Secrets

Double Dates Part 2

Haru observed his image in the mirror. He was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and a gray short sleeve shirt that buttoned down. He tried to tame his hair to some degree but it didn't look any different than usual.

He made sure to put on fresh deodorant and some cologne before he closed his bedroom door.

"You smell good." Makoto said, startling Haru.
"What?" He responded. He wasn't sure if he had heard him right.
"I...uh... I said you smelt nice." Makoto stumbled over his words. His tongue wasn't cooperating with his thoughts.

Haru thanked him and they walked downstairs before they said bye to the kids. Once they made sure Ren and Ran has all of the emergency numbers, they headed out.

"So where are we meeting them?" Haru spoke up after they walked about a block.

"Just to Ivee's" Makoto started. "Nothing fancy."

Once they arrived at the restaurant they were greeted by the other couple right away.

"Hi guys!" Nagisa said in his rather loud voice.
They all exchanged greetings before they were seated by a waitress.

"So how have you guys been?" Makoto asked Nagisa and Rei.

"We've been good. There really isn't much that is happening that is too exciting." Rei said honestly. "How about you guys?"

"We've been good as well. We're kind of in the same boat as you guys I'd say." Makoto continued the conversation. "Right, Haru?"

Haru looked up from glass of water that he was currently dipping his finger in. "Yeah. Everything's been pretty mild."

Nagisa laughed. "Haru why are you putting your hand into your water?"

Haru looked down and saw that his hand was indeed submerged in his beverage. "Oh... I don't really know. I just wanted to feel it."

Makoto sighed before grabbing Haru's hand and drying it off with a napkin. Haru blushed at the contact and turned his head in the opposite direction so Makoto wouldn't notice.

Once they were all done eating their mediocre dinner, they walked as a group to the festival. Huge tents were set up each selling various goods. String lights were hung across the pathway from tent to tent. Little kids were running around happily with their friends.

"How much money did your mom give you?" One boy asked his friends.
"She gave me all of this." One of the boys said before holding out his hands.
"Awesome! Let's play that game." The first boy said as he pointed in the opposite direction.

There were families walking around hand in hand. Some wearing yukatas and hair pieces while some were in casual clothes. Haru gazed up in wonderment. He saw the stars shimmering and couldn't help but smile. The rest of the boys saw Haru's gaze and looked up as well.

"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" Rei said to the rest of the boys. He didn't receive an answer. "Yes Rei, the stars are indeed beautiful" Rei answered himself out loud.

"Rei, you're so goofy. Why do you talk to yourself?" Nagisa laughed. Rei rolled his eyes at his boyfriends ignorance before putting an arm around him.

The rest of the night went by smoothly and the festival had ended with a firework ceremony. The boys sat on the grass and once again found themselves staring at the sky.

Once the boys had bid farewell to each other, Haru and Makoto walked back home. It was eerily quiet in the neighborhood and most of the lights were off. Makoto felt his stomach drop when they reached the front door.
It was left open.

"REN? RAN?" Makoto yelled as he ran into the house.