Author's Note: Hey, guys! As promised, here's the next part. Enjoy!
Makoto's Suggestion
What would a sakura viewing be without mingling?
At least, that's what Tachibana Makoto believed.
Having grown up with a rather large family (two younger siblings, plus a myriad of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents), Makoto was used to a big gathering under the trees. He usually invited his best friend Haru as well, as his parents were often away on business trips.
However, this year was different. For one, Makoto was now college-aged, and several hours away from his original home. He felt bad about not going home to spend the season with Ren and Ran, but he was also excited to, just once, have a hanami with his friends.
It started when Rin had invited Haru and Makoto to see the flowers together. He'd mentioned that Sousuke and his old Samezuka teammates would be there and to invite anyone they wanted. So Makoto talked to his old teammates, from both his high school and middle school years.
As it turned out, nearly every important person in Makoto's swimming life ended up being there. Nagisa and Rei brought Gou and her new co-manager, Ayumu. Mikoshiba Momotarou, Makoto's old rival from Samezuka, invited his brother, who attended Hidaka University with Haru. Asahi had invited Kisumi. Ikuya had invited his friend Hiyori, and he'd also been followed by Makoto's old coaches from middle school: Kirishima Natsuya, Ikuya's brother, and Serizawa Nao.
As if this conglomeration of personalities wasn't enough, Rin, who had been in charge of securing them a picnicking spot, texted everyone with bad news. He had apparently gotten a spot, only to have someone else claim it as well.
Unfortunately, he had already messaged them previously with the location, bragging that he'd gotten the best spot, and everyone was too busy en route to see his second message.
So, now, everyone was at the spot, but instead of having a nice, wide blanket spread out and food ready, there was another large, colorful party waiting for them.
As Makoto surveyed the group, which was only slightly smaller than his own, he picked out a few key players.
First was a tall boy, who might even be taller than Makoto, with dark red hair and angry-looking eyebrows. He was have a shouting match with Rin, but for some unknown reason, they were speaking in English.
Second, there was a green-haired boy, also quite tall, with glasses similar to Rei's. To Makoto's bewilderment, he was holding a clothes hanger in his left hand. He had an irritated look on his face, perhaps caused by the black-haired boy beside him, who was laughing in amusement.
Makoto glanced at his best friend, Nanase Haruka. Haru was quiet as usual, observing the ongoings with an emotionless expression.
"D-do you think we should help?" Makoto asked, gesturing toward Rin and the red-haired boy.
Before Haru could answer, though, someone brushed past him and walked toward Rin. It was Yamazaki Sousuke, an almost-stern looking expression on his face.
Haru, who seemed to have some kind of complex when it came both to Rin and Sousuke, frowned. Showing his rare competitive side, he said, "Let's go, too."
Makoto nodded uneasily and followed Haru to where the argument was taking place.
Rin and the red-haired stranger had finally switched back to Japanese, although their tones were no less angry.
"Look," Rin said. "I was here first. I came here as early as I could! There's no way I'd miss you."
"No, I'm sure I was here first," the red-haired boy said.
"Actually —" a voice spoke up then, "I was here first."
Makoto nearly jumped out of his skin (and so did the red-haired stranger, who then shouted at the owner of the voice). He hadn't even noticed, but standing by the red-haired boy's side was a much smaller boy, with light blue hair and large blue eyes. Makoto wondered how he could've missed him.
Haru shifted beside Makoto, and although he didn't jump as Makoto had, his surprise was present as well.
"Oi," Rin said, also shocked at the sudden appearance of the blue-haired boy. "Where did you come from?"
"I've been here the whole time," the boy said. "Before you were ever here," he added.
Rin balked. "There's no way! I came here first thing this morning and staked out the place. It was going to be a few hours before everyone got here, so I—" He suddenly stopped, an embarrassed look on his face.
"Rin," Sousuke said. "Were you watching The Life of a Rat again?"
