Summary:

Where everybody wants to try their hand at matchmaking. And where simply confessing is so yesterday and taking the most roundabout way to show your love is the new thing. Crazy ensues.

Chapter 1

The truth is that Rei limits himself to a sweet treat once a week. Of course, as is the normal thing to do, he had done his research on the optimal nutritional diet that a young man like himself needs. And as per expectation, sweets doesn't do much for your body and is in fact very fattening (and might lead to diabetes!) if consumed in very large doses. He tries his best to keep fit after all, that and he would never hear the end of it from Gou if he developed flab instead of muscle (and flab is certainly not beautiful, thank you very much).

Now, Rei thinks, for every standard there is always an anomaly. And the anomaly is sitting right across from him. The blond whirlwind, also known as Hazuki Nagisa, is downing his third milkshake paired with his second serving of cake. Rei scrunched his forehead in disbelief (if that doesn't count as sugar overload, Rei doesn't know what is). As it is, Nagisa is still a dainty little thing and is still very beautiful in Rei's eyes. The blue haired teen shakes himself from this line of thought. It would be very improper...

"Rei-chan! Are you even listening to me?" Nagisa whines as Rei proceeds to wipe bits of cake that flew in his face.

"Nagisa-kun what did I tell you about talking with your mouth full? You look very unseemly. Not to mention it is not good manners." Rei says out loud. To himself – he thinks that the blonde could pick his nose while talking with his mouth full and he'll still find him to be very cute. Of course, Nagisa doesn't need to know about that.

"So! As I was saying, before you rudely interrupted me Rei-chan..."

"I did not!"

"Have you noticed that Mako-chan have been making googly eyes at Haru-chan even more so lately?" Nagisa inquires his eyes eerily shining like Haruka-senpai's when he sees water. Rei sputters as he was caught off guard by the question. He composes himself and pushes his glasses up his nose.

"Well…" Rei has always been a keen observer. And once in awhile, when he indulges himself, he likes to think that he would make a great detective. Like Sherlock. Maybe even better. You know, should he so choose that profession.

"Right? Right? And also! Mako-chan is always blushing around Haru-chan! He was never like that before!"

"Ahh…"

"And also! Have you noticed? When Haru-chan strips in a public area normally Mako-chan would stop him before his shirt can be stripped off… But now he waits until Haru-chan is down to his socks!"

"You are exaggerating Nagisa-kun! I know for a fact that Makoto-senpai stops Haruka-senpai when he's about to take off his pants. And not down to his socks as you say."

"But you see what I mean right Rei-chan?" Nagisa nods up and down enthusiastically. The bespectacled boy sighs.

This isn't exactly news to him. Makoto-senpai's actions are just a natural progression of things. It is obvious to people with two eyes and a common sense that their good natured captain got it bad for Haruka-senpai. Rei doesn't even need to list down his observations for the simpletons to know this.

What's the real news is here is how their free style swimmer responds to Makoto-senpai these days. Rei has noted that Haruka-senpai holds their backstroke swimmer's hand 1.5 seconds longer after being pulled out of the pool. How his eyes would point down 45 degrees to the ground with a very faint blush in his cheeks after he's been praised. And how he flips his hair 4 times (it was a mere 3 times before!) if he knows Makoto-senpai is looking.

"Of course I know what you mean. But what about it?" He finally answers the blonde who looked like he's about to spontaneously combust in excitement.

"I thought you would never ask! Well, isn't it obvious? We need to help Mako-chan with his wooing skills!" Nagisa states matter of factly.

"Why can we not help Haruka-senpai with his social skills instead?" Rei mumbled to himself. Honestly. Just because their captain is the more outgoing one doesn't mean that he has to be the one who pursues. Besides, he thinks that Makoto-senpai has done so many sweet and thoughtful things for Haruka-senpai already. Wouldn't it be nice to have it done the other way around? Their captain most certainly deserves it.

"Huh? What did you say Rei-chan? I did not catch that." Nagisa leans over the table to and cups a hand over his ear. If he leans 5 inches more, he would be invading Rei's personal space. If he leans 7 inches more, Rei would be able to look deep into Nagisa's beautiful eyes and...

The butterfly swimmer snaps himself out of his absurd fantasy and smiles.

"I said, what a good idea! When should we start 'helping'?" The blonde squeals as he immediately begins rattling one idea after another.

Rei pushes his glasses up his nose in habit as he listens half heartedly to Nagisa. Of course the blonde knows zilch about Haruka-senpai's feelings. If he has an inkling then they wouldn't need such elaborate planning to get those two together. They just need to lock those two inside a dark room (so Makoto-senpai gets scared) for an hour and they would emerge as a couple. Problem solved.

But if Nagisa is as perceptive as that, then he would know that Rei is only going along with this crazy plan so that he can be even closer to him. To spend even more time with him. (And maybe, he can also do some planning on his own to get his own love match).

With that thought in mind, Rei smiles to himself and has to practically stop himself from patting his own shoulder for having that bright idea.