"Thank you, Abe." I wasn't able to move, think, or breath when he spoke those words to me. Everything around me seemed to come to a complete stop as I just watched the flushed kid before me. It wasn't until Izumi hit as base run that I snapped out of it and turned to see. "Nice batting!" Our voices blended together and my eyes followed after Mihashi as he rushed to go and cheer with the rest.

Thank you? You idiot, why are you thanking me in the middle of a game? Why are you thanking me in the first place?

Winning the game was just the beginning and his words clung to me as I headed for the field for practice. There was no getting around it, I had to ask him about it. I felt my blood begin to boil when Tajima monopolized Mihashi like he usually did. After all, he seemed to be the only one who could actually get through to him.

I'm your catcher, come to me for a change.

Grunting, I felt myself shake slightly before I headed over to the male and yanked him by his arm. "Come here." I could hear him behind me stumbling over his own words that refused to be spoken. Sitting him down in the dugout, I placed myself across from him and let my arms rest across my chest. Like usual those male cheeks were flushed red and his eyes were darting everywhere; he was unable to meet the rather patient gaze I was giving him. Or atleast I think it's patient. Could I be glaring?

STOP BLUBBERING AND SAY SOMETHING ALREADY, MIHASHI!

There was no pointing in waiting for him to speak so I intook a nice breath of air before sighing and speaking. "Why did you thank me?" Now there was genuine surprise in his eyes, and his mouth was in that usual diamond shape when he was speechless. Of course he figured I pulled him over to scold him; it's all I ever seem to do. Yelling at him and ordering him around, why would he want to thank someone that does that to him?

What's wrong with you, idiot? You were sick and not right in the head, otherwise I'm sure you wouldn't have thanked me.

"A-. ..Abe is . ..is amazing!" There was eagerness in his eyes but those words were spoken often to many people on the team, so it was nothing new. For a few moments his eyes were on mine but when he finally continued to talk, he began to look around. "Without Abe. ..I wouldn't be able to do a. .anything! A-. .abe is always yelling at me. ..and pushing me to do things."

See? There it is. I've been waiting to hear this.

"B. .but!" I could feel my eyebrow raise as I watched him try to find his words, his hands clenching and unclenching his pants as he breathed softly. "But. ..Abe is always there. ..when I need him. He yells. .and orders me around. .because he cares!" There was certainty in his voice and I knew that my eyes were wide as I watched him now. "Abe is my catcher and I am his pitcher. We. .." Those eyes met mine again and they were sure as his raised voice sent his message to me perfectly. "We are a team!"

A team. How long have I wanted to hear you say that?

I could hear Tajima calling for us to get out and get to practicing but I couldn't move. I just watched Mihashi and finally I reached out my hand and placed it on his head; ruffling his hair quite roughly. "Hell yeah we're a team. You better know it." Yanking him up, that genuine smile was on his face as he nodded and walked with me toward the field. "Yeah!"

Mihashi, for the next three years we'll be a team. And for the next three years I will never let you down. That is a promise.