“WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK??!!?!??," Obito yells as he kicks a door open and speedwalks out of the school library. Pigeons squawk around him, flying off in a frenzy at the sudden noise. 

“I can’t believe this. That absolute fuck!” Obito seethes, to no one in particular, his thoughts running a mile a minute. He rages down the dirt pathway, speed walking down toward the principal building.

This is ridiculous. Absolutely RIDICULOUS!!, the voice in his head yells. He couldn’t even-- he could not even function! What the hell is Kakashi thinking?! He’s leaving? Since when!? And why didn’t he tell anyone? Why didn’t he tell me???

Obito felt betrayed, insulted, and furious!

"That fucking scarecrow bitch bastard!” Obito hisses under his breath. Students passing by quickly jump out of the way, left and right. Others watch in shock, their mouths hanging open.

He felt like he could strangle someone. And oh he has the perfect person in mind for that--

Obito angrily opens the door to the school main offices and speed walks down the hall. He’s getting close now… Any second now.

He rounds the corner of the hall and comes face to face with Kakashi.

Obito fumes. “You…!”

Kakashi straightens up in shock, surprised to see him. “Obito! What?...”

Still glaring at Kakashi, Obito freezes not knowing what to do next. Oh no. What was he going to do once he saw him? 

Then sudden anger spurs within him. Obito’s lips snarl back in a growl and he forcibly grabs Kakashi by the collar, shoving him forward. “You! What the Fuck!?”

Eyes wide at the sudden motion, Kakashi's voice comes out in a subtle warning. “Obito, I can see that you’re upset...”

“Fuck, no shit!” Obito yells, interrupting him. “You’re leaving?? Again?!? What the hell, Kakashi!? When were you planning on telling me!?”

Kakashi’s face slowly turns stoic, his voice coming out plain. “Why? It’s my business, not yours.” 

Obito's eye twitches. He tightens the grip on Kakashi's collar, twisting it furiously. This guy. The nerve.

Kakashi stares at Obito’s face. He is absolutely pissed. He looks down at Obito’s tightened fists on his collar. Afraid that it was going to rip, he slowly reaches up and places his hands on Obito’s. “Let go, Obito," he says with a calm voice. 

Obito glares at Kakashi. Why does he look so emotionless? It really ticked him off. Obito wanted to punch him. Or maybe strangle him. Anything would do. He just felt so freaking pissed, and he couldn’t do anything with it. He just wanted to stay mad. 

Obito slowly looks down at Kakashi’s hands on his. He sees his own hands are shaking. What is wrong with him? 

Suddenly embarrassed, Obito shoves Kakashi forward and releases the collar. He looks away and reaches his hand around to rub the back of his neck to release some tension. 

“Why didn't you tell me?” Obito asks in a tired voice.

Kakashi watches him warily. He straightens himself up, fixing his collar and speaks. “I’m sorry, Obito. I did want to tell you… I just didn’t know how.”

Obito shifts his head back to look at him. He's still a bit angry, but there is a slight hurt around his eyes. “Well, you should’ve told me.”

“I know.”

Obito still feels the frustration and anger toiling underneath. It's starting to hurt his insides. He just couldn't shake the feeling of being betrayed. But more than anything, he wanted to know why-- why is Kakashi doing this? 

“So you’re leaving. Tell me why?” Obito demands.

Still watching him, Kakashi opens his mouth to speak, his voice cool and even. “I applied early in the year. Considering senior year is generally just extra curricular activities and useless classes, it makes sense to apply to college early. It was a back up, just to see if I could get accepted and win the scholarship. I didn’t even know if I was going to do it or not. Much less get accepted at all.”

Obito studies Kakashi’s face, trying to keep himself calm. “So you knew this was a possibility all along. Why run for SCP?”

“Like I said,” says Kakashi, “it was a backup. In case the scholarship application fell through, I would still be SCP. When I got the acceptance letter, I was still unsure whether to do it or not. But now, my father is getting better and he fully supports my decision whether to stay or not.”

“When did you get the acceptance letter?” says Obito.

‘“Sometime over winter break.”

“So what made you finally decide to do it?”

Kakashi looks down at the floor. “Why not? It’s the better option. There's nothing keeping me here.”

Obito felt a sudden twinge in his chest. “What about me?”

“What about you?” Kakakshi says, emotionless. 

There's that cold look in his eyes again, Obito notices. A sharp pain hits him in his chest.
He feels his temper rising again, so he clenches his fist to keep from shaking.

