Chapter Text
There are very few things Harua is willing to compromise on. Most of those are just routines he doesn't want to break. Same skin care products in the same order everyday. Same orders from every cafe and restaurant in town. And the few shirts and jeans kept in his wardrobes rotation. Most of the time, these simple processes keep Harua days organized and effective. Skin care ensures he always looks his best, go-to orders maximize his time during egregiously short lunch breaks, and getting dresses is easy as massing together a cute tee shirt with washed out jeans.
Harua has little time to be bother with anyone, he has better and more effective things to do. Exhibit A, he could be spending his time in the back corner of the library studying for his statistics exam, but instead he has to fend off Chaewon for the nth time this week
"Oh common Rua, you won't even give me one date?" Chaewon tone makes it sound like the question is a round of harmless teasing between friends and not the daily annoyance Harua has to put up with.
"No," Harua shoots back, eyes never leaving his notes, though he does have to reread a few of the lines. It's always like this, every time Harua finds a quite spot to finish his work or study or hell, even take some time for himself, in walks Chaewon. With his annoyingly consistent sense of hope that one day, Harua will forgo his disdain for relationships all for him.
But even if Harua were to drop his standards, it wouldn't be for Chaewon. He wasn't good looking enough for Harua to even consider. Beside, he's a creep too. This guy would book it out of class just to find Harua. Sometimes Harua wonders if he ever spent the better part of his afternoon running around campus trying to find the place Harua choose to spend his time in. But he's probably memorized Harua's rotation of hiding spots by now. Harua is nothing if not consistent, it couldn't have been that hard.
"I can't believe you're still on this 'i never date anyone' spiel. It's really cute, you know," yuck "I just don't understand why you would limit yourself, unless you already had a boyfriend," Andddd that was enough from him today.
Harua tries shuts his notebook and collect his belongings, but Chaewon smacks his hand in front him, startling Harua.
"I'm just asking for one date, I promise you'll find out all I have to offer."
Harua looks up at him, wide-eye, deadpan, and slowly bends to grab his bag. As soon as all his supplies are safe in his arms, Harua makes a dash out of the library that's fast enough to get him away from Chaewon's presence quick, but doesn't make him look like a mad man. Any longer and Chaewon would have thrown Harua off his study plan. Besides, Harua knows a better spot to conduct it in.
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"I still don't understand why you have to study on my bad."
Harua was lying belly down, feet on Maki's pillows, IPad laid out in front of him so he could read his notes. He had spread his things all over Maki's tan bed sheets; backpack to the right of this stomach, books right next to Harua's head. He felt very at peace right now, Maki's room had that effect on him. Light grey walls with only a few posters from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure plastered on it. Maki had hung up some fairy lights that Harua gifted him last month for his birthday after complaining about how Maki room was becoming too cave esque. Especially consider Maki's lifestyle choices.
Maki lived in an apartment that was not too far from campus. He spent almost all day in it, only leaving to attend his class when absolutely necessary. His bedroom was spacious and, the more Harua visited it, oddly comforting. It was Harua's default spot to go to after a Chaewon interaction.
"So what you're saying is you don't enjoy my company?" his voice is filled with fake hurt. He even clutched his chest to really sell it "And I thought we were friends"
Maki rolls his eyes and rolled his desk chair over by the footboard of his bed. Both of them know Harua is allowed into Maki's apartment anytime he wants. It wasn't ever stated, but Harua does have a habit of showing up unannounced, and Maki could never turn him down.
"What I'm saying is I really wanted to take a nap and now my rest area is occupied"
"You were at you were in the bathroom when I came in. And you're bed is comfy. Gives me space to move my body so I don't get stift from sitting in one spot."
Maki gave Harua a look. The look he gave Harua almost every time he came into his room spontaneously. He knew why Harua was here.
"So," Maki set his hand behind his head, leaning back in his chair "what did Chaewon do today?"
"Told me one date was all I needed to see how good he is."
"Jesus. Doesn't he ever get bored"
"If he did, I would be in the library," Harua paused. "Not that I don't find your bed extremely comfortable"
Harua told Maki about Chaewon's antics almost as soon as it turned from "I randomly got hit on lol" to "he's memorized my class schedule and follows me around campus." Maki also knew the reason why Harua rejected people, not just Chaewon. Harua simply had no interest in dating. Sure he found guys attractive from time to time, but the urge to date one them has never been strong. Harua honestly doesn't mind, his routine is much better suited for platonic friends. People like Maki, who even though he's dated a few girls in the time since they meet last year, understands why Harua chooses to stay single. No questions, no push back, just mutual understanding of two different lifestyles.
