Disclaimer: I own nothing except probably a loosely sewn together plotline and some serious procrastination issues!

April 30, 2005

Dear Diary,

Today Abe-kun and Tajima got into a fight! Right in the middle of practice too! It was so scary to watch, and Abe looked so mad! Poor Tajima, Abe hurt him pretty bad, and Coach says that the problem between them was because of me! I can't even begin to think of what I possibly could have done to upset them like that I'm so worried that it's killing me! What if their friendship is ruined because of me?

If I really ruined their friendship, I don't know how I'll be able to live with myself! That's like, one of the worst things that a person can do! Jeez, I really hope they're able to patch things up between them. Abe and Tajima are some of the most important members of our team, and if they're fighting and not working together, then we're going to have some serious problems because of it. I mean, there's no way we can operate without them!

I need to talk about something else, otherwise I just end up stressing myself out, but there really isn't much else to talk about. Well, except for that weird thing that Tajima said today, which doesn't make a bit of sense because there's no way me and Abe would be like that, none.

Heck, sometimes I wonder how come Abe-kun hasn't even abandoned me as a pitcher yet! I know that I'm really a hopeless case and I know that Abe-kun is forever caused trouble by me. If it weren't for Abe-kun and his pitch calling, and everything else that he does for me, I wouldn't have ever become the Ace of the team, I know that, but, there are still times that I wonder why Abe-kun is still with me.

Any catcher would prefer a pitcher that could actually through a fast fastball, and though I am getting better at my fastball, it's still nothing in comparison to other pitcher, and the few breaking balls that I do know how to pitch still need work as well.

Still, Abe says that I can pitch, and everyone on the team always compliments me after matches and practices. They really don't need to, and I'm pretty sure that they don't entirely mean it, but it's still nice of them to do that for me, and as long as Abe-kun keeps giving me signs, then, one day, I may be actually worthy enough to deserve their praise.

Yeah, with Abe-kun's help, I'm sure that my Ace spot will actually be mine, a spot that I've earned.

Mihashi looked out the window with a dazed expression on his face while Tajima watched him curiously. The pitcher was so caught up in himself that he still hadn't noticed Tajima just standing there staring at him for the past few minutes, and the cleanup was getting annoyed with being ignored. After waiting a few more seconds to give Mihashi a final chance to notice him, Tajima leaned in close to Mihashi's ear and whispered, "Thinking about Abe?"

The pitcher's eyes opened wide as he jumped up startled not only by the sudden intrusion into his thoughts and concentration but also the by the question itself. "Wh-What?" The boy practically shrieked, his entire face already beyond beat red.

Tajima just clutched his sides while he laughed and said, "So you were thinking about him!"

"Wh-Why ww-would I, I b-be thi-thinking of, of Ab-Abe-kun?" The flustered boy stammered out, trying to make it seem like Tajima's question was beyond absurd, but failing miserably.

"Because we saw you to at the festival!" Tajima exclaimed, now just smiling with an occasional giggle. "Isn't that right Izumi?"

Izumi then popped up next to Tajima, apparently leaving his conversation with Hamada, and stated, simply, "He was holding you while you both watched the fireworks."

With an even redder face, Mihashi's wide eyes looked at them both, unable to speak as the memories of the festival replayed in his head. Tajima watched him then looked at Izumi, he nodded. Looking back at the pitcher, Tajima asked, "You guys goin' out now or what?"

"WHAT!" Mihashi screeched. M-Me d-dating, dating A-Abe? The thought danced in his head whilst he basically passed out in front of his teammates. They watched him curiously for while, Tajima poking him in the forehead, trying to get some sort of reaction.

"Guess the question over stimulated him." Izumi stated matter-of-factly before leaving them to go back to his conversation with Hamada.

"Hmph, guess so." Tajima said to no one in particular as he continued to stare at Mihashi. Guess I'll get my answer at practice The cleanup returned to his seat, feeling slightly jealous that Mihashi had gotten his special someone before him.

