Haru had always (lovingly) called Makoto a gentle giant. Makoto was without a doubt the tallest of their class, but he was also the nicest and the most motherly. Makoto would never hurt anyone; he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did.

That's why Makoto's love for cats (especially kittens) came as no surprise to Haru. On the very rare occasion that Haru was up and dressed for school in a timely manner, he would venture out to meet Makoto at the top of the stairs that stood between their houses. Without fail, he would always find Makoto crouched down playing with a small white kitten that seemed to be waiting for him every morning.

It didn't bother Haru. Why would it? It was sweet to see Makoto playing and laughing and just genuinely happy. Haru would never admit it out loud but he loved the way Makoto's eyes softened and the way his smile was smaller but just as warm.

"Makoto," Haru called, leaning against the railing at the top of the stairs.

"Oh!" Makoto set the kitten down and stood up, sparing it one last smile, "Ohayo, Haru." He quickly ascended the stairs to stand at his best friend's side. "I hope you weren't waiting long."

Haru shook his head casually, pushing off to walk along next to Makoto. They began the trek to school, Makoto rambling about how they would finally be on time for once.

Haru listened half heartedly, his mind wandering back to Makoto's expression as he looked at the kitten.

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A lot of things made Makoto happy, Haru knew. Makoto loved spending time with his friends, swimming with them, hearing other people laugh, hot tea, two pillows on his bed and a good book.

That was a short list, of course. Makoto was generally very easy to please and always in a good mood. He was very outgoing and easy to be around. But nothing made him quite as happy as kittens, Haru thought.

In fact, Haru thought about this the entire time they were in class. He knew Makoto well enough to know this and he was certain nothing else melted Makoto the way kittens did.

-.x.-.x.-.x.-.x.-.x.-.x.-.x.-.x.-

As they walked home from school that day, Makoto reiterated a particularly funny instance from swimming practice. When Haru actually chuckled in response, Makoto looked at him with wide eyes.

Then his eyes softened and he smiled a small, warm smile that made Haru feel warm inside.

They stopped walking without either realizing it. Haru stared at Makoto for a long moment before asking:

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what, Haru?"

"Like you look at kittens."

Makoto chucked and reached out to tousle Haru's hair, "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not looking at you any different than normal."

Haru looked over Makoto's shoulder at the ocean as he thought. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that it was true, Makoto had always looked at him the way he looked at kittens. He had always had that pure, genuine happiness in his eyes when he smiled at Haru. And although he smiled all the time, he seemed to have a separate smile reserved just for Haru.

Well, for Haru and kittens.

"But… Kittens make you so happy," Haru replied, almost to himself.

"So do you, Haru." Makoto said as if it were nothing.

Haru looked back up at him, surprised and pleased. He didn't know why but the warmth he had felt before was spreading all the way to his fingers and toes.

"Honestly," Makoto waved a hand in between them casually, "Sometimes it's like you have no idea how I feel."

"I always know how you feel!" Haru protested.

"Then why are you surprised right now?"

Haru didn't have an answer to that. He dropped his head in response.

"Haru, you've been my best friend my whole life. You're more than my best friend; you're basically my other half. And while it's true that I love kittens, I would never pet another kitten again if it meant getting to see you smile every day. I don't know where you've been for our whole lives if this news comes as a surprise to you because I'm pretty sure everybody but you knows."

Haru looked up at him then, almost expectantly. He looked into the green eyes that had stood by his side his whole life. He looked at the boy he loved watching; the one who handled kittens so delicately in his big hands. He knew the boy standing before him. So well, in fact, the next words really didn't surprise him, even though he thought they would.

"I love you, Haru. I think I always have."

The confession was simple. He didn't pour on more emotion than Haru could handle and he didn't state it in a demanding way. No, it didn't demand Haru's attention or response. It didn't ask for anything to change between them. He said he loved Haru as casually as he would tell someone he loved kittens. He said it like it was nothing more than a part of who he was.

A silence settled around them, but it was comfortable. Makoto didn't act as if he had just poured his heart out or put himself on the line, and in a way, he hadn't. He hadn't said anything that Haru didn't know. Perhaps Haru had never put words to the ideas and feelings before, but he wasn't surprised. He hadn't left himself open for rejection, either. No, he and Haru were too close, too much one solid unit, for Haru to ever reject him.

Haru may love water, but he needed Makoto to live.

"Anyways," Makoto broke the silence, speaking mildly and smiling the casual smile that Haru was almost certain was just his natural look, "We should get going. I have to get home to Ren and Ran, my parents are gonna be out late tonight."

They started to walk home again and Makoto chatted idly on like he always did. Haru's mind was running at a million miles an hour, though. He had just received a love confession, right? So why didn't it feel more… serious? Why didn't it feel life changing? Isn't that what was supposed to happen.

They reached Haru's house first and Makoto bid him farewell and continued on his way home. Haru watched his back retreat, stunned almost, at how normal this all felt. At how normal everything with Makoto felt.

"Makoto!" He called, running after his best friend. Somewhere along the way he threw his backpack to the ground, but he wasn't honestly sure where. He didn't know exactly what he was doing and he sure as hell didn't know what he was about to say, but everything in him told him No, don't let Makoto go.

Makoto turned around at the sound of his name and paused, waiting for his best friend to catch him. Haru came at him full force and, instead of stopping, crashed right into Makoto, wrapping his arms around Makoto's neck and causing them both to stumble a few steps.

"Don't go," Haru murmured, his head turned away but his arms tight around Makoto. "Don't leave."

"Haru," Makoto was taken aback, though no unpleasantly, "You know you're always welcome at my house. You can come with me now if you don't mind Ren and Ran."

"No," Haru's voice hitched and his face turned red. He never expressed his emotions. He never needed to; Makoto always knew what he was going to say. But this time, whether Makoto knew his thoughts or not, he had to voice them. "Don't leave me. Ever."

"I'm not going anywhere. I would never. What is this all about?"

"I love you, too," Haru blurted out, surprising them both. His face turned even redder as he buried is face in Makoto's shoulder. After a moment, he mumbled against the fabric of Makoto's shirt, "I do. I love you."

Gently Makoto pushed on Haru's shoulders to move him away and get a clear view at his face. Haru looked stubbornly away at the ocean, the blush slowly fading from his cheeks. Finally, he looked back, only to see Makoto looking at him with that look. The kitten look. The look that made him fall in love years ago.

Makoto pulled him closer again and gently kissed his forehead before tousling Haru's hair affectionately again.

"I love you," Makoto repeated, relishing the way it flustered Haru. To him, it had been natural. Falling in love and spending his life with Haru was something that it seemed like everyone saw in his future, not just him. He was just relieved to know Haru saw it, too.

"I love you, too." Haru replied. After a moment, he added, "And, you don't even have to give up kittens."

Makoto laughed and kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Haru."