The bell had barely rung before Sakura High School's hallways filled with the usual Monday morning buzz. Friends caught up on their weekends, lockers clanged open and shut, and laughter mixed with the echoes of footsteps rushing to first period.
Zenkichi Tanaka, the school's infamous basketball star, sauntered down the main hallway with a grin plastered on his face, looking as if he had all the time in the world. He gave a nod to anyone who waved his way, casually high-fiving a few friends as he passed.
"Yo, Zenkichi! Big game this Friday!" a teammate called out.
"Yeah, yeah, you know we'll crush it," Zenkichi replied, flashing a confident smile. But as soon as his teammate turned away, he shrugged. Basketball was easy—everything else, not so much. He barely glanced at the classroom doors as he walked by, treating each one like it was just another obstacle in his way.
In stark contrast, Akane Yamamoto was rushing through the opposite side of the hall, clutching a towering stack of textbooks against her chest. She moved with laser focus, weaving through the crowd without stopping to chat or acknowledge the friendly greetings some classmates sent her way. For Akane, Monday mornings were sacred—time to catch up, plan the week, and prepare for the day's lessons.
As she passed a cluster of students gathered around Zenkichi, she caught a snippet of their conversation.
"Grades are just numbers, right?" Zenkichi's voice echoed as he laughed with his friends, barely glancing at the teacher who had been warning him about his latest test score.
Akane rolled her eyes, muttering to herself, "Unbelievable. He'll regret that attitude one day." She quickened her pace, hoping to get as far from his carefree attitude as possible.
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Later, in First Period Class
The classroom was buzzing as everyone settled into their seats, but the chatter quieted as the teacher walked in. Zenkichi slid into his usual spot in the back row, leaning back in his chair as though the lesson was already putting him to sleep. Akane, in contrast, took a seat near the front, her textbooks spread neatly across her desk.
"All right, class, let's get started," the teacher said. "We've got some planning to do for the upcoming school festival, so listen up. We'll need volunteers to head up the various booths and activities, and yes, this will count for extra credit."
Zenkichi stifled a yawn, already zoning out. Meanwhile, Akane perked up, her eyes sparkling at the mention of extra credit. She loved the school festival—the organization, the planning, the satisfaction of seeing everything come together.
"Maybe the smart kids should do all the work, huh?" Zenkichi muttered to his friend, just loud enough for Akane to overhear.
She shot him a glare over her shoulder. "Some of us actually care about our futures," she retorted, her tone icy.
Zenkichi raised an eyebrow, smirking as if he found her anger amusing. "Wow, lighten up, Ice Queen. Not everything's about grades, you know."
"Maybe you'd understand if you actually tried once in a while," she shot back, unwilling to back down. Her voice held a tinge of exasperation; Zenkichi's nonchalance toward everything serious grated on her like nails on a chalkboard.
Their classmates chuckled, sensing the spark between them. It wasn't the first time they'd seen Akane and Zenkichi clash, but something about this exchange seemed sharper, more charged.
The teacher interrupted, calling for quiet. "All right, all right. Enough bickering. I'll be assigning groups for the festival project. Each team will be in charge of a booth, so you'll need to work closely together. Zenkichi, Akane—you're on the same team."
Akane froze, her face falling. Zenkichi, however, looked amused, leaning back with a lopsided grin.
"Try not to boss me around too much, Ice Queen," he whispered.
Akane shot him a look of pure irritation. "Only if you try not to slack off, Mr. Superstar."
Their classmates snickered, enjoying the tension. Zenkichi's easy grin didn't falter, but Akane could tell he was annoyed too—his relaxed attitude was just a mask. She wondered how long it would take for that cool front to crack.
As the bell rang and everyone packed up their things, Akane walked briskly toward the door. She felt Zenkichi's presence close behind her, and it only made her quicken her pace, determined not to let him get under her skin.
But as she exited the classroom, she felt his gaze lingering on her, and, for just a moment, she wondered if this rivalry would be something she'd regret—or something she'd look forward to.