Chapter Text
The sound of a tea spoon hitting the glass sounded through the wedding hall.
Both Shouyou and I immediately looked around only to see Yachi standing up at the table next to ours, ready to begin her speech.
He leaned closer to me, whispering into my ear with a playful smile: "I am very much afraid of hearing this."
"So am I - but I promised her she gets to do it."
"Really? When was that?"
"Oh, a long time ago." I mused, glancing at Yachi's almost devilish smile.
She spoke up, trying her best not to laugh at the same time: "Dearly beloved ... all of us gathered here today have something in common: we've spent at least some part of the last six years with these two idiots. I'll never forget the first time I met either of them: she was laughing like a hyena on drugs and he was too busy chasing volleyballs to see literally anything around him. When I told her they'd be perfect for each other, I was half-joking at first ... but a part of me really meant it. When they started dating, I was over the moon to see them so happy ... and also, I was right and that's a good feeling to have, right? Right. Anyway ... as I was thinking of a proper speech, something came to my mind last night: they say first loves never last, and some of you who've only met these two not too long ago might say that they're the perfect example of why that's not true. But while stupid and silly, that quote is entirely true - and tonight, I want to celebrate the fact that they're the perfect proof of that."
She paused for a moment, filling up her glass and raising it high: "First loves never last ... I don't know if they knew that or if they just feared growing too complacent with each other ... but they've never let their love sit in the same place for too long. Over the past six years, they have changed so much ... and instead of leaving their love behind like so many people do, they've put all their effort into shaping those feelings and making them grow alongside their two lives. I've seen them laugh with each other, I've seen them cry with each other, I've seen them cry because of each other too ... but through trial and error, I can say with utmost certainty that these two lovers we see here today have nothing to do with a "first love." They are two wonderful people, and neither of them loves the other the same way they did six years ago ... because they mean so much to each other, they were never afraid of changing their love into whatever they needed it to be. May this toast be to a long and prosperous marriage!"
Laughter filled the hall, some people even clapping for her speech. Amidst the commotion, the two of us stared at each other, tears in our eyes.
He reached to hold my hand, trying to blink away the tears: "Wow, I ... I have no words .... that was actually beautiful."
I smiled, looking at how worn out his palms seemed from all the blocking he's been doing on the national team. As my gaze traveled up to his face, it finally hit me just how right Yachi was: his smile has calmed down, his hair was cut shorter than in his high school days, he even grew a little taller ... but he still had the same spark in his eyes whenever he looked at me. I loved him differently now than I did back then ... but I loved him still, possibly twice as much as ever before.
I felt him looking at me the same way I was looking at him. His gaze traveled from my hands up to my face, staring lovingly at my eyes which, for the first time in a long while, didn't have dark circles underneath them. I chuckled a little, thinking of all the times I complained about how little sleep medical college was allowing me, when he'd just tell me that even if I looked like a raccoon, I was still the prettiest raccoon he had ever seen.
"I love you."
Both of our voices got lost in the festive noise ... but we liked it that way. Our guests having fun at dinner meant more moments for us to silently stare at each other, exchanging smiles and kisses whenever we wanted.
"Do you want to have another dance when we finish our food?"
I nodded, smiling: "I'd love to."
"Does that mean I'm a good dancer?"
"Nope."
He laughed, almost spitting out his drink. "Wow ... so brutally honest."
"Does it bother you?" I teased him, smirking just a little.
"Not at all ... seeing how you have no trouble saying that to my face makes me happy, actually."
"Really? Why?"
Now he was the one smirking as he leaned closer to me: "Because it means that the first time I asked you if you liked my kisses and you said yes ... you really meant it."
"Of course I did ... and I still do."
Hours later, as we were saying goodbye to the guests, Kouji came up to us, wearing a huge smile on his face. I stood next to him and Shouyou, watching as the two caught up with each other's lives: I still had a hard time believing they've managed to stay friends through everything that happened, but I was happy for them.
I don't think I could live with myself if you'd lose your best friend because of me, Shouyou ... I'm glad this has worked out the way it did.
Sure, they had much less time to see each other now that both of them were playing on national teams, but it hardly mattered if they got to see each other once a month or twice a year - they were best friends, and seeing Kouji made Shouyou happy. Silently thanking the soccer star for getting over me all those years ago, I was just about to silently leave and go find Yachi to thank her for her speech when he suddenly called out to me:
"Hey, get over here! I have something to tell you guys ... both of you, that is."
"Oh, I wonder what it is?" I asked, looking at Shouyou who shrugged his shoulders, just as clueless as I was.
"No idea. Did you finally get a new girlfriend, Kouji? It's about time! When was your last break up, like two years ago?"
"Pshh ... you're still overly concerned about my love life, I see."
"What can I do? You're my best friend, I want you to be happy! And trust me, there's no greater happiness than loving someone, and having them love you back."
"I know." Kouji mumbled, looking down the hallway behind him where Yachi showed up from around the corner at that very moment.
Smiling at the three of us, she ran up to him, taking his hand: "Hey, I'm sorry I'm late!"
I stared at them for a second before it finally hit me: "Wait ... no ... no way!"
Beaming with happiness, Kouji nodded: "Yes. I guess we just ... got closer while preparing for the wedding?"
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I asked, turning to Yachi who had a smile just as big on her face.
"Well ... he wanted to make it a surprise."
"It clearly worked - I've never been more surprised in my life!" Hinata said, patting Kouji on the back. "Great catch, bro ... great catch. I didn't even know you liked her! You should have said something, I could have helped set you two up sooner!"
Shooting him a sideways glance, Kouji pulled Yachi into his arms, hugging her tight. "Seriously, Shouyou? I'm not making the mistake of asking you to be my wingman ever again, trust me!"
We all laughed about it, but the love of my life just stood there, taking my hand and kissing my cheek as the laughter died down:
"Oh, don't worry ... now that I have her, I'm never flying away."