I don't own Free! or any of the characters that appear in "It's Free if it Takes Over Thirty Minutes".

It's Free if it Takes Over Thirty Minutes

Chapter 6

He's Better Off With the Lamp

Kisumi was openly and happily a single pansexual. Shit, he would fall in love with a table lamp if he knew it could love him back. But that was his condition; he only loved things that would love him back. He completely needed something physical because he needed to rely on someone sometime. Being an older brother, he felt he always had to be the responsible one. Being depended on all the time though, he would surely break down.

It was Sunday morning and Kisumi woke up next to his tall friend. Makoto was still sleeping, so Kisumi snuggled right up to him adjusting the blankets to evenly cover them both. Digging his face into Makoto's back, he tried to get back to sleep, but woke Makoto in the process.

"Ki . . . sumi?" Makoto groggily made out.

"Hey, sleepy-head," Kisumi brushed his head against Makoto's arm.

"Mhm, what happened?"

"We fell asleep last night,"

"Oh. Damn, I'm tired."

"Then, let's just stay . . . like this," he snuggled up even more.

"Isn't this a little weird?"

"Noooo . . ." Kisumi moaned.

Makoto straitened his back basically shaking Kisumi off, and sat upright. "C'mon, this is weird."

"It's not! Mako~"

"Are you telling me you want to spoon with me?"

"Yes."

Makoto took a breath and looked at Kisumi. "Please be honest with me. Are you attracted to me?"

Kisumi bit his lip and backed up, "Pssshhh, no!"

Makoto gave a disapproving look, "I'm serious. I'm not doing this."

It wasn't Kisumi's fault that he was attracted to Makoto. The same way he was attracted to Sousuke in elementary school, or Haru in middle school. But, those narrow purple eyes sure could tell a lie. He knew just how to turn the tables.

"Mako, do you like anyone? Are you seeing someone? Because, normally, this wouldn't bother a person."

"No, I'm not. I just, it's just not . . . right."

"You'd do it if it were Haru," Kisumi huffed.

"No, I would . . . It wouldn't . . . I just . . ." Makoto took a hesitated but eventually blurted out, "I'm afraid that I might start liking you, okay?!"

Is that a bad thing? Kisumi thought, slightly speechless at Makoto's little outburst.

"It would ruin our friendship. I'm sorry. Let's just not."

"Okay," Kisumi gave in. He was much more like a teenage girl than a twenty-year-old college basketball player. He got up slowly, pulling one of the two blankets with him, completely wrapping it around himself. Now standing he shuffled towards his room until he turned around and looked at Makoto. Quietly he spoke through his blanket, "Mako, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm sorry I just-"

"No, not that. I mean, when I got home you were watching sad movies and foreign films, eating ice cream by the tubs, and staying up late. Are you okay? What happened?"

"Nothing happened . . . I'm fine. Really, you shouldn't waste your time worrying about me."

"Mako, I'm being serious. Someone's gotta worry about you, might as well be me. Also, it's not and never will be a waste of time. More like an investment."

Makoto giggled a bit, "It really doesn't matter."

"Tell me. Did you break up with a boyfriend you never told me about?"

"No."

"I know it's not a girlfriend because you're gay beyond everyone's wildest dreams . . . Give me one more guess; are you upset about Haru?"

"Kind of."

"Haha, Jackpot," Kisumi smiled, "Okay, now, what about Haru?"

"I, well . . . I overheard you and Yamazaki. I heard him thank you for answering his questions?"

Kisumi froze that moment, his blanket hitting the floor. "Oh, that. It's nothing, don't worry about it," trying to brush it off. This only got Makoto angrier.

"Whose side are you on?! I thought you were just trying to comfort me, and now you're helping Yamazaki?! Why don't you go live with him if you two are so chummy!"

Kisumi laughed, "Who uses the word chummy? Ahahaha, that's too funny."

"That's it! Are you really that immature? I'm torn up about this and you have the nerve to laugh."

"Okay, Mako, listen to me. The matter concerning Haru has nothing to do with either of you. It was to do with me and Sousuke. It's not important."

"If it's not important, than why can't you tell me?"

"I just can't"

"Tell me!"

"No!"

"If you won't tell me, I'm going to move out. Why won't you tell me?"

"BECAUSE IT'S FUCKING EMBARRASSING!" Kisumi shouted. This silenced both of them. To break the awkward silence, he added, "No need to be such a dick, Makoto."

Both the boys felt like utter shit and decided to leave it at that. They weren't mad at each other, more like they were both mad at themselves for being insensitive. Makoto went into his room and lied down on his bed. Kisumi stayed in the Living room, eventually turning on the TV and plugging in his old PlayStation 3. He played games basically the rest of the day, his mood too spoiled to do anything else. Makoto slept for a few hours and called Haru when he woke up. He received Haru's message reading "No", a reply to the text Makoto sent the previous night, when he woke up.

"Hey, Haru."

"Hey, Makoto."

"Is now a good time to talk?"

"I just got out of the pool and just walked in my dorm. "

"Were you up to anything? I don't want to interrupt."

"I was going to take a nap, that's all."

"You don't mind talking?"

"No,"

"Thanks, Haru. So, uh, I know you told me not to ask Kisumi but,"

"Makoto, you didn't-"

"I didn't get a straight answer, don't get your hopes up."

"I'm not,"

"Anyways, what he did tell me was that it had to do with himself and Yamazaki. He also said that it was, uh, embarrassing."

"Makoto, I don't really care,"

"Sorry, I was just worried and Kisumi and I got into a fight-"

"Whoa, you guys got into a fight?"

"Yeah, but I-"

"Makoto, you really shouldn't have risked your friendship for me."

"Haru, your friendship means so much more to me. You are my best friend, don't forget that."

"Thanks."

"What?"

"Thanks for asking. And looking out for me."

Makoto smiled, "Of course."

"Yeah."

"I better let you take your nap. You're okay right? Taking a nap at this time is a little strange."

"Fine."

"You're not getting sick, are you?"

"Maybe."

"Well, take it easy, drink fluids, and stay healthy."

"Okay."

"Bye, Haru."

"Yeah."

Makoto hung up. He stared at the ceiling and finished all of his homework due that week. Well, all the homework he could. Before he realized, it was night time and he hadn't eaten anything all day. His stomach yelled at him for being irresponsible and neglective. When he walked to the kitchen, he noticed that Kisumi must have gone to bed because the lights were off and there was nobody in the living room. The games were completely off, and out of curiosity, Makoto felt to see how hot the TV and the PlayStation was. They were surprisingly not hot, but slightly warm because, let's face it, he had been playing them all day. When Makoto opened the fridge to see what he could eat, he saw out of the corner of his eye, a plate with plastic wrap surrounding it. Pulling it out he saw the sticky note on it that read:

I'm sorry, Mako I was being stupid
I should have told you, but I didn't
want to tell you, I was just being a
selfish jerk. Also, you didn't come
and eat at all, which was stupid of
you so I made you this. Don't get
sick. -Kisumi

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-Lavi