Maki nods back at Harua. "Is there anyway you can get him to leave you alone"
"He basically said the only thing that keeps him going on is that I'm single"
"So get a boyfriend then, duh"
At least, Harua thought Maki understood him
"Maki what the fu-"
"Okay but hear me out!" he stopped Harua, leaned forward in his chair, and brought his head down to Harua's level "Chaewon thinks you're just playing hard to get. That the only reason you're rejecting him is that you're messing with him, but that you're still available. So, just pretend to be dating someone, and Chaewon will realize he has no shot!"
Harua gave Maki a blank look as he thought it over. While Harua's considered lying to Chaewon before to get him off Harua's back, he didn't really know who he would fake date. He only really has three options; Yuma, who's even more adverse to dating than Harua is, and Taki, is currently pursuing some mystery man that he wont tell either Yuma or Harua about (rude). So that really only leaves…
"Okay than Maki-chan, why don't you date me?"
Maki looked like his processor just overheated. His face was both dumbfounded and shy as he started at Harua, unmoving until Harua asked him if he was okay
"W-why me?" he ask as if the answer wasn't completely obvious.
"You're my only available friend," Harua shrugs "and I trust you to only help me out and not catch feelings"
Maki gives Harua the same face as he continues "See, if I asked some random dude if he'll pretend to be my boyfriend, he'll say yes, but I feel like he's going to try and date me for real, you know? But with you, you're my best friend and you're straight. So I don't have to worry about you secretly wanting to date me."
Maki has still not moved since Harua initially proposed the idea to him, but he meekly gets out "So you want me to date you because you trust me?"
Harua shifts up to sit cross legged on Maki's bed "That and you kinda act like my boyfriend."
Immediately, Maki reverts back to a shocked mess. He ask Harua "Now, what's that supposed to mean?!?"
"Before I introduced you to Yuma, he thought I finally caved and got a boyfriend because I told him you picked me up from class a few times."
Harua thinks the Maki must of gotten sick, as his face goes pale in an instant. He pulls his hand up to face and buries them. Harua watched as he rubs his hands up and down before running them through his hair, letting a few of the black strands fall in front of his forehead. Harua felt bad, he was causing Maki so much distress just because he wanted help.
"Maki, if you're uncomfortable with doing this, you don't have to. I can handle myself"
Maki exhales before replying "No Rua, I'm fine with doing this. If Chaewon's not going to back down anytime soon, I might as well help you keep him off your back" He's smiling now. His smile that Harua calls his "puppy-dog face" to which Maki insist not to call it that. But it means he's being genuine. Even if it might be awkward for Maki to fake date another guy, he's willing to do it for Harua. He's always been sweet like that.
Maybe he's not sick Harua thinks, the AC here is weird, it's too warm for March
"Okay," Harua starts, "But I don't wanna force you to do something you're uncomfortable with" Harua looks back down at his notes and…
"Rua, it's okay, I really do-"
"Crap! Ugh, sorry Maki, I have to go back home." Harua gets up and collects his things off Maki's bed. He makes sure to fix the sheets in the places he messed them up, and he fluffs the pillows back up. "We don't have to make any plans right now. Give yourself some time to think it over, and text me when you've decided, okay?"
Maki's looking up and Harua again, and Harua seriously thinks he needs to get this places AC checked out, he feels both warm and light.
"Okay Rua. I will"
"Okay… Bye Maki!" and Harua steps out of Maki's room and into his apartment's hallway. He thinks over the idea once more on his way to his dorm.
If Harua is going to trick Chaewon into thinking he's dating someone, Maki is the safest and most optimal person to do it with; Harua's already with him 75% of the day, they know each other very well so there's no chance people will doubt them, and he trust Maki most. Maki would only fake it when needed and wouldn't take advantage of Harua. It's not everyday that Shigeta Harua dates someone. Maki wouldn't make a big deal about it. That all made sense. The only part that didn't was Maki's reaction to being asked to be the fake boyfriend. Maki's not the kind of guy that freaks out over the mere idea of being gay. Harua is his best friend for fucks sack. And Harua is also sure Maki's roommate Jo is gay too, so why did he look so shocked when Harua asked him to help?
Then, he thinks of what Maki said later, how he would do it for Harua's sack. His sincere eyes when Harua gave him away out, that didn't align with reaction. Maybe he's just shy? Maki doesn't look it, but he get flustered a lot. Harua has seen it countless times.
Maybe Maki's AC isn't broken, the weather is. Harua feels that same warm feeling again.
Huh.
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Maki has not moved for forty minutes.
After Harua left his room, Maki been blankly staring at the spot where Harua was lying on his bed. Maki has probably traced the dents Harua's body made three times. Worried that if he moves he might get smacked in the face with the realization that Shigeta Harua asked Maki to be his boyfriend. Well, fake boyfriend at least, but it made Maki insane all the same.
