#ffs2015

(It was those desperate pleas and intense puppy dog eyes that would break even the strongest man that caused him to come to this huge family gathering! At least, that’s what Haru tells himself.)

Loud, adult conversations were happening all around him and kids were running around playing with all the toys that they had gotten that afternoon. He was in the first round of people to eat dinner, and with a full stomach, he was now contently relaxing and talking with Makoto’s great-grandmother. His ears perked up when he heard Makoto mumble his name while he was talking to (who Haru believed to be) his uncle, but he was preoccupied with one of the many stories that Makoto’s great-grandmother was currently telling him to eaves drop any further.

“Then little Makoto turned three, and so many things happened that year. You know, the saying is “terrible two’s,” but oh, not with Makoto. It was such a hot summer that year; the boy just didn’t want to wear clothes at all! Ever! There were many times when he ran outside without even his little diaper on-“

“Okay, Obaasan.” Suddenly Makoto was gently patting her on the back from behind the couch, effectively ending their conversation. “Dinner is ready. Why don’t I help you get situated at the table?”

Makoto helped his great-grandmother to the dining room table and returned moments later. He sat down, and rubbed the back of his head and neck with his hand. He gave an awkward laugh. “Sorry about all this. I know you’re not used to it.” He looked up at Haru. “If you want me to take you home-“

Just as Haru was about to respond, a little girl with short red hair and chubby pink cheeks came running up to them, and stopped immediately in front of Haru. “What’s your name?”

Makoto felt Haru’s body stiffen slightly. “This is Haru, Kiyomi.”

She tilted her head to the side slightly and her face got very serious. “Why do you look so sad, Haru?”

Makoto couldn’t help but grin as he tried to berate the child. “Kiyomi!”

“What?” She asked as she batted her big eyes.

“Kiy-“ Makoto began to speak, but was quickly interrupted.

“Well, Kiyomi,” Haru felt Makoto sink a bit further into the couch as he began to speak. “I was just worried about you.”

“You were worried about me? Why?”

“Well, when I first came in, I noticed that you had this pretty bow in your hair. However," he leaned in close to her and whispered, “It appears you no longer have it.” He gestured to the top of her head.

Her eyes got wide and her jaw dropped as she grabbed her hair. “Oh no! It is gone!”

“Lucky for you,” Haru reached into his pocket and pulled out the red satin ribbon. “I happened to stumble on to it while I was getting dinner.”

She giggled and climbed up onto the couch in between Haru and Makoto. “You saved me! Can you tie it? Please?” She turned around and waited for Haru to put the ribbon in.  

Moments later, Haru quietly spoke. “There you go.”

She pretended to fiddle with it. “Does it look okay, Makoto?”

He gave her a huge smile. “Yes, Kiyomi, it is beautiful!”

A few moments after, Makoto’s aunt came in and announced that the annual gingerbread house competition would commence in five minutes. “Haru!” Kiyomi said as she got off the couch. “Be on my team!”

Haru looked over at Makoto. “Kiyomi, I don’t think Haru-“ Haru quickly nudged him in the side and slightly shook his head left and right. Makoto knows Haru does not have many facial expressions, but this one was definitely telling him to shut up.

“What’s the matter, Makoto-chan? Scared to lose?”

He leaned back with wide eyes. “N-no, I just- I just thought—“ He shook his head. “I just don’t want you to be sad when you lose.”

A small smirk graced Haru’s features. “Oh, you are SO going down, Tachibana.”

Roughly an hour later, Makoto’s other four year old cousin had destroyed their team’s gingerbread house completely, and both boys were stained with green and blue icing. After they cleaned up, the oldest went over to the dining room where Haru’s team was set up. Makoto stood in the doorway and looked over to him, meticulously placing small colored candy pieces on the top of an already mangled gingerbread roof.

“We’re going to win for sure!” Kiyomi said with a blue grin. Someone had been clearly snacking on the icing while they were building.

“I wouldn’t get too overconfident; I saw Makoto’s team had a snowman in their front yard!”

Her eyes got wide again, and she got real quiet. Then she looked Haru straight in the eye, and with the utmost certainty, she said “Well then, we need two snowmen.”

Haru offered a small smile and turned around to see Makoto standing in the doorway. He told Kiyomi to keep working, and got up to join him. The brunette looked down at him. “How come you never told me you were good with kids?”

He was quiet for a moment. “You never asked.” He looked up at Makoto. The two were silent for another long moment, and Makoto was surprised when Haru was the next to speak. However, Haru whispered it so quietly Makoto did not know if it should be deemed as speaking. “You’re really lucky.”

He looked down at him again. “What do you mean?”

“You always complained about family parties, but you clearly love them. The family, I mean. I didn’t know it was possible to have-- you know--“ Haru gestured around the home. “I’ve just--” He shrugged. “I’ve never really had this.”

Now it was Makoto’s turn to be quiet. A minute later, he closed the gap between him and the raven-haired boy. His eyes shined with sincerity and a small smile danced on his lips. He spoke gently. “You know, you’re always welcome to come, Haru.”

The two heard a cough come from the kitchen, and they both turned to see his mother standing there, pointing at the top of the doorway. Both boys looked up in unison to see a small plant hung delicately from the top. Mistletoe. They both smiled, and blushed a little.

“Merry Christmas, Haru.” He bent his head slightly and leaned in.

“Merry Christmas, Makoto.” Haru whispered as he closed the gap.

The moment was perfect, all until a small “ew!” was heard, and they swiftly broke apart. They both gave an awkward laugh, and Makoto rubbed the back of his head and neck again.