It started innocently enough. Ryu had been assigned to a training session late one afternoon in the gym, practicing his combat skills alone. He was working on his speed and precision when he heard the unmistakable sound of someone entering the gym.
It was Kirara, though he didn't know her name at the time. She was one of the quieter students in Class 3-E, always keeping to herself. From what Ryu had seen, she was serious and laser-focused, never one to indulge in small talk. But that day, she seemed… different. She was standing by the side of the gym, observing him with a concentrated look.
Ryu, ever the curious one, decided to break the silence.
"You know," he called out, catching her attention, "if you're just gonna watch, you should at least come spar with me."
Kirara blinked, a little taken aback. She hadn't expected someone like Ryu to notice her at all. After all, she was someone who preferred staying under the radar. But something about Ryu's easy confidence intrigued her. "I don't need a sparring partner," she replied coolly, though her eyes never left his movements. "I'm just observing."
Ryu grinned, not at all dissuaded by her response. "Well, observing's fine, but it's a lot more fun to jump in. You never know, I might teach you a thing or two."
Kirara shot him a skeptical look, still unsure. But there was something in the way Ryu carried himself—his casual yet focused energy—that made her reconsider. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to join him for a few rounds.
"Fine," she said, stepping forward. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."
Ryu laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Their first spar was far from perfect, but it was a start. Kirara had a sharp, disciplined fighting style, honed through years of practice. She was serious, focused, and not prone to making mistakes. Ryu, on the other hand, was all about improvisation and speed. He was agile, unpredictable, and most importantly—he didn't hold back.
After a few rounds, they were both breathing a little heavier, but neither of them looked particularly worn out. The fight had been a good one, pushing each of them in ways they hadn't expected.
Kirara stood back, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "Not bad. You're faster than I thought."
Ryu, always smirking, gave her a casual thumbs-up. "You're not so bad yourself. You're really serious about this, huh?"
Kirara didn't respond immediately. She had always been the quiet, serious type, and she wasn't sure how to respond to his laid-back attitude. But there was something refreshing about his approach. Ryu didn't take himself too seriously, and that was something Kirara could appreciate, even if she didn't admit it out loud.
Over the next few weeks, their paths continued to cross in small, unexpected ways. After school, Ryu would occasionally run into Kirara in the hallways or even the courtyard. He would greet her with his usual grin, teasing her playfully about her serious face.
"Hey, no 'hello' for me today? What's up, Hazama?" he would call, clearly in good spirits.
"Don't you have someone else to bother?" Kirara would respond, not unkindly, but still trying to maintain her distance. She wasn't used to Ryu's casual nature.
But slowly, she began to notice something about him. He was different from the other students in Class 3-E. He was outgoing, but not in the way that demanded attention. He was simply someone who didn't mind being himself, whether people liked it or not. And for someone like Kirara, who often felt the weight of expectations, that was strangely comforting.
One afternoon, Ryu was once again in the gym, practicing some moves on his own when Kirara appeared at the door. This time, instead of simply observing from a distance, she stepped in, arms crossed.
"Got time for another round?" she asked, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her voice.
Ryu grinned widely. "Of course! I was starting to get bored anyway."
They sparred again, this time more fluidly, as they had both learned from each other's styles. It was clear they were pushing each other to be better, and neither one was holding back. They didn't need words to communicate—it was in their movements, in the way they responded to each other's challenges.
After the session ended, they were both breathless but smiling. Ryu, who was wiping sweat from his forehead, chuckled. "You're alright, Hazama. You're not as uptight as everyone says."
Kirara shot him a look. "I'm not uptight. I just don't waste my energy on unnecessary things."
Ryu shrugged, not taking offense. "Fair enough. But I gotta say, I'm starting to enjoy these random hangouts of ours."
Kirara paused for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose I could say the same."
And while they still didn't know each other well, and they weren't suddenly best friends, there was something quietly growing between them. Ryu had a way of breaking through the walls that Kirara had carefully constructed around herself. And though she never let it show, she appreciated those moments—those quiet, random encounters that slowly turned into something a little more meaningful.