Day thirty: future

Makoto sat outside, sitting and petting the various stray cats that would wander around their neighborhood. It was quiet outside, a slight breeze and the temperature being not too warm, not too cold. He smiled, feeling the cats nuzzle at his hands and rub against his legs, listening to their small meows and laughing when their whiskers tickled his skin.

"I knew I'd find you out here." He heard Haruka from behind him, glancing back and seeing him sit down next to him, holding two cups of steaming coffee. "It's nice today."

"Mhmm." Makoto agreed, taking one of the cups and bringing it to his lips to take a sip. "Perfect for a Sunday."

Haruka's fingers absentmindedly played with a fluffy white tail, cup placed on the pavement next to him.

"Rin's going to be home soon, right?" Makoto just nodded, detaching the small calico kitten from his leg. "...alright."

"Something on your mind?" Makoto tilted his head to the side, green eyes fixed to Haruka's face.

He shrugged. "...Kind of." Haruka frowned at the worried look Makoto was giving him. "It's nothing bad, honest. I'll tell you when Rin gets home. But it is important."

"If you say so..." Makoto looked back down at the cats, letting them nibble at his fingers.

"That one's new." Haruka pointed out, referring to the splotchy bobtailed calico, licking at his thumb.

"She is, I think she just followed a few of the others here." The teacher just smiled, watching the other two run off when they saw Rin walking towards them down the sidewalk, the calico not moving an inch and continued to assault his hand playfully.

"New one?" Rin raised an eyebrow, seeing the new feline addition, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Makoto and Haruka nodded. "Well..." he leaned down, scratching the back of her ears, smiling when he heard her loud purr. "...does this little cutie have a name?"

"Mmm." Makoto pressed his lips together, staring at the kitten for a moment, face softening when the perfect name came to his mind. "Akiha."

"Akiha?"

"Yep, that's her name." The brunette smiled, unlatching her from Haruka's hand and cupping her in his large hands, laughing when she licked his cheek.

"Well, we'll leave food for her in a bit if she decides to stay around." Haruka got up, taking his and Makoto's empty cups. "But for now, I need to show you two something inside."

Makoto set the kitten back down on the ground, getting up with a groan and pet her one last time before following Rin and Haruka into their home, shutting the door and removing his jacket.

"Couch, you two." Haruka called from the kitchen, rinsing out the cups. "I'll be there in a sec."

Rin looked at Makoto with a confused look, making him laugh.

"He told me it was nothing bad, but it is important." Makoto sat next to Rin, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze as they saw Haruka come into the room with a box in his hands, setting it on the coffee table. "Ah, big box with your publisher's logo on it? That means you finished your last book!" Makoto beamed, but then Haruka just shook his head.

"It's...something like that." The author pulled it open with ease, smiling when he pulled the tabs back. "More like...a side project."

"Side project?" Rin asked, watching as Haruka only pulled out three books.

"Here." Haruka handed Rin and Makoto one, sitting back and looking down at the cover for himself, running his fingers over the blank white cover.

The two opened their respective books to the cover page, Haruka watching their expressions change once they read the words.

'Why I'm in love with Makoto Tachibana and Rin Matsuoka'

"H-Haru, this is-" Makoto flipped through the pages, smile getting wider as he looked at the countless pages of Haruka's words, his feelings, hands shaking. Haruka just nodded. "...how? When?"

"Every night, I'm just...kept up with thinking about you two, so I decided to write it all down." Haruka started, taking a deep breath. "And I decided to print three, and only three copies."

"Haru, that must've cost a fortune!" Rin said, eyes wide.

"Not as much as you think, actually. I thought the same thing." He set his book down on the coffee table, putting the empty box aside. "...you don't think it's dumb, do you?"

"Haruka Nanase." Rin closed his book, staring into deep blue eyes, with a coy smile. "Nothing about this is dumb. At all."

"...really?"

"Haruka, out of all the things that you've surprised us through the years, this makes the top of the list." Rin crossed his legs, grinning at his boyfriend.

Makoto slid off of the couch, setting his book down as well and reached up to put his hands on Haruka's warm cheeks. "I love this. I love you, and I love Rin. No, wait..." Makoto leaned in, kissing Haruka softly, and pulled away to rest his forehead against his. "I adore this, I adore you, and I adore Rin. Much better."

The author smiled, glancing over at Rin who opened his book again and was concentrating on reading, a grin on his face.

"Oh, by the way..." Haruka started, but shook his head. "Ah, nevermind. You'll figure it out."

Makoto and Rin decided on pacing themselves so that they would finish reading at the same time. Every day they'd read a couple of chapters at their own pace, but didn't dare to read ahead.

And when they read the final page one afternoon, a week after they were given the books, they dropped them to the floor and jumped off of the couch, running to where Haruka was down the hall, working in his office. The two circled around him, hugging tightly and pulling Haruka out of his chair, onto the floor.

"Of course, stupid." Rin choked out, pushing his face into the front of Haruka's shirt, fingers tangled in black hair. "Yes."

"Why would we say no?" Haruka could feel Makoto's smile on his neck, and his skin becoming slightly damp.

Haruka sighed happily, closing his eyes and hugging the two men tightly, eyes watering.

If you're reading this, then that means you've finished this book.

Everything that I've written, and said, is completely true. Thoughts that have ran through my mind during countless nights, things that I've kept to myself, and it was more than unbearable to keep them to myself, so I decided to do this. And maybe, well, most likely, I'll write more. Just for you two.

While completing this, I never stopped smiling. Not even once. Even through the tears, good and bad, I was smiling. Because you two were there and are here with me now, to get me through each and every day.

There's stil more feelings to come. Way more. We've been together for so long, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Through both the laughter and the struggles, I love you, Rin Matsuoka and Makoto Tachibana, and I want to to be with you for the rest of my life, living happily.

That is, if you'll let me.

So, with that all said...

Marry me, Rin Matsuoka and Makoto Tachibana?

Author's note: that's it, that's the end!

I literally want to thank every single one of you that has liked, followed, and reviewed this story. Really. This was my first big project in a VERY long time (the last time I've really written much was when livejournal was still cool and that was aaaages ago), and I adore every single one of you. And I have more things planned to write, so this isn't the last you'll see from me! A few one-shots planned here and there, and then a multi-chaptered one with plot kind of in the works as well!

But I'm still very...VERY happy, that this got the attention that it did. I never thought that it would get the views or likes or follows that it has, or the people that I have befriended or have gotten more drive to continue writing. So again, for the millionth time, thank you, everyone! It really means so much to me.

(also the name of the bobtailed kitten? It's from my senpai's fic Of Boys and Cats, sort of like the biggest thanks because she's given me all of the support in the WORLD when I've been all 'THIS ISN'T GOOD AT ALL' and she's been behind me every step of the way. SO THANK YOU BIG TIME, SENPAI!)

See you next water time~!