Note: Uhhh, so I couldn't stop writing. ^^;; Enjoy this next chapter, I hope it's a little more cheerful than the last. :) Beta'd by a good friend~

Chapter 4 - Don't Cry

The next day came around ,and the bright sunlight beat down on Makoto as he stood staring at Haruka's door. Beads of sweat had started to form on his forehead, but not just due to the sheer heat. He was nervous. Fingers curled and uncurled as the male was unable to move a muscle, emerald gaze locked onto the object in front of him. He just prayed that Haru didn't walk out and see him. Which, luckily for Makoto, didn't happen. So as his body seemed to just become unglued from the spot, the brunet began his lonely journey to the school.

After Haruka had left him the night before, Makoto proceeded to sink to his knees, hair falling over his eyes. He couldn't cry. There weren't even any tears as he arrived home, the twins bugging him and parents giving knowing looks. His eyes were dry.

Though, due to his daze, Makoto managed to walk straight into a lamppost. "Damnit," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his nose as he stumbled. His state was getting worse – messy brown hair, dull green eyes and he hadn't even bothered to have a shower the previous day. He saw no point. If the brunet didn't have Haru's attention, then why should he bother to look decent? To try and catch the attention of some girl? Well apparently he had a fan club, but had never been massively interested... the girls were probably only interested in his toned body like Gou with her weird fetish of muscles. The thought made him chuckle, which surprised him. It was the first time he had genuinely smiled since he walked in on Haru and Rin.

Makoto soon arrived at school again, receiving strange but worried looks off his fellow students as he shuffled through the corridors and towards the classroom. Haruka was already there, but the tall male decided it was best to avoid conversation with him, and so sat down at his desk in silence.

Class felt like an eternity. Seconds felt like hours. Minutes felt like weeks. But, eventually the bell rang to signal lunch time, and Makoto had never moved so quick. He couldn't stand being in the same room as Haru. Unfortunately the brunet ran straight into a worried looking Rei.

"U-Uh, hi," he muttered quietly, causing the blue-haired male to frown.

"You were lying, weren't you Makoto-senpai? Something has happened." The younger male adjusted his red glasses again before sighing.

"I-I wasn't lying." Makoto's voice had grown weak, and he began to shy away. Rei narrowed his eyes.

"You look like a mess. You're hair is all over the place, you have bags under your eyes. It's not beautiful at all!"

"I know..." Makoto gave in with a heavy sigh, eyes closing. Though, as he felt a hand being placed gently onto his shoulder and he jumped.

"Makoto-senpai... What's bothering you?" Concerned eyes met emerald ones filled with sadness, and soon tears formed.

"I.. Haru... He..." The brunet was unable to form words, they just choked up in his throat and he was soon pulled into an empty room by... wait, two people?

"Mako-chan, you need to tell us what's wrong or we won't let you out of this room!" chirped a familiar voice. Makoto couldn't help but smile a little, even though tears were slowly trickling down his face. He looked up to see the pair both standing with their arms crossed, waiting for the brunet to say something.

"I... I really like Haru. Not.. just as a friend," Makoto started. Rei and Nagisa rolled their eyes in sync.

"We already know that," Nagisa muttered in an annoyed tone.

"I was going to confess to him the night you sent me that song, Nagisa. But... When I got there, Haru and Rin... They wer-" His voice cut off as a strangled sounding sob burst from his throat and his knees gave way under him.

"But.. If Haru-chan is happy, then so is Mako-chan, right?"

"I know, it's just... I think Rin is only doing it to spite me. He knows how I feel, and knows that he'll always be able to take Haru away. He can give Haru what I can't."

"That's not tru—"

"Yes it is! I should have seen it before!" Makoto's voice was raised now and he stood up, a flicker of anger evident in his eyes. "Rin can give Haru anything physical. The.. The sex, the passion, the lust... I can't give him that." Rei and Nagisa had jumped back at the brunet's sudden outburst, but then stepped close, each putting a hand on Makoto's shoulders.

"You can give him something much more beautiful than that," Rei said with a small smile.

