It was the middle of the week, and Sakura High buzzed with excitement for the school festival, now just weeks away. Posters for different booths lined the hallways, and the library tables overflowed with students frantically planning their ideas. For Zenkichi and Akane, this meant another "planning" session—though "arguing" seemed like a better term.
Akane had arrived at the library early, as usual, meticulously sketching the layout of their booth. She was halfway through writing out a list of potential supplies when Zenkichi strolled in, hands in his pockets, looking like he hadn't a care in the world.
"You're late," she said, not even glancing up from her notes.
"Relax, Ice Queen. It's just a couple of minutes." He pulled out the chair across from her and plopped down, giving her a lazy smile.
"Every minute counts if we're going to pull this off," she replied curtly. "I'm trying to make sure we have a booth that's actually interesting and organized."
"Oh, I can make it interesting," he said, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'm just not so sure about the 'organized' part."
She scowled. "You know, Zenkichi, I'm starting to wonder if you're capable of taking anything seriously."
Zenkichi shrugged, unfazed. "What's the fun in being serious all the time? Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow." He reached over and casually picked up her notebook, glancing over her ideas. "All this… 'Future Pathways' stuff sounds good, but it's still a bit intense, don't you think?"
Akane sighed, feeling her patience wear thin. "And your idea was what—'Try Your Luck'? That's a little too basic. It's a festival, not a game show."
"So, what's wrong with combining the two?" Zenkichi said, giving her a challenging look. "You said yourself last time that you kind of liked my idea. Why not try a little mix?"
Akane hesitated, her pen pausing mid-air. As much as she wanted to dismiss him, a part of her couldn't ignore that he had a point. It wasn't just about education or excitement—there had to be a balance of both.
"All right," she said reluctantly. "If we combine both ideas, we can have stations that reflect both mental and physical skills. Maybe people can try different challenges that test their strengths. It could be fun and meaningful."
"Now you're talking," Zenkichi said, grinning. "Maybe I'm finally rubbing off on you."
Akane shot him a glare, though she couldn't quite hide a smirk. "Please. Don't get ahead of yourself."
---
Later, During a Break in the Courtyard
Their project meeting finished, Zenkichi and Akane decided to take a short break. They wandered out to the school courtyard, both of them needing some fresh air. Zenkichi was surprised to find himself enjoying her company—even if it was mostly spent bickering.
"So, why are you so intense about all this?" he asked as they walked, his hands in his pockets. "You know, grades, the future, all that."
Akane looked at him, surprised by the serious question. She took a breath, suddenly feeling a bit vulnerable. "I guess... I've always felt like I have to prove myself. My family has high expectations, and I don't want to let them down. It's not easy, but I'm determined."
Zenkichi nodded, a rare look of understanding crossing his face. "I get it. Family pressure, huh? Guess that's something I've never had to worry about." He glanced down, a hint of something unreadable in his expression.
She studied him, wondering if he was hiding something beneath that carefree surface. "So, what's it like to not worry about anything?"
"It's not that I don't worry," he said quietly. "I just… I like to keep things light, you know? Makes it easier to deal with… other stuff."
Akane was about to ask him what he meant, but he quickly changed the subject, flashing her a grin. "So, should we place bets on who gets more people at our booth—us or those jokers trying to make a haunted house in the art room?"
Akane laughed, surprising herself. "You're on."
---
Friday Morning – Project Planning Continues
The rest of the week passed quickly, and soon it was Friday morning. Akane and Zenkichi met again in the library, their banter now becoming almost… natural.
"Okay," Akane said, sketching out a layout of the booth on a piece of paper. "If we split the booth into two sections, we can have a 'mental challenge' side and a 'physical challenge' side. We'll need a trivia section for people to test their knowledge—maybe a quiz board—and a small sports station for them to try shooting hoops or something."
Zenkichi leaned over the table, studying her layout. "You know, I've got an old basketball hoop at home. It's kind of falling apart, but we could use it for the sports station."
Akane looked up, surprised. "You'd bring that in?"
He shrugged, his casual tone belying the effort he'd have to put in. "Sure. If it'll keep you from complaining that I'm slacking off, I can make the sacrifice."
Akane rolled her eyes, but there was a faint smile on her lips. "Fine. I'll see if I can gather the supplies for the quiz board."
They continued discussing logistics, occasionally breaking into laughter over the absurdity of some of their ideas. Zenkichi found himself genuinely impressed by her planning, and Akane, to her own surprise, started to appreciate his creativity.
---
As they wrapped up the meeting, Akane realized with a strange mix of emotions that, against all odds, she didn't mind working with Zenkichi. He was annoying, no doubt about that, but he had a way of lightening the mood and making things more enjoyable.
And for Zenkichi, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Akane's dedication. Beneath her icy exterior, she was… intriguing.
They both left the library, neither saying goodbye, but something had shifted. Neither was quite ready to admit it, but they were starting to see each other in a different light.