9.

It wasn't like it was in the movies. There was no slow-motion fall, no slight delay in the air before gravity finally took hold. They fell like any other object that was air-borne. Hard and fast.

The impact from air to ground was enough to send Haru's head reeling and caused the world to spin, a sharp pain coming from his lip as a metallic taste filled his mouth. Haru tried to catch a breath, a whisper of oxygen, anything to fill his lungs, but the task was near impossible. It felt like he was choking on the heart pounding in his chest.

Was the sky up or down? Haru couldn't even tell if they were rolling anymore. His head was too dizzy to make any sense of his surroundings. All he could think to do was squeeze his eyes shut and wait. It felt like forever. In reality, it couldn't have been any longer than 10 seconds.

Haru was numb as they slid to a stop, keeping his eyes shut even as he was sure they were no longer moving. He wiggled his toes, slackened his grasp on Hiromi's waist, and waited for the rest of him to catch up. Makoto groaned behind him.

"Haru, Hiromi-chan, are you two okay?" Makoto's voice, thick and a bit disoriented, was enough to open his eyes, the blast of green from the tree canopy blinding him for a second. His senses were now coming back a mile a minute and he became increasingly aware of Makoto's hand tightly secure around his waist as he laid on the brunettes chest. Hiromi was on the other side of Makoto, laying on top of both of them and starting to turn around. In his flurry to grab them, Makoto must have fallen off the cliff as well, sandwiching Haru between Hiromi and himself to try and prevent either one of them from getting hurt in the fall.

"I'm okay, thanks to you and Haruka-kun." Hiromi said quietly, sliding off of him to sit next to Makoto in the grass. Haru mirrored the same, his joints cringing as he attempted to sit up. Makoto's hand didn't leave his side right away, sliding gently along his back and staying there until Haru was situated safely in the grass to his right. Haru felt his cheeks warm up at the softness and warmth of the touch.

"Oh, Haru-chan you're bleeding!" In a quick motion Makoto was pushing Haru's hair back, pressing the bangs back so he could get a better look at his face. Haru jumped at the sudden contact and quickly shook the hand away, gliding a finger across his bottom lip and looking in the other direction.

"It's just a split lip, I'm fine."

"But-"

"What about you?" Haru interrupted, peaking an eye over in a sudden stare down. "You took most of the fall, didn't you?" his brows creased a bit in worry, now looking up to the marks skidded into the dirt from their slide. One bad land and Makoto could have broken a bone or at least gotten a concussion from the impact.

"Yeah, are you okay baby?" Hiromi reached up to caress his cheek. "How's your back?"

"I'm fine." Makoto shook his head. "Just a bit sore is all." As if to prove his point, Makoto started to pull himself into a sitting position, wincing a bit at the motion. Haru was quick to his side, placing firm hands onto his back to help him up.

"Oh, Mako-kun, I just feel so awful about this…" Hiromi bit her finger, eyes sparkling. "I should have been more careful."

"Its okay, Hiromi-chan." Makoto smiled sweetly at her. "I'm just glad you're not hurt." Oh good god now they both were smiling at each other like that. Haru found himself looking at the ground with a bitter taste in his mouth. He stood up.

"We should get going." Not to interrupt a moment, but well

"You've been saying that since we got here." Hiromi stuck her tongue out at him, but nonetheless stood up as well. They both reached over to help Makoto his feet, who staggered a bit upon standing.

"Hmph." Haru gently tried to swipe the dirt that marked up Makoto's back, but found it not very successful. It looked as if he was a cabinet that hadn't been dusted in years.

"Haru is right, though, Hiromi-chan. I think we've all had enough of this town for one day." More like forever, but Haru decided not to correct him.

"Well I don't think we will be going back the way we came." Hiromi noted, and they all looked back up at the cliff. "Let me pull up the map. Town can't be that far." Pulling out her phone she did a couple of flicks to the screen. She stared at it with a furrowed brow before pointing off to the left. "That way!" Makoto smiled at Haru in relief. Haru just stared at the direction dully.

"Lead the way, Hiromi-chan!" She made some kind of captain salute and started moving, Haru and Makoto taking up the rear once more.

Unlike their trek before, there was less to climb over and trip on as they hiked through the woods. Haru figured this was a good sign and meant that town had to be close enough by.

Hiromi led them through the woods as if that was true, anyway. Despite falling down the cliff being quite a downer, she quickly returned to her happy spirit and was brightly humming as she had been before. Well, that was nice for her, he guessed. Haru was quickly supporting a burning temper that was forming as the time ticked on.

