Fanfiction title:About love and relationship stuff
Fanfiction summary:One-shot series in which the Free! Characters talk about their relationships and how similar or opposite they might be.
Chapter summary: Momo gets to meet an old friend of Sousuke's but, when weird emotions start to bother him, it's the most expressionless guy who can help him best.
Chapter title:About boyfriends' obnoxious friends...
Couples: SouMomo/MakoHaru.
A/N: I'm really sorry for the long hiatus but last year after my last update, I started working on an original draft; I've finally decided to give it a go to writing something original and I have been focusing all my attention on it. But, recently, I was feeling stuck on a particular part and was stressing out so I went back to read my fics and felt like writing a new chapter for all of them so here I am. And yes I will go back to my draft after posting this but now I've realized my fanfics are a way for me to relax when I feel overwhelmed with my original WIP and as such, if I feel like this again I will come back with a new chapter.
This chapter was a little hard as I had the basic idea but didn't know how to expand on it so I just started typing and then gave it shape as I went. I really liked writing Momo and Haru interacting from the latter's POV but now I went with the redhead instead, I hope I managed to keep them in character. Also, I don't really have anything against Kisumi, I like him so I didn't want to paint him in a bad light or anything.
Also I don't know what the new series will change for my fics but I am looking forward to it and I hope is as good as I want it to be. We'll just have to wait and see.
Without further ado, hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Free! Or anything related to the material.
Reminders:
1. - The couples I will use throughout the one-shots are: MakoHaruMako/Rintori/Reigisa/SouMomo and SeiGou.
2. – The chapters will be taking place after the Nationals of second season and before graduation day for Rin, Sousuke, Makoto and Haruka; but I will jump back and forth through those months so don't think too much on what should happen first and what should happen next, it's not that important. The time the couples have been together and such will be mentioned in some chapters.
3. - I want to point out that English is not my first language so I apologize for any grammatical or spelling mistakes you might find.
Chapter 10: About boyfriends' obnoxious friends...
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Momotarou Mikoshiba was not a happy camper. He was even unhappier because he actually thought he would be very happy that day.
It was a Saturday and that morning he had thought he would stay inside playing videogames with his boyfriend, but said boyfriend had knocked on his door and asked him if he wanted to join him in a reunion with an old friend of his. At first, Momo feared he might be out of place with the two friends but Sousuke-senpai assured him a couple of their Iwatobi friends would be there as well and that Rin-senpai had also been invited but he couldn't attend because he was visiting Ai-senpai's family with the blue-eyed teen so Sousuke thought it would be better if they went together, not wanting to leave the redhead alone for the entire afternoon. Momotarou accepted the invitation, excited to meet this old friend and hoping to get along with him; they were meeting at a mall to grab lunch and hang out.
The meeting had started out well enough, turns out the two from Iwatobi joining them were Nanase-san and Tachibana-san and their common friend was called Kisumi Shigino –yes, he did want to make a comment about that name but no, he did not follow his urges-; the pink-haired teen had a cheerful attitude much like his, he was also talkative, confident and was constantly smiling animatedly so Momo thought they would get along just fine. The guy seemed sad that Rin couldn't make it since he had wanted to talk to him ever since they found each other at Samezuka's cultural festival but he also seemed all-too-happy to meet Sousuke's new boyfriend and joked about being a fifth-wheel.
Shigino-san picked the place for their lunch; burgers, milkshakes and fries to get them all out of their regime for a day. Everything went great at first with Shigino-san and Tachibana-san talking animatedly and Momotarou joining every now and then while Sousuke-senpai only spared a few words and Nanase-san kept quiet saving for one-word replies whenever he was addressed. Momotarou was even glad to find out the purple-eyed boy was as much of an eating machine as he was and they even had a small competition to see who devoured his third burger the fastest although Sousuke-senpai didn't appreciate much the contest… it didn't help that Momo lost anyway.
However, Momo was able to notice something a little odd about the reunion and that was Nanase-san. He didn't know why but that neutral face looked almost annoyed throughout lunch. Momo wasn't sure why the older teen would feel annoyed though, was it because of his old friend's upbeat personality? But then, he would also dislike Momo and that was not true; Nanase-san liked him… Yeah, of course he did! So, then what?
The question stayed with Momotarou for a while and he could only spare a glance every few minutes to the free-style swimmer to see if anything changed but, if anything, the guy seemed to grow sourer by the minute without apparent reason.
"Something wrong, Momo?" His boyfriend's voice abruptly stopped his musings and he shook his head to focus back in the real world.
"Nothing, I just got distracted."
"That cute little shop got your attention?" Kisumi asked, standing between the couple and looking at a toy store in front of them "It looks fun, maybe I could find something for Hayato."
"Um, no actually-"
"Hey, Makoto, what do you say?" The pink-haired male ignored his words and immediately went to stand next to Makoto, looking excited.
"Sounds good, I could also get something for Ran and Ren." Makoto said with his always-kind smile, prompting Kisumi to pass his arm around his shoulders and lead the brunet ahead.
