Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

59 | Okay. Let's Talk.

"Hey, long time no see!"

[Y/N] had been walking through the village alone when someone called out to her. She looked up at the voice, being met with the sight of two of her best friends. She grinned and ran over to meet them, hugging them.

"Yeah, really, long time. What're you two up to?"

Kotetsu and Izumo exchanged glances and shrugged. "Nothing much," Izumo said, "Wanna go grab a bite to eat with us?"

She nodded and before long they were all seated at the ramen bar, [Y/N] sitting between the two men. She smiled to herself. "This is just like old times, from our genin squad, remember? You two always wanted to know when the next meal break was!"

"Hey! That was mostly Kotetsu!" Izumo protested, crossing his arms.

Kotetsu shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a man who likes to eat."

[Y/N] laughed again. "I kind of miss those days. The three of us and Shikaku."

"Shikaku was such a hard ass." Kotetsu rolled his eyes, slurping noodles out of his bowl.

"He just wanted us to be the best we could be." She said back to him, ignoring the broth rolling down his chin. He'd always been a messy eater and getting older hadn't changed him.

"Speaking of, how've you been lately, in light of everything?" Izumo asked, a new serious tone filling the air. [Y/N] stopped and turned to face him. "So then Genma told you all?"

"It's all he can talk about lately. He's miserable, [Y/N]." Kotetsu said again.

"Yeah, the man's pretty broken up right now. I've not seen him like this since you two ended things." Izumo agreed, taking a bite of his own ramen. [Y/N] just stared at her bowl, the noodles growing colder. She didn't intend to tear Genma down like that. Could he really be that torn up? And if he is, then what of Kakashi? She sighed and pushed her bowl toward Kotetsu. "You can have that. I don't think I'm actually that hungry."

"Aww, no, look. I didn't mean to ruin your appetite. We were just trying to check up on you. If Genma is taking it that hard, then we figured you weren't taking it much easier." Kotetsu wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders, guilt working it's way up his spine.

"No, no. You're fine. I'm just... I'm just so confused guys. I mean, what am I supposed to do...?"

"Well, you could always just talk to me."

[Y/N] and her two friends froze, the hair on the back of their necks standing up. [Y/N] gulped and turned around. Genma was leaning against the frame of the ramen bar, hands in his pockets. He wore his usual jonin uniform, but he looked different. It wasn't until [Y/N] finally looked up at his face that she realized it was because of how tired he looked. He must not have been sleeping well the last few days.

"Genma, I don't think—"

"Come on. Kakashi is out of the village training with Naruto, so you can't go talk to him right now. Your brother and his team left out a few hours ago to help the Fire Temple, so that's a no go. You might as well just talk to me."

"Genma." She eyed him warily, a nervous feeling rising in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't that she didn't trust Genma. Rather, she didn't trust herself.

"Look, I won't try anything, okay? We just need to talk. Please?" He tilted his head to the side, giving her the same adorable look he used to when he wanted to get his way. She still couldn't resist, all these years later. Sighing, she stood up and nodded, unable to formulate a reason why she couldn't go. She started to put money down for her meal, but Izumo stopped her. "It's on me, okay? You just go figure out what you need to. Me and Kotetsu are always here for you, okay?"

She smiled and nodded, hugging them both quickly. "Thanks guys."

She turned and faced Genma. He pulled the curtain back and held it open for her to walk through. He nodded to Kotetsu and Izumo once before following her out and the two started up the street. The two men stayed seated at the bar, watching them walk away before Kotetsu finally spoke up.

"Say, do you think she'd care if I finish off her ramen?"

"Kotetsu, you're an idiot."