Every now and then he would look up at the sky and notice that the blue had turned a touch darker as the sun started to lower itself. It was a constant reminder of how long this stupid adventure was taking. Makoto, meanwhile, was mostly quiet, a perfect neutral zone in-between Hiromi's happy attitude and Haru's brooding atmosphere. As was Makoto's nature, he seemed to be trying to keep both of them at peace. It worked for a while, but Haru was beginning to lose patience.

"Makoto, don't you think this is taking a while?" Haru looked up Makoto, meeting the green halfway. "We should be there by now."

"Yeah." Makoto sounded unsure, and Haru could read him well enough to know that the orca had more than likely been thinking about this for a while. "Hiromi-chan," he called, this time loud enough to reach his girlfriend. "Are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Of course!" Hiromi replied with a smile, but fell to a stop. She pulled out her phone again to stare at it, only to look up at the woods behind her. "Yeah, definitely just a little farther."

"Do you want us take a look?" Makoto suggested, offering a hand out.

"Don't you worry you're pretty little head, Mako-kun! I'm the navigator, you guys just sit back and keeping enjoying the trip! I'll have us out in no time."

"When did the enjoying start?" Haru whispered bitterly. If he and Makoto had had their way, they'd already be on the train on the way back to Tokyo. There would have been no tumble down a cliff, nor there any need to navigate through a stupid forest.

"Oh shush you." Hiromi waved him away with the back of her hand and began leading them through the trees once more.

Twenty minutes later, they came to another stop, and Haru could feel his heart pounding faster. Compared to before, Hiromi looked nowhere near as sure of herself as earlier. In fact, she was squinting into the woods as if trying to read invisible answers.

"This way, this way!" she gave a giggle, changing their direction slightly. "Oh, I can almost taste the apples."

The next stop came at a huge pile of rocks, where they stopped to take a breather. The whole time Haru clicked his nails on the hard piece of earth, impatience rising in his gut. Hiromi told them a story about hiking with her aunt. Makoto listened kindly. Haru wanted to shoot her.

"Was she the one who led the way?"

"Yeah, why?" she titled her head. Figures. Haru clutched his hands tight.

"Just curious." They moved on when a centipede crawled cross Makoto's hand.

The trees were getting taller as was the foliage around them, becoming less tamed and more wild. Thorns tugged at their clothes like rabid fans and they no longer had a forest floor but carpet of dead leaves. The animal life was becoming more abundant as well, a rather ugly looking snake and some hybrid of rabbit making an appearance. It wasn't the characteristic of the edge of a forest, but deeper into the center. They were lost. Haru was quickly beginning to realize this.

At a tree that oddly had a shape of a cactus they came to a stop yet again and now Haru could feel the hair on his arm bristle. They were lost, so freaking lost that it was almost hilarious. Almost. He took a deep breath, tension forming in his jaw. Haru was seconds from his breaking point. At this point, anything could set him off. A branch could crack too loud and it would still make him want to throw something. He was sick of this trip, of this adventure, of everything.

"I think we came from that way…" Hiromi pointed into the woods, though she looked completely unsure. "So, that way?"

"What does the map say?" Haru asked, his voice sharp. Hiromi bounced her phone in her hand, looking sheepish.

"Well, the thing is… I don't have any connection anymore. I lost it a little bit ago…"

"You're kidding." Haru's eye twitched. "So we've just been walking around with no idea where we're going!?"

"No! Not… really!" Hiromi planted her hands on her hips. "I thought I knew where we were going, okay? It's not that big of a forest, so I just figured if we kept going one way we'd make it."

"Hiromi-chan, we've been in here for two hours already. You should have said something earlier." Hiromi bit her lip, down-casting her eyes.

"I was going to, but I didn't want you to get mad at me." Yes, because this was so much better. Getting lost in a forest they didn't know while the sun kept getting lower and lower to the ground. "… Do you guys have connection?"

Makoto shook his head after pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I don't. Haru?"

"Mines at home." Haru said honestly, rubbing his temple. Why would he bring it with when the only person he really needed it for was right here beside him?

"So we're lost." Makoto said blankly, pushing his hair back.

"Well I feel like if we kept following the same direction…"

"Cause that's been working." Haru rolled his eyes, glaring into the woods so he wouldn't be glaring at her.

"We should have run into something by now, though." Makoto added to Haru's statement, voice way softer than Haru's own. "Maybe we took a wrong turn somewhere?" Yeah, down a cliff.

"We could retrace our steps back?" Hiromi suggested, biting her lip.

"Won't that take too much time?"

