Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: Takes place pre-series, mild spoilers for the Prince arc
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"Poor little Nanbara," the older boy taunted cruelly, holding the brand new jacket just out of Ryuuta's reach. "How much did your mommy pay for this again? Do you think she's going to spank you when it comes home all muddy?"
Ryuuta tried to get back to his feet, only to be knocked back down again. "P-please don't. She spent all her money on that, and she told me to--"
He watched on helplessly as the older boy tossed the jacket into a nearby mud puddle, stomping on it a few times for good measure. Ryuuta was trying to be brave (like his mother told him he had to be now that his father was gone), but when the now ruined jacket was thrown back in his face, a sniffle managed to escaped.
"Aw, did I make you cry, Nanbara?" He grabbed Ryuuta by his school uniform's collar, forcing him to his feet. He smirked at him wickedly as he made a fist with his free hand. "Want me to give you something to cry about?"
Ryuuta screwed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the worst…
"Man. You must be bored, if you're picking on some kid who doesn't look any older than eight."
He opened up one eye and saw a boy older than both him and his attacker. He was dressed in an orange baseball uniform, which served as a contrast to his bright green hat-- and judging from the way he was holding that bat; he wasn't too thrilled with what he was seeing.
"Why don't you just back off?" The bully threw Ryuuta back on the ground, next to his filthy jacket. He scowled as he faced off with the mysterious ball player. "I bet you wouldn't be all high and mighty if you didn't have that baseball bat in your hands."
"Oh, right. Must've forgotten that I still had this." He put down the bat and dusted off his clothes. "Now leave the kid alone, or I'll make you regret it."
Ryuuta's fingers twisted the jacket as the older boy charged the ball player, because he was just too strong, and now the ball player was going to get hurt because of him.
They loosened when the bully doubled over and staggered away.
"That's right, keep running!" The ball player knelt down next to him, his face sympathetic. "Hey… he really did a number on your jacket, didn't he?"
He felt the tears come back-- which made no sense, since the bully was gone. "And my books, and my homework."
The ball player blinked at him. "Where did he toss those?"
"Behind that fence over there. I can't get to them."
With a dexterity Ryuuta would have given anything for, the ball player climbed the fence. A few moments later, he was back, books and paper with hand.
"I think I got everything. Your homework's a little wrinkled, but otherwise it seems fine. And your jacket should be okay after a spin in the washing machine." He handed Ryuuta back this things. "What are you doing wearing a jacket in late summer, anyways?"
"Mama says it's getting cool at evenings, and she's afraid I'll catch a cold if I'm not careful."
"I guess she has a point. Just be careful to look out for that guy, okay? People like that tend to pick on people they think are weak."
He grinned at him warmly as he gathered up his own things. "But I think you're tougher than you look."
Ryuuta watched him as he left. That was the first anyone had done something like that for him (it was an unsaid rule to ignore Nanbara, unless you wanted the majority of the school's bullies after you as well). And it hadn't been like the few times the teacher intervened: there had been no rolling of his eyes or muttered comments about how he needed to learn to take care of himself.
Ryuuta grinned wildly as he raced back home. His mother would be upset if she knew he was running so close to the road, but that was okay. He was tougher than he looked.
And one way, he'd be as tough as the ball player who'd protected him.
