One Shots, Part 2

Mere Formality

Saya looks absolutely radiant in her wedding dress. She had finally settled on a chapel rather than a Shinto wedding after endless consideration and debate.

"So, did you ever stop eating cake?" Mitsuha teasingly asks as she watches the stylist carefully style Saya's hair. "You're looking good."

Saya laughs, much to the stylist's displeasure. "Do you really think I'd give up sweets? Forget the diet, I just decided to exercise more!"

"Teach me."

"What, planning your wedding with Taki already?"

Mitsuha is suddenly very thankful that Saya can't see her face. Even if Taki did propose and get her father's blessing, they had yet to announce their engagement.

"Sounds like you're in good spirits. No cold feet, I assume?" Mitsuha attempts to change the subject.

"Cold feet? After nine years of being in a relationship with Tessie? If it was ever going to happen, it would've been within the first week."

The stylist puts the finishing touches on Saya's hair, looking quite pleased with the end result. She gives a couple last instructions to Saya before quickly departing.

"I did always say the two of you were like a married couple, even before you started dating," Mitsuha points out. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you've been together so long you're technically in a common law marriage."

"We fought all the time. How did anyone think we would get together?"

"The tension between you and Tessie was so obvious. I think even Yotsuha could feel it."

"Ugh, don't remind me! It was embarrassing back then, and it's no less embarrassing now." Saya smiles softly. "But I wouldn't change a thing."

If Saya was positively glowing, Tessie was. . .shining. Taki thinks it might be sweat.

Despite his nerves, however, Tessie's voice comes out strong when it's time for him to say his vows.

"Sayaka.

For my whole life, you've always been by my side. Through thick and thin, I knew I could count on you being there.

After we lost our hometown, we went our separate ways. It wasn't even a whole year, but every day I knew something was missing.

You were missing.

The day we reunited was one of the happiest days of my life. Seeing the pure, unadulterated joy and relief on your face as we embraced that day is something I will never forget.

Knowing that I could make you that happy, and you could me, is something that I will hold dear for the rest of my life.

I promise to stay by your side, no matter what may happen. I will support you, push you forward, help you up when you're down. Just like you do for me.

All I can hope for, is to spend the rest of my life right by your side."

It isn't until the officiant calls for the rings that Taki realizes his eyes are damp.

Even if it had been for but a brief moment that Taki had spent with Saya and Tessie, he hopes with all his heart that their future is a happy one.

"Congratulations, you two! I'm so happy for you!" Mitsuha gushes, bending down to hug a sitting Saya.

"Thanks," Saya tiredly says. "Do you mind grabbing us something to eat and drink? We haven't had anything all day, and apparently we're going to be busy for the rest of the reception."

"I thought today was about us," Tessie moans. "It's been one thing after another, and next thing you know we're starving to death."

"You don't get to complain as much as I do, I did all the planning!"

"Doesn't that mean I get to blame you for this?"

"You two were made for each other," Mitsuha laughs. "You couldn't have written a better story: childhood friends, separated by a natural disaster, come to discover mutual love when they're separated. Despite how it seems like the two of you are always fighting, you both see the best in each other."

Saya leans on Tessie, who accepts his new role as a headrest without protest.

"I'm so lucky," Tessie sighs.

Saya hums in assent.

Flying Solo

It makes him feel kind of silly, but Takagi wishes he could find a girlfriend. Sure, he still had Taki and Tsukasa and Okudera, and he made friends at work, but deep down he craved a deeper kind of companionship.

Hell, if Taki could find someone, then why couldn't he?

Well, for now, he has more important things than to pine for a non-existent relationship.

Today just wasn't his day.

To start off, he had failed to set his alarm the previous night, resulting in Takagi waking up far later than usual. And in his panic to get ready, he accidentally spilled coffee all over his briefcase and suit. His superiors wouldn't bother with his excuses, but he knows that it's fair—they pay him to come in on time and do his job, they have a right to get upset when he fails to uphold his end of the bargain.

They could've been a bit nicer, though.

"I just hope they don't dock my pay, somehow," Takagi groans. "Man, when it rains, it pours."

Tsukasa nods understandingly, while Taki is engrossed in his phone. Probably texting Mitsuha.

Takagi is thankful that he still stays in touch with his high school friends. He'd rather not say it out loud, but if push came to shove, he would admit that their friendship meant a lot to him. He's especially grateful that he wasn't pushed out when they both found significant others.

