The morning after the sports competition, Akane walked into class with her leg still slightly sore but feeling lighter after Zenkichi's unexpected show of concern. She was ready to face him with a new perspective on their relationship. However, she couldn't ignore the lingering blush that came with the memory of him carrying her to the nurse's office.
As she settled into her seat, she noticed Zenkichi sitting nearby, chatting animatedly with his friends. For a moment, he caught her eye, and they exchanged a quick, unreadable look. He gave her a small nod, a hint of his usual smirk playing on his lips, and she couldn't help but smile back.
Throughout the day, they seemed to orbit around each other, both of them remembering the shared moments from the previous day. They bantered as usual, but an underlying warmth had developed between them, an unspoken acknowledgment of something shifting between rivalry and friendship.
During lunch, Akane's friends, Reina and Yui, nudged her as they all ate together.
"So, what's going on with you and Zenkichi?" Reina asked, raising an eyebrow. "He carried you to the nurse's office yesterday! That's pretty romantic, you know."
Akane's cheeks turned pink as she waved off her friend's suggestion. "It's not like that! I just got a little hurt, and he… happened to be there."
"Oh, please," Yui chimed in, grinning. "We all saw how he looked at you—worried and everything. He was like a totally different Zenkichi!"
Akane hesitated, feeling her heart skip as she remembered the look in his eyes. "I don't know. I think he was just being nice. We're… rivals, after all."
"Are you sure that's all?" Reina teased, leaning in closer. "You two have been acting strange around each other lately. Maybe it's more than just rivalry?"
Akane laughed off their questions, but as the conversation shifted to other topics, she couldn't stop thinking about it. Was it really just rivalry? Or was there something more?
---
Later that afternoon, Akane found herself staying late in the classroom to catch up on a few assignments she'd missed during the sports competition. She was so focused on her work that she didn't even notice Zenkichi walking in until he pulled a chair over and sat down across from her.
"Hey, Akane," he said, a casual smile on his face. "How's the leg?"
She looked up, surprised to see him there. "Oh, it's fine. Just a little sore."
"Good." He looked relieved, though he quickly masked it with his usual cocky grin. "Can't have my rival going down because of a little scrape."
Akane chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. If anything, I'm tougher than you think."
"I don't doubt it," he replied, his tone softening unexpectedly. For a brief moment, they both sat there in silence, neither one sure what to say next. The tension that had built between them over the past few days seemed to hang in the air.
Finally, Zenkichi broke the silence, his gaze more serious. "You know, Akane… about the other day, when I carried you to the nurse… I don't usually do things like that."
She raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the moment. "You mean, you don't usually carry injured rivals around?"
Zenkichi laughed, shaking his head. "No, I mean… I don't usually worry about people like that. It felt… different. I guess I just wanted you to know."
Akane's heart skipped a beat as she met his eyes. For the first time, she saw something vulnerable behind his confident demeanor. She hesitated, then took a deep breath.
"Zenkichi, I think… I think this rivalry of ours has become something more than just competition."
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "You're saying I'm more than just a rival?"
Akane shrugged, her cheeks turning pink. "Maybe. I mean, yesterday… it was nice having you there."
They sat in silence, both of them processing this quiet confession. Then, as if to break the tension, Zenkichi reached out and poked her lightly on the forehead.
"Don't get too soft on me now, Akane," he teased, though his smile was softer than usual. "You're still my rival, and I'll be beating you in our next competition."
Akane laughed, swatting his hand away. "Keep dreaming. I'll be the one winning next time."
They shared a look, one that spoke volumes more than their usual banter. As Zenkichi got up to leave, he turned back to her with a smirk.
"Take care of that leg, alright? Wouldn't want my rival to be at a disadvantage."
Akane watched him leave, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. Despite their endless competition, she knew something had changed between them. And for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to keep him just as her rival.