Chapter Text
Makoto was struggling during practice more than usual. While Subaru and Hokuto cleaned up Mao stayed back to help Makoto with a dance move. It was this annoying hop-skip-spin forward and Makoto kept falling over. Feeling like a fool he watched Mao demonstrate it flawlessly. Mao was graceful, Makoto noted, he always seemed to slide through dance moves with energy and ease. Not like me and my awkward gangly limbs, he thought sadly, eyeing Mao's legs.
"Do you think you've understood the moves enough now? Or do I need to do it again."
Makoto jumped slightly and jerked his eyes away from Mao's legs to his patient expression. "Uh.. I might? Be able to-?"
Mao grinned, "You sound so confident. I'm sure you can do it. Believe in yourself more!" His smile was so bright and reassuring it lifted something in Makoto's heavy heart.
Smiling shyly back he laughed awkwardly, "Haha, I'm trying to- Ah! sorry for making you stay late.." At this point Subaru and Hokuto were long gone. Late afternoon light slanted through the practice room door illuminating the shiny floor.
"It's not a problem! I'm happy to help!" Mao clapped makoto on the shoulder as he walked towards the exit. "I've got to get to the Student Council room but I'll see you later." He half-waved as he jogged out.
Makoto was left standing alone in the practice room. He picked up a water bottle and splashed a little on his face and under his glasses. The place on his shoulder where Isara-kun grasped him felt warm and his heart had that weird uplifting sensation. Setting the water bottle down he pushed away his confusion and stood in position to practice a bit more on his own. He wouldn't get anywhere if he kept relying so much on others.
-
"Ukki~!!"
Wham.
Someone collided into Makoto's back as he was taking his keys out of his bag.
"Ukki Let's hang out!" Subaru stuck his hands between Makoto's arms waving them around. He grabbed the keys right out of his fingers and started unlocking the door even though he couldn't see what he was doing from behind Makoto's back. Taking the keys back and properly unlocking the door Makoto shrugged,
"I wasn't doing anything, so.. alright."
Letting both of them inside the spacious building Makoto whispered, "I'm home..." to the stale empty air before taking his shoes off.
"Race you to the TV!" Subaru yelled hopping up the steps and running for the other room.
"That's not fair you have a head-start!" Makoto whined, stumbling up the step and chasing after Subaru.
Settling down on the couch and grabbing the video game controllers they made themselves a comfortable nest out of pillows. Subaru leaned to the side and rested his feet across Makoto's lap. Neither of them minded the lack of personal space- it had become a habit for them.
The video game beeped and banged as the two smashed enemies together. Subaru wasn't quite as good as Makoto at fighting games but didn't care. He seemed to enjoy collecting the virtual coins more than the actual fighting. As the loading screen appeared Subaru looked over at his friend,
"You were more happy-shiny today Ukki! Was it because Sari got to teach you alone?"
Makoto knit his eyebrows together in confusion, "Ahh? What does that have to do with it?"
Subaru grinned slyly in response but wouldn't explain why. "No reason!"
The memory of Mao's graceful dancing surfaced in Makoto's mind and he let the conversation drop. He shifted around feeling uncomfortable, unsure why the topic was making him nervous.
-
Makoto and Subaru were joking and running circles around Hokuto on the way to class the next day when they saw Mao dragging a sleepy Ritsu down the hall.
Something jolted in Makoto's heart when he saw this and he subconsciously rubbed his chest.
"Sari~!" Subaru yelled, waving him enthusiastically over. Mao smiled and whispered something in Ritsu's ear before dropping him off at 2-B's door and jogging towards them.
"What's up?" Mao asked brightly. His smile was so welcoming and warm Makoto's hand stilled on his chest- the pain evaporating in his heart instantly. Subaru looked between them and held a hand over his mouth like he was trying not to giggle. Grabbing an unprepared Hokuto's arm he dragged him away towards their classroom leaving Makoto and Mao standing in the hall.
"What was that about?" Mao stared after his teammates, bewildered.
"Ahaha I don't know..." Makoto laughed awkwardly. Glancing down and rubbing his arm he continued, "Um... Thank you for helping me yesterday! With the dancing.." Still staring at the floor he almost jumped when he felt two warm hands press down on his shoulders.
"Hay, it's not a problem okay? Don't ever think you have to worry about being behind us."
Makoto glanced up at Mao's earnest eyes before looking away embarrassed. His brain was jumbled and he didn't remember what he said after, some kind of stammering reassurance. Isara gave his shoulders a squeeze and walked off to his own class. Makoto's shoulders felt hot again.
