Remix of littlealex's "Batting Cages"
Title: (im)Moral Support
Rating: PG
Group/Pairing: Ninomiya Kazunari/Ohno Satoshi... Technically
Warnings: None
Notes: I originally intended to do another fic, one where I'd change the narrative instead of the POV. It did not work out well. So! This is short, but I thought it'd be cute to see what happened with Ohno's outing with his best friend. (Well, the best friend that isn't Nino.) Lines discussed are from the July 2009 Duet interview and the translation used can be found here.
Link to Original Story: Batting Cages
Link to Original Writer: littlealex @ sleeptotwelve
Quiet blanketed the room, abrupt and uneasy. For not having said a word on his way out, it seemed as though Nino had taken all conversation with him in his departure.
Ohno stood just inside the door to the dressing room, staring down the hallway after Nino in concern. He hovered, fingertips curled tenuously around the door frame. They seemed to be the only thing stopping him from following.
Sho's brows were knit in a similar expression of concern and confusion, though his attention was pulled from Ohno and the door to the dressing table Nino had been sitting at. Aiba leaned over the back of a makeup chair, peering curiously at the magazine that lay open on the counter.
"Oh..." was all he said before looking up at Sho, sympathy and understanding dawning in his expression. Not one to be left out of the details, Sho crossed the few paces from the door to the counter and pulled the publication towards himself.
Scanning the pair of glossy pages quickly, Sho felt his own features fall into an expression to match Aiba's.
"...Oh," he echoed, fully comprehending Aiba's reaction now.
The July edition of Duet had come out and a featured article involved Ohno - which wasn't all that strange. Ohno had been doing a lot of solo interviews since the success of Maou and his art show. The attention kept coming when with Uta no Onii-san's popularity, so Ohno having solo features shouldn't have been all that odd.
Only it wasn't a solo feature.
Four pages of Ohno cuddled up to a precocious little kouhai in various locations and degrees of physical closeness stared up innocuously from the table. Sho had personally thought the antics of the kid were annoying and attention grabbing, but he'd never considered the likes of Chinen Yuuri a threat. Then again, Sho hadn't been not-so-secretly in love with Ohno for almost 10 years now. As Sho got to the line where Ohno admitted Chinen had at one point been "on his mind", Nino's reaction started to make more sense.
"What?" Ohno asked as his attention finally came away from the hall. Nino was long gone now, it wouldn't do him any good to keep staring.
Sho and Aiba looked up, shoulders both tensing guiltily. Ohno's frown deepened as he advanced on the pair. Reaching out, Ohno tugged the magazine from the table, picking it up to glance over its pages.
"What?" Ohno asked again, this time concern mixing with confusion as he turned first to Aiba and then to Sho. "This... This was just work!"
"We know!" Sho assured Ohno with a firm nod, resting his hands on Ohno's shoulders. Ohno did not appear at all comforted by the gesture. "Look, it's just Nino. You know how he can nitpick at things sometimes-"
"He wasn't nitpicking," Ohno interrupted, turning to face Sho, pulling out of his grip. "He didn't even look at me. The last time that happened..."
Ohno grew silent. It may have been nearly a year ago, but the fallout from Ohno's scandal was far from forgotten. The media had moved on, thank god, and Ohno's career hadn't been ruined (and by proxy, the careers of the rest of Arashi were safe as well), but there were other issues outside of work. It had taken almost until Christmas until Nino would talk to Ohno outside of work again. Of course Nino pretended that nothing was wrong the entire time, but Sho had seen the way Ohno had tried so many times, in his soft, quiet way, to pull Nino's attention and draw him into conversation. Sho had also seen the heartache and dejection in his friend's eyes every time an attempt fell flat.
Sho reached out again and gave Ohno's shoulder a supportive squeeze.
"This is nothing like that," Sho assured him firmly, looking up to Aiba. "Right?"
"R-right!" Aiba nodded emphatically, reaching out to pull the magazine from Ohno's hands and chucking it at the nearest garbage can. He missed, which made him wince, but it was the gesture he was going for all the same. "You didn't do anything wrong! This was just for work, like you said. Besides, he's just a kid, you know? Even if you were kind of flirty it's not like you could have meant it."
"You think I was flirty?" Ohno's eyes widened in horror.
