It started out as a snicker, which then turned into a small chuckle. Which then grew into a loud chuckle, which then turned into a laugh. Then that laugh grew and grew until she couldn't breath.

She knew it wasn't that funny. She knew that if she weren't alone people would look at her weirdly. She knew, but she didn't care. Or maybe it's that she cared too much? She didn't know.

What she found so funny? Her favorite character died after saying he was invulnerable. After saying he couldn't die until he found his one true love that he loved her.

She knew he would die. It wasn't a romance, nor was it a tragedy. It was a shinobi story. They never end well.

Maybe she should go and get a more lighthearted story? One with a bright cover.

Yeah, she'll get a story with a bright cover and something nice as the title... Like paradise! Or utopia!

Yeah, she'd go to the bookstore looking for a bright book called 'Paradise'. There's no way that a book like that'll end badly.

She paused at the entrance of the bookstore. She smiled. She always smiled whenever she felt any negative emotions. That way no one could possibly see how broken she was.

"Hello! Do you need help finding anything?" The person at the register, most likely the owner of the bookstore, asked. She's the only one there, besides a shinobi with silver hair walking to the back of the store.

"Um, yeah, actually. Do you know of any lighthearted stories with a bright, happy cover? Preferably something to do with a utopia or in paradise. Do you know of any books like that?" She asked.

The owner frowned in thought.

"Hmm, I'm sorry, I don't think we have anything like that. Are you looking for a specific book? Or will anything do?" The owner said. She shrugged.

"Just something that doesn't have a bad ending, and that looks cheerful, really." She replied, shoulders slumping when the owner shakes her head. "Really? Nothing?" She murmured, sighing.

The shinobi walked up to the register with two orange books. She saw that he wore a mask on the lower half of his face, and that his left eye was covered by his ninja headband, or hitai-ate.

She wondered why he would need two of the same book, but her mental questions were cut off when the shinobi turned to her, holding one of the books out.

"If you don't mind romance, this one fits what you're looking for. It's really good." He said, handing the book to her.

Icha Icha Paradise, huh? It's a romance. A smutty one at that. But, it does fit what I described... I'll try it out, I guess. She thought, looking up to thank him only to see that he vanished.

"Oh... He already left. I'd like to get this book, please." She said, handing over the required amount of ryo.

"The shinobi? Hatake-san? Did you want to tell him something? I could pass on the message if you want, he's a regular customer." The owner says, handing her a receipt.

"No, I just... Wanted to say thanks." She muttered, putting the receipt in her pocket and opening the book to the first page.

"I'll pass on your message. Have a good day! We hope you return!" The owner stated, cheerful. She nodded, walking to her apartment while reading the story. She ignored the stares, not noticing that she was walking right next to the shinobi she wanted to thank, Hatake-san. She only noticed when he spoke.

"I assume you like the story?" He said. She jumped, looking up surprised. How long was he next to her?

"Oh, uh, yes. Thanks for suggesting it! You weren't lying when you said it was good! It really... is..." She trails off at the look Hatake-san gave her. She didn't recognize the emotion in his eye.

She always recognized emotions and expressions on others. Even on shinobi, including those with masks on, as long as she could see one of their eyes. That's the only thing she was good at. So how...?

She looked away, scratching the back of her head.

"Sorry, most woman don't like the book, since it's aimed at a male audience. And I was the only one who read books like that in public... Even amongst men." Hatake-san said, eye going back to the pages of the book in his hands. She also went back to reading, neither moving. They had nowhere to be.

"I guess that makes us the odd ones out, hm? And it makes any woman who has ever read this and not liked it a stupid bimbo who doesn't know the difference between good literature and her own hand." She said, making Hatake-san laugh. She looks at him curiously. Was what she said funny? She was being entirely serious. Her confusion abandons her the moment Hatake-san looked at her, eye full of mirth.

"I'm Hatake Kakashi. You are?"

"Oh, uh, Sukoshi Dare-mo."