A/N: one year! not too bad huh, as compared to,,, 4 years,,, ya im a slow writer mb. and ya im deliberately keeping chaps short, oops.

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments :)

also, if its not apparent yet, the plot of this story is going to meander. i do have one in mind, but progress will be slow, and more often than not this fic will be filled with random drabbles that are just really self-indulgent. tldr: this is more slice-of-life than plot-driven, and thats not going to be everyones thing! if youre still here after 12 chaps and complaining the plot isnt going anywhere, then wyd fam. go read sth else! theres a lot of awesome plot-driven naruto/bnha fics out there! jeez


Shift 13

Midoriya didn't follow him the next day.

Nor the following day.

Nor the one after that.

Hmm, strange. Where did his little green leech go? Not that he was concerned or anything.

He teleported to the boy's house to check it out. There, under a tree, he found the boy attempting to do push-ups.

He stared.

Midoriya didn't sense his presence. He continued his attempts at push-ups, arms struggling weakly, and elbows flared out at a 90-degree angle from his body. Every time he pushed himself up, his shoulders hunched up towards his ears. His form was wrong, noted Kakashi. He was going to hurt himself if he kept this up.

"That's not how you do a push-up," said Kakashi.

The boy yelled in surprise. He floundered and shoved himself into an upright position, cheeks pink.

"H-Hamake-san! What are you doing here?" He squeaked.

Kakashi stepped into the shade, hands on his hips. "Your form is wrong. Your elbows shouldn't be flared out at such an angle, and you're raising your butt too much."

"How long have you been watching me?" Midoriya asked suspiciously.

He sighed. Midoriya made him sound like a creep. "I just arrived," he said.

"Oh."

Kakashi squatted down next to him. "Have you done a push-up before?"

"No," he mumbled.

"Then why are you doing it alone?"

"I watched some videos on it! I thought I could do it because you made it look so easy."

Kakashi hummed. Children of this world are weird if they don't even know how to do a proper push-up at 11. But that's not his business. "Get someone to check your form next time," he advised as he stood up, ready to leave.

"Will you show me?" Midoriya blurted.

He paused. "Show you?"

"What I've been doing wrong. Can you show me, please, Hamake-san?" Midoriya looked shy - embarrassed - at having to ask for help.

Kakashi hummed in thought. Then he shrugged. "Sure, why not. Show me your push-up position."

He went around Midoriya to correct his hand positions, explaining to him where he should feel the stretch and what muscles the push-ups were supposed to train.

Midoriya was a quick and attentive learner, quickly adjusting his form until it was passable in Kakashi's eyes.

"Congrats, now you know how to do a push-up." Kakashi's eyes curved up as he gave his patented smile. "Bye."

"Wait!"

He sighed, turning his eyes heavenward. "What now?"

Midoriya fiddled his thumbs, looking down nervously. "Um…"

Kakashi waited.

"Um…"

"I'm leaving."

"Wait! Wait!" Midoriya hastily called out, and the words fell out of him in a rush: "Can we, if it's not too much trouble, exercise together? Maybe?"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

Midoriya spoke rapidly without a single pause. "I want to get stronger, but um, I don't know how to do so, and I can learn by myself through videos, but like you saw, sometimes I learn the wrong thing, and no one is here to correct me, and what if I injure myself instead, and won't that be bad? But if you're here, then you can correct me and help me get stronger, and I won't be a burden or impose on you, I promise. And this is only if you're willing, of course. I'm very sorry. I don't want to get in your way!" At the end of his little spiel, he gasped for air, hands locked in front of him in a plea, his smile nervous.

Kakashi blinked once. Then twice. "What?"

Midoriya took a deep breath. "Can you—"

He held a hand out. "Slower, this time. And breathe."

He flushed, then deflated visibly like all his courage had escaped him in that one breath. "Never mind. You probably won't say yes anyway."

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow. "What kind of hero-in-training gives up just like that?"

Midoriya scrunched his face in discomfort. "I-I—" he stuttered, "C-Could you please teach me how to get stronger, Hamake-san?"

"And why?"

"I want to get stronger so I can become a hero, but I don't know how."

Well, that was not quite what he was asking for. "And why should I help you?" he corrected.

