"The last slice of pizza is mine! I call dibs on it!" Nagisa whined as he grabbed the final slice in some sort of victory and Haru couldn't help the small smile that came across his face. How long had it been since everyone had been together like this? It felt like forever but at the same time, it felt as if not a day had passed.
And yet everyone was so 'grown up', well maybe not Nagisa...
Gazing across the table at the sound of an all too familiar laugh, Haru locked eyes with Rin and nodded his head as he took a sip of his beer. It had been a long time since he'd seen those crimson eyes, far too long compared to everyone else. It was hard to stay in touch with Rin living so far away. Well it was hard to travel that far anyway, it wasn't cheap and so they had lost touch over the years. But somehow it still felt like the friendship was right where they had left it, especially when Haru saw that look in Rin's eyes just like old times and that grin he wore. Same ole Rin Matsuoka, through and through.
"I say we go to Karaoke after this! The night is young guys and it has been too long since we were all together!" It was Nagisa again of course, the loudest member of the old swim club. It was just the original boys gathered; Nagisa, Makoto, Haru and Rin. The old elementary days gang. "Too bad Rei-chan couldn't make it." Nagisa sounded like he was pouting as he spoke but he had always been really close to the young scientist.
"How is he?" Makoto asked which caused Nagisa to light up as if he had not just been sulking into his chair.
"Busy, trying to find a cure for something or other with the grant money..." Rei had lost his mother to some form of cancer and became obsessed with finding a cure for it or something. It seemed to consume him which explained why he was not at the gathering. "I'll tell him you guys said hi when I see him next."
Some of them had stayed in touch it seems. Haruka hadn't lost touch with everyone but he also didn't spend that much time with Makoto either. Not quite as close as when they were young but the friendship was still strong.
"I'll second the Karaoke, I just have to see if Haru can hold a tune!" Rin challenged across the table and Haru sat up so fast he felt like a teenager all over again.
"I'll show you." Haru snapped softly back as he playfully glared at the redhead. Yup, same ole Rin.
"So Rin, how is your girlfriend? Last time I saw your profile online it said taken. You guys getting serious or what?" Makoto was just causally asking and probably trying to lighten the challenge between the two. Typical of him.
Rin looked up, frowning as he took a long swig of his beer. "We broke up." His voice carried a tone that probably intended to drop the subject altogether but some people are clueless.
"What happened Rin-chan? You looked happy in all the pictures with her!" Nagisa proclaimed, sounding a little confused. Rin scoffed at that and downed the rest of his drink while not bothering to answer any more questions.
"How about you?" Haru asked Makoto as a way to get the subject off of Rin because he looked so uncomfortable. He already knew Makoto was doing well but the others didn't. Somehow the gesture didn't go unnoticed by Rin and he nodded across the table before ordering another beer for himself.
"Doing good. We're expecting another kid mid July." Makoto had been happily married for a few years now and it suited him being a dad, swim coach to young people at the old swim club and settled down with a girl he'd met in college. He led a rather simple life from what Haru had witnessed of it.
Haru just hoped no one bothered him on the subject, he didn't like going there.
The karaoke room was dark, large enough for the four of them and Nagisa was the first to choose a song and he belted it out in such a way you might think he was drunk if you were not used to his ways. Haru chuckled softly as he watched him closely and sighed because of how much he missed this. Friends. Life had turned into nine to five far too easily and the days when he could swim and hang with friends seemed so far away now.
Rin had ordered more alcohol, Haru was a little concerned and started wondering if something was up. Mostly because Rin said right next to him and he was doing the things he used to do in high school. He was being clingy by throwing an arm around Haru. "We should do a duet, Haru. Us single guys gotta stick together. Not like all these married people." He sounded a little bitter as he said this and Haru realized the break up with Rin's girlfriend must have been bad or something.
It was true that all the others were taken, all married though Makoto was the only one who had a kid and one on the way. Haru himself had been single, no interest in women but he didn't advertise that fact, he simply lived as if he were asexual and most of his friends had assumed this was his way. However, it wasn't necessarily true...
Just Rin touching his shoulder had a small heat from the contact, this was Haru's secret weakness. Attraction to his friend, it was wrong but it was hard to control. He had never acted on it or planned to either. So he was basically suffering a little anytime Rin touched him.
