Haruka doesn't want to be here. This place isn't supposed to be annoying, it is his not theirs.
Yet here he is, submerged inside of his favourite locale, while his class mates make a mockery of the pool area. There is music and dancing, food every where, and…games. It is almost enough to make him leave, but he won't because there is water here. Water that he can float beneath, away from the lights and noise.
Ama-chan is the chaperone for this event, but neither her or Gou can be seen anywhere, along with a few other girls. (Not that Haru notices.)
The day-light games have long since finished, and the food is almost completely devoured.
Breathing out underneath the water, the raven haired teen makes a half hearted noise of disapproval as his wrist is grabbed by someone who is much too rough, and he is pulled to the surface.
"Nanase-kun, you're going to play a game with us." One of his class mates says with an annoying smile. Haru isn't a fan of people who smile, (with Makoto being an exception, and Nagisa on his good days) and this person has to be on the top of his figurative irritating list.
"Watanabe-kun!" Nagisa exclaims, from a large circle of people, and Haru's brows draw together at the sight. "See, I told you that Haru-chan would play." The blonde says with a cheeky grin.
Makoto sits with a space beside him, and there is an unknown girl to his left that Haruka doesn't pay any heed to.
"Are you sure you want to play Haru-chan?" Makoto questions with a soft smile. His voice is lowered slightly and the apathetic boy wonders if it is so the others can't hear.
Whatever, he doesn't care what they think any way.
"You're playing." Haruka says nonchalantly, giving his friend a sidewards glance.
Still, he doesn't know what this game is or why Makoto looks so nervous. Maybe they should just leave. This is all so troublesome.
"Makoto -" Haru begins, but it is too late. The annoying ring leader, Watanabe or something, moves to the last empty spot and the boys and girls titter in quiet whispers of anticipation.
"What is this?" Haru finds himself asking. His expression is one of distaste, though his eyes hold a minute glint of curiousity.
"Nanase-kun! So you are interested…You can go first then." Watanabe says, with something akin to a leer. He points toward the glass bottle in the middle of the circle and explains, "You spin the bottle and whoever it lands on has to kiss you for two minutes."
"Even if it's another girl?" The annoying girl (that sits in front of Haruka in class) asks, and Watanabe nods solemnly.
"Can't break the rules." He says regretfully, shaking his head.
Then, as soon as it came, the expression is gone and he is grinning once more.
"Go on then." Watanabe presses, pointing from Haruka to the glass bottle.
"Tch." Haru intones, leaning forward on his knees. His hand touches the bottle, before it flicks with the momentum of his turn.
Sitting back, he watches in boredom as the object begins to slow. Makoto on the other hand, seems to be very stiff beside him.
Turning to look at his friend, the bottle is momentarily forgotten as green eyes meet his own. There is a strange tension within the gaze, and Haru finds that he doesn't like it at all. Makoto is definitely stressed.
"Go on Haru-chan." He murmurs almost encouragingly, bringing the teen back to the present.
Turning back to the bottle, Haru nods once in reply and follows the invisible line from himself to another person.
"Hello Nanase-kun." A dark haired girl says with a small smile. She stands slowly and takes small steps toward Haru, and the boy can't help but let out a small almost imperceptible sigh.
Makoto seems to hear, by the way he glances at him, but Haru doesn't move.
Kneeling down, the girl nods in an 'okay' motion. Her brown eyes seem to be excited, and again, this is very troublesome. Haruka has never kissed anyone before, and he isn't exactly sure how it goes.
There isn't much time for him to ponder though, as the girl leans forward and presses her lips to his. The group of teens around them have gone completely silent and Makoto takes in a sharp breath at his side.
Her lips are soft, almost too soft, and it seems like she is waiting for him to take the lead. She parts to flick her tongue along the seam of his mouth and Haru follows her instruction. Opening his mouth, the boy gives a half hearted go, sliding his tongue against hers in a move that makes a sick feeling form in his stomach. His mouth seems to be producing too much saliva, and the experience is something that he wants to end quickly.
Pulling away with out preamble, not caring that they were only one minute in, Haru wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and glances to the side, not looking at anything in particular.
The girl doesn't look pleased, there is saliva dripping down the side of her mouth and she makes a small huffing noise.
"That was horrible!" She exclaims with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest.
In response, Haru merely turns his head a fraction and says, "I don't care."
The whispers begin from around the circle and Haru needs a drink, something to wash away the horrible experience. He doesn't want to be here anymore. After that, he is sure that he never wants to kiss again. It is obvious that he is bad at it, and he doesn't particularly care for such activities any way, so it is a logical conclusion.
The ring leader snickers loudly before moving onto his next victim and so the game continues…
It takes an eternity for the circle to reach Makoto, and Haru has been staring at the pool longingly for that period of time, while his friend fidgets to and fro.
"Makoto." He says without much thought. His friend is getting on his nerves. If he doesn't want to do it, he should just say so. Then they can leave. "You don't have to do this." Haru voices, turning his gaze from the pool to Makoto.
The couple beside the brunette are just finishing up and if he is going to pull out, now is the time to do it.
"No. It's okay Haru-chan." He finally replies with a small fake smile. Makoto looks toward the bottle and for some reason, an odd stirring begins to form in the base of Haruka's abdomen. His fingers flex unknowingly upon his black and purple clad thighs, and just like everyone else, Haru finds himself watching closely.
