Title: Impromptu Planning

Fandom: Free!

Pairings: Sousuke/Rin, Makoto/Haruka

Rating: T

Warnings: Sousuke and Makoto being friends?

Chapter Summary:

Communication is the key to any healthy relationship.

A/N: The next chapter will be a very brief epilogue.

"Hey."

Sousuke clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, turning in his bed. He was not ready for this. Even if he had had a few hours to cool down, he'd never be ready for this.

"Sousuke, what," Rin started, sounding a bit desperate. "What happened?"

Letting go, Sousuke took a deep breath in and out before propping himself up on his elbows. He peered down at his friend who was staring at the floor. He looked like a little kid again, awkwardly holding his arms, waiting for Sousuke to speak.

"What do you mean?"

Rin looked up at him, a little lost and a little confused at the question. Sousuke flopped back down on his bed, shoving his arms under his pillow; watching Rin fight to find the right words for whatever it is he wanted to say.

"Well, like, between you and Haru," Sousuke tensed up, feeling like knew exactly where this was going. "Why did you guys start fighting like that? Why'd Haru," Rin trailed off. Sousuke rose an eyebrow at that, he had thought that Rin's absence at the dorm meant that he was still with the other two.

"He stopped me from holding Tachibana's hand," he said and Rin looked even more confused. "Because he likes him."

"What?" Rin looked stunned. His whole body went ridged as his mind tried to process the information Sousuke had given him. He didn't doubt that what he had said was the truth. Sousuke knew that the two were dancing around each other, because being in love with your best friend had a look, and they both had it.

"Oh." Rin finally said, body easing back into its natural state. "Does Makoto?" Rin started but stopped himself, he grumbled, brushing back his hair. "Never mind, of course he does."

Sousuke almost laughed at that. Tachibana was easy to read if you knew what you were looking at. Rin glanced up at Sousuke again, a strange look in his eyes.

"Are you okay with that?" Sousuke's eyebrows shot up at that, genuinely confused for a second before he realized what Rin meant.

"Of course," he answered, shifting his weight a little. "All a part of the plan," he added as an afterthought.

Rin stood confused before realization dawned upon him.

"So you don't like Makoto."

"No more than anyone else."

"That was to make Haru jealous."

"Yup."

"You were helping them out." Rin smiled and Sousuke sat up. That was not exactly what he was doing. He gazed at Rin, a little worried about his best friend's strange faith in him. Rin laughed before sitting down on his own bed.

"I thought you seriously liked him," he confessed. Sousuke's heart sped up just a bit from the anxiety of the question that was already leaving his mouth.

"Would it bother you if I did?"

After saying it Sousuke waited to hear a slew of answers he had already gotten from Rin. Of course I would, he's my childhood friend! What are you talking about, stupid, of course I wouldn't! No, not really, why would I? Those were all separate answers for the same question Sousuke had been rewording since he admitted to his friend that he was interested in the same sex.

"Well, yeah," whispered Rin. Sousuke jumped down from his bunk at that, startling the other. He stood in front of him, exhaustion all over his face. He was tired of the nausea, of the anxiety. Sousuke was just so tired of it all.

"Why? Why would it bother you?"

Rin looked down at his hands, a little intimidated by the serious atmosphere. Rin had tried to come up with a reasonable answer, but he couldn't find one. He just didn't like the idea of Sousuke being in love with someone.

"I don't know."

Sousuke sighed, hearing no lie in Rin's words, and flopped down next to Rin. With one arm behind his head while the other laid loosely on his stomach. Rin stared at his hands a little more, and then glanced over at Sousuke's knees, propped up ever so slightly, legs just a bit too tall for his bunk.

"Rin," Sousuke called in a soft voice. Rin didn't look back. Goosebumps covered his body. "The one I seriously like is you." He felt his whole body freeze.

Sousuke kept his eyes closed and tried to keep his breathing even, waiting for his best friend's reply. It'd be okay, he reassured himself. Rin wouldn't hate him, he'd just get awkward. Sousuke's hand fell off his stomach and onto the sheets, he clutched at them desperately trying to ground himself.

"Oh." Rin answered lamely. Sousuke chuckled a little, not because it was funny but because it was Rin. He felt his friend fall down next to him and he tensed up. Warm fingers grazed the back of his hand, and suddenly he couldn't stop from looking at his best friend. Lying beside him, Rin kept his eyes fixed on the bottom of Sousuke's bed.

Sousuke held his breath as those fingers danced over his, releasing the tension there before taking hold of them. Rin's face betrayed nothing, but the color of his cheeks and seriousness in his gaze told Sousuke maybe he had a chance after all.

The trip home was long, and neither of the two had said anything about what had transpired during it. Makoto was nervous, but not unbearably so, as Haru did not show any signs of disgust or anger after they had left the park. When they had reached Makoto's house, Haru followed him in but said he'd wait at the entrance for Makoto to get ready. He was a bit startled by the words. He had almost expected Haru to cancel their plans. Makoto flushed realizing his own impudence, this was Haru after all, and he wouldn't do that.

Preparing his overnight bag took half the time it usually did, but Makoto felt like the world was in slow motion. Blood rushed in his ears. Although he knew Haru well, he had no idea what he would think or say about the fake date he went on with Sousuke. He prepared his excuse as he went out to meet Haru. After all he was just helping his friends, it wasn't a real date.

