Chapter 16 - finale

Makoto groaned, not bothering to lift his head from his pillow to find his cellphone that was buzzing next to his bed. He lifted his arm, trial after trial to try to find it and answer to make the vibrating and too-cheerful sounds stop, and whoever was calling him at this hour was definitely going to get an earful from him, coherent or otherwise. Finding success at last and gripping the still-vibrating device, he slid it open and pressed it to his ear.

"Who is this-"

"Happy graduation day, sweetheart!"

Seijuurou, of course...

"Sei, what time is it?"

"Eight o'clock on the dot! Rise and shine c'mon, there's things to do! Things to celebrate!"

Sitting up with a sigh Makoto rubbed at his still-heavy eyes with his spare hand. "You sound extra cheerful."

"It's a big day for you, Mako! I can't wait to see you today." A pause. "Well, you and Haruka."

"You saw everyone days ago at Samezuka, though." Makoto couldn't help but smile.

"I'm just...I don't know, really excited! C'mon, you have to be excited too, babe!"

"Gimmie a few minutes, or an hour, you woke me up." The youngest yawned. "I'll just see you later, okay?"

"Alright, alright, fine! Love you."

"Love you too..." Makoto slid his phone shut, letting it fall ontop of his blankets as he nuzzled back into his pillow. "Five more minutes..."

What Makoto didn't know, is that Seijuurou was downstairs at the ready, a plateful of homemade chocolate chip waffles resting on the counter and chatting away with Asako and Tatsuya. Thirty minutes later when Ren and Ran had dragged a half-asleep Makoto to the kitchen, the brunette was more than surprised to have his still-cheerful boyfriend hug him immediately when he came into view.

"Were you here the whole time...?" Makoto yawned, sitting himself down in a chair at the kitchen table. "We talked not too long ago, when did-"

"He got here early this morning. The darling wanted to make you breakfast." Asako took some things out of the fridge, the syrup and milk, setting them on the counter next to the plate. "He's been waiting for you to come down and finally sent up your siblings to come and get you."

"You better eat up, before they get even colder!" Seijuurou nudged Makoto's side, trying to wake him up fully. "Ren and Ran already had their share, and so did your parents and me, so the rest are for you!"

"Are you serious?!" Makoto's eyes widened. "There's an entire pile there! I can't possibly eat all of them without getting sick!"

"As long as you do eat them, I'll be happy."

Makoto sighed, resting his head against the palm of his hand, smiling at his boyfriend. "You."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you." Grabbing his fork to stick into the waffle at the top of the pile, bringing it close to his face and held it in front of his mouth, using it as a cover, so he could kiss the redhead.

"Is it finally settling in yet?" Seijuurou watched as Makoto was getting ready to meet with Haruka and the others. "Soon you'll be having to pack for college, babe."

"Oh, I know." Makoto focused on tying his tie. "Last night it took forever to fall asleep because today's one of the last days that I'll be walking through that school and be around that pool for a long time. I'm just relieved that I got good marks on my finals. But...it is a bit sad, though."

"Unless you get convinced to sneak a quick dip in the pool." Seijuurou snorted. "You'll be back sooner than you think, I'm sure of it. Nagisa and Rei would probably love having you back to teach some of the new kids on the team, and maybe if you go it'll mean Haru will show up too. And of course you did great, why wouldn't you?"

Makoto hummed in response which turned into a sigh of frustration as his fingers fumbled with the fabric around his neck. Seijuurou got up and stood behind Makoto, gently pushing Makoto's hands away to fix his tie himself.

"You know..." Seijuurou finished the neat knot of Makoto's tie and adjusted it, making sure that it looked fine in the mirror's reflection. "You still haven't told me what college you chose yet."

"...Tonight." The brunette leaned back into Seijuurou and felt large hands rest on his hips. "When we're all together at the pool. I decided that then, I'll tell all of you what I chose. And speaking of decisions, you still haven't told me if you decided to stay in the dorms or get an apartment."

The talk of the possible apartment for Seijuurou was brought up twice. The redhead figured that it could be better, getting used to a living arrangement without it being conjoined to his current school or at his parents, but money was an important factor and Seijuurou was, after all, used to dorms by now and wanted a change of pace and to be out on his own seemed like a fantastic option.

Seijuurou shrugged, kissing the nape of Makoto's neck. "I'll have to look around some more, but I'm definitely leaning more towards getting my own place."

"If you need help, I'll go out looking with you." Makoto twisted himself around to face Seijuurou, smoothing out the wrinkles on Seijuurou's shirt and looking into glittering golden eyes, smiling. "Y'know, get the boyfriend approval and all."

"Of course." He chuckled, pressing their foreheads together. "You have better taste than I do when it comes to interior stuff, anyways. So it saves me a phone call begging you to come with me."