"Great! Let's go!" And it was at this moment that Momo finally noticed when Haruka's aura changed. Oh, I get it.
"Come on, let's follow them before Kisumi makes a mess." Sousuke said walking after their friends, Haru and Momo right behind him.
Honestly, Nagisacchi had told him when they first became friends that Nanase-san was a pretty possessive person and easy to get jealous so it would be better for him to be careful not to get on his bad side, particularly because Momo was someone who didn't mind physical contact so a little wasn't bad –especially after he and Sousuke started dating- but it was better not to push his luck. He had always kept that in mind, keeping his contact as brief as possible but Shigino-san didn't seem to know about this… or maybe he did and he just didn't care? Was that the reason for Nanase-san's attitude?
Momo knew Haruka and Makoto went way back in their friendship and had been dating for around two years, Kisumi had met them in junior high so he had to have known the kind of person Haruka was and the developing relationship between him and the brunet; one should be blind not to see it right away (or one had to be Mikoshiba Momotarou but that was beside the point) so then, he was doing it on purpose?! Nah, no… Ok, yes, but it was likely just to tease Nanase-san and try to get a reaction out of him, Momo himself felt tempted multiple times to test how he could be able to make the stoic boy show some kind of emotion so he could empathize. Well, if that was Shigino-san's plan then it was working; there was emotion there alright.
Momotarou had felt satisfied with his deduction back then but didn't do anything about it and decided to stay out of it: It was none of his concern.
And it hadn't been of his concern up until a certain clothing store.
After buying some keychains, Kisumi led them to a clothing store he really liked, saying clothes there had great style and were well-made. Nanase-san immediately went to sit on a loveseat near the changing rooms where he could keep an eye on them at all times without actually participating in the activity. Momo felt bad leaving him alone but he also knew the blue-eyed swimmer liked his space so he stayed by Sousuke's side to check out some clothes even if he couldn't afford any of them.
He was looking through a selections of shirts when he found an orange V-neck that seemed like it would fit Sousuke so he picked it up, turned around to show it off and found Shigino-san pressed against Sousuke-senpai's back in an attempt to zip up a jacket the butterfly-swimmer was trying on from his position. Momo could say he had never felt as weirded out by someone touching his boyfriend as he did right then and he didn't like that feeling.
"Sousuke-senpai!" Momo tried to ignore the weird sensation and walked up to his teammate with a wide smile "I found this, do you think it'll fit you?"
"Orange, though?" Kisumi spoke up before Sousuke could say anything "I think Sousuke looks better in cold colors, do you think you could try to find one?"
"Um, sure…" said the Otter slowly, his boyfriend only let out a sigh and zipped up his jacket, moving in it to see how it fit.
The young Mikoshiba went back to where he found the shirt and looked for a different one in the same size but there wasn't any other. He could, however, see Kisumi practically dancing all over the store bringing item after item for Makoto and Sousuke to try on. To be fair, he had also brought quite a few things for Haruka and Momo but the black-haired student rejected each and every one of them while the redhead actually agreed to try some of them on but he could easily take notice that Shigino-san didn't touch him nearly as much as he did Makoto and Sousuke and the more it happened, the more Momo's face resembled Nanase-san's face.
And that's how he had gotten to this point: Sitting next to Nanase-san while looking at the basketball player push around their boyfriends to try on more and more pieces of clothing. Every now and again, the three would come to check on them and ask if they wanted to do something else but they always said no, Momo felt petty but he also didn't know how to deal with it any other way. He was not a happy camper.
"Nanase-san," he called suddenly after they had been left alone once more "is Shigino-san always like this?"
"From the moment I met him."
"Why are you still friends with him if he bothers you so much?"
"Because…" Haruka stopped as if thinking on what to answer "He doesn't mean it."
"What do you mean?"
"He's obnoxious, clingy, loud and too friendly but that's just how he is." Explained the older teen.
"But why doesn't he act the same way with you?" asked Momo confused.
"He did, at first." Admitted Haruka "But I started putting limits far more noticeable than Makoto."
"Well but he knows Tachibana-san and you are dating, right?"
"Yes."
Kisumi's voice made Momo turn back to the front and found him modelling his own set to Makoto and Sousuke who were both standing close by, apparently engaged in a conversation themselves. A voice inside of him asked why he wasn't up there with them but he would much prefer stay with Nanase-san, at least until he felt well enough to join them without scowling. The pink-haired teen suddenly threw his arm around Makoto and that made the Otter remember something he had (over)heard from Ai-senpai and Rin-senpai.
"Then he doesn't act the way he does with Tachibana-san because he likes him?"
"… Makoto says he doesn't." Momo almost laughed at how childish Nanase-san sounded with that phrase but fought against it; he didn't want to ruin an actual good conversation with the other teen, the first one since he met him.
"And you?"
"I'm pretty sure he did when we were younger and I think he still does but I can't actually prove it." Haruka answered with a frown.
"How do you deal with him then?"
"Does it look like that's what I'm doing?" Haruka raised an eyebrow and Momo could only look away feeling embarrassed.