At practice, Mihashi couldn't get what Tajima had said out of his head. There's NO WAY that Abe-kun would ever think of me in that way He looked at Abe as he spoke with Shinooka and unintentionally began to pout. Besides, two guys together? That's just beyond weird, isn't it? Mihashi continued to ponder this thought while he cleaned up the field. Yeah, it is! What the heck was Tajima even thinking when he asked me that? Of course Abe-kun doesn't think of me in that way, because we are BOTH GUYS! Tajima must've been teasing me, yeah, that's it "… that's it . . ."

"What's it?" Mihashi jumped into the air and turned to look at the person that had startled him.

"A-Abe-kun?" Abe stared at his pitcher with a confused expression while Mihashi dawned his trademark chicken face.

"Yep, it's me, so what were you muttering about?" Abe asked, beginning to help Mihashi with the cleaning.

"UH! Uhm, . . . nothin' . . .i-im-important . . ." A glorious blush adorned Mihashi's face, surprising Abe.

"Mihashi, is there something you wanna tell me? Are you worried about the upcoming game?" Abe rested his hand on Mihashi's shoulder and looked at him worriedly. "Mihashi?"

Mihashi's blush worsened and Abe unconsciously drew closer to his pitcher, trying to get a better look at him. Tajima watched the two from his spot on the field and sighed. So I guess they are going out then? I mean, look at Abe! Making Mihashi blush like that! I wonder what dirty things he's telling him to get an expression like that? Slowly, Tajima crept closer to the two, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. When he was just about in earshot, Momoe blew her whistle to gather her team around her. Damn it! The cleanup pouted as he followed Abe and Mihashi to where the rest of the team was gathered.

"All right team, listen up! We've got . . ." Momoe began her speech and Tajima got a seat next to Abe.

"So Abe," Tajima whispered, he got a 'hnn' in response. "I gotta know, what did you say to Mihashi to get him to blush like that?"

"Huh?" Came Abe's confused reply.

"Mihashi!" Tajima grinned. "He was blushing so badly!"

"I don't follow."

"C'mon man! I know that you had to have said something real dirty to get the poor kid to blush like that." He dropped his voice even lower. "Maybe you invited him to your house for some after-practice fun?" Tajima nudged Abe while giving him a suggestive look.

Abe, on the other hand, only became more confused and stared at Tajima in pure bewilderment. "Seriously Tajima, I have no idea what your getting at?"

Tajima sighed in frustration. I knew the boy was dense but "Come on! You two are dating now, right? So, what did you do, ask him to have sex with you or something?" Tajima took this chance to glance over at Mihashi, who was sitting between Suyama and Mizutani and listening intently to every word that Momoe said. When he looked back at Abe, the catcher was a very scary shade of red. "Uh, Abe?"

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?" The boy shrieked, drawing the attention of their fellow teammates.

"W-Waddaya mean?" Tajima faltered, standing up slightly so that he would be ready to run, if necessary.

Momoe stared to try and intercede at this point while everyone else watched anxiously. "Hey guys, this isn't the time-"

"WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!" Noticing Tajima trying to escape, Abe pounced on the boy, effectively knocking him over while continuing his interrogation.

"Because I though ya'll were-" Before Tajima could finish his statement, Abe punched him clear across the face to effectively silence him.

"SHUT UP!" Abe screeched getting ready to deal quite a few more blows, but was stopped by a strong grip on his wrist, holding him back.

"ABE! Cut this out, are you crazy?" Hanai yelled, forcefully dragging the enraged Abe off of Tajima.

He tossed away from the cleanup then blocked Tajima from Abe while he continued chastising him. "Your supposed to be one of the Vice Captains, calm down!"

Abe snorted and sent a final glare at Tajima before picking himself up off the ground. He looked angrily around the group of people circling him before calling for Mihashi.

"Mihashi! We need to start practicing!" He growled out before stalking away toward the catching area.

"Uh-Uhm!"

"Abe!" Momoe called out sternly then waited until the boy turned around before continuing. "I think we need to have a little chat," A dark and sinister aura appears around her with the onset of her death glare. "now!"

The rest of the team visibly shuddered as a collective whole and Abe cringed under the wait of the Coach's glare. She lead him over to the locker rooms. Once she was sure that they were alone and no one was trying to eavesdrop, she looked at Abe. "You wanna tell me what happened back there?"

