Oh look I actually got around to this at 4:30am, why is that not a surprise~


The classroom door opened suddenly, effectively silencing the whole room, and all eyes directed to face the unenthusiastic Haruka Nanase.

"Ah... Haruka, how kind of you to join us," the teacher taunted, he was never really fond of anybody interrupting class, "care to explain your tardiness?" Haru frowned, keeping his hands in his pockets as he shuffled over to his desk.

"Overslept..."

The teacher nodded accepting the lie that Makoto immediately saw through. Haru's seat was behind his own, so the eye contact the two made was brief, but it was enough. Enough to see how off put the boy was. Something bad happened this morning. Makoto was sure of at least that much. The constant worrying thought lingered as their teacher continued the lesson and the whispers among the students slowly ceased.

Makoto couldn't hear a word, his hands refusing to respond to the things being spoken. They wouldn't move, they wouldn't take notes, and they wouldn't stop shaking.

Did Haru get in trouble for leaving so late last night? Maybe he got caught sneaking back in. If that was the case... then it was his fault. His fault that Haru had to suffer more. His fault for whatever happened this morning. Wasn't he supposed to be fixing things? Wasn't that the point of last night? No, it wasn't... because even last night he just sat on the side lines and watched like a coward. Even when it was just them two alone, a scenario where Makoto could be open about everything, he didn't say or do anything. That was the reality of the situation. Makoto's tiny spirit against this faceless monster.

Something hit Makoto's arm, causing him to jump out of his treacherous thoughts. There on the desk beside his hand was a neatly folded up note. Makoto's fingers carefully reached for it, slipping it under his desk and unfolding it.

[stop worrying, I can see you shaking from here]

Ah. Haru...

Almost instantly, an immense weight felt lifted from Makoto's shoulders that he was unaware of to begin with. Maybe it was seeing the familiar handwriting that put him at ease, or hearing the words spoken with Haru's voice in his head. Maybe it was just the fact that something was actually said between the two instead of the silence leaving much to wonder about. The green eyes carefully eyed their teacher, back turned to the class writing on the board. He quickly scribbled back an answer.

[are you okay? why were you late?]

Makoto refolded the note and tossed it over his shoulder, hearing the paper make a soft tap when landing on Haru's desk. At least now his hands were able to stop shaking and he could take notes. Makoto wrote slowly, not truly taking in any of the lecture. His eyes kept darting to the clock overhead in anticipation of the upcoming lunch break. At least then he'd be able to get a good look at Haruka.

The note was tossed back to Makoto.

[i'm fine]

No explanation about what happened? Even on paper, it wasn't difficult for Makoto to pick up on the tone. Haru was transparent when it came to this kind of stuff. He probably knew it too. It took every ounce of self control Makoto had to not turn around. Instead, he could hear Haru's hands compulsively brushing against each other. He could picture how the boy always had his left leg behind his right, and his eyes curiously gazing out the window not listening to the lecture either. One again, the teacher's words began to fade away.

That was until the lunch bell rang.

Makoto immediately turned around but to his surprise, Haru was already walking out the door.

"Haru-chan! Hold on!" Makoto cried, running to the back of class to get his lunch. By the time he caught up, Haru was already on the roof taking up his usual place by the door.

"Haru-chan..."

"Not -chan," Haru murmured. He had a blank notebook open in his lap was was sketching something. It wasn't a normal thing for Haru to openly draw during school.

"Haru... where's your lunch?" Makoto watched Haru visibly flinch at the question.

"Don't have one."

"Eh? You should have said something sooner!" Makoto tried to cover cheerfully, starting to ration off his lunch without any question.

"You don't have to-"

"Don't worry about it! I share with my siblings all the time, so it's fine!" Makoto smiled. Still with some hesitation, Haru picked at what was offered to him.

It was just now that Makoto noticed Haru's lowered guard, and only now was he close enough to see the slight discoloring near Haru's cheek.

He felt his stomach sink.

"What's that?" he was almost too afraid to hear the answer, pointing to his cheek. Up until now this was only a lingering fear in the back of his head. As far as Makoto knew, this boundary was never crossed. He didn't want this to become an actual possibility. But Haru's eyes widened noticeably. He swore it wasn't visible this morning. And it was useless to deny its existence now that Makoto noticed it.

"It's... cover up," Haru bit his lip, slightly embarrassed.

"What for...?" Makoto already knew the answer to the question he wished he didn't have to ask. Haru took a deep breath.

"T-This morning... my parents were fighting and it looked like," he paused, eyes shifting around nervously making sure that nobody else was nearby, "it looks like he was gonna hit mom. I usually stay out of their fights but he had his arm raised and everything so..."

Haru paused again, eyes meeting Makoto's worried gaze.

"I pushed him away and..." he looked away when he felt his eyes quickly welling. Makoto could hear the break in Haru's voice, it was more painful to hear than any broken glass in the night. More painful than watching Haru close himself off from the world. More painful than seeing his walls built up higher.

This wasn't right.

"He hit you, didn't he?" Makoto whispered, the thought along leaving him unable to finish his lunch.

"Yeah... I was asking for it though." Haru admit quietly.

"No! No you weren't, don't enable him! You were protecting your mom.. you-" Makoto bit his lip.

This isn't any of your business.

Don't get involved.

Just avoid the topic.

"You don't deserve any of this!" Makoto shouted over the voices in his head. Haru was startled, it was a rare sight to see Makoto get riled up over anything, and even so, he felt the immediate warmth that filled his chest when he was reminded that no matter what would happen or who might try to push him down, Makoto would stand beside him. Makoto would always offer his hand out to him.

"It's okay, Makoto. It's just been difficult since my grandmother passed," Haru continued, "She used to keep the two civil. And now it's just an all out war whenever they like. Although... I'm pretty sure mom is going to leave..."

What does that mean? Does that mean Haru would be left with his dad?

"Are you okay with that?" Makoto asked, putting away the remainders of his lunch.

Haru shrugged. He feels like he's spoken enough for the time being, just thinking about it was exhausting. They had swim practice later anyway, Haru felt it was better to conserve his energy, even though the answer to Makoto's question rang loudly in his head. Of course he wasn't okay with it. How could he even be in the same room as someone like that? Haru inched closer to Makoto and let his body slump against him, head resting on the broad shoulder.

"Haru..."

The boy's eyes were closed. Makoto was shocked that it was possible for him to look so at peace. So he didn't say a word when his green eyes settled on the discolored skin under Haru's sleeve. He didn't say anything when he leaned closer to his cheek and noticed just how extensive the bruising was. Haru's shallow breaths were barely audible over the wind, and for the first time, Makoto was truly thankful that a place where they could relax existed. A place where he could still his thoughts and calm his spirit. And the same goes for Haru. One vibrant blue eye peeked open.

"Let's go to the swim club early today, can you skip your after school duties?"

Same old escape.

"Sure."


Next chapter is the time skip to their current age. So no more little scared bbys. 3 ...for now at least. Reviews would be really great. Please leave those. 3