"Ehhhh?! Mako-chan's leaving next week?!" Nagisa exclaimed, eyes looking rightfully watery, as if to spill at any minute. Makoto patted his head gently while Rei scoffed at his teary outburst.

"Nagisa-kun, don't shout! We knew that this day would be coming," Rei said, also looking to be at the brink of tears. "We should be grateful that we still have a week to spend with Makoto-senpai."

Nagisa made a whining sound at the back of his throat as he looked up at Rei. "Hey, we have to spend every day with Mako-chan, okay?" he cried, turning to Makoto, who let out a breathy laugh.

"Sure. I don't mind. That's why I called you here as soon as possible," Makoto said, taking a sip of his drink. "It all happened so suddenly, I knew that if I delayed to tell the both of you, you'd get mad at me."

"Oh, Mako-chan, why would we ever get mad at you?" Nagisa proclaimed, reaching across the table dramatically to grab both of Makoto's hands. Haru poked at the omurice in front of him, eyes trained down at the tomato sauce that was poured on top. "We have to plan everything right now! You're not allowed to spend a day without us, Mako-chan!" Nagisa cried as he plopped in his chair to grab some paper and a pen from his bag.

"Ah, maybe leave a day so I can spend it with my family, okay, Nagisa?" Makoto cut in as Nagisa began to draw out a schedule.

"Why are you guys getting so worked up, anyway? He's going to Tokyo, not enlisting in the military," Rin mumbled through his mouthful of curry. Makoto turned to give him an indulgent smile, and Haru made to cut his omurice into segments.

"Are you not hungry, Haru?" he heard Makoto ask gently next to him. He continued to cut his food into even segments. He could feel Rin let out a worried sigh next to him, and he tuned out Nagisa and Rei's jabbering.

"C'mon, Haru," Rin said, nudging him out of the door. Haru made an annoyed noise at him, before Rin turned to shut the door behind him.

"I said, I don't feel like going," Haru commented, throat tight.

Rin sighed and pulled Haru along. "Sheesh, Haru, can't you be a little more complaisant? Your best friend's leaving next week, and you don't want to have lunch with the guy?"

"No," Haru said, snatching his wrist out of Rin's grip and rooting himself in place. Rin clicked his tongue.

"Haru," Rin started.

"I'm not ready," Haru cut him off stubbornly. Rin's expression changed to one of sympathy, and Haru had to turn away from the sympathy, unable to handle it.

Rin stepped towards him, rubbing his arms soothingly. "I know, I don't like it either. But don't you think you'll regret it more if you don't see him at all?"

"Haru-chan! Earth to Haru-chan?" Nagisa's voice cut through his thoughts as he felt a tap on his head.

"What?" he muttered.

"Is it okay if we use your house for a sleepover? I think it would be good to have a sleepover the night before Mako-chan leaves," Nagisa said, pointing at the schedule he drew with Rei's help.

Rin leaned down to scrutinize the schedule further. "You left Friday pretty open. Are your parents planning something then, Makoto?" he asked, looking up to the brunet, who was eating a sandwich.

"Ah, yeah, they want to go into the city with me, and spend time at the movies with me and the twins, before coming back and having dinner together," he said, putting his sandwich down. "It'll probably take all day, so I don't think putting anything there would be a good idea."

Haru looked at his omurice, which had been cut into small squares. "Haru-chan?" Nagisa's face came into his view. "So? Can we use your house for the sleepover?"

Haru let out a small huff of air as he put a spoonful of food to his mouth. "Fine," he said quietly. Nagisa beamed at him.

"Yay! Okay, Mako-chan! Look at this. Your whole week, planned out with us! What do you think?" Nagisa said, holding out the piece of paper for him to read.

Makoto gingerly took hold of the paper as he read through everything. "You really want to do all of this?" he asked, eyeing Nagisa over the top of the page.

