Don’t be sorry! I love getting requests and I’m beyond pleased to be able to write in such a way that touches your heart so much. I love you too and thank you for the cookie hearts! Thanks for requesting our dear sensei, he really doesn’t get enough love so I’m glad to provide it!

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Ittetsu Takeda – Prompt #58 – “I’ve been in love with you my
entire life. Ever since the day I first met you.”

“Takeda-san? It’s so
nice to meet you, I’m ____ , ______.” He’d never met someone so immediately
friendly and welcoming.

“Takeda-san! Let’s
play house! You be the dad and I’ll be the mom!” Ittetsu blushed furiously but
couldn’t deny you anything so agreed to the embarrassing game despite the rest
of the neighborhood boys teasing him.

“Let’s sit next to
each other on the bus, Takeda-san. I always feel better when you’re close by.”
Words spoken so innocently yet they filled the bespectacled boy’s heart with
pride. Now if only he felt brave enough to tell you how he felt. But, he
reasoned, I have three years, surely before then…

“Can you believe it,
Takeda-san? I got into my dream school! I’m going to America!” Your news
shattered his heart that day but he smiled as brightly as possible, allowing
himself a little bit longer hug to “celebrate”. Now he couldn’t tell you how he felt.

Ittetsu’s hands shook
reading the invitation. A part of him he’d rather not focus on was glad he’d
have to decline; he just couldn’t afford the time or money to go to America for
your wedding. But he made sure to buy one of the more expensive items on your registry,
reasoning he was making up for all the birthdays and holidays he missed sending
you anything.

The day of your
wedding, Takeda-sensei is throwing himself more into work and trying to help at
practice with the boys more to distract himself. This was it, a lifetime’s
amount of love wasted because he was too chicken to ever tell you how he felt.

These memories come flooding back the moment Takeda lays
eyes on you. He’d no idea you’d returned to Japan, much less that you’d be working
at the same school as him. Stepping out of his haze, his hand reaches forward
of its own accord, his voice asking, “_____-san?” as he touches your shoulder.

Turning, your eyes go wide at the sight of your childhood
best friend. For a moment, you’re frozen but then forgetting where you are
spring into his arms, hugging him tightly. Your fellow teachers either scoff or
snicker at the very public display of affection between two people who they,
until a few seconds ago, presumed were strangers.

Stammering in shock and slight embarrassment, Takeda pulls
back to look at your face, forcing his hands to release your arms. “What are
you doing here?” he asks bewildered.

“I came back!” you say cheerfully, eyes shining.

There’s not really time to get the whole story, not when
both of you have classes to teach but Takeda gets enough of his wits about him
to acquire your phone number, promising to call at the end of the work day so
you can make plans to catch up.

The day seems to crawl from that point on but eventually its
duties are done and Takeda is nervously dialing your number.

“Hello?” your soft
voice says.

“Hello, _____-san, it’s
Takeda. I wanted to see if you’d still like to get together tonight?”

Your enthusiastic affirmative response makes him smile but
it drops away when you add, “I’m so
excited for you to meet Paul!” It takes him a second to realize you’re
talking about your husband. Feigning his own enthusiasm, Takeda suggests a
simple dinner at a small café in town. Agreeing you get the location from him
and ring off, saying you can’t wait to see him. Hanging up from the call, he
lets out a long sigh. What else did he expect? Of course you would bring your
husband!

Later that evening, Takeda arrives a little early, getting a
table for three near the back for privacy. Not too long after he’s situated you
arrive, pulling behind you a tall, imposing looking man. How in the world did
you end up with someone so…serious?

Standing, Takeda bows his greeting, then extends his hand. “Good
evening, you must be Paul, I’m Takeda Ittetsu, it’s very nice to finally meet
you,” he offers. Paul shakes his hand firmly, murmuring a similar sentiment but
the Japanese teacher can tell he’s just saying what’s expected of him. Which he
can’t exactly fault him for, since Takeda is doing the same thing.

As you settle into your seat, you and Takeda begin talking,
catching up on all the years of events and happenings since you last saw each
other. You’d tried to stay in contact after you left for America but both of
you had fallen short on your promise to stay best friends forever. However, as
he sits reminiscing with you and laughing, Takeda feels like no time has gone
by at all. Which is both great and awful, because he feels his long-buried
feelings for you bubbling to the surface.