-
"Hokke Help me! They're just so obvious!" Subaru was whining and clutching Hokuto's arm as Makoto walked into 2-A. Noticing Makoto's entrance, Subaru immediately stopped talking. Weird, since Subaru usually never stopped bugging Hokuto and often dragged Makoto right into whatever was going on. Hokuto looked like he had no idea what to do. He slightly resembled a fish out of water for a second before nodding towards Makoto with a polite but slightly shaky greeting.
Makoto sat down and looked between the two, "Uh, what's going on?"
Subaru shook his head. "Nothing! Don't worry Ukki! ..Everything will work out for you!" He gave a thumbs up.
"Everything will what? What will work out? Is this another joke act for us Akehoshi-kun?"
Subaru just winked and turned around in his seat leaving Makoto twice as confused and feeling a little left out.
Subaru gave off an air he was planning something. Makoto wondered if he should be worried. He glanced towards Hokuto for answers but Hokuto's head was in his hands and he looked more stressed than usual.
-
There wasn't any practice scheduled for that day but after class Mao greeted them at 2-A's door. He walked directly over to Makoto who hurriedly toppled out of his seat.
"Um... I was wondering if you wanted some more one-on-one practice?" Mao ran a hand through his spiky hair awkwardly, looking a little unsure of himself. Which was weird considering Mao was usually so confident. Or at least Makoto thought so. If anything Mao was a sturdy rock he clung to and looked up to- so seeing him looking awkward kind of threw Makoto off balance.
"Sure!" He chirped in reply through a drying throat.
Mao's smile was relieved and Makoto heard him let out a small breath like it was held.
He gathered his laptop and notebooks and crammed them in his backpack as fast as he could before following after Mao.
-
After changing into gym clothes the two Trickstar members stood together in the dance room. Mao took out a piece of paper,
"I found stretches that should help you become more flexible. It'll make dancing easier." He thrust the list out to Makoto and the two looked over the diagrams.
Makoto held the list in one hand staring at one of the pictures on it with great concentration and tried to balance on one leg while pulling the other to his chest. His tongue stuck out slightly in concentration. He thought he heard Mao let out a soft chuckle. And then he toppled over. Mao helped Makoto stand and picked the paper up off the floor.
"Pfth, maybe we should start with this one?" He pointed to one between two people sitting on the floor. "We don't have an exercise-band but maybe we can pull each other by our hands?"
Makoto instantly felt sweaty. Wiping his hands on his gym shorts way more than necessary he sat down across from Mao. Green eyes stared directly into green eyes and Makoto's back stiffened. He looked down and to the side unable to stare directly at Mao's face. His own face felt hot- why was this suddenly happening so often?
Something brushed against his hand and he nearly jumped out of his skin when he looked back up and saw Mao reaching out trying to grab his hands. Mao's hand froze slightly and hovered near Makoto's own, not quite touching, asking for permission.
Mao tipped his head to the side and lifted his eyebrows, his mouth making one of those half-sigh smiles he did so often, "Should we start?"
Not knowing what else to do, Makoto nodded intently.
They stretched their legs out letting their feet press together in the middle and grabbed each other's hands.
Mao's hands were warm as they grasped his. So warm it felt nice, but still slightly nerve-wracking.
Mao leaned back causing Makoto to stretch forward until his face looked directly down at his knees. Was Mao trying to kill him? His back felt like it popped in five places! At least the burn from his legs and back distracted him from the pounding of his heart and the sweat that was accumulating between their tightly held hands.
Mao counted a few times before it was Makoto's turn to lean back. Completely unsure if he could even properly pull Mao, he tried to lean back. The first thought that popped into his mind was-
That was a terrible idea!
As Mao's head and body stretched towards him. Suddenly the burn in his back and legs were nothing compared to his thumping heart. He was certain with a zing of dread that Mao could feel his racing heart as it beat against their hands. Quickly he tried to think of an excuse, your heart is racing because you worked out so hard! I mean isn't that the truth? Why else would my heart be racing so fas-
But Mao stopped Makoto's spiraling frantic thoughts by choosing that moment to speak.
"Phew! You really feel this stretch in your legs." Mao exclaimed.
"Y-! Y.....yeah."
After a bunch of different stretches the two boys were tired and sweaty and called it a day. As they lingered in the doorway Makoto turned towards Mao clapping his hands together,
"Thank you again, so much Isara-kun! For helping me! You really don't have to go through all this for m-"
Mao spread his arms out in mock exasperation, "How many times do I have to say: it's ok! I'm happy to help, I like helping you!" Mao sighed but smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow, remember to ice your legs if they still ache."
Makoto had no reply to that, unable to think of anything to say. So he stood there and watched Mao walk away again.