"No, no, no! Not at all! I just-" Aiba stopped himself, but not before turning a vibrant shade of pink. "I-I'm going to go check with the photographers and see who's next."
The room seemed even more awkward and more silent after Aiba's departure, and Sho hadn't thought that was even possible. With a sigh, Sho scratched at the nape of his neck as he tried to think of a way to fix things. He seemed to be reacting to everything far too slowly this morning, however. No sooner had Sho begun putting together suggestions and phrases of comfort and encouragement in his head, Ohno was out the door without a word.
When Aiba returned later, Sho was on his phone tapping out the third draft of a rap. Usually when he decided to do this he had the flow of things in his head, but even though he'd thought he'd had the words he wanted earlier in the day they just weren't coming together. As such, he wasn't particularly upset when Aiba plopped down beside him, spinning in his chair.
"Where's Oh-chan?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light but failing. He was very obviously dying of curiosity.
"Where's Nino?" Sho returned evenly, snapping his phone shut. Aiba bit his lower lip with a grin and a giggle, nodding his head guiltily.
"Fair enough. There are actually a few places I was going to try once I got out of here," he said, kicking at the metal rungs beneath Sho's seat absently.
"Don't you think this is getting more than a little ridiculous?" Sho asked, letting his annoyance break through. Usually he was sympathetic towards his friends. The issue they were dealing with wasn't a simple one by any means, but sometimes it really felt like they were making it more complicated than it had any right to be. And now? Now it was affecting their work.
Aiba inclined his head from left to right and back again several times. He seemed to be playing tennis with a series of arguments in his head. Sho waited patiently for his friend's soft grunt of acknowledgment and then a shrug.
"Nino should have confessed years ago," Aiba agreed with a final nod.
"He's not the only one," Sho gave yet another sigh as he sank down into his chair. He knew, logically, that he couldn't run his friends lives, but that didn't stop him from sometimes wanting to yell at them for being stupid and then knocking their heads together.
"Have you ever told him that?" Aiba asked with a blink, his entire body pausing a moment before he sat up straighter. Sho eyed his friend with none too little caution.
"No," he snorted, picking himself up and cracking his neck tiredly. "Why, have you?"
"No," Aiba shook his head, though instead of seeming downtrodden he appeared to be gearing up. "But maybe - maybe that's the problem!"
"What are you talking about?" Sho asked, though he had a shrewd idea what may be coming.
"How much do you want to bet I can get Nino to confess before Oh-chan does?" Aiba asked with a far, far too enthusiastic grin.
Sho paused to consider the proposition.
"A confession doesn't do any good if they don't act on it," he pointed out reasonably. "The problem isn't that they don't know how they feel about one another, the problem is that they've both been pussy-footing around it forever. Neither one seems gutsy enough to make the first move."
Aiba was undeterred. Grinning, he turned his seat so that he was looking directly at Sho, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Don't pout, Satocchi!" Sho slurred, giggling as he managed to get a quirk of Ohno's lips with the nickname. Sho was hammered, but he was working on getting Ohno hammered too so it was okay.
"'m not pouting," Ohno grumbled, though he very obviously was. Picking up the newest shot of tequila Sho poured him, Ohno downed it quickly. Usually if he had work in the morning he only had beer, maybe a single shot. Tonight, though, Ohno hadn't even bothered keeping count.
Pursing his lips together, Ohno's face flushed red a moment before he let out an acidic belch. Sho slammed a hand on the table several times as he laughed and Ohno finally had to let go of his melancholy to join him. Covering his mouth, Ohno shook his head as if he was going to try to apologize, but then he winced and stopped moving his head entirely. Sho was satisfied, however, because the grin remained in place on Ohno's face.
"Ah, there it is!" Sho hummed, poking the soft round of Ohno's cheek gently.
Ohno's grin softened into a hazy smile. His liquor-fogged eyes focused more clearly on Sho's face and there was a comfortable silence between them a moment before Ohno's gaze dropped to his hands in his lap. Then the smile turned sad and Sho had to give a pout of his own.
Ohno spoke so softly that Sho had to physically lean forward to hear him. His forehead brushed Ohno's temple, but it was okay because it made sure they were both awake for this.
