Chapter Text
“All of your singles have been huge hits, and you still have some big songs to release. What is your album about? Is there any theme?”
The female interviewer/TV host sits in a chair with her legs crossed, across from Tachibana Makoto. The tall, muscular man with a million dollar smile shot to fame as soon as his first single was released.
He shot a warm smile to the interviewer, who tried to maintain her composure.
“This album will be very personal to me and close to my heart. I made sure to write what I was feeling. Many songs on the album are love songs or a mix of not wanting to feel a way about someone, and there's even some about heartbreak. A few are about the strong friendships I’ve had that were something special.”
“Interesting, so there's a muse to these songs?”
“I guess you could say that,”
The interviewer studied Makoto closely.
“Hmm. Well, you sure are taking the nation by storm. It's not just your soothing voice and gorgeous looks. People love how effortlessly down to earth you are. How can you stay so humble when you're becoming so famous?”
Makoto blushed.
“I don't think of myself as better than other people. I'm just a normal person, so it's not hard work to not treat anyone how I wouldn't appreciate it myself.”
“Now let's get down to the juicy stuff. Everyone wants to know. Do you have someone special in your life? Are the rumors of you dating any the popular female artists true?”
Makoto laughed. When he answered, his eyes didn't make contact with the questioner, and a forlorn look appeared on his angelic face. “No no. None of that's true, Shuziki.”
“Then who's the muse to your music? Is there an old love back home?”
Makoto’s blush returned.
“I...I- Yes. There is someone back home who inspired these songs to be written. It's not important though, there was not a romance.”
“Oh really? Mind dropping the name of the special lady?”
The color of Makoto’s cheeks worsened.
“N- I’d rather not.”
The host, Shuziki Yamano, tried to get Makoto to tell her, but he didn't give in.
“Alright alright...So the love songs on the album are based off your own relationship experience?”
“It is how I felt, but I've never had a serious relationship to base the concept of love on.”
“Hold on, am I hearing wrong? Did you just say you've never been in a relationship?”
Makoto smiled.”Yes, I've never had a significant other.”
Shiziki’s eyes widened and she dramatically faced the camera.
“Did you all hear that? Makoto, the heartthrob of the nation, has never dated anyone!?”
Makoto rubbed the back of his neck, shy at the attention.
“Isn't he the cutest? When we get back from our break, we have a couple more questions before Makoto’ll take the stage to sing a never before heard single, ‘Run’.”
Back in Iwatobi, Nagisa and Rei began chattering as soon as the commercial break began. Haru sat poker faced as his two kouhai sat in his home’s living room. He thought over the answers Makoto gave. He knew who he was talking about. He was glad the others didn't catch on.
“Mako-chan has really made it hasn't he? I can't wait to hear his new song!” Nagisa announced.
Haruka focused his gaze on the television when he heard Nagisa ask why Makoto never visits them.
“Yes, you'd think especially he'd visit his best friend that he has grew up with. We'd all celebrate together.”
At this, Rei eyes Haruka.
Haru’s ears perked when the show came back on, the camera zoning it on Makoto and Shiziki Yamano.
She asked a few questions that Makoto effortlessly answered. Haru knew that girls must swoon over that boyish charm, bright green eyes, and warming smile.
“We have the song list of the album. Which track is your personal favorite?”
Makoto answered without missing a beat.
“I Need You” is my for sure favorite. It has all the different emotions I was feeling present. I feel like it'll be very relatable. It was a song I loved to record and listen to. I'm planing to sing it live at my concert in Tokyo, where people will hear it for the first time.”
“I'll keep my eyes open for that one, sounds exciting. Now, go ahead and set up for your performance.” Shiziki instructed. “When we get back, the exciting new “Run” will be heard for the first time right here in ‘Shizuki’s Celebrity Corner’.
The show went on another commercial break. Haru anticipated the return. He wanted to hear Makoto sing. He hadn't heard Makoto’s voice for a long time. He missed the gentle tone of his best friend. Well, previous best friend.
Nagisa began cheering when music started in the show. I heard a piano beginning it, along with some sort of echo. It had a somber tone to it. And then Makoto opened his mouth and sung.
“You're my brightest sun, one and only in the world.
I bloom for you, but lately you're making me wilt.
It's too late, it's too late.
I can’t live without you now.
Even if I‘m drying out, I try harder to reach you.”
"But it’s no use, it’s a dream to be broken.
I run and run, but I’m not getting anywhere.
Yes go and burn me out.
Just keep pushing me away.
This is a fool in love, chasing in circles.
Make me run
Make me run more,"
Makoto began to ease his jacket off his body.
"Let my feet rip apart with wounds
At least I can I smile when I see you"
He threw it to the live audience, who screamed in excitement. The camera quickly panned to the person who caught it, and then the song sped up.
"I run, run, run
I can’t stop it
Run, run, run again, I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyways
All I know is how to love you.
Run, run, run again
It’s okay to fall
Run, run, run.
It’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you.
Pitiful destiny, go and point your finger at me.”
Makoto was singing at an invisible sky and he clutched his shirt in front of his heart. He continued to move, occasionally doing moves that girls were screaming over.
"Run
Don’t tell me bye, bye."
