"Bonenkai?*" Sousuke asked, hearing the noise in the background.

"No." Makoto chuckled softly and closed the curtains in the living room. "I'm home. It's just my family."

"Ahh, so the twins?" The sound of Sousuke's laugh made Makoto feel warm inside. His deep, gruff voice still does things to Makoto even if they're not seeing each other.

"Yeah, and watching Kōhaku with my parents. Otousan skipped their office year end party to stay at home and relax. He's rooting for the red team, by the way." Lowering his voice a little, Makoto looked fondly at his parents sitting on the couch, watching the television and half minding the twins running around while a small clock ticks on the lower left part of the screen. 

It was New Years Eve, and as much as Makoto would want to spend it with his family, he does it every year, and a part of him wishes that this time, he'd get to spend it with Sousuke too.

It was their first New Year as a couple after all.

Strange how it's been a year since the things that happened in the library, or the ones they did inside Samezuka's dorm. Until now, Makoto couldn't help but be shy every time he comes to visit, staring at Rin's bunk bed a little longer than necessary every single time.

"Makoto..." Makoto shook his head and focused on the call.
"Sorry, Sousuke..." The twins rounded the corner he was in, giggling. "Are you saying something?"
"No. Just... Happy New Year." The voice on the other line visibly perked up and Makoto found himself smiling again. "I just want to greet you a Happy New Year before anyone else. I know it's gonna get busy in a few hours so I better greet you now." There was a pause and Makoto held his breath, waiting eagerly for what Sousuke has to say. His boyfriend has never been talkative, and Makoto is fine with that so whenever Sousuke is vocal, Makoto tends to listen more.

"I didn't think it was possible. Thank you for making me so happy this year. You... you're amazing." Sousuke blurted out in one breath.

Makoto was pretty sure his cheeks looked as red as it feels, blushing furiously at Sousuke's words. Sometimes he marvels how such a quiet, stoic looking person can say such things, but Makoto has learned how much of a softie his boyfriend really is inside, not to mention a closet romantic and he can never get used to the warm feelings he gets every single time Sousuke was like that.

"Oniichan!!!" Ran's loud voice was the only warning Makoto got before a loud crash echoed inside the house.

"Are you okay-?" The fragile moment now shattered, worry was suddenly evident in Sousuke's voice.
"Yeah. Uhm, sorry Sousuke. I need to hang up!" Hearing his parents' frantic footsteps is the signal of the start of the chaos that is the Tachibana household, and Makoto's older brother instincts kicked in immediately.
"Ah! Before I forgot. Happy New Year! Thanks for the greeting!" Makoto practically screamed at his phone. "And thanks for being such a wonderful boyfriend. I love you!"

Of course Makoto wasn't with him, so he didn't see Sousuke's face going red as a tomato then before the other line went dead.

After a few minutes, everything was sorted out, and it looked like the twins tripped one after the other when they tried avoiding hitting the table which they still did, breaking a plate in the process but coming out of it with only scratches to show for.

"Ah, thank goodness you're both okay." Makoto rubbed both Ran and Ren's heads, the twins has then finished crying and are in the process of falling asleep while his parents clean up the dining room.

"Niichan... stay with us." Ran, now barely awake, climbed over her brother and burrowed her face on her brother's neck. Makoto, resigning himself to not moving for the next hour, reached for his phone the same moment he heard a chime.

To: Makoto
From: Sousuke
Subject: Shrine visit?

Let's go to Arasuna shrine tomorrow.
It's a New Year, I'd like to say thanks for having you beside me still.

Makoto knew that if he'd grin any wider his face will split in half, but he was practically glowing while reading Sousuke's text message for the seventh time. They had talked about it. Omisoka (New Years Eve) is with family, but Hatsumode is a totally different thing. The first temple visit of the year is important for him and he was determined to spend it with Sousuke.

To: Sousuke
From: Makoto

Subject: Re: Shrine visit?

I'd love to. (⌒‿⌒)
It's the first thing we'll do this new year as a couple. (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)

Something they'll do as a couple... Makoto was so excited. But then again...

Makoto's eyes widened at the realization. Because now he has to think of a way to slip out of the house and go meet Sousuke.  See the only problem right now is that he and Sousuke... they haven't really told anyone that they're dating. They both agreed to wait until they think it's the proper time, so technically everything was a secret.

Makoto sighed.

This was going to be a challenge.

-----

Ran and Ren recovered pretty fast because of the jovial mood inside the Tachibana household. 

Everyone was all smiles, laughters and giggles as they await the familiar ringing of the bells signaling the start of Joya no Kane. Ran and Ren smothered Makoto with kisses he was all too happy to receive and after refusing for a while, Makoto's parents insisted on giving him his own Otoshidama, while the twins waved their colorful pochibukuro envelopes, already shouting which toys they'll buy with their New Years money.

"Thank you, otousan. Thank you, okaasan." It was Makoto's turn to hug his parents, but it didn't last long, Makoto heard someone knocking on their front door and he wasn't surprised to find Haru on his doorstep, eyes clouded and sporting an expression equivalent to irritation on his face.

"Rin and I fought." Haru said, as if that will explain why he was in a dark mood a few hours before the new year.
"Ahh..." Makoto tried to smile as he patted Haru on the shoulder before stepping aside to usher him in.
"Haru-niichan!" The twins immediately crowded on Haru and a smile replaced the frown on his face, and for a minute, Makoto was glad. Haru hasn't said anything, and not that Makoto was expecting him to but he was pretty sure he and Rin were in a relationship, though the details are still pretty vague, and he was waiting for his best friend to open up.

Haru sat in front of the kotatsu on the living room, scowl now back on his face as he stared at Makoto.

"Haru..." Makoto didn't know what happened, but if Haru was sulking as he is, it must've been a pretty big fight. "It's the New Year soon, don't you want to start the new year with Rin?"

"I'll wait for his text." Haru brought out his phone but instead of opening it, he placed it on top of the kotatsu, gaze glued at it as if expecting something that Makoto sighed and got his own phone from his pocket. Maybe he should text Sousuke and ask about Rin. He's doubly bothered about his friends fighting and because it was that time of the year.

To: Sousuke
From: Makoto

Subject: Rin

Haru said he fought with Rin. How is he? And it's New Years eve. 
Do you think they can talk?

Makoto's mom brought food out for the both of them and both Makoto and Haru ate in silence. After eating, Haru's mood has gradually improved, but Makoto can see him frowning once in a while. Haru was tight lipped about the whole thing, and in between playing with the twins and seeing the New Year through, he didn't say anything.

"Will you tell me what the fight is about?" Makoto tried asking, and was somehow relieved when Haru nodded.
"It's nothing important. But yeah... I will." His best friend said, which made Makoto smile. If it wasn't a big deal Haru wouldn't be in his house on New Years Eve.

Notes:

Bonenkai - A drinking party that takes place at the end of the year, usually done by co-workers and friends.
Joya no Kane -  A buddhist ceremony done on  New Year's Eve where temple bells are struck 108 times in Japan
Hatsumode - first shrine visit
Otoshidama -  a Japanese traditional custom where the adults give some money to a child in their family, usually done during the New Year
Pochibukuro - small decorated envelopes containing money usually given to children during the New Years