"Yeah, I guess. We could just go in the opposite direction we've been going in, then? If towns not this way, than maybe it's the other way."

"I suppose that could work…" Haru sighed, walking off into the trees. He didn't stop until their voice's were nothing but incomprehensible whispers, choosing than to squat against a tree. The quite was a blessing he had been wishing for for a while. It was no bath, but at least he could sit in comfortable silence.

Without Hiromi's loud voice or Makoto's noisy footsteps breaking through the air, he could actually hear the sound of leaves ruffling through the late September wind. The breeze was peaceful to the touch, too, and petting against his face Haru could feel some of the tension in his body leave him. The smell of grass began to fill his nose, accompanied by unknown wild flowers. A bee buzzed nearby, probably on its way to its hive. Water trickled from not that far away. Wait, water?

Haru quickly stood up, facing the direction it was coming from. He hadn't noticed the sound before, but now that he had it was all that he could hear. Loud and crisp, the beautiful noise called him like a siren and made his toes curl. Would it be wrong if he felt like drooling? Probably.

"Haru, what are you doing over here?" Makoto asked, stepping over towards him. Hiromi was at his side, rummaging through her purse.

"Do you guys here that?" he asked, but was greeted by confused eyes.

"Hear what?"

There's water nearby."

"Haruka-kun, now really isn't the time to go for a swim…" Well, rude. Anytime was a good time for a swim, for the record. He was wearing his swimsuit.

"That's not why I pointed it out." He snapped. "It could lead us to town, or at least a road."

"Really?" Makoto's eyes lit up at this revelation.

"Yeah. When I was younger I went hiking with my parents a couple of times. Dad taught me stuff like this." Apparently having spontaneous, adventurous parents could be a good thing once and a while.

"Okay, then lead the way. I don't really hear it." Probably because the water didn't like her. Why would it when she was a land dweller? Just look at Rei. It took months for the water to accept him.

"I kind of do." Makoto said excitedly, cupping his hands behind his ears. "Is it that way?" Haru nodded.

"It doesn't sound too far off." Focusing all his energy on listening for the trickling water, Haru took up the lead. The sound bent them to the right of the direction Hiromi was heading towards, bringing them to a thicket of branches home to a bunch of rabbits.

"Sorry Peter!" Hiromi called out to the family as they ran, both she and Makoto looking a bit sad that they had disturbed the creatures. Haru ignored it all, happy that his senses were right. It wasn't the biggest of streams, only stretching around three feet across, but it was water. Actual flowing water. Haru was quick to kick his shoes and socks off, stepping into the cool liquid with glee. It went only up to his ankles but was enough to satisfy his need for the moment.

"If we follow this down, it might meet up with a river that leads to town." Haru said, pointing as he talked.

"How do we know it will, though?" Hiromi asked, shifting in the mud.

"We don't." Because her idea was much better.

"I say it's worth a shot." Makoto smiled. "Better than wondering the woods and having to call for a rescue." Hiromi couldn't argue with that, so they began following the streams trail, Makoto and Hiromi walking along on land while Haru enjoyed his stroll in the water as most he could in this type of situation.

It turned out Haru had been right. After about a half an hour of walking, louder rushing water filling the air as the trees around them grew shorter and sparser. He got out of the stream just in time to watch the water wind down a bunch of rounded rocks to join a larger river, nearing at least 20 feet wide.

The highlight of the discovery? In the distance they could see a bridge raised above it. A bridge meant people. People meant town. Town meant thank fucking god they were free of these blasted woods.

Immediately they adjusted their course, heading straight in the direction of their holy grail. The bridge itself was metal, but along its sides on either part of the river were stacked rocks, similar to the one they had sat on earlier but much more trimmed and humanized. They were like nature's stairs.

Makoto climbed up them first, then offering a hand up for Hiromi and then Haru. A bit out of breath from the climb the three of them all stood there for a moment, staring at the setting sun and relishing in the fact that there were houses around them, located on either side of the bridge. They had made it out, had actually survived with little damage.

And it was great, at least for a second. But reality struck almost immediately as they kept looked around. Nothing was even remotely familiar. They were definnently not where they started. In fact, they really were no better off than in the woods.

"Um…" Makoto bit his lip, looking at the unfamiliar street they stood on. "This isn't how we came in."

"Well, at least we got out?" Hiromi said, her voice too optimistic. "See, it wasn't that bad."

"You got to be freaking kidding me." Haru had never been so done in his life. Unable to calm down, he found himself rounding on Hiromi. "What part of that was good?"

"Well, if you would actually try and look at it from a different perspective-"

"Fuck that." Haru growled, his eyes ablaze.