"Sometimes I think I make him so unhappy," Ohno confessed as he picked at his fingernails distractedly.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Sho scoffed, though he did lower his voice when he saw Ohno wince. Right, they were close right now. Reaching out for his beer and instead grabbing Ohno's empty one, Sho raised it to his lips for a sip before blinking at it. He felt betrayed by the lack of beer, but he supposed that wasn't important right now. Ohno was important!
Setting the bottle back down, Sho rubbed at his eyes tiredly.
"So why don't you just apologize?" Sho asked, not meaning to sound so grumbly. Maybe he ought to order some water for them both. Remembering what he'd prepared to say was starting to get really difficult.
"What am I supposed to say?" Ohno turned to Sho, desperation clear in his face. "'Sorry I talked to a kouhai'? 'Sorry I'm a flirt'?"
"Those both sound terrible, Satoshi-kun. You should absolutely not say either of those. Ever," Sho advised Ohno as honestly as he could. Ohno's face fell again and he went back to staring at his hands. Only this time they weren't even doing anything.
"It's okay to apologize just for upsetting him," Sho pointed out. "Nino's not crazy - at least not any more than the rest of us. He knows that it was for work, he's just... Well, jealous."
"...Jealous?" Ohno asked slowly.
Sho's head rolled to his chest and he deadpanned at Ohno unblinkingly.
"D'n't pretend you don't know what I'm talking 'bout," Sho warned. Ohno's already pink cheeks burned a deeper red and he looked down again.
Ohno was silent for several minutes. Sho was more than content to be patient, letting the alcohol settle in his stomach as he slowly dug around in his pockets. Finding a pen, Sho dragged it out sluggishly before giving a distracted chuckle and pulling a napkin to himself. Words that had been evading him earlier in the dressing room were coming to him more easily now. He knew they might be shit when he woke up in the morning, but there was no reason to waste an opportunity, right?
"I'm sorry you got hurt?"
Sho paused mid-stroke to look up at Ohno. He was confused, he hadn't been hurt at all. Although as he thought about it in those terms, Sho's foggy brain slowly pulled their conversation back into the front of his mind.
"The apology," Ohno explained sheepishly when all Sho did was continue to look at him. Ohno pressed his hands together, splaying his fingers before scratching at his jaw. His eyes were glassy and distant, clearly trying to think things through.
"That's... better," Sho said, though he gave a thoughtful frown. What could Ohno say that wouldn't make Nino sound over-sensitive? Or that wouldn't make Ohno sound like a doormat? What kind of apology could Ohno make that would finally force the pair to face one another honestly?
Pulling another napkin to himself, Sho began scribbling. It wouldn't be perfect-he was just as drunk as Ohno right now after all. It would be honest, though, and at least if Ohno had something prompting him then he wouldn't sit on the phone silently and make it all awkward.
"You need to ask him out," Sho sighed as he frowned down at his half-written confession. He hadn't realized he'd actually spoke out loud until Ohno responded.
"Do you really think so?" Ohno asked. His brows were drawn together and not for the first time he appeared completely unsure of himself. Sho hadn't seen Ohno look like that in earnest in years and finally the sympathy he typically felt for his friends pushed past the annoyance and impatience.
"Satoshi," Sho spoke softly as he sat up and looked Ohno straight in the eye. "How long have you liked Nino? Really liked him?"
Ohno's eyes unfocused again as he seemed to try and think. When Sho got no verbal response after several moments he gave a short laugh and patted Ohno's shoulder gently.
"Since it's been that long, is there really any reason you shouldn't?" Sho asked, already knowing the answer.
Ohno smiled, softly at first but then more widely as he gave a laugh and a nod. It was embarrassing to be nearly 30 years old and still this awkward when it came to his love life. Sho was really happy he could be here to help, though.
Sho handed over the confession napkin as they scooted their way out of their booth. Outside, they hugged tightly and Sho laughed loudly into the night as Ohno planted a wet, lippy kiss on his cheek. For thanks, Ohno'd said. They waited together for their taxis, but before Sho climbed into his he turned back around to catch Ohno's attention.
"It should be tonight! Don't waste this chance, you hear me?" Sho hollered at Ohno from the street.
Ohno sputtered laughter, his breath hanging in the moist evening air. Even so, he nodded in confirmation and waved. Sho was willing to accept that as his answer for the night. Raising his hand to give Ohno a supportive salute, Sho then ducked his head into the cab. He wasn't even the one going to confess tonight, but Sho had to admit that as he half-dozed through the ride home he was nervous for his friends.
