"Nee, Haru." Makoto called Haruka as they were playing videogames on a Saturday night. "Have you ever regretted something?"

Haruka immediately pause the game. He doesn't usually do that, but he has seen Makoto the other day and a few days after that. He may have grown concern since his best friend seems out of it for quite sometimes.

"You'd rather keep the scarf instead of returning it to the local police?"

Makoto chuckled, as Haruka tried to crack a joke. Even if he has some humour in him, his face is not connected to those. Makoto felt guilty for laughing at Haruka's expression that complement his jokes, instead of laughing at his joke. Haruka sighed of relief, he wasn't very comfortable sitting in a room with a bothered Makoto.

"What is it about?" Haruka faced him, prepared to listen intently.

"Never mind. It's not anything serious," Makoto shrugged and press the play button from Haruka's console. Haruka paused it once again, immediately.

"What is it about?" Haruka asked again.

"I said something that unintendedly hurt someone. I wish I could take those words back." Makoto pulled his spectacles and holding it playfully while figuring the words to say. He wasn't sure if he should tell Haruka, but he blurted when he asked Haruka about ever being regretting something. At first, he wasn't very worried, since Haruka never focused on whatever he said. But right now, he is terrified, Haruka was facing him, focused on him.

I might have fallen for you…

…was all what he could recall. Makoto fumbled for words so that no one will misunderstand.

"Someone confessed-"

"Nagisa really did it?" Haruka asked.

"Eh?" Makoto was confused. It was true. He blushed, looking away. "Wh-How did you know?"

Haruka ignored his question. "Is this why you are bothered?"

Makoto nodded. "This makes me ponder on the words I said on that day. I said no quite too soon. And I finally figured out why Nagisa ran off after that."

"And your answer to him?"

"I didn't reply. Just like every other confession. On hold." Makoto buried his face in his knees. "I'm starting to think that I'm the worst. I can't even face all those people. Nagisa, even if he's back to his old self. Didn't even ask me anything, but, I can't really shake it off. I mean, he's one of us."

"You're overthinking it way too much. You're too nice, you know that?"

"I've been told that quite a lot of times and half of it was from you. Really, I can't just say no that quickly. These things are very delicate, a matter of feelings."

"And what about yours? You're depressed now because you cared about their feelings. It's unhealthy."

As Haruka lectured him, Makoto can only reply with "I know."

"Thanks to you, I felt tired from talking more than usual. People are not that weak. Sure, we got hurt but we can always recover and start anew. You've been hurt, I've been hurt, but we're still alive, aren't we? Makoto, sometimes enough is enough."

"I know." Finally, Makoto lifted his face. "Sorry for this, but I don't think I can do it just yet."

Haruka sighed. I did my best.

"What bothers me the most is… Rin."

Haruka immediately turned to face Makoto at the sound of his rival's name. "What about him?"

Makoto blushed and bury his face back in his knees. "Forget I said anything."

"No. You said Rin. What about him? Is it the part where he came out of the closet?"

"That too," Makoto's voice is still muffled in his knees.

"It is to be expected. And here we thought that he was a romantic."

"That's just mean, Haru." Makoto sighed. "I wish I didn't say any of those things. I've regretted this much. Hey, when are you going to build me a time machine?"

It was a clear sign that Makoto wanted to drop this conversation. His mistake was he mentioned Rin, a name that triggers Haruka's competitive side.

"I never agree to any time machine constructing project. What about Rin?"

Makoto sighed. He said way too much tonight. "Rin too. He confessed to me…"

"I might have fallen for you. But don't worry, I get your message the other day. It's cool. We're friend, I totally get it. And we can still be friends. I just wanted to let you know, that's all. If I do this, I can move on. Sorry if this is awkward."

Makoto can't let Rin's words out of his head. "I just-"

Makoto felt Haruka's hands on his face, when he turned to look at him, he felt something brushed his lips and Haruka's face was close. Too close that their noses touch. It was a kiss. Makoto felt heat crept on his face and hurriedly pulled away. "Wh-what are you doing? You're not helping!"

Haruka himself was confused. Did I just…?

"It's Rin. Isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"You like him. You always do." Haruka justified his years of observation of Makoto.

"I-um. How did you know?"

"The relay. You were so eager to help him, even if we just met him. I know you for a long time, you're not the kind to just involve yourself too much with strangers. It was back then, wasn't it?"

Again Makoto buried his face between his knees. He regretted every single word. He really didn't want anyone know. But he couldn't help it, he needed all the help he can get, he was in a mess, he felt like his words bit him back. It was all a matter of feelings, something delicate. What would happen if he hadn't say any of those words the other night, will he and Rin be together? If he were to answer to Rin's confession, wouldn't it be unfair to Nagisa since he already said that he wanted them to stay friends. He said those words because he knew that it was hopeless for his feelings towards Rin. But he was proven wrong. When Rin said that he like guys, Makoto can't help but feel hopeful. But when Rin suggested all those things, Makoto was frustrated. How can he not be? Rin pictured him dating with almost everyone, when the one Makoto wants is him. The frustration made Makoto so mad with the situation that he blurted something that was out of his control. He thought with that, he could finally move on.

"Nee, Haru. Sorry for saying those things all of a sudden. It had been bothering me. At least my shoulder feels lighter now."

"Liar." Haruka said with a serious look on his face. "You're not okay."

His words startled Makoto. Usually, he could get away with it, just by saying those reassuring words. Haruka never pry anymore after that. He was not ready for any of this. He kept quiet while getting his guards up.

From Haruka's point of view, Makoto looked as vulnerable as a lamb lost in a pack of wolves yet somehow had to defend itself. He knew that it was bad for him to force it out of Makoto, but somehow in some way, he wanted to know more. He have had enough of Makoto looking out for everyone yet kept all of the bad things to himself. It felt so bad to see Makoto the way he is today. And all he did was sit and wait for Makoto to open up to him when he knew that that would be the last thing Makoto would do. Makoto used to be more open about himself, especially when it comes to his fears. Maybe as they grew up, Makoto had learned that Haruka doesn't really care, and slowly he begin to keep things to himself, yet covered it up with the talk of others to make it seems like it was the same. Haruka had just realized it now, Makoto was not the same as he used to be when they were kids.

Haruka knelt and put his arms around Makoto. He doesn't care anymore. He wanted Makoto.