Managing the Swans

Chapter 3

My mind goes blank for a few seconds. This is a joke, right? I have no idea who this person in front of me is or anything about their sport, surely, they aren't actually asking me to be their manager.

"I'm sorry, I think I may have misheard you. Could you please repeat that." Confusion is clear in my voice as I glance towards the principal before focusing back on the young man in front of me.

"The volleyball club would like you to be our manager." Ok, so I did hear him correctly.

A nervous laughter breaches my lips before I can stop it. My eyes widen as I raise my hand to cover my mouth. Ushijima's face stays blank but his eyes widen ever so slightly, surprise showing within them. We hold eye contact for a few more moments, unsure how to go from here.

"Why ...? I have no idea who you are. What makes you think I would just become your manager like that?" This really doesn't make sense.

I glance towards the coach still sitting in his chair. He doesn't appear to hold much of an opinion towards me, towards the situation we are currently in. His face is blank, and he doesn't even look in my direction, it seems as if he is only here as a formality not with actual interest. My attention snaps back to Ushijima as he starts to speak again.

"The team and I ... we noticed some things about you." Well, that's not creepy. "You don't act the same way as other students do. Towards us that is. And we are in need of a manager, you appear to have a good eye for detail and planning. So, we all talked and agreed on asking you to be our manager."

This guy cannot be serious. The only reason they are interested in me as a manager is because I don't fall at their feet like they are gods. How mighty do you have to be to think like that, to just expect people to fawn over you and all you do.

I take a breath, thinking about what I am going to say next. I have to be careful here, if I say the wrong thing, use the wrong tone towards this guy, he seems to be in a position to remove me from my position here. And I really can't afford to lose this, I have no where else to go, no other income, no way of getting an education. I have to be really careful about what I do now. Turning to the principle again I make sure he is listening to me before speaking. I'm not sure how long I have been thinking for.

"Sir, may I speak freely with no fear of repercussions?" The room becomes tense at the words. The men's eyes locking onto me, their weight heavy. The principle appears shocked at my request, eyes wide and face lax. Seeming to come to his senses he blinks, focusing back on me.

"You may speak your mind. You will not get into trouble for anything you do or say. Our agreement holds up in this situation as well."

"Ok, good. Then ... no." The words fall out of my mouth with no emotion, just words nothing else. I was not going to add anything that wasn't needed. Plain and simple, I was not interested. Especially not the way that I have been approached about this. The principles face drops again, eyes focused on me alone. The coach's eyes harden and his face sours, keeping his focus on me he seems to think about saying something before pausing again. Ushijima stays quiet, his eyes never leaving me for a moment. "And if that is all that you need, I will take my leave. I have work to do."

With a slight bow, I turn and make my way to the door. I hear a chair squeak slightly and can only guess that the coach has turned towards the principal to address my behaviour. My hand meets the door handle just as his voice starts to berate the principal with demands and questions, most in a negative view about me, not allowing time for a reply.

Opening the door reveals a crowd of boys standing in the receptionist area. Their heads turn towards the door as their coach's voice fills the room, quieting with the click of the closing door. The silence continues as I cast my eyes over the group of boys, making sure to look at all of them, I realise that some are blocking the way to the door. I take a step in the direction of the exit but none of the boys make a move to get out of the way.

Eyes lock onto me with the movement, scanning me from head to toe. I don't know what they are looking for, but I hope they won't find it. One of the players step forwards, he lowers his head in my direction, spiky red hair catching my eye at the movement.

"So ..." He drags out the syllable. "Are you going to do it?"

I don't look away from him for a moment, keeping complete eye contact. I can hear the other boys shifting around, waiting to hear my response. Taking a breath, I step forward into the red-head's space, looking up to keep eye contact.

"Shove it up your fucking ass, you pretentious asshole." The whole room freezes. The redhead's eyes widen, and his face goes lax. He seems to take a moment to gather his thoughts, but I am sick of being here, surrounded by strangers. "Now move, I have work to do."

The shock seems to be enough to get them to move as they all take a step away from me, clearing my path to the door. Taking advantage of their brains catching up I move towards the door and leave, none of them making a sound. Moving through the hallway I get away as fast as I can, not wanting to be near the group of imposing males.

Arriving back at the stables everything seems to catch up with me. I go over everything as I start my afternoon duties. That team really thought it would be appropriate to corner me in a 'meeting' with the principle to ask, almost force, me to be their manager. Is this normal in Japan? Surely it isn't, that isn't ok. Why would I even want to be their manager, just because I don't act like they are sent from the Gods.

Closing the barn doors at the end of the day I keep an eye out for any of the team hanging around. Luckily, they seem to have taken my words to heart and are leaving me alone. At least for now, I'm not making that mistake again.