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“Alright guys, that’s all for today! Good Job!” cheered Makoto as the kids came out of the pool one by one and gave him each a high five. He chuckled slightly at them rushing to the wash rooms as they were getting chilly.
The winter air had picked up this morning and slowly seeped into the heated pool, so despite their best efforts, the kids had to get dressed quickly not to get sick.
Makoto was still standing in the water and collecting the kick boards by the side of the pool when he heard the all too familiar bickering voices. Glancing a look at the entrance door and his guess was right, the twins nitpicking each other as usual. Sometimes he wondered if they’d ever actually stop, finding it hard to imagine two old wrinkly and gray haired siblings still picking petty fights. Although he is very fond of them, he’s still struggling to believe they’re teenagers now; who soon enough will be heading into the adult life he still has a hard time managing.
Amidst all the melancholy, he was brought back to reality by a third new voice. A younger and recently familiar one. The twins quickly ending their argument to focus on the new toddler that has walked in along with their second favorite brother. “Yuki! Hi!” the twins squealed as Makoto eyed them carefully making sure they didn’t hurt the little thing. Then drifting to meet his lover's eyes once he spoke.
“You wouldn’t be half as happy to see me, thats unfair.” Sosuke spoke flatly, although they knew he was kidding.
“You, are boring. Yuki, is cute and fun!” said the little girl jokingly .
“Ran! You hurt my feelings!” Sosuke whined mockingly while placing a hand on his chest where is heart is supposed to be.
Makoto smiled at the interaction, thinking to himself how lucky he must be that those he loves most get along so well. He didn't notice Sosuke walking up and crouching by his side of the pool.
“Hey Sweetheart,” he said lovingly.
“Hi Sosuke,” replied Makoto while giggling to himself because he knows how much he and Sosuke hate those pet name but they find them funny. “Wanna give me a hand?”, he teases. “Thought I'd leave that to you and Nanase,” Sosuke said with a raised eyebrow, nevertheless extending his good arm to him. “Fair enough” Makoto said pushing himself out and shaking his head purposely to get Sosuke wet. Sosuke doesn't mind, he doesn't mind anything at all if its for Makoto; quite frankly he believes he'd burn the world to ashes if thats what would make his lover happy.
So Sosuke let the water hit him without a bother, waiting for Makoto to meet his eyes as he stared lovingly at him. When Makoto looked back at him with a wide smile, it felt like the world stopped turning and all the noise was muffled, like they were the only two people in the world. Sosuke fought the urge to burry himself in his neck, to kiss him till their flushed and their breath becomes one. Sometimes Sosuke thinks Makoto cast a spell on him, he had no idea he could love someone so much and yet he does. He doesn't kiss him, rather smiles softly. He knows Makoto gets embarrassed of any public displays of affection, especially when the twins are around.
"I'll close up and be right back," Makoto said as he started picking up the kick boards he'd gathered. Sousuke followed suit, "Take your time." Leaving Makoto to go wash up while he, the twins, and the toddler walked out to the entrance.
The twins had gotten comfortable with Souske much faster than he and Makoto had expected, treating him with not only the same respect as an older brother but also the irksome behavior only someone blood related would understand. Souske never minded it, he found it adorable rather, almost as though they feel safe enough around him. Makoto had mentioned it before, how he loves seeing him and his younger siblings interact, that is made him feel warm in some way. As for the toddler, that was Sousuke weakness. While he'd never admit, Makoto has seen him carry Yuki as a baby and sing him to sleep, smile at every sound and hold back his tears when he said his name. It had left Makoto thinking if they'd ever do it, have a kid together. The thought had brought a mix of emotions and worries to his head so he never actually spoke on it, opting to leave it for when the time comes. For now, he can watch Sousuke be a good uncle. After all, Yuki was Sousuke's nephew, and if he loved his brother once he loved Yuki twice, and it goes without saying that he loves Makoto a million times.
A few minutes had passed before the sound of the door opening and Makoto's keys jingling as he locked it reached him. Makoto walking towards them with a smile, "Sorry, kept you waiting." he said as he got closer to place a hand on Sousuke's arm. Sousuke in turn taking his hand out his pocket and slowly pulling Makoto closer by the waist to kiss his cheek, the man can only handle so much.
"Did they try to kill each other yet?" asked Makoto playfully.
"Not yet...can't quite think of a joke clever enough." Sousuke responed and Makoto laughed.
"How's Kazumo? Is he at the restraunt? Assuming Yuki is here I mean..." Makoto changed the topic'
"Actually...no" sighed Sousuke before explaining.
"While closing the restaurant, Akira came with Yuki and we all decided to walk together back. I was ahead with Yuki and overheard her crying I think, so I thought they needed some space and challenged Yuki to race me here to get away." Sousuke was careful to keep his voice low to avoid having the kids hear anything.
Makoto, wide eyed and sympathetic, "Oh no, I hope she's ok. They must appreciate what you did though, smart thinking Sou."
"Thank You Mako, they should be here soon though."
"Alright then, lets wait for them. After we can take the twins home, unless your busy?" Makoto sits down next him as they talk.
"No no, I came to talk to you actually, think we could after Ren and Ran go home?"
"Oh yea, totally...is uh...is something wrong?" Makoto had panicked. Never has Sousuke said they needed to talk before, so this must be serious. Sensing his worry, Sousuke looked back at him after he'd been watching the kids with wide eyes. "No Mako, it actually something nice, don't worry. Besides can't I visit if I miss you?" Souske's playfulness proved effective when Makoto's face relaxed and he smiled before pecking his lover's lips.
