…

Makoto looked around the school field in silent amazement, they had really outdone themselves this year. There was always some form of celebration at the end of the school year, a dance, a luau or even a show. But an entire funfair on the school field was really going above and beyond.

Who even knew there was enough room for such a spectacle? Hard to believe the field they'd once been forced to lap for cross country could fit so many rides. Even though it was probably a health and safety nightmare, he really wanted to ride everything.

"Despite it not being my style, I know you'd want to go on it." Haru said, appearing at his side holding two tickets to the tunnel of love.

"Haru!" Makoto gushed, snatching the tickets out his hand. "You can take a hint."

"I'm more than just a pretty face." He joked, taking Makoto's free hand and walking him over to the ride.

Makoto felt like a child as he wandered through the field, eyes barely sure what to focus on as they flitted around the different attractions.

"You'll enjoy it Haru." Makoto reassured. "It's a boat ride after all."

"Filthy, oil infested water? That's the dream." He snorted.

"Well, even if you're not interested, I'm glad I get to ride it with… Sousuke." He gasped when he noticed his friend stood by the big wheel.

Makoto hadn't even been sure if Sousuke would make it, considering he had an important follow up doctor's appointment to attend. But the fact that he was here surely meant it had gone well, only good news would justify the giant cotton candy in Sousuke's hand.

"You know, when I got the tickets I kinda intended we'd go on together and at least make out for half the ride." Haru pouted.

"I know, I just need to talk to him." Makoto said, slipping the tickets back into Haru's hands. "I'll be right back."

Haru rolled his eyes as he watched Makoto's retreating form. Apologising to everyone he so much as brushed as he travelled.

"So?" Makoto asked, coming to a stop in front of Sousuke.

"Clean as a whistle." He smirked.

Makoto practically jumped up in excitement, the relief he felt for his friend overwhelming him until all he could do was throw his arms around him in a hug.

"I think there might be someone else you need to tell." Makoto said as he noticed a redhead approaching them.

"I guess." He agreed as they separated from the hug.

"Are we going on this tunnel or not?" Haru rolled his eyes, feigning disinterest.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're quite excited to go on the tunnel of love." He wiggled his eye brows.

"Alone with you in a dark, romantic setting? Why would I possibly want that." He teased as Makoto swung his arm around Haru and led him towards the ride.

"Hi." Momo greeted Sousuke, helping himself to Sousuke's candyfloss in a gesture that eased some of the tension. "Something you want to tell me?"

"I miss you." Sousuke blurted out before he could stop the words. "Actually, there are two things I need to tell you."

"Okay." Momo nodded, eyes still wide from the first confession. "And what is the other thing?"

"There was nobody else, when you asked me about it at Rei's party I lied. I guess I was embarrassed that I potentially had this infection and that I could have given it to you. You didn't deserve that, didn't deserve me so I lied. I'm sorry." He sighed, toeing at the ground with the end of his shoe. It was one thing to think these angsty thoughts about his relationship with Momo, it was a whole other thing admitting them out loud.

"And the results?" He swallowed, he knew he should have at least acknowledged what Sousuke was telling him. Put him out of his misery and admit he missed him too, that Sousuke deserved all the love Momo was willing to give but he was a little side-tracked.

"All clear." He smiled sadly, a little put out that was all Momo had picked up from their conversation.

"Good. That means I can do this." Momo grinned, throwing himself into Sousuke's arms for a kiss.

Sousuke knew there was more things that needed to be said between them but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. After weeks of wanting and pining he finally had Momo back in his arms he'd missed his touch, he'd missed his warmth, he's missed his smell.

When they'd first got together. Sousuke had been looking for a quick fling. Something physical to relieve the tension. But Momo had got under his skin without Sousuke even realising.

"In case it wasn't clear, I missed you too." Momo whispered against his lips. "I hated how we ended things, I always wanted to get a second chance with you but you always brushed me aside. Now I finally understand why."

Before he could say anymore, Momo felt himself being pushed into the nearest surface Sousuke could find, crowding over him and showering him with kisses.

"I see those two reconciled." Nagisa giggled as he walked past with Rei, swinging their hands wildly as they walked.

"Apparently so." Rei nodded. "Why did they even split in the first place?"

"Not sure." He shrugged. "But I know it involved milkshake."

Nagisa squeezed Rei's hand tighter as they walked, out of all their friends they had the strongest relationship and he was proud of that. There had been no pointless fights, no break ups followed by make ups, no dancing around feelings. They knew what they wanted and they got it.

No wonder Ai had come to him for relationship advice, and when Rin saw his handy work, he wouldn't be able to pick his jaw up off the floor.

Speaking of Rin, where was he? He wasn't with Momo before he'd been distracted by Sousuke. And Haru had just emerged from the tunnel of love with a dishevelled Makoto so that was another dead end.

"You look like you had fun." Nagisa teased as he and Rei got closer to the happy couple.

"Oh yeah." Makoto blushed. "I would recommend it."

"I suppose it's the companion not the ride." Rei rose an eyebrow.

Before Makoto could respond all their attention was taken by Rin arriving, nervously pulling on his jacket as eyes followed his journey. And who could blame them? Sure, it was Rin but it hardly looked like him.

Gone was his leather jacket, replaced by the school blazer with the Samezuka logo displayed proudly on his chest. His usual boots were gone and instead he wore the school's regulation shoes. Even his unruly hair had been tamed in a pony at the base of his neck.