Happy, but nervous.
Sho was not awake when Aiba called the first time. He wasn't awake when Aiba called the second time. When Aiba saw fit to call a third time, however, Sho finally had to admit that it was time to get up and brave the day.
"Are you on fire?" Sho asked groggily, rolling over onto his back. He'd passed out on the bed but at a very awkward angle. The pulsation of hangover at the front of his face wasn't helping with orienting himself either.
Over the line Aiba giggled and apologized (without sounding the least bit apologetic). Before bothering to ask after how Sho was doing, however, Aiba instead demanded his bet winnings. Frowning at the ceiling, Sho closed his eyes and tried to think.
"I don't owe you anything," he concluded after an extensive search of his memory. Not that his memory could really be trusted right now.
Aiba whined and Sho had to remove the phone from beside his ear with a wince. Thankfully his friend's tone mellowed as he decided to jog Sho's memory.
"Oh," Sho grunted, vaguely recalling the phrase 'what do you want to bet' coming out of Aiba's mouth the day before. He never remembered settling on anything, though. "Wasn't the agreement that they had to go on a date for this to be considered successful?"
There was a burst of giggles over the line again and Sho almost couldn't make out what Aiba said. Although he thought it sounded like 'Oh-chan and Nino had sex twice, I think I win'.
"Oh," Sho repeated, sagging against his bed as he let the news sink in. It was so many years in the coming, Sho knew he should have been excited but all he really felt was relief. Good for them. "Good for them," he repeated aloud. Though as his mind began to be crawl further and further from sleep, a detail made its way to the front of Sho's thoughts.
"Wait, hold on." Picking up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, Sho closed his eyes again to try his best to think. "How do you know that they had sex instead of going on a date?"
Aiba's response elicited a pained squeal from Sho and he rolled over onto his side to curl up.
"Jesus, Aiba-chan," Sho whined, rubbing his forehead. "How are you so okay with the fact that they just had sex in your bed?"
Aiba helpfully informed Sho that it'd happened in his bathroom too.
Sho would later be proud that he'd managed not to cry.
Rating: PG
Group/Pairing: Ninomiya Kazunari/Ohno Satoshi... Technically
Warnings: None
Notes: I originally intended to do another fic, one where I'd change the narrative instead of the POV. It did not work out well. So! This is short, but I thought it'd be cute to see what happened with Ohno's outing with his best friend. (Well, the best friend that isn't Nino.) Lines discussed are from the July 2009 Duet interview and the translation used can be found here.
Link to Original Story: Batting Cages
Link to Original Writer: littlealex @ sleeptotwelve
Quiet blanketed the room, abrupt and uneasy. For not having said a word on his way out, it seemed as though Nino had taken all conversation with him in his departure.
Ohno stood just inside the door to the dressing room, staring down the hallway after Nino in concern. He hovered, fingertips curled tenuously around the door frame. They seemed to be the only thing stopping him from following.
Sho's brows were knit in a similar expression of concern and confusion, though his attention was pulled from Ohno and the door to the dressing table Nino had been sitting at. Aiba leaned over the back of a makeup chair, peering curiously at the magazine that lay open on the counter.
"Oh..." was all he said before looking up at Sho, sympathy and understanding dawning in his expression. Not one to be left out of the details, Sho crossed the few paces from the door to the counter and pulled the publication towards himself.
Scanning the pair of glossy pages quickly, Sho felt his own features fall into an expression to match Aiba's.
"...Oh," he echoed, fully comprehending Aiba's reaction now.
The July edition of Duet had come out and a featured article involved Ohno - which wasn't all that strange. Ohno had been doing a lot of solo interviews since the success of Maou and his art show. The attention kept coming when with Uta no Onii-san's popularity, so Ohno having solo features shouldn't have been all that odd.
Only it wasn't a solo feature.
Four pages of Ohno cuddled up to a precocious little kouhai in various locations and degrees of physical closeness stared up innocuously from the table. Sho had personally thought the antics of the kid were annoying and attention grabbing, but he'd never considered the likes of Chinen Yuuri a threat. Then again, Sho hadn't been not-so-secretly in love with Ohno for almost 10 years now. As Sho got to the line where Ohno admitted Chinen had at one point been "on his mind", Nino's reaction started to make more sense.
