Your Feelings, I Accept Them

At seven in the morning, a thin veil of white mist hovered over the lawn at Konoha Park.

They had agreed to meet at nine last night, but before daylight had fully spread across the sky, Obito was already waiting at the park entrance.

Geothermal Pipelines constantly sent warmth up from underground, melting the lingering snow along the stone paths into thin streams of water.

The heated earth gave off the damp scent of soil and fresh grass. It really did feel a little like spring had arrived early.

He had deliberately changed into a newly bought dark coat, which he had ironed back and forth three times the night before.

He had clipped every loose thread from the hem, and the creases in his trouser legs were sharp enough to cut a hand.

But no matter how neat his clothes were, they could not hide the dark circles beneath his goggles.

Obito had stood there for so long that his legs were stiff and sore. When he walked, he had nearly forgotten how his knees were supposed to bend.

There was an old bench in the center of the park. He circled it once before finally choosing it.

Obito crouched down, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the seat over and over.

Still dissatisfied with the dust hidden in the gaps of the wood, he simply rolled up his sleeves and kept rubbing it with the inside of his coat.

More than ten minutes passed, and the once-dull bench gleamed with an oily sheen.

Obito lowered his head to look at the tense face reflected in the wood grain and cleared his throat.

"Rin, actually, all this time..."

Before he could get any further, his brows twisted together.

Those words were too old-fashioned. They sounded like a