Fate's Game ~HARULAS

zeecaru, ty for reading and voting. Love you 

A few weeks into their new routine, Harua found himself at one of Nico's family parties. It was a grand affair—elegant, formal, and filled with people who all seemed to carry a sense of power or wealth. Harua felt a little out of place in his simple black suit, especially when he saw everyone else's designer outfits. Nico had tried to reassure him before the event, but Harua couldn't help but feel the weight of expectations bearing down on him.

As he wandered through the crowded ballroom, trying to find a spot where he could blend in, his eyes caught sight of someone who didn't seem to fit the mold—Maki, one of Nico's coworkers. Maki was standing near a small table, nursing a glass of wine, his sharp eyes scanning the room like he was trying to figure out which conversation to join. He looked strikingly different from the rest of the guests—dressed in a simple but well-tailored jacket, with his hair styled in a messy but charming way. He didn't look like someone who belonged in the realm of corporate dynasties and wealth. Harua found that oddly comforting.

"Harua, right?" a voice called from behind him.

Harua turned, and to his surprise, it was Maki who had spotted him first.

"Yeah, that's me," Harua said, slightly taken aback but offering a smile. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Maki grinned, holding up his glass of wine. "Yeah, well, I don't exactly fit in here. But when Nico invited me, I thought, why not? It's a free dinner."

Harua chuckled, grateful for Maki's casual attitude. "I get that. I'm feeling like a fish out of water myself. These parties are... a little intimidating."

Maki laughed openly. "Intimidating? This is nothing. Just wait until you meet the relatives."

Harua frowned, glancing nervously at the older, more serious-looking people scattered around the room. "I can't imagine what they'll think of me."

"Don't worry about it," Maki said, lowering his voice with a grin. "You're with Nico. That's got to count for something, right?"

Harua nodded, though his anxiety was far from gone. He knew that Nico's family was a big deal—his parents were powerful figures in business, and there was no telling what expectations they had for him. Nico had made it clear that Harua didn't have to worry, but it was hard not to.

"So, what do you do?" Harua asked, trying to divert his thoughts. "You don't seem like the typical guest here."

Maki shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "I guess I'm the wild card. I work in design, mostly freelance. I'm not really tied down to any one place, so I kind of drift around, do my thing. This whole corporate world is... well, not for me."

Harua raised an eyebrow. "Freelance, huh? That sounds kind of freeing, actually."

Maki smirked. "Oh, it is. No schedules, no boss telling me what to do. It's a lot less stressful than... whatever this is." He gestured to the extravagant party around them.

Harua chuckled, his nerves starting to ease a little. Maki's attitude was refreshing. Unlike the polished, composed people around them, Maki didn't seem to care about impressing anyone. He was just... himself.

As the night went on, Harua and Maki found themselves chatting more and more. Harua was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him. They both joked about the awkwardness of being surrounded by people they didn't know and swapped stories about their respective families. Maki's family was much smaller, and he had always been the black sheep of it—his laid-back, artistic nature clashing with his relatives' more traditional values.

Harua found it comforting to have someone who wasn't just part of Nico's world, someone who didn't judge him for being out of place. He started to feel more at ease, and before he knew it, they had moved to a quieter part of the venue, sitting in a secluded corner of the balcony with a fresh drink in hand.

"Yeah, my family's pretty much the opposite of Nico's," Harua said, leaning back in his chair. "It's a lot simpler. More... relaxed, I guess. My parents are traditional in some ways, but they're also not too into all the fancy stuff."

Maki chuckled, eyeing the crowd below. "I get it. My folks are all about appearances, so they never really understood what I was doing. I mean, I've always wanted to create something, but they thought it was a waste of time. So, I ended up here instead of where they thought I should be."

Harua was struck by the sincerity in Maki's words. It reminded him a little of his own struggles with his family, the pressure they'd placed on him when they pushed him into an arranged marriage. The weight of expectations, the desire to break free.

"You know, I think I understand you more than you know," Harua admitted quietly.

Maki raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh?"

Harua gave a small smile. "Yeah. My family—well, they had big plans for me. And the marriage... it wasn't exactly something I wanted. But I had to go along with it."

Maki's face softened. "You didn't ask for any of this, huh?"

Harua shook his head. "No, but... it's complicated. It's like, I love my family, but there's this pressure, this weight they put on me. And now... with Nico, I don't know what to think anymore."

Maki studied him for a moment, then gave a knowing smile. "Look, man. You're your own person. And I can tell you're starting to realize that. You don't have to live up to anyone's expectations but your own."

Harua sighed, feeling a bit lighter. "I know. I just wish things were simpler."

"They never are, are they?" Maki said with a grin, then gestured to the room below them. "But hey, you've got Nico, right? You don't have to do this alone."

Harua nodded, a warmth spreading through his chest. Nico had been there for him, even when things felt impossible. It was hard to admit it, but Harua had started to realize that Nico wasn't just a husband by name anymore—he was someone who genuinely cared.

As they stood up to rejoin the party, Harua felt a little less out of place. Maki's presence had made the night a little easier, and for the first time in a while, he wasn't just going through the motions—he was living, and laughing, and making connections with people who truly understood.

Later, Nico found Harua and Maki chatting near the entrance of the venue. He raised an eyebrow when he saw them laughing.

"You two getting along, huh?" Nico asked, his tone playful but curious.

Harua gave Nico a sheepish smile. "Yeah, we were just talking about family stuff. Maki's actually pretty cool."

Maki grinned, slinging an arm around Harua's shoulder. "He's a great guy. But don't worry, Nico—I'm not trying to steal him from you."

Nico raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a teasing smile. "You better not. Or I might have to get protective."

Harua laughed, rolling his eyes. "Relax, Nico. Maki's just a friend."

Nico looked at him, his smile softening as he caught the genuine warmth in Harua's eyes. "Well, it's good to see you making friends. But don't forget—I'm still your number one priority."

Harua smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I won't forget."