"Haru!" Makoto tried to interrupt, but Haru completely ignored him.

"I'm sick of this! No, don't look at me like that. This trip has been one disaster after another. Calling it an adventure is just trying to cover up all your mistakes. I've had enough of this stupid childish nonsense!" Before she could stuttered out a reply, Haru grabbed hold of Makoto's wrist and tugged, hauling him down some godforsaken street he didn't even know the name of. There were no tingles, no fluttering butterflies forming from touching Makoto so closely. All feelings were fried in his anger.

"You're being ridiculous!" Hiromi pattered after them, keeping up despite Haru's efforts to get away from her. "Who's the child now?"

"Hiromi-chan!" Makoto was looking at them both helplessly, his gaze looking at the back of Haru's head with worry.

"I didn't even want to be here!" Haru spat at her, gripping Makoto's wrist tightly. His feet pounded nosily on the pavement.

"Well, nobody forced you to come!" Hiromi replied just as hotly. Her eyes were burning electric. "You could have said no, so don't act like we kidnapped you! We were just trying to be nice and do you a favor. But obviously that was a big mistake, since you've been hell-bent in spoiling our time since we got here."

"I didn't ask for anything from you. I have much better things to do than be a fucking third-wheel on your stupid so called 'adventure'. If you think that your plans are worth any of my time then think again, Hiromi."

"My god, you're being such a freaking asshole right now! What is your problem?" Haru skidded around and turned to look at her, eyes like ice.

"You." She was the problem, the problem for every fucking thing going on his life, and he hated her, hated her so much he could barely stand it. It wasn't just this stupid trek through the forest. It was her stupid smile and her stupid giggle and the stupid way she clung onto Makoto and kissed Makoto and loved Makoto. It drove him crazy. Sure he could push the feeling down and avoid it for a while, but it always came back and always burned like a fresh new wound, lasting longer and longer with each and every passing day.

But what sucked the most was that he knew Hiromi didn't disserve this behavior from him. It wasn't her fault that he had realized too late how he felt. It wasn't her fault that she beat him fair and square. It wasn't her fault that he couldn't say what he wanted to say. It was just her fault that he became aware of the pain.

"Haru." A gentle warmth encased his hand and Haru looked over to Makoto, who was cradling his fingers like they could break. It was warm, soft, comforting. Haru felt his tension begin to melt. "Please don't get mad at Hiromi-chan. It was me who asked you to come. I'm sorry." The look in Makoto's eyes filled him with guilt. He had attacked Hiromi and had hurt Makoto as a result. That was not what he wanted at all.

"No," Haru pulled his fingers away from the touch that warmed him. "Makoto. It's just me. Sorry." He took a few steps away. "Lets… just go catch the train. I want to go home."

Through the use of Hiromi's phone, thanks to it re-connecting, they were able to find their way back to where they had started. Haru never realized he would be so comforted by the smell of fresh apples. Even more than that, the train station called him nearly as much as the water had had before, his stomach tumbling over with the knots he had created himself.

If he thought his troubles were over, though, then he was sorely mistaken.

"Sorry, you folks missed the last train heading out tonight by a half-hour." The guard informed them, not really looking sorry in the least as the three of them all stood before him.

"You're kidding." Makoto and Hiromi shared glances while Haru stood behind them, feeling defeated. "You mean there won't be a train back to Tokyo until the morning? But that doesn't make sense! It's like seven o'clock!"

"Is there no other way?" Haru protested. "I have important training tomorrow morning."

"Not my problem." He adjusted his keys. "The train is in for maintenance for the rest of the night. Somethings up with the engine, so the schedules been changed just for tonight. Next time think before you decide to go on a hike on a school night. Now if you excuse me, I have to get back to my job. You three will have to leave." With a shooing motion, he directed them to the door with his eyes.

Back outside, Haru leaned his back against the wall and slid down, hugging his knees. Well, on a scale to 10 on how screwed he was, Haru was surpassing triple digits. His coach was going to flip when Haru didn't show up to practice tomorrow morning. He could already feel the strain in his legs from all the laps he was going to have to run as punishment. Haru hated laps. Regretfully his coach knew this too.

"Haruka-kun, I'm sorry." Haru looked up to see Hiromi kneeling in front of him, their eyes level. "This really is my fault. And now because of me you're going to miss something important to you. I'm sorry, Haruka-kun, I really am!" Her eyes grew wet and Haru realized she was seconds from crying. Well, that certainly was something he didn't want to deal with right now.

"No, I'm sorry." He whispered, looking at the cracks in the cement. "It's not like you planned for this to happen."

