Hello and welcome to chapter 4!

I'm sorry that it took me a while to update this time. I'm under some stress at work, trying to find another job with better pay than my current one. Plus, sometimes I don't know what to do and get writer's block. It's pure evil, I tell you. I don't want to upload anything I am not happy with. Thus, the waiting, because you guys deserve to read something worth your time.

Anyway, I'm very happy that I got more reviews from you guys and yay, I have 8 favorites now! Woooo!

Thank yous go out to everyone that reviewed the story and added it to their favorites list thus far. I love you all~!


It has been two weeks since Haru had woken up from the coma.

It was a difficult fourteen days, the raven haired male needing to go through rehab to help him walk properly again since his body forgot how.

Makoto was worried. Could his best friend still swim? Haru doesn't seem phased, though. He is a quick learner and a natural. Of course he could swim.

Now that he is well enough, Haru is being discharged from the hospital, the gentle brunette sitting in the waiting room, anticipating when the other comes through the door.

When he does, emerald eyes widen in surprise. Despite the doctor's orders, Haru walks out of the room without crutches, saying that he doesn't need them and that he can walk on his own. Makoto doesn't completely agree, but he is very happy and proud to see Haru moving at all. It's a miracle that he wasn't injured more than he was in that accident. Makoto is grateful for that every passing second.

"Haru!" Makoto goes over to his best friend, wanting to help in any way that he can. "Are you sure you don't want the crutches just in case, or you could put one arm around me to hold you up while I take you home?"

The second offer is tempting. Putting his arm around Makoto. He wants to, but...

"I'm fine." Haru says simply, walking by the larger male and heading toward the exit.

The two head home together, the hospital not being too far away from Iwatobi High School, so once they made it there, they went their usual way, going down the path that lead to their houses.

Makoto had called his mother and father earlier, letting them know he will be staying with Haru for a while, just to be around in case the smaller male needs anything. Ren and Ran were not happy about that, the twins fighting over the phone for who gets to speak to their older brother. They even said they wanted to come stay with the raven-haired male as well, so that they could all play together.

"You sure you want to stay here for a few days?" Haru inquired, sitting down on the sofa to rest for a moment or two. "Yes. It's been a while since I got to speak to you. I mean, I have spoken to you a lot, but it's been a while since I actually got a reply. I miss being with you like this."

Haruka huffs, looking off to the side, away from Makoto to hide his growing blush. "I see.."

"Are you hungry?" The brunette inquired, ocean blue eyes widening in alarm. "I can still cook, Makoto."

"But you should be resting. I'm sure I can-"

"I would rather you not do anything in my kitchen." The raven-haired male insists, remembering a time where Makoto tried to cook and almost burnt the place down. He gets shivers just thinking about it. "I'll just make mackerel in a bit."

"Haha okay, if that's what you want." Makoto replied, flashing his best friend a warm smile.

Haruka had spared the other a glance for a second, but looked away once more, the blush on his face only growing darker.

"Why does he have to look at me like that?" Haru thought.


Haru is soon in the kitchen, wearing an apron as he stands in front of stove, flipping a few pieces of mackerel over in the pan.

Makoto is there with him, standing watch just in case the raven-haired male needs any help. "You sure you don't want to sit while doing that? Standing too long in one spot could be-"

"Makoto...stop." Haru sighed exasperatedly, hearing no end to his best friend's worries since they got here. "Like I said..I'm fine." He repeated once more, thinking it was sweet that Makoto cared, but he didn't need the larger male to be his parent. He has been doing just fine on his own since they left. "If you really want to help, open the cabinet on your right and grab two plates out to set on the table."

"Ah. Okay, Haru-chan~" The brunette said, doing just that and setting the table with plates and chopsticks beside them. "Do you want anything to drink?" He inquired, placing glasses next to the plates as well.

"Plain water is fine with me, and drop the 'chan'."

"Hehe. Got it, 'Haru'." Makoto corrected himself, going to the fridge and getting out a cold pitcher of water for the smaller male, and some orange juice for himself. Once he poured both of them a drink, the brunette took a seat at the table, and waited patiently for the food to be done.

Soon enough, the mackerel is finished and the two best friends are sitting quietly at the table, eating their small meal in silence.

They both have a gift, being able to read one another without saying a word, so they didn't mind the peace and quiet. Because of this gift, Haru had a feeling what Makoto was going to ask when they were finished eating. He tried to beat the brunette to it, but it was too late. They ended up saying it at the same time.

"I'll do the dishes."

"Haru, you should go rest. You have been standing enough already at the stove. I can clean the dishes."

"You're the guest, Makoto. I should do them. Besides, I have been sitting down since we started eating."

