The arrival of food was enough of a distraction, but the flush was still high on his cheeks as he reached for his own chopsticks and only got worse as Kakashi spoke again.
This time the blush was a little more honest, brought on by a pang of something, some emotion that reminded him of being young and still desperate for Kakashi's approval. Compliments or soft words were few and far between; hard won and dearly sort moments that made his chest bubble with warmth and his belly squirm excitedly.

He felt ridiculous, almost angry at still reacting like this, having hoped that five years was enough to dull any giddy hopes he still had but no, there they were all laid out and fit to embarrass him further.

A month ago, he wouldn't have cared, would have reveled in the indulgence of praise, but after that mission, their final one together, the words just made him ache.
They were friends yes, something he hoped would always be the case, but that didn't change the fact that his usefulness in Kakashi's life, that any priority he might have had, was all but spent.
That the man was finally admitting the importance of the space between them and that he had sought Yamato out at all, was currently completely lost on his fatigued and despairing mind.