A/N: Short drabble originally written for the lovely Otsukimi. Hints of Tezuka OC.

~x~

Fuji could not help but grin inwardly as the voice on the other end of the line slowly and hesitatingly told him of his intentions. He had always thought of his friend as strong and unyielding. Even now, he spoke with conviction, not a hint of a stutter or a stammer, but Fuji could detect a strain of awkwardness in his words. He sounded uncomfortable. For the first time, it seemed, Tezuka Kunimitsu was nervous. Seeing this side of him amused Fuji. Oh, when this was over, he would tease him to no end.

"Have you asked the father?" he finally said after Tezuka finished.

A pause. "Yes."

"Do you have a ring?"

Another pause. "Yes."

He smiled mischievously. "Do you... love her?"

There was a long silence, and for a moment Fuji wondered if he had gone too far, putting his friend on the spot like that. But then Tezuka spoke firmly and solemnly, as if he was at the altar at that very moment, "I do."

Fuji opened his eyes. It seemed that realization had finally hit him at that point. This was actually happening. Tezuka was going to propose. He was going to be married.

Darn it, he'd lost money in the betting pool.

Brushing off the slight irritation of losing the bet, (and ignoring the tiny twinge of jealousy that reminded him he was still a bachelor) Fuji told Tezuka in all honesty, "I'm very, very happy for you."

"Thank you."

"And I'm sure you two will be very happy together." At first, Fuji couldn't imagine Tezuka dating, let alone settling down, but when he saw the couple together... There was no one out there more suited to spend the rest of their lives together. It seemed fitting that he would fall in love with a lively, vibrant person. She was the spring to his ice.

There was another uncomfortable pause. Then,

"... What if she says no?"

Fuji fought back the urge to chuckle. "She won't say no."

Another pause.

"Tezuka," Fuji went on. "She's been smitten with you since middle school. She never even looked at another guy after you two started dating. And she's probably waiting for you to ask."

Pause.

"Besides," Fuji continued, finding Tezuka's anxiety to be very amusing indeed. Oh, it was a pity they couldn't meet in person; he would've liked to see his face. But with him studying in France, and Tezuka back in Tokyo, it was impossible. "No matter what, it can't go worse than the first time Momo proposed to Suzume-chan."

"...Really?"

This time the brunette did chuckle. "I believe her exact response was, 'Are you kidding me!'"

The other boy didn't say anything, but Fuji could sense that he was suppressing a smile. Ever since Tezuka had found the right girl, he had been slowly breaking free of his cold shell. He was still chillingly silent, and his stare could still freeze fire, but something in his gaze had softened. Something within him had thawed.

"It'll be fine," he repeated to his friend.

Tezuka cleared his throat. "You'll come to the wedding?"

Now that was more like the confident captain he knew, Fuji thought. "Of course," he said, a smile forming on his face. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~x~

Later that night, Tezuka called to let him know that he was engaged.

~x~

End

A/N: If there is enough interest, I make make this multichap,