"Because you're the strongest around here! And you know how to train; you do it every day."

Kakashi took a step closer to Midoriya. The boy cowered slightly. Immediately, he halted. Not a good sign, that.

"But what's in it for me? Why should I help you?"

Midoriya opened, then closed his mouth. He frowned. "Nothing," he finally said, "I can't offer you anything."

He tutted and placed his hands on his hips. "What bad manners. When asking for a favour, shouldn't you have something to give in return?"

Midoriya cocked his head to one side. "Like a b-bribe?"

Kakashi sighed. Look at him, spoon-feeding children answers at his old age. "That's one way to do it. If there are benefits to me helping you, state it clearly. If there aren't, create that incentive for me to want to help you. You can think about what I like or what I need and offer that to me. Or you can think of what I don't like and find a way to minimise that. Or threaten me with it. Stuff like that."

"I don't want to force you," protested the boy.

Kakashi shrugged. "Give me something in return, then." He propped his hands on his hips. "Maa, how is it fair to ask me to sacrifice a huge part of my time for your benefit, for free? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Midoriya pursed his lips. "True. But what can I offer you?"

"What, indeed? That's for you to figure out." Kakashi took out his book and turned away in a clear sign that the conversation was over.

"Can't you just tell me what you want?" he whined.

Kakashi smiled sweetly. "Nope. Do your homework."

And then he shunshinned away.


That was when Midoriya realised he knew nothing about Kakashi.

No matter. He would just ask the friendly police officer who occasionally hung out with Kakashi. Then he would ask the Fujiokas. He nodded; it was a sound game plan to him.

Mustering his courage, he went up to Tamakawa while he was enroute from the Fujiokas' house one fine summer afternoon. Twisting his fingers behind his back, he asked meekly, "H-Hello, officer. Can I ask you a question?"

Tamakawa smiled and bent down slightly. "Of course. Do you need help?"

"Do you know what Hamake-san likes?"

The policeman was surprised. "Hamake-san? Oh, you mean Hatake, right?"

"No, I mean Hamake-san," he repeated. "Gray hair, always with you?"

Tamakawa tilted his head in confusion. That was definitely Kakashi, albeit with a different name. Oh well, it was probably another weird Kakashi scheme. Not his business.

"I mean, yeah." He scratched his head. "Why?"

Midoriya briefly explained his situation to the policeman.

Tamakawa laughed delightedly. "I see. So what do you want to know?"

"I need to find out more about him! For example, what does he like?"

"He likes p- err, adult romance books."

Midoriya noted that down.

"Anything else?"

"Slacking, being an ass, I dunno." He shrugged. "He's always going around pulling pranks and seems to enjoy making things difficult for people."

Midoriya also dutifully jotted those down, his expression serious. What a cute boy.

"What about things he doesn't like?"

"Hmm…" he tapped his chin in consideration. "I don't know, probably inconveniences, trouble, and crimes."

Midoriya nodded furiously, and Tamakawa had to stifle another laugh.

"Anything else you need from me?"

The boy shook his head and beamed. "Nope, that's all. Thank you, officer!"

Tamakawa gave him a thumbs up. "All the best, kid. Let me know if you need any more help."

He brightened visibly at that. "Really? Thank you so much!"

Atop a nearby tree, Kakashi smiled.


Tamakawa: check.

Next: the Fujiokas.

Mariko opened the door to a bouncing Midoriya, who was smiling nervously at her. "Hello, Mariko-san! Do you need any help at the farm?"

The older woman blinked in surprise. "Sure, but what brings you here today, Izuku-chan?"

"Just wanted to help and ask you some questions about Hamake-san, if you don't mind!" He squeaked out. "It's for a project!"

She smiled warmly. "Of course, of course. Come right in. I'm preparing to make some pickles; you can help if you'd like."

It was at the kitchen counter that Kakashi found Midoriya, dicing up cucumbers and ginger while peppering the Fujiokas with questions.

"I see that you've now resorted to invading my home and interrogating my people," Kakashi said as he leaned against the door frame.

Midoriya jolted, then swivelled around to face him. "You didn't say I can't," Midoriya pointed out.