"I could just be a jerk and pick out only pink things, say that it fits very well and you wouldn't know any better." Makoto teased.

The redhead scoffed. "But pink is a very manly color, Mako!"

"If you two keep that up you're going to make Makoto late and make me sick from how cute you two are!" The couple turned their heads to see a grinning Nagisa in the doorway. "Now come on! You can flirt later!"

The ceremony was definitely something that both Haruka and Makoto would remember. Smiles, laughing, tons of pictures, being recognized for their club, and of course, happy tears. It had finally hit both boys that high school was over and the next big step in their lives was closing in.

And that they would for once, be miles and miles apart and it would be tough getting used to.

However, the two of them pushed the sadness aside for a few hours to go to the pool for the after party and enjoy themselves. It had been quite the turnout, with Nagisa, Rei, and Gou whom did all of the decorations and left the other little details to the new members of the swim club, and Mr. and Mrs. Tachibana being in charge of the snacks with Seijuurou's help (and Ren and Ran who were in charge of decorating the cookies, of course). Even Miss Amakata and Sasabe attended, to show their support for the Iwatobi graduates that were headed off to their respective new schools soon, plus Rin and Nitori. Unfortunately the Mikoshibas tried their best to attend, but with a sick Mei on their hands, they decided to go out and celebrate as soon as she got better. Makoto and Haruka thanked everyone for doing so much for them, saying that everything looked fantastic and that they were extremely grateful that they had wonderful friends and family to do this for them, and that it was important.

Asako had two mini cakes for Haruka and Rin, handmade with their universities emblems in frosting on top with a plastic dolphin and shark as a cute decoration to top it off. They were grateful, admiring the care that was put in to making them, and said their thanks with big hugs and misting eyes. But there was another cake that fit the three, but was incredibly under-dressed.

Which then the group turned their attention to Makoto, whose personalized cake was only adorned with a plastic orca and green sprinkles, due to not knowing Makoto's university of choice.

"I guess I should tell you all now, huh?" He smiled, his heartbeat quickening. Makoto stood up, Seijuurou's fingers loosely linked with his as it hung at his side. "Well...it took longer than I thought it would to decide. And I'm pretty sure you all know that. I had to think for a...long, long time because I wanted to make sure that I chose the right place for me, a place that felt right and would be perfect. Like you all said I should do."

Makoto paused, looking at the crowd of people here, friends and family that have supported him through his life, and then at Seijuurou smiling next to him, and the weight of his ring around his neck seemed heavier. It felt like his heart was almost going to burst.

"...So I decided that I'll be going to Kyoto, to go through the teaching program with an almost full scholarship."

Because it feels right.

Seijuurou was on his feet in an instant, eyes wide as he pulled Makoto into a hug, the rest of the party members watching the couple embrace with smiles on their own faces. While everyone was distracted, Asako had gotten a tube of green frosting from her purse and snuck over to Makoto's bare cake, writing 'Kyoto' in big, neat letters. Nagisa, Rei, Gou, Nitori, Rin and Haruka came over, attempting to pry Seijuurou off of Makoto so that they could hug their friend and congratulate him as well, but the redhead wouldn't budge. Makoto patted Seijuurou's back, whispering to him ("C'mon, love..."), and it wasn't until Asako and Tatsuya put a hand on Seijuurou's shoulder.

"Why don't you go get Makoto some cake, Seijuurou?" Tatsuya suggested once the redhead had finally detatched himself.

"Ah, right!" Seijuurou rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. He turned to Makoto, who now had Nagisa clinging to his arm and Rin giving him a pat on the back. "Sorry..."

Makoto just smiled at his boyfriend, cheeks pink. "It's fine."

The rest of the evening was bustling with activity and conversation, enjoying the atmosphere that the pool gave with the small white lights hanging around the fence and floatable lights in the water. The graduates made sure to talk to everyone, discussing how it felt now that high school was over and they would be leaving for college soon. They all felt the same; excited, nervous, the distance from everything being intimidating, but were happy nonetheless. The question of staying in contact was never brought up, knowing fully well that just completely losing all communication wasn't even an option.

With the excitement of my boyfriend is going to school with me, Seijuurou knew that Makoto wanted to spend some time with his friends and family and enjoy himself without a very excited redhead clinging to his side. After handing Makoto a slice of his personalized cake and getting something for himself to drink, he stood off to the side, watching Makoto and his friends socialize. He sighed, the rim of the plastic cup between his lips and chewed slightly. Mind unfocused, Seijuurou didn't catch Rin coming towards him from the corner of his eye, and jumped when he nudged his shoulder.

"Oi."

"Oi yourself, Matsuoka." Seijuurou mumbled into the half-full cup. "Having fun?"

"Yeah, didn't expect everything to be this nice." Rin scratched the back of his neck, trying to break the awkward tension. "So...Mako going to Kyoto, huh? Pretty big deal."

