"We'll have a practice match against Okuse middle school at the end of the week." a red-haired boy said in a neutral tone.
"Did you hear it from coach Sanada?" the green haired boy with glasses walking next to him asked.
The red-head replied with a simple nod, "We better be prepared."
"Why? Okuse doesn't seem to be a strong opponent, is what I heard from the seniors."
"Well, it's good that you're confident in your skills but from his briefing, he wants all the first years to play. It's only been a month since we joined the team, so underestimating an experienced team is nothing but a foolish move."
The green-haired boy slightly frowned at his comrade's statement, "Isn't it us you're underestimating?"
A smile tugged the lips of the redhead, "I'm just being cautious. That's all."
The two of them walked silently in the corridor until it was broken by the sound of a piano. Both of them continued to walk, listening to the music and stopped in front of the music room. From the little window on the door, they saw the silhouette of a girl with ash-blonde hair playing the piano. Without moving an inch, they kept listening to her playing, momentarily captivated by the music.
Then she stopped abruptly, letting out a loud noise as she pressed down all her fingers on the keyboard which startled them.
"Ah, Akashi-kun. Midorima-kun, I was looking for you! I have to pass a message from the coach on to... Huh? What are you guys doing, peeping in a room like that?"
Their attention turned to the girl who was one of the managers of the basketball club.
"Nothing."
Curious, the girl peeked inside as well and smiled as she recognized the person. "Isn't it Asaka? I saw her several times playing piano here during breaks."
"You know her?" Midorima asked out of curiosity.
"Only by name, you know, rumors and stuff. Seems like her parents are renown in the classical world, and her talent for piano is what made her famous around school at the beginning of the term." their manager explained, then she tilted her head to the side in a thoughtful way, "Now, it's become kind of ordinary to hear her play at school every once in a while. Aside for her talent on the piano, there's not a lot to say about her. She's a quiet girl and doesn't stand out much."
The three teenagers observed the piano girl who took up her playing. Yet, a perceptive aggression flowed in her music. Something was upsetting the ash-blonde.
"Oh!" their manager cried out loud, "almost forgot to mention that she's also on the volleyball club. That's why she's a bit known around school. Piano and volleyball make a strange combo."
"Volleyball?" repeated the boy, thinking he had misheard her.
"Yeah, volleyball."
"If she's good at piano, why doesn't she join the school's orchestra?"
Midorima didn't mean anything ill when he said that. For him, it was just plain obvious to join a club depending on one's forte.
"Who knows?" The girl shrugged her shoulders, "But I talked a bit with the volleyball manager not long ago and she told me that this isn't Asaka's first experience with volleyball. She's quite good at it."
Midorima didn't pry further and glanced at Akashi who was half-listening while observing the girl play. Then, seeing the conversation was over, the latter broke his silence and turned his attention back to their manager, "Misono-san, didn't you have something to tell us?"
"Oh!" She shouted when she realized she almost forgot her purpose, "That's right! Coach Sanada and Nijimura-san said to bring all the first years of the first string to the gym. Apparently that has to do with the next practice match, so here I am!"
"Let's go then."
Without wasting time, the three teenagers were heading to the gym.
In the middle of history class, Asaka Ritsu was regretting all her life choices. This morning, she completely forgot to bring her lunch, and as if she had yet to reach rock bottom, she also forgot her wallet at home.
Having eaten nothing since morning, she could hardly find the strength to concentrate on the current lesson. At lunch break, she had tried putting the growing hunger out of her mind by playing piano, but she didn't even manage to play a correct note on the piano because of her empty stomach. How weak-willed she can be. It had upset her and the next minute she'd resigned to her fate. So right now, she just wished the afternoon classes would wrap up quickly.
However, her day had yet to end after that, since she was in the volleyball club. She had to go to practice, and there's no way she would skip it for such a stupid reason. Besides, she really couldn't afford to skip. After a month, her coach decided to put her under a trial period with one of the team regulars as her mentor for the week. It was her chance to get into the team. So she had no other choice.
Ritsu heaved a long sigh, wondering how well she would fare in that state. At this rate, she would fail. All because of a slip of mind.
What an awful day.
"-aka-san. Can you please give us the answer?"
She tired herself out from all the thinking. For now she had...
"Seat number 17, Asaka Ritsu!"
... to focus on the history lesson.
"Y-Yes?" She leapt from her chair, and her eyes met her homeroom teacher's death glare.
The middle-aged woman was about to say something but got interrupted by a loud growling. A silence ensued as Ritsu flushed out of embarrassment. That was completely, utterly embarrassing! All eyes were on her. Even her fuming teacher was speechless. Some of her classmates gawked at her with big eyes, others tried to suppress their sudden fit of laughter.
"W-Well, Asaka," The woman cleared her throat, "I let you off the hook this time, but this is the last time I catch you not listening in my class, you hear?" Then she took the lesson up where she had left off and called out another student. "Himeno, read the... "
It was a close call. But what an embarrassing experience! In this moment, she crossed her fingers and prayed that she would go through this day with dignity.
The last chime of the day finally echoed through the school. As everyone began to slowly leave the classroom, she rubbed her empty stomach and sighed. The captain of the volleyball club and her mentor would probably laugh at her if they happened to know about her misfortune and it especially meant more trouble for her. She had to get a hold of herself!
While she was getting ready, someone put a chocolate bar on her desk. Automatically she looked up to her mysterious saviour. Her gray-blue eyes faintly widened as she realized that it was the boy who was sitting in front of her in class.
"You can have it."
"...Why?" She gave him an inquiring look.
The young boy cocked an eyebrow, certainly expecting a simple thanks instead of a question.
"You have club activities after, right? You should pay more attention to your health if you do sports."
She didn't get to say a word as he walked out of the classroom. She raised an eyebrow wondering if she should take it as a simple piece of advice or an act of kindness.
"Asaka, you lucky girl! To receive something from Akashi-kun, I'm so envious!"
One of her classmates who witnessed the whole thing came closer to her.
"You think?"
"What? Don't tell me you're not happy."
"I am. But of all people, he's the last person who would have come to my mind."
"He probably felt pity for you when he heard your stomach growling. That was hilarious!" For everyone except her. She wanted to forget it. "He might even have heard more from you given that your seat is just behind him, and that's why he took pity on you."
"That's pretty lame." Ritsu said in a defeated tone.
"But he did give you a chocolate bar anyway. He's so niiice! Maybe I should let myself starve." Her classmate declared enviously, the idea growing in her.
"You better not."
The girl giggled innocently at Ritsu's serious reply.
"Sorry but I have to go."
She took the chocolate bar in her hand and stood up from her seat.
"You're gonna eat it?" the girl asked.
"Yes. Isn't it why he gave it to me?"
"Y-yeah...Well, have fun." Her classmate was kind of surprised by her clueless answer, considering she just received something from one of the popular guys of the class.
Outside the main building, Ritsu unwrapped the chocolate bar and took a bite. She didn't exactly know what had driven a boy like Akashi to do that. Nonetheless, out of kindness or not, he simply made her day.