Kakashi shrugged. "Sure, go ahead."

Mariko looked at the exchange curiously. "What did Kakashi have you do?"

Midoriya briefly explained the Very Impossible Task, and the couple chuckled.

"I see. Well, we'll be glad to help too, so shoot away, young Izuku." Mariko winked at Kakashi.

Kakashi snorted and left them to it.


The next day found Midoriya muttering to himself furiously as he scribbled down his synthesis and plans.

Things he knows: Hamake-san likes dogs, plants, eggplants, slacking, reading erotica (he's not an idiot!), and playing pranks on people. He really likes shocking people, he noted wryly. He doesn't like inconveniences, and… and… that was all Midoriya had on Hamake-san, actually.

Midoriya pursed his lips. How to make use of all this information about Hamake-san? What could he offer Hamake-san?

A dog? No, where would he even get a dog? Plants? Perhaps he could buy one. Eggplants? That's possible. Midoriya could cook, he guessed. He wrote it down.

"Having troubles?"

Midoriya yelped. "How do you keep popping up out of nowhere?" he complained.

Kakashi just smiled. He sat on the floor. "So have you figured out what to offer me?"

"No, but I'm not giving up," he said stubbornly.

Companionable silence, Kakashi reading.

"Can I ask you some questions too?" he said hesitantly. "In exchange, I'll give you… I'll give you candy?"

"I don't like sweets," Kakashi said.

"Aha!" Midoriya scribbled that down. "Answer my three questions, and I'll leave you alone for the day," he offered.

Kakashi looked at him impassively.

"Two days," Midoriya said persuasively.

"Five," he countered.

He floundered. "Three," he said, wincing a bit as if he wasn't sure if he could barter.

Kakashi shrugged. "Okay." He went back to his book. "Three questions. Shoot."

Midoriya straightened, mouth a wobbly line as he wrangled his hands.

"Okay! First - why do you hide your face?"

Kakashi raised his eyebrows. "And why do you want to know this?"

"Because I want to find out how— ah, wait!" He huffed. "Don't try to change the subject!"

He smirked. Getting sharper, this boy. "It's because I have buck teeth."

"R-really?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Maybe."

Midoriya's stare somehow morphed into a set of puppy eyes that was surprisingly effective in making Kakashi feel like an old geezer stealing candy from a baby.

He sighed. "It's just an old habit, back when I used to get overwhelmed by scents." His sense of smell was keener than most. Not as good as an Inuzuka's, but definitely strong enough for even mild scents to bother him when he was a child.

Midoriya wrote that down furiously, mumbling to himself. "Enhanced sense of smell. Find a way to combat this?"

"Second question." He scrutinised his notebook before nodding to himself firmly. "Do you have - no, wait! Let me rephrase that. What are three things that bother you?"

Clever boy. "You," he teased gently, and the boy squeaked, turning red. "The summer heat, and… hmm… book spoilers."

Midoriya noted those down, all the while muttering under his breath.

Kakashi waited patiently as he mulled over his notes.

"Last question - what do you most desire now?

Kakashi gazed into the distance. His tone turned sombre, wistful: "To go home."

Midoriya blinked. What? "Why can't you go home now?"

Kakashi closed his book with a snap, and the sombre mood disappeared. He stood up and said cheerfully, "Three questions, nothing more! See you in three days!"

"Wait!" He protested, but alas: the man was gone, replaced by a log and yet another pile of swirling leaves.


Midoriya kept his word, and for three blessed days, Kakashi had peace.

Then, on the fourth day, the green gremlin was back.

"Teach me how to get stronger, Hamake-san. If you do, I'll prepare you lunch with eggplants on the days we train together, I'll also give you this mask that's meant for people with a heightened sense of smell!" He dangled a different face cloth up. It was a garish shade of purple and looked… eclectic (Kakashi was being nice here).

"I don't want that," he said.

Midoriya deflated. "Awwh. Fine, no mask. But if you teach, I'll prepare you lunch with eggplants on the days we train together-"

"I'll pass, don't wanna die," he cut in.

"Hey, I can cook!" He pouted.

"Really?" He asked curiously.

"Yeah, I - Wait, I know what you've doing. You're trying distract me again, aren't you?"

