Masterpiece Chapter 1: Part 1, a prince of tennis fanfic

Those two needed more stories dedicated to them! Haha. This can be seen as a backstory applicable to my Fem! Ryoma fic 'Ryoma X Reina', too.

And please don't hesitate to leave some feedback, okay? Reading them always makes my days! :))

DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Prince of Tennis

MASTERPIECE
Part 1 of 2

HYOTEI GAKUEN

It was the Lost Decade in Japan, but most things were still mostly as the people from the outside knew it. It was still a country loyal to its culture, and a very fascinating one at that.

Inside a certain academy for rich people, a young school girl with reddish-brown braided hair, that semi-gracefully followed her motion as she ran frantically along the corridor.

Hanamura Aoi was her name, and she was doing some errands for the professor again. Of course she knew it wouldn't necessarily give her better grades, but she would do any insurance possible to maintain her good grades. She had always been insecure, especially when it came to them, and she couldn't help but be paranoid that maybe her grades would drop suddenly and... poof! Her scholarship ends.

Scholarship. It was such a great school, despite the lonely feeling she was having. She didn't mind though, since if she graduated she would have a great job and her parents would be happy.

Her peers disliked her for her incredibly high grades, closeness to professors, and... her background. Aoi was, after all, not like her classmates. She was just a normal girl. Her family owns a simple two-story house – not mansions scattered all over the world...

She shook away the depressing thoughts and focused on delivering the paperwork. But then, for some reason, her feet stopped abruptly.

'What is that?' she mused as she tried to hear the faint music better. She closed her eyes and followed it. It was wonderful, she concluded with just a few notes. She had barely heard instrumental music before- and she regretted what she had been missing. Her head unconsciously moved with the music's flow and she let herself immerse in its wonderful melody.

Note by Note, she tried to feel it... and maybe even analyze it, as a habit. She blinked- It was so warm... and yet so… strained...?

Then the sound halted effectively making her open her eyes. She instantaneously flinched at the first thing… or rather, person… that she saw.

It was a handsome man a little older than her. He had thick eyebrows and light-umber hair. He held such intense brown eyes that Aoi found herself frozen under. After a moment of silence, he looked away and let out a breath of annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" He asked and instead of answering Aoi winced, for she realized (a tad too late) that he was less than a meter away from her… and was actually sitting in front of a piano.

"W-Were you the one who was playing that?"

"What if I was?" he shot back a showing a little more irritation than he was actually feeling. Hanamura, on the other hand, didn't speak. How could such a stoic boy create such emotional music? But she shook the thoughts away in the end. It was rude.

"What… what was it called?"

"Canon by Pachelbel" He said monotonously, leaving Aoi to ponder what that was.

"It's very pretty…"

"Of course it is. It was one of the music world's best masterpieces."

She blinked. "Masterpiece." She liked the sound of that-

"…"

"Ah- Gomen ne. I'll go now…"

The boy watched her go out the door and sigh. He shifted back to his instrument but did not play immediately.

"If you want to listen, just say so. You don't have to hide behind the wall. It's idiotic." He said in his monotonous voice and a second later the girl looking even shyer than before reappeared.

"G-Gomen…" She muttered, and then looked at him hopefully. "I can?"

He just sighed. Didn't he just say that she could? But before he could press a key-

"AAHH! I totally forgot to- I'm so sorry I have to go and sorry for bothering you!" He yelled out of nowhere making him wince. After she left though, he stared at the door she just used and left swinging... and smirked.

"Odd girl."

...

Aoi let out a deep breath. Thank goodness the professor wasn't mad at her tardiness. She absolutely feared disappointing people she respected, and to her it could be deeply disturbing at times. It was because when she did, especially with her parents, she felt like she was dead meat for a whole week.

As she walked farther and farther from the faculty, she couldn't seem to shake off the feeling of hope that maybe- just maybe- she'd hear his sound again. It was so fascinating. The piece was good, but the playing was something else altogether as well. Again she wondered how he could produce such a sound when he seemed so lacking in emotion.

