27 – Fan
I saw him through the window. He had a serious expression, as if pensive. What the hell are you thinking? I couldn’t even have predicted it.
I wonder if I’m looking at the timing.
Maybe it’s calculating when to leave the track and field team. Since the battery training started right away, I had no choice but to participate, but as soon as it was over, I would leave the department.
That was quite likely.
I was constantly worried.
Of course, the manager sitting next to me looked at me from time to time as if he had something to say. I kept looking at the window.
Because I felt nervous for no reason. My heart didn’t calm down just with the manager sitting next to me. For some reason.
Am I the kind of person who gets so nervous and hardened just by sitting next to a man?
Emotions I had never felt before confused me.
We should have light conversations. I felt like if I continued to ignore him, I would misunderstand him.
I don’t mind even if you go out… Or something
No… It’s not even confirmed that he’s going out.
Why am I so nervous?
I couldn’t figure it out.
“Ah… ….”
When the inside of the bus, where there was a little chatter, became quiet… I glanced around and saw the dozing manager.
Only then did I turn my head and peek at him.
You look tired.
Not too much. Because that happened yesterday.
He may also have been tired from his busy days as a manager, plus yesterday’s incident. Today’s tardiness may also be an extension of it.
It’s definitely his fault for missing out on his duties as a manager… Why are you being so generous?
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It must be because of his usual behavior.
No one can deny that he works hard.
But the problem is… That was the reason.
The bus, which has been running for a while, stops. After getting off at the rest area and having a short time, we were scheduled to start again. While the members were getting off, the manager was sleeping as if he didn’t notice.
“Don’t you get off the senior?”
“I’m done.”
“Do you need anything? Can I get you something to drink?”
“Thank you. And black coffee….”
I turn my gaze and look at him.
What did the manager like?
“Two cans… request.”
“Yes~”
After all the members got off and Suda left to smoke a cigarette, only the two of us were left on the bus.
The manager was still breathing lightly and sleeping well.
He looked at it quietly.
Involuntarily, I stuck out my head and observed it closer and closer.
Looking at this up close… The more I look at him, the more he has a delicate appearance that doesn’t suit the manager as well as the sports team.
Pretty skin and closed lips. Long eyelashes.
Under the eyes… There was a slight hint of it. Is it because of inactivity? It was found that students who had never done these activities were jumping in for the first time.
So I became more curious.
How could he….
When I asked about it yesterday, the manager smiled silently.
I couldn’t sleep at night trying to figure out what it meant.
What is the meaning of that smile?
– Why are you asking such an obvious thing? Are you stupid? –
No, no, manager-kun doesn’t say that.
The only one who calls me an idiot is Sayoko.
– Just be aware of that much. This love inexperienced person. –
I shook my head.
Why is the tone getting worse? Besides, it has nothing to do with love.
This and that only touch negatively.
The most important thing is, regardless of the meaning…
“The heart…… Run….”
That smile stayed with me for a long time.
I can’t… This man….
“……… What… senior?”
I immediately turned around and sat down.
The manager who woke up blinked and looked around him.
“Ah… It’s a rest stop.”
I glanced sideways at him as he covered his mouth and yawned.
You probably didn’t notice that I was staring right in front of his nose until just now.
“But… Aren’t you leaving?”
“I am fine.”
“Ah… yes. Then I….”
After tossing and turning for a while, the manager tried to leave.
“Oh… uh….”
He didn’t seem to be awake yet.
“That, there… safety belt.”
“Aha… Ehehehe… Thank you.”
I want to keep seeing him struggling to get out of his seat without even knowing he was wearing a belt… I wonder what happened to myself who feels cute.
“Whew… senior. Do you need anything?”
“Oh, no.”
The manager, who had stretched himself, turned around and tried to get off the bus.
“Wait a minute… manager.”
“Yes?”
I caught him and set him up.
Coming to think of it, it was just the two of us on the bus right now.
It was only now that I could ask such a thing.
I was so worried about it that I couldn’t sleep last night.
I had to ask now.
Athletics department… Are you thinking of going out?
Yesterday he only smiled incomprehensibly… As Sayoko said, I was an idiot, so I couldn’t grasp the meaning of it.
My heart thumps.
I don’t know why I feel so afraid.
If he answered yes to my question… I am….
“I went to visit Sayoko in the hospital during lunchtime.”
“Oh, I heard. How is your senior?”
When the topic was brought up, the manager showed interest and asked.
“I didn’t have any major problems with my body. You’ll be fine if you take a few days off. I heard that.”
“Oh, that’s a relief!”
“Yes… ji.”
It’s okay. I have a plan
Even if he says he’ll leave the department….