"It happens." Tsukasa looks at Taki, who is still in a world of his own. "Some of us are apparently more fortunate than others."

"You seem a little down, Takagi," Taki observes.

"Uh, yeah? Were you listening at all?"

"No—I mean, yeah, I was. But that's not it. You seem. . .lonely."

Ouch.

He's right.

"Well, I'm just a simple man, trying to make his way in this world. I'll let things come to me naturally."

"That's a good attitude." Tsukasa gives him an encouraging pat on the back. "I never expected to get together with Miki, but it just suddenly happened. I guess I can thank Taki for that—if he hadn't run off to find Itomori, we never would have hit it off like we did. Hey, maybe you should try sticking around Taki! He seems to be a magnet for this kind of stuff."

"I'm not some good luck charm for you to use at your convenience!" Taki objects.

"Come on, man! You know I'm skilled at the art of being a third wheel! You guys will never notice me," Takagi jokes.

If anything, meeting with his friends got him even more down. It wasn't like he's not doing well, but. . .but he thinks he's searching for more meaning to life besides work.

His head is in the clouds when he bumps into someone, sending them sprawling.

"Ouch!"

Oh, crap.

He just ran over some poor high school girl.

"Miss, are you okay?!" Takagi kneels beside her. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Just my pride. Guess that's what I get for not paying attention to where I'm going."

"That makes two of us."

As she tries to stand up, her leg gives out on her. Takagi manages to catch her before she hits the ground again.

"Ah, guess I might've twisted something. . ."

"Here, lean on me." Takagi offers her a shoulder. "Let's find someplace for you to rest. Do you have anyone you can call to pick you up?"

Takagi can't help but feel like everyone else in the café is glaring at him. Realistically, he knows that the vast majority couldn't care less about what he's doing, but that's the funny thing about the human brain—people always feel like they're being singled out.

"So, anyone on their way for you?"

"Nah. I'll be fine, just need to stay off it for a bit."

"So, uh, if you don't mind me asking. . .what's your name? I'm Shinta Takagi."

"You make it a hobby to get to know high school girls, Takagi?" She smirks at him.

"J-just thought I'd try to be friendly!" Takagi raises his hands as if to show he has no bad intentions.

"You're really wound up, aren't you?" she laughs. "Long day?"

"The longest."

Talking with her comes so easily, it feels almost natural. He doesn't know how much time has passed, but it's surprisingly dark when they finally run out of things to talk about.

"Oh, hey! I see some friends from school!" she gingerly stands up, testing the injured leg. Finding that she can put her weight on it, she gathers her things. "Thanks for helping me out today!"

"But—"

"It's not your fault, don't worry. If anything, we're both equally to blame."

As she walks way, she looks over her shoulder at him one more time. "Oh, I never gave you my name, did I?"

She turns and flashes him a brilliant smile.

"My name's Yotsuha!"

Unlikely Matchmaker

Taki knew, without a doubt, that Tsukasa and Okudera would ask him to be a member of the bridal party. He figured that he'd be standing by Tsukasa's side as the couple tied the knot.

". . .Wait a minute. You want me," Taki emphatically points to himself, "to be your. . .'man'-of-honor?"

"Yup!" Okudera confirms with a wide smile.

"I'm honored. I'd love to be there for you on your wedding day." Taki laughs. "Honestly wasn't expecting this."

"Well, you were always there for me. You were so kind. Also, it was because of you that Fujii and I got together."

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah. Back when we went to Itomori," she explains. "You were too busy looking for the town, looking for. . .something. Fujii and I were just along for the ride. Well, I guess we made sure you didn't do anything stupid. But, if I'm being honest, we didn't do anything."

"Oh?" Taki smirks. "I remember someone insisting that I keep searching, after 'everything we've done for you.' Did I quote that right?"

Okudera giggles, a guilty look on her face. "Well, you did seem to have everything covered."

"What were you two even doing? You had to have been bored out of your minds."

"Well, we played cards, and ate interesting food, and saw a cute station mascot, and I ran up and down a staircase a few times!"

". . .And that ended up with you guys getting married."

"Yup!"

". . .Huh."

Notes: A few more random pieces. If you have the time, please leave a comment! I really enjoy them and appreciate it.