Running After You

Youta had assumed after talking things out with Chinemi, that his job had been completed. Indeed she did take the advice of the coach to try and improve her own game, while also being more encouraging to her fellow teammates to set a good example as team captain.

So as he sat in his classroom, the boy assumed himself to be free of club responsibilities for the time being. However he would come to meet a surprise when the students just outside the hall began chattering with increased volume about someone's presence. He was never one to come out and check on what all the commotion was about. In this case, he didn't have to.

When the door opened up, it was Chinemi standing as prideful as ever with his classmates all reacting to her sudden appearance. Though the moment he saw her, he already knew the reason for her arrival as she walked straight to him.

"What? Why is she going to Youta?" He could hear members of the class make not so-private statements on this turn of events.

"Yeah, he's nothing special." Said one of those voices.

"Oh, but he is the sports manager." Another one spoke out. "I guess she must need his services for something."

"That makes more sense. There'd be no way she'd be interested in someone like him otherwise."

"Can't you guys at least try to be quiet about it!?" He expressed his irritation from their not-so secret gossip surrounding him. It was one thing to talk behind his back, but having them basically say it in front of his face was honestly worse. "Ugh, what do you need, Chinemi?" He turned his attention to the girl now standing before him.

"Oh my gosh, can you believe how he just addressed her?" Again he could hear the others in the crowd commenting on this conversation.

"I know, so rude to someone like her. He should know who he's dealing with."

"Ahem, I said what do you need, Chinemi?" He spoke up a little loudly, trying to give the sign to the others that their commentary was unneeded.

"What happened to you being the sports manager?" She asked plainly. "I haven't seen you by the tennis courts in a while now." It had only been a couple days since their last meeting, but he didn't think it was that long.

"I was only sent to take care of one thing and I did." He answered plainly. "Coach is the one who knows better than me, so I've got to hand off that part to her as I already promised. Otherwise, my job is done with you."

"Is this really how you operate?" She had a grim glare at him, disapproving of his methods. "You just go in and leave without a care in the world?"

"That sounds about right." Fuwaka, who had been quietly sitting back and watching the events unfold before her, spoke up. "Don't take it personal, he did the same thing to me too."

"Yes, I do it to everyone." He said, giving his swimmer friend the side eye. "It's called having a job to do. If I bothered to hang with every single person I've worked with. I'd have no time to do anything else." It made complete sense to him, so why couldn't anyone else seem to figure this out on their own?

"At least if you ask nicely, he'll still take some time out for you." Fuwaka continued on talking, which only served to go against him. Somehow he called her a friend despite her lack of help. "That's what I did, so it wouldn't hurt you to try that."

"You could also just ask and I'm sure I'll find some time to hang out outside of school or something."

"Wow can you believe the nerve." His casual response once again drew the ire of his classmates. "Acting like he's doing her a favor."