Ghostly Figure

Chapter 7: Ice Cream Incident

-3rd Person-

A few months have passed since Yui's arrival in Konoha. The village that once seemed so intimidating and foreign has started to feel a bit more familiar.

Yui still keeps to herself mostly, speaking only when necessary and usually in soft, limited words. But thanks to Kakashi's patient companionship and Naruto's persistent, cheerful friendship, she's slowly begun to open up, piece by piece.

Today, Yui is determined to conquer a challenge that has been particularly difficult for her—learning to read.

She sits on a small wooden bench in a quiet corner of the village's central square, her protective eyewear securely in place. The book in her lap is a simple one, filled with basic words and pictures meant to help children like her learn to read. Her finger traces each character carefully as she sounds out the syllables in a soft whisper, her brow furrowed in concentration.

From a distance, Kakashi watches her with a mixture of pride and concern. Yui has come so far since the day he found her, yet he knows that she still struggles with the fear that lingers inside her—fear of her abilities, fear of hurting those around her, and fear of rejection. But today, she seems more determined than ever, her focus entirely on the task at hand.

Yui is so absorbed in her book that she doesn't notice the small figure approaching her. It's only when she hears the sound of footsteps drawing near that she looks up, just in time to see a young boy with dark hair and onyx eyes walking straight towards her, his attention completely consumed by the ice cream cone he's enjoying.

Before Yui can react, the boy accidentally bumps into her, and the inevitable happens.

The ice cream cone is squished between them, the cold, sticky dessert splattering across his face and onto Yui's book. There's a moment of stunned silence as both children process what just happened.

The boy stands frozen, his expression a mix of shock and horror as the remnants of his ice cream drip down his cheeks. Yui's crimson eyes widen in surprise, her heart leaping into her throat. This is the last thing she wanted—she didn't mean to ruin his treat, and now she's terrified that he'll be angry with her.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Yui stammers, her voice trembling with anxiety. She feels the heat rising in her cheeks, a wave of guilt crashing over her. Her immediate instinct is to retreat, to disappear before she can cause any more trouble.

The boy blinks, wiping the ice cream from his face with the back of his sleeve. His expression is one of mild annoyance, but there's also a flicker of sadness in his eyes, as if this small misfortune is just one more thing in a long list of disappointments.

"It's... okay," he mutters, though his tone is tinged with regret over his lost treat.

Yui clutches the book tightly in her hands, unsure of what to do. She wants to make things right, but she's scared—scared of saying the wrong thing, scared of making him even more upset.

"I didn't see you... I was reading..." she murmurs, her voice barely audible.

Kakashi, who has been observing the scene from a short distance, decides it's time to step in. He approaches the two children with his usual calm demeanor, though there's a hint of amusement in his eyes as he takes in the situation.

"Looks like we had a little accident here," he says, crouching down to their level.

The boy glances up at Kakashi, recognizing him as one of the village's shinobi. He straightens up slightly, trying to hide his disappointment. "I wasn't paying attention," he admits, his tone still a bit sullen.

Yui's eyes dart between the boy and Kakashi, her guilt weighing heavily on her. She didn't mean for this to happen, and now she feels an overwhelming urge to make things right.

"I... I can get you another one," she offers hesitantly, though she has no idea how she would manage that. Her voice wavers, and she can feel her heart pounding in her chest.

Kakashi smiles gently, sensing her inner turmoil. He reaches out and gives her a reassuring pat on the head. "Don't worry about it, Yui. It was just an accident," he says, his tone soothing. Then he turns to the boy. "How about I get you another ice cream,? My treat."

The boy looks at Kakashi, then at Yui. The annoyance in his expression softens a little, replaced by a more neutral, accepting look. "Okay," he agrees, though there's still a hint of reluctance in his voice.

As Kakashi leads them toward the nearest ice cream vendor, Yui walks beside him, her mind racing. She keeps glancing at the boy, her curiosity battling with her anxiety. This is the first time she's met him, and she can't help but feel a strange connection—perhaps it's because they're both quiet, reserved children, each dealing with their own challenges.

As they approach the vendor, Yui feels a surge of nervous energy. She wants to say something to young bog, to introduce herself properly, but the words stick in her throat. She's never been good at initiating conversations, especially with someone new. But she also knows that this could be her chance to make another friend—someone who might understand her in ways that others don't.

Kakashi buys the young boy a new ice cream cone, making sure it's securely in his hand before they continue walking. Yui watches as the boy takes a careful lick, the earlier frustration in his eyes slowly melting away with each bite. The sight of him enjoying his treat brings a small smile to her face, and for the first time, she feels a spark of courage.

Gathering all her bravery, Yui takes a deep breath and turns to Sasuke. Her heart is pounding, and she can feel the heat rising in her cheeks, but she pushes forward. "M-my name is Yui," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm sorry about your ice cream."

The boy looks at her, his expression neutral but not unkind. There's a brief moment of silence, and Yui wonders if she's made a mistake by speaking up. But then, to her surprise, the boy nods slightly.

"It's fine," he says, his tone more relaxed now. "I'm Sasuke."

Yui feels a rush of relief and a small spark of accomplishment. She did it—she spoke to him, introduced herself, and he didn't seem upset. It's a small victory, but to Yui, it feels monumental.

Kakashi watches the interaction with quiet pride. He knows how hard it is for Yui to put herself out there, to trust others after everything she's been through. Seeing her take this small step towards connecting with someone new fills him with a sense of hope for her future.

"Good job, Yui," he says encouragingly, giving her a warm smile. "You're doing great."

Yui nods shyly, her gaze dropping to the ground, but there's a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She feels a little lighter, a little less afraid. Maybe, just maybe, she's starting to find her place here.

As they walk back towards the square, Yui can't help but glance at Sasuke again. He's still eating his ice cream, his expression calm and collected. But there's a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or maybe even a hint of understanding. Yui wonders if he feels the same sense of connection that she does, and for the first time in a long while, she feels a spark of hope.

When they reach the square, Kakashi gives them both a nod, his tone light but sincere. "I have a feeling you two will be seeing more of each other," he says with a hint of teasing. "Take care of each other, okay?"

Yui and Sasuke exchange a glance, neither quite sure how to respond. But there's a sense of mutual respect between them, a silent agreement that maybe, just maybe, they could be friends. As Kakashi leads Yui away, she feels a warmth in her chest that she hasn't felt in a long time—a feeling that maybe, despite everything, she's starting to belong here.

'I finally feel belonged...' The young white-haired girl thinks to herself with a small smile.

••••••••••••••••••

Small Sasuke is soooo cute I swearrr. Bro got the chubbiest cheeks aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

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Bye Potatoes!

Stay Fab!