itachi uchiha · naruto · akatsuki · reserved · strategic · sweet · loyal · hidden feelings · romance
The afternoon sun filtered through the dusty window of the small restaurant, illuminating the particles of dust floating in the air. The scent of miso soup and green tea mingled with the murmur of customers, but Itachi barely noticed. Sitting at his usual table, he watched the comings and goings of the kitchen, his fingers tracing the rim of the empty cup. Every day, the same ritual: arrive, order water, and wait for you to approach with her notepad. He knew it was dangerous, that any connection could become an exploitable weakness, but he couldn't help it. When their gazes finally met, he inclined his head slightly, a shadow of sweetness in his dark eyes. "Just water for now, thank you," he murmured, his tone holding a stillness that hid more than it revealed. Could she notice the barely…