Chereads / Running After You / Chapter 19 - Big Mouth

Chapter 19 - Big Mouth

After his ordeal when having some free time, Youta began to wonder if he was actually just better off focusing on the club instead. Sure, it was hard work, but at least it would be free of drama. Since most people he worked with were mostly strangers to him. So there was no past baggage.

Not that they were any issues between him and the others like Fuwaka, but Mitora acted rather strange after he accidentally hugged her. She seemed so out of it that a part of him had concerns he might've given her brain damage. However the forceful run he had on the way to school because of her usual attitude proved to him she was fine after all.

At least he didn't have to worry about her for the time being. Which was good as his teacher beckoned him for another talk during their break period.

"Looks like you got another mission." Mikimasa said as he handed a file to him. "Name's Chinemi Mifune."

"A tennis player?" Youta commented as he took a look at the picture of the person. They were quite handsome, someone he'd definitely figure would be playing such a respected sport such as tennis.

"That's what you have to say?" From his teacher's reaction, it seemed there was supposed to be more to it than what he said.

"I just looked at the picture." He handed back the file without reading the contents of it. "So what's the problem?" It didn't matter to him to read out the full details when it teacher would just summarize the issue to him anyway.

"Sounds like someone's skimping out on the details." Mikimasa laughed. "You know what, I think it's better you don't know actually. I think having any preconceived notions might harm you this time."

"I'm sorry, but I have to say this now that we're working together." At this rate, Youta had to seriously wonder as to how this was his supposed to be the club supervisor. "I'm barely given the tools to succeed. I thought you wanted this arrangement because you wanted to kill two birds with one stone? I'm worried at some point I won't be able to get lucky."

"Weird you say luck." His teacher responded. "Honestly from all the reports I've heard from both students and teachers, you've been wonderful. I think I'm more worried that you'll end up not needing me at all."

"Somehow I doubt that." It never seemed like this man took his job seriously in the slightest. Either that or he was the most delusional person on the entire planet. "You know I can't decline, so I'll see him during tennis practice after school then."

"Yeah, it's going to be interesting to see how this unfolds." His teacher sent him on his way with a mischievous smile. There were two things which ran through his mind from the tone and word choice. The first was wondering on just how much his supervisor actually supervised him. For the most part, he always assumed himself to be alone with whomever he aided. Unless this was in a public place, it didn't seem like Mikimasa was around.

The other was why he seemed to enjoy the idea of having Youta walk into this situation with no information. At this point, the boy regretted not reading that file into greater detail if he knew not doing so meant not getting the previous data he'd need to make a good impression. Not that he had been good with those so far.

At this point, he had gotten into a good rhythm on acclimating into his role as a sports manager now. His school days remained normal, but instead of leaving for home after classes were finished. He now found himself exploring more parts of the school he never went to before despite being a regular student for over a year now. It was like a brand new experience for something familiar.

Today would be him getting a better look at the tennis court while the players enjoyed some scrimmages for their practice. Even though he had planned on going to the boy's section, the boy himself couldn't resist taking a quick look at the girls.

Tennis skirts on girls looked just right. Maybe it was because they gave them the appearance of something more delicate. Or just perhaps it was because they fluttered up in the air when they made quick moves, revealing their spats underneath. Sure it wasn't panties or anything of the sort, but somehow still felt a little exciting to catch a glimpse.

He stopped himself before he would get caught being a pervert, also mentally scolding himself for falling into the temptation once more. Youta also couldn't forget the reason why he was here in the first place, which was to find this Chinemi Mifune person.

"Kind of a weird name for a guy." He commented to himself as he looked around for them. Chinemi wasn't even the type of name that could be used for both. A part of him wondered if their parents made some weird mistake or were just plain weird themselves.

"Is that really the best you can do!?" While walking around, he heard the yelling of someone on the field. There stood what looked to be a blonde boy his age holding onto tennis racket while speaking rather harshly. "I swear everyone sucks here." Youta recognized them right away, as this was the person whose picture he just saw. It was odd though, they were standing in the girl's section playing against a girl.

Knowing this was his mission, Youta immediately realized why he was given this task in the first place. It seemed this athlete was a bit of a bully on the field. Except why the coaches didn't just step in and put a stop to this was beyond him. Clearly they had the power to do so, not to mention the blatant rule violations of some boy going and bullying some girls.

"Chinemi Mifune?" He walked on over to the person, announcing his presence.

"Who are you?" Was the simple response he got. Youta had no concern about the tough attitude sent his way. His time as sport manager, while short, had also given him the confidence to handle other students. Admittedly while he called it confidence, most would say he had begun to develop an ego.

"I'm Youta Morikawa." He answered. "The sports manager."

"Ugh, I heard you were coming." The response he got was lukewarm at best. "I already told coach I don't need a manager. And I most certainly do not need a manager who looks like I can run circles around."

"What's going on here?" Youta heard another voice speak. When he turned to look toward the source of the voice, he realized their conversation had already quickly drawn a crowd despite them only just introducing themselves. Being nearly surrounded by a bunch of cute tennis girls got him feeling a bit apprehensive. Though this also gave him a good opportunity to have himself look cool in front of said girls too.

"Look dude, don't you have any respect for yourself?" He crossed his arms with a smirk believing himself to have been the one to stand up to this bully.

"What did you just say?" There was fire in their eyes as they gave him a death stare. It seemed what he said hit a nerve, but even the others around him gasped in response to his words.

"Why would he say that?" One of them said as they all began to back away from him like a man whose life was about to end by firing squad.

"What's going on?" He asked himself quietly before returning to address Chinemi. "Look, at the risk of sounding rather sexist, I don't know why you're out here acting all mighty beating a bunch of girls. There's a reason why us boys have our own section so just go there and play with people on your level."

Youta believed himself to be the victor of telling this boy off and doing his job in one fell swoop as they stood at him, gripping their racket even tighter in complete and utter anger. In their other hand was a ball, which was gripped so tightly it looked as if about to burst. Finally they said something in response to him.

"I can't believe you!" They yelled out loudly, tossing the ball up into the air and hitting with their racket with full force. It created something more akin to ballistics as it rocketed through the air straight at his face. Youta caught the full blast as he tumbled on backwards from the head shot.

"Ah!" Again, he found himself assaulted by taking a ball to the face. Quickly, Youta sat up covering his face for the pain. "Hey man, what's the big deal?"

"I'm a girl!" At the top of her lungs, Chinemi screamed so loud that it could be heard all around the school.