Smile More Often

The shadowy figure seemed startled by Koki's shout and slowly stepped out.

"It's me." The voice was cold and crisp.

The boy's silver hair gleamed with a chilling light under the bedroom lamp, like the most brilliant star in the night sky. The mask on his face added to his mysterious aura, making people want to explore him further.

He was staring intently at Koki. Unlike his usual deadpan gaze when looking at others, his deep eyes shone with a crystal-clear light, as if they could see right through people's hearts, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at him.

"You scared me to death, Kakashi-senpai!" Upon Koki breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest and complaining, "Don't you know how scary it can be? I thought it was a ghost!"

Kakashi chuckled softly upon hearing this, a laugh as cold as ice, yet tinged with apology. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

"No need to apologize, it's nothing. Kakashi-senpai, what are you doing here? Did you come to see me?" Koki asked.

"Kakashi."

"Huh?" Koki was a little taken aback.

"Just call me Kakashi, there's no need to address me as 'senpai'." Kakashi didn't want to hear the word "senpai".

"Ah? Okay, Kakashi." Koki readily agreed, since she didn't want to call anyone "senpai" anyway, and it's just that Japan really cares about that!

"Hmm." Kakashi's mood visibly improved upon hearing this, and his exposed eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter.

Koki stared at the scene, somewhat lost in thought.

Although the Kakashi-sensei of Team 7 grew up often smiled, the young Kakashi was extremely aloof, like a flower on a high mountain. This was the first time that Koki had seen Kakashi smile so happily with his eyes crinkling.

It really is... quite beautiful.

I wonder what kind of stunning beauty lies beneath the mask?

Wouldn't she be even more dazzling than the 'beautiful Uchiha '?

"What's wrong?" Kakashi, his smile fading as he saw the person opposite him looking stunned.

Had he smiled too horribly and scared the child? Kakashi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"Huh? It's nothing, I just think Kakashi has a really nice smile. I wonder what he looks like under that mask?" Koki snapped out of her reverie, but accidentally blurted out her true feelings. "No, I didn't want to see your face, I... oh dear!" The more she explained, the more confused she became, Koki simply stopped talking.

Upon hearing Koki's words, Kakashi unconsciously touched his face, his expression changing slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

He lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering something, then raised his head and said to Koki, "Koki, do you know? Sometimes, what I hide behind the mask isn't just my appearance, but also the fear and unease in my heart."

Is he pretty? Kakashi wasn't sure if his face could be considered pretty, but judging from the occasional glimpses of his true face while eating at restaurants that caused the girls around him to blush, he probably wasn't ugly, right?

I wonder if Koki will like it?

"But if you want to see, you can," the boy said, raising his hand to pull down his mask.

"Hey! Wait a minute." Koki grabbed Kakashi's hand, and seeing Kakashi's puzzled look, he said, "Let's keep it a little mysterious, after all, what we can't have is always the best."

Is it true that what you can't have is always the best? Kakashi repeated this thought to himself.

"But Kakashi, don't be so cold all the time, smile more! Your smile is definitely very pretty," Koki said with a smile.

Koki complimented him on his handsome smile? Upon hearing this, Kakashi's face instantly flushed red beneath his mask, like the glow of the evening sun. His eyes sparkled with shyness, and he hesitated, his mind a jumble of thoughts, yet unable to utter a word.

"I'm so happy!" Kakashi felt incredibly joyful. He tried his best to suppress his excitement, but the smile on his lips grew even wider. He quickly turned around, avoiding Koki's gaze. His silver hair danced down, covering his slightly trembling face.

"What's wrong?" Koki asked, puzzled.

Looking at the person in front of him, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, Koki was confused. Had she said something wrong? Should she have made him laugh more?

But Kakashi's smile, with his eyes crinkling, is so cute! A hundred times cuter than his usual cold demeanor! But if he doesn't like to smile, then so be it.

"Kakashi, I was just kidding. If you don't like to laugh, you don't have to. Live according to your own mood; whatever you are is fine."

"No! I don't dislike you. I just want to smile for you." Kakashi's eyes darted around as he said this, still unable to look Koki directly in the eye, only able to secretly observe her reaction out of the corner of his eye.

"Okay, it's settled then." Koki turned to face Kakashi, looked him straight in the eye, and smiled brightly.

"Hmm." Kakashi nodded nonchalantly, but his mind was in turmoil.

Looking at the smile on Koki's face, Kakashi felt as if his heart was being gently squeezed, and it clenched tightly.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. Every time he saw the bright smile on Koki's face, his heart would race and he couldn't control himself. Kakashi's breathing also became rapid, with each breath accompanied by a slight gasp, as if he was trying to calm the throbbing in his heart.

The two remained silent, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!" Kakashi felt his heart pounding loudly, and he instinctively covered his chest, afraid that Koki would hear his heartbeat, but this only made him more nervous.

Just then, Itachi's voice came from the bedroom, as if he was calling for his brother. Koki quickly ran in to comfort Itachi.

Whew! That's great! Itachi really saved his life.

Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, his tense body suddenly relaxing, and the blush on his face beneath his mask gradually faded as Koki left.

When Koki came out after coaxing Itachi to sleep, Kakashi had already returned to his usual cool demeanor.

"Turn off the light, lest Itachi wake up again," Kakashi said.

"Yes." Koki turned around, turned off the bedroom light, and closed the door behind her.

The two stood in the dimly lit corridor, surrounded by silence, with only faint moonlight shining through the windows onto the floor. Kakashi's eyes could still clearly see everything around him in the dim light. Taking advantage of the darkness, his gaze lingered unabashedly on Koki's pretty little face.

The two remained silent, and the air around them grew intense, creating a strange sense of oppression.