great friend of mine and asked me to fill in until their baby is born, but he doesn’t want to say anything to the kids if something changes between now and then,” Kakashi said, “Asuma’s a very talented coach. I’ll never come close to him.”
“Naruto doesn’t like that you’re mixing work and downtime at dinner,” Iruka stated.
“Ah, makes sense,” Kakashi said, “I think he misunderstood me or maybe I didn’t make myself clear. I want to praise and reward them for a job well done. I don’t care if they win or not. There’s always positivity to showcase in each game.”
“That’s very kind of you, Kakashi,” Iruka said, his smile gentle.
“You should join us. I’d love to have you there,” he confessed.
“Oh, that’s for you and the boys,” Iruka said, his hands out in protest.
“Nonsense. I’m not going to have their undivided attention the entire time. It’ll give us a chance to catch up since we saw each other last, learn more about each other,” Kakashi proposed, “Besides, most of the parents will be there.”
“Can I think about it and let you know after the game?”
“Sure,” Kakashi responded with a grin, “I should go give the kids their pep talk. Talk to you in a couple hours.”
Just when Iruka thought he couldn’t be surprised further, Kakashi brushed his lips across his forehead before joining his team. Touching the barely moistened skin that was still warm from Kakashi’s kiss, he climbed the stairs of the bleachers and found a seat, knowing at that moment what his answer would be.
Naruto’s team trounced the other, winning by over thirty points. They could have broadened the spread but didn’t want to be accused of unsportsmanlike conduct, Iruka proud of their honor and respect toward their opponents. The game ended on a good note, everyone all smiles as they congratulated the others for a job well done.
Iruka ambled toward the sidelines once the crowd thinned out. He could hear Kakashi’s voice giving parents directions to the restaurant and waited patiently until the boys left with their families. Only Naruto and a couple of his friends remaining, Iruka closed the distance between him and Kakashi, shoving his hands in his pockets and hoping his blush wasn’t visible when he smiled at him.
“I’d love to join you at the restaurant as long as it won’t be an intrusion,” Iruka said.
“Trust me when I say it’s anything but,” Kakashi said, returning Iruka’s smile with a tender one, “We’re going to Konoha Grill. Neji and Lee are going with me, so do you want to follow us?”
“Sure,” Iruka replied.
The drive didn’t take long since the eatery was nearby. Naruto was an animated mess, babbling about the three-point jump shot he nailed as well as pointing out the ways that Kakashi sucked as a coach. While Iruka was amused by how he bounced between topics, he found himself wishing that Naruto would accept Kakashi for the great guy that he was.
It didn’t take long to find the group when they walked into the establishment. Following the noise of teenage boys speaking loudly, Iruka saw they had commandeered the back of the restaurant. He was fully prepared to sit at the end of the table but looked up when he heard his name, Kakashi patting the chair next to him.
“Would you be upset if I sit next to Kakashi?” Iruka asked his young friend.
“Nope. Gives me a chance to catch up with my friends,” Naruto replied, “I haven’t seen a few of them in a couple months.”
Assured that he had gotten Naruto’s blessing, he nudged his way between the row of chairs and windows until he reached the seat next to Kakashi’s, sitting and thanking him. He didn’t want to interrupt the conversation he was having with a few parents. Figuring out that they were talking about the fees for away games, he paid attention since he promised Naruto’s foster family that he’d take responsibility for them. The chat wound down when a server stopped by for their drink order, Iruka’s eyes growing when Kakashi ordered a few pitchers of their popular flavors of soda. When Kakashi went through a list of pizzas he wanted to be made for the team, Iruka was shocked.
“How are we dividing the bill?” Iruka asked once the server left.
“We’re not. This is my treat for the boys for all their hard work,” Kakashi responded, “Besides, I asked you here. I wouldn’t let you pay.”
“Kakashi,” Iruka mumbled, feeling a blush creep onto his cheeks when he smiled at him.
Their time at the restaurant was extraordinarily pleasant. Kakashi lauded his players for their perseverance and teamwork during the game, highlighting a few boys for their exceptional skill. Looking down the row of tables when Kakashi brought up Naruto’s game-winning shot, Iruka smiled when his friend beamed so brightly his grin took up most of his face. He wrapped up his speech by promising that if they worked hard that season and tried their best, he’d be more than happy to throw them a pool party at his house. The boys were thrilled by the prospect and made that their goal.
“I like that you didn’t push them to work toward playoffs and championships,” Iruka said once most of his kids and their families left.
“That’s not what team sports are about at this age,” Kakashi said, “It’s about working together and enjoying themselves. Yeah, if they learn some life lessons along the way, that’s great but winning everything shouldn’t be the main objective.”
“That’s a very admirable take on it,” he said, “Coach Sarutobi didn’t drive them to win but wanted them to at least make the playoffs. I sensed he was disappointed when they didn’t.”
