#mihashi

When all eyes turned to look at him, he yelped and hid behind Abe, peeking at his teammates from over his partner’s shoulder.

“I for one think a movie would be a fun addition.” The catcher said, looking to his left to give his partner an affirmative smile.

And so, the baseball team hoisted their umbrellas up and waited by the bus stop. As the rain fell softly, Izumi hummed a quiet song that had been in his head. The boys listened to the serene sound of the rain, and their midfielder’s beautiful voice. The peace was interrupted, however, when the bus came.

The boys took their seats, excited to spend their day of free time with each other. When the bus arrived at the shopping center, the team piled into the small pottery shop and started their crafts. Abe and Mihashi painted matching baseballs, Tajima and Hanai painted a dragon, Mizutani and Sakaeguchi opted for turtles, Oki, Suyama and Nishihiro each found the same item to be appealing, so they worked on it together.

When the painting was finished, the boys said their goodbyes to the store owner, and rushed to the theatre. They hadn’t a plan in mind for what movie they would see, but they would figure that out when they got there.

Agreeing upon some new animated movie about talking dogs, they bought their tickets and concessions and settled down in their seats. Sandwiched between Abe and Tajima, Mihashi hadn’t stopped smiling since the team reached the bus stop. When Abe asked him why, he always replied: “Because this team makes me happy.”

As happy as he was, it couldn’t stop the looming threat of lethargy that came with the sweet sound of pattering rain. The pitcher felt his eyes growing heavy as soon as the lights turned off.

“Hey, Mihashi.” Abe said, tapping his partner’s shoulder, “You spent 1,600 yen on a ticket. Don’t let it go to waste by falling asleep.”

Unfortunately, the blonde just couldn’t keep his eyes open. He fell sideways onto Tajima’s shoulder. “You’re comfy…” he slurred as he fought to stay awake.

“Wh- Mihashi.” Tajima said as he lifted the arm rest, and his own arm, allowing the boy to fall down onto his chest. “There, that’ll at least be better.”

“Tajima.” Abe hissed, “don’t encourage him to fall asleep!”

“Well I don’t want him to be uncomfortable!” The cleanup hitter whisper-yelled in reply. He was at a loss, what could he do to wake the poor guy up?

“Oye…” Abe said in a gentle voice, “Wake up, Mihashi.” He accompanied his demand with a tiny pinch to his pitcher’s side.

“Abe nooo. Don’t tickle me, i’m so tired.” The blonde replied in a whiny voice, arm coming up to bat his partner’s hand away.

Bingo.

“Abe’s right, Mihashi.” Tajima whispered in the boy’s ear, a hand sneaking down to squeeze his hip. “You have to wake up.”

“Mmmmh! Tajima no!”

The cleanup hitter smiled as his heart swelled at just how precious his teammate was. He snaked a hand under the boy’s shirt and squeezed his bare side rhythmically.

“Tahahajimahaha. Noooohohoho.” Mihashi whined as he hid his face in his “pillow”’s chest.

“If you want this to stop, you have to wake up.”

“Nohohoho. Ihihihim tihihirehehed.”

“Then you better not laugh too loud, because we’ve got a long movie ahead of us.” With that, he switched to pinching around the tired boy’s belly button.

“NGH- Tahahahjimahaha. Ihihihit tihihihicklehehes.” The blonde boy whined, loopy giggles pouring from his lips. “Lehehehemme sleheheheep.”

“Mihashi, you need to watch the movie. You paid plenty of yen for the ticket dude.” Tajima said, eyes fixated on the screen. “I’m not letting you fall asleep on my watch. I don’t care if I have to tickle you the entire time, you’re not falling asleep.”

“Plehehehease!”

“No! You can sleep on the bus ride home.” The cleanup hitter moved his hands up to wiggle his fingers near the boys underarms.

It was as if a huge bomb was dropped on the poor kid. His eyes widened and he yelped loudly, causing Tajima to slap a hand over his mouth and shush him.

“Dohohohont gehehet mahahad! Yohohou cahahausehehed thihihis!”

“Oh no! Is poor Mihashi too tickwish on his little ribbies? Whatever will he dooo?” The brunette teased, hands getting agonizingly close to the pitcher’s underarms.

“HNGH- Tahahajimahaha! Dohohohont teheheasehehee mehehehe!” Mihashi whined as he wriggled about to escape the threatening fingers.

“I’ll make you a deal, I won’t tickle you under your arms if you promise to stay awake. Deal?”

When Mihashi didn’t reply right away, Tajima snaked his hand up to flutter his fingers in the boys underarm gently.

“Eep! Yehehehes! Deheheheal! Deheheheal! Nohohoho mohohohore!”

Smiling fondly, Tajima moved his hand down to his pitcher’s stomach and rubbed it gently. “Now watch the movie.”

After the movie was finished, the boys loaded up into the bus excitedly. Tajima and Mihashi were seated next to each other. The blonde boy looked sheepish, as if he had something to ask.

“Well spit it out!” The cleanup hitter barked, noticing the other’s uneasiness.

“Ah! Um… well… when we- um.” Mihashi closed his eyes as embarrassment radiated in a beautiful crimson color on his cheeks, “d-during the movie when you um…”

“Do you want me to tickle you again?”

“N-no! Just… wh-when you were done um… y-you put your hand on… on my-“

Tajima smiled, opening his arm and letting the boy cuddle up to his chest. He once again snaked his hand under Mihashi’s shirt and gently rubbed his stomach. “Rest, Mihashi. You’ve done well.”

Silently thankful that Tajima could deduce his stuttering, Mihashi fell asleep almost instantly, feeling more safe and loved than ever.

❣︎𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒’𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡❣︎