"Alright, tell me what's up?" Steve asked, leaning on the railing outside.
Daichi, Miho and Ken's parents had gone to bed already, leaving Steve and Ken alone after some time. They had moved to the front porch in order to not wake anyone.
"What do you mean?" Ken asked, trying to brush off the question.
"Bro, we've known each other for ages. I know when something is bothering you. Is it trouble with Ai?" Steve asked with concern.
Ken let out a sigh, debating whether or not to speak his mind. He had been rattled ever since experiencing that dream the other day. Every now and then he would hear murmurs, as if there was someone talking close by.
It made him feel like he was hallucinating.
But how would he explain that to his friend, wouldn't he just sound crazy? The last thing he wanted was to be sent to the doctor for such a thing, it might even hinder his trajectory to move up to the Majors.
However, this was Steve, his best friend besides his brother Daichi. If there was anyone who would have his back, it was this man.
"Do you ever feel like none of this is real?" Ken asked, "Like its some kind of elaborate dream."
His words were met with silence. Steve's face morphed into one of deep thought, which, judging by his expression, looked like it caused him some level of physical pain.
"Sometimes, I guess?" He replied, tilting his head. "When I first got drafted, it didn't feel real. I never knew that I could feel so much happiness…"
Steve paused before turning to Ken. "But then I remembered how hard I worked to get here. Surely if this was a dream everything would be easy? Couldn't I just make myself the best player in the world at once? Why would I have to work my way up from High School to College and the minor league."
Steve's words washed over him. Some of it made sense, but Ken wasn't entirely convinced.
If he knew it was a dream, then wouldn't he just wake up? What if the dream was intentionally elaborate so that he would not be suspicious?
As his mind theorized this, the murmurs began to grow louder in his mind.
BEEP
BEEP
Ken's face went pale. He had a sudden urge to scream.
That was when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. He looked up, only to see Steve staring at him.
"And so what if it is all a dream?" Steve stated, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "I'll live my life the way I want to without any regrets, that way, even if it's a dream, I can look back and be happy with how it ended."
Ken felt a shock wave run through his body at that moment, stunning him into silence.
Steve was right. Why was he questioning everything when he had come so far? Not only had he saved Daichi, he'd also bagged the girl of his dreams. Ken's father had his dream job and Ken himself was on the cusp of making it to the Major league.
While it might sound unbelievable, he had worked hard for it.
"You're right… Sorry, I guess I just got a little carried away." Ken replied, giving his friend a smile. Without warning, he pulled the guy in and embraced him.
"Thank you, bro."
Steve was a little taken aback at first, but he smiled and gave Ken a few pats on the back. "That's what friends are for man."
"Mmm…"
***
Ken, Daichi and Miho stayed at their parents house for a full month. During that time, the trio of Ken, Daichi and Steve trained together. At first, the two catchers clashed, but soon enough they warmed up to each other.
They quickly became both friends and rivals, much to Ken's surprise. Daichi and Miho's English had also improved considerably, helped by the fact everyone spoke the language at his house.
At the end of the month, Daichi and Miho returned to Japan, leaving Steve and Ken in Austin. He stayed for another month before heading to New York to see Ai.
By then it was already the start of December and therefore the winter break for college.
Ai had already received enough credit to graduate, but would have to wait until January. So, the two decided to stay in the states and spend some time together before graduation.
By now, Ai had fully grown into her figure. Paired with her fashion, she turned heads everywhere she went. Ken wasn't sure if this made him happy, or a little self-conscious.
However, it was a fact that she only had eyes for him. Everywhere they went, she would be stuck to his side, hanging off his arm as if she never wanted to let go.
He thought back to the time when they first got together. After Ken had returned from the U18 World Cup, he found out that Ai was moving to Tokyo to enter Joshibi High and pursue her dreams.
They walked around the streets of Yokohama and reminisced about how they met. Looking back at it now, Ken couldn't fathom why he had been so reluctant to date her until then.
Of course he had his issues with her father Tetsu, but that wasn't the deciding factor. No, he had been worried that their mental ages were too far apart. After all, he had been a 24 year old in his previous life.
Yet even now as they walked side by side, it was clear that Ai was far more mentally mature than he was.
Ken let out a sigh, shaking his head incredulously.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Ai asked, probing him.
"Oh nothing… Just remembering how dumb I am sometimes." Ken replied with a small laugh.
Ai giggled, "That's what I'm here for, silly."
"Mmm. And in just a couple of months we'll be married." Ken added.