Kisumi's quite relieved when Makoto comes into the shop on his way home from work, just as he does every day. He's been needing to run up to Haru for hours at this point, having only seen him for the briefest of explanations for his early visit and a quick cup of tea and a snack in the back of the kitchen before the lunch rush. He pays Makoto off with an extra-large mocha and takes the stairs two at a time.
Haru's sprawled on his back on the couch, head tilted lazily towards the lame comedy reruns on the TV. He blinks in acknowledgement when Kisumi crouches in front of him and strokes his bangs back with a few gentle sweeps.
"Hey," he greets, twirling a strand of hair. "Aren't you hungry?"
Haru shrugs, but at least makes the effort to meet his eyes.
"I'll send something up in a bit, yeah? Makoto's here."
"I figured," Haru drones.
Kisumi pretends to make a shocked gasp. "Rather have him than me?"
"He's less annoying," Haru moans, nudging him just lightly in the chest.
"I'll leave you to think, then. Have a bath if you want… food in a bit."
"Hn," Haru agrees.
Makoto takes up the dubious looking panini (mackerel and pineapple, seriously?!) a while later, balanced awkwardly with his own muffin on another plate and two steaming cups in his other hand.
Haru sits up, balling up on one end, and Makoto plonks down in the middle of what's left. Gingerly, Haru takes his mug and plate, balancing them on the arm of the couch. He can feel this sort of warmth from Makoto, and it's not just body heat. He's perking up considerably and he's not even said anything. He chuckles happily along with the canned laughter of the show, casting the occasional glance towards Haru who just can't help but allow him a smile.
He appreciates Makoto's company more than he thought he would.
It's nearly five, and Kisumi's pretty sure Haru has mentioned a dinner with Rin and his sister planned for this evening, but there's not a peep from upstairs. The café door, on the other hand…
Rin bursts in, a flurry of rain and windswept hair. "Have you seen Haru?" he demands, almost begging, looking between Kisumi and Makoto.
Makoto can recognise tear burned eyes anywhere, and shoots him a sympathetic smile before looking to Kisumi, who diligently points his eyes to the ceiling.
"Oh… figures," Rin mutters. "All day?"
"Yup," Kisumi says, his voice clipped and stern. "What did you do?"
Rin balks backwards for half a second, looking thoroughly wounded at the accusation, before he slumps on his elbows over the counter. "We had a little fight."
"Little, really?" Makoto huffs, to everyone's surprise, including his own.
Rin glares, but after an awkward period of eye contact, he gives in, melting into his worry and sadness. "Is he alright?" he whispers.
Kisumi shrugs, "Just how he is when he's pissed, you know. Pretty sure I heard the water running for a bath, too. Makoto can go and check on him, right?"
Rin almost protests, but the fear of rejection halts him in his tracks. He steps aside to let Makoto past. When he's rounded onto the stairs, Kisumi gives Rin a harsh flick to the forehead.
"Idiot."
This situation feels awfully familiar to Makoto. He knocks twice on the door, and Haru splashes his acknowledgement inside.
"I'm coming in," he warns. Haru blows a bubble under the water, only his nose exposed. "Is that not cold by now?" he asks, and dips his fingers into the water to check, because Haru doesn't care enough to answer. And yep, it's freezing.
"Come on," he keeps talking, Haru probably can't even hear him with his ears submerged, but never mind. A gentle pat on the arm eases the rest of his head out of the water, and he finally has his attention. "You'll make yourself ill, sitting in this," he scolds, hand still on his arm.
Haru grunts, but there's just something he can't say no to with Makoto, and ends up doing as he's told sort of automatically. Makoto slides into a smile, eyes squinting shut with just how high he raises his cheeks, just so pleased.
As he pats himself down, Makoto scruffs his hair with a smaller towel, and Haru feels sort of like a wet dog who's just been let in from the rain. It wouldn't be out of context for Makoto to go giving him a treat for not trying to nibble on his fingers, or something.
"I'm sure you can borrow some of Kisumi's underwear… you shouldn't keep that on," and Makoto twangs the cuff of Haru's swimsuit around his knee, cold and damp and clinging to his skin.
Haru's figuring this caring thing must be part and parcel of being a teacher of ten year olds, but he's emotionally exhausted, and doesn't have it in him to rebel against the gentle commands. Makoto's only trying to look after him.
"I like it…" Haru mumbles, even as he's following Makoto into Kisumi's room and starts to pilfer his drawers for his drawers.
Haru barely gives Makoto chance to turn around when he peels off his jammers – it's swim team conditioning – and throws them over the little heater under the window. Kisumi's tight shorts have always come an odd way up his waist and he plucks at the fabric as he goes back to the bathroom for the rest of his clothes, annoyed. Deciding he's taking too long, Makoto follows him, only to find him staring longingly at the water. He pulls the plug.
"Come on," he coaxes, hand between his shoulders. "And… erm, Rin's here."
Oh, Haru thinks, and wonders if Makoto knew what he'd said if he'd still be so nice. Probably, he decides, because he just seems the type.
Kisumi's glaring hard at Rin when Haru sees them, and he's just the littlest bit worried what they've been talking about. Rin stands himself up, deflating, and Haru can see his sad eyes beginning to fill.
"Hey," they both say, both dull, both obviously needy for the other.
Rin barely utters an apology while Haru's head is turned away, and Kisumi's seen this enough times to give Haru a nudge, his cue to look up to where Rin's got his head tilted a bit to the side and his arms twitching. Haru moves silently across the room and barely hooks his arms around Rin's back before he's clutched to his chest, lifting him off his feet with the sheer force of his love. Rin's sniffling, holding back the tears, and Haru looks up at him, holding his cheek.
"Moron," he scoffs, smiling just a little bit. Rin kisses him.
Pulling apart, Haru makes a nod towards Makoto, who's stood a little bit bemused with Kisumi behind the counter still. Rin knows when to take a hint.
"Yeah, alright," he mumbles to his ear, and then louder. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Makoto," and he forces a smile.
Makoto hadn't been expecting that at all, and doesn't really know how to take it. They've fought over him? He clears his throat.
"I have a younger sister too," he explains. "I, uh… can understand you being protective."