Title: Impromptu Planning

Fandom: Free!

Pairings: Sousuke/Rin, Makoto/Haruka

Rating: T

Warnings: Sousuke and Makoto being friends?

Chapter Summary:

Sousuke tricks Makoto into going on a date with him to rile up their best friends. Haru and Rin are no masters of disguise.

A/N: is there even a need for chapter summaries? It just looks so blank if I don't write or paste some kind of beginning header.

"Don't look now, but two very obvious stalkers have found us." Sousuke chuckled under his breath. Makoto turned to face him, confusion clear in his eyes.

"Huh?" Sousuke smirked more, watching through the security mirror in the corner of the bookstore. One hatted Nanase Haruka and Matsuoka Rin had walked into the store. Typing on his phone he explained to the other what was going on, and that he should act as though he doesn't know they're there. Makoto typed back, asking why they had to hide in the first place. Sousuke explained Rin's misunderstanding and Makoto's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink at the notion.

"Oh."

"So, will you help me out Tachibana?" Sousuke smiled. He left out that he wasn't only doing this for his own sake. Makoto was an absolute sucker for helping people after all. Seeming to be okay with the plan, although a little reluctant, he agreed.

"Well then, I'm going to go pay for this book and then we should head out for lunch, yeah?" Sousuke smirked, spotting Rin as he almost walked into their isle on accident. His new partner in crime agreed and they left the bookstore, walking the longer, more open way to give the two idiots trailing them a chance to hide.

As they left Makoto caught glimpse of Rin's baseball cap and laughed turning to Sousuke.

"They're not very good at this," he giggled. Sousuke was a little impressed such a tall guy could giggle. Makoto, it would seem, was a very interesting individual.

"So, since I asked you out on this date, where would you like to eat?" Makoto bristled a little at the statement before remembering the plan and thinking about it. He placed his pointer finger against his chin, tilting his head as he normally would to think.

"Well it's cold so we'll be inside, so we should pick a place kind of busy or dark right?" he questioned, taking a brief second to flicker his eyes back at the two who were now hiding behind a vending machine. Sousuke's smile split his face at the slightly raised voice Makoto had used. Maybe his plan wasn't so hopeless. When the other boy helped, he really went all out.

"I think I know just such a place, Tachibana." Sousuke exclaimed, grinning ear to ear as he slung his arm over Makoto's shoulders, leading the way. Makoto didn't seem at all bothered by the contact. Dropping his voice to a low whisper Sousuke praised the other. "You're really good at this Tachibana."

Makoto grinned back at him.

"Well, I want my friends to be happy, too." Sousuke took back every minute negative thing he had ever said about the boy. Tachibana Makoto was an angel. He was an absolute angel.

"They are too cute." Sousuke murmured. They had chosen a diner Sousuke and Rin had found before with the Samezuka gang. It was a dim lit, modern kind of diner café mix. Despite its lighting issues, it was popular with book reading college students.

It wasn't too surprising considering that they were near a local college. It had that pretend adult atmosphere. The kind you like to use to show off, or at least that's how Sousuke felt about it. Despite that the food was quite good and the lighting and popularity made it easy for Makoto and himself to sit in an obvious area, while giving Rin and Haru good vantage spots.

"This is kind of fun," admitted the other boy, scratching his cheek sheepishly. Sousuke leaned back in his seat, shoving his hands into his pockets.

They had sat themselves at a small round table off to the side so they wouldn't draw too much attention from the regular customers. They were angled so if Sousuke scooted his chair to the right just a smidge, he'd be staring straight at Haru and Rin. The two were sitting in one of the four-seated booths diagonal them.

"If it works, it'll be even more fun. By the way, the best part is the music in this place. The speakers are right in the corner above them." Makoto laughed.

"So pantomiming will be most effective, huh?" Sousuke's eyes widened a fraction before he leaned onto the table, folding his arms under him.

"You're right. Man Tachibana, I can't tell if you're a saint or the devil." The other boy squawked a little at his proclamation. He pouted, sulking about the comparison.

"Well it's for a good cause, though I guess hanging out with Nagisa does have its effect."

"Mm, yeah. Hazuki can be a bit frightening." Makoto nodded in agreement, his smile lopsided. His eyes look up and away, remembering some traumatizing or tragic event involving the small demon no doubt.

"Um, excuse me!" A weak voice came catching the attention of the two tall boys. They were both an intimidating presence to the four-foot something girl in front of them. "One Rainbow Parfait and one House Wrap with fries?"

"Yup, that's us." Sousuke replied, giving the girl a smile. It seemed to put the meek girl at ease, and she placed the plate and glass in front of the two boys. "Thanks for bringing it over, I didn't hear our number being called."

"Ah! It's okay, it happens pretty often, cause, music." The girl squeaked out at the end. Makoto gave her one of his reassuring smiles and she stopped fidgeting. "Do you need anything else?" she questioned. Sousuke almost laughed at this, knowing well that it was one of the morning waiters' jobs. They only actual served people during dinner.

"Nah, it's okay. I can go grab the cola myself." Flashing a large smile Sousuke got up and walked to the vending machine on the opposite side of the room, away from Rin and Haru.

