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Makoto didn't expect that, of all the things that could happen when Junpei and Ryoji proposed that the three of them and Akihiko-senpai go to the hot springs, it was that, because of the stupidity of both of them, they would all be caught in this situation.
Being in the hot springs when the girls-only period started, with a group of girls entering, and not just any one, but their classmates, among them...
“Mitsuru is here too?! Oh, man...” The horrified look on Akihiko's face spoke for itself when he knew of the presence of the redhead. Who in other circumstances would have been comically adorable. “She won't see this as a simple misunderstanding.”
“It was the boys' turn when we entered. It's not like we planned this,” Junpei muttered, trying to calm his senpai down, but the look he returned became more disturbed than at the beginning.
“If she finds us… We will be executed,” he finished in a somber tone, too familiar with the concept for his own taste.
During all this discussion, Makoto did not say a single word, but he was also clear that this was a life or death mission. With the sole objective of getting them all out no matter what. Makoto looked around. Analyzing the options they had. Ryoji worried that someone was coming in his direction, Akihiko paralyzed, and Junpei who looked at him as if he expected some answer from the blue-haired boy.
“What the hell are we going to do?” Junpei asked, not as his classmate or as a friend, but as if waiting for orders from the leader of SEES.
And then he had an idea. It was absurd and might not go as he expected. But desperate situations called for desperate measures.
Then he took the lead and began to give the orders:
“Junpei, Ryoji, go to the shore and hide behind those bushes.” He pointed to a corner out of the water.
“Let’s go!” And so, both black-haired guys continued forward. But when Akihiko was about to follow them, Makoto stopped him.
“Sanada-senpai, you and I are going to distract them.”
The moment he said that, the boxer’s soul almost left his body. “Are you crazy?! She’s going to--!”
“Not if we change her mind.” The blue-haired man said seriously, placing both hands on the taller man’s shoulders, facing him.
It was a bit cruel to subject his senpai to such a high risk, but precisely for that reason, he would be more than willing to do anything to avoid being executed by Mitsuru.
“Do you trust me?”
“Who’s there?” It was Fuuka’s voice.
Akihiko looked in the direction of the voice and then at Makoto, and after a second's hesitation, he nodded. And Makoto took a deep breath before lunging forward.
. . .
There were many things Fuuka knew about Makoto. For example, he was an excellent cook, much unlike her, and he was just as good at test classes, just like her. They had become friends, or at least had something resembling a friendship, and although she was sure Makoto didn't know it, she was developing feelings for him.
After all, he seemed to be constantly oblivious to his surroundings and she was sure that the way he backed away from her when she brought him food, he thought she would kill him.
Her slight attraction to Makoto plagued the school trip with ups and downs, sure Makoto was with her, both there in Kyoto and in the dorm in Iwatodai, sure he talked to her from time to time, as usual, but it wasn't that much different than when he did it with his other classmates.
Of course, this led to her spending more time with the girls, even being invited to bathe with Mitsuru, Yukari and Aigis. They were having fun, the place was as big as a pool, and they could hang out talking, enjoying each other's company, but…
“Who is it? Is there someone there?” Yukari asked alarmed.
“What's wrong Yukari? Did you hear something?” Mitsuru looked at her worriedly.
“... Ahh... I think there's someone there...”
“Uhm... I'll go see...” Fuuka said taking the lead.
“Oh! I'll go see you with you, Fuuka-chan.” Mitsuru stood up and held out a hand to her.
Fuuka's hesitant footsteps in the knee-deep water echoed around the area, followed by Mitsuru and Yukari's with soft hisses. At first, she was sure the steam had reached her head, she turned the corner and glowed bright red as her mind locked up.
It was Makoto, who was hugging the neck of… Akihiko?! as they were both locked in a passionate kiss, and suddenly everything made sense. Especially why neither of them had ever seemed to have a girlfriend or interest in any specific girl. She managed to turn even redder when she noticed their towels were barely clinging to their waists.
Although she should feel disappointed to know that her feelings couldn't be reciprocated, there was something so morbid yet charming about that scene that she couldn't move, or even look away when Akihiko's hands began to run up and down Makoto's back, eliciting a slight moan from the blue-haired boy.
"Ahem..." Fuuka assumed it was Mitsuru, because she was the only person she knew capable of keeping their composure in this situation. The two bodies in front of them froze and stared at them in shock, having been pulled out of their bubble in embarrassment as they hurriedly untangled their bodies, the towels readjusting themselves around their waists in a matter of seconds. The blue-gray and equally gray eyes looked away from them and at each other, although their hands were firmly held.
“Eh… I guess times have changed… Sorry.” Akihiko muttered, his face scarlet red, but wanting to turn pale. And with a subtle gesture, Makoto moved to take Akihiko’s hand comfortingly, the older man too paralyzed to notice.
“… Akihiko…” Mitsuru sounded just as embarrassed and surprisingly hesitant to have witnessed her actions. “Just… we’ll go… don’t let us… interrupt your… activities…” And she turned to leave, followed by Fuuka, who looked one last time at the two boys, still not moving.
“Ah, was there anyone there?” Yukari turned her attention back to the newcomers.
“Oh… No, you must have been imagining things, let’s go get some ice cream.” It’s best not to talk about this with anyone.
“Yes, some ice cream would be helpful, my system requires some cooling.” Thank goodness Aigis sensors didn’t work well in the steam.
. . .
When the girls had gotten far enough away, both boys jumped into the air they didn't know they were holding. The moment Mitsuru caught them, it was like standing in front of the Reaper, mixed with shame for putting on a show like that. But, as ridiculous or absurd as it was, the plan worked perfectly.
And when Makoto was about to apologize to his senpai for exposing him the way he did, he found himself wrapped in a hug by Akihiko. “I don't know how, but we were saved from that. And it's all thanks to you, Yuki.”
Now Makoto was feeling embarrassed again by this abrupt display of affection. However, he can't say it bothers him either.
When they separated, he looked at the space where Junpei and Ryoji were supposedly hiding. Both had collapsed, their faces completely red.
“It seems the heat affected them.” Makoto pointed out, wondering if they had also seen them kiss.
"I guess they got what they were looking for," Akihiko sentenced, making Makoto let out a small laugh, agreeing with him.
Now calmer, and after that experience, they thought it was time for them to leave as well. And within that silence, the possible consequences of that plan began to hit them.
"They're going to think that between you and me..." The eldest pointed out, maybe neither Fuuka nor Mitsuru would talk about what happened with the rest. But they now have a different idea of the relationship between him and their leader.
However, Makoto would say that he didn't care if they thought something like that. What's more, he didn't dislike in the least the idea that he and Akihiko...
"Well, could we try it, maybe? At least to keep up the lie or... maybe..." He proposed calmly, as complicated and atypical as it sounded coming from him.
There was no verbal response, but instead there was a quick kiss on the cheek. A less hesitant one. and more determined. Something that was expected from the older one.
"And by the way, you were very cooperative by groping me like that.” He added mischievously, leaving the silver-haired boy speechless. "It's okay…"
As they left, they were both thinking essentially the same thing: how they survived the threat of execution at the hands of Mitsuru, being able to kiss a cute boy and possibly develop a new relationship.
This mission was definitely a win-win.