The school bell finally rang.
“School is over!” someone shouted.
Almost the entire class rushed toward the door.
I packed my bag with a tired sigh.
“Finally…” Math had officially ruined my mood for the day.
As I stepped outside the classroom, I looked around the corridor.
No silver hair.
No black hoodie.
No mysterious man sitting on windows.
“…Good.” At least he wasn’t here this time.
Or so I thought.
— After school, I got on the school bus with my younger sister and brother.
The bus slowly made its way through the busy streets.
Students laughed loudly.
Some were sharing snacks from their tiffin boxes.
Others were talking about homework.
I rested my head against the window.
Then…
I noticed something.
On the roof of a building across the road…
A familiar figure stood quietly.
Silver-white hair.
Black hoodie.
Hands inside his pockets.
Kakashi.
Before I could blink…
The bus turned the corner.
He disappeared from sight.
“…Was he…” I shook my head.
“No.” “He couldn’t possibly be following the bus.” …Right?
— By the time I reached home, the evening sky had turned orange.
I changed into comfortable clothes and went to my room.
Just as I opened my notebook for self-study…
Tap…
Tap…
I looked toward the window.
“…Seriously?” I walked over and opened it.
Kakashi climbed inside as naturally as ever.
“You really need to learn how to use the front door.” “It’s too crowded.” “You’ve never even tried.” “I don’t need to.” I sighed.
“I knew you’d say that.” He looked at the open mathematics notebook on my desk.
“So…” “You do study.” I folded my arms.
“At home.” “I don’t like studying in school.” “There are too many distractions.” His visible eye shifted toward me.
“…Including me?” I smiled.
“Especially you.” For a brief second…
He looked almost amused.
Almost.
He walked over to my bookshelf.
His eyes moved across the books one by one.
“You read a lot.” “It helps me think.” “Hm.” Silence filled the room again.
Unlike before…
This silence felt comfortable.
I looked at him for a moment.
Then asked, “Can I ask you something?” “You already are.” I rolled my eyes.
“You know what I mean.” He gave a small nod.
“Go ahead.” I hesitated.
Then quietly asked, “…Do you ever miss your home?” The room became completely still.
Kakashi’s hand stopped on the edge of a book.
For the first time…
He didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes lowered slightly.
“…Sometimes.” Just one word.
But it felt heavier than anything he had said before.
I looked at him carefully.
“…Do you think you’ll ever go back?” He looked out of the window.
“I don’t know.” The answer sounded simple.
Yet…
There was something lonely hidden inside it.
I decided not to ask anything else.
Some questions…
Didn’t need another answer.
After a while, Kakashi stood up.
“I should leave.” “So early?” “I have work.” “You always have work.” “Hm.” I walked him to the window.
Just before he stepped outside…
I spoke without thinking.
“…Be careful.” He paused.
The evening breeze gently moved his hair.
For a few seconds…
He simply stood there.
No one had said those words to him in a very long time.
Without looking back, he quietly replied, “…You too.” Then he disappeared into the fading sunlight.
I stood by the window for several moments.
“…Such a strange person.” I smiled faintly before closing it.
— Far above the city…
Kakashi stood alone on the roof of a tall building.
His calm eyes looked toward the house he had just left.
The wind carried the last light of sunset across the sky.
He quietly whispered to himself, “…Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” For a moment…
His eyes held a sadness no one else could see.
Then he turned away…
And disappeared into the night.
End of Chapter 8