"What?" Ohno asked as his attention finally came away from the hall. Nino was long gone now, it wouldn't do him any good to keep staring.
Sho and Aiba looked up, shoulders both tensing guiltily. Ohno's frown deepened as he advanced on the pair. Reaching out, Ohno tugged the magazine from the table, picking it up to glance over its pages.
"What?" Ohno asked again, this time concern mixing with confusion as he turned first to Aiba and then to Sho. "This... This was just work!"
"We know!" Sho assured Ohno with a firm nod, resting his hands on Ohno's shoulders. Ohno did not appear at all comforted by the gesture. "Look, it's just Nino. You know how he can nitpick at things sometimes-"
"He wasn't nitpicking," Ohno interrupted, turning to face Sho, pulling out of his grip. "He didn't even look at me. The last time that happened..."
Ohno grew silent. It may have been nearly a year ago, but the fallout from Ohno's scandal was far from forgotten. The media had moved on, thank god, and Ohno's career hadn't been ruined (and by proxy, the careers of the rest of Arashi were safe as well), but there were other issues outside of work. It had taken almost until Christmas until Nino would talk to Ohno outside of work again. Of course Nino pretended that nothing was wrong the entire time, but Sho had seen the way Ohno had tried so many times, in his soft, quiet way, to pull Nino's attention and draw him into conversation. Sho had also seen the heartache and dejection in his friend's eyes every time an attempt fell flat.
Sho reached out again and gave Ohno's shoulder a supportive squeeze.
"This is nothing like that," Sho assured him firmly, looking up to Aiba. "Right?"
"R-right!" Aiba nodded emphatically, reaching out to pull the magazine from Ohno's hands and chucking it at the nearest garbage can. He missed, which made him wince, but it was the gesture he was going for all the same. "You didn't do anything wrong! This was just for work, like you said. Besides, he's just a kid, you know? Even if you were kind of flirty it's not like you could have meant it."
"You think I was flirty?" Ohno's eyes widened in horror.
"No, no, no! Not at all! I just-" Aiba stopped himself, but not before turning a vibrant shade of pink. "I-I'm going to go check with the photographers and see who's next."
The room seemed even more awkward and more silent after Aiba's departure, and Sho hadn't thought that was even possible. With a sigh, Sho scratched at the nape of his neck as he tried to think of a way to fix things. He seemed to be reacting to everything far too slowly this morning, however. No sooner had Sho begun putting together suggestions and phrases of comfort and encouragement in his head, Ohno was out the door without a word.
When Aiba returned later, Sho was on his phone tapping out the third draft of a rap. Usually when he decided to do this he had the flow of things in his head, but even though he'd thought he'd had the words he wanted earlier in the day they just weren't coming together. As such, he wasn't particularly upset when Aiba plopped down beside him, spinning in his chair.
"Where's Oh-chan?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light but failing. He was very obviously dying of curiosity.
"Where's Nino?" Sho returned evenly, snapping his phone shut. Aiba bit his lower lip with a grin and a giggle, nodding his head guiltily.
"Fair enough. There are actually a few places I was going to try once I got out of here," he said, kicking at the metal rungs beneath Sho's seat absently.
"Don't you think this is getting more than a little ridiculous?" Sho asked, letting his annoyance break through. Usually he was sympathetic towards his friends. The issue they were dealing with wasn't a simple one by any means, but sometimes it really felt like they were making it more complicated than it had any right to be. And now? Now it was affecting their work.
Aiba inclined his head from left to right and back again several times. He seemed to be playing tennis with a series of arguments in his head. Sho waited patiently for his friend's soft grunt of acknowledgment and then a shrug.
"Nino should have confessed years ago," Aiba agreed with a final nod.
"He's not the only one," Sho gave yet another sigh as he sank down into his chair. He knew, logically, that he couldn't run his friends lives, but that didn't stop him from sometimes wanting to yell at them for being stupid and then knocking their heads together.
"Have you ever told him that?" Aiba asked with a blink, his entire body pausing a moment before he sat up straighter. Sho eyed his friend with none too little caution.
"No," he snorted, picking himself up and cracking his neck tiredly. "Why, have you?"
