Unexpected Melody

Chapter 1: A Serve Gone Wrong

It was the first day of the new school year, and the air buzzed with the familiar energy of Eastbridge High. For Zhou Shiyu, a cheerful and popular junior, this was a particularly exciting time. After years of watching from the sidelines, she had finally made it onto the school's prestigious tennis team.

Clutching her racket, Zhou Shiyu bounded onto the court, her long ponytail swishing back and forth as she jogged to her designated spot. The afternoon sun glinted off the freshly painted lines, and she could feel the familiar thrill of competition coursing through her veins.

"Alright, everyone! Gather up!" Coach Zhao's booming voice cut through the chatter, and the team members quickly assembled around him. "Welcome back, and congratulations to our new players. Now, let's start with some warm-up drills."

Zhou Shiyu listened intently as the coach outlined their training schedule for the week, her eyes bright with anticipation. This was her chance to prove herself, to show her peers that she belonged on the team. She was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

As the team split off into pairs for their first round of drills, Zhou Shiyu found herself paired with a girl she recognized from her chemistry class – Wangyi, the enigmatic guitarist from the school band, HII.

Wangyi stood on the other side of the net, her expression unreadable as she gripped her racket. Zhou Shiyu couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Wangyi had a reputation for being aloof and difficult to approach, and Zhou Shiyu wasn't sure how to engage her.

"Hi, Wangyi!" Zhou Shiyu greeted her cheerfully, hoping to break the ice. "Looks like we're partners for this drill. I'm excited to play with you!"

Wangyi simply nodded in acknowledgment, her dark eyes narrowing slightly as she focused on the court. Without a word, she launched the first serve, the ball cutting through the air with impressive speed and precision.

Zhou Shiyu scrambled to return the shot, her brow furrowed in concentration. She managed to get her racket on the ball, but her inexperience showed as it sailed wide, landing several feet outside the court.

"Oops, sorry about that!" Zhou Shiyu called out, offering Wangyi an apologetic smile. "I'm still getting the hang of this, but I promise I'll get better."

Wangyi's only response was a slight raise of her eyebrow, her expression remaining stoic. She retrieved the ball and prepared to serve again, her movements effortless and graceful.

As the drill continued, Zhou Shiyu found herself growing increasingly flustered. Wangyi's shots were powerful and consistent, while Zhou Shiyu's returns were often erratic and off-target. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to find her rhythm.

Frustrated, Zhou Shiyu put a little too much force into one of her swings, sending the ball hurtling towards the sidelines. To her horror, she watched as the tennis ball sailed directly towards Wangyi, who was sitting near the edge of the court, lost in thought.

"Look out!" Zhou Shiyu cried, but it was too late.

The ball struck Wangyi squarely on the shoulder, causing her to jerk back in surprise. Zhou Shiyu winced, her heart sinking as she rushed to Wangyi's side.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Zhou Shiyu asked, her voice laced with concern.

Wangyi's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Zhou Shiyu feared that the aloof girl would lash out at her. Instead, Wangyi simply reached up to rub her shoulder, her expression unreadable.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice cold and clipped.

Zhou Shiyu wrung her hands nervously, feeling the eyes of her teammates on them. "I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. I was just trying to—"

"Save it," Wangyi interrupted, her tone sharp. She stood up, dusting off her skirt and picking up her racket. "Just be more careful next time."

With that, Wangyi turned and walked away, leaving a flustered Zhou Shiyu in her wake. The other tennis players had paused to witness the exchange, and Zhou Shiyu could feel their judging gazes burning into her.

"Way to go, Zhou Shiyu," a voice sneered from the sidelines. "Can't even hit a decent shot without taking someone out."

Zhou Shiyu recognized the voice – it belonged to Jiang Mei, a rival player who had been vying for the same spot on the team. Jiang Mei's lips curled into a malicious smile as she regarded Zhou Shiyu with disdain.

"Looks like the 'pick me girl' can't even hack it on the court," Jiang Mei continued, drawing a few snickers from the surrounding players.

Zhou Shiyu felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She knew that some of her peers saw her as a "pick me girl" – a girl who desperately craved attention and validation from others. The last thing she wanted was to reinforce that stereotype.

Swallowing her pride, Zhou Shiyu turned to Jiang Mei and the others. "I-I'm sorry, everyone. It was an accident, I promise. It won't happen again."

Jiang Mei scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that."

Before Zhou Shiyu could respond, Coach Zhao blew his whistle, calling the team back to attention. "Alright, let's keep it moving, folks! Zhou, Wangyi, you two take a quick break and then get back in the rotation."

Zhou Shiyu glanced over at Wangyi, who was standing in the distance, her gaze fixed on the court. With a heavy sigh, Zhou Shiyu made her way to the sidelines, her mind racing with a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and determination.

This was not how she had envisioned her first day on the tennis team, but Zhou Shiyu was determined to prove herself. She couldn't let one clumsy mistake define her. Gripping her racket tightly, she resolved to work harder, to show her teammates and Wangyi that she belonged on this court.

As the drill resumed, Zhou Shiyu's focus was laser-sharp. She studied Wangyi's movements, trying to learn from the girl's impeccable technique. When it was her turn to serve, she took a deep breath and channeled all of her energy into the shot, sending the ball soaring over the net with newfound power and precision.

The other players couldn't help but take notice, and even Jiang Mei seemed momentarily impressed. Zhou Shiyu allowed herself a small smile, feeling a sense of pride and renewed confidence.

This was only the beginning. She was determined to show everyone, including the enigmatic Wangyi, that she deserved to be on this team.