"O-of course not!" Rin blustered, but even at just the mention of the movie, he had a look of profound grief on his face. "That David, I tell you —"
Makoto thought he understood now. The blue-haired boy must've gotten here first, but due to his low presence, Rin hadn't noticed him. Rin, a notorious crier no matter how much he denied it, had then arrived and got distracted by the currently controversial Life of a Rat series.
Most likely, it was the blue-haired boy and his partner who held the rights to this spot. But Rin and his pride wouldn't allow that.
"Enough of this," another voice interjected. It was the green-haired boy holding the hanger. "As we're wasting time here, Akashi is on his way."
The red-haired boy paled at the name. "H-he's coming?"
"I invited everyone, Kagami-kun," said the blue-haired boy.
"Kuroko! Why did you do that? I was hoping to have a peaceful hanami!"
"We were, too!" Rin said. "And look, all of our group is here. That means we get priority."
Makoto didn't know if that's actually what it meant, but Rin looked proud of his argument.
Haru finally spoke up, but he wasn't talking to Makoto. He was facing the blue-haired boy. "I know you," he said.
The blue-haired boy — Kuroko? — nodded and gave a short bow. "Nanase-kun. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"You've met?" Makoto looked between the two. He hadn't heard anything of this.
"During Golden Week vacation," Haru said. "He was at the beach."
"That's right," Kuroko said. "I took your suggestion. I'm planning on attending Hidaka next year."
"What?" Makoto exclaimed. It seemed like there was something between Haru and this Kuroko, but he couldn't quite guess what.
Haru nodded, and Makoto got the idea that he was pleased. "Good. I'll see you then."
It was surprising that Haru had seen someone he knew that Makoto didn't also know, but that didn't stop the fact that they hadn't yet resolved the current issue.
Rin and the red-haired boy, Kagami, had dissolved back into arguing, with occasional interjections by the green-haired boy and Sousuke. The green-haired boy's partner was holding his stomach, almost doubled over in laughter.
Makoto didn't like conflict, but at this rate, it didn't seem like things were going anywhere.
"Why don't we just share the space?" he suggested.
Everyone stop and looked at him.
A blush immediately began to crawl up Makoto's cheeks. He hated attention.
"That's a good idea," Haru said. Makoto was eternally grateful for his support. "How about it, Rin?"
Rin didn't look happy about it, but he said, "Well . . ." He glanced at Kagami.
"That's a good solution," Kuroko said.
"I hate to say it, but it seems like the only option now," the green-haired boy said, sighing and adjusting his glasses.
The black-haired boy beside him finally spoke up. "I think it's a great idea! It's always nice to mingle during hanami, eh, Shin-chan?"
There was something about the black-haired boy's voice that was unnervingly familiar, but Makoto couldn't place it.
"Don't call me that, Takao," the green-haired boy said testily.
So far, most people seemed to agree with Makoto's idea, to his relief. Only Rin and Kagami were still being stubborn.
"Fine," Kagami finally relented. "I guess it can't be helped. If we're going to be spending all day near each other, then I'm Kagami. Kagami Taiga." He held out his hand.
Rin reluctantly accepted it. "Matsuoka Rin," he said. "And this is Yamazaki Sousuke, Nanase Haruka, and Tachibana Makoto."
"Kuroko Tetsuya," said the blue-haired boy.
"And my name is Midorima Shintarou," the green-haired boy said. "This idiot beside me is Takao Kazunari."
Takao laughed, and once again, Makoto felt something strange inside him. Takao smothered his laughter and looked at Makoto, as if he too felt a weird connection between them.
Makoto pushed the feeling away and held an inner celebration, mentally preparing himself for what the rest of the day would bring.
It appeared the first hurdle was over, but there was no telling what would be next.
A/N: So I'm going to be referring to people a lot as "[color]-haired boy." Oh, well, can't be helped.
The movie Rin was crying at was first introduced in Take Your Marks. I believe the Japanese would be Nezumi no Isshou, which loosely translates to The Life of a Rat. Also, in case you didn't know, the reason Makoto is feeling a "strange connection" toward Takao is because they share the same voice actor, Suzuki Tatsuhisa.
Thanks to the people who followed me last time! Hope you enjoyed!
~ J. Dominique