"No," Aiba shook his head, though instead of seeming downtrodden he appeared to be gearing up. "But maybe - maybe that's the problem!"
"What are you talking about?" Sho asked, though he had a shrewd idea what may be coming.
"How much do you want to bet I can get Nino to confess before Oh-chan does?" Aiba asked with a far, far too enthusiastic grin.
Sho paused to consider the proposition.
"A confession doesn't do any good if they don't act on it," he pointed out reasonably. "The problem isn't that they don't know how they feel about one another, the problem is that they've both been pussy-footing around it forever. Neither one seems gutsy enough to make the first move."
Aiba was undeterred. Grinning, he turned his seat so that he was looking directly at Sho, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Don't pout, Satocchi!" Sho slurred, giggling as he managed to get a quirk of Ohno's lips with the nickname. Sho was hammered, but he was working on getting Ohno hammered too so it was okay.
"'m not pouting," Ohno grumbled, though he very obviously was. Picking up the newest shot of tequila Sho poured him, Ohno downed it quickly. Usually if he had work in the morning he only had beer, maybe a single shot. Tonight, though, Ohno hadn't even bothered keeping count.
Pursing his lips together, Ohno's face flushed red a moment before he let out an acidic belch. Sho slammed a hand on the table several times as he laughed and Ohno finally had to let go of his melancholy to join him. Covering his mouth, Ohno shook his head as if he was going to try to apologize, but then he winced and stopped moving his head entirely. Sho was satisfied, however, because the grin remained in place on Ohno's face.
"Ah, there it is!" Sho hummed, poking the soft round of Ohno's cheek gently.
Ohno's grin softened into a hazy smile. His liquor-fogged eyes focused more clearly on Sho's face and there was a comfortable silence between them a moment before Ohno's gaze dropped to his hands in his lap. Then the smile turned sad and Sho had to give a pout of his own.
Ohno spoke so softly that Sho had to physically lean forward to hear him. His forehead brushed Ohno's temple, but it was okay because it made sure they were both awake for this.
"Sometimes I think I make him so unhappy," Ohno confessed as he picked at his fingernails distractedly.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Sho scoffed, though he did lower his voice when he saw Ohno wince. Right, they were close right now. Reaching out for his beer and instead grabbing Ohno's empty one, Sho raised it to his lips for a sip before blinking at it. He felt betrayed by the lack of beer, but he supposed that wasn't important right now. Ohno was important!
Setting the bottle back down, Sho rubbed at his eyes tiredly.
"So why don't you just apologize?" Sho asked, not meaning to sound so grumbly. Maybe he ought to order some water for them both. Remembering what he'd prepared to say was starting to get really difficult.
"What am I supposed to say?" Ohno turned to Sho, desperation clear in his face. "'Sorry I talked to a kouhai'? 'Sorry I'm a flirt'?"
"Those both sound terrible, Satoshi-kun. You should absolutely not say either of those. Ever," Sho advised Ohno as honestly as he could. Ohno's face fell again and he went back to staring at his hands. Only this time they weren't even doing anything.
"It's okay to apologize just for upsetting him," Sho pointed out. "Nino's not crazy - at least not any more than the rest of us. He knows that it was for work, he's just... Well, jealous."
"...Jealous?" Ohno asked slowly.
Sho's head rolled to his chest and he deadpanned at Ohno unblinkingly.
"D'n't pretend you don't know what I'm talking 'bout," Sho warned. Ohno's already pink cheeks burned a deeper red and he looked down again.
Ohno was silent for several minutes. Sho was more than content to be patient, letting the alcohol settle in his stomach as he slowly dug around in his pockets. Finding a pen, Sho dragged it out sluggishly before giving a distracted chuckle and pulling a napkin to himself. Words that had been evading him earlier in the dressing room were coming to him more easily now. He knew they might be shit when he woke up in the morning, but there was no reason to waste an opportunity, right?
"I'm sorry you got hurt?"
Sho paused mid-stroke to look up at Ohno. He was confused, he hadn't been hurt at all. Although as he thought about it in those terms, Sho's foggy brain slowly pulled their conversation back into the front of his mind.
"The apology," Ohno explained sheepishly when all Sho did was continue to look at him. Ohno pressed his hands together, splaying his fingers before scratching at his jaw. His eyes were glassy and distant, clearly trying to think things through.