"Maybe you should head home soon Rin, you seem drunk." Haru protested because he didn't really feel like singing karaoke and he was much more content to just watch others. It was more loud and he tended to be quiet plus he wasn't fond of singing in front of others even if he had been complimented on his voice time and again when it had happened.
"Haruuuuuuuuu. Haru. I miss you! I'm going home with you tonight! But it is too early to call it a night." Rin looked down at his wrist where he wore a watch to check the time, but he was soon frowning at it for some reason. "She got this for me..." His voice had went from chipper drunk to sadness so fast. Haru felt bad about trying to rush the night to an end all of the sudden.
"Fine. One song." He didn't protest Rin coming over even if it would be a pain. Taking care of him when he was drunk always had been but it was years ago the last time Haru had to do such a thing. Rin was back for good at least so there was plenty of time to catch up. Haru saw no hurry because of this but Rin seemed to feel different.
Rin was soon leaning over, laying on Haru. Nuzzling against him. He was even more clingy when he got drunk. Haru stood to grab the song list as an excuse for room to breath. "What song do you want to do Rin?" Haru asked, acting normal when in reality he felt his heart racing from the small amount of contact. It felt worse than the old days, it might be because Haru is older now and more aware of his sexuality. Back then, there were so many distractions and he could always swim off his lust. It was wrong to lust after another male after all, Haru had heard it time and again from his mother and others in society. Japan was not well accepting of such things.
So Haru couldn't help the guilt.
"I wanna sing 'I Hate Everything About You' because that bitch broke my heart, Haru! She cheated on me! Haru! Haru! It was with one of my teammates. I came home and she was riding him in our bed! Our bed! I bought that fucking bed. She can have the damn thing!" Rin spat bitterly, Haru had never seen him so bitter except maybe when he had first come back in high school.
Haru put in the song request, it was Makoto's turn to sing and he chose some sappy song that probably reminded him of his wife. Rin was watching him, frowning. He leaned into Haru and whispered in his ear, still slurring as he spoke. "I really hate songs like this. It just reminds me of how she ripped my heart out and walked all over it. Haru..." Rin was whining and Haru just pat him on the back because he had no clue what to say and had no clue what that must feel like.
The rest of karaoke didn't last much longer, Rin was so bitter that it was depressing the hell out of Haru. He just really wanted Rin happy but he knew he could never be the one to bring him that kind of happiness. Rin deserved the kind of romance he went on about back in high school. It was sad to see him so bitter on the subject of love and hating on things he used to love. He had always sung the sappiest of songs back in high school. Haru sighed as he got ready to leave, putting his jacket on and trying to get Rin to do the same. "Come on. Let's go now Rin."
When they finally left, everyone had to go the same direction, they walked together in an odd silence. It was brought on by Rin's bitter mood because it had rubbed off on everyone or maybe they all just felt sorry for the redhead. Haru wasn't sure but he didn't care for the awkwardness of it all. He was lagging behind Makoto and Nagisa with Rin at his side.
Suddenly Rin pulled him into an alley, Haru was confused because of how close Rin was and the fact that he covered Haru's mouth with his hand for a moment as he slurred. "Let's ditch them. Come on! Single guys gotta stick together Haru. I need you right now, Haru." Rin whined and Haru sighed because Rin now had his hands up on the wall on either side of him. It was messing with his head having Rin lean in so close and he'd whispered in his ear. The hot breath tickled against his skin and felt a little pleasant making Haru sigh longingly. Rin was too drunk to notice though and he didn't move for a few minutes.
Minutes that seemed to last far too long. Haru could feel his own heart in his throat and he failed to find words to protest this but Rin really should keep his distance. Haru swallowed as he stared at Rin's lips for a moment and wondered what it might feel like. He sort of zoned out for a minute.
Rin didn't notice as he stayed close, but was soon peaking out of the alley to see if the coast was clear. "I think we lost them!" He proclaimed, it was as if he had never been bitter with the chipperness in his voice. "I can't be around them much right now. Not till I get over what she did to me..." And here he was with a slight bitterness again.
Haru was confused at how Rin could change his demeanor like it was an on off switch from a light. He needed to cheer the fuck up and Haru wished for a way to do just that. But he just didn't know how for now.