"What are you wearing?" Nagisa blanched, not having seen Rin in his full uniform since they'd started high school. He always personalised with leather.

"I'm trying to show Ai I've changed." He shrugged, aiming for nonchalance.

"And a new outfit is the way to do that?" Haru deadpanned.

"I don't know, maybe. Look I just want to prove there is more than one side to me. That I'm not just a jerk who messes him around." He growled.

"That's a lot to get across using a blazer." Rei joked.

"Yeah well, it's worth a try." He grumbled.

As they teased Rin they barely noticed the sea of other students parting, soft murmurs rippling through them as someone confidently strode up through.

Makoto was the first to notice, his eyes widening as he turned Haru's head to look. Who in turn gestured for Nagisa and Rei to take notice. Nagisa grinned gleefully before tapping Rin on the shoulder.

Rin's eyes practically popped out of his head at the sight of Ai, and it seemed he wasn't the only person appreciating the view. And who could blame them? Ai looked breath-taking.

He wore black shirt that was just snug enough to show off all those muscles he'd developed through swimming and topped it off with a leather jacket. Rin couldn't help but imagine how beautiful he'd look in one of Rin's, slightly too long and hanging off his shoulder delicately.

Then the jeans, well they were so tight they should be illegal. They left nothing to the imagination and if the way leering eyes all stared downwards, they hugged his arse just right. His hair was artfully styled, covering one of his eyes as the other challenged Rin to come closer.

"Ai?" He stuttered, his voice sounding like a squeak rather than the other boys name.

"Hi, stud." Ai responded, inwardly cringing at the word that had come from his lips. But Rin didn't seem phased, he stumbled forward as if in a trance.

Rin felt chills running down his spin as he walked closer to Ai, sure he had always found Ai attractive but now he felt like he was losing control just being near him. He looked so powerful, barely giving Rin a second glance as he stubbed a cigarette out – no doubt he hadn't actually smoked it and it was just for affect.

"Hi." Rin smiled, hands twitching to touch the electrifying boy in front of him.

"I think we should have a chat." Ai said, refusing to lose his confidence.

"Yeah, we can do that." He nodded.

"And take that blazer off, it's strange seeing you in it." He teased.

Rin let Ai push his blazer to the floor before following after him, letting his eyes trail up and down his body. Those chills he felt were definitely multiplying at the thought of being alone with Ai but he knew he needed to control himself. He would not ruin this again.

Once they were alone Ai dropped the act slightly, they both knew it wasn't really him. Sure, he could change his clothes but it was still the same Ai underneath. And if Rin was being honest, he was glad about that, he didn't really want to change him.

"Can I start by saying I'm sorry?" Rin said. "For everything that I did, I know since you've been here I've done nothing but mess you around and I'm so sorry."

"Okay." Ai nodded, knowing he couldn't accept the apology without laying down some ground rules.

"Please believe me Ai." He practically begged.

"I do believe you but you need to shape up." He sighed. "Because I need a man not some boy who plays with my emotions. And despite everything my heart is set on you."

"I can do that, I swear it." He readily agreed. "I'll shape up to prove to you I can be the man to keep you satisfied."

"I hope so, prove to me my faith is justified. But you need to be more open with me, if you feel any sort of affection for me then tell me. Stop shying away from me." Ai encouraged, reaching down and taking Rin's hands.

"You're the one that I want Ai." He whispered. "No it's more than that, you're the one that I need. I can't imagine my life without you."

"You're the one I want too." Ai agreed, rising up onto his tip toes for a kiss.

Rin eagerly returned the kiss, holding Ai close and knowing in his heart this would be the first of many loving kisses between the two of them.

"Come on." Ai whispered. "Let's go have some fun."

Rin reluctantly pulled back, immediately missing the feel of the other boy in his arms but just knowing in his heart that Ai was his was enough.

"Oh man." Rin whined when he saw that Ai was dragging him towards a house of mirrors. "I hate these things, you always get so disorientated and have no idea how to get out."

"I'm sure you could feel your way." Ai said with a wink before disappearing into maze, with a very eager Rin following after him.

…

The sky was dark, the fair had been shut down and everyone found themselves back in the diner. It was the end of an era and what better place to finish it off than one that was so dear to their hearts?

So many high school dramas within these four walls, make ups and breaks ups, tears of laughter and tears of joy, first times and last times before they became nothing more than nostalgic memories.

"Can I just say," Nagisa began, holding up his milkshake glass as if it were a champagne flute at a wedding. "I am very proud of us all. Momo and Sousuke made up, Rin finally pulled his head out of his ass, Makoto and Haru acknowledge the sexual tension that has been following them around since pre-school. And now look? The whole gang's together."

Everyone shared a soft smile, they had come a long way since the beginning of the year.

"Not to be a barer of bad news." Rei bit his lip. "But we've still got to think about what's going to happen after graduation."

"Yeah, maybe we'll never see each other." Makoto said sadly.

"That will never happen." Rin shook his head.

"How do you know?" Haru scoffed.

"Because we will remember each other forever, that's just the way it should be." He shrugged.

"He's right." Sousuke agreed. "You're all one of a kind, so I could never forget you."

"We'll always be as one." Momo assured.

"Cheers to that." Nagisa said, holding up his milkshake and encouraging everyone to join in.

"Cheers." The joked, all clinking their sticky glasses together.

"Yeah, no matter what the future holds we'll always be together." Ai grinned.

…