"That's... better," Sho said, though he gave a thoughtful frown. What could Ohno say that wouldn't make Nino sound over-sensitive? Or that wouldn't make Ohno sound like a doormat? What kind of apology could Ohno make that would finally force the pair to face one another honestly?
Pulling another napkin to himself, Sho began scribbling. It wouldn't be perfect-he was just as drunk as Ohno right now after all. It would be honest, though, and at least if Ohno had something prompting him then he wouldn't sit on the phone silently and make it all awkward.
"You need to ask him out," Sho sighed as he frowned down at his half-written confession. He hadn't realized he'd actually spoke out loud until Ohno responded.
"Do you really think so?" Ohno asked. His brows were drawn together and not for the first time he appeared completely unsure of himself. Sho hadn't seen Ohno look like that in earnest in years and finally the sympathy he typically felt for his friends pushed past the annoyance and impatience.
"Satoshi," Sho spoke softly as he sat up and looked Ohno straight in the eye. "How long have you liked Nino? Really liked him?"
Ohno's eyes unfocused again as he seemed to try and think. When Sho got no verbal response after several moments he gave a short laugh and patted Ohno's shoulder gently.
"Since it's been that long, is there really any reason you shouldn't?" Sho asked, already knowing the answer.
Ohno smiled, softly at first but then more widely as he gave a laugh and a nod. It was embarrassing to be nearly 30 years old and still this awkward when it came to his love life. Sho was really happy he could be here to help, though.
Sho handed over the confession napkin as they scooted their way out of their booth. Outside, they hugged tightly and Sho laughed loudly into the night as Ohno planted a wet, lippy kiss on his cheek. For thanks, Ohno'd said. They waited together for their taxis, but before Sho climbed into his he turned back around to catch Ohno's attention.
"It should be tonight! Don't waste this chance, you hear me?" Sho hollered at Ohno from the street.
Ohno sputtered laughter, his breath hanging in the moist evening air. Even so, he nodded in confirmation and waved. Sho was willing to accept that as his answer for the night. Raising his hand to give Ohno a supportive salute, Sho then ducked his head into the cab. He wasn't even the one going to confess tonight, but Sho had to admit that as he half-dozed through the ride home he was nervous for his friends.
Happy, but nervous.
Sho was not awake when Aiba called the first time. He wasn't awake when Aiba called the second time. When Aiba saw fit to call a third time, however, Sho finally had to admit that it was time to get up and brave the day.
"Are you on fire?" Sho asked groggily, rolling over onto his back. He'd passed out on the bed but at a very awkward angle. The pulsation of hangover at the front of his face wasn't helping with orienting himself either.
Over the line Aiba giggled and apologized (without sounding the least bit apologetic). Before bothering to ask after how Sho was doing, however, Aiba instead demanded his bet winnings. Frowning at the ceiling, Sho closed his eyes and tried to think.
"I don't owe you anything," he concluded after an extensive search of his memory. Not that his memory could really be trusted right now.
Aiba whined and Sho had to remove the phone from beside his ear with a wince. Thankfully his friend's tone mellowed as he decided to jog Sho's memory.
"Oh," Sho grunted, vaguely recalling the phrase 'what do you want to bet' coming out of Aiba's mouth the day before. He never remembered settling on anything, though. "Wasn't the agreement that they had to go on a date for this to be considered successful?"
There was a burst of giggles over the line again and Sho almost couldn't make out what Aiba said. Although he thought it sounded like 'Oh-chan and Nino had sex twice, I think I win'.
"Oh," Sho repeated, sagging against his bed as he let the news sink in. It was so many years in the coming, Sho knew he should have been excited but all he really felt was relief. Good for them. "Good for them," he repeated aloud. Though as his mind began to be crawl further and further from sleep, a detail made its way to the front of Sho's thoughts.
"Wait, hold on." Picking up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, Sho closed his eyes again to try his best to think. "How do you know that they had sex instead of going on a date?"
Aiba's response elicited a pained squeal from Sho and he rolled over onto his side to curl up.
"Jesus, Aiba-chan," Sho whined, rubbing his forehead. "How are you so okay with the fact that they just had sex in your bed?"
Aiba helpfully informed Sho that it'd happened in his bathroom too.
Sho would later be proud that he'd managed not to cry.