"Ooh…breaking freeee!" Takao sighed and dropped his arm holding the music sheets. He leaned against the wall in deep thought while the T.V. in front of him played.

"Takao…" someone blew on his neck and Takao jumped.

"Ah!" He turned around to see his brother smirking at him.

"What was that for, Nii-san?!" he exclaimed angrily.

"Well, when I heard you auditioned for your school musical, I just had to make sure!" Hitoshi replied and walked around to sit on the couch.

"…Where did you hear that?!" Takao exclaimed, wondering how these news gets around, especially all the way to his brother.

"I just did…and boy I thought I was dreaming when I heard you singing," said Hitoshi while staring at Takao to make sure this really is his brother.

"You heard me sing?! You weren't supposed to hear it! No one was!"

Hitoshi shrugged,

"Well sorry, I came home and heard you sing."

"You came home from work…just to hear me sing?! Hey…you snuck in didn't you?" Takao stared holes through his brother and crosses his arms.

"Does it matter? I heard you sing. So tell me if you make the callbacks, alright?" with that, Hitoshi got up and left for the door.

"What? Why should I!?"

"So I can see the show," Hitoshi replied and left.

"HEY! Who said-oh forget it!" Takao flopped back down on the couch and shook his head. He looked at the music sheets again and looked at the table in front of him where a certain DVD sat since he got back from school.

"Well, I have to at least hear the songs. It's popular, so it can't be that bad," Takao thought and got up to put the DVD in. While the commercials were playing, he went to get some popcorn so he can at least enjoy himself if the movie turns out to be dislikable for him. Takao came back from the kitchen and dimmed the lights and then pressed play.

"How dare she sign up! I've already picked out the colors for my dressing room!" Sharpay paced as she complains.

"Besides, she hasn't even asked our permission to join the drama club," Ryan added.

"Someone's gotta tell her the rules."

"Exactly……and what're the rules?" Ryan asked and Sharpay rolls her eyes.

"Hey Takao!"

"Gah!!" Takao jumped and was going to turn the T.V. off but he misplaced the remote control and was scrambling to find it.

"Oh my…gosh…I thought it was only gossip that I heard! HAHAHAHA!!!"

Takao crawled to the DVD player and pressed 'pause' then went back on the couch.

"Shut up, Daichi!"

"No way!!! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Daichi…" Takao growled and leapt from the couch to Daichi and tackled him to the ground.

"Ow! You didn't have to do that!"

"You wouldn't shut up!"

"Wow you're so sensitive about it…teehee…"

"DAICHI!!!"

"OW! Jeez! You big bully!"

"You annoying little brat!"

Grandpa was meditating in another room and after hearing some thumps and bumps and of course the verbal fights, he thought it was time to get up to stop the fight, send Daichi to help do some chores, and get Takao to do some practices today.

"He started it!" Takao and Daichi pointed to each other after Grandpa whacked both of them on the head.

"Did not!" they yelled back at each other. Grandpa only sighed…

"I'm getting too old for this…ah! I didn't say that! I'm not too old!"

"Alright you two, don't waste your energy on each other! Daichi! Go chop some wood in the back! And let's go Takao, we got some training to do!"

"What? NOOOO!"

"Ha Ha! You need to train!" Daichi teased.

"You could help, Daichi," said Grandpa with a smile.

"Eh…no it's okay, I'll just go to the back now," said Daichi with a weak smile and dashed off to chop some wood while Takao sat there, pouting.

-----------------------------

Next day at school, Takao kept rubbing the bruises he got for not paying attention while training and kept getting hit. He couldn't get that unfinished movie out of his head. The dance coordinating was really…cool. During lunch, Takao received a tap on the shoulder.

"Hey Takao-Kun, do you feel like practicing with me after school today?" Kiyoshi asked.

"He's got kendo," Hiromi answered for him.

"Um…actually, I think I'll skip today," said Takao rubbing his shoulder, "Hey, how did you know what class I was in?"

"I was following Kyoujyu-Kun," Kiyoshi pointed.

"You're friendly with the enemy?" Hiromi asked with narrow eyes.

"He's going to help me talk with Ming-Ming!" Kyoujyu defended.

"So do you feel like it, Takao? See Ming-Ming's got an interview today and we practice every day together. But I don't like waiting around for her because I have no idea when he's going to show up. So I thought maybe we can get together to sing and I can help you improve too," Kiyoshi offered.

"Well…okay," said Takao with a nod.

"What?!" Hiromi exclaimed.

"Cool! I'll see you at the auditorium after school!" said Kiyo with a smile and left.

"Why don't you ever practice with me?" Hiromi asked,

"I don't know…" Takao shrugged, "Kiyoshi-Kun has experience?"

"He does?" Hiromi raised a brow.

"Yeah, he was choir when he was younger. And well…it's less embarrassing when I'm singing with another guy…I think…" Takao added and Hiromi shook her head.

"Fine, be that way. I guess if anyone can have the patience to teach you how to sing right, then it's him," Hiromi admitted as she took another bite from her lunch.

After school-Auditorium:

"Well I saw part of the movie before a friend of mine that's living with me decided to come home and make fun of me…" Takao muttered when Kiyoshi asked if he saw the movie yet.

"Ah, I see," said Kiyo with a smile as he prepares some music sheets, "Did you borrow the movie from someone?"

"Yeah, Hiromi. She loves the whole series."

"I admit, it's a pretty good series. Although the second movie wasn't that amazing: plot wise. But the first movie was really original. And the third really ended the series with a bang."

"You like it?" Takao asked.

"Hmm…yeah, I do. I'm not a humongous-overly-obsessed fan of it but yeah, I like it, I like it a lot," Kiyo admitted.

