"You didn't win," Rin snapped. "I just decided to go easy on you."
"Isn't that what you always say?" Haru raised an eyebrow, shifting the bag on his shoulder. Rin fervently continued to deny the fact that the silent ravenette had beaten him once again. "Besides, weren't you supposed to walk Kou-chan home today?"
Rin stopped in his tracks and looked to Samezuka High three blocks back. "...shit."
Haru watched as the older Matsuoka gripped his bag a little tighter, a habit that Gou also had when she was nervous. Without another word, he continued to walk and as he thought, Rin followed a few seconds later.
"I'm sure she already left, though. We didn't see her on our way out," Haru commented. "Maybe she left with Makoto."
"Maybe," he trailed off, eyes spotting a grocery store. "Hey, I gotta buy something really quick."
They made their way toward the brightly lit store and the doors opened, letting out a wave of cold air. "Stopping at your mom's for dinner tonight?" Haru inquired as Rin scanned the aisles.
"Yeah," he said, biting his lip. "Mom also said she was running low on some things."
They continued down the rest of the aisle and moved onto another one.
"Rin?"
At the sound of his name, Rin glanced to his right and gave the woman a questioning gaze. "Mom? What are you doing here?"
"I was picking up some extra ingredients for dinner, since Gou brought home a guest today," Ms. Matsuoka gestured to her shopping cart and smiled. "Hello, Haru-kun. Are you joining us as well?"
"If you'll have me," he said, nodding.
"A guest?" Rin straightened up as his mother started to grab containers off the shelves. "Is it the Chigusa Hanamura girl?"
"Oh, dear, three boys to feed. I'll have to buy more than this," the woman muttered to herself, mentally counting off ingredients. Rin froze. Gou brought over a boy? Ms. Matsuoka blinked when she realized that Rin had spoken. "And no, it's not Hanamura-chan. Mako-kun came over. Can you believe it?"
"Mako-kun?" her son echoed. "You don't happen to mean Makoto Tachibana, do you?"
"Unless you know any other ones," she replied with a cheeky grin. "He's grown so tall and handsome now. I didn't recognize him at first, but he still has that smile and the same polite manners. You should take a page out of his book, Rin."
"And where are they now?" Rin ground out, ignoring her last statement.
"At home," she answered absently. "Haru-kun, you still like mackerels, right?" Haru responded with another nod. "Great, I have some in the fridge."
"Haru, help my mom with the groceries," Rin said before dashing out of the door.
"Where's he going?" Ms. Matsuoka wondered.
"Home," Haru answered. "Why'd you leave them at home, Ms. Matsuoka?"
"For a young couple, alone time is the best time," she said and drifted to another lane, laughing slightly. "Now, rice or noodles?"
Ways to Kill Makoto Tachibana, an ongoing list by Rin Matsuoka:
*Being shot. In the groin. Or anywhere else. Just preferably in the groin area.
Yes, Rin had a gun permit and a shotgun in his old room at the Matsuoka residence. Although he was capable of shooting a target up to 40 feet away (his arms wasn't just good for swimming), shooting someone was a serious offense that one does not simply get away with in the town. Or the country in general.
*Getting run over by a 16-wheeler
Unfortunately, Rin did not own a 16 wheeled truck. He should ask for that on his next birthday.
* Thrown off a plane
Rin did not own a plane, either.
*Drowning
The stupid bastard could swim. And two fucking inches taller.
Rin made it to his house in record time. He jammed his keys into the lock and swung the door open. Deciding to announce his arrival, he shouted, "I'm home!" and kicked his shoes off. He barely registered Makoto's shoes placed neatly next to his sister's.
"Well, well, well," he snarled when he got to the living room. Goddammit, she was in his arms. "Makoto Tachibana, I'm giving you ten seconds before I tear you to pieces."
"Rin," Makoto greeted with a lopsided grin, blissfully unaware of the redhead's murderous glare. "I take it you lost to Haru again?"
"Why, you little-"
"Onii-chan!" Gou chirped. Rin's red eyes slid to her. "Welcome home."
Despite himself, Rin felt a smile tug at his lips. "You got home by yourself?"
"No, Makoto-senpai walked me home," she said. Closing the box with the chocolate cake, she told Makoto, "We'll eat this after dinner. I'll just go put this in the fridge." She got up, beamed at her brother, and brushed past him to get to the kitchen. When she left, Rin turned back to Makoto.
With a confused look, Makoto asked, "...then did you beat Haru?"
"I let him win," Rin spat, ignoring Makoto when he opened his mouth to talk. "Who do you think you are, making a move on my little sister? Good God, you're lucky it's not legal to burn you where you stand."
"You don't approve, then?" Makoto stood up and looked down at Rin (because of his two inches).
The latter's jaw dropped. "Tachi-freakin-bana. You aren't serious." Because somewhere in the back of his mind, Rin was hoping Makoto was joking. "I'm going to strangle you."
"Onii-chan!" Rin felt a sharp tug on his shirt. "You can't just threaten our guest!"
"I can when he's trying to ask you out," Rin growled. Gou glanced at Makoto and started to laugh. "What?"
"He wasn't confessing," she tittered. "The cake was a present for my birthday. Besides, Mom is almost home. Let's help make dinner."
The red head gave Makoto one last glower before the front door opened and Ms. Matsuoka came in with Haru carrying their food.
Makoto did ask Gou to be his girlfriend, but it happened a few days after that day at the Matsuoka house. Rin couldn't hurt the brunette (his sister made sure of that), but he did the next best thing: he sent the bastard a copy of his ever growing list should Makoto ever break up with Gou. Rin personally made sure the list-without the extra commentary, of course-hung on the back of Makoto's door.
Notes
So here is the final part! I tried to get this out as soon as I could because it's been three months. Please review! I might do Makoto/Gou for another AlphaBits story. They're one of my biggest ships.