If Something Should Happen by Daryl Worley

"Partner we need to talk," Yosuke's voice is urgent on the other line. It's been just over ten years since the day a band of misfits seeking the truth fought a god and saved the world and in all the time Yu's known him, he's never heard his best friend sound this scared.

"Yosuke, what's wrong?" the silver haired man asked, trying to keep his voice gentle.

"Everything, buddy, everything," Yosuke said sounding like he was choking back tears. "Come see me at Junes, where we used to have our special headquarters. I know you're helping Yukiko today but... Please, you're the only person I can turn to right now. I... I can't talk to Chie yet. Get over here, now."

Yu's dressed for working at the inn already, in a grey kimono that's traditional but still workable. This has been standard work attire for the past five years, ever since he and Yukiko graduated college in 2017. Normally he'd try to talk his friend into meeting up later but something in his voice, in his tone told him this couldn't wait. If Yosuke couldn't tell Chie, his partner of five years and wife of two... Something was very wrong, much more troublesome than the worst of bad work days. "Dear," Yu said, walking behind his wife. "I'm sorry but Yosuke called and said he needed to talk. I need to go."

"Yu, are you sure Yosuke-san couldn't wait?" Yukiko asked. "I know he's your best friend and he's the husband of mine but we're busy today and mother and father have stepped down so you-"

"Yukiko, I wouldn't be even bringing it up if I wasn't sure," Yu replied firmly without being rude, cutting her off. "It's so bad he won't talk to Chie-san about it yet and you know they tell each other everything."

It was true. While no one in their circle of friends kept things of importance from each other, their group of four was easily the most open with one another and no secrets we're kept between any of them. It was how Yosuke and Chie had managed to stop dancing around each other after all. A forceful intervention from their two closest friends and a Rainy Day Challenge Mega Beef Bowl. If Yosuke felt he couldn't tell Chie of all people something... "Okay," the young manager of the Amagi inn said. "Go help him. But if this is a prank..."

"I'll shock him myself," Yu promised. He kissed his wife on the cheek and headed back to their room changing into a grey button up shirt and casual slacks. He walked to the bus stop near the inn and headed into town.

He found Yosuke about where he expected, sitting at a familiarly placed steel table at the Inaba Branch Junes that had been run by Yosuke's father till his death four years prior. He didn't expect to see his best friend with his face pressed flat against the table mumbling swears and, "I'm sorry Chie." His friends face, what little he could see was pale white, like he'd just seen a ghost. As Yu would find out that wasn't it, close but not quite right. "Partner?" Yu said softly, placing a hand on his buddy's shoulder.

"Yu," his friend said, his face snapping upwards. "Sit down with me... I have a favor to ask... And some really bad news."

"What's wrong man?" Yu asks. "And what's the favor? Anything for my team, buddy, you know that. You all gave my life meaning, when I didn't have anything in my heart."

"I'll answer both," Yosuke replies. "I've got... I've been diagnosed with lung cancer. Just like my dad was..."

Understanding floods Yu, that cancer had taken Yosuke's father's life of course he was panicking. Despite being a very kind man, the former Junes manager had smoked at least three cigs every day since they'd met the Spring Yu returned to Inaba. "Partner, what do you need me to do?" Yu asked, trying to suppress the worry in his own voice.

"If something happens to me," Yosuke said. "I-if I don't make it. I need you and Yukiko to do everything you can for Chie and the b-baby." He sounds like he's about to break down as he chokes down a sob when mentioning the child he and Chie are expecting. "Please. Chie's strong but I don't want her carrying this life alone. I don't want it to be like with Dojima-san and Nanako-chan before you came rolling into all our lives."

"I'll do everything I can for Chie and I know Yukiko will as well," Yu promises. "But c'mon... Let's get you to the station. Chie-san deserves to hear about this. I know why you're worried about telling her but this is too big, too painful, for it to be kept hidden from her. She loves you partner. She deserves to know."

