See You Again *Shohei Ohtani*

Miles Away

10 days until going home....

I was sad that Shohei had to leave today. I understood that he was a professional baseball player, but it just sucks being away from him again. This is the situation I never faced when he left Japan, but I found myself always thinking of him as more than just my best friend. I like him a lot. These past few days he's treated me really well, which didn't help my case even more. I went to the bar with my friends and I wore the jersey Shohei gave me of his, which was huge on me. I matched it with a pair of white and red converses. They had the game on the big screen. My friends and I got seated, and we watched the game.

They showed Shohei stretching and every woman in the bar was being thirsty... including me, but I hid my feelings well. "Hannah, how have you not pounced on that yet?" Liz asked drooling. "He's my best friend. I have no such desire." I overheard another woman's conversation. "Have you seen Shohei's girlfriend? She's so average looking and if he got with her, he'd definitely get with someone like us." Her friends laughed. "Hey bitch, don't talk about my friend like that." Izzy said, standing up."Izzy it's not necessary." The woman turned around as she appeared to be angry. "No, I'm not going to sit here and listen to the 3 little piggies talk about someone being "average" when they're below."

The two women bickered for the rest of the night. I went some place quiet to watch the game. Shohei was up at bat. I smiled to myself. I couldn't wait to talk to him on FaceTime tonight, so I can tell him how amazing he did.  Liz and Izzy joined me as we had a couple of drinks and boneless wings. That's when Shohei hit a home run making the game 7-2. They were at the bottom of the 7th. Shohei did a familiar sign that he asked me to look out for. I did the sign back, knowing he hit that run for me. My friends were jumping around and screaming. I texted him, knowing he wasn't going to get my message right away.

Me
7:45pm
"I just want to let you know that I'm really proud of you for playing your hardest in this game. Love you always, my friend."

I put my phone back in my purse. I watched the rest of the game before getting ready to go home. We got into Liz's car, and she drove us to a restaurant. That's when I felt my phone vibrate.

Ohtani
9:00pm
"Thanks."

Me
9:03pm
"Are you okay?"

Ohtani
9:04pm
"He's in the shower. Leave him alone."  I became sick to my stomach, I threw my phone wanting nothing to do with it. That's when Shohei called me. "Leave me alone." I flat out said. "Hannah, please listen to me. Those were my teammates who messaged you. I'm truly sorry they did that." I heard the anger mixed with sadness in his voice. "Okay."

"Do you believe me?" He asked. "I believe you. You're my best friend, and I trust you wouldn't lie to me about something like that." He sighed, "Are you still going to FaceTime with me?"

"I don't know. I'm pretty busy." I said pulling his leg. "So is that a yes?" I laughed. "Sho-sho you know I would love to FaceTime you." I could hear him start to smile on the phone. "Alright, well, I'll let you go. I have to get checked into my hotel room."

"No positive pregnancy test, buddy." He laughed. "If it were to happen, it would be with you." My face started to burn up. "Shohei!" I inhaled my water when he said that. He was laughing on the other end, knowing he took me by surprise. "Alright, I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing." He said. "Sounds good." We bid our farewells and hung up. Izzy and Liz were looking at me, smiling. "Oooh was that your boyfriend?" I rolled my eyes. "He's my best friend, not my boyfriend."

"I don't know, you guys are getting very cozy with one another." I took a sip of my water and got up. "Hannah, where are you going?" I left and put my hand in the air signaling a goodbye. I went to a Japanese snack shop and got Shohei all of his favorite snacks that we used to eat when we were kids." I checked out and then ran to another store to pick up a card. I wanted to send Shohei a care package while he was out there. Not only that, but I got him a bracelet that said I'll be back, and mine says I'll be waiting. I went to the 24 hr post office and put it in a box and had it mailed out to the hotel he was at. It should be there by tomorrow. I can't wait for it to get to him.

I walked back to Liz's house, and got around for bed. I was so sleepy. Liz and Izzy weren't home yet, but that gave me time to wind down and watch a couple of my shows before I went to bed. After getting done with what I needed to get done, Shohei FaceTime me.  "Hi." I said, laughing as his face was close to the camera. "Hi. How are you doing?" He questioned. "Good, am I going to be talking to your eye this whole convo?" I snickered. "No, I'm just exhausted and I'm doing a lot of stupid shit." He laughed and got up from his bed. "Like I got this new onesie today." He showed me his teddy bear onesie, and I was jealous. "Shosho you look so cute!"

"Thanks, maybe when I get back, I can be your teddy bear." He winked at me, giving me a finger heart. I grew red in the face as he smiled at me. I hid my face. "Stop being cute." A devious smile crept onto his face as he sat down. "I got asked out today by some random woman. I told her I had a beautiful girlfriend already." I was confused. "Why am I the last to know when you hop into relationships?"

"You say it as if I just got into a relationship with anyone." I laughed. "Hannah, I was talking about you." I stopped in my tracks when he stated that. "Shohei— you aren't serious." But when I looked at his face, he was earnest. "Hannah, I know we've been best friends for a long time, but I want to be more than that. I've always wanted to be more than that." I smiled. "If you're on board with it, then I am too." His face grew red as he realized what just happened. "So we are more than best friends?" I shrugged. "Sure, at this point, it's obvious that we like each other. Best friends don't get jealous over whose stealing their friend's attention."

"On that note, I will talk to you tomorrow. It's important that you get your rest." He said, yawning. "Also, we're doing a double header tomorrow." I nodded. "Goodnight, I'll talk to you tomorrow, and I'll be watching your game." He waved goodbye, and then we hung up from one another. I sat on my bed wondering what just happened. I'm his girlfriend now, like we are dating more than just friends. I got into bed and rested my eyes. I fell into a deep sleep, resting for the night.