Chapter Text
Sousuke's twelve and Haruka's seven, his eighth birthday in just a week. His parents are currently in the kitchen, taking care of the plans for his birthday, and calling the parents of the boys Haruka has invited since they haven't RSVP'd for the party yet. Haruka's in the living room playing video games with his two best friends, Makoto and Rin, versing Rin in a bunch of a games first because of how competitive the red head was. Makoto doesn't mind sitting on the sidelines and watching; he'd honestly rather read than play, especially against Rin, because he loses too quick and Rin admitted far too many times it was boring playing fighting or racing games against Makoto.
The front door opens, and the sound of Sousuke's voice fills the house, making Haruka freeze and pause the game super quick, turning his head over his shoulder to see Sousuke walk through the doorway into the living room. What he didn't expect was for someone to be following him throughout the house. Rin's complaining about how Haruka paused it when he was winning, but he and Makoto know well how attached Haruka was to his older brother. And how much he looks forward to his birthday. With his birthday being first, he feels like he and Sousuke are only four years apart instead of five, and he feels closer to him then.
His eyes widen at the pink haired boy that follows his brother, and after a few minutes in the kitchen of Sousuke talking to their parents about the boy, Haruka can hear the happiness in Sousuke's tone. Over what? He's not sure, but he knows he's going to find out.
Sousuke joins the three younger boys in the living room, giving a big smile to Haruka first, “Are you beating Rin again at the racing games, Haru?”
“He's not beating me! I beating him before he paused the game!” Rin speaks up, putting the controller down and crossing his arms over with a huff. Sousuke can't help but let out a little laugh, enjoying the reactions he gets out of his brothers friends when he teases them. Rin, especially.
“Haru,” Haruka looks from the pink haired boy to Sousuke, letting out a small hum as a response. “I want you to meet one of my friends. This is Kisumi. He's also going to be spending the night.”
“So this is your baby brother!” the pink haired person, Kisumi, finally speaks up and crouches down to get down to eye level with Haruka. “He's just as cute as you said. It's nice to meet you, Haru!”
Haruka stares at Kisumi for the longest time before he gets up off the ground and runs over to Sousuke, to his side, where he clings onto his shirt, face buried into his side, “I don't like him. He can't stay.”
“Eh? Sousuke, did I say something wrong?”
“I don't think he's that bad, Haru-chan!” Makoto speaks up, looking over from the two brothers and then to Kisumi. “He has hair like cotton candy. He must be nice..”
Rin stares at Kisumi too, and where he agrees with Makoto that he looks nice, a feeling in his gut says he should agree with Haruka. He bites his bottom lip, before muttering out a 'Haru's right' and turns to his backpack, where he keeps some manga. He knows it'll be a while until Haruka's going to be willing to play again, so he'll just read silently to himself. Makoto whines a little, and stands up suddenly, bowing towards Kisumi.
“I'm sorry! Rin's normally not like this.. Uhm, I'm Makoto, by the way! One of Haru-chan's best friends.” Makoto introduces himself, playing with his fingers once he stands straight up again. “I think Haru-chan's just thinking you're going to steal Sousuke-kun away from him..”
“I do not.” comes a mutter from Haruka, making Sousuke sigh a little but it makes Kisumi laugh a little.
“Is that it? Well you better keep a strong hold on him, then, Haru! I go to school with your brother. I can steal him any time I want.” Kisumi teases and Sousuke's giving him a look to quit with that.
With what Kisumi just said, Haruka just clings to Sousuke a little tighter, “You can't have nii-chan. He's mine, understand? Now go away. I don't like you.”
“Haruuu..”
It takes their parents to pry Haruka off of Sousuke finally, and Sousuke and Kisumi go to get the futon set up for Kisumi to stay the night. Haruka's stuck in the living room, watching his brother walk off with the cotton candy head, pouting a little. Why did his brother have to bring this guy home? Why did he have to bring any friends home period? Anyone can steal his brother away from him and he'll be pushed away from him. And he doesn't want that a week before his birthday either.
Now a dozen thoughts are going through little Haruka's head, wondering if Sousuke will even come to his birthday party now because he has Kisumi. It makes his lips twitch a little, and his eyes sting, but he doesn't want to look like a cry baby and be teased by Rin. He sniffles and rubs at his eyes, sitting back down in front of the gaming system and presses start on the game, without Rin's knowledge, and starts playing again. Although it makes Rin jump and start playing again, but Haruka has already passed him in the game they were playing and was close to winning.
“Haru! You really need to tell someone when you're going to play again!”
It's after that game Haruka's parents call him into the kitchen to talk to him about birthday plans and then asking if he wanted Makoto and Rin to stay the night. He glances to the living room, then muttering a 'yes'. If his brother wants to invite people over and have them spend the night, then so be it; Makoto and Rin are staying the night, too. And he will have even more fun than his brother and cotton candy hair.