11. Inoculation

It was always at the most unsuspecting moments, like when he was at the vending machine getting Oolong tea; like now.

"Hey there Star Pitcher!" a boy that looked like a third year called from behind him, causing Mihashi to whirl around and spill some tea onto the tiled ground. Even though he was now a second year, age wasn't the thing that caught Mihashi off guard. It was the way this guy seemed to ooze confidence.

"I heard that you guys got third in that summer tournament," he said as he pulled out coins from his pockets, plucking them into the machine. Mihashi listened to the clinks and tried to smile and nod at the praise.

"Well, that's just fantastic, isn't it?" he continued to say as he leaned down and grabbed his drink before snapping it open and bringing it to his mouth; it was a protein drink. The red-head should have slapped himself, he should be drinking that!

"Only problem is," he said as he crushed the bottle he'd already downed, "That you took away people who were supposed to cheer for us."

Mihashi blinked as he was suddenly thrown against the wall with a hand to his chest, his tea falling to the floor. He saw the bottle spin out of the corner of his eye, the almost entirely clear liquid coating the floor and seeping between the tiles of the hallway.

Now seeing his face so close up, the teenager noticed the fellow teenager seemed familiar. Oh; he was the captain and quarterback of the American Football team. Mihashi didn't want to look at the menacing young man in front of him anymore - he closed his eyes tight and tried to evaporate into the wall.

"What's going on here?" a voice asked, and Mihashi opened his eyes to see the mystery teenager wasn't hovering over him against the wall dangerously anymore. He looked to follow the deep voice and saw Abe.

"Nothing man, nothing," the guy grinned as he shook his head before turning to leave. But before he turned the corner, he said, air quotes included, "Remember what I said 'Star Pitcher.'"

And then he was gone, leaving the two friends alone in a hallway with only a spilled bottle of tea.

As Abe stayed rooted, the pitcher saw his body was still tense. But he seemed to finally relax as he moved to pick up the empty Oolong tea bottle, avoiding the spilled liquid from getting on his shoes and pant hems.

"Don't let assholes like him get to you."

Mihashi nodded at the order even though he knew he really couldn't fully comply. Even with their ever-increasing rank and popularity as a team that had his confidence in himself budding, the redhead felt like he couldn't just blow off these guys as easily as Abe made it sound.

The catcher seemed to understand this as he sighed before he put in a few coins, pushing the button for the same tea Mihashi had gotten and lost. He felt like grinning as they shared the same taste- oh. He had gotten it for him, as Abe threw it up for him to catch.

"Just make sure I'm around," Abe said as he got milk for himself; "Then you don't have to worry about anything."

To this, Mihashi nodded his head vigorously and ignored how his ears suddenly felt hot.

He could easily agree to that.


AN: I was drinking Mihashi's drink and I thought of this; cheers for odd inspiration! But, more importantly, thanks for reading and I love the feedback!