“And… The request you made yesterday… I also passed it on to Sayoko.
“Ah…… Thank you.”
“I didn’t look like I was convinced, but I did understand.”
“……… ….”
Lowering the corners of his eyes, he smiled as if he had a complicated feeling that he couldn’t express.
I was frustrated with that.
The way he seems to be hiding something from me.
“You… You didn’t answer my question yesterday.”
I hate complicated things.
Procrastinating on what to say. Even spinning around.
No matter how much I’m afraid to hear that answer… I didn’t want to procrastinate.
So, once again, we made a head-on breakthrough.
“Answer me. If you’ve finished Sayoko’s work… Are you leaving the athletics club now?”
My heart was pounding.
If that’s the case…
I was thinking of persuading you.
That was the answer I gave yesterday.
To be servile, or to protect one’s pride.
That was no problem for me.
I’ve never given any importance to that.
It was because there had never been an existence that guided me to that extent.
Anything that bothers me like this… I was able to put down my pride and convince him.
‘If you haven’t thought about your career path, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to consider the sports manager I mentioned before.’
‘It’s okay to say it yourself, but Sakuraba Academy’s track and field club is prestigious. The record of being a manager in such a place will be of great help to you as well.’
‘Of course, I don’t deny that I’m slowing down a bit compared to before.’
‘However, these days the athletics team is riding a better flow than ever. The unity and condition among the members is also better than ever.’
‘Of course I am too.’
‘Our athletics team will regain its former reputation.’
‘If you would be my manager… We can work even harder.’
Rewind the lines that came to mind.
Every phrase like this… Are you thinking of giving reasons why you need a manager?
No matter how much he had no hesitation about letting go of himself, wouldn’t it be too pitiful and servile to pour out the lines now?
My heart sinks.
A few seconds passed while he fell silent, but it felt like an eternity to me.
To the extent that I decided to persuade him last night, all the words that came to my mind were spinning around in my head.
“No. I have no intention of leaving.”
He said with a bewildered expression.
For a moment, I almost let out a sigh of relief.
Good thing.
Because I don’t have to spit out the pathetic persuasion that lingers in my head.
“Why, senior? Are you trying to kick me out of the track and field club?”
I looked up at him playfully asking.
“I’m sorry. I’ll work hard, so can’t you watch it?”
The manager who joked around asking me seemed like he would change his mind and leave this department at any time.
A premonition without any grounds like that swirled inside me.
“Then you….”
I asked it again.
“Why did you stay in the track and field department?”
“……… ….”
Only then did he put an embarrassing light on his face.
I feel like I poke at his intentions, hidden in the fog… I stared at him without speaking. Now this question is not a joke. To convey that this is not something to be taken lightly as a joke.
“……… Ahahahaha.”
Scratching his head, he made an embarrassing expression.
“I tried to hide this until the end. I can’t help it.”
“What… Are you talking?”
Is it finally out?
The manager was embarrassed and lowered his head. You can’t even make eye contact with me.
“……… Because I am a fan.”
I said so.
……… Pan?
“I… I’ve been a fan of you since before. It’s embarrassing.”
“………… Are you talking about the fan club?”
No, all of the people who interrupted the cheering by shouting outside the field every practice were female students.
They were a group of all girls.
“No. Because they won’t let me in.”
“Then… ….”
“Secretly… I have been a fan who has followed you since before. I’m sorry, are you feeling bad?”
“……… ….”
My heart fluttered at that unexpected answer.
My fan… The manager….
“So I was wondering if there was a way to see the senior up close somehow…. hahahaha….”
I never even thought of it.
Yeah, I knew that such an existence existed from long ago.
However, the manager-kun didn’t show any sign of that.
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“Ah~ Manager-kun! Woke up?”
“Yes. I am really sorry for being late today.”
I couldn’t ask about it, and the members got on the bus just in time.
“How long are you going to apologize~! Wouldn’t it be nice if we all got together?”
“Yes, I was worried because I thought I couldn’t go with the manager.”
“Sorry….”
But the fans…. If you’re a fan of mine, something more….
“Come on, manager! Coffee here!”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Are you drinking the same thing as Takase-senpai? I wrote this very well~”
In an instant, the bus becomes noisy.
The member who brought the two cans of coffee I asked for gave them to the manager.
“Ah~ what… I like it. What you wrote.”
The manager handed me a can of them.
“Senior, here.”
“Ah… huh.”
I took it obediently and opened the lid.
“Suda hasn’t come yet, has it? Hide the candy now.”
“Here, inside my bag!”
“I’m sure you’re looking! Don’t do that, put it in your clothes!”
The taste of the brewed coffee was bitter and sour as always.