*sighs* Still don't own Oofuri.
Title roughly means "notes".
Prompt: Eating
Rating: G
Genre: Humor
These stories are about Mihashi and Abe, but Tajima is so much fun to write. ^^
Words in bold and italics are what's written on the notes that Mihashi and Tajima are passing.
...ff.n killed all my italicized words in this chapter. It's also been killing some of my punctuation for whatever reason. TT_TT
Hashirigaki
Nobody thought that mealtime could be something so completely complicated, even though it was simple.
To raise the three hormones and have them acting correctly, they had been started off during their first week as a team to think "I can eat this" in anticipation, then to actually do it and think "this is good", then look back on it all in reflection and satisfaction.
That didn't just pertain to regular meals that the team ate together or alone, it pertained to snacks and riceballs that had become a part of their schedule.
Not to mention the discussions of food that went on during break time.
Or, in this case, during class.
Ren Mihashi blinked as a note landed on his desk. After a moment of confusion, he unfolded it and opened it up.
Inside read:
Mihashi! I can't wait for break so we can eat! I've got one of my favorites today, stuffed eggplant! What about you?
-Tajima
PS: This lecture is BORING!
Ren smiled, then used the space that was still left on said note to write his own.
I have tamago and rice, with a couple extra riceballs that were Abe-kun's idea.
-Mihashi
At first, he was unsure of how to get the piece of paper to the third baseman, since the two didn't sit near each other.
It was the kid that had passed Yuuichirou Tajima's note to him that finally gestured that he would do it again.
Ren thanked him in a whisper, and the note once again went to the third baseman.
The pitcher watched Tajima's shoulders come together in a silent laugh before the teen went about replying to the note.
It wasn't long before the next one landed on Ren's desk.
Abe, again? You two have been getting along pretty well, though. Don't you think he worries too much about you sometimes, though? I mean, down to food is a little much, isn't it?
-Tajima
Ren frowned. Sure, the catcher worried a lot, but that meant that he cared about him! Ren wasn't about to let anyone say otherwise, not even Yuuichirou, whom he considered to be a friend.
Abe-kun cares about me, so he worries. I like it. I'd forget about things like that if he doesn't say it.
-Mihashi
Again, the note was passed via a very amused teen, to a girl also in the loop of passing notes, and then over to Yuuichirou.
For a moment, Yuuichirou seemed to double over in silent laughter before he finally pulled out another sheet of paper, since theirs was rapidly filling up.
Ren eagerly took the passed piece of paper when it landed on his desk again.
Man oh man. You rely on Abe for everything! Soon, he'll be tying your shoes for you and double knotting them to make sure you don't trip!
Ren flushed beet red, and resisted the urge to send over a playful glare at Yuuichirou (who was probably the only one he would do that to). Rather, he just read on.
Seriously, I don't think food is a concern with you. I mean, we all eat like pigs, here! I'm sure Abe knows about that part. So, then here's the question: Is he doing this just because you two are a battery, or for some other reason?
-Tajima
Ren stared blankly at the paper, unable to comprehend what the third baseman was really saying. Finally, he gave up on trying to figure it out, and wrote in his question.
I don't understand.
-Mihashi
When Yuuichirou got the paper, he rolled his eyes and picked up his pen once more.
Ren fidgeted as he waited, and finally, he was handed the folded sheet of paper once again.
Dense. You're dense, man! So's Abe, but I'd expect that from him. Okay, we've established that he cares about you. But is it just as a battery? Does he just care cause you're the pitcher and ace?
-Tajima
That didn't clear up much, though it did make Ren feel funny.
It was the same sort of "funny" that he had felt quite a few times now, but he still didn't have a name for it.
So, he made a simple reply.
We're friends.
-Mihashi
Some kids turned to look when Yuuichirou suddenly let his head fall onto his desk.
Yet, somehow, the teacher either didn't notice or didn't care.
It was a good thing that the two were fairly close to the back of the room, else they would have been caught right away.
Ren blinked owlishly at that reaction, and was more than eager to get the response.
I can't believe you don't get it. Though, I dunno if everyone else knows, but I can tell just by looking! I mean, at first, it was like Abe watched after you like a parent watches their kid, but now, it's different. You really don't know?
-Tajima
Ren blinked once, twice, then three times.
All three times he blinked, the words remained unchanged, and he was unable to figure them out.
Sure, there was something between them, but that was friendship…wasn't it?
It was normal to feel warm and safe and cared for with friends!
…wasn't it?
Yea.
So, Ren picked up his pen to respond.
Know what? It's just friendship. I'm glad we're friends.
-Mihashi
The note was passed to Yuuichirou, who made a motion as if to repeatedly bang his head on the desk.
There was a definite answer to Ren's question in that note, as even Yuuichirou couldn't beat around the bush anymore even though he didn't want to push them too quickly.
However, Ren would never get the answer; perhaps for the best, as Yuuichirou hadn't thought of the possible repercussions for telling the pitcher flat out what he saw in the battery's relationship.
"Mihashi-kun! Tajima-kun! Tell me that, as first year high school students, you two aren't passing notes during class!"
Yuuichirou grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck, while Ren sunk into his seat with a flush on his face.
"So, let me get this straight…" Azusa Hanai had every right to have that flush of anger that dotted his cheeks as he stood imposingly in front of the two shorter teens during practice that day. "You two can't come to practice tomorrow because you received a detention for passing notes?"
Next to Azusa, Takaya Abe could be seen pacing and making a great effort not to scream at the top of his lungs.
Forget counting back from 10 to 1…Takaya started at 1000.
"Just what were you talking about that got you in trouble, anyway?" Fumiki Mizutani just had to ask.
"Food, lunch, and eating!" Yuuichirou chirped. He wasn't an idiot, after all. It was best to leave out the latter half of the conversation from prying ears.
Ren nodded in agreement.
Takaya lost it at that. "Food? You two got a detention over FOOD? You couldn't wait until break time to talk about it?"
Azusa made a calming motion towards Takaya, though his own voice was strained with the effort not to scream at the now cowering pair. "Abe has a point. And as punishment…you'll both have to do five extra laps around the grounds!"
Ren just about collapsed, while Yuuichirou whined.
"No protests!" Azusa put his hands on his hips. "You won't be at practice tomorrow for your own stupidity, so take responsibility for it! Now, get moving!"
Ren yelped and scrambled to do so, and even Yuuichirou didn't want to push Azusa farther than this, lest another lap or two be added to it.
Azusa put his head in his hand and sighed. "Of all the things…food. I don't believe it. Sometimes, those two…ungh."
Though some of the team members nodded, Kousuke Izumi just shrugged.
"I'm used to it," the center fielder stated.
While others tried to contain their laughter (and get their energy levels back up), Azusa collected himself.
"Okay…let's start throwing. Pair up. Uh…Abe, you'll throw with me until the two clowns return. Then, you can throw with Mihashi, and I'll take Tajima. Split them up, lest they cause more problems."
Silence, though Takaya nodded.
"Let's get to it!" Azusa called.
"Right!" the rest of the team responded, while some finally were able to let out a chuckle or two now that they were out of range.
Azusa sighed and got his glove. Plus, if you throw with me for a it, that should curb any urges you might have to do bodily harm to Tajima for what he and Mihashi did, Abe…...sometimes, I really wonder about just what sort of relationship you two have.
END
