Chapter Text
“He did what!?!?” Jun yelled into the phone outraged. “I can’t believe that idiot. I thought for sure even he would understand the meaning of the second button but of course I was over estimating him. I should’ve made him read all the shoujo manga that included a button scene so he would understand what you were trying to do. Gosh next time I see him I’m going to yell at him for so long until he understands his mistakes!” He ranted on and on about the mistakes and stupidity of his captain.
“Jun! You can’t say anything to him!” Takako’s voice cut through his frustration. “I still plan on confessing I’ll just have to wait a bit longer.”
“But he should’ve understood!” He shouted but thankfully not as loudly as he had before. Sighing loudly he continued, “I’m sorry I thought for sure that would’ve worked for the two of you.”
“It’s okay I know I know. Just don’t mention anything I’ll find another time to confess, now I know I just have to be more straightforward about it.”
“Maybe you should just throw a baseball at his face with the words ‘I love you’ written on it. He’d at least catch it that way. Literally and figuratively.” Jun said thoughtfully. Hearing that Takako burst into laughter with the former outfielder following shortly after.
“Maybe,” she said after catching her breath “I might just use that as a last resort though.”
“Good idea.” Now that the man was properly calmed down they continued to talk about the former captain, and the conversation soon shifted to college, their majors, and future plans to meet up.
*~~~*~~~*
“Tetsu! It’s been awhile since we’ve talked? Are you so busy you can’t even send a message to your best friend?” As Jun listened to how busy his friend was he was coming up with a plan.
“You know what you need. You need to relax, take a break, do something other than baseball and by that I don’t mean shoji or laying around in your dorm room reading. Go outside and not for exercise or extra practice, go stroll through a park, go for coffee, or heck go to the festival that’s taking place right near your dorm this weekend, the last day is Saturday. Okay?” Hearing Tetsu’s hum in response made him grin if he knew his best friend like he thought he did he’d be going to the festival. After his phone call he shot a text with a location and time to Takako setting up a meeting that he wouldn’t be the other party too.
Hiding his face using a mask he had bought from a nearby stall he sat watching the food stand where Takako was standing awaiting his arrival. He felt bad for leaving such a beautiful girl all alone and clearly waiting for someone, and he could see the looks she was receiving from other young men and he told himself he would intervene if any tried to make a move or if Tetsu didn’t arrive in the next five minutes. Three minutes into his countdown he saw Tetsu walking down through the stalls. He could see the exact minute his best friend saw Takako, he started at her face and his eyes moved down tracing her body in her yukata, his face including his ears burning red. Jun saw Tetsu shake his head and approach her. Watching for a few more minutes until they started walking through the festival stalls he slipped away with his crazy, wide grin, thankfully, being hidden behind the mask.
*~~~*~~~*
My best friend is an idiot. An idiot I swear. Was all that was going through his head since the beginning of his phone call with Tetsuya. Jun could not believe what he was hearing coming out of his former captain’s mouth. Jun didn’t want to give himself away but he had to get his point across. So he made it very clear to Tetsu what his and Takako’s relationship was even without it being official. He also made sure his friend understood just how important is was for him to ask her out on a date but let her confess first. After getting everything through his dense friend’s head he was content with the role he had played to convince his friend of what he needed to do. Jun anxiously waited for the text and when he received it saying they had made plans for an official date this Saturday and that he needed his help for a surprise he couldn’t help but do a fist pump in the air.
When Tetsu had asked for his help he didn’t think he meant cooking and setting up a romantic picnic on his call but hey it was his duty as best friend and besides he was already extremely invested in this relationship so he agreed. But he also called in reinforcements. Masuko, Tanba, and his old roommates Sakai and Kusunoki were the only ones in the area and available the day he needed them. Together the five of them muddle through making the menu that Tetsu had supplied for them of Takako’s favorite foods. They may not have looked the best but they sure tasted good and he had to stop Masuko from eating everything before it was time to set it up. Deciding to make the delivery and set up himself he thanked his friends, leaving them with the leftovers (aka the food that was just too hopeless) and made the trip to the park. Once certain everything was perfect he made his way to a tree that was close enough for him to see but not hear them. And behind enough branches that unless they knew he was there they couldn’t see them. He didn’t care if it seemed creepy. He was invested and he was going to see all his hard work be appreciated.
Watching his closest friends act completely in love with each other made him extremely happy. Snapping a quick photo of the two of them while they were just sitting there he slid out of the tree and made his way home making a note to give Tetsu a copy of this photo cause he had a feeling he would need it.
*~~~*~~~*
Looking through the photos Takako had sent him and he couldn’t help but comment on all of them out loud, to himself in his dorm room. “Couple shirts inspired by baseball of course. Super cheesy but cute. I approve. Good job Takako! A shogi mug. That I don’t approve. Come on Takako you’re not supposed to be encouraging him! He sucks! And now he’s just gonna challenge even more people whenever he looks at the mug!” He yelled.
“Ooh my picture came out perfectly and looks even better in that frame if I do say so myself.” He proudly remarked. “Did Tetsu really give her keychains based off their plushes, how greasy.” When he came to the last photo he was speechless for a few minutes. “A button necklace. A. Button. Necklace. He did not. My man! I’m so proud of him! I knew my advice to be a romantic would help!”
*~~~*~~~*
Bonus: Years Later
Jun walked into the living room of a small house he knew almost as well as his own apartment. He was over there a lot after all. Stepping up to the mantle he looked at the necklace that was almost completely full with buttons. The earliest he recognized from Seido and others from pictures and stories he had been told about from anniversaries and holidays spent together. The button from Tetsuya’s pro baseball uniform was among the others shiny and only a few years old. The newest edition that was close to the clasp made him the happiest though. It was the second button from the tux that Tetsuya had worn on their wedding day that was held just a few weeks ago. He was asked to be the best man and he made sure everyone knew just how the beautiful bride and groom’s relationship happened since he had all the details from both sides and his own eyes. He hadn’t been as proud of his best and closest friends since the day they had officially gotten together. And now that they were married he couldn’t wait to see where their lives would take them.
*~~~*~~~*
Extra Bonus: Even More Years Later
“So Jun, how do you feel about being a godfather?”