"You know what I mean,” says Obito.

Kakashi studies him for a moment, then his eyes widen a tiny bit. “Oh. That...”

Obito watches him, carefully looking for any sign. 

Kakashi's eyes drift away, looking anywhere but at him. “Obito, I don't know what to say,” he says quietly.

There is an awkward silence that starts up between them. Obito's face saddens slightly. There is a numb ache in his chest. And it's been there ever since he saw Kakashi the day before-- When he was hiding in the bushes, feeling sick and afraid. And now, being here right in front of Kakashi and him not even looking him in the eye, Obito felt like… he was about to break.

“Did you decide to leave... because of what happened...?” says Obito quietly. 

Kakashi sees that Obito is trying to mask the hurt he feels, but he can't. Obito has always been so expressive. It's part of the reason he fell in love with him. But no, he shouldn't think about those things. Not anymore. 

His own cool demeanor falters a bit, but he quickly replaces it with his usual blank expression. “It has nothing to do with you, Obito.”

Obito studies Kakashi’s face. He's avoiding looking at him and now he's trying to leave completely. Just when Obito is starting to realize his true feelings about the bastard. 

There is an ache behind his eyes, making him feel like he's about to fall apart, but he straightens up and keeps himself calm. He clenches his fists at his side. How could Kakashi leave after what happened? Why now? It's all so unfair. 

Silence echoes around them. And Kakashi is still looking away, not knowing what to do.

The thoughts keep swirling around in Obito's head, making him feel hopeless. And after being so angry, he felt tired.

If only he could do something. Something to stop him... 

And then it hit him. A sudden idea. 

Obito focuses his eyes on Kakashi. “I think... I have a hard time believing that,” he says, voice slow and steady.

Kakashi looks up at him, confused. “What?”

This is my one chance, Obito thinks to himself. I need to get him to change his mind.

A slow smile curls at the edge of Obito's lips. He says with a clear voice, “You know, Kakashi, I’ve learned a bit of your facial cues."

Kakashi gets quiet, nervousness rising in his stomach.

Obito feels nervous too, but he hides it. This plan has to work, he thinks to himself desperately.

He flashes Kakashi a sly grin. "Having spent a lot of time with you these past few weeks, I think I understand what you are truly feeling. I can see you now even with the mask.” 

Surprised at Obito’s words, Kakashi suddenly feels self conscious. Obito can see him? Even with the mask? It must be some kind of trick to get him to admit something. Well, he's not going to give in so easily. 

“You think you know me that well?” Kakashi says, keeping his voice calm and aloof.

“Actually, I do,” Obito says, feeling confident. “And I think... I can change your mind.”

Kakashi looks at him suspiciously. This guy... what's he planning? He is a bit curious, but he's not going to show it. “You're not going to. My mind is already made up.”

“Oh we'll see about that,” Obito says coolly. He’s not going to let that comment deflate him. He looks Kakashi in the eye and smirks. “And you still owe me a lobster dinner.”

“What?” yells Kakashi, stunned. “No way! I never agreed to that.”

Obito grins mischievously. “We shook on it. Remember?” 

Kakashi’s eyes narrow, giving him a blank stare. “We shook hands and then you said…”

“Don’t argue with me, Bakashi!” yells Obito suddenly, interrupting him. “It's happening! Tonight!” 

“Wha..?” Kakashi stutters, mouth hanging open. What just happened?

Obito turns to leave and walks away. As he’s walking away, he yells back at him, “Pick me up at 7. And you better not be fucking late or I’ll fucking kick your door down and force you to hang out with me!”

Eyes wide, Kakashi stares after him, completely flabbergasted. What the hell? 

He continues to watch Obito as he's walking away. There is a confidence in his step. And Kakashi just stands there, trying to make sense of what just happened. How did he fall into this trap? 

Then, without his control, a tiny smile reaches his lips. Well that… was unexpected, he thinks to himself.

A part of him feels tricked and cheated. Completely blindsided. But another part of him, the part he tried to suppress so badly, started to feel hopeful.

_______

A/N: Ganbatte, Obito-chan. Fight for your man! XD

So the Art of War comes back into play. Kind of lol. Hehehehe there's a reason this fic has 'tactics' in the title. 'Tactics' to help you trick unsuspecting future boyfriends into going on a date with you. lol 😂😂😂

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Yes there's a lot of swearing, but it was interesting for me to write Obito being angry.

Let's see what will happen next. :3