#ninestop

Tears began welling up in your eyes and you couldn’t stop them from falling.

You silently cried in the empty classroom until you heard the door slide open and a shocked gasp. You swiftly turned your head towards the door and saw Mihashi, frantically looking around in the hall.

As quick as you could, you tried to wipe your tears away, but they kept flowing out. Mihashi seemed hesitant for a moment but gathered the courage to dash to your side. You glanced up at him, watching him hysterically pat himself as he tried to find a handkerchief but to no avail. He looked so distressed that he was making these weird faces that you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing a bit.

Mihashi was relieved that you had stopped crying and weakly laughed as well.

“Sorry, Mihashi-kun,” You apologized, wiping away your remaining tears. “That must’ve given you a shock…”

The pitcher furiously shook his head. “I-Is… [Surname]-san… okay?”

You softly shook your head, throat tightening when you tried to find the words to tell him. You gripped onto your tests, crumpling them in the process. Mihashi noticed this and briefly caught a glimpse at your scores. Somehow, he understood what you were going through. He knew it all too well.

“Y-Y-You’re not…!”

You looked at him with a confused expression, not catching the last bit. But thankfully, he had repeated his words for you to hear.

“…not a failure!” He exclaimed with all his might, hands clenched to his sides. “It’s o-okay to… fail… but!! That doesn’t mean you’re a failure! You just… h-have to keep trying! Every time you try, you become stronger! L-Like me… I-”

Mihashi struggled to find the right words to explain his story, but through all the stutters, his words brought you comfort. From what you heard from Hamada, it seemed like Mihashi went through his own hell. Seeing him trying his best despite all his failures gave you strength to get back up.

You smiled and nodded. “Mm. I won’t give up. Thanks, Mihashi-kun!”

He flushed red and wildly nodded in acknowledgement.

“Oi! Mihashi!” Tajima called out from the hall, scaring the poor boy. “What’s taking you so lo-” He appeared by the door and saw you two. “Oh, sorry! Was I interrupting a love confession?” He asked while grinning.

“It’s not a love confession!” The pitcher exclaimed, flustered beyond imaginable.

“Then hurry up! The sun’s setting! We’re losing time to practice!” The clean-up hitter exclaimed, running out of view.

Mihashi quickly bowed towards you and dashed out to catch up with Tajima, only to scramble back in the classroom to grab something from his desk that he had forgotten. He bowed once more before disappearing from your view, embarrassed but happy when he heard your laughter.

Takaya Abe - You Are Loved

The swing you sat on slightly creaked every time you gently pushed yourself. The cool, night air brought a chill down your spine, but you had no energy to get up and return home. Pessimistic thoughts clouded your mind, sapping away any motivation you possibly had.

You stared at the ground aimlessly when a pair of shoes came into view. “What are you doing out here so late?”

“Abe-kun!” You said, surprised to see your neighbor standing in front of you. “Um… It’s nothing, really… Just came out here to think.”

He stared at you for a moment before taking a seat on the swing next to yours. “It doesn’t look like it’s nothing,” Abe huffed, obviously aware of your downcast expression. “What is it?”

“I… don’t know, really,” You replied honestly, hanging your head low while softly pushing yourself on the swing again.“Lately, I just… don’t feel like I’m loved? My parents seem to put more attention on my siblings than me. My siblings could care less about me. And my friends don’t feel like… friends.”

You stopped for a moment, realizing that you might be burdening Abe with your childish issues and immediately felt guilty.“I’m sorry. I’m just whining. Please just forget about it.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Abe responded gently, taking you by surprise. Abe was known for his loud voice and short-temper. It felt surreal that he was capable of a gentle side.  "Your feelings are valid. But know that there are people who love and care about you. “

You bitterly laugh. "As if…”

Abe frowned at those words. “I’m telling you the truth. Even if you think that no one loves you, there will always be at least one person that does.”

“And just who is that one person?” You snapped, tired of this delusion he was trying to give you.

“Geez! Give me a break…!” Abe mumbled, ruffling his hair in frustration while his cheeks were burning bright red. He stood up to face you before shouting, “Me! I love you! I always have and always will! And I will do whatever it takes to make you feel that way!”

Abe slightly panted since he was practically yelling out his confession. Because of that, he caused a few late-nighters to gather and watch and he was painfully aware of that.

“Come on, I’ll take you home…” He grabbed a hold of your hand and quickly dragged you out of the park with more force than he intended.

His hand felt hot. His ears and even the back of his neck were red. It almost seemed like his head was steaming.You couldn’t help but let out a quiet giggle, causing him to frown deeper.

“Hey,” you called out, feeling a little mischievous. “Do you really love me?”

Abe short-fused at those words. “Don’t make me say such embarrassing things!”

You frowned and looked away, looking disheartened. Abe noticed immediately and panicked.

“Argh!” He ruffled his hair again with his free hand before taking a deep breath and looked straight into your eyes after getting your attention back by giving your hand a squeeze. “I do. And I’ll say it as many times as you want me to!”

Kousuke Izumi - You Will Find A Way

The blank future career form was taunting you.

You had to turn in your form by the end of the week and still nothing came to mind. Did you want to go into a university? To study what though? Did you want to go straight into the work field? But what type of job? Just what do you want to do with your life?

You groan as you bury your head into your arms, frustrated and stressed.

“Is this what’s bothering you these last couple of days?”

You lifted your head up and watch the annoying sheet of paper being picked up by your childhood friend, Izumi. “How did you get into my room?”

“Through the door, duh,” Izumi nonchalantly replied, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder to point toward the door behind him.

You reached over and snatched the paper back from him while he raised his hands in defense as if he done nothing wrong. “I know that! Who let you in?”

“Your dad did.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t chase you away like all the other boys that tried to come over.”

“What can I say? I’m quite the charmer,” Izumi grinned as he took a seat onto your bed, ignoring the disgusted face you made. “Anyway, how much longer are you going to be hung up about that?” he said, nudging his head towards the paper in your hands. “Just write anything. It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter!” You retorted, standing up from your seat to glare down at him. “I wouldn’t be stressing over this if it wasn’t! This is about my future, you know?! I can’t just half-ass it!”

Izumi sighed and stood up to intently stare back into your eyes. You didn’t let up and continue glaring at him. How can he say that? This was important. All your classmates seemed to know what they want to do with their life, but here you are, dilly-dallying because you couldn’t figure out what defined you. It frustrated you to no ends.

Because you were so immersed in your thoughts, you couldn’t stop what was coming next.

Izumi shot his hands out and wiggled his fingers around your sides.

“K-Kou-chan!” You screamed while trying to contain your giggles but failed.

As gently as he could, he switched positions with you and threw you onto your bed before tickling you to death.

“Ahaha! W-Wait! Ahahahahaha! S-Stop! Ahahaha! Kou-chan!!”

After what seemed like forever, he gave you mercy and stopped. “How do you like that? My "Instant-Relaxation-Method”!“

"What kind of stupid name is that?” You replied, trying to catch your breath. But it definitely felt like a load of stress was lifted off your shoulders.

“Look, you shouldn’t stress over a piece of paper,” Izumi began, taking a seat onto your bed again. “Just ‘cause other people know what they want to do, doesn’t mean you should too. Figure it out at your own pace, even if it takes you until your thirties or forties! That’s fine. You’ll find something someday. I know you will. So don’t sweat it.”

Your eyes widened at his words and you felt whatever remaining tension weighing you disappear. You sat up and leaned against his shoulder. “Thanks, Kou-chan…”

Izumi simply smiled in response, but unfortunately for him, what he didn’t expect was for you to pin him down and start tickling him.