"Oh Haruka-kun!" Haru jumped as she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. A Bit panicked, Haru looked up to Makoto for some help. The brunette, of course, was freaking useless and just replied to him with a shrug. Stupid Makoto. "I really am sorry, you know? I didn't mean to call you an asshole, I was just stressed from arguing with that asshole seller and then I just wanted us to have fun but I just made you two get hurt and then got us lost and-"

"Don't worry about it." Haru interrupted, patting her back awkwardly. "We can't do anything about it as this point. Might as well forget about it."

"I wish there was something I could do to make it up to you, though…"

"Run the laps my coach is going to give me tomorrow when I don't show up."

"I don't think it works that way…"

"I know. It was a joke." Haru sighed, shifting under her weight. He wished she would stop hugging him already.

"So what should we do now?" Makoto asked, looking at Haru for suggestions.

"Check into a hotel, I suppose." Haru shrugged. "I saw signs for one up ahead. How much yen do we have?" Dumping all their money on the ground in front of them, they were able to pool together enough that would at least get them a decent room.

Well, decent was kind of a big word. Bearable seemed to fit better.

"This seems… nice?" Makoto walked over to pull back a curtain. "You can see the apple fountain from here." Nice would have meant they weren't all sleeping on what felt like concrete. Nice meant there wasn't rust stains on the bathroom tile or that the carpet was actually stapled down to the floor. And nice definitely meant that there was an indoor pool because what kind of hotel would even think that not having one was a good idea? Oh right, this one. But yeah, it was nice. Completely nice. At least there was a freaking bathtub.

"Oh goodie." Hiromi sat down one of the beds. "It's just what I always wanted for a view." Haru, ignoring them both, walked towards the bathroom. He grabbed the handle.

"I'm taking a bath." The door slammed behind him a bit more aggressive than he meant to.

The water was everything he needed and more. It refreshed him, washed away the dirt and the stress and aggression and filled him up with a pleasant heat all over.

Dunking his head into his sanctuary, Haru slipped under the surface and enjoyed the peace and tranquility until a good long hour passed. His hand twitched in front of the drain when it came time to finally get out, and he almost had half a mind to just forget it and stay in the bathub for a couple more hours. But he had to figure Makoto and, god forbid Hiromi, wanted a hot shower after rummaging through the woods for a good part of the day. Haru knew he needed it.

With a heavy heart Haru pulled himself to his feet and stepped onto the tile, water slithering down in gentle paths towards his toes, leaving wet lines along his tan skin before Haru wiped it all away with a swipe of his towel. Since there was nothing to change into, Haru opted with wearing his swimsuit and shirt. It was a lot more comfortable than jeans to bed, that was for sure. Rubbing his towel into his black locks, Haru took a deep breath and opened the door.

On the other side he found Makoto and Hiromi sitting on opposite beds, Makoto texting something into his phone while Hiromi flipped through one of the town's brochure. At his presence Makoto smiled, setting his phone down and walking over to a plastic bag sitting on the dresser. He wished the big apple stretched across the front would be a surprise.

"Haru, we went and got something to eat for dinner. You want some?" Ruffling his hair a bit more in the towel, Haru looked over to see the sandwich Makoto was offering.

"It doesn't have apples in it, does it?" Makoto gave a soft chuckle. He eyed the sandwich up suspiciously.

"No, it's just turkey and cheddar." Haru's stomach grumbled.

"Okay." He carefully took the sandwich from Makoto, letting the towel settle on his shoulders as he peeled the plastic wrap from his heavily wrapped meal. It tasted… well, as he expected. Less than fresh with fake ingredients. But it was enough to fill him for the time being.

"It's not great, I know." Makoto grimaced, probably remembering his own sandwich. "But it was all we could find."

"It's fine." Haru shrugged. "Where'd you get them?"

"There's a convenience store not too far away. Hiromi was able to find it with her phone." At least her map was good for something, then. "We also got some blueberry muffins for the morning and some milk."

"Wow, the catering here is fantastic." Haru smirked lightly at Makoto, taking a rather large bite from his sandwich. "I feel like royalty."

"At your service, Nanase-sama." Makoto curtsied with an invisible skirt, and Haru could feel his cheeks burn as his heart bathumped aggressively in his chest. Makoto never used his last name. Ever. They never had to, having known each other before either of them could even talk. Hearing his last name come out Makoto's mouth made him dizzy, his veins pumping hot throughout his body. He was well aware that it had nothing to do with the hot bath he had just taken. Makoto was always doing that, surprising him when he least expected it. It was enough to knock him on his feet.

