The next morning, Akane was determined to stick to a productive day. She knew that with Zenkichi around, things tended to go off the rails, so she prepared herself mentally to focus on their work, no distractions.
But when she arrived in class, she found Zenkichi waiting for her, with his usual cocky grin plastered on his face.
"Morning, Akane! Ready for another day of teamwork?" he asked, giving her a mock salute.
Akane sighed, rolling her eyes. "As long as you can actually focus this time," she replied, dropping her bag on the desk. "No chips, no ghost impressions, and definitely no rooftop adventures."
Zenkichi clutched his chest, feigning shock. "You wound me! That's like taking away my best qualities!"
"Maybe that's exactly what we need," she retorted, smirking.
Before Zenkichi could reply, the teacher entered the classroom and began taking roll. As they settled into their seats, the teacher cleared her throat, announcing a special project for the week.
"All right, class, I have an exciting opportunity," she began. "Each of you will be paired up for a mini research project on Japan's historical festivals. You'll each present your findings in pairs at the end of the week."
Akane immediately perked up. This sounded like something she'd be good at. She shot a quick glance at her friend, Yui, sitting two rows behind her, hoping they could partner up. But to her dismay, the teacher started reading the pairs aloud—and Akane's hopes crumbled when she heard her name paired with Zenkichi.
Akane raised her hand as soon as the teacher finished. "Excuse me, ma'am, could I… maybe switch partners?"
The teacher shook her head with a gentle but firm smile. "Sorry, Akane. This is a great opportunity for everyone to work with someone they don't normally work with. I'm sure you two will do just fine together."
Zenkichi turned to Akane with a smirk. "Guess we're destined to work together, huh?"
Akane groaned. "If by 'destined,' you mean 'doomed,' then yes."
After class, they headed to the library to get a head start on the project. Akane set her bag down and pulled out her notebook, already making a list of ideas and resources.
"Okay, so we'll cover the Obon Festival," she began, tapping her pen thoughtfully. "It's widely celebrated, has deep historical roots, and we can explain the rituals and meaning behind it."
Zenkichi looked bored already. "Obon? That sounds… serious. Why don't we do something fun, like the Naked Man Festival?"
Akane almost choked. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed, glancing around to make sure no one overheard. "That's not even appropriate for a school project!"
Zenkichi shrugged, clearly enjoying the look of shock on her face. "What? It's a real festival. And it's historical! You said you wanted interesting, right?"
Akane rubbed her temples, feeling a headache forming. "Fine. If you're so passionate about it, maybe we can mention it briefly. But we're focusing on Obon, okay?"
Zenkichi sighed, giving in. "Fine, fine. Obon it is. But just so you know, I'm making it my mission to get at least one ridiculous fact into this project."
"Fine," she muttered. "But don't mess this up. We only have a week."
As they delved into their research, Akane was surprised to find that Zenkichi actually put in some effort. They worked side by side, scrolling through pages of information, jotting down notes, and occasionally debating which details to include. To her shock, he seemed genuinely interested in the different rituals and customs associated with Obon.
"Did you know," Zenkichi said, leaning over with a mischievous grin, "that some people believe Obon is a time when spirits of the dead return to their families? Imagine if we could see ghosts roaming around!"
Akane smirked. "What's wrong, scared of a little spirit?"
Zenkichi shuddered in mock horror. "Maybe. But I'd bet you would be the first one to scream."
"Oh, please! I don't get scared that easily," Akane shot back confidently.
"Right," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Because you're known for your bravery."
Akane narrowed her eyes. "You know, if I didn't have to work with you on this, I'd throw my book at you right now."
Zenkichi laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Relax. We're making good progress." He glanced at her, his usual cocky grin softening. "You know, you're actually kind of fun when you're not lecturing me."
Akane blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected comment. "Uh… thanks, I guess?"
For the rest of the afternoon, they continued working together. Despite the occasional teasing and banter, they managed to make solid progress. They even found a few shared interests—like a fascination with the history behind Japan's oldest traditions.
As the day wore on, Akane felt herself slowly lowering her guard. The rivalry between them felt… different here, almost playful. She found herself laughing at Zenkichi's jokes, even if they were ridiculous. And, to her surprise, she caught him glancing at her more than once with a curious expression, as if seeing her for the first time.
Eventually, they wrapped up for the day, having completed a solid outline and gathered enough notes to work from.
"Not bad, team," Zenkichi said, packing up his things. "See? We work pretty well together when you're not bossing me around."
Akane rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny the strange sense of accomplishment she felt. "Yeah… I guess we're not completely hopeless."
They headed out of the library together, walking in comfortable silence down the hall.
"Hey," Zenkichi said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Want to grab a snack before you head home? I mean, we've earned it after all that hard work."
Akane hesitated, feeling a bit awkward. "Uh… sure. I guess."
They stopped by a vending machine near the school's exit. Zenkichi fished out some coins, grinning as he ordered a couple of soda cans and a bag of chips. He tossed a can her way, and she caught it, laughing.
"Back to the chips again, huh?" she said, smirking.
"Hey, some things never change," he replied with a wink. "Besides, if I didn't have snacks, how would I keep my energy up?"
As they sat on a nearby bench, enjoying their impromptu snack, Akane found herself relaxing more and more. They shared a few jokes, laughed at their project mishaps, and for once, it felt like they were just two regular classmates.
Finally, as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the school grounds, Akane stood up, brushing the crumbs off her skirt.
"Well, we made it through one day without any major disasters. Let's see if we can keep that streak going."
Zenkichi laughed. "Challenge accepted."
As she walked away, she felt a small, inexplicable smile creeping onto her face. The rivalry between them still lingered, but there was something new, something almost… friendly. And for the first time, she didn't mind it.