He didn't watch any of the others, he didn't care to. But for some reason he can't look away. Not when Makoto reaches forward to spin the bottle, not when he sits back in anticipation…Not when it slows to a stop in a very vague horizontal position. Each end of the bottle points toward empty spaces, but that doesn't seem right.
As Makoto looks up at Watanabe, so does Haru. What they find is some what lecherous.
"Heh. Aren't you lucky Makoto-kun?" The dark haired boy smirks, he seems to be discussing a private joke within his own head, just as a few other people are. What does this mean?
"That means that you have to kiss the person beside you." He finally elaborates with a wide expectant gaze.
Makoto gulps obviously when Haru turns to look at him. He isn't sure what he is feeling, but the reaction of the people around them is almost giddy, even more so than when two girls kissed.
Haruka doesn't want to kiss anyone again, his first attempt went horribly. There was so much saliva and smashing of lips. He cringed the entire way through…but, he will kiss Makoto.
For some reason, his stomach quells. Haru is well aware that a normal person would be worried about these turn of events, but he isn't normal. He still has two years.
"Okay." Haru murmurs, keeping his friend's green gaze. The group titter at the sound of his voice, with Nagisa even cheering a loud – Whoop!
"Haru-chan…Are you sure?" Makoto questions and his eyes look worried. What an idiot.
"Drop the chan." He responds with a frown, moving to face Makoto. "I said it is fine, didn't I?" Though it isn't really a question, and his friend knows it.
"O-Okay." Makoto nods, giving one last glance towards Watanabe before focussing on Haruka.
Their eyes meet and Haru feels his stomach tighten, but it isn't in disgust. This is Makoto, and he is nothing like that girl from before. They have been together since the start and if Haru was one for sentimentalities, he would have given his first kiss to Makoto easily.
"Do it Makoto." He orders softly, and he sighs when the fear seeps from the familiar green eyes. Makoto nods and leans forward…Then their lips are touching and it is nothing like before.
Still, Haru isn't very good and he can tell that Makoto thinks so.
These lips are firmer in comparison to his first kiss, and there is no pushiness on his friend's part. A tongue touches his lower lip and Haru allows it, though he is unable to help the inexperienced way his lips move or the excess saliva, or even the way his tongue clumsily plunders.
A hand moves, as a finger and thumb take ahold of his chin, and Makoto pulls away just a fraction. Their eyes meet and Haru forgets that there are people watching, probably with horrified gazes. There is a string of saliva joining them, and instead of a sickened feeling, Haru feels his swimmers begin to tighten.
"Haru-chan. Let me kiss you." Makoto orders gently, but there is no time for him to reply as they collide once more.
This time is much firmer and Makoto takes the lead, melding their lips in a way that makes Haru's heart quicken. The foreign tongue touches his own, sliding methodically, exploring almost.
If there is too much saliva, Haru doesn't know, and by the muted mewl that comes from Makoto's throat, neither does he.
Then, a loud clap is heard from over head, that startles the couple, forcing them to pull away.
When they both turn to look at the sound, lips moist and swollen from the contact, pupils still very dilated, the two are graced with a very low whistle.
"Nanase-kun." Watanabe says with a somewhat strained tone. "I didn't know you could look like that."
Haru isn't sure what that means, but it looks like Makoto does, because he is standing in an instant with a forced smile.
"It's getting late. Sorry everyone." He lies, and Haruka doesn't mind one bit.
So without words, the teen rises also, following Makoto and ignoring all annoying sounds. Though, Nagisa's – Haru-chan, Mako-chan come back! - manages to by pass the barrier, but it isn't enough to make him stop.
Picking up his bag, Haru exits the pool area and walks at his regular pace. His heart is still a little fluttery from a moment ago, but he isn't upset. His first kiss told him that he is a horrible kisser, his second furthered that idea but then showed him that he can improve.
"Haru." Makoto intones, and the teen doesn't miss the lack of chan.
Perhaps he is angry.
Turning his head to look at his friend, the stoic boy is surprised at the serious expression covering Makoto's face.
There is a long pause, and it looks like he is searching for words. With a sigh, he speaks -
"I want to kiss you again." His friend explains, making it sound like a warning.
Turning his head slightly away, to look into the distance, Haru replies, "Whatever."
Makoto nods and reaches for his wrist, stopping them both.
"I'm a bad kisser." Haru says finally, when the taller teen doesn't make a move.
A nervous laugh escapes Makoto and he just shakes his head. The strange tension slowly leaves the air and it feels like Haru can breathe again. Then, Makoto swoops down. Their noses touch lightly, before a soft kiss ensues. No lips are parted, no tongues invade, but this isn't horrible.
Makoto pulls back with one last peck, and Haru feels more comfortable now that his best friend is smiling again.
"I'll teach you." His friend offers easily as his eyes drift back to Haru's lips.
A loud thump is heard in Haruka's head, and he realises that it is his heart. He is dangerously close to having an erection, and this is definitely not something that you do with a friend.
But Haru isn't normal, and even when he is, it won't matter.
"Do what you want." He murmurs, turning his head completely to the side.
Makoto chuckles, taking the statement for what it truly means. Reaching out, the taller teen takes a hold of his hand and Haru doesn't pull away.
He is sleeping at Makoto's tonight.
Haru's stomach flips in an unfamiliar way, and the two walk in silence, together.
Alls well, that ends well…
Except it is just the beginning.