"Haru, how hot of a bath did you take? Your face is all red!" Haru quickly turned his head to the side, sliding away before Makoto could attempt to take his temperature. Yes, because that's what he needed. If Makoto touched him he'd probably explode on contact right now.

"There's enough left, if that's what you're asking." He hid behind his half-eaten sandwhich, rubbing his toes together.

"Hmm, well I'll be the judge of that." Hiromi, who had been watching the exchange between the two silently from her bed, now stood up with a stretch. "I'm taking over the bathroom, if you don't mind, Haruka-kun." Haru wasn't sure if he should feel insulted by that or not. Whatever, he didn't care too much. He was still trying to somehow calm down with a sandwhich for crying out loud. He nibbled at the bread.

"Save some for me, Hiromi-chan." Makoto smiled at her.

"Hmm, I make no promises." She giggled, shutting the door gently with a click. Haru looked at Makoto out of the corner of his eye, only to be startled with Makoto was already looking at him. The shower tap thundered from the bathroom.

"Did you have a nice bath?" Makoto asked with a gentle look. Haru nodded shyly.

"I enjoyed it, yes." He was dismayed when he finished up his sandwich, unable to focus his attention from Makoto any longer.

"I'm glad." Makoto voice dropped a little then, and a frown formed on his face. Haru didn't like that at all. "Look, Haru… I'm sorry I made you come with. It was very selfish of me."

"Don't worry about it."

"But I am worried about it, Haru!" Makoto bit his lip, looking at Haru with bright green eyes. "I forced you to come when you didn't want to, and look what happened! You got hurt…" Haru felt a pressure on his lip, only to realize it was Makoto's thumb gently rubbing against his cut. His skin buzzed.

"It doesn't hurt…" Haru said quietly. Right now, it felt pleasantly warm. He would take a hundred split lips if it meant Makoto touching him like this.

"It could've though. It could've been much worse. You wouldn't have to deal with any of this at all if I hadn't made such a big deal."

"If you think I blame you for anything you're not as smart as I thought." Haru pulled out of Makoto's touch, only to grab onto his wrist and hold it tightly. "What's with all the self-deprecation all of a sudden, Makoto?" Makoto wouldn't meet his eyes so Haru pulled him a bit closer.

"What you said to Hiromi-chan, about being a third-wheel… Do you really hate it?" Haru felt his heart skip, his body start to twitch, and used all his strength to not show Makoto an ounce of the truth that he felt.

"Makoto, I was mad at the time. I was just trying to piss her off."

"They say every lie has bit of truth to it." The brunette lowered his head. If he was a dog Haru was sure his ears would droop.

"Look, I told you before, I was grumpy about coming with. It wasn't about having to be here with the both of you, it was having to be here in general."

"I'm sorry." Makoto whispered. Having enough of it all, Haru reached forward and pushed Makoto's hair out of the way so their eyes would meet. He didn't need Makoto digging where he shouldn't, not when it teetered towards the truth.

"Makoto, I'm not mad. Not anymore at least. And not at all at you. So stop apologizing, okay? The day is over, everything is what it is. It will all go back to normal once we get back to Tokyo."

"Okay." There was a wisp of a smile now. "I really am sorry, though, Haru-chan."

"Oh my GOD Makoto, have you've been listening to me?" Using the power of surprise Haru was able to shove Makoto down on the bed and leaned over him with a scowl. "If you apologize one more time I'm going to freaking tickle you until you cry. And while we're at it, drop the –chan already. You're well over the limit just from today."

"Okay, okay!" Makoto laughed, looking a lot more like his usual self. "I'll just call you Nanase-sama then." Haru quickly grabbed a pillow and shoved it into Makoto's face.

"Absolutely not!" He pressed the fluff against his grinning face once more for added measure. That was definitely going into the 'never call me that again' pile. His heart couldn't take it.

"You could have just said no." Makoto pouted, throwing the pillow up by the others. He attempted to sit up, rubbing at his back as he did so.

"Does you're back still hurt?" Maybe pushing his best friend down like that was a bad idea.

"Yeah, a bit. Everything feels really tight." Haru took a deep breath.

"Do you want me to massage it?" It wouldn't be the first massage he'd ever given Makoto, what with them being on a swim team and running together and all, but it would be the first time touching Makoto's back since he realized his feelings. This would either be the best thing, or the worst. Haru really couldn't see an in-between. But Makoto was hurting and Haru decided giving him some relief was worth the risk.

"…would you?" Makoto was looking at him with sudden hope. Haru nodded.