When Maki first suggested Harua find a fake boyfriend, he didn't think think Harua would choose him of all people. Maki was hoping he'd go for Taki or someone, literally anyone other than him.
Maki had no problem with helping out a friend. He'd would do anything Harua asked him to before the words even left his mouth… which is exactly the problem.
Maki is hopelessly in love with Harua.
Harua doesn't know about his crush, hell Harua doesn't even know Maki likes guys. But it makes Maki the prefect candidate for Harua's plan to fake having a boyfriend so that Chaewon guy leaves him alone.
Maki slams his head onto his desk and wailed. All the ruckus caught the attention of Maki's roommate Jo. Poor, sweet Asakura Jo, the one who had to endure all of Maki's crisis was just about to walk into the biggest one of his life.
"Maki, are you okay?" Jo popped his head into Maki's doorway as the younger turned to face him. Judging by Jo's face, Maki probably looked like he had been through both world wars and then some.
"Rua… wants me… to pretend to be his boyfriend."
Jo settles on the floor just in front of Maki's chair, looking up before asking "Why does he need a fake boyfriend?"
"So Chaewon gives up on him"
"So why are you the fake boyfriend?"
"I dont really know. I thought he would have asked Yuma or Taki. But apparently I'm the best choice because, get this! I'm the 'straight' one!! And because I 'won't catch feelings'!!'' Maki accented the words with air quotes. His head was still flopped on the desk
Jo only seem to perk up at the mention of Harua's friends, otherwise he was visibly unimpressed "You know this wouldn't be happening if you just told Harua that you're bi"
Maki finally lifts his head up and turns his chair around. He slumps back as he faces Jo. The older knows why Maki hasn't come out to Harua, well Maki hasn't really told anyone beside Jo. He only discovered his sexuality recently. And it was all Harua's fault. They were just relaxing in Maki's room, neither of them doing anything really, Harua was just studying and Maki was watching videos on his phone. But only Harua was focused on what he was doing, Maki couldn't stop glancing back at Harua.
It didn't really come crashing down on Maki, it was more like a subtle realization of the truth. Realizing that even when both of them were occupied, Harua's presence was enough to comfort Maki. It was a solid weight that kept him grounded at all times.
When Maki recounted this experience to Jo over text, all he got back was a well refined "that's gay lol," and Maki had no qualms with that.
"If Harua knew he wouldn't let me go until he found out my gay awakening and then he would hate me for liking while being his friend," Maki finally answered. "He'll think I just hang out with him because I want to get in his pants or something."
"And now you're going to pretend to be his boyfriend, and the only reason he's doing it with you is because he trust you not to take advantage of him." Jo sounds like hes officially heard it all
Maki groans once more "Jooooo, what am I gonna dooooo?!" Maki buries his face is his palms again. He shouldn't have told Harua anything. Why did he even need Maki to give him advice? Harua is perfectly capable for helping himself without Maki's big mouth suggesting silly ideas like "date your best friend that you're horrendously pinning for"
What Maki needs is for Jo, the only sane person in their house, to tell Maki he's made a huge, but salvageable, mistake. That's its all gonna be okay, and Maki will find a way out of this and-
"I think you have to date him"
Well, why don't you just fuck me with a chainsaw.
"Hey, it's for Harua's sack right?" It's like Jo can hear Maki's internal despair. "He's your friend and he asked for your help, so stop worrying about your own feeling and do the right thing"
Jo keeps going despite Maki's pouting "The only reason you haven't confessed is because you don't want Harua to loss trust with you, right? You don't want to go behind his back when he needs you. So just be there for him, even if that means some emotional turmoil."
Maki thinks it over. Jo's right, this all for Harua. Maki can't be acting selfishly while his best friend needs him. "I don't think I could handle keeping my feelings down if we're gonna fake it. It's gonna drive me crazy"
"You already tell me every time you gay panic for Harua, just keep doing that." Jo suggest, "I'll still be here for you, Maki"
"Oh Jojo" Maki slides off his chair and hugs Jo. He really does have the most patient roommate of all time.
Jo pats his head softly "Have you guys agreed to fake date yet?" he asks.
Shit! Maki leaps back up to his desk and grabs his phone. He opens his chat with Harua. This is all for Rua. You're doing this to help him out Maki chants to himself as he types out his reply. It doesn't take long for Harua to respond back.
maki chan
ill be your fake boyfriend
rua chan
yayyyy!!!!
meet me tmr outside the library @ 1
Maki breathes out a sigh. He's probably going to go insane one week into this, but he doesn't really mind anymore. All he cares about is keeping Harua safe and happy; that's always been his top priority.