"You better not have let Yuki see that!" Said a foreign male voice from afar. Makoto, who normally would never kiss Sousuke in public pulled away at light speed and burning red at the claim. Sousuke on the other hand just sighed and replied to his brother, "Shut up man, like he doesn't see you kiss his mom every minute."
"Yeah Yeah, whatever. Hope I didn't scare you there Makoto!" Kazumo joked a bit more while walking up to them with Akira. Yuki, who heard his father's voice, whipped his head in his direction. Upon seeing his mother, he ran up to her with a large smile. Akira effortlessly picking him up and hugging him tightly. Makoto could tell she was indeed crying, but with the way she snuggled Yuki and Kazumo wrapped his arms around them both, he could tell they were going to be fine.
"We'll be heading home then." Kazumo bid them farewell and secretly smiled at Sousuke softly, a discreet way to thank him for taking Yuki away while he stayed with his wife. Sousuke smiled back and raised his hand in goodbye. The couple slowly walked away heading home. Makoto and Sousuke watching them for a quiet minute, each wishing them the best.
"Hey Sou, are you gonna stay with us tonight?!" The eager twins broke the short silence.
"Well...do you want me to?" Sousuke teased them, laughing as they shook their heads excitedly.
"Alright, you guys head back and we'll be right there - oh! and don't race each other downhill, ok!?" Makoto warned them, wary of their tactics and that they were going to ignore him. True to their nature they ran down hill and disappeared from their sight, leaving Makoto sighing tiredly.
Standing up and stretching his arms, Sousuke lent Makoto a hand inviting to hold it. Makoto easily smiling and holding it while he stood up only to stick to Sousuke's side as they walked towards the beach.
It was sunset, the clouds heavy and the air cool.
Their little town was already quieting down since soon it would be bedtime.
It was peaceful, quiet, eventless.
Just Sousuke and Makoto.
Makoto and Sousuke.
The sound of their footsteps.
The sound of their breathing.
An occasional seagull from afar.
The train far ahead moving away.
The waves crashing on sand.
They had reached the beach, sat down on the damp sand. So close to each other for shared warmth. A few moments of quiet before Makoto asked;
"So...you wanted to tell me something?"
"Yea..."
"I'm listening" Makoto said reassuringly.
Sighing, Sousuke began to tell him while staring at the sea.
"Remember how in high-school, or in the gap year I took, when I used to help out the swimmers in Samezuka?"
"Yea, I remember Aii mentioning it."
"Well, I don't know how it came to me but, I found myself enjoying it. The process of teaching someone and giving them notes to improve, and then seeing them excel and do better. I felt fulfilled, you know? I mean...I know I can't swim forever, I know that my dream might not be possible, so why not help others get there, make their dream come true. Live my dream in their success..."
"Sousuke...I..." By now Makoto is staring eye-wide at Sousuke, he never would've guess Sousuke would just give up like that.
"Besides, I have an awesome boyfriend who kids happen to love his coaching so why not give it a shot?" Sousuke pause for a minute then looks to Makoto and say, "Can you imagine coaching a kid for so long they decide to become a professional swimmer and I'd be his coach? Almost like raising the kid." Sousuke has a small smile on his face and Makoto can't really tell what Sousuke is feeling or thinking. So Makoto prods.
"Sousuke, I am beyond flattered by that, but...That was never your dream, I mean it." He sits up properly to look Sousuke in the face and goes on.
"Listen, I know it has been so hard with you and that you're scared...that's normal Sou, its normal to be afraid, but you can't give up because of it. Sousuke, you belong in the water, you belong on a national - hell, international stage! Thats what you told me before, it was that little kid inside you's dream, right? What I'm trying to say is that it is so honorable that you want to coach others to success, help them attain their dreams, but I can't help but think you forgot yours...It would break me to see you do that Sousuke. Wasn't it you who told Haru he was wasted potential for not pursuing swimming? Don't you think this is the same?"
Sousuke is speechless, he didn't think Makoto would say all that. Matter of fact he didn't think Makoto would even remember what he'd said to him, let alone Haruka. But, Sousuke isn't upset, which is strange, he thought he would be. Sousuke feels fired up if anything, feels like his body is heating up and that he can swim a race right this second. He smiles and shakes his head. It all makes sense, this is why Makoto is a coach. Because he is so smart, so wary, so focused, noticing everything around him, seeing right through Sousuke.
"There you go again, impressing me like always." Sousuke tells him with a smile, his eyes shining in the light darkness. Makoto was confused, he let out a low huh before Sousuke explained.
"I didn't think you'd remember, I didn't think you'd see it in me still. I thought I was done. It makes sense that you are a coach, that the kids love you. You always know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. You lit something up I thought was ashes by now."
Makoto's face had softened and his shoulders relaxed.
"But Tachibana..." Makoto was scared shitless to be called by his first same after so long, and from who? His boyfriend? What the hell? Wait, why is Sousuke laughing?
"Ta - chi - ba - na, endearingly, instead of a pet name," Makoto relaxed at that.
"I wasn't lying when I said I enjoyed it, I want to do it, and I will...but maybe after you coach me to being a champion first? Does that sound better?" Sousuke never looked so soft, asking something so sweet from his lover. Makoto could help it, with watery eyes he nodded his head. "Yes, yes it sounds wonderful! I would love to coach you, Yamazaki." He teased him right back before they both kissed. A kiss worth a million 'I love you' worth a thousand 'yes' and lifetime together.
They shared a kiss, a breath, a dream, a though...
We're gonna be ok.