Across the table, he can see out of the corner of his eye
Paul sitting back, arms crossed with a scowl on his face and wonders again how
someone as bright and loving as you could be tied to someone so obviously
negative.

To your credit, you’re trying to draw him into the
conversation but Paul isn’t making it easy, offering one word answers or grunts
in response to your questions or requests for opinions. Takeda works hard not
to frown at the man but it’s getting increasingly difficult. He keeps his focus
on you, your eyes, your face, the lovely lilt of your laughter, all of it
pushing his heart more into a blender.

Suddenly, in the middle of his story about Hinata and
Kageyama’s fight, Paul leans his forearm on the table, other arm wrapping
around your waist as he says bluntly, “You know, I finally figured you out. You’re
in love with my wife, aren’t you?”

It’s so unexpected that both you and Takeda sit staring with
wide eyes and slightly gapping mouths.

You’re the first to recover, smacking Paul’s arm, tone split
between incredulity and embarrassment, “What are you talking about Paul?
Takeda-san and I are just friends!” Your emphasis on the word “friends” causes
Ittetsu to flinch, an action not missed by the hyper aware husband.

“Ha, friends my ass, he wants you so much and you’re just
feeding him, the poor bastard,” he goes on.

Now your tone is angry as you reply, “Paul, stop it! This is
not the time or the place or the person to be jealous of!”

Your words make Takeda believe this isn’t the first time
Paul has accused someone of being interested in his wife but he oddly hopes it’s
the first time he’s been right.

You’re going on but Paul cuts you off, “Are you really so
stupid as to not see when someone wants you? Or do you just not care and like to
lead them on and piss me off by playing dumb?”

Clenching his firsts, Takeda stands up, slamming them on the
table. “That’s enough!” he says firmly, drawing your gaze away from your
husband to his face. Paul’s expression is smug satisfaction. Looking at you,
Takeda takes a shaky breath. “I’m sorry, _____-san, but I won’t say it’s not
true. I’ve been lying to you for so long but I won’t lie anymore. I’ve been in love with you my entire life.
Ever since the first day I met you.” He glances back at Paul, eyes
hardening, “You don’t deserve her and how she ended up with someone so arrogant
and selfish I’ll never know.”

Throwing down some money, he steps away from the table.
Bowing low to you he says, “My apologies, ______-san, but I’ll be going now. It
was lovely to see you again.”

Walking purposefully, other patrons’ eyes following him,
Takeda makes it outside before his entire body starts shaking. How could he do
that? It’s obvious Paul has jealousy issues and now any problems in your marriage
resulting from them are just going to get worse because the two of you work
together and-

“Takeda-san?”

Ittetsu whirls around at the sound of your voice, eyes
widening at your face drenched in tears. He doesn’t hesitate, surging forward
and gathering you in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers in your hair.

“Don’t be,” you hiccup, pulling back to look at him. “Things
have been going downhill with Paul for a while now. He…he cheated on me and
even though we’ve been going to counseling he keeps waiting for me to retaliate
by cheating on him. So any man who shows even the remotest interest in me,
whether I’m aware of it or not, he harps on. I had hoped coming to Japan would
help, you know, like a fresh start?”

You shake your head, more tears falling which Takeda thumbs
away. When had he moved his hands to your face? But you don’t seem to mind, leaning
into his touch. “Tonight was just the last straw. He…he’s going back to America
to file for the divorce.”

“Oh, ______-san, I’m so sorry,” Takeda says and he means it.
He may not like Paul but he can see this is hurting you badly.

“It…it wasn’t all bad, you know?” you choke out, fresh tears
pouring down. “We…we were really happy for a while. But I wasn’t enough…I tried
so hard…but I’m not enough.”

Takeda leans down, pressing his lips to your forehead before
murmuring against your skin, “You are more
than enough, you’re perfect.”

Sighing, you wrap your arms around his waist, face nuzzling
into his chest. Takeda almost stops breathing at the action but pulls you
closer. You stay like that for a few moments before drawing back, arms still
gripping one another’s.

“Takeda-san, I…I don’t know if…if you’re willing to wait
but-“

His finger covers your lips, eyes focused on yours. Smiling
he says, “I’ve already waited my whole life, a little bit longer is nothing.”