So far this drabble is my favorite, so i especially want y'all to review it! Also: I take requests!

In which Kanou learns to accept his fate, grudgingly of course.

Prompt: Tag & Self loathing

Shugo was on pins and needles.

His team had finally apologized to Renren after all the shit they put him through. Each person apologized for every slight that they had afflicted on poor Renren ranging from ignoring him to conspiring to break his arm so bad in so many places that he would never pitch again.

Shugo noted that they wouldn't have been able to go through with their confessional of sorts if the catcher (what was his name again?) hadn't caught Renren before he sprinted off to hide again. The catcher caught him with ease and forced him to face them, Shugo noticed, which no-one ever could do back when he knew Renren.

Finally as the apologies came to a close Hatake rose from his apologetic bow and asked for Renren to return to their team. At that moment Shugo felt his heart take a deep breath. He wanted his best friend back at Mihoshi. It seemed that these guys at that no name school in Saitama had accepted him as their ace only because there was no one else, so Renren had to come back where he was wanted and his talent would be nurtured.

In addition to having his talent nurtured Renren would give Mihoshi what they needed: a true ace. Yeah, he could throw all kinds of breaking balls with speed and power, but he lacked two things: Renren's accuracy and willpower. Most of his friend's balls were slow, but they always went where he wanted them to. also Renren never truly gave up. While he knew he wasn't wanted back at Mihoshi, he still pitched and tried to hone his abilities (to Shugo's chagrin) alone.

Shugo knew that Renren would say yes and then the team would welcome him back and the other team would move on and everything would be back to the way it was supposed to be.

"I… can't… come back" Renren whispered, saying it more to himself than to Hatake.

Shugo couldn't believe it.

"Why the heck not?" he demanded, surprised by his anger.

"K-Kanou what…" Renren squeaked.

"We lost today," Shugo interrupted, gaining steam as eac word left his mouth. "And these guys finally saw what were capable of! They saw what I always said was true! And now I'm supposed to wear the ace? The number for the position you dumped?"

Renren surprised him again.

"I didn't dump it," Renren insisted, looking him straight in the eye and held out his hand. "Mihoshi's pitching ace was always you, but I-i was forced into the role so I guess… tag?"

Shugo took a step back in shock. He couldn't believe that Renren still remembered that.

It was back when they were younger and Renren got picked on a lot on his way home from school. Shugo resolved to help his friend out by walking with him each day. He also tried to teach him how to fight, but that didn't work out as well. Instead he came up with something better

"When the time comes all you have to do is say tag and hold out your hand," Shugo had explained. "And then I'll switch places with you no matter what, okay Renren?"

Renren's face had lit up like its own sun, "G-got it!"

And now here they were, years later and Renren was finally calling him on his promise. Shugo couldn't believe how much his friend had grown up in less than a few months over there.

"Fine you jerk," Shugo said playfully, slapping Renren's hand. "But I'm going to beat you someday."

"S-sure Kanou," Renren blushed.

would you beleuve that a good deal of this dialogue came from the seventh episode of the anime? Yeah, StarFix works hard!

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