"Haru, come on. Help me out here," Makoto begged Haruka on their way home. Since they walked home together with Nagisa, Rei and Rin, Makoto whispered to him. Gou, somehow had made her way home since she had some arrangements with her friend Chigusa earlier.

Haru gave him an annoyed look. "I told you, just ignore it."

"But I can't just ignore it. That's mean." Makoto accidentally raised his voice.

"Nani, nani?" Nagisa butted them.

"Makoto needed advice. Tell them, Makoto." Haru answered.

Makoto blushed. He didn't meant to let the others know since he thought that it was embarrassing. "I-it was nothing."

"I heard you guys talking back then," Rin voiced out. He was out in front of the pack, giving additional advice to his mentee. "You were asking him how to turned down girls, weren't you?"

Rei adjusted his spectacles. "I guess this is due to Makoto-senpai's new looks. With him being the captain and our club being acknowledged. Most probably, some girls saw senpai in a swimsuit action."

"B-Before… Well, before this, I never had one. Now, whenever I'm free, girls will approach me. Even before class started, I already had two letters in my shoe locker."

"What's so hard about this? Tell them you're not interested, Mako-chan."

Haruka looked at Nagisa whenever he interacted with Makoto. Ever since he knew Nagisa had a crush on Makoto. Nagisa said that he's uncomfortable around Makoto. Even though Haruka doesn't really care, but he knew how it felt.

I guess, he's getting better.

"Makoto, have you ever wanted a girlfriend?" Rin asked.

Nagisa and Haru's faces changed. They were curious and at the same time scared of Makoto's answer.

"Well, for the time being, I don't think it's appropriate. I'll be busy with club activities and my studies. I just want to swim wi-"

"Yeah, but do you want one?" Rin asked again.

Makoto blushed and hung his head low, throwing his gaze away from his friends.

"Then, just pick one that you liked the most. That way, you'll be free from the confessions." Rin just shot his suggestion nonchalantly. "But, don't you ever go near my sister."

"I told you, it's the Tachibana from the baseball club!"

"I know, but you're pretty chummy with her. I'm afraid you might, well- Just that, she can be adorable when you get to know her so, I'm afraid- Well, my sister is off limits, get it!"

Nagisa laughed. "Nee, Rinrin-chan's not only a crybaby, he's also a sis-con?"

"Nagisa, have you heard about the blond boy who had this big mouth, and one day, he was found dead at the park, drowned in a fountain?"

"Yeah, I've heard. But unfortunately for the killer, the kid can swim and can control his breathing. And he reported the shark-teethed killer to the police. Plus, he wet-willied the killer." Nagisa placed his drooled finger into Rin's ear and make a run for it.

"One day, Nagisa! One day! How about a painful death of being pushed off the railway?"

Makoto and Rei laughed. Rei told that he was glad having Rin around since Nagisa would bother Rin and leave him alone.

"But, I can't pick one of them. It won't feel right."

"Then, how about Haru here. You guys acted all like an old married couple." Rin suggested.

"What?!" All four of the Iwatobi High boys exclaimed.

"Wait, no!"

Haru felt hurt.

"Then, what about this blond-do-have-more-fun?" Rin finally caught Nagisa in a chokehold. "Or, Megane? You guys are close."

"No! Why do you even suggest this?" Makoto's face can't get anymore red than the shade he was in right now.

Rei's heart almost burst out of his chest when Rin suggested his name. Nagisa's face changed. He stopped struggling in Rin's arms.

"It sounded so wrong!" Rei raised his voice while his face reddens. "Love relationship between two men sounded… Err.. Not that it's not beautiful, but, it's out of the norm."

"Eh? I don't think it's unusual. I think I am one."

"With Nitori?"All of the boys asked.

"What? No! That guy is as straight as a street lamp pole. His taste in porn, however…" Rin shrugged as he tried to deny the scene in their room the other day.

"You're not helping! I just want to know how to turn down a girl's confession. You know, the one they gather every nerves and guts to let it reach me. It helps if you give me suggestions that would not frustrate them in anyway. No! I'm not picking the girls or lie to them about me having a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend." Makoto snapped.

"You just don't understand. I don't want to hurt anyone. And I'm not dating any one of my friends. You guys are my brotherhood. Nobody can ever replace you guys and I don't want us to change," Makoto lowered his voice as if regretting any of his reaction earlier. He put his long and sturdy arms around everyone. "Nagisa, are you okay?"

Tears streamed down Nagisa's face. He himself were surprised of it. "I… I- umm. I'm touched, Mako-chan." Nagisa tried wiping his tears dry, but the tears kept flowing.

"Look, who is the crybaby now?" Rin teased, a sense of revenge came down his throat.

But Rin found himself welling up tears as he saw Nagisa's. He then figured it out.

"Nee, Rei-chan? Let's just go home."

"But, Nagisa-kun, I thought you were hungry. We're almost at the pizza place."

"Nagisa" Rin could have sworn he saw concern in Haru's eyes as he called Nagisa. He needed confirmation.

"Never mind. I'll just go home. I suddenly remembered that I have a homework due tomorrow! Bye, guys." Nagisa then ran off towards the road to the station.

"I'll better go with him." Rei followed suit. "Nagisa-kun! Wait for me!"

"I'm worried about Nagisa. He's very weird lately. He talked less than always."

"Only when you're around." Haru added.

"Oh my. Did I offended him in anyway? I guess I can be too strict while tutoring him. I hope he's not scared of me."

"Unlike you, Nagisa's not scare of anything. Makoto no baka." Rin finally concluded.

Nagisa likes Makoto.