Haru shivered when Makoto’s voice ran into long notes.
“Run....
You make me cry, cry
Run.....
Love is a lie, lie.
Don’t tell me, don’t tell me
Don’t tell me bye, bye
I think I know it’s over, but I just cannot stop.
Is this sweat or tears, I can’t really tell oh
My love stripped bare, the stormy winds.
They make me run again, my heart then beats again.
Make me run
Make me run more
Let my feet rip apart with wounds
At least I can smile when I see you
I run, run, run
I can’t stop
Run, run, run again
I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyways
All I know is how to love you
Run, run, run again
It’s okay to fall
Run, run, run, again
It’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, go and point your finger at me.
Memories crumble like dried cherry blossoms
At the tip of my fingers, under my feet.
All around you, can you see..."
"I’m chasing butterflies, so lost in dreams.
I follow your traces.
Show me the way, please stop me.
Let me breathe…….
I run, run, run
I can’t stop this
Run, run, run again
I can’t help it
This is all I can do anyways
All I know is how to love you
Run, run, run again
It’s okay to fall
Run, run. Run, again
It’s okay to get hurt
I’m alright, even if I can’t have you
Pitiful destiny, go and point your finger at me. Run
Don’t tell me bye, bye
Run
You make me cry, cry
Run
Love is a lie, lie
Don’t tell me, don’t tell me
Don’t tell me bye, bye.
As the song ended, Haru let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. 'Was Makoto still singing about me in this?' Haru pondered the thought, but deep down he already knew the answer.
Shizuki had the lights return on as she walked to the stage Makoto was at, fanning herself.
“That was..My heart was...” she patted her chest, “and those dance moves phew!”
Makoto bowed, and said thank you.
The interviewer’s cheeks were flushed red.
“Makoto Tachibana, everyone!”
“All I can ask is...who made you feel like this?”
Haru willed himself not to look away as Makoto states directly in the camera in front of him.
“Someone that I'll forget about soon enough.”
Makoto wasn't giving his signature smile, and he looked just about as unapproachable as Sousuke for a moment.
Then, Makoto looked down at the audience in front of him. He smiled at them, and noticed the girl who caught his jacket.
“Do you want your jacket back?” She called.
“You can keep it, if you want.”
The girl smiled and hugged the jacket to herself. “Thank you!”
She was unaware of the surrounding girls glaring at the piece of clothing she was hugging, or her. Haru stopped focusing on the show when a voice called out to him.
“Haruka-Senpai. What happened?” Rei questioned.
Haru started in surprise, much like how he did when Rin asked if Makoto and Haru had a fight that summer before it happened.
“I-”
Haru looked at his concerned friends in front of him, but he was unable to give an answer.
Haru planned to go to Tokyo with Makoto, before Makoto told Haru how he felt. Haru canceled his agreement to train in Tokyo. When Rin found out, he yelled at Haru and they argued. Rin almost hit him before he calmed down. Afterwards they talked it out, but Rin was angry that he threw his dream away, a dream he wanted them to both experience. The only thing Haru could do was apologize. Haru didn't know what to do. He didn't want to go off into a big city alone. Not anymore.
“Haru?” A voice brought him out of his thoughts.
“I-” he gulped, and a wave of fear washed over him, “I don’t know.”
He didn't remember what they were asking, but that was all Haru could give in response.
He couldn't tell them what happened.
Haru remembered the look on Makoto’s face, that day. It was an expression that Haru never wanted to put on his best friend’s face. Yet he did, and Haru’s heart clenched just thinking about it. It's been about a year hasn't it?
Haru squeezed his eyes shut. It's been so long since he saw that warming smile , and he tries to put the image in his head. Sure, he could see Makoto smile when he was on the TV, but it's been so long since the smile was for Haru alone, with Haru’s own eyes.
“I want to see Mako-chan.” Nagisa said softly.
Haru turned his head to his friend, and was further disheartened at the sad expression on his face. Nagisa was upset that Mako-chan has been absent for so long. The blonde ball of energy was sure that Makoto would of visited, or called by now.
Haru could only stare silently when Nagisa shuffled over to him on his knees, directly in front of him.
“Haru-chan, has Mako-chan forgotten about us? Why hasn't he tried to talk to any of us? Why! Does he not want us in his life anymore?
Haru gulped, and he wished he didn't see the tears forming in Nagisa’s eyes.
“I don't know,” Haru half lied.
“I miss him. We were all supposed to be best friends forever! Do you think he'll contact us soon?”
“Nagisa, calm down,” Rei added, in a soothing tone.
Nagisa glanced at Rei, and Rei had a gentle smile and look of admiration waiting for Nagisa. Nagisa wiped his eyes, and returned to his original spot.
Haru sat in stony silence. Once again, simple three words were his only response, but this time it was honest. He didn't know if he was going to see Makoto again. A pain shot through Haru every time the realization hit. The realization that he may live his life without that constant support who was Makoto. Makoto and water had been the only constants in Haru’s life, since childhood. The realization occurred to scare Haru often, first happening soon after Makoto left Iwatobi. Nearly a year after that day, Haru wanted nothing more than for that day to had never happened. He wanted Makoto back in his life more than anything he could think of.