"Nope," he lied without missing a beat.

Midoriya scrunched his nose up. "Yeah, right. Anyway, if you teach me, I promise I won't find you outside our stipulated training time. But if you don't…" he hesitated.

Kakashi tilted his head.

Midoriya put on a brave smile. "But if you, don't, I'll keep following you around. You won't get a moment of peace. I'll pester you non stop until you get sick and tired of me."

Kakashi straightened. Slowly, he moved forward slowly until he was looming over the boy. His stare pierced right through Midoriya, pinning him on the spot.

"Are you threatening me?"

Midoriya flinched and shrunk back, sweating slightly. "N-no, I'm just sharing what would happen if you don't want to teach me. It's inevitable, really," he said, all false bravado.

As if Kakashi couldn't see his hands and legs tremble. Nonetheless, he didn't buckle even though he looked close to tears.

The boy continued bravely. "If you don't teach me, I'll have to learn through other means. It's just going to be annoying to you because then instead of only putting up with me for an hour, you'll have to put up with me for the whole day."

Midoriya was banking on the fact that he had been a pest to Kakashi to threaten him with being even more annoying unless he gave in? Took him long enough to think of this.

Kakashi said nothing for a moment, seemingly deliberating over his words. With each passing second, Midoriya seemed to get tenser and closer to tears.

After what felt like an eternity (to Midoriya), Kakashi finally relaxed his posture and moved backwards, and the pressure in the air eased.

The boy sighed in relief.

He hummed in consideration. "That does sound inconvenient. So what are your terms?"

"T-terms?" He blinked, then snapped back quickly. "To train with me for an hour daily, Hamake-san. Teach me how to get stronger. That's all!"

"Hmm." He paused. "Thrice per week."

"Deal! Ok—"

"I wasn't done. I have conditions. Non-negotiable ones."

He hesitated. "And what are they?"

"First condition: No weapons."

"Huh? But that's the fun—"

"Take it or leave it."

"Fine," he grumbled.

Kakashi lifted his second finger. "You must listen to my every instruction obediently. If I say stop, you must stop."

Midoriya nodded furiously.

"Third condition: I won't be able to train with you every time, but I'll give you things to do if I'm away. Okay?"

"Sounds fair," he said.

"I can work with that for now. One last condition." He waggled four fingers in the air. "Your mother must first approve."

"But—" protested Midoriya.

"No buts. If she disagrees, then I won't. And the moment she says 'no', we stop." He'd be damned before he gets caught in a family feud. As if the whole Uchiha Village Saga wasn't bad enough, dealing with angry civilians parents who would likely have the law on their side sounded like a huge pain.

Midoriya winced. "Fine. So if she agrees," he looked up hopefully, "does that mean you'll teach me."

Kakashi scratched his head. "Ehh, you'll bug me either way, right? It'll probably beat having you follow me around all the time."

Midoriya hollered. "That's a yes then! Thank you, Hamake-san! I'll make you proud!"

As Midoriya celebrated his win, Kakashi leaned against a tree and sighed. It seemed like he had a curriculum to plan once more.


"You wouldn't have followed me, would you?"

"I would," he bluffed.

"No you wouldn't, you're too polite for that," decided Kakashi.

Midoriya squeaked. Was that a compliment? He had no idea. "If you already knew that, why didn't you call my bluff?"

Kakashi peered at him over the top of his book. "Would you rather I say no? Because I can say no now."

"No, no! I'm good, thank you, sensei."

"Don't call me sensei."

"Okay, uh, sir. Thank you, sir."

They lapsed into silence.

"Hamake-san?"

"Hmm?"

"Your name isn't actually Hamake Kabushi, right? It's Hatake Kakashi, isn't it?"

Kakashi abruptly stood up. "Ah, will you look at the time, I believe I need to go. Bye!"

"Wait!" He protested, but alas: the man was gone, replaced by a log and yet another pile of swirling leaves. This was becoming a trend.


A/N: comments and feedback appreciated :) keep guessing where this is going HAHA it makes my day to see the speculations. ive written the next 2-3 chaps too to close off this "arc", so perhaps i'll see you all in a month or two!

-littlesparrowkeet