Nagisa tapped his fingertip against the glass of water on the table. After the little argument he had with Rei the other day, he hadn't come home the apartment since, so he was staying at Makoto and Haruka's house for the time being. They were patient with Nagisa mopping around the house, but after the third day straight, Haruka was insistent that Makoto do something about the situation.

"Please Nagisa, you have to make up with Rei, you two are like, the best of friends. You never left his side in high school." Makoto took a bite of his sandwich and tilted his head, "What exactly happened? What did you say?"

Nagisa's eyes shot up, feeling a little offended, "Mako-chan, why do you presume I said something?"

Makoto smiled nervously, "Well, you do tend to say things in the heat of the moment Nagisa."

Nagisa scrunched his face and looked to the side, "I said something about his past. I didn't mean to, it just came out."

Makoto looked at Nagisa curiously, he knew nothing of Rei's past so he didn't know why Nagisa was feeling guilty about it. Taking a sip of water, Makoto wiped his lips and clasped his hands in front of him on the table, "What do you mean Nagisa? Why bring up Rei-chan's past?"

Nagisa chewed his bottom lip, tears developing in his eyes and his face suddenly felt very warm, "You can't tell Rei-chan I told you. But, when he was little, before he met us, before the swim club, before everything… Rei-chan's father used to hurt him. All the time Mako-chan. And one day when they were driving, his mother and father got into an argument and Rei-chan's father…he, purposely ran the car off the road. It slammed into a tree, killing both of them, only Rei-chan survived."

Nagisa wiped his eyes and his breath started to get a little uneven, and Makoto, almost on the verge of tears himself, reached over to hold Nagisa's hands, "You need to apologise to him Nagisa, you're all he's got. I know you didn't mean what you said, but he needs you as much as you need him. I remember the way you always used to look at him in the swim club."

Makoto thought back to all the times he caught Nagisa looking in awe at Rei, the complete adoration he had for him was indescribable, and Makoto always knew it. When they all thought that Rei was going to leave the swim club in high school, it was Nagisa who was panicked and hurt the most. They all were, the thought of losing Rei affected Nagisa the most. It was only until the swim club sat down and confronted Rei, that Makoto truly saw the feelings Nagisa had for Rei. It was a relief that it was a misunderstanding and Rei wasn't really out to leave the club. But that situation allowed Makoto see the connection between the two.

Nagisa looked down and pouted, not being able to stop the tears, he lifted his face to look at Makoto, "What do you mean Mako-chan?" The way Nagisa used to look at Rei? Nagisa didn't know what Makoto meant, he only saw Rei as a best friend, didn't he? Apart from all the fantasies he had when he looked at him, Nagisa already decided it was only because he was horny, nothing underlying about it. It was just innocent thoughts, it's not like Nagisa would ever act upon it.

"Nagisa you know what I mean."

"But…it can't be. Not in the way you mean. He's my best friend."

"Haruka and I used to be just friends. But once I built up the courage… just look at us now." Makoto smiled, reminiscing on when he confessed his feelings to Haruka on New Year's Eve by the boardwalk. With the firework highlighting the sky, it truly was the perfect moment, and Makoto wanted Nagisa to have his moment too.

"Yeah but, we all knew Haruka had feelings for you too Mako-chan. Rei doesn't, never in a million years."

"Trust me, I know love when I see it."

Nagisa coughed a little to clear his throat, it was like a massive dumbbell had hit him on the head, "L-love!? I don't love Rei, that's…"

"True? I know." Makoto felt his mobile buzz, it was a text from Haruka, "I have to go now Nagisa, but trust me, when you tell him, a weight will be lifted off you. I promise, now go and apologise."

Nagisa tried to smile as he watched Makoto walk out of the café and head down the street. He twiddled his thumbs and was lost in thought, there was no way he loved Rei in that sort of way. He was his friend. That's all. And besides, Rei would have the same feelings back, Nagisa was sure of it. He didn't need to confess, because there was nothing too confess.

Rei jolted up from the lounge when he heard the knock on the apartment door. His papers fell on the floor and he rubbed his eyes. It had been almost three days since he had last spoken to Nagisa. It was pride that prevented him from calling or texting, but he was constantly worried for his friend. It was after only the first night that Haruka had texted him that Nagisa was with he and Makoto. He was slow to leave the couch but he turned his head when he heard the lock click.

"Rei-chan? I'm home." Nagisa slowly stepping from behind the door and shut it softly behind him.

All the worry and anger that had built up over three days suddenly spilled over and in an instant, Rei was up from the lounge storming over to his friend. Setting a firm grasp on Nagisa's shoulders, Rei leaned his face close and shook him, "Three days Nagisa! You didn't call or anything. I was so worried. You could have at least let me know yourself that you were okay. But Haruka had to tell me!"

Nagisa winced when the grip Rei had on his shoulders tightened, with no intention of loosening any time soon. A lump was caught in his throat and he looked away under the taller male's piercing gaze, "B-but I'm here now. And I'm sorry Rei-chan, I shouldn't have said what I said. I should have called to let you know I was okay."

Rei tensed his jaw and pushed Nagisa into a hug, "That's not the point Nagisa. What if something happened to you and I wasn't there? Do you really think I could live without you? You idiot!"

Nagisa's shocked voice was muffled by Rei's embrace. His heart fluttered at the contact, never before had Rei ever hugged Nagisa, "I'm sorry! I won't ever leave again okay? I'm sorry Rei-chan…I'm sorry."

"Why did you do it Nagisa? Why did you leave like that?" Rei arched his eyebrow and loosened his hold on his friend, moving back a little to his face.

Nagisa bit his lip and looked down at his feet, "Because…" He couldn't finish the sentence. Nagisa wasn't sure if he should have or not, but it was there and then Nagisa knew. That what he felt for Rei was more than just friendship. Stepping closer to Rei, Nagisa stifled a cry and suddenly wrapped his arms around Rei's neck, pressing their lips together, only for a few seconds. Stepping back, in shock to what he had just done, Nagisa wiped his watery eyes, "That's why!" Shaking his head, Nagisa ran to his room, slamming it behind him.

"Nagisa…?" Rei stood in the entrance way, slowly bringing a hand to his lips, he moved his gaze towards his best friends room, "I feel the same way."

Next chapter will contain smut. It'll be my first time writing anything smutty so bear with me! But right now, I just love these two nerds so much.