“I’ll be guiding them to reach them, but if they don’t, it’s not a big deal,” Kakashi declared, “I laid all my cards on the table during the parent meeting. We lost a few players since their parents didn’t think my philosophy was appropriate for a competitive sport, but I say let them live a little while they’re still young. They have enough stress and responsibilities. They don’t need it from an extracurricular activity.”
“You amaze me, Kakashi,” Iruka said, resting his elbow on the table before propping his chin on his hand.
“What’s amazing is you being there for a teen that needs guidance and individual attention,” Kakashi said, Iruka feeling heat slowly climb up the back of his neck, “That takes a lot of compassion and self-sacrifice. Many people wouldn’t carve out the time for a child that isn’t theirs.”
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I love giving back to the community, and this is a way that I think I’m decent at. Besides, Naruto is worth every second I spend with him,” he confessed, “If I have my way, we’ll be lifelong friends.”
“From what you’ve both said about each other, I think you will,” Kakashi said.
“He talks about me?”
“Yep. He’s always going on about his big brother and what he did with him that week. The texts you two exchanged and phone calls you had,” Kakashi answered, “I thought it was his actual sibling.”
“A lot of people think that,” Iruka said, chuckling quietly, “Thank you though.”
“I wanted to ask you about something since Naruto brought up his best and worst,” Kakashi said, smiling when Iruka laughed, “What are your best and worst ideas for dates?”
“Specify, please,” Iruka said.
“Well, I like spending time outside in activities that I can focus on the one I’m with,” he explained.
“Oh,” Iruka said, taking a few sips of his soda while he thought, “I like outdoor dates too. I like going to small independently owned shops.”
“Like the ice cream parlor?” Kakashi asked, smiling when he nodded.
“Just like that. There’s a candle store near my apartment that’s amazing. The owner makes them on site,” he said.
“That’s pretty cool. What about the worst?”
“Anywhere with a lot of people and it’s loud,” Iruka responded, “I’m not a big fan of sporting events or concerts. I love plays and symphonies, but anything wilder is too much.”
“I promise we’ll never go to sporting events or concerts,” Kakashi said, taking his hand in his own and lacing their fingers together, “I know we plan on spending Saturday together and this is short notice, but would you like to come over for dinner on Sunday? I’d love for you to meet the pack.”
“You’re sure it’s not too much time together?” Iruka asked.
“I feel like I can’t spend enough time with you,” he professed, “I want to see you all the time. I want to see your smile constantly. I want to learn everything I can about you and share everything about me. You’re on my mind all the time. I hope this isn’t scaring you away, but I want to be honest with you.”
“Wow,” Iruka breathed, sitting back in his chair, “I promise you aren’t scaring me, but I’ve never had this happen to me. No one was interested in me, remember?”
“You definitely have someone very interested now,” Kakashi said softly.
Iruka felt like he was on cloud nine upon hearing Kakashi’s confession. It made him feel like the most wanted man in the world, shocked that it was directed at him. Nodding slowly, Iruka held his gaze as he spoke.
“I’d like that,” Iruka said.
“Me too. I’m glad you came today,” Kakashi said, looking around the nearly empty restaurant and darkened windows, “Sadly, I have to get Neji and Lee home.”
“I understand and am glad I tagged along too,” Iruka agreed, “I’m sure Naruto’s foster mom is wondering where he’s at.”
Telling the boys that they were leaving soon, Kakashi and Iruka boxed the rest of the pizza for the teens to take with them. Bathroom trips were needed before they headed out, the kids walking ahead of the adults once they were outside. Walking slowly toward the parking lot, Kakashi searched for Iruka’s hand until his own touched it, clasping them together as they made their way to their vehicles.
“Until Saturday?” Iruka asked as Kakashi opened his car door.
“Yep. I’ll text you at least a million times before then,” he replied, grinning when he laughed.
“I can’t wait. Be careful going home,” Iruka said.
His eyes widening when Kakashi leaned forward and stole a brief yet sweet kiss, Iruka felt his heart thundering in his chest. The softness of Kakashi’s lips was better than he remembered, and he sighed into his open mouth while running his hands up Kakashi’s chest to rest on his shoulders. Ending the gentle caress soon after it began, Iruka felt dazed in the best of ways.
“Have a fabulous night, Iruka,” Kakashi whispered, a small smile on his lips as he walked away.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Iruka felt Naruto’s eyes on him. He didn’t want to face his Little Brother and explain just how deep his relationship was becoming, but when he glanced at him, he saw nothing but curiosity in his visage.
“You like him a lot, don’t you?” Naruto inquired, smiling when he nodded, “You know what?”
“What’s that, Naruto?”
“Since he took us out to celebrate and didn’t drill us as well as how great he treats you, maybe Coach Hatake isn’t the worst after all,” Naruto mused.
“I’m happy to hear that,” Iruka said.
Recalling each hour that ticked by that evening as he started his car, Iruka’s joy and admiration grew.