Clash of Strings and Rackets

Chapter 2: The Unlikely Seatmate

The bell rang, signalling the start of another school day. The classroom was filled with the usual chatter as students sat. Tezuka Kunimitsu, captain of the tennis club, stood near the door, scanning the list of seating assignments posted on the board. His gaze flicked down the list as his mind drifted momentarily to his team, his thoughts still heavy with the pressure of the upcoming Nationals.

The list was arranged alphabetically, and Tezuka's seat had always been the same-a quiet corner by the window. But today, there was something different. His eyes narrowed slightly as he read the new seating chart: Tainaka, Ritsu. He hadn't spoken to her much-she was, after all, a year younger and hardly in the same circle of people he interacted with. But he knew of her. She was the drummer in the K-On! band. Wild, carefree, and always surrounded by her noisy friends. The last thing Tezuka needed right now was a distraction.

Sighing softly to himself, he made his way to the desk. The rest of the class filtered in, and he took his seat, setting down his bag with quiet precision.

At the same time, Ritsu Tainaka entered the room, her usual energetic pace cutting through the sea of students. She wasn't exactly late, but she had a habit of running just a bit behind, always trying to catch up to the morning buzz. As her eyes scanned the room, they landed on the name next to hers on the seating chart.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu," she muttered to herself with a soft smile. She had heard a lot about him-the serious, unshakable captain of the tennis team who was practically perfect at everything. His reputation for discipline and focus had intrigued her, but more than that, it was the mystery that surrounded him.

Without hesitation, she made her way to her new desk, taking the seat next to him with a casual air.

"Looks like we're desk buddies now," she said, her voice light and friendly, but not pushing too much. She gave him a small, almost tentative smile, not wanting to overwhelm him on the first day.

Tezuka didn't respond immediately. His gaze flicked over her for a second before turning back to the front of the room. He had expected this-seating changes were a common part of school life. He didn't let it faze him, but part of him still wished he'd been able to stay in his usual spot, away from distractions.

Ritsu, however, seemed content just to sit beside him. She took out her notebook and began fiddling with her pen, tapping it lightly against the desk in a quiet rhythm.

After a moment, she glanced over at him again. "So... you're really serious about everything, huh?" she asked softly, trying to break the silence without pushing too hard. "I mean, I've heard you're kind of... intense?"

Tezuka glanced at her once more, his expression neutral. "I focus on what's important," he replied, his voice calm but unwavering. There was no sense of irritation in his words-just a matter-of-fact tone.

Ritsu tilted her head slightly, considering this. "Hmm. Guess that's one way to do it," she said, her smile widening slightly, though still reserved. "I'm more of a... let's-see-what-happens kind of person. But I get why you'd want to be serious. You've got a lot riding on you with the Nationals and all."

Tezuka said nothing at first, but she could feel his attention shift slightly as if she had hit upon something important to him. He didn't acknowledge it, but she saw the way his gaze tightened a bit, just for a fraction of a second.