Inhale, exhale.

He's brushing against me — oh God — I can literally feel the individual ridges of muscles on his arm. I really, really wanna sneak a peek at his face but they- I mean, Rin'll start teasing.. Hanako wouldn't realize though, right..?

Shit..! Inhale, exhale. Phew. I should remember to keep breathing normally.

Haruka's wheezy, concentrated breaths were hard to ignore. Makoto kept glancing sideways at Haruka; partially checking to see if he was hyperventilating and also — mostly — to admire Haruka's perfect, perfect side profile. Haruka had a perfect, raised nose that might have portrayed the slightest hint of haughtiness, but when paired with his beautiful eyes and soft eyebrows, it only served to complement his flawless face further. Makoto sighed a little, eyelids drooping. He swore that Haruka could have gauged his ears and filled his face with metal and gotten inked all over, and he would still look as innocent as a 5-year-old. They walked in silence, oblivious to each other's thoughts of one another.

This was the thing out of Haruka and Makoto's dreams. Going on a date together. Eating the best food in town. Wandering around, looking at things, talking leisurely. It was perfect.

Except for two little things. People. Persons.

First, there was Rin, who wouldn't stop eyeing the two of them out of the corner of his eye and grinning as if he knew some embarrassing secret about the two of them. (Which Haruka and Makoto had rethought over and over again and concluded with a no, Rin did not know anything exceptionally private about them. Hopefully.)

Then there was Hanako.

Rin had insisted on sending Hanako home; partially because the little girl wouldn't shut up with her "Nii-chan this, Nii-chan that!", and Rin could sense that, although Haruka and Makoto were fond of her and had especially soft spots for little kids, Hanako was ultimately ruining their date. Haruka and Makoto simply stayed silent about the matter though, brushing it off as nothing when Rin mentioned it.

And so it brings us back to now.

Hanako had one of her inevitable "I need to wee-wee" moments, and Makoto had to bring her away, which left Haruka alone with a displeased Rin, standing in an arcade in front of a claw machine. Haruka, realizing what Rin paid all his attention on the machine instead of the cherry red-head next to him. It was safe to say that Rin's mood was not getting better when he realized that Haruka was trying to avoid striking a conversation with him. That wouldn't stop Rin from talking to Haruka, nonetheless.

"Haru,"

"No, shh. Stop talking about it, jeez Rin. I told you she's not bothering us." Haruka's gaze barely shifted from the claw machine he was concentrating on.

Rin opened his mouth to retort, then closed it, a slight scowl forming at the side of his lips. He knew he would never be able to argue with Haruka when said boy had his mind set on something. Rin considered bringing up the fact that he had slogged all the way out here just to meet him, but knew it was a low-blow, therefore Rin stayed silent, watching Haruka as he positioned the pathetic, flimsy-looking claw in the machine over a large —and from the looks of it — heavy plush dolphin.

"You're not going to get that out, Haru," Rin said, not really meaning to condemn Haruka, but he was really not in the mood to be Mr. Positive either.

Rin quite nearly chortled silently, seeing how Haruka was so serious about this, but he held his breath anyway because there was suspense lingering in the air that he was programmed not to breathe in.

Haruka leisurely spent another two lazy minutes, slowly moving the claw back and forth bit by bit until it was perfectly positioned above the dolphin. Rin was close to screaming at Haruka. All Haruka had to do was press.. the goddamn.. button..! Rin was almost hysterical, his hands screaming at him to reach out and slam (read: break and smash until unrecognizable) the big red button on the machine to lower the stupid claw and get the game over with, but the occasional warning glares Haruka shot him; as if saying No, Rin. I know what you're thinking. Don't you dare — prevented him from moving a finger.

After another painful 30 seconds, in which Rin stuffed his hands deep into his pockets to stem his temptation to push the button down, Haruka finally, finally lowered his hand to cover the red button, getting ready to lower the claw.

Rin watched the lowering claw intensely, as did Haruka.

Lower, lower, lower..

The claws opened, and clamped straight down — sticking it's claws into the torso and fin of the dolphin. Rin's jaw hung open, but no words came out.

