Clash of Strings and Rackets

Chapter 8: Unexpected Conversations

The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, casting warm hues across the school campus. Rhythmic drumbeats echoed faintly from the music room as the band members gathered to practice. After a hearty lunch, Yui, Mugi, Mio, and Azusa were already in the zone, eagerly preparing for their upcoming competition. However, Ritsu, usually the centre of energy, lingered at the back of the room, her usual carefree attitude replaced by a quiet tension.

Her thoughts were a swirl of doubt, ever since her conversation with Tezuka. "Azusa said I was holding the band back. That I need to be more focused, like her." The words replayed in her mind over and over. She had always prided herself on her easygoing approach, believing that a relaxed and fun attitude was key to keeping the band's energy high. But now, she wasn't so sure. Was she holding them back? Was it time to grow up and take things more seriously?

Meanwhile, across town, Tezuka stood in the middle of the tennis court, his sharp eyes taking in every movement of his team. He had worked them hard all afternoon, pushing them through drills in preparation for Nationals. But despite his intense focus, his thoughts kept drifting back to his team's attitude.

They had won the qualifiers easily, but there was no real challenge in their victories. "We need to be more disciplined," Tezuka had told them. Yet, something was unsettling about the way they were handling their success. Confidence was good, but overconfidence? That was a dangerous path.

"Focus, everyone!" Tezuka snapped, bringing himself back to the present. His eyes moved across the group, silently assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He knew they were good, but not good enough yet. Not for what was coming.

Later That Evening

The sun began to set, bathing the camp in a golden glow. The boys were gathered around the common area, drenched in sweat from a long day of intense drills. Tezuka, however, stood apart from them, his gaze lingering on the horizon, his thoughts far away.

The boys were still catching their breath, laughing and joking about their practice. But Tezuka knew the importance of this next training phase, the need to refocus them before the Nationals. He was about to address them when Momo's voice broke through the air, full of disbelief.

"No way, Tezuka! You're not serious about this, right?" Momo laughed, his hands thrown up in mock surrender. "A hike? You've got to be kidding."

Tezuka didn't break his composure, his face impassive as ever, but a faint glimmer of amusement danced in his eyes. "Tomorrow, we're taking a hike. No drills, no training. Just a break."

Kikumaru joined in, grinning. "Yeah, right. We're probably going to be hiking up a mountain at full speed. You really do like to push us, Tezuka."

The team's laughter filled the air, and Fuji exchanged a glance with Oishi, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe Tezuka's finally decided to give us a little rest."

Tezuka remained calm, his voice steady as he addressed them again. "It's a break, yes. But I expect everyone to be ready to give it their best tomorrow. No slacking off."