Chapter Ten

"He sings?" Nagisa said, leaning further forward across the table, his mouth full of pastry.

Makoto saw Rei grab for his arm as even though Makoto was sat opposite Nagisa, it seemed the blond wanted to end up in his lap. Which was quite possible with how close Nagisa seemed to be getting even with the barrier of a wooden table.

"Yeah. Amazingly," Makoto replied, his voice a little dreamy and distracted.

It was hard not to feel something inside his gut when he thought about Sousuke on the stage. As everything about the way he had looked and the way he had sung had sent shivers up his spine and it had been mesmerising. And it was even harder to not feel something lower when he thought about his kiss, the rawness, the sexiness… Makoto was still getting over it. He'd tried sleeping after it, wrapping himself up in his sheets but Sousuke's lips had lingered, his body responding to the memory of his intense eyes and the way his hands had grabbed hold of his bicep. Of course, Makoto had felt guilty about it but he couldn't help slowly running his hands over his chest, his fingers pinching at his nipples until he moaned out quietly, his other hand reaching inside his tight boxer briefs and Makoto had wrapped his fist around his cock, slowly stroking and teasing at the tip with the pad of his thumb until he reached climax, gasping out Sousuke's name when he did, rolling over to get away from the stickiness as he was too damn tired to change his sheets.

Then he'd slept soundly. Even if when he woke up, Makoto did feel bad about it. And had to deal with his sticky sheets. He supposed at least he didn't live at home and have to sneak down to clean them prior to his mother noticing them. That had happened before. And Ren and Ran had been too curious why he'd been cleaning at a ridiculously early time in the morning.

He felt a nudge and it was clear Haru had noticed him space out and he coughed, taking a sip of his coffee which he had substituted for his usual tea. Giving Haru an apologetic smile, his attention was back on Nagisa who had slammed his fist down on the table, the gesture almost knocking over the drinks.

"Then we should all go on a karaoke date!"

Makoto wanted to explain that Sousuke didn't seem to be that fond of singing and also that he wasn't sure he wanted to introduce Sousuke to his ragtag selection of friends but Nagisa was already ahead of him, his phone out so he could check the availability of the private rooms at their own place of work.

"We'll get our staff discount!" he said excitedly and then proceeded to work out a night they were all not working.

Makoto tried, he did try once, to say no and explain that he didn't sing and Sousuke probably wouldn't and he wasn't sure if Haru would when it was done. Nagisa had called, the room was booked and in two nights time they were all going on a group "date". Makoto wanted to cringe when he thought about inviting Sousuke.

Sousuke with his tattoos, with his sunglasses, with his soulful raw voice and his tattoo artist and musician friends. Makoto's friends in Tokyo were the three young men around this very table drinking coffee and eating pastries – one an over enthusiastic blond, one a guy who spent all his time discussing the aesthetics of beauty and one a guy who had a fondness for the tub and grilling fish. He hardly had the same level of "cool".

"Are you okay with this, Makoto?"

Turning towards Haru, Makoto shrugged slightly. Haru rarely spoke unless they were alone in their apartment and Makoto felt somewhat touched he cared enough to ask a pretty personal question in front of Rei and Nagisa. People who Haru had only met a few times.

"Yeah," he answered, "I guess it's a good date option. Not too much pressure as you guys will be there."

"You could always say he could bring some of his own friends," Nagisa started, "I'm sure someone as cool as Sousuke has plenty…"

Makoto thought about Rin – the tattoo artist with the beautiful cherry blossoms and nodded. Maybe it would help Sousuke if he could invite a friend. He didn't know if he'd agree anyway but Makoto had to try. Nagisa would make it unbearable if he didn't.

Sighing, Makoto drank the rest of his coffee, his tongue starting to get used to the bitterness and realised it was soon time to leave and make his way to class. He thought he'd get there early today, take some time to actually get to the library and study as it seemed every attempt he made to study got derailed and distracted.

"I'll see you later," Makoto said as he got to feet and grabbed his bag.

"I'll come with you."

Makoto looked at Haru who was getting his own stuff together and he nodded, surprised at the company but not going to decline the offer. As Haru didn't go to university, Haru worked as a freelance web designer and graphic artist and kept odd hours and tended to stick around the apartment. That had been fine for Makoto as they never really got in the way of one another and it meant that it didn't matter if Makoto woke him when he arrived home late from the club. But what it did mean was there was no reason for Haru to be coming with him.

They didn't talk on the way to the station and when Makoto grabbed a seat on the train, Haru only sat beside him, his eyes observing everyone around them.

"You shouldn't let people force you into doing things you don't want to."

Makoto titled his head towards Haru, surprised by the unexpected comment as Haru wasn't the sort of guy to give advice and Makoto appreciated that. "Your grandmother's advice?"

"No, mine."

"I should say no to Nagisa?"

Haru shrugged his shoulders and levelled his eyes at the signs at the opposite side of the carriage. "He's difficult to say no to."

A small laugh left Makoto's lips. "True. Look at Rei."

Once they arrived at Makoto's stop, Makoto left Haru on the train as Haru mumbled under his breath about visiting some place to get some new equipment and Makoto gave him a friendly wave as he stepped off, his mind thinking through the events of the last few days.

A week or so ago, Makoto had been struggling through his new life, trying to make it work and find his feet in Tokyo and though he was still struggling, he'd already made stronger friendships and maybe something more in Sousuke. Even if it all was going so fast. He saw a copy of Trackson the floor, it discarded by a busy commuter and he picked it up planning on maybe looking at the Rush Hour Crushes to reminisce about how his own had led to a new opportunity in his life.

He got out his phone when he arrived near the campus, trying to figure out how to message Sousuke and invite him out but instead of the awkward processes of a series of messages, he decided to call him, standing outside the library building as his thumb seemed to stutter over the call button. Finally pressing down, Makoto waited for Sousuke to answer, his hand tapping his thigh as he waited for Sousuke to pick up.

When he did, he answered with a soft "hey" and Makoto tried to sound as cool as Sousuke did. Over the phone, his voice was deep and soulful, sending shivers up his spine and Makoto tried to regain his composure, annoyed at Sousuke's innate ability to make him flustered without any effort.

"Do you have any plans on Thursday?" he asked, looking down at his feet as he kicked at a stone. "My friends have booked one of the private rooms at work and…"

"I'll come," Sousuke answered.

Surprised at the swift answer, Makoto didn't know what to say and managed to mumble that he could invite Rin or any of his other friends if he wanted.

"Sure… I'll ask Rin."

"That's great!" Makoto replied and tried not to sound too damn enthusiastic as it really wasn't his idea of a good date but it would have to do. And maybe, if he was lucky he'd hear Sousuke sing again. "I enjoyed last night."

There was a pause on the other side of the line and Makoto felt his heart in his throat until Sousuke spoke. In those moments before he answered, Makoto wondered if he'd crossed a line, that commenting about his singing was off the cards or something but then he heard his soft words.

"I did too… I'll see you on Thursday."

The line cut off with Makoto only managing to start to say "bye" and he looked at the phone screen for a moment before putting it away. He sighed, looking up at the sky and it was another day with some chill in the air, his hair being ruffled by it and Makoto wondered what he was doing, distracted again from his studying as he organised this group date.

"Time to do some damn studying, Tachibana," he whispered to thin air and he pushed off the wall and finally walked into the library, the mountains of books he needed to read awaiting him as he tried to forget about seeing Sousuke again.