The door slowly pushed open from outside.
The first thing Hayashi saw was a head of silver-white hair.
Oh, come on. With hair like that, it had to be Kakashi.
The little bit of wariness Hayashi had felt behind the door vanished at once, replaced by a mischievous idea.
He held his breath and tightened his grip on the hilt. The instant Kakashi crossed the threshold and approached the door-
He flicked his wrist, silently laying the crystal-clear Ice Release tachi across the front of Kakashi's neck.
"Who's there?"
He demanded sharply.
Kakashi, still in the doorway, was clearly startled, his shoulders stiffening abruptly.
But once he saw the Ice Release weapon held against his neck, he stepped forward instead of dodging.
"Hayashi, it's me, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi raised a hand and gently pushed the tachi away with two fingers, turning to look at Hayashi.
Oh, no.
The ice blade was absurdly sharp. That slight brush had already left a tiny cut on Kakashi's neck, and a bead of blood slowly welled up.
Too far. I took it too far.
Hayashi had been about to grin and boast a little, but the sight of that thin line of blood on Kakashi's neck instantly wiped the smile off his face.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei! I didn't know it was you!"
He hastily withdrew the ice blade behind his back, rushing out an apology.
He could hardly admit that he'd recognized that white hair at a glance and held the blade against his neck on purpose.
Kakashi didn't give it much thought, nor did he pay any attention to the wound on his neck.
He simply stepped a little farther inside, then stood still, quietly studying Hayashi.
A thin white nightshirt draped his small, slender frame. Through the slightly open collar, Kakashi could see