Video | January 25th | Evening

[spandexisyouth]

[The device is turned on to show a cheerful Gai. There’s some flour in his hair for an unknown reason and he seems unaware of it, or uncaring.]

Chipotle is not really spicy at all, is it?

[Kakashi's voice comes from off-screen, not far from the device. He's probably working next to Gai in the kitchen.]

Anything is 'not really spicy' to you.

[Gai looks off to the side.]

But this pepper especially is not very spicy! I am sure! I do not see why we cannot put some in dinner!

[An audible sigh from Kakashi.]

Obito will side with me. Two to one, you're outvoted, Gai-kun.

[Gai straightens, looking defiant.]

I am quite certain that Obito is up to dealing with spices! And I am asking the city, not just him! Perhaps you should build up your tolerance!

[A pause.]

The city isn't eating your food. We are. And we'd like to live through dinner.

[Gai sighs, looking down at the food.]

It would not kill you. Especially something this mild! It should not even... Very well.

[Gai steps away from the screen to put the peppers back in the fridge.]

[Kakashi moves into the frame just enough to be seen for a moment, before blocking the camera with his hand. The visual may be blocked, but the audio is not. The tone of his voice is playful and somewhat suggestive.]

I promise to make it up to you later.

[Gai’s voice is on the quiet side, but it’s no longer disappointed, not at all. If anything, it’s rather warm.]

Ah. I... Good. Then I would not mind dinner being... very mild.

[A bit of a chuckle from Kakashi.]

Dinner has to be Obito-friendly. Dessert-- [He stops abruptly and his hand moves away from the camera slightly.] You should really turn the communicator off.

We were-- I was asking-- [In the middle of verbally flailing Gai gets the communicator. There’s a glance at his face - his cheeks are red - and then it’s off.]

Comments

[spandexisyouth]

Kakashi alone balances me out because he is so far beyond mellow he is aloof! The world does not need more mellowness! It needs more cheer!

[weaponry]

It needs both. If people are too cheerful, then it'll be a very active world where people wouldn't know what true cheerfulness is because they don't experience some calmness every once in awhile. I think Kakashi-sensei is warmer than he lets on but he does have a really mellow exterior. [ Yes, she'll invoke the cheesy speeches she heard over the years. ]

[spandexisyouth]

But... but he... [Darnit, Tenten, you're more right than you know. Gai's known for years that Kakashi cares. Track change time.] But I know what true cheerfulness is, because I have known the exact opposite! I am not immune to painful things! That is what makes me value it! And then they should embrace cheer because it is far better!

[weaponry]

[ Tenten is always right! Or, at least, she thinks she's always right. ]

You recently went through Rock Lee leaving and Kakashi-sensei getting injured. You've dealt with sadness, so that's why you're able to be happy when it really counts. The moments where Kakashi-sensei is truly happy are twenty times sweeter but less expressive. It's a different kind of cheerful, a genuine warmth that can't be seen easily but it's definitely felt.

[spandexisyouth]

[Gai is silent for a moment. That... wasn't the pain he meant. Those were surface things compared to other things. But he doesn't want to drag that up. Instead he can raise an eyebrow at Tenten's last statement, because that's a rare thing in his experience.]

...You have noticed a time when he is happy?

[weaponry]

They're subtle moments but they exist. Like that time where he was smiling and all loopy when you carried him back to Konoha. [ Canon, you sure are weird. ] And the obligatory, "My students are okay" and things like that. [ She has seen a couple of glimpses of happiness from him. They weren't all that noticeable though, but that's why they're so noticeable when they happen. ]

[spandexisyouth]

...He was? On my back? I could not see that. [That overrode any other times. Had Kakashi been happy with Gai like that even before he knew Gai's feelings?] I did not realize people other than me were paying attention to his happiness.

[weaponry]

Well, yeah. I think he might have been so out of it he was delirious, but I guess he appreciates the efforts that you go through for him. If someone carried me all the way back to Konoha, I would have been happy I didn't have to walk. [ .....Wait, wait, bright idea! ]

Hey, Guy-sensei, do you want to practice your strength training when we get home?!

[spandexisyouth]

Sometimes I think he does. [Othertimes... he's not that sure, but this is making him feel more confident.

Gai raises an eyebrow at the question.] Of course I do! I always practice my strength training! ...Perhaps I should run laps with my Rival on my back!

[weaponry]

No. Whenever you're on a mission, you should run to various places in the ninja world with me on your back!

[ She sells her Amazing Idea with the biggest saleswoman smile she can make. You know you want to carry her, Guy-sensei! ]

[spandexisyouth]

[Gai looks unimpressed.]

And then how will you work on your speed and keeping up? If you are a part of the mission, you must run, Tenten!

[weaponry]

But if I run too much, I'll be exhausted before I even start fighting and that can jeopardize my entire life if I'm too worn out! [ NO... HER BRILLIANT IDEA CAN'T FAIL... ]

[spandexisyouth]

You are lacking in stamina? Then we shall train that more! Tenten! Come early to Morning Training next week. We will work steadily on your stamina so that you will not ever be exhausted before arrival!

[weaponry]

[ She's not lacking in stamina! She just doesn't want to run! ]

Uh- no thanks, Guy-sensei. My stamina's just fine. [ Although, she's always been short on breath whenever it showed Team Guy running around during their missions... ] There's nothing substandard about it. I have no troubles keeping up with any of you in the slightest. [ Blatant lies are obviously blatant. ]

[spandexisyouth]

[His smile is knowing.]

Yet you just expressed concern over arriving somewhere exhausted, my flower. I will not neglect your training simply because we are in a different place! We will focus and assist you!

[weaponry]

It's all right, Guy-sensei. I can make it from place to place just fine. You haven't noticed any struggling, have you? [ Please say no. Please say no. Please say no. ]

[spandexisyouth]

[She's lagged behind before, but she's developed well over the years, and he's not going to shoot down her confidence, especially over the network.]

I have not! You are doing well! But perhaps we should still train more, in case! You would not want to find yourself weary at a crucial moment, and it is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!

[weaponry]

[ Just don't let her get over her head! ]

We're good at pacing ourselves, aren't we, Guy-sensei? We arrive on time, and at a reasonable energy level. [ But doesn't this contradict what she said earlier... ]

[spandexisyouth]

We are very good! Years of dedication and hard work have gotten us there, my beloved flower! But that means that we must keep training! I do not mind making time for you at all! I enjoy it!

[weaponry]

[ My apologies for the lateness!!! I've been stuck in a place with no internet access ): ]

I know we have to keep training. I'm training even harder so I can be on top of my game when I go home. But, I don't need any special attention when it comes to stamina. [ Mostly because she can't handle that type of attention. A cross-country run isn't supposed to be cross-country, and she wouldn't like it if she ran to Virginia with Guy-sensei in tow. Besides, the war was a cake walk compared to some stamina exercises. ]

[spandexisyouth]

[No worries!]

Then what would you like us to work on when we train together? Because I enjoy training with you, my flower.

[weaponry]

Something that's not too strenuous? [ Training with Guy-sensei can be very difficult sometimes! It usually leaves Tenten a little tired out. ]

[spandexisyouth]

[He chuckles] Of course. We will take each session as it comes.

[weaponry]

All right, Guy-sensei. It sounds fine to me! [ She'll come to regret this in a couple of days. Possibly. ]