A stronger Manager

April 26

After school. At soccer practice.

They're leaving Yu and I with cleanup duty, AGAIN.

"One punch, for each player, that's all I'm asking. One, solid, hard as I can, punch." I said

Yu just shook his head.

"Again!?" Daisuke asked. "Before we do any cleaning though let's work on your dribbling!"

"You guys haven't even started? Oh well." Kou said. "Want me and him to toss some balls at you or something?"

"This isn't tennis Dude. Go stand over there and play defense." Daisuke said

"Yeah I'm gonna have to pass on that one." I said

"Whatever, defense? No problem! You should see me on a basketball court!" Kou said

Strength Social Link: Rank 3

A couple of girls walked onto the field.

"Um, uh, h-hey D-Daisuke kun!" One of them said. "Practice is over right? D-Do you wanna, um-"

"Does it look like I'm done practicing? See ya." Daisuke said

She looks annoyed.

"Huh? Oh, uh, would you mind if I waited for you? Am I in the way?"

"Yes you are, we need to concentrate. C'mon Yu let's get started."

"H-hey don't mind him. He's got soccer on the brain ya?" Kou said as the girls walked off. "What's his problem? Well, are we gonna get started?"

After the intense practice, we cleaned up and went home. I went and did some studying and then went to bed.

April 27

After school

Chie and I went down to the riverbank.

"Hmm, this looks like a good spot, y'know, for training! I need to hone my kicking skills or I won't be able to use them in battle! I tried practicing at home but my mom and dad yelled at me for putting a hole in the shoji. Still, now's the time to train, right!?" She asked

"Right." I said. "I hate to be a stick in the mud but I'm probably only going to be a coach in this."

"That's ok! There's still exercises you can do! So let's train together!" She said. "..no?"

"I'm cool with it. Just as long as we take it easy." I said

"Yesss! Thanks Y/n! That thing, y'know, from that time? I mean that shadow that came out of me. I feel pathetic knowing that's another me. Makes me feel like I gotta work harder! Alright let's do it! Between you and me, we'll be unstoppable!" She said

Training with Chie, this should be fun.

Chariot Social Link: Rank 2

Can now imbue weapons with ice energy.

"Let's start today with frog leaps, or at least I will, you can do squats!" She said

I trained with Chie for a while, then we walked partway home and went our separate ways.

April 28

After school.

Yukiko will be back in school in two days, she's been home resting for a while now. Time to hit up the drama club.

"Just doing fundamentals all the time is boring, so let's try doing some real performing!" Naiga said. "We'll hold an audition, everyone, remember the line I'm about to say. After the audition we'll decide our roles and finish it off with a five minute skit. Got it? Now pay attention. "What crazes me is not the light of the moon nor the golden sea, but merely the trickle of your tears." You got that? Well I'm not going to repeat it. Alright we'll start with Y/n! Come on up here in front of everybody, show some emotion!"

"Don't worry! Believe in yourself!" Yumi said

"What crazes me is not the light of the moon nor the golden sea, but merely the trickle of your tears." I recited

"Ok next person! Mi-tan you wanna try? We already know that you're going to be my main character!" Naiga said

"I'll do it. I'm already confident that I can remember." Yumi said. "What crazes me-"

Yumi went on to recite the line, she's almost a completely different person when she's acting, which is a good thing I guess.

"Is not the light of the moon nor the golden sea, but.. merely.. the trickle of your tears." She said through tears.

"That was amazing." Another student said

"She's always so good it's scary!"

"If anyone thinks they can do a better job than me please come on up." Yumi said while wiping away her tears.

"Yumi don't say it like that."

"If only standing around and flirting made you a better actor, huh?" Yumi asked

"Hey come on! We all remember the line, so we might as well do it, right? I think watching others act is a good experience too! Don't you Yumi?" Naiga asked

"You're right, go ahead." She said

Everyone recited the line, but Yumi's was the best, hands down.

"Ok, we've unanimously decided that Yumi will be the protagonist. She'll be opposite, Y/n! I mean it's either you or me and what I'd really rather do is direct." Naiga said

I've got to play Yumi's husband in a short skit.

"Do you have your lines memorized? Are you ready to go? Don't be so tense this is just practice. But I do want us to take it seriously, so give it a shot ok?" She said

"I'll give it my all." I said

"Well I'll lead you through it!" She said excitedly. "Acting is fun, isn't it? When you're acting, it's like you get to take on the life of another person! Not just yourself, not some Yumi Ozawa, but another life to live. I don't need lights, I don't need costumes. All I need is a role to play. All I need... is not to be me. Oh I'm sorry! If I keep talking you'll end up forgetting your own lines huh? Let's give it a whirl, darling."

With her encouragement I accepted the role of her husband.

Sun Social Link: Rank 2

"Alright! Want to ad lib a kiss?" She asked

With Yumi's help we were able to complete the skit to the applause of the entire drama club. I went on home after that.