Chapter Text
His finger was hovering over the call button. A second ago he had felt so determined, tucking the telephone receiver between his shoulder and forming the number. It was weird to call his friend after a few years of no contact. It had been three years since high school ended, six since their first meeting.
They grew close. Josuke didn’t want to admit to anyone, much less to himself, that he was his best friend, but he knew it deep down. They had gone through a lot of adventures during high school. Did things that strengthened their bond. And yet, once high school was over and they parted ways, Josuke wasn’t too affected. He didn’t know that brief look over his shoulder as they walked in opposite directions would be the last time he’d see his friend. If he knew he wouldn’t hear from him anytime soon, the small goodbye hug would have been much longer. They didn’t call, even if they had each other’s number. Josuke had considered it many times, but made up excuses at the very last moment. Studying, university, part-time jobs. He had things to do, so did his friend. There was no time, apparently, to give a quick call. Maybe meet up sometime.
This was too sudden. Not only he had years to even hear his voice, but he called because he practically had no one else he could think of. He needed to recruit. He had already gathered a small crowd, but he needed to replace the old man. His dad. Joseph Joestar wasn’t that bad once you got used to him. He was a little stupid and very slow, had cataract on one eye and couldn’t hear for shit, but he was a considerate person. Well, if you exclude the fact that he cheated on his wife with Josuke’s mum.
Josuke took a breath and pinned his gaze outside the window. The weather was chilly but sunny. It was spring. Weather in spring in Morioh was a catastrophe. One moment it’s nice and warm, the next there’s a thunderstorm. Without looking at the button it was much easier to press it. His finger mechanically went for it.
Beep. Oh God.
Beep. What was he supposed to say?
Beep. Did he even remember him?
Beep. What if he has a wife and kids by now?!
Beep. How was he-
‘Hello?’
The voice was definitely changed. But it was definitely his. It still had the characteristic roughness but there was more voice than there was rasp. He used to smoke like a chimney back in high school, seems like he cut down on it. Actually, he probably didn’t have enough money to buy himself cigarettes. It sounded less choked, deeper, lazier. Much calmer, too.
‘Hello?’ This time it sounded more annoyed. Josuke opened his mouth but nothing came out. “Hey, it’s Josuke from high school!”… was that too casual? I mean, they did have years to talk, it sounded quite off. “Hi, I’m Higashikata Josuke from high school, do you remember me?”
‘Can I help you?’ Even if the expression was kind, he heard the attempt at masking a small groan, as if he was getting unanswered calls or pranks every day. Josuke felt like he’d hang up if he didn’t do anything quick.
‘Uh!’ Do now, think later. Josuke took another breath. Why was this making him so nervous? It’s his old friend! It’s not as if they parted in bad terms. ‘Hey, Okuyasu.’
Well that definitely did not sound creepy.
‘Who am I talking with?’ The voice from the other side of the line sounded a little worried. It was higher in pitch, he used to do that when he was nervous. Apparently still does.
‘It’s Josuke, from high school… It’s been a while.’
A small pause.
‘Higashikata Josuke?’ there was something akin to excitement in his voice, but Josuke didn’t want to get his hopes up. ‘How’re you doing, man? It’s been ages!’
Josuke almost sighed in relief. Okuyasu’s voice brightened in a matter of seconds, sounding a tad more like the Okuyasu he knew from school days. ‘It has!’ he agreed with a small chuckle, nodding enthusiastically, even though Okuyasu couldn’t see.
‘Man your voice changed! I was scared shitless for a second, y’know?’ he laughed. His laugh was so much different, too; clearer, louder. It still had this same, stupid pattern, though. ‘Is this how you greet people nowadays? Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?’ he playfully scolded.
‘It’s been so long I didn’t really know what to say,’ Josuke defended himself, with an exhale substituting his laugh.
‘So what made you call?’ Okuyasu asked, curiosity tinting his voice. Normally, there shouldn’t have been a reason. Just ‘cause. Josuke suppressed another sigh. He didn’t really want to dive into business yet. He wanted to catch up with Okuyasu. He sounded in good spirits, and it was refreshing hearing him after all this time. Only now he realised that he had missed him.
‘Do you wanna meet up?’ Josuke asked instead. ‘I want to catch up.’
‘Yeah, the telephone bill will be quite the unpleasant thing if we do it over the phone,’ Okuyasu said, lowering his voice as if it was something very serious.
Well, he was right.
‘So, you still in Japan?’ Josuke laughed. He sat down on the wooden stool behind the kitchen table. The breeze from the window gave his exposed arm goosebumps. He’ll close it once he hangs up.
Okuyasu laughed ever so softly with the exaggeration. ‘Didn’t I tell you? I finished my studies in S City. You’re in Morioh, right? That’s less than a half hour drive.’
Okuyasu was applying to a university in S City, that’s right. He remembered he suddenly started studying very hard to get better grades. Josuke thought it was too late – it was a miracle they hadn’t dropped out of school – but Okuyasu actually made it. Josuke never knew what Okuyasu was interested in academically, but he was surprisingly good in sciences. He never imagined he’d be so determined in something other than getting a girl, but he put up an impressive display with physics, since he needed them for his application. Josuke himself had a strong inclination towards literature, but was terrible in almost all sciences, except maybe biology. He vaguely remembered one or two times Okuyasu tutored him in chemistry before summer midterms. He didn’t remember anything concerning chemistry anymore, just that Okuyasu explained well.
Josuke suddenly smiled. ‘You won’t believe the place I have in mind.’