She paused. Then again, maybe it was the only way he could express himself...?

She shook away the thoughts and continued heading home.

Aoi wondered if he was an upperclassman. That would explain why she had never seen him before… she would never forget someone like him-

She flinched at the last thought. Someone like him?

What did that mean?

...

*Days later*

Taro Sakaki and his friends were walking around school, taking a long way to their usual eating spot. It was troublesome for Taro, but his friends liked being gaped at- an ability all of them possess. He ignored all the stares and yet he wondered if she had ever been one of the people who watched him. He doubts it though - seeing her reaction when she met him stated that she had never bothered to look.

Sakaki Taro internally smiled at a memory. They had never talked to each other before – they were in different worlds. He was surrounded by people from high families- and a senior at that– while she… he had never even noticed. Well, he definitely knew about her existence. Just one look at her and he knew immediately she was the talked-about freshman who got a full scholarship.

He mentally smirked. Maybe that's why he's so... interested in her? Because she's different? Probably. Most Likely. Hopefully...

She's probably in the library-

"Taro~"A girl in the name of Atobe Hina called him flirtatiously. He had known her since she was a child, with their parents being close business partners. She hugged her arm.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Ah… and your expression is so uncharacteristically relaxed because…?"

"Like I said, Hina, it's nothing." He answered firmly, and she uncharacteristically let it go. He realized later the answer to why.

"Since you're such in a good mood... I can feed you today?"

He breathed deeply.

"I'm not hungry." he answered immediately. Why couldn't she understand he was not into... such things?How many times had she asked this the past few years?

"I'm going somewhere." he sighed and she looked at him inquisitively.

"Where?"

"The Library."

...

Aoi was in the corner of the library, eating lunch while studying her homework. She had befriended the librarian, you see, and was- provided she does so in an inconspicuous space- allowed to do so. She liked studying as she ate, since she liked maximizing her time-

"You do realize that you may damage your book munching that variety of food right above its leaves, yes?" A familiar voice commented making her flinch.

"I-It's you!" she yelled and instantaneously covered her mouth. After (finally) regaining composure, she started whispering,"What are you doing here?"

"Do you own the library?"

"No."

"Then why are you asking as if you own the place?"

Touche.

"Ah… Gomen." she muttered and then looked at her food. She gestured on putting the lid back on when he heard her companion breath in frowned.

What did she do now?

"I didn't say stop eating. I just said stop reading at the same time – it just rude."

"Oh." She recalled her mother said something similar every time she catches her red-handed. Aoi then put aside her book, and blinked when the handsome boy beside her took it. Why was he acting so familiar with her...?

Not that she didn't like it, of course.

"History." He stated, reading the book's cover. "You have an exam?"

She shook her head."Homework. But I've been stuck on a problem for quite some time now…"

"Which one?"

"More of what 'kind'. I have a problem with dates."

"Ah." He mumbled and Aoi knew immediately that the answer came easy to him. She frowned. He must think she's pretty stupid, not to be able to answer that-

"This is a fairly easy problem."

"I could see that…"

"For me."

She blinked. That little arrogant comment actually made her feel better.

"Because you're so great?"

"That's right." He answered nonchalantly making her giggle. He smiled. When Aoi turned to him, she saw his expression and her heart pounded.

Doki

She instantaneously froze. What was happening? Why the heck are all those blood rising up to her face for him to see? Stop. Stop. Stop-

"Ara? Taro? What…are you doing here?" A mysterious girl intervened her little hysteria with an utterly sweet tone of voice. She was a very pretty and demure-looking girl... so why did Aoi feel as if she's throwing daggers right at her face?

Taro's expression turned to normal, and he whipped his head towards his friend. "Didn't I tell you I was going here before?"

"Well, yes… But I didn't expect you to be at a corner graciously helping a freshman." She stated, crossing her arms in the process. She stared at the two alternatively and added,

"In any case, it's almost time. We have to go."

"Ah…" he answered and turned to her to ask her name. But then he stopped himself. He didn't know if it was pride or shyness but he simply could not bring himself to do so. So, instead, he politely bid his farewell... and did not look back anymore. Hina hugged his arm tightly again, and as usual he did not mind.

