"There's a blue trail and a yellow trail."

It was the next day, a few hours before noon, and the Tachibana's, Haruka included, were standing at the beginning of the hiking trails while the twins insisted on reading the signs.

"Onii-chan and Haru-chan should go on the harder one together!" Ran said, looking up at her parents, "And then we can race to the end and see who gets there first!" Ran tossed Makoto a look, a grin on her face while Ren nodded adamantly at her side.

"Yeah! A race! Like when we play video games!" he chirped excitedly, turning his light brown gaze up to his parents.

"We're not in racecars, dumbie. We're hiking," Ran scoffed, rolling her eyes at Ren.

"Hey! That's mean! It was just an example, Ran!"

"Well it was a dumb example!" Ran shot back, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she looked away from her brother.

"Hey now," Makoto sighed, "What did I tell you about arguing?"

"Not too," the twins mumbled together, giving each other sideways glances.

"Exactly. So if you want Haru and I to race you, you have to promise to behave when you're with mom and dad, okay?" The twins nodded in agreement.

"Okay! We promise! Ready... Go!" Makoto and Haru watched at the twins started up the shorter and easier trail, the one marked the blue trail, practically dragging their parents with them.

"Ready, Haru?" Makoto finally broke the silence, looking down at the stoic teen at his side. Haru's blue gaze moved up to meet his and he nodded before heading for the start of the trail.

Makoto smiled to himself. He knew ever since Haru was a little kid that one of his favorite activities – other than swimming – was hiking, especially if there was some sort of water along the trail.

"Makoto? Are you coming?" Haru's voice broke him from his thoughts and he smiled, walking quickly to fall into step besides Haruka.

"Sorry, Haru," he smiled, "I was just thinking."

The hike was leisurely and the two of them took it slow. They both knew of Makoto's dislike of activities that required a lot of stamina. The 'race' with the twins was out of both of their minds for the time being, both of them content in just taking it slow. Haru waited for Makoto whenever the brunet paused to take a breather and Makoto waited for Haru whenever the blue-eyed teen stopped to take a drink from his water bottle.

Makoto was happy Haru hadn't worn his swimsuit under his clothes. The day was hot and, though the trees provided some shade from the sun, the heat was still stifling. Makoto had noticed the way Haru was eyeing the small ponds and streams at the sides of the trail and he made sure to usher the brunette away before his hands could go for the hem of his shirt.

"We're not going to win if we go this slow," Haru commented a while later.

"I didn't know you wanted to win," Makoto sighed, "Besides, it would be better to let Ren and Ran win right? They'd be more excited."

"I guess..."

The hike continued at the same leisurely pace; the trail starting to get steeper as they continued.

"Makoto!"

Makoto barely registered that he was falling before he heard the urgency in Haru's voice. The rock under his foot had come loose, causing him to stumble. The loose dry dirt offered no traction under his feet and the next thing he felt was the hard trunk of a tree slamming into his back, ripping a pained gasp from his throat.

"Makoto!" Haru was besides him in an instant, his hand on Makoto's shoulder, "Makoto! Are you alright?"

Makoto managed a groan and forced his eyes open to meet wide blue orbs. His backpack had buffered some of the impact, but he could already feel a dull pain spreading through his back and shoulders.

"Makoto." Haru's hand was on his jaw, lifting his head up slightly. His hand pressed against the back of Makoto's head, his fingers sifting through Makoto's hair feeling for bumps or blood. He sighed when he found none, but didn't pull his hand away from Makoto's cheek, "Are you alright?"

"I think so?" Makoto said gingerly, attempting to push himself up from the ground only to hiss in pain and ease himself back to the ground as the ache in his back suddenly increased.

"We're going back. Now."

"What? N-No, Haru! I'm fine really. We can keep-"

"No," Haru said sternly, silencing Makoto, "Now. You're hurt." Through the hard stern tone of Haru's voice, Makoto would hear worry lacing in between his words so he knew not to argue.

"Alright," he sighed. He allowed Haruka to wrap a strong arm around his torso and help him get up from the ground, which caused pain to light up in his back and shoulder blades. He couldn't hide the obvious wince and hiss of pain from Haru and he felt the black haired boy's grip on him tighten at the indication of pain.

"Come on," Haru said, a tone of tenderness coming into his voice, "We're get some ice for your back when we get back. And then call your parents and tell them what happened." Makoto nodded, trying to focus on Haru's words and not the pain. Even when Haru supported him, pain flared up in his back with every step. He could tell that practically carrying him down the trail was putting a strain on Haru, but the stoic teen didn't mention it, keeping his gaze focused forward. He only looked up when Makoto asked him to stop for a moment so he could let some of the ache die away.

