Here is the third installment of this story. Thank you to those who read the first two chapters. More reviews, please :)
I do not own Ookiku Furikabutte. Even Mihashi is not mine. He is Abe's 3
Chapter 3. From when it began
"Takaya, you're spacing out." Shinooka blurted out in a slightly annoyed tone. It is clear to her that Abe is not, even a little bit interested in the menu exercise she made. To think that it took her a lot of time researching for this task.
"Huh?" Abe did not hear what Shinooka said but instead was awoken by the hint of annoyance in his girlfriend's voice.
"Maybe, you should just look at it at home. Email me your comments so that I can have it ready by tomorrow morning."
"Ah, ok. Sorry, Chiyo, I may be a little tired." Abe is not one to get tired over baseball staffs and Shinooka knows that. Instinct tells her that something happened today that made Abe spaced out like that. On the other hand, Shinooka is glad that Abe is now calling her by her first name. She was one to call Abe 'Takaya' first but the catcher is gentleman enough to reciprocate her initiative. They just started dating two days ago. From the start, when Shinooka is classmate with Abe in their elementary years, Shinooka has had this crush on Abe. Abe is not really personable but somehow she finds his aloofness cute. When she became manager of the baseball club, she did not intend to reveal her feelings to Abe because she thought this will be awkward for the team. However, just a month ago, the very observant Tajima asked her casually if she likes Abe, right in front of the whole team. Before she knew it, her face was all red which (without words necessary) is an admission in itself. Shinooka believes Abe has been too kind to save her face from the crowd when Abe heedlessly answered Tajima's next question.
"So, Abe, do you like Shinooka, too?"
"What is there to not like about her?" Everyone in the team (except for one, maybe) clapped their hands at the sudden confession.
Since then, Abe tagged along her group of friends thrice or so but as the team is busy preparing for the next tournament, these going out sessions are several days in between. I don't know what happened today but I'll ask Takaya when I think he is ready to tell me what (or who) has been occupying his mind. With this, Shinooka proceed to talk to Hanai about a possible practice match.
Out of slight guilt, Abe asked Shinooka to go get some snack with him and then brought her home. On his way to his house, he remembered how their relationship started. This sudden thinking gets Mihashi off his mind for a bit. The catcher can swear he could kill the pitcher for running in his mind beginning this morning. When Tajima asked him if he likes Shinooka too, he answered as honestly as he can. What came out from his mouth turned out to be a reasonable confession. What is there not to like about the manager? She clearly likes baseball and Abe is all for someone who shares his passion. She is very hardworking and dependable, too. He only have these thoughts in mind but when he considered Shinooka's feelings, it seems not bad to go out with a girl whom he cannot find fault with. He tried to be friendlier with Shinooka and soon enough they are getting along really well. What he finds in Shinooka that Mihashi lacks is proper communication. He could tell several instances when one of them will begin to talk about something and they would end up talking about something else. The spontaneity in their conversion is a relief from the tension he is getting when he is with Mihashi. The pitcher is all too nervous to convey what he thinks and feels. Abe tried hard to convince Mihashi that it is ok to tell him his thoughts and feelings but before Mihashi could blurt out a stutter, Abe is already at the limit of his patience. Partly, this is because he really wants them to be cozy with each other, just like how Mihashi is with Tajima. Even Izumi can read Mihashi's strange reaction. Why can't I read his mind and have a normal talk with him? I'm his catcher, damn it!
Abe was already in the front of his house when he realized that his thoughts are back to Mihashi.