-
"We have a new live!" Hokuto announces the next day during practice.
"It's at an all girls school and we'll be doing the new dance routine we've been practicing."
At Hokuto's words, Makoto's stomach drops into ice cold water. So soon? He wasn't ready he kept messing up that one dance move still. He'll fail just like he was always destined to, to only be a useless pretty face. He didn't notice everyone stopped talking until he looked up and saw blue and green eyes staring worriedly at him.
"Yuuki, are you alright?" Hokuto asks, peering at him.
"Yup! I'm great! Don't worry!" Makoto nodded, giving what he hoped was a nice big reassuring thumbs up. So his hands may be shaking slightly, but no one should notice right? Or maybe they did. Hokuto sensed Makoto didn't want to talk about it and let it drop moving on to other issues but Subaru skipped over and started squishing Makoto's cheeks like a dog, bringing their faces inches apart.
"What did I say about relying on us more Ukki! This calls for another glasses kidnapping!" As Subaru greedily reached up and pawed Makoto's glasses off his face despite many protests, Mao materialized next to them
"Don't worry." Mao reached behind Makoto and rested his hand against his neck moving it in small circles. It was comforting, and the icy cold in Makoto's gut started thawing. Both watched as Subaru stuck Makoto's glasses on his face and started dancing around with them on. Makoto glanced back at Mao and smiled with the warmth he felt radiating through him,
"Thanks."
It took Mao a second to reply back. He was staring at Makoto's eyes, his mouth half open, looking slightly stunned. Coming out of the short trance he bit his lip and gave Makoto's neck one last squeeze, taking his hand off and suggesting they both try to stop Subaru before he broke Makoto's glasses. Makoto didn't have any time to wonder what Mao's pause was about. Both had to run over and stop Subaru from trying to fling Makoto's glasses out the window.
By the time the blue frames were back on his face safe and secure he didn't remember Mao's strange expression.
-
That night during another sleepover Subaru rolled over and declared,
"We have some very important things to discuss Ukki!"
Makoto remembered the hushed conversation before class the other day and wondered if Subaru really was planning something.
"Uh! Sure what is it Akehoshi-kun?" Makoto set up in bed and hugged his pillow to his chest waiting for whatever ridiculous scheme will hit him this time. But it didn't come.
"Nope! Not now! If I distract you before the live, Hokke will finally murder me hehe."
"But now I want to know! Not fair Akehoshi-kun!"
But Subaru rolled completely under Makoto's covers and wouldn't say anything anymore.
-
The week before the live Makoto spent as much time as he could practicing on his own. He couldn't seem to face Isara-kun, and even Akehoshi-kun either after that weird nighttime conversation.
The stretches Mao showed him really did help and Makoto thought he was getting better, but he still had very little confidence in himself. Even though he didn't mess up the last few times he practiced his brain told him over and over he would for sure mess up on stage and ruin everything.
-
Trickstar was huddled backstage waiting until they could go onstage in a matter of minutes. Makoto slept terribly the night before and no amount of bananas Subaru shoved his way could "cheer him up" (not that it would have in the first place).
Makoto was leaning against the wall opposite the side curtain opening. He bunched the fabric of his shirt with his hand clenched over his chest and closed his eyes. It hurt, the feeling of failure. The anxiety of knowing somehow he will mess up, that he can't help it. He wasn't sure he could do it. Maybe the rest of Trickstar can do the performance without him. He only registered the wetness on his face when a heart-wrenchingly gentle voice asked if he was okay.
Mao was walking cautiously towards him.
"I'm fine! I..." He faltered, lips quivering, not even able to finish reassuring Isara-kun. How weak he probably looked. But Mao's expression wasn't judgmental. There were no icy-blue eyes telling him he has no future.
Mao reached up and placed hands on either side of Makoto's face pulling him forward. Makoto closed his eyes as his forehead was pressed against Mao's.
"You can do this. You've practiced so hard. I believe in you." Mao whispered to Makoto holding his head against his.
Warmth.
Reassurance.
It spread throughout Makoto.
Mao pulled his head away and gripped his hand as the music queued their entrance. Makoto held back tightly, smiling, and ran on stage with his friends.
-
The performance was a success. No one messed up. Makoto was able to do it all.
As the crowd continued cheering them off the stage Makoto run up to Mao and flung himself at him. Mao caught him with a small "Oof!"
"We did it!" Makoto cheered. Crying, smiling, and laughing all at once.
Mao laughed as well and held Makoto equally tightly against him. Makoto was encased in warmth, his heart racing, his face burning.
It was then, through the after-performance adrenalin, that Makoto had a realization.
He liked Mao. Like-liked.
A lot.
Uh oh...