After draining the tub and taking a shower again, Haruka quickly made his lunch before getting ready for school. Thanks to the second shower he had to take he didn't have time to make and eat breakfast. So far his day was going great.

He walked outside his house and didn't bother locking his door. Arriving at the stone steps he saw that Makoto was already here. The tall boy sat on one of the steps and he was petting one of the stray cats that always wandered around the neighbourhood. Haruka walked down the stairs, but Makoto hadn't noticed his presence yet.

''Makoto.''

''Ah, Haru! Good morning.'' Makoto smiled at him as he got up. At the sight of the other's face images he tried very hard to suppress resurfaced and Haruka blushed a deep shade of red.

Makoto saw this, of course, and he seemed very worried.

''Haru! Your face is so red! You don't have a fever, do you?'' Makoto said as he placed his hand on Haruka's forehead.

The contact of Makoto's hand on his skin only made his flush worse and the thoughts he had had over this hand less than 30 minutes ago didn't make it any better.

''I'm fine!'' Haruka responded and he swatted the hand away. Though he normally longed to touch the other as much as possible, he couldn't really use this right now.

''If you say so.'' Makoto sighed but his voice was laced with disbelief.

They started walking to school together and Makoto was talking excitedly about the stray cat he had just encountered.

''He was so friendly, Haru! And his tiny paws were so cute! Did you see him? He was so adorable!'' He exclaimed happily.

Haruka just listened with a soft expression on his face, focusing on Makoto's voice to prevent his mind from wandering off in an unwanted direction.

When they walked through the school's gates, a group of girls that may or may not be classmates of them looked at them, or more specifically Makoto, and started gossiping among themselves.

A pang of annoyance shot through his stomach and he quickened his pace, causing Makoto to unconsiously fasten his to match Haruka's again. Makoto seemed oblivious of the fact that he was the conversation topic of some teenage girls and he continued chattering about cute animals.

During a between class break, Makoto had left the classroom to go to the restroom and Haruka was left alone. The girls from before (now confirmed as classmates) were gathered around one of their tables and Haruka could hear everything they were saying.

''You should just go for it Kaori-chan!''

''But what if he says no! Tachibana-kun is so nice and handsome, he could do so much better than me!'' Kaori said.

Haruka's ears perked up at Makoto's name and he was now paying attention to them.

''Nonsense! You're really cute so of course Tachibana-kun wouldn't say no!''

''But I have no idea of how to confess to him! I don't even have the courage! Besides, I don't even know if he is already seeing someone! What if he already has someone he likes?''

Annoyance mixed with something he couldn't identify pooled in his being as the girls continued their conversation.

''I know! Why don't we ask Nanase-kun? He always hangs out with Tachibana-kun, so he should know!''

His annoyance made place for anger as he heard his name and saw the girls coming towards him.

''Hey, Nanase-kun! Do you know if Tachibana-kun is seeing someone or if he has someone he likes?''

Haruka looked up at the outgoing girl that had spoken to him and gave her a hatefull glare.

''If you're planning on confessing to him then don't bother! He's not interested!'' He spat at them, the tone of his voice sounding like pure venom.

''Oh yeah? We'll see about that!'' The girl, Haruka thinks her name is Sonohara or something, huffed and she turned to walk away with the other girls following her.

''See! I told you it was a bad idea!'' Kaori muttered disappointedly.

''Don't listen to that jerk! I don't even understand why Tachibana-kun is friends with such an asshole when he could do so much better!'' Sonohara said this extra loud to make sure Haruka had heard her.

And he had. It kind of felt like she was pouring salt into an open wound. Not that her insults had hurt him, he couldn't care less about what some random bitch thought of him. He was hurt because he had already wondered why Makoto even hung out with him. Because he knew that Makoto could do so much better than him.

''Look, there he is! Ask him if you can talk to him during lunchtime.'' Sonohara said as she pushed Kaori towards Makoto who was walking to his seat.

''Fighto!'' She said as she left Makoto and Kaori alone.

''Ayame-san?'' Makoto questioned the girl that stood before him.

''T-T-Tachibana-kun, could I-I s-speak with y-you at l-lunchtime?'' She stuttered as she stared at the ground, avoiding Makoto's eyes.

''Hmm? Sure.'' Makoto smiled at her and Haruka felt his stomach turn.

The girl returned to her group of friends and they all high-fived each other. Haruka frowned so hard that he gave himself a headache. Makoto noticed this and turned to him with a questioning gaze.

''Haru?''

''It's nothing.'' He responded and faced away from the other.

When the bell rang, Haruka got up immediately.

''Haru, why don't you go ahead and I'll be right there.'' Makoto's voice was a bit apologetic.

''Fine.'' Haruka huffed and went to the roof by himself.

He sat down in his usual spot and unpacked his lunch. He was quite hungry since he had skipped breakfast that morning, but he didn't really eat. He picked at his food while he thought about the confession that Makoto was getting right now. Why was he taking so long? What if Makoto was interested and accepted the girl's feelings? Then he would have a ''cute'' girlfriend and he wouldn't need Haruka anymore. He knew that Makoto wouldn't forget about him if he got into a relationship, but he didn't know if he could handle seeing Makoto with someone else. The thought alone already broke him. He wants to continue being Makoto's friend, but could he bear it?

The door went open and Makoto joined Haruka on the roof.

''What did she want?'' He asked even though he already knew.

''Ah, she confessed to me.'' Makoto replied awkwardly while he rubbed at the nape of his neck in embarrassment.

''What did you say?'' Haruka tried to keep his voice steady.

''I declined, of course!'' Makoto said quickly and Haruka sighed in relief.

''I told her I that I already have someone dear to me. Someone special.''

Haruka felt his heart shatter.