"oh fuck?" mattsun asked, double blinking as he watched hanamaki avert his eyes. "that's-" he furrowed his brow slightly. "that's your response to-" he paused.

"no, no, no," hanamaki spat out, "babe," he said. "that just caught me off guard," his face felt like it was on fire. "i mean- like," he wasn't sure what to say. "lets-" he stammered, "can we go inside?" he asked. matsukawa stared blankly at the boy for a moment.

"yeah," he said, "yeah," he repeated and clumsily grabbed the car keys from the ignition. he got out of the car and walked over to open makki's car door, but the boy had already opened it himself. matsu took a step back after noticing this, then he turned and walked over to his front door. he opened it up and let the pink haired boy in.

"so, do you wanna just get changed and head straight over to the party?" makki asked, looking over at matsu as he closed the door behind them.

"i mean, are we going to talk?"

"about what?" hanamaki asked, subtly tightening his grip on the costume bag. matsu took in a deep breath, walking up to him.

"never mind, gimme the costume," he said, reaching out for his half of the costume. hanamaki obviously knew exactly what mattsun wanted to talk about, but makki was emotionally drained for the day. he didn't want to have anymore serious conversations, or awkward conversations, he was over it all. he handed matsukawa the han costume, then watched as the boy walked off to his room. hanamaki made his way over to the bathroom to get changed.

*

matsukawa parked up the car in front of terushima's house. the car ride there was yet another silent and awkward car ride, matsu had the radio playing to try and mask the awkwardness.

"aaalright," matsukawa said, "you stickin' with me?" he asked dully.

"what d'ya mean?" he replied hesitantly.

"i mean, are we going to walk in there and you're just going to walk away from me because you're mad?" he asked.

"i'm not mad,"

"whatever you're doing right now,"

"i'm not doing anything," hanamaki responded.

"this! whatever we're doing right now, you aren't talking to me,"

"because!"

"because what?!" matsukawa asked, "because i told you i loved you?!" he asked.

"you didn't say you loved me, you said you were in love with me!" he exclaimed.

"what's the difference," matsu groaned.

"it's different, matsu!" he proclaimed, "love is endearing and cute, in love is heavy!" he said as matsukawa placed both hands on the wheel then leaned forward and rested his forehead onto it. they didn't say anything for a moment until hanamaki spoke up again, "it's just hard for me to believe that you're in love with me," he said, mattsun turned his head to face makki.

"why?" he asked.

"it's heavy," he repeated. "those are heavy words," he said then paused, "i haven't known you that long," he said softly. matsukawa sighed.

"dude..."

"did you just call me dude romantically?" makki asked with an awkward laugh.

"maybe," he replied with a laugh. he sighed again then looked away. "you already know i'm terrible at this stuff," he said lightheartedly. "give me a break, pinkie,"

"i know," he said quietly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "you're really terrible at this stuff," he teased, causing matsu to let out a laugh.

"you know what, babe," he said.

"hm?"

"i'm not going to take back what i said," mattsun said, a devilish smile on his face.

"oh yeah?"

"yeah," he said, "i'm convinced i'm in love with you," he sat up in his seat, "so you're just going to have to deal with that!" he announced triumphantly. hanamaki huffed.

"so be it," he said.

"and since i'm so terrible at this stuff, why don't you...just...lead from now on?" he suggested.

"lead?" he asked.

"i won't rush anything anymore, i won't say crazy things," he said, "i'll just let you do all that dumb love stuff first,"

"hm...i need an example, i'm not following,"

"like," he began, raising a finger up then pointing it at makki, "if we're making out and i put my hand somewhere i shouldn't, move it," he said, "or if i say something dumb, just cover my mouth," he went on. "or even if we're making out i'll let you do the hand stuff,"

"hand stuff," makki repeated amusedly.

"mmhm, all the hand stuff," he said, leaning in for a split second then pulling back. "oh, see, i was just about to kiss you," he said, "but i have no idea if you're still upset with me, so that was dumb,"

"i'm nooot upset," hanamaki reassured him, "kiss me!" he proclaimed.

"your wish is my command!" he jokingly replied, leaning in to press his lips against the other boy's lips. then he looked over at teru's house. "lets go inside," he said. hanamaki responded with a short hum and a nod. matsukawa was about to open the car door when hanamaki piped up.

"hold on a minute!" he protested, "matsu!" he said. matsukawa looked over at him.

"what?"

"akaashi..." he said, raising a brow, "when i first met akaashi he was dating kuroo,"

"yeah..." he said. "wait a minute!" he added.

"and then-!"

"and then he was crying over taichi in the car!" mattsun chimed.

"yeah!"

"what is happening!"