Usually the tavern was filled with lively voices, but today the atmosphere was a little more relaxed.

“This place looks expensive. A private room huh.”

I said.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll treat you today.”

Hikaru said,

“No, it’s not that.”

“Don’t worry about it. Aren’t we friends?”

“Hikaru …”

“Besides, it’s also a celebration for Hidetsugu having a lovely wife.”

When Hikaru said this, Hiyori, who was sitting next to me, smiled shyly. While we were talking, the drinks arrived. Hikaru and I had draft beer, and Hiyori had shochu.

“Then, to celebrate Hidetsugu and Hiyori’s wonderful relationship, Cheers!”

Then we bumped our cups.

“……Puha~, Delicious~!”

Hikaru said,

“But, Hikaru. Thanks.”

“Hmm?”

“If you hadn’t shown up today, we might have been in a bit of trouble.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Hikaru smiled.

“I mean, I was surprised to see no one knew that Hidetsugu and I were a battery. Even the people in the baseball club.”

“Well, I was trying not to tell them. Anyway, just tell them I was on the baseball team.”

“Why? If you say it, you’ll definitely be popular.”

“Because I’m done playing baseball.”

When I said that, Hikaru retracted his smile a little.

“Why, Hidetsugu ….”

Hikaru was about to say something when he suddenly looked at Hiyori.

“Ahaha, I’m sorry. Just the two of us are  talking.”

“I-It’s fine.”

“So, Hiyori-chan, what is it about Hidetsugu that made you fall in love with him?”

“What? So suddenly?”

“Isn’t it fine?”

“U-um, he’s … kind, strong, always protects me … and I love that kind of coolness.”

“Hi-Hiyori …”

“Hiyu~”

“Hikaru, shut up.”

I gulped down my beer.

“How about you? You are popular as usual.”

“Hmm… I don’t think I’m interested in anything other than baseball right now.”

“You’ve been saying that for a long time.”

“Haha. Well, if I may say so…I liked you, Hidetsugu.”

“Buhaa!”

“Hiyah!

“S-sorry, Hiyori …”

“N-no, are you okay, Hidetsugu-san?”

Hiyori rubbed my back.

“You guys really are a married couple~”

Hikaru said while eating his snacks in a carefree manner, which annoyed me.

“But I’m being serious, you know? I wanted to play with you as a battery in the professional games.”

Hikaru said in a slightly serious tone.

“Even the pro scouts were trying to recruit you, weren’t they? Why did you stop? At the time, you said something like, ‘Because I’m not a star like you.’ …”

I look at Hikaru, his face contorted a little, and say.

“… Koshien was great, wasn’t it?”

“What?”

“Burning up in the hot summer with my best friend…I thought that was the pinnacle of my baseball life.”

“That’s because, well, high school baseball, Koshien, is special.”

“Yeah, That’s why I thought I’d stop there.”

“I can understand the idea of stopping …. at the top. But, you know,… Hidetsugu, don’t you like baseball anymore?”

“I don’t think so. I still love baseball.”

“If that’s the case…”

“But you know,…… I already had a different dream,…… no, I still do.”

“A different dream?”

“To have a warm and happy family.”

When I said it, I heard Hiyori gasping next to me.

“Quite ordinary, no?”

“No, I think that’s admirable, but… then you can make that happen even if you become a professional baseball player, right?”

“But, I think that if I become a professional, I’ll be completely absorbed in baseball. Because I love baseball”

“Hidetsugu….”

“But I will never be able to surpass the joy of that Koshien ever. That’s why I quit baseball. And next thing, I decided to have an ordinary happy and warm family….and get a wonderful wife.”

I looked at Hiyori and said so.

“Hidetsugu-san… together, right?”

We looked at each other and I was smitten.

“Yeah… that’s right.”

But even so, I still couldn’t take my eyes off Hiyori.

“Ehm are you going to kiss me, by any chance?”

When Hikaru said, we blushed and turned our heads.

“Well, be my guest.”

“No, no, you ….”

I was still blushing, my face on fire.

“Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Hey, don’t run away~”

“Shut up!”

Hikaru teased me as I headed for the bathroom.

******

Alone with him, I was nervous. In front of me was a famous star professional baseball player.

Even though I didn’t know much about him, I at least knew his face and name.

“Hey, Hiyori-chan.”

“Y-yes.”

“Tell me how you and Hidetsugu got together.”

“Eh?”

“When he’s around, He easily gets embarrassed at every turn.”

“I-I am … embarrassed too. …”

“That’s okay, take your time.”

Takasugi-san smiled and said.

“Uh, let’s see… …”

Then I nervously and hesitantly told him about my past experiences with Hidetsugu-san.

.”….. I see.”

Takasugi-san didn’t say much, just nodded.

“That’s just like him.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, I was also saved by him during high school. At first, I was disliked by my teammates. My personality was much worse than it is now, and I didn’t get along with others very well.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yeah, But Hidetsugu was there for me and supported me. In the baseball world, they compare a pitcher and a catcher to a married couple, and say the catcher plays the wife.”

“Ah.”

“Hmm?”

“I-it’s nothing.”

So that’s what that phone conversation was about. …

“He was a good wife,… what a good man. But now he’s a fine … husband of yours?”

Hearing that, I instinctively covered my mouth with both hands.

“Eh? Ah, sorry. Did I say something that offended you?”

“No, no, it’s not… I’m happy. I wanted to make Hidetsugu-san… more than my boyfriend… my husband.”

“Ahaha, you both are so into each other. Glad to hear that, as his former partner.”

“Hauuuu~~ …”

Takasugi-san laughed as I let out a wistful sound.

“Well, may I ask one thing of you?”

“Hmm?”

“Hidetsugu is a strong man. But he’s only one person. I want you to support him from now on.”

Takasugi-san said so with kind eyes.

Ah, this person really likes and appreciates Hidetsugu-san.

He must have been the best battery.

“……Yes, I’ll do my best”

So, I nodded strongly.

“Yes, thank you.”

Takasugi-san smiled. Then, the sliding door of the private room opened.

“Phew~… sorry, I’m late.”

Hidetsugu-san came back.

“Hey, Hikaru. You didn’t say anything strange to Hiyori, did you?”

“Hmm? What strange….Oh, like the story about how Hidetsugu was the most magnificent on the baseball team?”

“Don’t be silly, idiot.”

Hidetsugu-san hit Takasugi-san on the head.

“Ouch.”

Hidetsugu-san glanced in my direction.

And, I

“..C-Certainly, he is amazing, isn’t he?”

I couldn’t help but say that.

“Hi-Hiyori?”

“Ha~!”

“Hehh~?”

Takasugi-san grinned and said,

“Give me a break. …”

“Hidetsugu, thank you for the meal.”

“… well, you’re the one who will pay for the sake and food.”

“That’s what I meant.”

Seeing both of them exchanging something like that, it made me happy.