The day started like any other.
Same noise.
Same routine.
Same feeling that there was nothing special about life.
I walked along my usual path, half awake, half lost in thoughts I never said out loud.
The world around me was busy, but somehow I always felt…
slightly outside of it.
Like I was watching my own life from a distance.
Then it happened.
The air changed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just…
suddenly quieter.
Even the sounds of the street felt like they had stepped back.
I slowed down without knowing why.
And then— A voice came from behind me.
“Hmm…
this place is louder than I expected.” I froze.
That voice didn’t belong here.
Slowly, I turned around.
A man stood a few steps away.
Tall.
Calm.
Silver hair slightly messy, as if he didn’t care about appearances at all.
One eye covered.
A mask hiding most of his face.
But it wasn’t his appearance that made my heart stop.
It was the feeling around him.
Like he didn’t belong to this world…
…yet somehow felt strangely familiar.
His visible eye rested on me.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Just observing.
Like he already knew me.
“Yo,” he said casually.
I blinked.
“Who…
are you?” A short silence followed.
He tilted his head slightly, as if my question was interesting…
but not new.
“Kakashi,” he replied.
“Just someone who ended up in the wrong place.” That answer made no sense.
And somehow…
Too much sense at the same time.
I took a step back.
“Wrong place?
You just appeared out of nowhere.” His eye curved slightly.
A small smile…
Hidden behind the mask.
“Yeah.” “That happens sometimes.” I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
But he didn’t give one.
Instead, he looked around as if he were studying my world.
The buildings.
The people.
The noise.
Everything.
Then his gaze returned to me.
“This world is…
interesting,” he said slowly.
“And you look like someone who doesn’t sleep properly.” I frowned.
“That’s not important right now.” He gave a soft hum, as if accepting my answer…
But not agreeing with it.
For a moment, silence settled between us.
A strange silence.
Not awkward.
Just heavy…
Like something unseen stood between us.
Then he spoke again.
“Do you always walk like that?” “Like what?” “Like you’re carrying something you never asked for.” My breath caught.
That question hit far too close.
I didn’t answer.
And he didn’t push.
Instead, he turned slightly, as if he were about to leave.
“Anyway,” he said casually, “Don’t worry too much.” “I’m not here to disturb your life.” He paused.
Then added more quietly— “…at least not yet.” And just like that…
He started walking away.
Calm steps.
No hurry.
Like he was certain of something I wasn’t even aware of yet.
I stood there…
Still confused.
Still staring at the place where he had been standing only moments ago.
A single thought slowly formed in my mind.
Who was that man?
And why did it feel like…
He already knew me better than I knew myself?
Far away, Kakashi walked with his hands tucked inside his pockets.
He glanced once over his shoulder.
His visible eye narrowed slightly.
“…Found her,” he murmured.
A soft eye-smile appeared beneath the mask.
But this time…
It wasn’t casual.
It was certain.