Running After You

Chapter 2: Running Behind

Youta left the office not thinking at all about the offer. After all, he had already made up his mind on the matter. As for now, being a member of the go home club wasn't too bad. Even if that did mean most of his time was spent doing homework, then watching TV.

He walked outside, where before officially leaving the school grounds, Youta turned the corner to take a peek at the athletes doing their daily training. There were tennis players hitting a ball back and forth, track runners making their sprints, and even the basketball team was enjoying the warm weather with drills outdoors today.

He attempted to get a look at Mitora, but only managed a poor glimpse of her doing some stretches before jumping some hurdles. As he tried to look, the girl's swim team made their appearance, which caught his eye. After all, his boyhood was still growing and the temptation of enjoying the view of young girls in those tight school swimsuits grabbed his attention.

After his eyes lingers on them for far too long, Youta shook his head and scolded himself for looking like a creep as he walked away. It would be too difficult to see her now, so he had no other option but to go home for the day.

Which is exactly what he did with no variation compared to any other day. Even the bit where he tried to see her when practicing was no different, other than being slightly later as a result of the teacher pulling him aside.

When he arrived home, Youta looked at the paper his teacher handed him. Despite telling himself he'd just chuck it in the trash, the boy couldn't help but hang onto it still as he instead placed it on the coffee table. The rest of his things would find their way onto the ground besides the couch as he sat himself down to relax after a long day with some TV.

Fortunately thanks to innovations in technology, he didn't even have to watch random cable TV. Youta put on a video from the popular online streaming service OurTube with a content creator he liked and laid back.

His fun wouldn't last long as his mother entered the room.

"Oh, Youta you're home." She greeted him as she usually did. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Well, it's just the same old, same old." He replied without looking at her. His eyes were glued on the screen as hers wandered down to notice the paper.

"What's this?" She asked, picking it up. "You're going to join a club?" When she read the title of the page, her eyes lit up.

"I wouldn't say join one." He explained to her about how this would lead to the formation of one. Where he'd be the only member and that his teacher had encouraged him to go along with it. "But I'm not gonna go with it."

"You absolutely should." His mom took the expected response. "All you've done since entering high school is waste your youth right here on this couch here. It's got a permanent indent thanks to you."

"But mom I do great in school though." He defended himself. "I'm at the top of my class in both grades and test scores. Honestly would've thought my own mother would be a little more proud of that."

"But that's not all what school's about. I did plenty of extra things too. That's how I met your father, you know."

"Yeah yeah, I know." He had heard this story a dozen times. She usually went into great detail on how the pair met. Much of it included facts he didn't believe were real, such as the part where there were other girls who also liked dad. Knowing that man, Youta had a hard time believing there would be many girls just falling head over heels for him.

"You also said this was to become a sports manager." She continued to argue her case. "Mitora's in sports. I'm surprised you haven't jumped on this since you two hang out all the time."