"Yup! You two have been friends for years. You have such an awesome bond between you, you act like a married couple! You may not be able to give Haru the roughness that he can get from Rin, but..." Nagisa trailed off, giggling.

"You can give him someone to rely on. You're loyal, always looking out for him and making sure that he's happy." Makoto's tears returned, but not from sadness.

"I.. Thanks, you two." The usual gentle smile formed on his lips again and Makoto straightened up, brushing a few bits of fluff off his shirt and slinging his bag back over his shoulder. "I should go get some lunch. Rooftop?" The two other males nodded and they all walked up to the roof. Haru was already there. Makoto's expression faltered, but with a nudge from Nagisa he managed to keep everything from falling apart.

"Hey, Haru," he said softly, sitting down next to the raven. No response. Haru continued to eat, seemingly unaware that his friends had all joined him. Makoto's chest began to ache again. Nagisa and Rei were whispering amongst themselves, so Makoto decided to keep quiet as was now usual, and ate his bento. The food had no taste. It was bland, and the brunet didn't really want to eat it; he wasn't feeling all that hungry anyway.

–

The end of the day again. Makoto was stood at his locker, forehead pressed against the cool metal. Sadness wasn't gripping him as much as it was a few hours ago, but his heart still felt heavy. The images from that fateful night were still fresh in his mind as if it had literally happened five minutes ago. But.. the look on Haru's face as Rin grinded their hips together... he wanted to see that. Makoto wanted to be able to make Haru groan like that, to receive those reactions and make the raven happy. Not like it would ever happen now.

He left the school, aimlessly walking home and not really paying attention to the students trying to speak to him. His ears just seemed to block out all sounds. Within minutes Makoto was at the beach again, eyes staring at the ocean, the emerald orbs reflecting the mass of water, making them appear almost shimmering. His bag slowly began to slip on his shoulder, so Makoto decided that going home could wait. He dropped his bag on the sand and let his body fall down to its knees.

The sound of the oceans waves filled Makoto's ears, and he shifted his position so he could hug his knees.

"Makoto." The sudden voice made the brunet jump out of his skin. It was familiar. A low but knowing voice. It was Haru.

"H-Haru," the tall male stuttered, body tensing as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He felt it give him a gentle squeeze in an attempt of comfort. The action made Makoto smile despite his emotions raging like a hurricane inside his body and mind.

"Look at me." It wasn't a question. Makoto had no choice. It was a demand, and by the sound of Haru's voice, the raven was being serious. Slowly, with his eyes closed at first, Makoto turned his head. Little by little, he opened his eyes, meeting a deeply concerned sapphire gaze, then flying open and widening.

"Haru I-!" Words weren't needed. All that Haru had to say was in his beautiful deep blue eyes. They gave it all away. Makoto knew what the shorter male wanted to say, and he also knew that Haru was struggling to think of a way to say it. A smile graced his features and Makoto chuckled.

"You don't need to say it... but why?" Haru looked away with lidded eyes.

"I..." He closed his eyes and Makoto could see him biting down on his bottom lip.

"Did he force you?"

"No," came the quick reply.

"...You liked it?

"Not sure." This time, it took Haru over a minute to answer, though he still refused to look at his best friend.

"That makes no sense, Ha-" Makoto stopped himself. Why was he getting angry? There was no point. All it would do was push Haru away, making the already large wall between them even bigger. You could probably cut the tension with a blunt knife. Makoto balled his hands into fists, looked down at the damp sand. He felt a tear roll down his cheek and gasped. 'No, no crying, Makoto!' his mind yelled, but he was unable to stop.

"Makoto?" Haru had finally looked back to the brunet as he heard a very quiet but noticeable sob. "Makoto?" he repeated, returning his hand to Makoto's shoulder.

"I-I- You.. I-it's just-" Makoto couldn't even form a coherent sentence as his bottom lip began to tremble, followed by his hands.

"Makoto." Again his name was said in that usual blank voice, though there was a hint of worry hidden in the tone. Makoto closed his eyes, but a second later they flew open, feeling a strange warmth on his right cheek.

"H.. Haru?" Why did the raven have his hand on Makoto's cheek? He couldn't understand. Haru liked Rin, didn't he?

"Don't cry, Makoto."