"Take your shirt off and lay down." Makoto was quick to oblige, grabbing the hem of his t-shirt and pulling it over his head with ease. To prevent himself from staring, Haru deliberately looked away, waiting until he felt the bed shift and then become stable.

No matter what he did, Haru couldn't shake the fact that Makoto was now laying with his bare back to him, muscles shining in all their glory. Fuck this was probably a bad idea. He swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before he crawled over.

Makoto truly had the back that would put all Gods to shame. Years spent on the backstroke had done nothing but benefit him, the training sculpted great muscles capable of being their own little mountains. Out of all of them it was probably best for Makoto to have taken the impact, his strength probably the only reason he hadn't broken a bone. He wasn't without injury, however.

Up this close, Haru could see purple bruises starting to form, dotting along his spine. There were a couple of scratches, too, some just white curved marks while others had seeps of red. Haru carefully traced the worst one with his finger.

"Ahh, Haru that tickles!"

"Sorry." Haru slid his hands up to Makoto's upper back. His hands felt positively cold against the heat of his skin and Haru was tingling in every fiber of his body. Makoto was so warm, so very very warm. It felt like heaven against his palm. "Where should I rub?" he asked quietly. Anywhere, he'd rub anywhere.

"The middle of my back would be great, actually…" Haru gracefully ran his fingers down the first half of Makoto's spine, letting his fingers touch the bulge of his muscles without any attempt to hide it.

"Okay." Haru pressed three fingers into his back and pushed, beginning to rotate the digits clockwise. Makoto reacted instantly, the muscles tightening under his grip from impulse. Haru remembered his previous massages rather well, and was quick to find exactly where Makoto's highest tension area's were. It wasn't long before Haru had Makoto moaning in painful happiness below him.

"Oh god Haru this feels amazing." He breathed into the pillow, a groan puffing out as Haru pressed tightly with his thumb onto his lower back. "I really appreciate it."

"Yeah, yeah. You should have said you needed this earlier." Thank god Makoto couldn't see him right now. Haru was blushing up a storm, his body just as hot as Makoto's natural temperature. He had lost all dignity at this point. Hopefully Makoto was too invested in his back being rubbed to notice.

"Forgive my insolence." Makoto voice dropped low as Haru worked at a tight knot. "I forgot how good you were at this."

"I'm not that good. I've just done this for you often enough."

"Mhh. Either way, please don't stop." Not like he really wanted to, anyways. Haru rubbed from his upper shoulders to lower back, making sure to massage every inch of the skin given to him. He didn't have any worry about hurting Makoto and so used his full strength to take down the knots, twisting the balls down until they either vanished or provided Makoto with little pain.

"Hows that?" Haru asked after a while, relaxing his hands.

"I feel like I'm in heaven." Makoto sighed, entire body conforming to the crevasses in the sheets. "I may never move again." Well, that's what he said. But Makoto was shifting seconds after he spoke, pushing himself up by his palms and turning around to face Haru. "Thanks Haru."

"It was nothing, really…" Haru mumbled, fiddling with the spandex on his suit. "If it starts to act up again, let me know and I can give you another massage." Completely for Makoto's benefit. Nothing for Haru out of it. Yep nothing at all.

"No, Haru…" Makoto reached forward and grabbed him around the waist, pulling him to his chest and hugging him tight. Against a shirtless, burning hot Makoto, whose lips could only be mere centimeters away from his ears, Haru's system completely crashed. He was aware of nothing but the fingers pressed into his back, the warmth across his chest, and of the smell only Makoto could give off. Sweetness and sunshine.

"It's not just that. You've done so much for me lately, and it just… it means a lot. You didn't have to go to the club, you didn't have to comfort me two weeks ago, and you didn't have to come with today. But you did."

"Well… you're my best friend." Haru whispered quietly, pressing his nose into Makoto's neck. Summer and cake filled his nostrils. "I'll do anything for you, no matter what."

"You spoil me." Makoto leaned his head against Harus. "I want to do the same for you." Makoto didn't understand anything. He had already given him the world. Beautiful smiles and heartfelt words and special touches. Haru was already happy, being right here beside him. Only one thing could make it better, but that would be impossible. And so where he stood, everything was as bright as it could be.

"You already have." Haru whispered, pulling away to look at him fully. "Makoto… I-"

"What are you guys doing?" eyes wide, Haru stared with increasing anxiety as Hiromi stood by the bathroom door, hands on her hips. Makoto was completely startled by her voice and grew red, letting go of Haru to turn to face her.

"Oh, Hiromi-chan!" he chuckled nervously, itching at his cheek. "Nothing really. How was your bath?"

