Side Stories - Akiyama

Konoha High 3

Fashionably late and half edited ;)

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Dinner Dashes and Love Making

As the car pulled to a halt, wheels screeching as they did, he reached out to switch the engine off; hand falling limply onto his thigh. Sachihiro glanced up through his windscreen, staring at the bright sign reading 'DAYCARE', and let out a deep sigh. He remained seated in his car, feeling the sun's heat seep into his black hoody.

After a few more minutes, he mustered up the courage to open the car door. Soon he found himself muttering words of greeting to the receptionist as he signed his name down on the form and received the all clear to enter.

When the heavy door pulled open, Sachihiro was immediately greeted by the excited squeals of children. Slowly walking into the centre of the room, he had to sidestep many waddling toddlers. Pale eyes scanning the many children, he found who he was looking for; sitting alone beside the bookshelf.

"Hey, Nej." Sachihiro smiled softly as he knelt down beside the child. Hyuuga Neji lifted his gaze slightly to greet his elder brother, his pale chubby cheeks stretching into a sweet smile only possible by a four-year-old.

"Hi, Nii-san." Neji nodded gently, a few strands of rich dark brown hair falling from his low ponytail; resting at the base of his neck. "We go home now?"

Sachihiro's eyes softened as he smiled; genuinely. "Yeah.. we're going home, Nej."

He held out his hand and Neji gladly took it with his own, and when linked them together Sachihiro was able to comprehend just how small his little brother was. Small and fragile; someone he needed to protect with all his being.

Fingers intertwined, Sachihiro gently tugged along his brother. As they approached the exit, he heard a squeaky voice cry out.

"BYE BYE, NEJI!" Looking up, Sachihiro saw the bright toothless grin of a brown haired girl; one he knew to be Rin's younger cousin, Tenten.

Neji waved mutely, expression adorably blank. Sachihiro continued on, and as he did he noticed a certain boy in the corner — watching him.

His beautiful black curls and striking coal eyes were an immediate giveaway. Not to mention he was the eldest child in the room; recently having just turned twelve. Sachihiro was surprised to see Uchiha Shisui at Daycare so much earlier than usual.

Sachihiro wasn't quite friends with Obito; they had more of an older-brother-younger-brother dynamic. Sachihiro usually gave him a lift to the Daycare where both their brothers attended. Despite being close, the only other thing Sachihiro really knew about Obito was that he lived with his uncle and younger brother; and worked 'til eight on weekdays. Meaning that his still emotionally vulnerable younger brother was in the care of the Daycare after school until Obito finished work.

Not only did Sachihiro and Obito have brothers that went to the same Daycare and picked them up at the same time (8 o'clock sharp), but they also worked together at the same café further uptown. Which is why they had the same shift; as Sachihiro still qualified as a minor while living under his parents' roof and attending High School.

So, it was a shock to see the curly haired preteen at the Daycare before his Primary School had even ended (3:30 PM). And when he met his gaze, Shisui's eyes said it all; he wanted to know if Obito was with him.

Instead of approaching him, Sachihiro just shook his head and walked out the door before he could see Shisui's broken look.

He helped Neji into the back seat of his car; fancy, expensive — their parents'. Buckling his little brother in, Sachihiro made sure Neji was safely in before climbing into the driver's seat and starting the engine.