Secrets

I'll Protect You

"Haru, I am not doing this." Makoto said sternly, his face frowning.
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"I can't believe you are making me do this." Makoto groaned as Haru dragged him into the building.

The building was big and had high ceilings that hung a magnificent chandelier. Although the building was pristine, the kitchen was a mess.

"Come on, Mako. It's just a cooking class." Haru said. Haru had been dropping subtle hints about wanting to attend this specific cooking class, but did not want to attend alone.

"CoMe oN mAkO iTS jUst A COokInG cLaSs." Makoto mimicked as he was dragged to the kitchen where the instructor was.

A few moments later, Haru and Makoto were working together to try and make spaghetti-their most simple Italian dish.

Haru was already boiling water with salt for the spaghetti noodles and Makoto was currently looking through the ingredients to find spices and such.

"Seriously, what the hell is basil?" Makoto complained as he searched through the spices.

"They probably meant fresh basil. Not dried." Haru explained as he pointed to the greens in the fridge.

"This stuff?" Makoto asked as he held up a green vegetable.

Haru stifled a laugh. "No, Mako. That's spinach."

"Ugh. How about....this stuff?" He asked as he held up a container of what he thought looked pretty much identical to the spinach.

"Yes, Makoto. That one is basil." Haru said as he began to dump a hand full of spaghetti noodles into the now boiling water.
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The boys got back home an hour or so later and both of them were exhausted. Ren and Ran giggled as the boys walked into the house sluggishly.

"How was your class?" Ran asked, holding back a snicker.

"We had to clean the kitchen." Haru groaned as he hauled himself upstairs.

Makoto was equally as tired and gave Ren and Ran a hug before he too trudged up the stairs.

By the time he got to his room Haru was already shirtless and laying in bed.

"Move over." Makoto whined as he tried-and failed- to get into bed.

Haru groaned but did not move. Makoto rolled his eyes before he climbed on top of Haru. Haru groaned at Makoto's weight on his chest and sighed when he knew that Makoto wasn't going to move.

Haru brought his arm up and wrapped it around his waist, holding him closer to him. Makoto was breathing softly and his eyes had closed. Haru loves times like these, where he could just relax and feel the organic-ness of the current moment.

Haru closed his eyes, and memories washed over him.

"Haru!" Makoto yelled from where he was sitting down in the wood chips.

"What are you doing on the ground?" Haru asked as he held out his hand and pulled him up.

"Oh, some upperclassmen just pushed me. It's okay though." Makoto smiled even though his elbows were scraped.

"You need to stop letting those guys keep pushing you around." Haru said in his new and improved 'serious voice' that he had been practicing.

"But it's okay. Really. If I tell them to stop, they're probably just going to be meaner."

Haru shook his head as he walked over to the group of fifth year boys. Makoto was pulling on Haru's arm, urging him to let it go so they could just go play on the swings instead. Haru trudged on though until he was face to face....well more like face to chest with one of the fifth years.

He looked up at the boy, giving his most sinister expression he could pull. "You need to stop picking on my friend!" Haru said.

The fifth year scoffed. "Yeah? Who's gonna stop me? There's no one to protect him." The boy said before he pushed Haru back with a finger.

Haru stumbled a little and felt his face heat up. "I'm here to protect him!" Haru growled.

The fifth years rolled their eyes. "Whatever. You're just going to make things worse for yourself." And then they walked away, back toward the building.

Haru turned around, wearing a rare grin on his face that was big enough to push his cheeks up to his eyes. "See? Now they'll leave you alone."

Makoto sighed, knowing that that's not how bullies worked but decided to give him a hug instead. "Thank you."

Haru hugged back, not understanding why people whispered around them and he felt butterflies in his stomach. At that age all Haru knew was that when you love someone, you hug them. And he loved Makoto, he always played with him and gave him some of his food and he even gave him some extra crayons in art class because he didn't have the colors he wanted. And Haru thought, "well that must be love".

Haru smiled. "You don't have to thank me." He began. "I'll always be there to protect you."

Haru chuckled a little at the memory. Makoto had fallen asleep and Haru felt those butterflies in his stomach again, and realized that nothing had ever changed. At the end of the day, Haru always loved Makoto.