HaruGou: Drabbles

By Confused Panda Bear

Thirty-Seven

"Teamwork"

"Rei," Haru said, his face expressionless as he spoke. "Will you marry me?"

With a hand clasped under his jaw, Ryugazaki Rei deliberated his verdict with the most intense consideration — ignoring as fellow shoppers stared at them, and Haru's face turning redder by the second.

After what felt like an eternity, he sighed and shook his head.

"I don't know Haruka-senpai," he finally replied. "It's not…'the one,' you know?"

Having held that position for over five minutes now, Haru dropped his arms by his side in an exasperated manner.

There was an annoyance seeping into his tone.

"You've said that about all of them, Rei."

"Well, you asked for my honest opinion!"

When Haru announced his intention to marry his long-term girlfriend, the entire Iwatobi alumni and original swim team were quick to offer their help with the occasion.

They were just as excited as he was, and having known Gou as long he did himself, Haru was thankful for their assistance and valued their input — at first.

He just did not know there was so much to consider.

Where should he do it, what should he say, what kind of ring would she like?

And it was not until he started browsing for potential engagement rings that he realised just how many options there were; how many types of stone, cuts, clarities and brands.

"I am sure Gou will love any ring that you pick, Haru," Makoto approached to reassure him, yet he cast a worried glance over the glittering stones under the protective glass all the same.

Haru rubbed at the tensing spot on his neck, half ready to play ip-dip-doo just to get this final weight off of his shoulders.

"I guess. I just — I don't want to screw this up, you know?"

Just as he was about to give up on the fifth store they had visited that day, Nagisa returned with a ring that had been reserved in their 'maybe' pile: an oval cut sapphire cushioned by smaller diamonds on a platinum silver band.

"I don't see what was wrong with this one, Haru-chan" he said. "I am sure Gou chan will love it…"

Haru had been fond of this choice too but when taken to the jury, it was shot down because Rei: "didn't get goosebumps when Haru proposed with it."

Nagisa pondered to himself for a moment.

"Maybe it wasn't the ring, but Haru-chan?" he suggested, and a Rei nodded with agreement.

"I did think your proposal needed a little more conviction, Haruka-senpai."

"Maybe you should get down on one knee and try asking Rei again?"

"I—I am not doing that, Nagisa!"