He did not even notice the sad expression the freshman made.

...

PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, A few weeks later

Inside a lavishly decorated room for the highest ranking staff to use, the Hanamuras stood sternly in an attempt to make an appeal regarding a very irrational decision. Aoi was literally losing her head, especially thankful that her calm and collected parents were there with her- preventing her from strangling that bald man.

It wasn't fair. How could they just rescind her scholarship?

"Like I said, we simply don't do scholarships anymore."

"What kind of reasoning is that? You know we can't afford to let her stay here on our own!"

"That's why we arranged for her scholarship at Josei Shounan. It is also a private school and has great facilities. It is not as good as Hyotei Gakuen but it is definitely still a great choice. We'll increase her allowance, too, for fairness."

Silence

Aoi flinched. Her parents were actually considering this- this blasphemy? It's not fair! She did not want to go… she just got there. Just when she had found someone-

"Very well."

"What?"

"Aoi, we are not in the position to disagree. They will even give you a better allowance there."

"But I don't want an allowance!"

"Well we don't have any money."

"B-"

"I'm so sorry, Aoi." Her mother stated calmly. "But we have to do this. Please?"

She looked at her pleadingly. "Mother…"

"You can go and say goodbye to your friends, Aoi." Her mother just answered, and Aoi stared at the floor. She did not have any friends. Well, except for him. Not that he knew that. He was just teaching her history for the heck of it. He said he was bored and needed a change of pace, that's all.

At least she'd have an excuse to see him outside the Library. She immediately straightened up.

"Hai."

...

Hanamura Aoi thick-skinnedly walked around upperclassmen's hallway and tried to look for him. She'll be gone in less than an hour anyway, so there was no reason to feel shy. And soon enough, she heard someone call her.

"Hanamura-san." She said, it was the girl from before. She realized that there were barely any people in the corridors anymore since lunch time is almost done. She had to make the conversation quick, after all. She did not want her to be late.

"Are you looking for my boyfriend?"

Boyfriend. The last term ringed painfully in her ears.

Not that she knew who it w-was...

"Who?"

"Taro, duh." she shrugged and stared at her. "What's with that surprised look, Hanamura-san? Didn't you know?"

"..."

"What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I wanted to say g-goodbye. My scholarship got rebunked."

"Oh." Aoi's eyes widened. Why didn't she looked surprised? But then after a little widening of the eyes, the other girl smirked at her and it made her shiver.

"Ah… I'm assuming he didn't tell you he has a great deal of influence against your scholarship, too, yes?" the girl said, she felt that she was a little too eager to tell her that but at the moment... Aoi didn't care. Or more accurately - couldn't care. She was too flustered and was forcing herself to say something coherent.

But despite the already rising feeling of despair, Aoi refused to believe her. Well, she didn't want to.

"He isn't like that." She stated firmly making the other girl frown.

"Don't sound as of you know him. He was mine since as far as I can remember."

"I n-never said otherwise… but I don't believe he'd take away my scholarship!"

She scoffed and answered confidently, convincing both of them. "Then don't. Just don't blame me if he tells you otherwise."

Hina saw tears lining up in Aoi's eyes and knew that she was starting to believe her. Aoi opened her mouth to argue when-

Riing! Riing!

"Moshi, Moshi?" she said obviously forcing herself to sound normal.

"Mo- but I haven't-" she glaned at Hina, and then paused. "No.. never mind. I guess I already have… all of them."

Aoi let out a deep breath and closed her phone."I'll be going now."

"Ah. Take care…" the girl said sweetly sending her a fake smile. 'And don't ever come back to his life ever again.'

...

Sakaki Taro found his friend's behavior odd. He could sense that she was hiding something, but he didn't really ask her anything… especially when he had more pressing matters to think of... like her smile, for instance... Not that he'd admit that.

He 'd be going to the library much more often from then on, wasn't he? But it wasn't long when found out how wrong that assumption would be. It was so odd that he was so scared when he didn't find her there like he usually did. The first thing he did was go to the librarian to ask.