By the time they reached the campsite, Makoto was exhausted. He felt Haru lying him down in their tent on his stomach, too tired to open his eyes.

"I have ice, Makoto," Haru's voice came to his ears when the other boy reentered the tent. Makoto nodded, too exhausted to answer. He felt Haru pulling his shirt up and over his arms and head before running his fingers over his skin to assess the damage. The press of a cold bag of ice wrapped in a towel registered in his upper back and shoulder blades. Makoto couldn't help the gasp and the shiver that left him and he forced his eyes open to look over his shoulder at Haru.

Haruka had a look of pure concentration on his face but his gaze softened when he looked over and noticed Makoto looking at him.

"I already contacted your parents. I told them it wasn't serious and that they should keep hiking."

"Were they worried?' Makoto asked.

"Mhm, but I told them I could take care of you," Haru said, his voice quieting towards the end as a light blush stained his cheeks. Makoto couldn't help but to smile at the slightly flustered look on Haru's face.

"Of course," Makoto smiled, a teasing tone to his voice, "Haru always takes good care of me," he murmured, resting his head on his forearms as Haru pressed the ice pack into his skin.

"Is it helping?" Haru asked a few minutes later.

"The ice?"

A nod.

"Yeah, thank you, Haru." The tent was silent again for a little while before Haru spoke again.

"We should've just gone swimming again."

"What? But we went yesterday, Haru!" Makoto protested, looking back over his shoulder at Haru, his eyebrows turned up slightly.

"You can go swimming more than one day," Haru huffed, not meeting Makoto gaze.

"Yes, but," Makoto said, moving to sit up and face Haru, wincing slightly as he did so, "I wanted to take you to the end of the hike," he said softly, reaching to cup Haruka's cheek gently, "It's really beautiful at the top. You can see all the lakes in the area and on a clear day you can see all the way to the coast," he breathed, brushing his thumb gently across Haru's cheekbone, "I wanted to see that with you."

Haru looked away, a blush rising to his cheeks at Makoto's soft words and gentle hand on his cheek.

"And I know how much you like hiking," Makoto continued, "I wanted to make this trip about things you love too, Haru. Because I come here every year, but I want to share everything with you this time, because you're here and you have no idea how ridiculously happy I am that you are here with me. So don't be upset because I'm a klutz and I got hurt, alright?"

Haru was quiet for a few moments before he moved his gaze to meet Makoto's and he nodded, bringing up a hand to place over the one Makoto had on his cheek, watching as Makoto's smile widened at the gesture. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Makoto's and the brunet easily returned the exchange, kissing Haru sweetly and tenderly, their fingers intertwining where their hands were pressed together.

"We'll go swimming again tomorrow, okay?" Makoto breathed against Haru's lips once they broke the kiss. He didn't miss the wait Haru's eyes lit up at the suggestion.

"Okay," Haru nodded, "Now lie down again." Makoto obliged, and returned to his previous position on his sleeping bag, watching as Haru pressed the ice to his back once more.

Makoto woke up to the sounds of dinner being prepared outside the tent. He heard the twins arguing over which spices to put on the fish and his sighed fondly. He didn't remember when he had fallen asleep, but he wasn't surprised he had after how tired he had been. Haru wasn't in the tent and Makoto began to push himself up from the sleeping bag, groaning softly at how his back protested at the movement.

"Stay down, Makoto," Haru's voice came from outside. The flap of the tent opened and Haru stepped inside, two plates of dinner in his hands, one of him and one for Makoto.

Makoto nodded and obliged to his order, sinking back down into the sleeping bag as he twinges of pain go through his back, though the ache had died down from before.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked quietly, watching as Haru maneuvered to his side in the tent, setting down the plates.

"A few hours," Haru answered, sitting besides Makoto, "Here, let me," he murmured, reaching to support Makoto behind his shoulders as he pulled the larger teen into a sitting position.

"Thank you," Makoto said quietly, accepting the plate of mackerel that Haru handed him as Haru propped him against their backpacks.

They ate in calm silence before Haru broke the quiet, "How are you feeling?"

"A little better," Makoto answered, giving Haru a small smile.

"Good," Haru nodded.

Dinner was finished quickly. Makoto hadn't realized how hungry he was until the food was in front of him.

Only a short while later, their tent was zipped and he was lying carefully on his side next to Haru. He usually slept on his back, but that was out of question at the moment, so he expected to have trouble falling asleep.

But Haru's arms curled around him, their legs tangling together and he found himself feeling drowsy and warm.

The last thing he heard before he let sleep wash over him was the soft whisper of Haru saying good night, and a smile formed on his lips.

Notes:

Welp, there's chapter 3~

Not much to say. I really like fluff wow fluff.

Thanks for any comments! uvu

Stay tuned~