Yaaaaay I finished this! I don't have much to say so please just enjoy the chapter! This is also kind of a short one but I promise I will make up for it in the next chapter!

Disclaimer: Free! and it's characters do not belong to me and belong the respected owners. I only own/made this story.

A blonde haired teen was sitting on a bed in a large room while his boyfriend placed snacks and two cups filled with green tea on the small table. Nagisa watched him with wide, happy eyes. It was a day after Christmas and it was movie night for the couple, an idea Rei had agreed with simply to make Nagisa happy and also so he could have some alone time with the blonde. However, since it was holidays, they were watching the movie during the day. The others were fun to be around but he couldn't exactly kiss or cuddle Nagisa when they were with them.

But there was also a burning question on Rei's mind that he needed to ask someone about. Nagisa was always one to answer truthfully, and was also his boyfriend, so of course that's the first person Rei would go to.

"Hey, Nagisa"

"Yeah?" Nagisa responded, a wide smile still on his face.

Rei smiled back "Well, you can't tell anyone I asked you this, okay?"

The blonde quickly nodded, curious as to what this question was.

"Have you noticed anything different about Makoto?"

Nagisa scrunched is brow in confusion, thinking about what the blue haired teen had asked. He thought back to the brunette's behaviour over the last couple of days but couldn't remember anything odd. To Nagisa, Makoto was still that kind, smiling brunette he had known from long ago, and it would be strange to see Makoto without that smile on his face. Whenever he was sad or depressed they could all pick it out in a heartbeat, so there didn't seem to be anything different about him.

The blonde shook his head "As far as I can tell, Mako chan has been acting like his normal self, why do you ask?"

Rei sighed and sat on the ground "No reason, he's been looking a little pale lately so maybe he's just getting a little sick from this cold weather"

"Is that so?" Nagisa questioned, his head slightly tilted.

He couldn't tell Nagisa the truth, especially if the blonde had known Makoto from so long ago. Obviously, since Rei saw the scene with Rin and Makoto, he couldn't look at the brunette in the same way. Makoto had been keeping a mask on for a long time, and a very good one at that, but it seemed there were a few cracks in it. However, those cracks could only be seen by a close inspection or an accidental slip of the eye, and once those cracks were seen they could never be unseen.

"Well," Nagisa piped up, a large smile on his face "have you noticed anything different about Haru chan?"

"…Haruka?" Rei was now the one to look confused and curious "Why Haruka?"

"Eh?!" Nagisa exclaimed, staring at Rei with wide eyes "You mean you seriously haven't noticed?!"

Rei blinked, giving the blonde a blank look "…is there something to notice?"

"You mean you seriously haven't realised how Haru chan is isolating himself more than usual?" Nagisa asked, making Rei raise an eyebrow.

"That's normal, Haruka always isolates himself"

"Ah, that's true" Nagisa sighed "But surely you've seen how Haru chan has been more out of it through the last few weeks"

"That's also normal" Rei stated "Haruka always zones out in class, as Rin has said"

The blonde frowned "What about how Haru chan has been so moody? How he's been acting awkward and how he's also been more silent than normal?"

"Haruka has been moody because he's been waking up late and didn't get a morning bath. He's also socially awkward by nature and has a stoic, silent personality. So it's normal for him not to talk."

"I give up!" Nagisa groaned, flumping back onto the bed and sighing, everything he said Rei had justified. Nagisa thought maybe it was only something he could see because of how Haruka kept coming to him with his questions and problems.

"Why do you think Haruka's been acting different anyway?" the taller teen asked, giving his boyfriend a questioning look.

Nagisa sat up to look at Rei "It's because Haru chan is-"

Hands quickly flew over the blonde's mouth, making Rei scrunch his brow in confusion.

"It's because Haruka is what?"

"I'm sorry Rei chan" Nagisa shook his head "I can't tell you"

Now Rei wanted, no, needed to know. If Nagisa thought Haruka was acting strange, then maybe it was true. The blonde clearly knew something about Haruka that he didn't, and it made Rei wonder if Haruka was acting different because he knew something about Makoto. He needed to find out if it was related to the brunette or not.

"Why can't you tell me?"

Nagisa frowned "Because it's complicated"

"How's it complicated?"

"Because it just is!"

"In what way?"

"I can't tell!"

"Why not?"

"Because Haru chan is in love with Rin chan!"

Rei was taken aback, giving Nagisa wide eyes. The blonde had his hands over his mouth once more, internally slapping himself for letting out the secret he's been trying to keep for weeks.

"…how do you know that's true?" Rei asked, recovering from the sudden shock. He definitely did not expect it to be something like that.

