Love Me Harder // MatsuHana.

five

As they made their way back from the park, the teasing banter between them quickly resumed, as if they’d never had that deep, heartfelt moment. Matsukawa couldn’t help himself when Hanamaki stumbled slightly over a crack in the sidewalk.

“Careful, Makki,” Matsukawa said with a smirk, nudging him. “I know you’re getting flustered by my presence, but no need to trip over your own feet.”

Hanamaki shot him a look, catching his balance. “Please, you wish. You just distracted me with that mug of yours.”

“Admit it. You were thinking about how lucky you are to be walking home with me,” Matsukawa teased, leaning in closer as they walked.

Hanamaki rolled his eyes but leaned into the joke, bumping his shoulder against Matsukawa’s. “Oh yeah, totally. Every day I wake up and think, ‘Wow, what did I do to deserve Matsun in my life?’ I’m so blessed.”

Matsukawa let out a dramatic sigh. “Finally, some honesty around here.”

They passed by a convenience store, and Matsukawa, being the instigator that he was, grabbed Hanamaki’s wrist and tugged him toward the entrance.

“What are you doing?” Hanamaki asked, confused but following anyway.

“Getting snacks. You owe me for almost tripping me with your clumsy feet earlier,” Matsukawa said with a grin, though Hanamaki knew perfectly well that Matsukawa was just using it as an excuse to get food.

Inside the store, Matsukawa grabbed a couple of bags of chips while Hanamaki scanned the shelves for something sweet. When Hanamaki reached for a candy bar, Matsukawa suddenly reached over, resting his chin on Hanamaki’s shoulder from behind.

“You gonna share that with me, babe?” Matsukawa’s voice was soft and teasing, his breath warm against Hanamaki’s ear.

Hanamaki’s face immediately turned red, and he shoved Matsukawa off with a laugh. “Cut that out! You know the cashier probably thinks we’re dating now.”

Matsukawa just shrugged with an innocent smile. “And? I’d date me too.”

“God, you’re impossible,” Hanamaki muttered, though he couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips.

They paid for their snacks and stepped out of the store, bags in hand. The sky was now a deep indigo, with only the streetlights illuminating their path. As they walked, they munched on their snacks, continuing their lighthearted bickering.

“So,” Matsukawa said, mouth full of chips, “when are you gonna confess your undying love for me, Makki? I’m getting tired of waiting.”

Hanamaki snorted. “I was planning to do it during the next solar eclipse, but now that you’re pressuring me, I might have to delay it.”

Matsukawa gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded. “You’re breaking my heart! Here I was, thinking we’d have our dramatic confession in the rain, like in those cheesy dramas you love so much.”

Hanamaki grinned. “Oh, no, no, no. If we’re doing a confession, it has to be extra cheesy. I’m talking full ‘running through the airport’ moment, followed by a tearful hug in slow motion.”

Matsukawa laughed, nearly choking on his chips. “Oh, absolutely. And I’ll be the one running, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Hanamaki agreed, biting into his candy bar. “You’re the drama queen here.”

Matsukawa grinned. “But you love it.”

“Eh, debatable,” Hanamaki teased, though the smirk on his face betrayed him.

They reached Hanamaki’s house first, and they both slowed their pace, not really wanting the day to end.

Matsukawa walked him up to the gate, as he always did, and they stood there for a moment, both of them pretending they had something important to say but really just enjoying the last few seconds of their time together.

“Well,” Matsukawa said, leaning against the gate with his hands in his pockets, “this was fun. We should do it again sometime.”

Hanamaki chuckled. “Yeah, let’s do it every day. Oh wait, we already do.”

Matsukawa shot him a look. “Smartass.”

As they stood there, Matsukawa suddenly reached out and flicked Hanamaki’s forehead lightly, making him wince.

“Hey! What was that for?” Hanamaki protested, rubbing his forehead.

Matsukawa just grinned. “For that weak serve you pulled earlier. You call yourself a volleyball player?”

“Oh, I see. You’re still salty about that spike you missed, huh?” Hanamaki shot back, a smirk creeping onto his face.

Matsukawa laughed, leaning down slightly so their faces were at the same level. “Maybe. But I’ll get you next time, Makki. You can count on it.”

“Looking forward to it,” Hanamaki replied, his voice teasing but laced with genuine fondness. “But good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

They stood there for a beat longer, neither moving, both of them with matching grins. Finally, Matsukawa gave a mock-sigh, stepping back.

“Alright, get inside before your mom thinks I’m keeping you out late,” he said, his tone light but reluctant.

Hanamaki nodded, still smiling. “Yeah, yeah. Night, Matsun.”

“Night, Makki.”

As Hanamaki turned to head inside, Matsukawa called after him, his voice just loud enough to hear.

“Hey, Makki!”

Hanamaki turned, his hand still on the gate. “What?”

Matsukawa’s grin widened, and he gave a small wave. “Don’t forget to dream about me.”

Hanamaki rolled his eyes, but his smile was wide. “You wish.”

With that, he disappeared inside, leaving Matsukawa standing there, shaking his head with a fond smile.