Haruka's eyes, which had been hard and slanted in concentration, immediately softened into a satisfied, somewhat fluid look. He watched the claw with ease as the flimsy contraption brought his prize to the chute, and dropped it. Haruka bent his knees slightly and took the dolphin into his hand, all while Rin was staring confusedly first at the machine, then at Haruka, and then alternating between the two. Haruka turned to face Rin, an amused look misting his every feature; from his eyes, to his mouth, to his eyebrows to his cheeks. Misting — because Haruka had a way of showing his feelings without needing to move more than about 3 facial muscles.

Still doubting me? Said Haruka's eyes, glinting at Rin. The cherry-red head broke free of his confusion and snorted a little too hastily, a failed smile drooping on his lips. However broken his facade was, though — Rin refused to drop it.

Haruka simply laughed, hugging the dolphin sub-consciously in his arms. It was indeed a heavily stuffed toy, but swollen with soft, springy material that made it pleasing to squeeze and hug. Haruka, albeit mature for his age, continued to hug the plush toy close to him. Rin looked on, still a little bit awed, but mostly wondering at Haruka's tendency to be so awfully adorable at times.

Barely a minute passed, and there was the sound of Hanako's shoes thudding lightly against the granite floor. Following it was the deeper, louder sound of Makoto's boat shoes — his steps surer, and stronger. Makoto was smiling at Hanako's cute humming, and when he looked up to see Haruka and Rin, his breath caught in his throat for the millionth time today, and his smile vanished — replaced with his mouth stagnant in a slight gasp instead.

Because Haruka with that painfully endearing blush on his face, soft eyes and nose buried in a fluffy dolphin plush was too much for Makoto to handle. He swore it was absolutely illegal to be that adorable, but he wasn't going to call the feds just yet. Instinctively, his hands begun to twitch, fighting the urge to reach out and hug Haruka close to him, but he held it in with a grit of his teeth. He straightened himself out, clearing his throat. Haruka merely looked at him, reading his body signs as easily as reading a book — and was more than just a little disappointed when Makoto regained his composure. His body ached for contact with Makoto's warm, secure frame...

Haruka brought the dolphin a little closer for comfort.

Rin, oblivious to Makoto and Haruka's little problem, was instead occupied by being dragged away by a tiny soft hand belonging to none other than Hanako. Her sakura-hued eyes were looking at his face in the most lovable manner and her sweet little voice chirped to him — and he, reminded too much of his younger sister, was spellbound by her, listening to her every word.

"Rin-nii-chan," she said, with a tiny smile gracing her lips, "Can we go get taiyaki?" Then she leaned forward, on her tippy-toes and beckoned to Rin to lower his head — which, of course, he did.

"Alone?" Her eyes darted in Haruka and Makoto's direction, before turning back to face him. Rin was pleased; well, at least she wasn't oblivious to the two lovebirds flitting around them, pecking at the ground instead of each other. Glad his plan seemed to be working out, he took her tiny hand in his big one and started walking away — Hanako hopping happily beside him. Makoto and Haruka, whom had begun chattering about something along the lines of dolphins and pound cake (no matter how the two had no relation at all), didn't even realize the absence of Rin and Hanako until a good two minutes later, when they noticed their empty stomachs and were ready to grab a bite.

Haruka, upon realizing the disappearing act Hanako and Rin had pulled on them, shot his hand into his pocket and yanked his phone out — along with the pocket fabric itself. Before he had started to dial Rin's number, the phone suddenly vibrated in his hand, making his anger stop right in its tracks only to be replaced by shock. He swallowed his shock and opened the text, which happened to be from none other than the cherry-red head fueling his anger.

"Yo, Haru-chan! Don't forget about the dinner reservations I made for you, okay? They're valid 'till the end of the day. Just use my name!

Have fun Haru-chan! Me and Hanako are cheering for you!

ps: don't be afraid to make the first move ;)"

The next swallow Haruka did was from completely different emotions than the first.

For the millionth time, I swear I'm going to kill Rin.

How do I make the first move?

What is even am I doing.

Haruka took a quick side glance at Makoto. And sighed at how his perfect, curious face was tugging at one of his heartstrings again.

It was going to be a long, long day.

Guys.

No don't even tell me, I know.

It's been forever and a half since I've updated. And I only completed this chapter because I have no internet now. *smh at my own laziness*

BUT WELL I hope you enjoy.

Next chapter is gonna be cute HaruMako fluffy fluff fluff fffffruuruedlj

ehm yea

Thank you for staying tuned! (:

ps: I haven't finished watching the 2nd season of FREE! yet. Yes you can smack me on the face.