"That's true, but the doctors said you shouldn't push yourself."

Haruka rolls his eyes. He didn't want to say it, but he was close to his breaking point. "I'm not a baby, Makoto. I don't need you telling me when I am pushing myself. I think I would know."

"What? Haru, I'm only trying to help you. I want to take care of you."

"I didn't ask you to take care of me and watch out for me as if I'm your child!" The raven-haired male raised his voice, wishing he hadn't said anything at all since Makoto looks hurt, his emerald eyes downcast at the ground.

"S-Sorry, Haru..I didn't know I was annoying you that much. I'll go if you want me to." The brunette stood up from his chair, beginning to walk past the other.

"I know you're capable of taking care of yourself. I've just missed you.."

Before Makoto was gone, Haru grabbed onto his wrist, stopping him in his tracks and making him look back at the smaller teen. "Haru?"

"Don't go.." Haru said with a deadpan expression on his face, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What was that?"

"You can stay..." Haru told Makoto, louder this time. "I want you to stay."

Makoto smiled, his expression beaming with joy. "That's great, Haru! Thank you! Then...how about we do the dishes together?" The brunette suggested. Haruka's lips curved up into a faintly noticeable grin, the smaller male shaking his head in amusement. "I can live with that."


Days pass, the two best friends continuing to live under the same roof, but as time went by, it became harder for Haru to hide his feelings for the other male as they kept growing stronger and stronger.

It's a good thing Makoto is there though, because Haru realized that after staying seated for a while, he had a hard time getting back up. One day, Makoto goes into the bathroom, the water-loving teen soaking in the tub. Like old times, the brunette smiles, reaching his hand out toward the other. "You should get up before you get too pruny." He jokes, the other huffing at his sense of humor.

"...Idiot.." Haru replied as he took Makoto's hand, but when they touched, heat and embarrassment washed over him like a wave smashing onto the rocks.

Haruka's heart is pounding against his chest, sounding loudly in his ears. He wonders if Makoto can hear it too. He hopes that he can't.

"Haru, are you okay?"

Haru does not hear the other calling to him, the smaller of the two just standing there and holding onto the hand a lot longer than usual.

"Haru!"

"Hmm?" The raven-haired male finally responded, releasing the warmth against his palm as he stepped out of the tub, shaking his head. "Sorry. I was distracted." He said with no emotion on his face, acting like nothing had happened at all.

The remainder of the day is the same. Haru seemed quiet, distant even. He wasn't talking much-even less than usual, and he wouldn't look directly at Makoto. The brunette caught on almost immediately, but stayed silent about it for now, observing his best friend closely. Haruka cannot hide anything from him.

Later that night, the two did the same thing they always did. They shared Haru's bed, one on each side of it, but Haru was fidgeting. His feet would constantly rub together, as if he were nervous or uncomfortable. Eventually, he sat up, beginning to gather his pillow and blanket. "I'll sleep on the floor." He said, the brunette raising his eyebrow in response. "What's been going on with you, Haru?" He asked, the smaller male just looking at him with a blank expression on his face. "Nothing."

"It's not nothing. You've been acting strange lately, especially today." Haru's gaze averted to the ground. He didn't think Makoto had noticed.

"I was pretending not to see, but I did.. Please, Haru..just tell me what's going on. It seems like you've been growing distant from me and I don't like it. After all, you're my best friend. I want us to always be there for each other."

In that moment, Haruka sighed, Makoto's words seeming to warm his heart and give him the final push he needed.

He does not say anything at first, just drops the pillow and blanket back onto the bed before closing the gap between him and his best friend. Haruka had never been one for words, so instead of starting this with an explanation, he pressed his lips against the brunette's, kissing Makoto for the first time in reality.

When the kiss was broken, Makoto looked at Haru with an open mouth, his emerald eyes wide as he is unsure of what to say. Did that really just happen?

Haru isn't sure if the brunette's reaction is good or bad. He wonders if maybe he shouldn't have done that after all.

"While I was in the coma.." The raven-haired male began. "I constantly had dreams about you. Dreams in a dream, where you would die over and over again.. They terrified me..and even when I realized they weren't real, I didn't know how to wake up, but then I heard your voice calling to me.. I followed you, and eventually I came back. You brought me back..and I didn't want to go another second worrying about if you would die before I got to tell you..that I love you, Makoto.."


To Be Continued

Oh no, I'm making everyone wait to see what Makoto says XD

Nah, I'm sure you all know what's going to happen in the next chapter anyway, or do you? Maybe I'm mean and Makoto will reject Haru so that everyone is left surprised.

Anyway, like always, please review~