Me and My Manager!

Chapter 24: Schedule

Morning arrived, casting its golden hues over the slumbering city. Natsu emerged from his apartment, Nen in tow, the little boy dressed in his school uniform.

Mrs. Milo, their elderly neighbor, was waiting for them outside. "Morning, Natsu, morning Nen dear," she greeted them warmly.

Natsu returned the greeting, a tired smile gracing his lips. Nen, however, was less enthusiastic. "Morning," he mumbled, his pout evident.

Mrs. Milo chuckled. "Ready for school?" she asked Nen, her voice gentle.

Nen shook his head vigorously, his lower lip trembling. "I wanna stay with Pa-chan," he protested, his voice filled with disappointment.

Mrs. Milo's heart melted at the sight of the adorable child. "Pa-chan needs to go to work now," she explained patiently. "Be a good boy and come with me," she coaxed.

Nen's pout deepened, but he eventually nodded, his tiny hand reaching out for Mrs. Milo's.

Natsu bent down and kissed Nen's forehead. "See ya later, Nen-chan," he said, his voice filled with love.

Nen waved goodbye to his father, his small hand disappearing into Mrs. Milo's as they walked away.

Natsu's phone buzzed, interrupting his quiet morning. A text message from Ryu appeared on the screen. It was Lara's schedule for the day:

*Pick her up from Annex Ryokan at 9 am

* Meeting at 10-12 am

There was also a final instruction to get the car from the studio.

Natsu entered his house, his movements deliberate and efficient. He quickly changed into his suit.

With his appearance ready, he headed to the studio.

Upon reaching the studio, Aya handed him the car keys. "Here," she said, with a smile.

Natsu took the keys and made his way to the car. He started the engine and drove off, the destination: Lara's temporary accommodation.

Natsu arrived at the Annex Ryokan, his patience wearing thin as the minutes ticked by. He sent a message to Ryu, informing him of his arrival.

Five minutes passed, then ten. Impatience began to gnaw at him as he waited for Lara to emerge. He paced back and forth, his arms crossed, with annoyance.

Inside the Annex, Lara was engaged in a battle of wills with her wardrobe. A mountain of clothes lay scattered across the bed, and yet, nothing seemed to satisfy her discerning eye. "Ah, I don't have anything to wear!" she exclaimed in frustration, her voice echoing through the room.

Natsu's patience finally reached its breaking point. He knocked on the door, his voice firm.

Ritsuki, the owner of the Annex, opened the door, a polite smile gracing her face. "You must be Lara's manager. Ryu told me about you," she said, her voice soft.

Natsu nodded, his focus solely on the task at hand. "Where is she its getting late?" he inquired, his tone direct.

Ritsuki hesitated for a moment before replying, "Oh well..." she began, her voice trailing off.

Before she could finish her sentence, Lara's voice echoed from inside the room. "I don't have anything to wear!" she exclaimed in frustration, her tone filled with exasperation.

A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a chaotic scene. Lara was surrounded by a mountain of clothes, her search for the perfect outfit having turned into a full-blown disaster. To make matters worse, one of the clothes she had thrown out of her suitcase landed squarely on Natsu's face.

Lara turned around, startled to find a piece of her clothing draped over Natsu's face. "Hey, what are you doing with my clothes?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with confusion.

Natsu removed the offending article of clothing from his face, his anger momentarily overshadowed by surprise. "We are getting late," he stated, his voice firm but controlled.

Lara, oblivious to his growing irritation, continued her search for the perfect outfit. "I can't find what to wear," she complained, with a pouted face "It's my first meeting, I can't go without a proper outfit, you know."

Natsu's patience was wearing thin. With a swift movement, he grabbed a suitable outfit from Lara's scattered belongings. "Just change," he ordered, his voice barely a whisper.

Lara, accepted the clothes "Oh well, don't have any other option, so..." she mumbled, heading towards the washroom.

Natsu stepped outside, his impatience evident. "I will be waiting outside," he informed Ritsuki before closing the door.

After what felt like an eternity, Lara finally emerged from the Ryokan. She had managed to get dressed, though her hair was still slightly disheveled.

"How am I looking?" she asked, striking a pose, her confidence seemingly restored. "To be honest, your choice is good. I like this outfit," she added, a genuine smile on her face.

Natsu, still under the influence of his earlier irritation, simply started the car without responding. Lara buckled up and settled into her seat, her excitement about the upcoming meeting gradually building.

It was already 9:35 AM, and they were running behind schedule. Lara, oblivious to the ticking clock, was humming a cheerful tune, her mind lost in a world of her own.

Natsu, on the other hand, was focused on reaching the studio on time. His impatience was growing with each passing minute.

As they drove through the city, Lara's attention was drawn to the various shops and stores lining the streets. She spotted a jewelry store and her eyes lit up with excitement. "Hey, look! So beautiful jewelry," she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.

Natsu, engrossed in his thoughts, didn't respond immediately.

Lara, sensing his lack of enthusiasm, raised her voice. "Speak up, manager!" she demanded playfully.

Her attention then shifted to other shops, her curiosity piqued. "Pizza!" she exclaimed, pointing to a nearby pizzeria.

Natsu's irritation began to surface. "No," he replied firmly.

Lara, undeterred, continued her exploration. "Clothes!" she said, her voice filled with excitement.

Natsu's patience was wearing thin. "No," he repeated, his voice laced with annoyance.

Lara pouted. "Ah, you're so boring," she complained, her playful demeanor replaced by a mock pout.

Natsu ignored her comment, his focus solely on reaching the studio on time. "We are already late," he reminded her, his voice stern. "We should have reach at 9:20, but because of you, we are late."

Lara, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation, responded with a mischievous smile. "Fine," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But it's good to hear you speak more than one line," she added, a playful glint in her eye.

Natsu let out a frustrated sigh. "Ugh," he mumbled, his patience wearing thin.

As they pulled up to the studio, Lara unbuckled her seatbelt and swung open the door. "See ya soon," she said, her voice filled with excitement.

Natsu watched as Lara exited the car and walked towards the studio building. "What a headache," he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. He parked the car in the designated parking space and stepped out.