Easter holiday in Miami//Private//

"That Jake guy said he'd had a girlfriend. And .. and Kakashi, well, is Kakashi."

"Yeah, he'd had one. To stop the others teasing him, is what he told me. She found out he was gay and left him."

"He said he was heartbroken over it and had to drop out of school because of her..."

"Uh, yeah, because she left and told everyone he was gay so he was heartbroken by her betrayal and the others bullied him out... What you heard down there is his vague way of telling it."

".......oh." Minato hadn't accounted for guy talk. "Uhm. That kinda sucks. But.. but yeah. So."

"... His parents disowned him, as well." she muttered. "So he's been living by himself in the outskirts of Miami, here, after he was practically thrown out when he turned 18. I'm... Kinda impressed he can stay this happy."

"Oh. Okay. I see." Way to make him feel even shittier for Jake now. And like it was his, Minato's, fault somehow, this whole Kakashi-related mess.

"So... Yeah. I just... I don't get how somebody can justify it for themselves... Throw out their kid just because he's got another sexuality..." she sighed. "I never got why or how anybody could do that..."

"Uhm. No. That's.. really weird..." Minato, having no experience with the topic (his dad never talked about these things and Minato certainly wasn't going to bring it up) basically flailed around mentally a little.

"So... Just makes me all the more happy to be among Jake's friends, now, y'know? I can help make him happy again..."

"Ah. Yeah. Happy. Cool." Minato put up the biggest, fakest smile ever.

She furrowed her brows when she noticed. "Why're you smiling like that?"

"Because I'm... happy that Jake is happy?" Wider (and faker) smile. Damn. He really sucked at acting.

"You're faking it. Tell me what's wrong."

Minato's face fell, and he sighed. "Kakashi told me that Jake's only with him because Jake looks like me. Because it's me he, Kakashi, really wants. Apparently, Jake is completely happy with that."

"Ah. Yeah..." she sighed. "He's pretty much happy just getting attention, I think. And as much as he seems to love 'Kashi.... Yeah." she muttered. "I could imagine he doesn't mind at all."

"And.. you're really.. okay with that?"

"... Not really." she sighed. "But... I don't want to say anything if it ruins it, as long as Jake seems happy..."

"But.. it's horrible! It's like.. it's like they're lying to each other and ... and knowing about it! They just.. he's, Kakashi's, pretending that Jake's ME when they.. yeah!"

"I know." he muttered. "It's wrong, yes, but... But if it's what makes them happy for now, well..."

"I don't think either of them is happy."

She sighed. "Maybe not deep inside, no..."

"Yeah. So do you see why I think it's wrong?"

A small nod. "Yeah..." she sighed and sat up, running a hand through her hair.

"Mhm. So how do you think I can fix it?"