"Did the scholarship freshman come by here today, madam?"

"Oh. Why wo- didn't you know, Sakaki-san…?" he didn't answer. "She transferred to another school..."

"What?" he asked and the woman flinched at his uncharacteristically rude stare.

"I don't know the details, sir. I'm sorry."

"Ah. It's fine, Mrs. Uchiha. I'll just ask the people who might know something about it." He said, and pushing his slowly rising hysteria away. And that, he did- only he had no idea, Hina (whose parents have direct connections with the school's head) would say something totally different from what he wanted to know.

"Why would you care, Taro?" Hina asked him with an unfathomable expression. It was already well past class and they were alone in their classroom, much to his chagrin.

"I… I was just wondering why she would transfer to another school when ours is the best there is." He replied coolly, yet not quite sure why it felt like an understatement.

"Ah… That's probably it then- she is simply not good enough for us-"

"That's not true." he cut her off with uncharacteristic vehemence.

"And you know this, how, Taro?"

"Just don't say such things so easily." He just muttered and turned around. He did not want this awkward conversation to continue. He needed to be alone… somewhere...

Like back to the library, for instance. But before he could walk away, he felt arms wrapped around him and her head tightly hugging his back. He flinched. "Hina- What are you doing?"

"You're going to the library aren't you?"

"W-What of it...?"

"You don't realize your dropping your pride for her, don't you?"

"…"

"Your parents would be so distressed when they find out you're i… interested in such a poor girl. You don't want to disappoint them, do you?" She said with an unfathomable tone-of-voice, and he could not say anything... For other than losing his dignity, disappointing his parents was his only fear. But he didn't get why Hina was getting into this-

"I love you Tarou." That explains it. But she was his friend- a spoiled one but still a friend. He could never look at her any other way.

"I know you don't feel the same way, but you could at least give me a try. Your parents would be so happy when they find out we're more than friends…"

'They will?' he asked puzzled, but then he analyzed Hina's background and how his parents were joking about arranging a marriage with her. It was logical to accept her proposal… which made it all the more odd that he did not like the idea at all...

Hina just continued to embrace him desperately in his silence. He didn't say anything – He couldn't. If he said No, he'd have to reason it out, but unfortunately he couldn't find any.

He winced. His back was getting wet and his eyes she crying?

"Hina-"

"..."

"Stop crying." He said gently escaping her hold and then turned around. Hina was his friend, and even he did not like to see his friends suffer.

"Kiss me, Taro."

"What?"

"Please…"

"Wh- No, Hina"

"Why n-not?"

"…"

She touched his cheeks and he winced. She elevated herself by tiptoeing and with one swift motion their lips were locked. It was so desperate that Sakaki was not sure if he should escape. The despair that he felt didn't make any sense at all...

"Please don't push me away… at least try. For your parents? They're really planning on arranging our marriage… why not save them of the guilt that they think they're imposing on you?"

"Hina." He just uttered. It just felt so... irrational. He needed to find a way out of this situation. And maybe why his feelings and rational mind were not in sync.

Then, out-of-nowhere, an image of the girl reappeared above his head making him jolt involuntarily.

What did this have to do with her?

"You're dropping your pride for her, Taro."

No he's not. He was Sakaki Taro.

No way.

"Taro…" she called pleadingly, touching his chest and looking straight onto his eyes. That 's right... this had got nothing to do with her. And he was going to prove it. He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Very well..." he uttered and leaned down until their face were only a centimeter apart. Hina beamed and she immediately wrapped her arms around him. taro, on the other hand did not even wince. He just passively did what she had asked him to.

He really didn't care anymore.

.
.

END OF PART 1 OF 2

REPLIES TO ANGELS:

Ori- Thank you for the review~! Glad you liked it~!

JenesisX- Whew! That's a relief. XD And Thanks for the review~!

Perfect Beauty- heehehe. I thought I'd do the same thing. XD Thx for the review!

Cheyla- Thank goodness that effect actually worked! lol. Thx for the review~