Seijuurou bit back a wide grin, and he nodded. "Yeah. I knew he was stressed out about deciding on a place to go and I did mention that going to school together would be fun, but I didn't think that he would actually choose there, y'know?"

"He didn't tell you as soon as he decided?" Rin looked over and Seijuurou shook his head. "Apparently Haru knew from the moment that he finally picked something because of how happy he looked, especially on the day of finals. But he said that it is a place that he's been to countless times and knows his way around and people already know him, it would take off a bunch of stress on him."

"I'm...really happy." Seijuurou was beaming by now, hiding his mouth behind his cup now pointless. "I thought he was going somewhere big, like Tokyo where there's more to be offered, but he chose Kyoto. He picked what he thought was right and that's...really something, isn't it?"

Rin clicked his tongue and glanced over at Makoto who was still talking to Amakata and his mother. "Sure is."

"...Do you think that he's only going to Kyoto because of me?"

"Mikoshiba, if Makoto was going to Kyoto just for you everyone would be over here talking to you about it."

Once everyone had helped clean up and gone home for the evening, Makoto and Seijuurou had stayed behind, promising that they would lock up once they left. With their shoes taken off and pants rolled up, the couple sat side by side with their feet in the water, Seijuurou's hand on top of Makoto's and his thumb making a comforting circle against Makoto's skin.

"I can't believe that Nagisa spilt his drink on Rei. I've seen him angry before, but he seemed more flustered than anything." Makoto laughed, staring at the reflection of the half-clouded moon in the pool water. "At least he had some spare clothes in the club room."

"I've never heard him yell that loud before, and I thought Rin was bad."

"And when they walked in and found Rin and Nitori making out, Nagisa was the one to yell." The graduate gently kicked away one of the floating lights. "And then Nagisa shouting 'so it's okay for you two to be in here but if it's me and Rei it's totally not okay' got some definite head turns as those two walked out as red as your hair."

"See, we were smarter than that. We actually went away from where everyone was when we wanted some alone time." The couple laughed, tilting their heads to the side to share a small kiss, smiles still wide on their faces.

"Sei?"

Seijuurou cupped Makoto's cheek, staring into almost saddened green eyes that made a wave of worry go through him. "Yeah?"

"Do you...think I made the right choice with Kyoto?"

"Mako, sweetheart..." Seijuurou dipped his hand into the water, flicking the droplets at Makoto who only giggled in protest. "For one, I'm just glad you chose something finally. I'm a bit suspicious because who knows, you could just be going because of me, and that's what I thought, but honestly? Wherever you were to go I would still be at your side to support you, because wherever you go or what you want to do, it's right. Hell, maybe I would even transfer to be with you now that I think about it."

"Can I be honest about something else?" Makoto ceased his leg movement in the water and laced his fingers with Seijuurou's. "When you called me, when I was still stressing out? After I told you that you needed to sleep and hung up, I went right back to trying to decide and I...actually didn't realize that I didn't apply to Kyoto at all until that night."

"So...you still got accepted, with almost a full ride, even though you applied so late?" Seijuurou blinked.

"I chose because I did do research on their programs some more, and I even got sent quite a bit of scholarships to help to pay for things. Plus, like you said, I'm familiar with the area by now, and regardless I'm happy with my decision and I know you are, too. I'm going to become a teacher, with you by my side. And thinking about everything, with all of that stuff and also about my own future, and how things are going to be, it was for the best and I know I didn't choose wrong. So Kyoto it was." Makoto rested his head on Seijuurou's shoulder. "But why did you stay away from me for most of the party, anyways?"

"A-ah, well, it was a big night for you and I know that your friends and family are important to you, and I'm sure that you didn't want me clinging to you all night..." Makoto watched as Seijuurou's cheeks turned pink and the brunette couldn't help but smile.

"I wouldn't have minded, you know."

"So..." Seiijurou squeezed Makoto's hand. "Going to school together? Seeing your lovely face pretty much every day? Am I dreaming?" The redhead yelped when Makoto pinched his skin. "Nope, guess I'm not dreaming."

"I know, but it really does feel like it, huh?"

"Yeah..." Seijuurou rested his head on top of Makoto's, looking out to the last flickering lights floating in the pool. "Good thing I have you in my dreams and in real life."

"Makoto, what time did you say that Seijuurou was coming by to help you pack?" Asako asked, checking the clock.

"A bit past eleven but then we're going out to run some errands to get some things for his apartment, why?" Makoto set out his suitcases that he needed, unzipping them and trying to decide what he would start packing first.

"It is past eleven, dear."

The brunette frowned, reaching for his phone to check to see if Seijuurou had sent any messages to him regarding if he was running late. When there was nothing new, Makoto sighed and made a quick message to the redhead asking if he was on his way. Seijuurou had made the habit to see his parents and sister two weekends out of the month, and then would also see Makoto while he was closer.