"Of course, Makoto-senpai! We wouldn't want you to forget us while you're in Tokyo, so naturally putting as much activity as possible into this week is a sure way to give you as many memories as possible," Rei replied, pushing up his glasses. Rin snickered as he took a sip of his drink.

Makoto let out a chuckle. "Rei, as if I could forget you guys," he said, clearly touched by what Rei had said. Rei began to fluster at him.

Haru looked down at his partially eaten omurice. But you did already forget, Makoto, Haru thought. You weren't there to get me this morning, he wished he could say, but then he felt Rin shift next to him as he leaned on the table, smirking at Rei's utter embarrassment. That's right, Haru remembered Makoto's words. He wasn't going to take care of him anymore, now that Haru had Rin.

The group finished with lunch and left the restaurant. Nagisa grabbed Makoto by the wrist and dragged him to the closest store at the nearby mall, Rei running after them with suggestions of where they should take him. Haru felt Rin next to him and squeezed his hand, silently thanking him for being there.

They visited shops and small boutiques, buying small things for Makoto and treating him to ice cream and pastries. "We'll get you some really expensive chocolate before you leave!" Nagisa exclaimed as they exited the bakery.

They were currently at the pet shop, sitting by the cat display, watching the kittens tumble on each other. Haru looked at a small white kitten, and remembered the white cat living in the middle of the stairs to his house. Haru turned to Makoto, who had been sitting next to him, but found that he wasn't there. Getting up he looked around the pet shop, finding Makoto staring at a tank of gold fish.

Haru looked at Makoto from a short distance, almost afraid to approach him. Had he missed how isolated and alone Makoto looked? Why did he look so serious now? When had Makoto changed?

Makoto turned his head, aware of Haru's presence, and Haru stiffened. Makoto smiled at him. "Hey, Haru," he said gently, before turning back to the tank of fish. Haru took the opportunity to stand next to him, looking up at his profile. When had Makoto become so stoic, with no hint of that smile that Haru knew so well on his face?

"I was just thinking of the fish you got me from the festival last year," he said after a while. Haru turned to look at the fish tank. Gold fish of similar colours to the ones that Haru had given to Makoto were swimming around, unaware of the world outside the glass. "I left Ren and Ran up to taking care of them, but I can't help but miss that responsibility a bit."

Haru looked up at Makoto, who was looking at him sidelong, smiling gently. Haru averted his gaze. "The white cat you take care of," Haru began.

Makoto started. "Ah! Yeah, I forgot to ask. Haru, is it okay if you take care of her?" Makoto asked, turning to him, eyes gently pleading. Haru felt compelled to look into them, after having avoided his gaze so much today.

"...Sure," Haru gave in, looking down when Makoto's expression changed to one of relief.

"Thank you, Haru. Don't worry, I won't ask for much else from you," Makoto replied gently, as he turned back to the fish tank.

Haru felt his vision go out of focus as his thoughts clouded his mind. You never ask for much from me, Makoto, Haru thought. Ask for more from me. Tell me what you want. Let me give something back to you. Be selfish with me, Makoto. Please -

"Ah, I found them Rin-Rin!" Nagisa's voice cut through his thoughts and he turned away from the fish tank.

Rin came up next to him and looked up at Makoto, who smiled as Rin took Haru's hand. "You guys ready to go?" Rin asked them. Haru gripped his hand.

"Sure, I'm ready. Is there anywhere else you guys wanted to go?" Makoto asked the group. Nagisa pouted his lip at him, a sound akin to annoyance coming out of his mouth.

"Wehh, Mako-chan. This week is about you! Where do you want to go?" Nagisa said, rubbing his head against Makoto's arm. Makoto laughed at the affection.

"I'm just happy to be spending time with you guys," he replied.

The three of them walked ahead as Rin and Haru trailed behind, holding hands. Rin looked to Haru. "Did you finally talk to him?" he asked.

Haru clenched his jaw a little before replying. "Just about the cat by the stairs." Rin snickered at him.

"Well, it's a start, I guess," Rin chuckled.

