It's Free if it Takes Over Thirty Minutes

Chapter 3

Makoto was currently attending a university in Tokyo. He was working towards a four year degree, but still uncertain about a major. With his best friend Haru busy with his own studies and his swimming, Makoto didn't get much chance to talk to him besides the occasional brakes. More often Makoto had conversations with his friends Rei and Nagisa who had just graduated this past year. Nagisa had decided to follow through with his dream of becoming an astronaut by studying abroad in America. Funny enough, Rei decided to study in America as well, but in chemistry rather than the engineering classes Nagisa was taking. Makoto would constantly video chat the two when he had the chance. He also had the chance to reconnect with his friend Kisumi over the past year, who had also moved to Tokyo on a basketball scholarship. They didn't attend the same college, but their schools were so close, that they decided to rent an apartment together.

"Kisumi?" Makoto called from the opposite room.

"Yeah, Mako? What's up?" Kisumi was sitting on the living room sofa.

"Have you seen my binder?"

"Pffffft. Nope. Go fish."

"You really stick, don't you?"

"Suck it." Kisumi spat, returning to the book he was reading. "Hey, don't leave without me. I'm tagging along to meet Sousuke."

Sousuke coincidentally attends Makoto's University. They don't see each other too often, but they have a couple of core classes together; Japanese Literature and Archeology to be specific. Even though they don't have assigned seats or anything, they've never sat anywhere near each other. Makoto had absolutely nothing against Sousuke, actually he respected Sousuke. Especially since he saw Sousuke risk everything for his team at nations in high school. He never felt the need to reach out to Sousuke so he left it up to him to take the first move.

"Why are you meeting with Yamazaki?" Makoto asked while pouring sugar into his tea. Screwing on the top of the travel mug he took his glasses off.

"He called me the other day and said he had something to ask me. I dunno what," Kisumi threw his own glasses on the coffee table along with the book.

"What about school? Don't you have classes today?"

"Nope. I only have Psych today, and the professor called in sick."

"Alright then. I'm heading out after I brush my teeth."

"Mhmkay"

The boys both walked to the subway to catch the first train. Kisumi sat down and while Makoto stood and held the pole next to the seat. When they got to their stop, Makoto adjusted his bag and nudged Kisumi. This is where the boys went separate ways.

"I'll see you back at the flat," Kisumi cooed as he hurriedly skipped away.

Makoto had two classes to attend that day: Accounting and Japanese History. Neither he would ever consider his favorite, but there is worse. As long as it wasn't English or anything to do with art, he wouldn't complain.

Sousuke sat on the bench next to the campus fountain waiting for his pink haired friend. As he waited, he kept a notebook propped on his knee and workbook on the other. He was trying to solve his calculus problems as fast as possible because getting set behind is something he did not want to deal with. Sousuke was the kind of person who liked to run on a schedule. Everything had to be done by a certain time, things had to be planned strategically so that one thing starts as another thing ends. Currently he wanted all of his homework done before he was distracted by the shenanigans he could imagine Kisumi might pull.

"Sousuke!?" a searching voice called from the opposite side of the fountain.

Standing up, and soon towering over the other students, Sousuke called back, "Oi, Kisumi!"

Kisumi being fairly tall himself, ran over to Sousuke and wasn't covered completely by his shadow like the rest of the students.

"Oh, Sousuke," Kisumi sang.

"Hey, Kisumi. Long time no see."

"Yeah, same,"

"Did you want to go somewhere, or?"

"I dunno. We could go back to my apartment, it's only a train ride away."

"Sounds fine." Sousuke sighed packing up his loose stuff and checking his the pocket of his dark jeans for his wallet. The two then headed out.

"Hey, let's stop at the market quick and pick up some snacks." Kissumi cried.

"Whatever."

Kisumi excitedly picked a large selection of junk foods, paying no attention to Sousuke anymore. Well, until Sousuke hit him upside the shoulder complaining for him to hurry up. They finally got home after half an hour including shopping and train rides. Walking up to the front door of the flat Kisumi fumbled in his pocket for his keys. Opening the door, Kisumi motioned to the couch, hoping Sousuke would get the message and sit down. He did, and Kisumi followed behind after dropping his bag of junk on the kitchen table and grabbing a bag of chips and salsa.

"So, how's basketball going?" Sousuke asked, to start their conversation while he unscrewed the top of the salsa can.

"Pretty chill. You know, you should have listened to me in Elementary school. You would have been awesome on the court with your height and all. Makoto too."

"Mako . . .to?" the name rolled off Sousuke's tongue, intentionally edging Kisumi on to talk more about Makoto as he took a bit of his chip. This was the first time Sousuke had ever said Makoto's first name.

Makoto was beat after class. He was so drained and tired, he didn't even think he could make it to the train, let alone make it home. He grabbed a coffee from the vending machine on campus before he left, the sky getting darker and darker by the minute. This at least woke him up enough to get home.

Walking through the door, Makoto was greeted by a big surprise. Sousuke Yamazaki stared intently at Makoto as he walked into his own home.

"Yamazaki?" Makoto blinked.

"Tachibana,"

"Uh, hello."

"You two . . . live together?" Sousuke asked, confused.

"Yeah, Kisumi never told you? We just moved in together a month ago, a few weeks before classes started."

"Oh," he glared at Kisumi, who shrugged and went back to snacking.

"Alright, I'm going to go take a shower . . . Make yourself at home . . ." Makoto said hesitantly, unsure how to speak to Sousuke.

Thankfully, by the time Makoto was finished with his half an hour shower and started his homework, Sousuke had decided to leave. From the other room he could hear the conversation.

"I better head out. I didn't mean to intrude on your home."

"Nah, its fine. I invited you here anyways."

"Yeah, but I didn't know you shared an apartment,"

"I told you, its fine! Makoto doesn't care."

"Well, anyways, I should head out. It was great to talk to you again. I guess. Thanks for clearing that thing about Haru up."

Makoto gasped and whispered to himself, "Haru?" What would Yamazaki have to do with Haru?

"No prob. See ya later." Kisumi said, interrupting Makoto's thoughts. Makoto knew it was wrong to listen in on their conversation, but . . .

The door slammed behind Sousuke as he left. Makoto heard Kisumi walking towards his room and hurriedly return to writing science equations.

"Mako, Sousuke's left."

"Okay,"

"Whatchya want for dinner?"

"Nothing. I'm tired, I'm going to bed." Makoto said sternly.

"Alright," Kisumi left the room, shutting Makoto's bedroom door behind him.