Princess Idol: THE ENGLISH VERSION

by: BEAFSTAKES

(Ehem: I don't own PoT except for the concept and original characters...)

Stanza Zero:

THREE YEARS LATER

Kaidoh Kaoru.

Junior.

Class 7.

Seigaku Tennis Club Regular Member.

Known once as the great...

"BAKA MAMUSHI!"

(Tch, it almost got me...it's just the movie I'm watching...)

But it's weird that I miss that, as if I'm looking for someone to call me in that name—but don't get me wrong. I don't miss THAT guy at all. I never thought of missing him even a second.

I'm telling these things because it has been three years...since she came and changed my life.

I'm already in my second year at Seigaku High School Division, and man, I even didn't leave this school—except that it's a new department, new building, new faces, and no more lame old faces. And I'm not the only one who has been loyal to Seigaku and to the tennis club. Arai and his henchmen were here, too. In fact, he made it to the Regular Lineup this year along with Ikeda. Even some of our sempais were here, too. Fuji-sempai, for instance, became my teammate again and at the same time a bonafide member of Photography Club. Kawamura-sempai studies here, too, although he really did quit tennis to pursue his father's sushi shop business. Good thing Inui-sempai doesn't study here, but his school is just a few blocks away from here so we eventually see each other. I also often see him and Naegino-sempai together, yeah, they've been together for two years now and she's more beautiful than ever. Speaking of which, Kawamura-sempai told me that he's waiting for Hota's answer. Well I told him 'good luck' and if that happens, he would probably become the happiest sushi chef alive since Hota is a big sushi fan. I also heard from him that his sister has got a lot of suitors recently, but she answered none of them. Probably she's still waiting for Fuji-sempai. When will she ever give up?

Anyway, aside from those I've mention before, even Kawamura-sempai's sister is also here, even Kikumaru-sempai, Hota, too, and Ryuzaki-sensei's granddaughter and her bestfriend, even the Ichinen Trio. Amagari's two ladies-in-waiting studies here, too (and I even heard from Ikeda that Arai was dating one of them. That's fine, birds of the same feather flock together, anyway). One of them, I think it's Shimau, is in the lineup. All of them didn't quit tennis at all. But some of our old teammates were already gone, like Oishi-sempai who studies in their province, Makihara-san, and Echizen, they're already in the US to study. Amagari went back to Australia, and I heard her parents are finally together. Lili Chuu went back to her native China. She and Kikumaru-sempai are chatmates (and I bet he's courting her). Sohma and Momoshiro went to same high school as always, but not here—that's good, he wouldn't bother my peaceful school life anymore (though, tch, I admit, I miss him...). Of all these prople who went away, it was only Echizen who still has time to come back here for his vacation, mostly before fall.

I just got an email from Tezuka-buchou. He said that he'll come back from Germany a week from now for his vacation. He sucessfully got a scholarship there so he has been studying there, as well as continuing his tennis career, for almost three years. He was once given this opportunity before the Regional Tournament, I heard it from Sensei.

Ah...there's one person left that I didn't have news about...until I received her email just this morning...

Hi, Kaoru!

How are you? It's been almost two years. You're now probably learning how to be human, eh? That's good, rather than you only think of tennis that you almost use tennis balls for your bath—just kidding.

Ever since she came, things have changed for me—for all of us. Some were awed, awaken, and inspired because of her and what she did to our team. I was affected the most...though I never wished for it. I never ever thought that it will happen to me, not even the slightest. It just came to me like a bomb. That was the weirdest, yet the most memorable Valentine's Day I ever had, it's just proof that even the likes of me have the right to have a happy ending. And ever since that happened, all the fortunes—and even misfortunes—came to me in a flash. And so...since she went to the States two years ago it seems like everything went back the way it used to be before she came. As time continues to progress in my surroundings... I was probably the only one who ceased to move on.

Despite all of those things, I stll cannot forget the very first time we've met, on how you helped me, talked to me, and became my very first playmate and friend. I still have the thing you gave to me, and I do cherish it everywhere I go so that I won't be lonely...

And here I am now. I've been the so-called lucky fan, the team captain, an accidental teen idol and all, but in the end I just ended up still a stupid mamushi. Everything just went back to...creepingly normal when she went away.

And so... I decided to go back to Japan to see you. And this time...it's for good.

W-what? What does she mean she'll be back?

I won't tell you the details of when I'll come back because I want to surprise you. You might get shocked if you see me in Seigaku days from now. I really miss you guys. I really want to go out and play tennis with you—only if we're complete. I also want to go back to Gakuland—this time only the two of us. Yep—since I know the fact that you're too shy to ask a girl out and you can't do anything about it, I thought that I'll just be the one to ask you—on a date, as soon as I come back.

Whatta—date!?

Oh, hell. She really wants to set me up this time. I don't know what and how to react about this. She's really full of surprises. Fine, I'm happy...so happy...but...what about the life she was longing for? She already attained it, but why does she want to give it up instead? If she returns here, she'll be feasted by controversies again. Paparazzi will follow her again and invade her private life! But she said that...she wanted to come back...because of me...

Yokatta... [1]

I really want to write to you, but first of all, I don't know your address there. Second, since I might find a hard time to write to you, you're probably aboard on a plane at that time. Emails and SMS have been invented years ago, you know? You don't even reply even for a day! Fsssh....

But if I only have a chance (and guts) to write to you now, I just want to say that I've learned. I learned to be contented because I know, wherever you are, I'm confident that you have finally got the life you deserved. But when you said that you'll come back, baka, you're still a martyr! But anyhow...I'm also like you..still. But still waiting. I learned that from you. I learned how to wait the hard way because I strongly believe that you will return one day...

And you finally make it come true.

I really miss you, Kaoru. I'm looking forward to see you again. So does the team. Make sure to smile first before you meet me, okay?

Because I know that you still can't forget the promise you made to me...thirteen years ago. And that promise makes me hang on to stay positive and keep on waiting for your return.

I love you...

I love you, too...

With all the smooches,

Kaoru ^_^

-*00_00*-

NOTA BENE:

[1] yokatta – I'm glad or That's good

(BEAFSTAKES: If you encountered some new names here, they are all mine, and you will meet them soon in the next chapters. Anyway, I'll post their stats soon but I have to upload the next chapter--but it will take me time since I still have to translate it. I shouldn't have to upload this yet since the rest of the chapters are not yet finished, but because of some reviews like of firefly888, it gave me the inspiration to upload this. Anyway, thanks for bearing with me!)