Makoto turned a slight shade of red at the sudden confession, his movements and attempts to get her off of him to cease.
What…? Since when?
Was he just too dense to have noticed it? Maybe.
Looking down to meet her gaze, Makoto gulped. He had only been trying to push her away so that he wouldn’t make her uncomfortable, that was the last thing he wanted to do.
It appears that he has fallen asleep against a staircase, quietly snoring away. This isn't exactly the best place to rest as the sky is threatening to dump rain onto the town below. Getting drenched is definitely not preferred, so being woke up by a person would be for the best.
send me a ☾ for my muse waking up to find yours in their bed in the middle of night
How did this happen? How did she even get here?! Makoto thought as he was wide awake now. His green eyes were just staring at Gou that was currently sleeping.
I hope Rin doesn't find out... If he does then... I'm a dead man. The orca gulped.
Send me a ✿ and I'll generate a no. || 5: Eyelid Kiss
Scenario: He lost the most important race and the tears would not come out.
——-
{♣} || He had been staring at his palms for how long now? He didn’t know. It’s not like he had found something special on it or it has an injury… but he remembered something Haru told him once before: it’s said that a person’s fate could be read with the lines of his palm.
What pretty patterns… So complicated.
Makoto traced the most dominant line with his finger which curved down at the side, a serene expression on his face.
If fate could be read through them… does that mean he had been destined to lose a long time ago? His brain rejected the thought and kept him in still silence, and he would have stayed that way for a couple of hours more if a certain redhead didn’t find him.
He instantly felt the need to put a smile on. “Kou-chan.”
“Makoto-buchou.” Instead of returning the smile, he saw her frown at him before settling beside him. “Are you okay?”
A chuckle, and whether or not it sounded faint, he didn’t know anymore. “Of course, why would I not be, ne? You worry too much, haha—”
"…Stop it.” Her hand was suddenly on his wrist; it felt as if she was holding on to restrain herself rather than to pin him down. “Please… if you’re not alright… you can tell it, buchou.”
He chose not to speak at first, weighing his options on how he should answer her in a way that would not appall her. Gou… she had always been a hard-worker. Even for someone who’s younger than them, she had helped them in as many ways as possible, always reliable when they need some shaking or encouragement. Shame… if winning was the only thing to reward her, he miserably failed at it. If only he did better…
“I'm… alright.” He lied through his mellow tones, not meeting Gou's stare. “You should go find the others, Kou-chan, for sure they need—”
“If you’re always okay… let me cry for you then!” A sudden, fat angry tear slid down her right cheek and her whole body trembled, even the hand that was gripping him. “Makoto-senpai always smiles at us, you always cheer us up and take care of others… but you don’t really take care of yourself!”
More tears soon followed and Makoto was too taken aback by her outburst to actually have a rational reaction. First—he didn’t know she was that worried about him, thinking all this time that he had been freeing everyone of the trouble. It appears though that the effect was opposite… he had made a girl cry.
“Kou… chan…” Tears continued streaming down her cheek and he could only lay a hand on her shoulder.
“L-let me cry for you, senpai… We hate seeing you so down… Please let me…”
“I can’t…” A long sigh came after as he tried to compose himself even just a little bit. “Don’t cry for me… onegaishimasu…”
I don’t deserve it. And… the tears won’t come out even if I try.
“But senpai…” She threw him one last pleading look with her clouded gaze and squeezed on his wrist slightly. “Senpai, please…”
Every moment that passes was worsening his feelings; he felt thankful, humbled, yet guilty and disappointed at the same time. Whatever happens, he was the captain and he should stand strong for all of them, not cause them more pain.
Not being able to withstand her tears, Makoto shook his head first before leaning close—a deep breath—and pressing his lips to one of those nearly-swollen lids.
Will it be able to stop her from crying? He really didn’t consider it that much and acted upon instinct, doing the same gestures to his siblings whenever they cry. Perhaps, this was another way he could repay her efforts; be her brother and protector too, right?
"…I'll be alright. Soon.” His voice sounded promising, devoted. By then his hand was on her locks, unconsciously brushing it just in his desire to calm her down and brought her within his broad arms.
“You don’t have to cry… because I’ll make sure you will have no reason to, na.” His speech thankfully drowned some of her sobbing and he just hopes it’ll be replaced by her usual bright smile, soon.
“Kou-chan… I promise… I’ll win next time.” He paused and leaned the side of his head against hers. “For everyone. For you.”