From Foes To Soulmates

Excitement buzzed through the school as everyone prepared for the upcoming sports competition, where each grade would be divided into teams to compete in a variety of athletic events. To Akane's surprise—and slight annoyance—she and Zenkichi ended up on opposing teams. The rivalry between them had never been stronger, and she could already hear Zenkichi's taunts echoing in her mind.

On the morning of the competition, Zenkichi didn't miss the chance to make his stance clear.

"Guess I'll be leaving you in the dust today," he said with a smug grin as they lined up with their teams on the field.

Akane scoffed, crossing her arms confidently. "In your dreams, Zenkichi. My team's got this."

"We'll see about that," he shot back, winking before jogging back to join his own team.

The first event was the relay race, and Akane's team was up first. She was determined to set the bar high and prove that she could outrun Zenkichi. As soon as the whistle blew, she took off, her feet pounding against the track with a speed that surprised even herself. She passed the baton smoothly to the next runner, and her team cheered as they crossed the finish line with a strong lead.

Zenkichi's team went next, and he was the anchor. When his turn came, he sprinted with fierce determination, closing the gap and nearly overtaking Akane's team. He finished mere seconds behind, but his competitive grin was intact.

"Not bad, Akane," he said, catching his breath. "But don't get too comfortable."

"Right back at you," she replied, a spark of challenge in her eyes.

The next event was a tug-of-war, and this time Zenkichi and Akane ended up face-to-face on opposite sides of the rope. As they took their positions, he shot her a look of pure determination.

"Better hold on tight," he said, digging his heels into the ground.

"Oh, don't worry—I'm not letting go," Akane replied, gripping the rope firmly.

The whistle blew, and both teams pulled with all their strength. The rope shifted back and forth, neither side willing to give in. Akane dug her feet deeper, her team shouting encouragements, while she focused on keeping Zenkichi's team from gaining any ground. With one final heave, Akane's team managed to pull the rope across their line, winning the round. Akane couldn't resist a victorious smirk.

"Guess you're the one in the dust now," she teased as Zenkichi brushed the grass off his pants.

"We're just getting started," he replied with a good-natured laugh.

The games continued, with each event turning into a mini showdown between the two. Whether it was the sack race or the high jump, they were both relentless in their efforts to outshine each other. Their friends watched the back-and-forth rivalry with amusement, exchanging knowing looks every time one of them pulled ahead.

Finally, the last event arrived—the three-legged race. Akane and Zenkichi ended up partnered with other classmates, but they could still feel the pressure to outdo each other. Zenkichi exchanged a challenging look with her from across the field as he helped his teammate tie their legs together.

"Ready to lose one last time?" he called out, loud enough for her to hear.

"Dream on!" Akane shouted back, her grin defiant.

The whistle blew, and the pairs scrambled forward, each struggling to find a rhythm. Akane and her teammate stumbled at first, but they quickly synced their steps and began moving smoothly, inching ahead of Zenkichi's team. She could see him glancing over, his competitive spirit burning as he and his partner tried to catch up.

The finish line was just a few feet away, and both teams were neck-and-neck. Akane pushed forward, adrenaline rushing through her as she willed herself to cross the line first. In the final second, her team crossed, narrowly beating Zenkichi's team by mere inches.

Panting and laughing, Akane celebrated with her teammate. Zenkichi walked over, giving her a playful glare before extending a hand.

"All right, Akane. I admit it—you were faster," he said, smirking. "But don't think this rivalry is over."

Akane shook his hand, still catching her breath. "Oh, it's definitely not over. I'll be ready to beat you again next time."

As they left the field, Akane felt a new sense of respect between them. Their rivalry might be fierce, but she realized that, in a way, it pushed them both to be better. And for all his taunts, she knew Zenkichi enjoyed their friendly competition as much as she did.

---

However, just as Akane turned to walk back to her teammates, she winced, feeling a sharp pain in her ankle. She looked down to see a thin trickle of blood running down her leg, staining her sock. In the thrill of competition, she hadn't even realized she'd scraped it during one of the events.

Zenkichi noticed her pause and immediately stepped closer. "Akane, what happened?" he asked, concern evident in his voice as he saw the injury.

"It's nothing," she tried to brush it off, but the pain flared up, and she winced again.

Zenkichi didn't listen to her protests. Without a word, he bent down and gently picked her up, carrying her as he moved toward the school's first-aid station. Akane was caught off guard, her cheeks flushing as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to steady herself.

"You don't have to—" she began, but Zenkichi cut her off with a determined look.

"Just let me help, Akane. You can't walk on that."

They arrived at the school nurse, who cleaned and bandaged Akane's wound. But even after the nurse reassured them it was a minor injury, Zenkichi insisted on taking her to the hospital for a proper check.

"Better safe than sorry," he said, carrying her out as her friends watched with a mix of surprise and amusement.

Despite her protests, Akane couldn't deny that part of her felt grateful—and maybe just a little bit touched. She couldn't help but think, perhaps there was more to Zenkichi than their endless rivalry after all.