"Because…" Nagisa started, but decided not to hide anything about it from Rei any more "Haru chan keeps coming to me and asking questions. He says he's been really confused and doesn't know what to do. You wouldn't believe how oblivious he was to things like love and romance, it was kind of scary. But I thought, if he kept asking me those questions, it must have meant he was in love since he was trying to make sense of it all."

Rei stared at Nagisa in disbelief. Weren't Makoto and Rin fighting because of Haruka? Didn't they both want Haruka? But if what Nagisa was saying was true, and Haruka decided he liked Rin, then didn't that mean Makoto would just get more frustrated? If Makoto ever found out about Haruka's decision, then his mask would completely shatter to reveal something more dangerous and rage filled underneath.

"Well how does Haruka feel about Rin right now?"

Nagisa shrugged "I'm not too sure, right now Haru chan is trying to force himself to think that him and Rin chan are only friends. But I can see he can definitely feel more than that, so I'm hoping he'll ask about his feelings once more so he doesn't wreck himself"

Rei sighed "Alright, oh and no offense Nagisa but…you're not too good at talking about relationships and romance"

"Oh, I know that!" Nagisa smiled "That's why I told Haru chan to talk to Mako chan if he ever needed help!"

"You what?!"

Rei shot up off the ground, making the blonde flinch back slightly and look at the teen with confused magenta orbs.

"I-I told him to go to…Mako chan"

"No! No you have to tell him not to do that!" Rei exclaimed, his eyes wide and filled with panic.

"Huh? Why?"

"I'll explain later! Just do it! Now!"

…

Haruka woke up early the morning after Christmas, and for once, he wasn't tired. For the first time in a long time he had a good sleep, but he was puzzled as to why this was. He had to wonder if it was because he found out Rin wasn't going out with Chigusa, or that Rin had no feelings for Chigusa whatsoever. Yet, Haruka was still surprised. He was trying to force himself to think Rin and him were just friends, so the kiss should've confused him even more but…it made him feel content.

When Haruka went downstairs he got a call from Makoto, saying he was coming over. When Haru asked why, the brunette explained it was to help him take down the decorations. The raven haired teen was going to reject the offer but when he looked around the house to see the amount of tinsel and small Christmas ornaments hanging on the walls, he quickly agreed.

It was going to be a bother to take them all down, Rin even said he'd take them down at the end of the night. But the redhead forgot completely and left when saying he was tired.

"Liar" Haruka smiled to himself, thinking back on the night before.

He hadn't worn the necklace Rin gave him yet, and it was currently still in its box on his bedside table. But every time he'd look at it he'd get mesmerised by it, Haru couldn't believe or understand why Rin would get him something so stunningly beautiful.

Thinking like that made him wonder what Rei would think of it, he'd probably start crying at the beauty of it. Or maybe it just seemed more beautiful to Haru because it was given to him…because Rin gave it to him...

Haruka shook his head and sighed. Sure, he felt content, but now he didn't know what relationship he and Rin had. Haruka didn't know if he loved Rin for sure yet, and he didn't think Rin loved him. So did that mean they were…friends with benefits?

A large blush spread across the teen's face as he thought this, not only was that thought too embarrassing but it was also kind of demeaning. He doubted Rin wanted that kind of relationship, being a crazy romantic, and Haruka definitely didn't want that kind of relationship.

Haruka thought about asking Nagisa about it until he remembered what the blonde said;

"Well, I'll tell you now that Makoto probably knows a lot more than me!"

So maybe he would ask Makoto about it instead…although now he felt himself getting flustered just thinking about what relationship he and Rin held.

He took his mind off things by starting to take the decorations down, and a few minutes later Makoto showed up to help him. The brunette had that normal, honey filled smile on his face while taking the decorations down, and he kept glancing at Haru every so often.

"You look pretty refreshed today, Haru" he commented, making Haruka look at the taller teen.

"Uh, yeah, I had a good sleep last night"

Emerald eyes suddenly darkened "…is that so?"

Haruka nodded, not noticing the sudden change in mood.

The two began working silently, the only noise being made was the shaking of tinsel. Usually when Haruka was alone with Makoto the silent was comforting, but this silence seemed kind of awkward and…heavy. He was about to break it until the brunette beat him to it.

"You know Haru, I noticed everyone got a gift from Rin except you…didn't that disappoint you?"

"Not really" the smaller teen answered "he gave me his gift afterwards"

"He did?" Makoto questioned, eyes now darker than before "Why'd he do that?"