It takes a while to get there because not only are they walking but also because Yosuke's moving like a zombie. Yu can't really blame his buddy for being lobotomized though. Not with the news he's just gotten. The receptionist takes one look at them and calls for Chie. She comes out fast or at least as fast as someone two months pregnant safely can. "Yosuke! Yu! You guys came to visit?" she says before catching the expressions on the faces of the two men. "What's the matter?"

"Sit down," Yu says gently. "Yosuke has something you need to hear."

After his wife is sitting on the floor, Yosuke sorta collapses into a kneeling position. "You know how I haven't been feeling well? That I've been short of breath a lot lately?"

"Yeah," Chie replies, sounding scared.

"Th-the results from the hospital just got back," Yosuke says, staring at the ground now. "I have lung cancer, like my old man did. I told them I've never lit up a cigarette a day in my life but apparently... Apparently dad having smoked around me all that time was enough."

"Yosuke, no," Chie chokes out, tears filling her eyes.

"They caught it fast, really fast," Yosuke says. "With this surgery, there's a chance I'll make it out okay. But... Worst case scenario, Yu's promised me he and Yukiko will look after you. And that one." He lays a gentle hand on his wife's stomach.

Chie's face is distorted with pain. The last time any of them saw her face this torn up, Nanako was presumed dead. "But... But I don't wanna lose you," the young cop replies, staring at her husband. "I don't want you to go anywhere. I wanna live in this town with you and our kids and protect it, forever."

"Even at it's worst case, I'll always be with you Chie," Yosuke said. "I promise. And I promise I'll do whatever I can to survive this. We fought gods and still kept going. I won't just back down. I'll fight for my life with everything I have."

Yu watches his best friends tear up in each other's arms and feels his own eyes begin to leak. Still there's one other person that needs to know immediately. Their other friends can be told later, once these two have pulled themselves a little more together. She picks up on the third ring. "Yu?"

"Yukiko, Yosuke's got lung cancer. Can you get over here? Chie-san definitely needs her best friend."

"I'll be there soon as I can." She hangs up. Yu needs her here too, if he's being honest. He can't let his steel facade break yet. Cracking is unavoidable but breaking is unacceptable. At least for now.

It's a week later and Yosuke's surgery has been scheduled for today. Hours tick by as Yu waits in the lobby, his hand entwined with Yukiko's. Her parents understanding the importance of this day agreed to go back to running the inn for the next few days, something he is immensely grateful for. A nurse pokes her head in the lobby, "I'm looking for Amagi-san? We have news of Hanamura-san."

The couple of that name glance at each other and rise to their feet walking to the nurse. "That would be us," Yukiko says.

"His operation finished a couple hours ago. We're happy to inform you he has no trace of cancer. He'll have to stay here a few days, to heal from his operation but he's expected to make a full recovery. Would you like to see him? He and his wife are awaiting the two of you."

"Yes!" Yu cries, his composure completely slipping him at the joy of the situation. Yukiko gives his hand a gentle squeeze and they head back after the nurse.

"'ey pardner," Yosuke says, staring at him. "I'm nod gonna die!"

"We heard buddy," Yu replies smiling at his friend and at his wife hugging her best friend tight. "Congrats!"

"And 's goin' ta be a boy!" Yosuke exclaims, his tone still loopy. "Great job Chie!"

All eyes in the room move to Yosuke's bride. "A boy, Chie?" Yukiko asks. "When'd you find out?"

"Yesterday," the officer says. "Just what I need, two Yosuke's." Despite how her words may sound, her voice carries no sarcasm only happiness.

"Well," Yukiko says quietly. "One bombshell deserves another. Yu, everyone, I'm pregnant."

It takes a solid minute for what she said to settle in on everyone. Yu rushes over and pulls her into his arms. At the top of her voice Chie shouts, "Congratulations!"

Yosuke just giggles to himself saying, "Mommies, two mommies. Two mommies!" A nurse rushes in telling them to be quiet with a loud, "Sorry!" being heard from everyone but Yosuke who's still giggling. And for the first time in a week, the future looks bright for the two families.