"Is there a reason why you called me out here?" Haru asked Rin who was standing in front of her.
"W-Well, I wanted to ask you something." Rin told her, blushing slightly.
"What is it?" Haru asked.
Rin's face turned a darker red. "I-I was wondering, i-if you're not busy or anything, w-would you like to hang out this Saturday with m-me?" He asked nervously.
"I will have to decline." Haru replied without hesitation. "I have plans with Makoto this Saturday."
"With Makoto?" Rin repeated, feeling disappointed and jealous.
"Yeah." Haru said in monotone. "Maybe we can hang out some other time. I need to go, see ya." Was all she said before leaving the male swimmer.
Rin watched her leave for a moment before he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Holding it to his ear, Rin listened to the ringing sound until someone picked up. "Yo, Kokoro." He greeted. "Clear your schedule for Saturday. I need your help with something."
...
Early on Saturday, at a mall
"There's so many people..." Makoto remarked, taking notice of the very large crowd inside the building.
"We could get separated." Haru commented in monotone.
"That's true." Makoto agreed. "D-Do think should h-hold hands so that doesn't happen?" He asked, a red blush appearing on his cheeks. "But, then again, we are in public. I guess it would be okay if we don't think about what the people around us think. Right, Haru?" He turned to his childhood friend, however she wasn't there. "Haru!" He exclaimed when he noticed that she had gotten sweep away by the massive crowd.
"Makoto..." Haru called out, waving her arm through the thick crowd of people.
...
Later
"That was scary." Makoto commented, now holding hands with Haru as they walked through the mall.
"Sorry." Haru apologized.
"It's okay, no need to worry about it." Makoto reassured her has he patted her head.
Suddenly, Haru stopped in her tracks, causing Makoto to stop as well.
"Is something wrong, Haru?" He asked her.
Haru didn't reply. Her face was blank like all usual, however she had an adoring look in her eyes.
'I know that look.' Makoto thought. He followed his childhood friend's gaze and saw what had captured her eye.
Inside a store's display window was a small, white stuffed bear with a red ribbon tied around its neck.
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"Do you want that, Haru?" Makoto asked.
"Can I?" Haru questioned, turning her adoring gaze to him.