"I…" Haru began, but trailed off as he thought about the question "…I'm not sure, he just did"

Makoto nodded and put the last of the tinsel in the large cardboard box "Alright then, well Rin sure is weird like that, isn't he?"

Haruka gave a small nod, his mind now focused on other things. Why did Rin give him his gift in private? He hadn't actually thought about that before…

"So, Haru," Makoto smiled "are we going to the New Year's festival this year? I heard they're going to be lighting up more fireworks than last year"

"They always say that" Haruka rolled his eyes, making Makoto chuckle

"Well that's true, but it should still be exciting! And it's not like you're doing anything on the night anyway. Oh, unless your parents are coming over"

"They are" Haruka confirmed "but they want to go to the festival to do something with me, since they only get two days off."

"Your parents really are busy, aren't they? But never mind that, if you're going to the festival then we might as well go together. Maybe Rei and Nagisa would want to come with us too."

"What about Rin?" Haruka asked

Makoto smiled warmly, bending down to pick up the box "What about him?"

"Would he want to come too?"

As the brunette picked up the box, he gripped the sides a little too tightly "I don't know, Haru, you could always ask him. Although he might not be able to considering he'll probably be spending New Years with Gou and his mother."

Haruka nodded and looked to the ground, wondering if it was okay to ask Rin to go to the New Year's festival with him. They did just kiss the previous night, and Haruka had no idea what that meant since they've kissed a few times. He didn't know if Rin loved him, he didn't know if he loved Rin, and the more he thought about it the more their relationship was leaning towards friends with benefits.

He knew he couldn't figure this out himself, and Haruka took a deep breath before opening his mouth and saying "Makoto, I need to ask you something…"

"Hm?" said teen turned, smile still plastered to his face.

"Well…it's about Rin"

Makoto's head tilted slightly "Rin? What about him?"

Haruka clenched his fists, trying to work himself up to tell his best friend. Makoto already knew almost everything about him anyway, so why was it so hard to tell him this?

"Well with…with Rin…I-"

A loud ringing sound echoed throughout the house, both Makoto and Haruka almost jumped from the sudden loud sound. Haruka recognised it as his cell phone and quickly rushed over to the kitchen table to pick it up and see a new text message. The teen raised an eyebrow when opening it and seeing it was from Nagisa.

"Ah, sorry" Haruka apologised, turning to the brunette

"It's fine Haru, take your time" Makoto smiled

Haruka nodded and read the text message, his brow furrowing as he did.

"Haru chan I was wrong! Do not ask Mako chan about that romance stuff, I just remembered he is not good with that at all! Just don't tell him about Rin or anything to do with love!"

"Now you tell me…" Haruka muttered, sighing and closing his phone

"Haru, what were you going to ask me?" Makoto asked, making Haru visibly stiffen.

"U-uh…" Haruka stuttered, his mind moving at a rapid pace to think of a plausible lie "well with Rin, I…was wondering what subjects you'll think he'll chose next year"

"Subjects?" Makoto raised an eyebrow at the teen.

Haruka was a horrible liar, and even when he did manage to convince others, Makoto would always see through it. Right now Haruka's face just screamed liar, and the brunette knew that text message had something to do with making him lie.

"Well won't he have the same subjects from this year? Do we have to choose them again?" Makoto answered, deciding to figure this out later.

"Uh, yeah! You're right, sorry about that"

The brunette chuckled "It's fine, it's fine" he brushed off, waving his hand in an uncaring manner "I know how much you care about Rin, so of course you'd think of those things."

Makoto turned around with the box in hand, a cold look in his eyes.

"Trust me, I know just how much you care about that stupid redhead, Haru…"

…

A red headed teen suddenly sneezed, making his mother jump at the sudden loud sound.

"Are you okay, dear? You're not getting a cold are you?"

Rin shook his head "No mum, I'm fine, someone's probably just talking about me" the redhead joked, making his mother sigh.

The woman turned back to the sheet in front of her, a worried expression on her face as she read through it.

"Are you sure about this Rin? It didn't end up too well last time…"

"Mum, it's fine!" the teen said for the hundredth time "I was younger back then, I didn't know what to expect. Now I'm okay with it."

"I just want to make sure this is really what you want to do. This could change the course of your life you know"

"I'm very well aware of that" Rin sighed "but it well help me get closer to my dream, to dad's dream! Please let me do this!"

The woman continued to stare at the paper in front of her, reading it over and over again before taking a deep breath and putting it down "…if this is really what you want to do…"

"It is, mum…" Rin smiled, giving his mother a reassuring look "...I want to go to university in Australia."

Aaaand plot twist!

But yeah I am really looking forward to writing the next chapter so just hold on tight!

Thanks for reading!