"Tajima! The idiot thought that…" Abe stumbled over the story, angered immediately. "He said that Mihashi and… He was suggesting that … But there's no way! There's no way that I would… I mean… is he freaking serious!" The poor catcher growled.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow, wanna try that again?"

Abe took a deep breath and said, "Tajima said that Mihashi and I …" Again he stumbled, and, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get the words to come out. Dammit! Why is this so difficult! All he said was that Mihashi and I, was that Mihashi and I… He let out another growl and grabbed his hair in frustration. Ugh! I just need to calm down He looked to the diamond hoping the familiarity of a baseball field would help relax him. His eyes went straight for Mihashi, and he didn't notice until the pitcher happened to glance up and make eye contact with him. Abe immediately looked away, blushing profusely. What the hell was that?

Momoe watched as Abe seemingly dealt with some apparently severe inner turmoil curiously. She had watched as the boy quickly looked at the field and then just as quickly looked away, blushing severely. When she followed his line of vision, she found Mihashi looking at the confusedly. Thinking on what little bit of information Abe had been able to sputter out, she decided that maybe it was an issue they needed to work out and, so, waved Mihashi over.

Mihashi, seeing the Coach calling him over, left the mound and quickly trotted over to where Abe was. I hope he's okay

Why can't I just SAY it? It's not like we're actually dating! Heck, I don't even like the boy like…that… The sudden pause in his thoughts caused Abe to start beating his head in as a strange form of self-punishment.

"A-Abe-kun?" A gentle but hesitant hand rested itself on Abe's shoulder in a silent plea for him to stop hurting himself.

Abe jolted. "Mihashi!" He said it a little too loud and his voice cracked part of the way through. "Wh-Why are you…?" He glanced at Momoe for some help but she just shrugged.

"I have no idea what's going on but, it seems to have something to do with Mihashi, so you two need to work it out and work it out now, understood?" When they both gave her nods of affirmation she left them to go yell at Mizutani for his horrid batting stance.

And in her wake, a thick nearly tangible cloud of awkwardness surrounded, and attempted to choke, the battery pair.

"A-Are you o-okay?" Mihashi's overwhelming worry for Abe triumphed over his usual timidity. What if Abe hates me now? Coach said that the problem between him and Tajima had something to do with me…

A sigh brought Mihashi out of downward spiral of thoughts. "I don't hate you, and the problem with Tajima and me has nothing to do with you." Abe clarified immediately and sternly.

Mihashi spazzed when he realized he had been talking aloud and try to correct himself. "I-I'm sorry! II-I dd-didn't realize I-I w-was ta-talking ou-"

"It's alright, your fine." Abe said, habitually putting his arm around Mihashi's shoulders and moving closer to try and relax his pitcher. However, when Tajima's words started to replay in his head, Abe jumped away from Mihashi, startling the already frantic pitcher.

"A-Abe?"

Abe's eyes were wide and he looked both pissed and confused. What the hell is wrong with me? Dammit this is all Tajima's fault! Filling my head with the stupid thoughts about liking… about … liking… Abe looked at Mihashi. He was shaking now because he was scared that Abe was going to yell at him or something of the like. Abe tried once again to comfort his pitcher, but when he was about to rest his hand on his shoulder he hesitated, thought about Tajima, and pulled his hand back.

Refusing to look at what he knew was going to be a worried and confused expression, the disgruntled pitcher grit his teeth and said, "I'm fine, just… upset… about somethin is all, let's get back to practice." Then he walked off to join the others out on the diamond.

With a moments hesitation, Mihashi followed Abe out onto the field.

Sorry everybody for taking so very, very long, but I suck at timetables and keeping any form of regular update schedule, so please continue to bear with me! And thanking for everyone that reads and comments and bugs me to write more, becuase I really do need to be yelled at to update inorder to get it done.

Now for the story, I think the ending might be a tad anti-climactic, but when I got there, I couldn't think of any better way to some it up so, yeah, please tell me your thoughts and this chapter as you have been for the others! please, thank you, and apologies always!

;p