"Fine." She replied, visibly biting on her cheek.

Shit shit shit. Haru was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, his heart feeling like it was being struck with pinpricks with each passing second. His toes and his fingers felt suddenly so cold that they became numb.

No matter how one looked at it, Hiromi's reaction was completely understandable. They had been hugging, saying sweet things… Makoto had been shirtless for god's sake! And his own expression… Haru knew better than to assume the face he had been making was anything but innocent. He had been caught up in the moment, in the blanket that was Makoto. Love was all he had felt at that moment. How long had she been there? How much had she seen?

"Well, that's good." Either Makoto was oblivious to the situation they had just created or was trying to ignore it, standing up and stretching his arms like he had just taken a pleasant nap or something. Haru wasn't sure which option hurt most. "I guess it's my turn then."

Makoto turned to grab his shirt as Haru looked at him in horror. Was he seriously going to leave him alone with her? Might as well make his grave right now. Throw him right in the dirt with some crummy flowers from the woods. Oh god he'd probably have an apple headstone.

"I think I left enough." Hiromi told him, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I don't like very hot baths."

"Thanks!" and the door shut with a click. Silence, awful awful silence followed. Haru studied his nails. Hiromi combed through her hair with her fingers. If he could have picked between this and being stuck in a room with a tiger, he would have preferred the cat.

"What were you two doing?" Haru jumped at the repeated question, looking over at her. She was looking straight at the wall.

"Nothing." Yes, way to go Haru. The situation is definitely resolved now.

"Oh?"

"I was just giving him a back massage. He said it was hurting him."

"It didn't look like that to me."

The situation was laughable, really, because there wasn't anything for Hiromi to be digging at in the first place. What he was saying was the truth. Nothing was going on. As much as he wished for it, it was far from happening.

"He was thanking me." Haru sighed, pulling at the flower pattern of the bedding.

"Okay, Haruka-kun." Hiromi glanced over at him. "Are you done with that towel? I'm going to go lay them over the railing."

"…Yeah." Haru slowly took the towel around his neck and tossed it to her.

"I'll be right back." Left alone in stale air and lingering tension, Haru hugged his knees and let out a hefty sigh. At the rate his life was going, he was going to have white hair before he even reached his twenties.

When Makoto emerged from the bathroom, Hiromi had already been back for a while, scrolling through her phone on the free Wi-Fi as she leaned into her pillow. Haru was already curled under the covers, his eyes shut but his mind still awake. He was done with this day, done with this situation. He just wanted to go to bed and end it all, just for a moment.

"Hey baby." Hiromi called to him. "How was it?"

"Warmer than I thought it was going to be, actually. Is Haru asleep already?" the sound of Makoto's voice stirred him a little, and Haru couldn't help but listen in despite his best efforts to ignore them both.

"Yeah, he was in bed when I got back."

"Today was a bit rough. I'm pretty tired myself." Haru heard him yawn. "Is something wrong, Hiromi-chan?" Haru tightened his fists, body stiff. He wasn't sure if he wanted to overhear anything that might be said.

"No…" she paused. "I'm just… tired. We should probably get to bed."

"You sure? You look down."

"I'm just tired, really." She gave a quiet laugh.

"Okay, if you're sure." Makoto sounded like he was frowning. "I'll see you in the morning, then."

"Are you sure you don't want to sleep over here with me? You might wake him up."

"Normally I would but it's… awkward… when Haru's here." He heard Makoto whisper. "I'm sorry, Hiromi-chan." There was a silence and Haru figured she was kissing him again. The two of them were going to drown in saliva at this rate.

"It's fine. I understand. Goodnight, Mako-kun." Another kiss, this time loud enough for Haru to hear. "I love you."

"Night, Hiromi-chan." There was silence and then the lights shut off, enveloping them all in darkness. Haru tightened his grip as the blankets around him moved and the bed shifted behind him. Seconds ticked, the room was filled with small little movements. A move of a foot, a squeak of a spring. And then they were all drenched in total silence once more.

It was a painful silence. With new knowledge that it was normal for Makoto and Hiromi to lay next to each other, his throat was burning and he bit his lip just in case he so he wouldn't make a sound. Of course it was normal for them, that's what couples do. But each and every little fact he learned about their relationship always made it hurt all over every time. He knew they kissed he knew they held hands and cuddled and whispered stuff that made what Makoto said to him look like nothing, but it hurt to be reminded. It hurt to know he wasn't number one.

Despite it all Haru couldn't help but lean back into Makoto's hand as he felt the brunette grab his shirt.