"I'm sure everything is going to be fine-" Asako was cut off when there was a knock that came from the front door downstairs, and she smiled. "See? That's probably him."

Makoto's mother left the room to answer the door, leaving her son to continue getting things ready to be sorted and packed. He laughed once he heard Ren and Ran's excited voices echo, and the familiar voice that belonged to no one other than Seijuurou. He made out Seijuurou's muffled promise to play with the twins later, and the heavy footsteps coming closer to his room. Makoto got on his knees to find something under his bed, and smiled when he heard Seijuurou whistle upon seeing his boyfriend with his legs spread and ass in the air.

"Nice view." Seijuurou said, leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed and grin on his face. Makoto dragged a spare bag out and stood back up, smoothing out his shirt. "Sorry, I got your message when I was right around the corner. Tama wanted to be scratched so I got a bit...distracted."

"It's fine, we're not packing everything today anyways so we don't have to spend a lot of time here, and we'll have more time in town to get things you need for your new place."

"Ah, about that..." Seijuurou sat down on Makoto's bed, patting the space next to him for Makoto to sit down. Makoto did so, Seijuurou taking his hand and sighing. "So, I have something I want to ask you, babe."

"Yeah? Is it about where you want to go today?"

"I just...wanted to ask...since y'know, while we're out we have to stop by the apartment to sign some stuff and get the key and all..." Seijuurou rubbed his neck. "And well, my stuff's packed and ready to go and you're packing and we'll be out to look at furniture and kitchen stuff and other stuff and since you're going to be going to the same school and the apartment's only a short train ride from campus, I figured well, why not?"

"Sei-"

"You've seen it and even you said it was nice, and well, without a roommate everything would be twice as lonely even with you being literally in the same city, and everyone I asked about it said that it would be a good idea and said I was dumb for questioning it. And besides, you are helping me pick out everything..."

"Are you asking-" Makoto was cut off by Seijuurou placing his hands on Makoto's cheeks, staring at Makoto with the most sincere look but filled with determination and shy happiness.

"Do you wanna...move in with me?"

Seijuurou saw Makoto's smile spread into a grin, green eyes widening in excitement. In an instant Makoto wrapped his arms around Seijuurou's neck and kissed the redhead, heart beating wildly against his chest.

"Of course I do."

Seijuurou sighed in relief. "I was hoping that you would say yes because there was the chance that you would say no. I already mentioned it to your parents and mine and the landlord, and hopefully it isn't too late to inform the school that you'll be living off-campus and you can get some of your money back from that." Seijuurou nuzzled Makoto's neck, smiling against lightly tanned skin. "And forget the suitcases, you'll be needing more than those. I have some spare boxes we can pick up later."

"Mmm, Seijuurou?" Makoto mumbled, running his fingers through Seijuurou's hair.

"Yes, Makoto?"

"Do you know how long I'll love you?"

"Hmmm..." Seijuurou rubbed their noses together. "Is...it always?"

Makoto smiled and brought their lips together, kissing his boyfriend and feeling his ring press against Seijuurou's though his shirt.

"Definitely always, for as long as I live."

Author's note: again, literally know pretty much nothing about them pesky school systems.

BUT THAT'S IT THAT'S THE END...

PSYCHE.

Because how can I really end it there without a mini-esq series of the two living together and going to the same school? ;) There's only a handful of ideas and it really honestly wouldn't be plot driven, but it's something cute with cute ideas!

But back to trying to be serious, I just truly honestly want to thank everyone for their kind words and reviews and whoever read this stupid little thing I did. I wasn't expecting this kind of response at all, kinda like usual, because I'm not all that good and I know I got things wrong but when I saw the views just increasing to a pretty damn high number, it made me feel...really good. And being honest, I felt so bad with how the last few chapters and this one turned out because for the last few weeks I just haven't been myself and I haven't been really happy and a lot of things happened (and it's still going on and I won't disclose exactly what because personal matters that have been really hard and it's just...a stupid long thing) and I honestly just wanted to put this on a hiatus and see where it went from there, and knowing me I wouldn't ever get back to it. But I kinda just went through it I guess, and in the end stuck with something I was satisfied with without having to make multiple drafts for. I appreciate every single one of you, and want to buy you all a gazillion flowers or something because reasons and dammit EMOTIONAL FEELINGS, GUYS.

So! Not sure...exactly when the sequel will be happening. The 30-day NSFW thing I mentioned awhile back has two chapters done, but once I get more finished I'll start posting as soon as I can. aaaaaaaand I also have another marinka fic planned, an AU in roughly four parts, so fingers crossed that I'll get working on that along with some other little drabbles~

Love you guys! Thank you.

-Miss Elizabeth