Time went by as usual when he returned to Haru's side, and everything else was put on the backburner as Haru announced that he'd be making dinner. Makoto always helped as much as he could, with simple things like getting the rice ready or washing the dishes afterwards. They had a system, and it was easy falling into it. However, even knowing this, Makoto barely recognized what Haru was making as his mind started drifting to the morning's events. He wondered if he should shoot a follow up text to Sousuke, to make sure everything was alright.

"Makoto," Haru said, dragging Makoto out of his musing.

"Yes, Haru?" The boy asked, looking back down at his friend.

"Dinner is ready."

"Oh!" Makoto blushed, realizing how silly he was for not having noticed. Haru already had the table set up and everything. "I'm sorry, I was just wondering if I should text Yamazaki-kun to see if everything's alright."

Haru's eyes widened just a fraction before he turned on his heels and went to the table. Makoto followed after, oblivious to Haru's returning anger.

"Green curry?" Makoto questioned looking down at the plates in front of them. He flashed a smile at his silent friend. "Thanks, Haru."

"You didn't notice," Haru snapped. The younger boy flinched a little, blinking twice in surprise.

"Ah, sorry."

"Whatever," he mumbled, mood souring. Makoto sensed the tension in the air, and a nauseating feeling filled his stomach. He tried to eat it away, but he found he could not taste his favorite dish over the growing anxiety. Glancing up at his best friend, he saw that Haru was eating normally, but his eyes showed nothing. No emotion at all. They were blank, and lifeless, and a bit intimidating.

"Haru, is something bothering you?" he tried. Haru turned his cold gaze to Makoto, before it lightened up into soft confusion.

"Do you like Yamazaki?" Makoto felt his heart stop.

"Well, I like him. A friend of Rin's is a friend of ours, right?" he offered with a tiny smile. Haru's frown loosened, meaning he wasn't angry, but he certainly wasn't happy.

"You were on a date with him." It was a statement not to be disputed, and Makoto found himself laughing in embarrassment. His face lit up, but he shook his head.

"That, it wasn't what you think. It was to make Rin jealous," he explained. Haru's eyebrows lifted, the scowl gone and only surprise left.

"Jealous?"

"Yeah. Yamazaki-kun, he likes Rin," the boy admitted. Haru took a second, staring at the food on his plate, running it through his head.

"Oh."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Yamazaki-kun really likes Rin, so when he asked I said I would help. Rin probably likes him too, so I hope it works out well. That's why I wanted to text him earlier," Makoto added as an afterthought. Haru flushed in his embarrassment, turning his head away.

"I got it wrong," Haru's eyebrows furrowed. "I thought you and Yamazaki," his voice trailed off and Makoto's whole face was on fire.

"Oh! No, like I said it was just to make Rin jealous. Ha ha," his voice wavered a bit. "Anyways, I think things should have gone well after that. Though, I was really surprised when you and Yamazaki-kun got so serious, I thought you were going to fight!" Makoto rambled, trying to get over his embarrassment.

"He tried to hold your hand," Haru explained, as though that in itself was the answer. Makoto's ramble stopped right in its tracks at that.

"What?" Haru huffed in annoyance at his slow friend.

"He tried to hold your hand."

Makoto tilted his head a little, in the way he has always done when he was confused, unable to see the big picture. Haru fixed his gaze on his plate, and a slight flush on his cheeks appeared.

"You only hold my hand," Haru emphasized.

"Oh, you're right. I guess I do." Makoto admitted, blushing brilliantly. His quiet friend gazed at him, unimpressed. The younger boy still failed to understand the meaning behind his words.

"Do you like me, Makoto?" Haru questioned, gaze steady. Jumping in his seat, Makoto's whole body blushed in such intensity he was surprised he didn't pass out. Stumbling on his words, Makoto tried to answer normally, but failed at doing so.

"What, of course, of course I like Haru-chan. Haru-chan's my best friend!"

Haru regarded the boy before smiling gently, noticing Makoto's unconscious regression. Makoto tended to call him Haru-chan when he was embarrassed or flustered.

"I like Makoto," he stated, reaching his hand out expectantly. Makoto's eyes widened, staring at the hand presented before him. He looked back up at his friend in a daze.

"Haru?"

"Yes?" Haru asked, knowing what his best friend wanted to ask. A hesitant hand came up to meet his. Before he could retract it, Haru interlaced their fingers, staring unwaveringly at Makoto. Makoto froze, the wheels in his head turning, trying to catch up.

"We already," he trailed off. Haru's smile grew, knowing his friend finally understood. He felt the larger hand squeeze his own, palm starting to sweat.

"You shouldn't cheat." Haru teased. Makoto brought his other hand up to wipe away the tears in his eyes, a weak laugh escaping his mouth.

"Yeah, sorry," he mumbled. The tall boy started sobbing, settling on holding the back of his hand against his eyes.

"I love you Haru," he managed between desperate gasps for breath. The person in question hummed in response.

"I love you, too." Makoto choked back on his tears. He laughed in disbelief before finally calming down. He smiled at Haru, eyebrows drawn down in exasperation as he gazed at his best friend and love of his life.

"Haru, there are some things even I won't understand if you don't say them."

Haru nodded solemnly and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I'll try harder," he assured. Makoto smiled at him before standing up and pulling his best friend into a bone crushing hug. A breathless huff came out of his mouth before soft, dry lips touched his own. Haru couldn't even close his eyes before the taller boy's head hid in his shoulder. He encircled the younger boy in his arms, sighing in content.

"Makoto should only hold my hand from now on, too." Makoto smiled, nodding as he held on to Haru as if he'd slip through his fingers.