Under the Sea (featuring Haruka x Makoto)
Note: This is a custom fanfic I made for a friend of mine; it's all fluffy shounen-ai and not M-rated. Feel 'Free!' to enjoy it anyway but if this is not in your taste I apologise and hope it's not too dissapointing. Not all the stories I want to write are of the yaoi genre and I hope I can still please you, sweet reader. Thanks as always!
"Haru... How come you're so into swimming?"
He looked up at the sky, imagening it being a calm blue ocean as he looked back on one of his dearest memories with the best of his friends.
"It's not really that I'm into swimming... I just..."
He closed his eyes, picturing Makoto's face in perfect detail in front of him. The sweet, green eyes that always shone with great kindness. The soft and gentle smile on his pink lips when their eyes met. Even the way his hair shifted in a cool breeze he remembered into the smallest detail.
"I love the feeling of water around me." He said out loud. His back was sore and his moucles ached for movement after lying there on the grassy riverbank for the past three hours. Not to mention he was hungry and tired.
He made his way home and as he stepped on through the door he was met by the strong aroma of cooking fish. He felt suprised at first but it was accually quite common for the guys of the swim club to invite themselves inside so he had gotten used to it happening.
He took his shoes off and went into the small kitchen where his green-haired BFF - wearing one of Haru's aprons over his clothes - was cooking what could only be fish-stew in a big pot on the stove. Haru's rice-cooker next to the stove was also filled and almost finished boiling. Makoto, who was focused on steering the stew payed no notice to Haru's presance.
"Yo." Haru said, making Makoto jump in sudden suprise. He turned around and smiled at Haru.
"Aah, welcome home, Haru! I learned this new recepie and I wanted to suprise you with it." He said. The rice-cooker beeped and he opened the lid to let the rice steam off a little before scooping it into two deep bowls, topping it with the stew and some freshly chopped herbs from a plate on the counter. He placed the two bowls on a large tray along with two glasses of green tea and a plate of various chopped fruit topped with chocolate sauce and whole berries. Followed by Haruka, he carried it all into the livingroom and put it down on the traditional Japanese table.
They sat down facing eachother on the small sitting-pillows and started eating the stew and rice. Haru already knew Makoto could cook ofcourse, but this was beyond even his usual skill.
"Makoto, it's delicious." He said in awe after swallowing his first mouthfull.
"It's mackarel stew, I knew you'd like it." Makoto said smiling in responce and then they proceeded to finish their meal in silence. They both had seconds, and Haru even a third portion before they could get started on the dessert. As they finally did however, Makoto suprised him yet again.
"Here, open up." He said, blushing slightly and held a spoonfull of the chocolate covered fruit infront of Haru. He hesitated for a second, but accepted the offer and let it enter his mouth. The sweet flavour spread across his tounge and the red blushing across Makoto's face. Haru swallowed and took the spoon back out.
"Makoto?" He looked at his flushed friend, who sighed.
"Haru, how long do we have to pretend?" Makoto said with sadness written all over his face. Haru turned his eyes away, not sure what to say or do.
"I don't think I can pretend we're just friends for much longer, we both know it's a lie and I can't take it much longer." Makoto leaned over the table towards Haruka. He was still blushing but had a more determined look on his face then earlier.
"It's going to be okay. Nagisa and Rei are going to accept us for sure so why bother lying anymore?" His body language demanded Haru to meet his eyes and he had never been good at denying any of Makoto's demands. He looked deeply into the kind green eyes he loved so dearly and took a deep breath.
"Could you live with it though? I don't care what people think but will you be okay with people talking behind your back and having their prejudice aimed at you?" He took another deep breath before continuing: "I really don't want to see you suffer because of me."
Makoto looked down at the dark brown wood of the table and sat silent for a few moments. He had been wondering the exact same thing over and over ever since he came to peace with his feelings for Haruka, and even more so after realising they were answered and such a relationship was accually possible between them.
After all that wondering and thinking, pondering and analysing himself he had come to his conclusion and then decided to have this conversation with Haruka.
"Yes." He said softly. "Yes. If it means I get to be with you, I will be happy. Even if nobody but Nagisa and Rin can accept it I will be happy." He breathed out heavily and met Haru's eyes once again. He could swear Haru's eyes were watery as they closed and their lips met right there, above the empty bowls of homemade stew.
