𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 everything you could, you were sure you would've been in awe of the sight before you. Everyone was so fast and strong. You could see the reason why the select few were in Ego's group, because they all had something special about them, so much that you struggled to focus on just one person. You tried to take mental notes as well as some on paper, trying to remember what you could about their talents, starting with the ones you knew least and ending with the ones you knew better.

Bachira was quick and could dribble really well to confuse his opponent.

Nagi had excellent ball control and seemed to be able to shoot from impossible areas.

"That's strange," Ego muttered. "Normally it takes about half a game for him to get going. Looks like somethings got him riled up today."

Reo was a good guard, seemed to be in sync with Nagi, and sent him great passes.

You weren't sure what Isagi was good at specifically. He just seemed to be an all-around player and possibly the best of them all. He brought out the competitiveness in all of them, and it looked like whenever he scored a goal, it motivated the rest to score as well.

Or at least most of them.

What confused you was that Chigiri, despite being on the top team, didn't really do much.

"Hey, Ego?" He hummed in response to you, not taking his eyes off the game.
"That red-haired guy, Chigiri. What's up with him?" Ego briefly glanced at Chigiri to see him receive a pass, only to quickly kick it to someone else, and let out an annoyed sigh.
"He sustained a pretty rough ACL tear at the beginning of last season. It should be in its final stages of healing, but he seems pretty hesitant about getting back into it. I'm trying to give him time, but if he doesn't use his weapon soon, I'll have no choice but to let someone else take his spot." You stared at Chigiri somewhat sadly. If he was on the top team, he had to be good. It'd be a shame if he lost his spot, not because of an injury, but fear of another.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" You asked without thinking and Ego finally glanced at you.
"As a manager, you'll already be in charge of taping and dealing with minor injuries," he said. "But if you think you're capable, I'll have the trainer teach you how to help him with his physical therapy, just in case."

After that, you continued watching the game. You were sure it would've lasted forever if it weren't for Ego blowing his whistle, which finally made you realize that the sun was beginning to set and it was past time for practice to end.

"Today should've been productive for everyone if nothing else," he said. "Same time tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!" As the group packed up, you looked over the notes you had taken about everyone and the work Ego had assigned you. It seemed like more of a test, rather than anything the team would need.

No matter. You'd complete it no matter what it was.

"Well, you were out late." You opened the door for the smell of burgers to invade your senses. You smiled, seeing your grandfather standing in front of the stove.
"And you didn't think to call?" You asked.
"I was hoping you were out with friends," he said, and you sighed. You weren't sure whether or not you were happy to have gone from a sheltered only child to a child whose guardian wanted and encouraged their kid to go out and stay out, but you were far too hungry to dwell on it. You sat down at the table and took out your assignment from Ego.
"Homework?" The old man questioned as he set a plate down beside you.
"Sort of," you said. "I'm forced to become manager of the soccer team, and their crazy coach said that he might put me in charge of his best group if I can prove myself." You jotted something down." But I mostly want to do it just because he thinks I can't."
"That's my stubborn granddaughter," he said, and you rolled your eyes, getting a bit done before digging into your dinner.

By the time you had finished your homework plus the work Ego had given you, you could hear your grandfather snoring from his room down the hall, and you were almost too scared to look at the clock to see how late it was, already accepting the fact that you would be exhausted tomorrow.

Clear storage!

You frowned at the notification on your phone. You had cleared up all the apps and pictures you could to no avail. You set a reminder on your phone to take it into the shop before turning your light off and lying down.

"You look a mess." You glared up at Chigiri's statement of the obvious.
"That damn work from your crazy ass coach took longer than any work from any of my other classes," you cursed. "It's ridiculous."
"He's just making sure you can handle it before he gives you any important tasks," Chigiri explained as you both took out your homework and the request of your teacher to compare your answers to the person next to you. He hissed at the sight of yours, making you turn to look at his. Once again, your answers were completely different.
"I was half joking about a tutor, but you might actually need one," Chigiri said, and as much as you wanted to get irritated, you knew math wasn't your strongest subject, and it was better to get help now before you fell behind. But still...
"Do you even have time to tutor me with soccer, and all that?" You asked. "Because I know by the time I got home, I ate, showered, and by the time I finished my work, it was really late."
"When's your study hall?" He asked, and you picked up your phone to check the picture you took of your schedule.
"Right after lunch."

"I have PE," he muttered, lowering his head thoughtfully for a moment before turning back to face you. "We could bring our lunches to the library and eat while I help you."

Damn. You were especially looking forward to going home and napping during lunch. But alas, grades came first.
"Fine," you said reluctantly, and Chigiri smiled.
"Then I'll see you there."

It was the end of the day, and once again, you were preparing for practice.
"Hey, Y/n!" Just as you were about to enter the soccer field, you turned to see Isagi at the end of the hall. "Coach told me he wants to see you in the athletic trainers' office." You looked over your work as you walked to the office, adding and erasing some things and ensuring everything was presentable before stopping and knocking at the door.
"Come in! " You recognized Ego's voice and stepped in to see him standing in front of a nurse's bed. On the bed, you recognized the one who was good at dribbling sitting there. What was his name again? You racked your brain as you tried to remember the names that were on Ego's paper.  Meguru Bachira, right.

"I see you finished all the assignments I gave you," Ego said as you handed it to him, and he flipped through it briefly. While he did so, you looked at Bachira, who smiled warmly at you. You smiled back, but you couldn't help but notice he was holding his ankle in his hand and it looked a bit swollen.
"Good work," Ego said as he set the papers down. "I've called you here so you can learn how to treat players with minor injuries. Bachira, here, rolled his ankle while doing some extra practice. While it would be better for him to sit out a day or two, I won't force him to since it's not that serious, but we are going to tape his ankle, or rather you are." You raised a brow as he handed you some athletic tape.
"Bachira will guide you through it," he said as he picked up the papers and started heading toward the door. "Make sure it's adequate, or you'll do it again."

The moment the door closed behind him, your face fell.
"How the hell do you just say do this and do it right or else and then leave without showing me how to do it," you muttered under your breath as you set the tape and the other equipment down and started setting up the stuff he gave you. "Damn, he makes me sick."
"Yep, that's Ego for you." You turned to look at Bachira, who was trying not to laugh at your frustration. You were so busy muttering to yourself, you had almost forgotten he was there. "But if it helps, he wouldn't give you this job if he didn't think you could do it."
"Yeah, right," you said as you unrolled some pre-wrap. "Just tell me where to start."

"So what made you want to — tighter — So what made you want to become a manager?" Bachira asked as you wrapped his ankle, trying to make small talk as he guided you through it.
"I was forced to," you said dryly as you finished the pre-wrap and picked up the athletic tape. "But I don't want to get into all of that now. I decided that if I'm gonna do it, I might as well be good at it."
"That's the spirit...Now come back around and finish there." Bachira smiled as you cut the tape, and he moved it around slightly.
"You did really good," he said. "I should be able to move around just fine in this."
"Don't say that just to make me feel good," you said as you packed everything up. "This is my first time doing something like this, so there's no way I was that good."
"It isn't the best, but it really is good for your first try," he admitted. "How about this? As a thank you, next time you need help with Ego's work, I'll come to give you a helping hand." You smiled at the thought of finishing your work and going to bed at a reasonable time, smiling at Bachira even if you doubted Ego would allow you to get help from one of his players.
"That sounds great."