Chapter Text
The day was honestly a blur for Nagi. Servers were rushing around making sure all the flowers were arranged neatly, that the room was at the perfect temperature so the ice sculptures wouldn’t melt, and that everything Reo envisioned for the day was executed to a T.
There were only a few things burned into his memory from that day when he tries to recall it.
How handsome Reo looked in a white suit.
How beautiful Reo’s vows were.
How Reo’s voice shook with a nervous kind of excitement as he breathed out the words, ‘I do.’
How the silver wedding band complimented Reo’s skin tone so well.
How Reo’s hand felt in his for a brief moment as he handed him the ring.
Maybe the day wasn’t as hard to remember as Nagi wished it was. Standing there next to Reo as he smiled at this lovely brunette whose vows were just as beautiful and whose wedding band complimented Reo’s as if they were meant to be.
God.
That day felt like the longest day of Nagi’s life. It was a reminder of how even after all that he and Reo shared growing up - Reo could never have loved him back because to Reo all he was was his best friend. Which is an honor in itself so Nagi kept his feelings to himself that day as he did every day since they met.
Reo and his wife were happy and from all Nagi’s been told since that day - it’s all Reo’s ever wanted in life. They’ve won the World Cup, Reo retired from football to take care of the family business, and now he’s married to someone who will produce an heir with him.
It feels selfish to feel so heartbroken.
So selfish to end a celebrated day by lying alone in the darkness of his room as hot tears stream down his cheeks while the feelings of regret sink in. As if it would have made a difference if Nagi confessed to Reo all those years ago when Reo so clearly has never been interested.
It’s all so pathetic.
A year later Nagi has never felt further away from Reo with their routine disrupted by the other’s married life. Which is why it was such a surprise to see Reo calling Nagi on a random Thursday night.
“Nagi?” Reo’s voice is shaky as if he’s been crying.
“Reo, are you okay?” Nagi pauses his little farm simulator game as his heart drops to his stomach.
“N-no,” Reo chokes back a sob and takes a deep breath before continuing, “Can you meet me at the hospital? Room 3667.”
“I’ll be there,” Nagi finds himself moving without question grabbing his wallet and keys before bolting out the door.
The commute over is quick, but by the time Nagi is standing in the hospital lobby all the adrenaline has left his body. His fingers are cold and his feet feel like they’re glued to the ground. It takes all his strength to will himself to make his way towards the elevator.
What could Reo possibly need that he couldn’t have called his wife? Midori was a nice lady who loved Reo deeply. So, why is he the one making his way over to this hospital room?
Knock knock!
Nagi quietly cracks the door open and is more confused than anything to see Reo dressed in his usual purple sweater and slacks sitting on a couch, because of course the VIP hospital rooms are built like hotels.
“Reo?” Nagi’s voice is barely above a whisper as he calls out to his friend.
“Y-you came,” Reo sniffles as he stands up to greet Nagi.
“Your eyes are red…”
“Observant as ever,” Reo teases but his face looks like he’s about to cry again.
“What’s going on?”
Nagi instantly regrets asking the question because Reo’s eyebrows knit themselves for a fraction of a second before tears begin to fall - and Nagi almost feels guilty as if it was his fault that Reo’s feeling so awful…
“C-can we sit down?” Reo chokes out between sobs as he pulls Nagi by the hoodie sleeve towards the couch.
It’s quiet for a moment as Reo sniffles and composes himself before comically fanning his eyes as if to dry the tears.
“Midori and I have a daughter,” Reo starts as he curls his legs up onto the couch so he can hug them close to his chest. This manner of sitting makes Reo look so small as if they were teenagers trading secrets again.
“Congratulations,” Nagi’s tone is flat, but he is happy for Reo. It’s not like the Mikages would frown upon a female heir, but god does it sting to hear that Reo’s starting a family.
“Thank you,” Reo huffs out a shaky breath and continues to stare at the floor which tells Nagi there’s more to this than Reo’s shared so far.
“So, where are they?”
“B-blunt as ever,” Reo lets out a soft sigh that could have almost been a laugh if his eyes weren’t clouded with sadness, “The baby is in the newborn nursery area for now.”
“...And Midori?”
Tears start to form again before Reo can choke out his sentence, “S-she didn’t make it.”
It’s an ugly concoction of feelings if Nagi were being honest, but any bit of hopeful emotions are quickly crushed by shame as he realizes Reo’s mourning his loving wife which leaves no space for Nagi to think about his feelings.
“I’m sorry,” Nagi says awkwardly as his messy feelings are slowly compartmentalized.
“I-I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I can raise this baby on my own. I thought Midori and I were going to have each other to figure this all out. I don’t want to fuck up raising our baby.” Reo rambles in between sobs and all Nagi can do is rub his back to try and comfort him.
It hurts to see Reo this way.
At least an hour later, Reo was finally able to stop sobbing before falling asleep on the couch with his head resting on Nagi’s lap. He looked so peaceful even with his puffy eyes - and suddenly the quiet longing in his chest that he had forgotten about returned as if it never left.
“I’ll help you,” Nagi whispers as he brushes stray hair away from Reo’s sleeping face.
Without hope or agenda, Nagi steels his resolve. He will be there for Reo and the baby as much as they allow him to be. As long as Reo needs him, he will come.