Haru thought that Rin never could have been more wrong.

Haru stopped setting up the futons when he heard the doorbell ring. He thought it might have been Rin, or Nagisa, and went to open the door.

"Hi, Haru," Makoto greeted him. Haru blinked owlishly at him before he moved to the side to let him in. "Nagisa just texted me and asked if I could pick up the pizza while he waits for Rei. So I came by to drop off my stuff, if that's okay," he asked.

"It's fine," was Haru's reply. Of course it is he had wanted to say, but the words had caught in his throat.

"Thanks, Haru," Makoto said, dropping his duffel bag near the wall in the living room, before hurrying back to the front door. "I'll be back in a bit, Haru," he said before shutting the door behind him.

Haru stood in place, staring at the door as if waiting for Makoto to come back saying that he'd forgotten something. His thoughts drifted back to Thursday evening, when Makoto asked if Haru wanted to come with his family to the city.

"I thought you said it was a family day," was all he said.

"W-well, yeah, it is, but-" Makoto began, stuttering.

"Then why are you asking if I want to come? Just go with your family," Haru had cut in before Makoto could say how he was part of the family. For some reason, that thought had started to hurt him. That Makoto considered him family. It had never hurt before.

Makoto was silent next to him, and Haru began to climb the stairs. "... Right. Of course," he said quietly, and Haru paused his climb when Makoto's voice reached his ears. "I'll see you on Saturday, then."

Haru turned a few moments later to the now empty staircase. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had done something wrong.

Haru turned back to glance at the front door. Makoto hadn't struck up conversation, and hadn't asked if he'd wanted to come. Haru went back to fixing the futons, with less fervor than he'd had before.

"Truth or dare, Mako-chan?" Nagisa exclaimed, when the bottle pointed to Makoto, who was finishing off a slice of pizza.

"Truth. Your dares are terrible," he said after swallowing his bite. Makoto dusted off his hands a bit as he waited for Nagisa give him his truth.

Rin snorted on the pillow next to him, wrapped in blankets. "You guys are so lame. You gotta go hard or go home!" he said, his proclamation muffled by the pillow he was lying face down on.

Makoto laughed. "Yeah, and where did that get you?" he asked, thinking to how Rin had to strip and run into the ocean, before running back, yelling about how icicles were going to form on impossible places on his body.

Rin grumbled into his pillow. "Like I said, go hard or go home!" he barked, before he made to hit Makoto with a pillow. Makoto caught it easily, and placed it in his lap.

"Okay, I've got it! Are you worried about leaving anyone behind?" Nagisa asked.

Rei looked at him, appalled. "Nagisa-kun! That's such a heavy truth! Think of something more appropriate," he scolded.

"Aww, Rei-chan. You have to go for deep truths when you can!" Nagisa countered. Makoto just smiled, leaning back on his hands.

"Well, it's pretty obvious that my answer will be 'my friends and family', so I don't think that answer is too deep, Nagisa," Makoto replied lightly.

Nagisa pouted. "Boo, Mako-chan. That's such a textbook answer! C'mon, say something a bit more juicy! What about that girl you took to the movies a while ago? Won't you miss her?" Nagisa pressed. Rin shot straight up, still wrapped in blankets.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Makoto. What's this I hear about a girl and a movie date?" he inquired, grinning like the Cheshire Cat as he elbowed Makoto in the ribs.

Makoto blocked Rin with his arm. "It didn't turn into much really. She said she wanted to go on one date with me before she went to Hiroshima," he replied easily. Rin made a noise in his throat as if to express his amazement.

"I didn't know you were such a ladies man, Makoto," he teased. Makoto laughed almost in a self depreciating way.

"I felt for her though. It takes bravery to admit you have feelings for someone," he replied. A muffled 'you bet it does' was heard from Rin's pillow, and Makoto smacked him in the back. Rin yelped at the harsh contact.

