Lost in a Pursuit

"Are grades important?"

A/N: First chapter! :D Hope you guys like it~ (I do not own anything except for my OC.)

For the thirteen years of my life, I had only one person whom I had always looked up to, and still do.

But here, in Teiko Midde School, in my very first year, I had a intriguing tablemate. Well, not a tablemate, really, since all our tables are separated for the whole year. He just happened to sit beside me.

He was the heir to the distinguished Akashi family, as I heard, and already the vice-captain of Teiko's basketball team---Akashi Seijuro. Having a cool personality and a luscious appearance, he was the dreams of many girls. To top it all, he was the chairman of our class.

I never really talked to him. I don't want to talk to him. I figured that I should stay away from rich people like him(and the girls from his fan club). Every now and then, during lunchtime, there would be certain female classmates who had asked, politely, to swap seats with me. Of course I didn't mind.

Whenever I walked into the classroom in the morning, I always had the don't-talk-to-me or stay-away-from-me aura around me. Yes, I dislike conversing with normal classmates. But there was just one classmate---she was an exception. Miyano! My second best friend! (I have another one from elementary school.) Just thinking about her makes me smile in gratitude. I'm glad we're in the same class!

Well, this morning was no exception. My expression was always the same -- lips in a straight line, perhaps bending downwards a little, eyes a little tired from waking up. As usual, I skipped saying "Good morning!" or a "Hello!" to my classmates and just walked silently to my seat. I'm not that type of person. And as expected, Akashi was a step ahead of me. He was already sitting in his seat, reading some sort of book for... shogi? I peered behind him a little, catching the content.

Wow, he plays shogi? I didn't know.

"Yes? Shizuko-san?" He suddenly spoke. I hurriedly retreated into my seat. Though, I may have dragged the chair a little too hard in my haste.

"Sorry. I was curious..." My laughter was very awkward as I apologised. Clasping my hands together in a ball of nervousness, I stared down at my black skirt and tried to breathe normally. Talking to non-bestfriend classmates were a nightmare.

"It's okay."

I exhaled deeply. Okay. It's fine now.

"I haven't studied for that Chemistry test yet! And it's tomorrow! I'm so dead!"

"I know right!"

I overheard some classmates talking. That's right, our Chemistry test was tomorrow. I had already studied some topics, and today I would be finishing up the remainder. Chemistry was an easy subject, and undeniably, I was confident I could ace the test easily. It was evident from when I topped the class for a graded test.

"We also have Akashi-san getting the highest score!"

The teacher's words rang immediately in my head. I recalled that moment---when she announced that statement---I was astonished. I thought I was the only one...?

I remembered seeing Akashi rise up from his seat and walk towards the teacher, head held high with pride and received his test paper. When he walked back, I glimpsed at his facial expression. He didn't seem very joyous. Rather, he had only a slight, confident and matter-of-fact grin.

To me, it was as if this victory belonged to him, and only him.

(Flashback)

Minutes after he had received his test paper, he tried to start a conversation with me. "Hey, Shizuko-san."

"Uh, hi, Akashi-kun." My eyes drifted to his maroon hair.

"Are grades important?"

That shocked me. Why would you ask that? Isn't it out of your character? After all, you're the heir to a distinguished family...Naturally, you would need to excel in everything, right...?

I swept my eyes down to the floor.

Nevertheless, I answered, "Yes."

There was silence for a while, and I realised I hadn't been listening to the teacher going through the answers for the test. Damn! Sooner or later, she'll catch us being inattentive in her class!

"Hmm," Akashi suddenly continued, "You know, I think you should find something that you like doing."

(End of Flashback)

"I think you should find something that you like doing."

Those words had been stuck in my head ever since, especially since it was the very first conversation I had with Akashi. Find something that I like doing? What's wrong with me now? I'm enjoying my life! My grades are excellent! Just...what's wrong with that?! I seethed with anger. I have better things to do, like studying!

"Today's the test, isn't it?" Akashi uttered, flipping his book.

"Huh? Oh, you mean the test for Art and Music thingy?" As I spoke, I readied my required items for today's lessons. "Well, I don't know," I muttered to myself.

In Teiko Middle School, each student, other than taking the compulsory subjects, we also had to choose an extra subject---either Art, Music or Home Econs. Every individual student had to take Music and Art aptitude tests so they would know which to choose. Mind you, the Art and Music subjects were those for students who had exceptional abilities in these areas. Most of the cohort usually went to Home Econs.

Well, I had recently started to like doodling on my daily organiser. Maybe it was due to the stress I had been giving myself to do well; to defeat Akashi. But that, at the moment, seemed impossible. He was an all-rounder, a student perfect in every imaginable way. Yet, I was still trying so hard, forgoing my time for recreation and to use that solely for studying. I guess that's why Miyano and I have been drifting further apart...

Nonetheless, doodling helped me develop an interest for Art. Furthermore, I had attended art lessons for kids when I was a child. I had thoroughly enjoyed it, and certainly did not mind dirtying my clothes with paint smudges. I could still remember the time my fine, white blouse had splotches of unwashable acrylic paint on it, along with my mother's frustration.

"Ichigo! You've done it again! Would you please, please, PLEASE wear your apron to your art classes!"

I chuckled at her words. Oh, the good old times...

As for Music? I did attend piano lessons many years ago, I could not excel in it and eventually gave up. Zero talent for it.

Well, Home Econs then? Are you kidding me? I have absolutely no interest in cooking. Although, I knew very clearly it was a life skill to learn. Then again, the odds of me blowing up the kitchen were higher.

I did not know myself, that I had already subconsciously decided what I wanted to do.

I did not know if Akashi was any good in Art. Well, but Akashi is Akashi, so...

For the thirteen years of my life, I had only one person whom I had always looked up to, and still do.

And for the first time in my thirteen years of my life, I had found my second person to look up to, to chase after, to race with, to fight against... I would always be one step behind him, and he would always be one step ahead of me. An all-rounder, a student perfect in every imaginable way. No matter how much effort I put in, how much anime I gave up watching, how much recreation time I forgo...I could never catch up to him, let alone pass by him.

Akashi Seijuro.

I won't forget that name.

I swear I will surpass you one day.

It's time to step out of this monotonous life and start doing what I like to do.

For starters, I decided to call Miyano and apologise for the time we did not spend together.

---End of Chapter 1---

A/N: Please comment if you like it! :) I'm sorry if you feel the development of the story is slow. It's just Chapter 1, after all.