"Go out with me." Haruka looked at Makoto straight in his eyes, he tried hard to get his message across.
Makoto pulled and looked away flustered, hand on the back of his neck, "Haru, you know, we-"
"I don't care. We're already practically married, anyone can see that, I don't think it will change what people think of us."
"I-it's not like that-"
"We can also keep it as a secret, no one will know, we can still act like we used to, just a change in status. We can kiss too."
Makoto was now as red as a tomato."Haru!"
"I can tell that you like it."
"It's us. How I view you and how you view me. It will change that and I don't want to." Makoto walked towards his window in attempt to get some fresh air, it was all too overwhelming for him to keep his cool in just one night. First, with Rin and now, Haruka. He knew Haruka can be childish even it seems like he is the most mature in the group in appearance. "And there's also that thing I said to everyone, I don't want to be the one who breaks his principle. So, Haru, please understand."
"But it's eating you back now."
"I know, learned my lesson not to say anything out of impulse."
"You are an idiot, you know that? What about Rin then?"
"I don't think it will happen anytime- Ever."
"You're not going to tell me anything about what happened with him, huh?"
"I'm curious of what you paint for that weird art competition"
Haruka sighed. Makoto is really stubborn whenever this issue came up. Frustrated as he is, he also like the relationship he is in now with Makoto. Close. "First of all, it's not weird. It's a rare one of a kind open art competition the new art gallery hosted and those who win will have their art piece shown in the gallery's premiere."
"And you participated because…?" Makoto's voice implying sarcasm on Haruka's nature of not being stood out to actually try to make a name in the gallery. Makoto wouldn't ever dream of seeing this side of Haruka since it seems like forever Haruka had been Haruka.
"The art club's advisor proposed me to," Haruka looked at Makoto who was waiting for a longer explanation. Curse you, telepathy. "And I accepted because He will be there."
The He in statement was a painter that Haruka admired since they were in middle school. The painter born and raised in Iwatobi, making his name in the art world with paintings almost everything inspired from Iwatobi and recently, He developed a unique art that consist of creative use of water. Haruka wanted him to be his mentor when he decided that he will pursue in art in his choice of career. Makoto was amazed at how Haruka can talk with much enthusiasm over a long period of time about this one guy who paints with water, but that just one time and Makoto never heard of the name anymore, so he can't really say he knew the name of that painter.
"And he might notice me." Haruka looked down, blushing. In a few seconds he glared at Makoto after hearing a chuckle escaped the taller teen, "You saw nothing."
Just after Makoto switched off the lights after Haru had made himself comfortable in the futon, and just before Makoto starting to doze off, there was a low voice, but clear as a day.
"Makoto, I'm not giving up on you. I won't lose to Rin."