Haru remembered that week. He remembered staying by the stair case to play with the cats, waiting for Makoto to come back so they could play video games at his house. Why had he been waiting for him? He could have just stayed at home, and Makoto would have texted him, but he waited, searching for his figure approaching his house.

The group made to go to sleep, everyone deeming the living room the place where everyone should spend the night together. Nagisa cooed at Rin, who pulled Haru's futon closer to his, and Rin threw a pillow at Nagisa, who shrieked and dodged it. Makoto was on the far side of the wall, head nearby Haru's pillow, but far enough for them not to hit each other. Rin wrapped his arm around Haru through the blankets, and after the good nights, Rei turned off the light before settling next to Nagisa.

Haru stayed up for a long time, watching Makoto's steady breaths indicating his sleep. If he reached he could touch the top of his head, but refused to move, as if afraid to close the distance between them.

The clock ticked, and Haru drifted to the thought of how far Makoto was from him.

"You make sure to text us when you get to your dorm, okay?" Rin said, leaning on Makoto's shoulder. Makoto pressed his cheek to the top of Rin's head.

Nagisa clung to Makoto's front, and Makoto gently pat his head. "Make sure to send picture messages too, okay?" Nagisa blubbered, spilling tears onto his shirt. Rin grunted, holding back tears as well.

Rei clung to Makoto's sleeve. "Please text us if you feel lonely, too, okay, Makoto-senpai?" he sniffled, covering his face to hide his tears. Makoto looked like his eyes were watering a little too, but he laughed in sympathy at his three friends.

"Okay, guys, okay. Don't worry. I'm not leaving forever," he said gently.

"We know," Rin said, his voice wavering as he looked up, refusing to let tears fall. "We know that, but..."

"But..." Rei tried to finish when Rin's voice failed him.

"B-but-but-bu-uu-ut," Nagisa whimpered, and Makoto sighed affectionately.

"I know," he said. "I know."

The three of them couldn't hold back the tears anymore, and gathered around Makoto for a group hug, who soothed them with comforting words and a hushed voice. Haru stood a little bit away, directly in front of Makoto, unable to bring himself to join them. Everyone's attention snapped when the train came into the station.

The three of them let him go, and Makoto took a step towards Haru, not quite closing the distance. Haru wished suddenly that he had more courage to step forward. So that he could close the distance. So that he could pull Makoto towards him and dampen his shirt with tears and well wishes. He wished he could-

"Good bye, Haru," Makoto said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. The other three were sniffling off on the side, trying to regain composure. Haru's eyes slid from Makoto to the hand on his shoulder, and back up again.

"... Bye," he replied, unable to say more. Makoto let go of his shoulder with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and Haru wondered what the expression was that Makoto wore. The four of them watched as Makoto stepped onto the train and he turned around to wave at them as the doors closed.

Everyone went their separate ways after they watched Makoto's train leave the station, waving even when they knew he couldn't see them anymore. Haru had gone home, to finish cleaning up after the sleepover and to lie down in his room.

He had finished folding and putting the futons away and was going to lie down when he noticed something on the floor in his room. His hands shook when he picked it up.

Makoto's shirt.

Makoto had changed out of his pajamas in his room, so the shirt must have fallen out of his bag and hadn't noticed. The soft fabric tickled his palms as he clutched the shirt tightly.

Haru's head fell forward onto the shirt and into his hands, breathing in and catching a scent that wasn't his. He recognized the scent after having worn this very shirt so many times before when he'd slept over. A scent that smelled of warmth and comfort and the sea and fresh citrus and mint soap.

Makoto.

Haru began to sob quietly into his pillow, clutching the shirt tightly to his chest as he inhaled the scent that he was afraid to forget. His grip tightened and he curled into himself as he brought the shirt to his nose, afraid it would disappear if he let go.

Makoto was gone and had taken nothing from Haru. But he had left something behind that was more than just his shirt.

Haru lay there quietly, letting time slowly bring him sleep. Never letting go of his shirt. Makoto's shirt.