"It's just, this is the first time I've felt uncomfortable looking at Sousuke-senpai spend time with someone else and I don't get why or what do to about it." He admitted feeling his face heat up.
"You didn't feel it with Rin?" Momo shook his head and Nanase-san sighed "You should feel glad this is your first experience like that."
"But I'm not a jealous person, why is Shigino-san an exception?"
"You're asking the wrong person."
"Am I, though?" The redhead's question seemed to actually surprise his companion "We are both in the same position right now."
"Fair enough." said Haruka with a shrug "Ok then, what is bothering you about this exactly?"
"Eh, I suppose how easily he interacts with Sousuke-senpai without being scared or nervous about doing something wrong." Momo admitted scratching the back of his head "I mean, it took me a while to get to that point with Sousuke-senpai but Shigino-san seems used to it."
"Then you have nothing to worry about."
Momotarou's head snapped to the side to look at the dolphin and found him looking bored to the front. What was he talking about? Was it really that simple that with one explanation everything was clear? Was he missing something?
"What do you mean, Nanase-san?"
"This feeling you have for Kisumi will pass as soon as you get more familiar with him."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you're not like me." Momo stayed staring weirdly at his companion and Nanase-san just sighed before continuing "Just like with all your friends, once you get to know the kind of person Kisumi is, you'll get used to see him around you and Sousuke just like he is now."
"Wait, so there's nothing I can do about it?"
"You could try to become his friend faster."
"But he's-"
"Someone you would like very much if you gave him the chance."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because he's a lot like you."
Momo stopped talking to give that statement a thought. He had also thought Shigino-san and he were similar at first but he had completely forgotten about that when he started getting annoyed with him. He had admitted to himself that they were both cheerful, talkative and confident and, maybe, that's also why he had gotten jealous so quickly. Quite honestly, if Nagisacchi hadn't been on his team back at the cultural festival, it's likely he would have also had his doubts about the blond with Sousuke-senpai after seeing how eager the penguin seemed to be about becoming Sousuke's friend but he had had so much fun that day it just passed by him without any major happenings and now he really liked Nagisacchi.
So, sure, why couldn't it be like that if Nanase-san thought they were similar as well?
"Ok, I think it's worth a shot." He said to Haruka who only nodded in response.
…Wait… How did Nanase-san describe Shigino-san again?
"Hey! You said I was like Shigino-san and you called him obnoxious!"
"Did I?" Momo could hear the faintest mockery in the other's voice and he pouted very maturely.
"Haru! Momotarou-kun!" Before Momo could say anything, Makoto neared them waving to get their attention "Do you want to get some ice-cream?"
"Sure!" And just like that, all of Momo's unsaid complaints went flying out the window.
"Makoto, is he your friend?" Haruka asked out of the blue pointing at Momotarou and surprising both the backstroke swimmers.
"Of course he is, he is our friend, right?" That last part was directed to the first-grader as if hoping to get a confirmation.
"Yeah, we're friends!" He assured smiling as wide as he could.
"Why did you ask, Haru?"
"We were just talking about obnoxious friends." Nanase-san answered evenly before standing from his place and making his way to the store's entrance, leaving behind a flustered Makoto who couldn't decide whether to scold or apologize first.
"Haru, that is not nice! I'm so sorry, Momotarou-kun! Ha-Haru, apologize as well! He doesn't mean that."
"It's ok Tachibana-san, I think I get it." Momo assured, following Haruka and leaving Makoto to trail after them with a curious expression.
He saw Sousuke and Kisumi waiting for them by the entrance, Haruka reacting quickly when the pink-haired boy tried to hug his shoulders upon reaching them by simply slapping the hand away. The butterfly swimmer had a small bag with him, while Kisumi had a bigger one hanging from his hand, it seemed both ended up buying something.
"Hey, were you bored?" Sousuke greeted him as soon as he was within reach, resting one big hand on Momo's shoulder.
"Nah, I actually had a good talk with Nanase-san." He assured his boyfriend "What did you get?"
"Nothing." Sousuke said quickly, turning away. Momotarou felt someone grab his arm and pull him aside, finding himself pressed to Shigino-san's side in a second, who bent down to whisper something to him.
"He got that shirt you found for him." It was obvious Kisumi didn't intend for this conversation to be private as he spoke loud enough for Sousuke to hear them, the pink blush on his boyfriend's face was enough proof of that "And he didn't buy anything else."
"Shut up, Kisumi." Sousuke said sternly before walking away without turning to see if they were following him, Makoto and Haru walked behind him and, finally, Kisumi pulled him by his shoulders in the same direction.
"You know? Maybe he should wear warmer colors more often." Kisumi told him, passing a hand through Momo's orange locks "Now that I think about it, they do work great for him."
Momo smiled at Kisumi for the first time in a while, grateful for the meaning behind those words. Feeling eyes on him, he turned to Nanase-san looking at him over his shoulder, he couldn't understand the stares like Tachibana-san did but he wanted to believe it was a message along the lines of 'Told you it would be fine'. Because yes, maybe Shigino-san was obnoxious but that didn't mean he couldn't be friends with him just fine.
After all, he too was someone's obnoxious friend.