He saw the girl skitter back to kitchen. She most likely got frightened by his sudden movement, but that was more or less the desired effect. He didn't need her hanging around them if he was supposed to be having a mock-date with Tachibana. He paid for the cola at the counter, keeping his eyes from wandering in the direction of their two obvious stalkers.

When he returned Makoto gave him a look and he allowed himself to look a little guilty at his actions, though it was more guilt about getting caught.

"You really do like sweat things, don't you?" Sousuke inquired, picking up one of his wraps, eyeing it before biting in.

"Yeah. It's a little embarrassing getting parfaits because of the cute glass cups they come in, but they taste so good. I really can't refuse." The light haired boy smiled unabashed despite his pink cheeks.

"Still, is that really all you want for lunch?" Makoto blinked a bit, before looking down at his parfait, his face going scarlet.

"Ah, actually," he mumbled, covering his face with his hand a little. "Haru would usually order real food and we'd share."

Sousuke was full out laughing at the explanation. The image of Nanase and Tachibana sharing food on many non-date dates running through his head. The two boys got a couple looks, and with good reason, as one boy was nearly choking from laughing so hard while the other boy was a deep red from head to toe.

When Sousuke finally calmed down, wiping away a stray tear that only comes with laughing so hard your guts hurt, he smirked at his embarrassed companion.

"How romantic," was his only comment, but it had the desired effect. Makoto leaned forward into his seat, hands covering his face and trying to hide from the world. Using his leg and arms he swung the other, seat and all, around their little table and closer to him. He left just enough space between them so he knew Haru and Rin would be able to see what he was going to do next. Makoto was squawking in his chair.

"Yamazaki-kun!?" Sousuke held up some of his fries, propping his left elbow on the table, his fist under his chin. He was going to make this the show of a life time.

"Say 'Ah' Tachibana." Makoto did what he asked on reflex, and almost spit out the fries when they were placed in his mouth. Collecting himself, wary eyes glanced over to Sousuke. From the long and pointed look Sousuke was making at the corner of the room, he knew something happened. Turning in his seat he saw that their friends were no longer there.

"Huh?" Sousuke brought his attention back to Makoto, a triumphant grin on his face.

"They went to the bathroom, shot right up in their seats. Teasing them is getting a bit too fun." Sousuke admitted, omitting the fact that it was Haru who reacted so strongly before storming off to the bathroom. Rin was quick to follow, but shock slowed him.

"Ah, that's good, but I feel kind of bad." Makoto said. Worrying eyes glancing back at the where the other two had been. "Can we eat normally for now? I really don't want to cause too much of a ruckus. Other people are eating after all." He whispered the last part, getting progressively quieter as he went. Sousuke agreed only because they were starting to get an audience, one outside the desired set.

"Yeah, this date is almost done I think, but after this we have to take a walk in the park."

Makoto was confused but said no more as the sound of the bathroom door opening behind them rang distinctly in their ears. He'd have to trust that his new friend wouldn't take things too far.

They made it to the park without incident, but Sousuke had already started planning the grand finale. He caught glimpses of the two walking behind them, a good twenty feet or so, as they walked. The park, although not as crowded as the summer, had a good amount of people in it. Most likely they were there for the fall colors.

Sousuke made sure to keep himself at least a foot away from his companion as he put the last plan in motion, an obvious reach of his hand going to take Makoto's. He didn't get that far though, when a sudden push had him stumbling away from the other boy. His eyes went wide with surprise. He was not expecting a direct confrontation.

"Haru!?" cried Makoto, shocked by his friend's sudden appearance. Their cover was blown, and it was obvious that it was completely Haru's choice. Sousuke saw the shocked Rin standing in place a few feet away.

"What are you doing?" Haru demanded. Accusing eyes glared up at him and he felt his mouth turn down into a frown. Even if he was trying to help, Nanase always managed to get on his nerves.

"What does it matter to you, Nanase?" A curt reply and glaring eyes that were not entirely a ploy came in response.

"You can't hold Makoto's hand." Haru declared in as predatorily a voice as someone so monotone could manage. Sousuke felt very real anger start to bubble up in his chest. The feeling blocked out whatever Makoto was trying to say, hoping to disperse the tension.

"And why the hell not!? Who gave you the right to say that I can't do that?" Haru stepped forward, not backing down. For a brief second, Sousuke wondered if he was really going to get into a physical fight with the Nanase Haruka, the only person in the whole world who could piss him off. Just as brief as that second was, so was their fight, as Rin was already pushing Sousuke away from Haru and Makoto, yelling something behind him.

All anger and resentment seeped out of him when he saw that bowed head trying to push him away from trouble. Sousuke brought his arms up and grabbed Rin, halting him in his attempt to push Sousuke as far away from his friends as possible. Rin already had complaints on his lips, and Sousuke just let go and walked away, heading towards the train station. He already lost. He knew it as soon as he saw that look in his eyes.

He was going to defend Nanase to the death. What's wrong with you? Why do you hate Haru? He could already hear it in his head and man did that hurt. Hurt worse than all the times he slipped up about his sexuality. Hurt worse than him forgetting about Sousuke for five whole years. It hurt worse than knowing his plan would only bring happiness to Nanase and Tachibana.

The plan worked well enough, he thought. Tachibana would get to move forward, and now that he knew Nanase came first, he might be able to, too.