"You're very good at being open about yourself," said Takao as Kiyo handed him songs that Troy sings.

"A lot of people say that," said Kiyo with a shrug.

"How do you do it? Aren't you afraid to be made fun of?" Takao asked as Kiyo tossed his bad to the side.

"Sometimes. But then I remember how making fun of someone is just stupid. Take the High School Musical series as an example. It's extremely popular, yes, but not everything can be liked by everybody. Just like people. Unfortunately, not everyone can be liked by everyone else. So we have different opinions on things. I don't care if someone I know doesn't like High School Musical. I respect his or her opinion. I just want them to respect mine. When people make fun of others because of their interests, it really just shows that they either: 1. Have no friends, 2. Is just stupid, or 3. They're losers and forever will be," Kiyoshi explained.

"Wow…what about your sexuality?" Takao asked but then realized what he just asked and quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay. Well…I feel almost the same about it. If people can't accept me, oh well. The only difference is that some people don't accept me for better reasons than others. For example: it's not my fault that some people grew up taught that homosexuality is bad. But if they were no taught such a thing and they just decided to judge me on that fact alone, it does hurt and it's offensive but it's not my problem, it's theirs. But again, it's no big deal to me because everyone seems to accept me here. I love this place because of it!"

"Don't you ever think that it's because you're really open and nice about it that everyone likes you?" Takao asked and Kiyo shrugged.

"Maybe, but I'm not that amazing! Haha!"

"And modest too…" said Takao to himself. He can't believe that there could be people disliking people like Kiyo. He's smart, strong, nice, and talented. To think there are shallow people out there that judges him just because he's gay.

"So, let's get started!"

"Oh okay…"

"You know…another reason why I like "High School musical," is because it shows people breaking down barriers. I really hope for a world that can be more like the world in those movies!"

"Kiyo…"

"This could be the start of something new…it feels so right to be here with you...ooh…And now, looking in your eyes…"

"I feel in my heeaaart…" Kiyo sang Gabriella's parts to help Takao learn his songs.

"I feel in my heart…"

On Kiyo's cue, they sang in-sync with each other,

"The start of something new…"

"Alright good job! You got half of the first song!" Kiyo congratulated but Takao only lets out a sigh,

"I don't know if I can go through with this. This is too hard! The acting! The singing! Arg! How do actors make it look so easy?!"

"It's hard work, Takao-Kun! But in the end, it'll be worth it! Trust me!" Kiyo reassured.

"…Fine…" Takao nodded and lets out a breath to calm himself.

"KIYO-KUUUUN!" Ming-Ming waved from the entrance of the auditorium and Kiyo waved back.

"I'm so sorry it took so long! Thank you for waiting!" said Ming-Ming as she reached the stage.

"Oh it's no problem; I was helping Takao with his singing so it was fun!" Kiyo replied with a smile.

"Oh really? Does that mean you're an amazing singer now, Takao-Chan?" Ming-Ming asked and Takao blinked,

"Well I wouldn't say that…" said Takao with light blush, "I mean, saying I'm 'amazing' is kind of a stretch!"

"Well, I guess we'll see how you do at the callbacks! I would've auditioned for Gabriella, but my schedule is too full for the main female role so I had take a step back and pick Sharpay! I really hope you get the part! I really want us to spend some more time together! Maybe we can squeeze in some beyblading time too since I never got a chance to beybattle the champion!" said Ming-Ming excitedly.

"Oh, well okay! Thanks!" Takao nodded. He wanted to beyblade Ming-Ming as well; there's no denying that she's strong.

Callbacks:

Takao walked into the auditorium after school and he was nearly run over by a girl crying as she ran out.

"I assume she didn't make it…?" Takao thought recognizing her from the audition.

The door closed behind him as he continued walking.

"TAKAOOO!"

Takao froze when he saw about a 2/3 of the seats filled with a certain section of them with giant signs saying "GO TAKAO!" or "WE LOVE YOU TAKAO!"

Takao's brow slightly twitched as he saw that they weren't just one signs, some girls had the same words on headbands and t-shirts. He then looked over to other groups of girls to see something similar with Kiyo-fans and an even bigger group with both genders for Ming-Ming. Takao sighed when he saw Kyoujyu leading the cheers for Ming-Ming. Shaking his head, he headed towards the stage to find Kiyo or Hiromi so he'll know how the process works.

"I have to sing and act?!" Takao exclaimed in near-fright.

"Well duh! Just because it's a musical, doesn't mean they sing the entire time!" Hiromi reminded.

"Crap!" "I only finished half the movie!" Takao thought going into panic-mode. He's only worked on his singing, not his acting! Takao then suddenly had a realization.

"Wait…why am I getting so worked up over this? Do I seriously want the part? Do I really want to do this?"

"Maybe we'll get to meet Ashton!" Kiyo exclaimed and Takao turned to see Kiyo acting his part.

"Kiyoshi-Kun really is pretty good. He can sing and looks like he can act too. How can I pull this off?! I'm so stupid! Why didn't I remember to practice some lines too!? I'll just wing it I guess…?"

Easier said than done for Takao when it was his turn; he stared at the crowd and all of the sudden, got stage fright.

"…My mind just went blank!"

"Takao! What are you doing?! Do SOMETHING!" Hiromi exclaimed from the side.

"Um…" Takao searched into his past; when has he acted before. He glanced at Hiromi and remembered when he faked sick…but he wasn't trying to be sick!

"I…can't do this…" Takao's head lowered in shame and took a step back to turn and walk off stage but was stopped.

"So Troy, when's the big game?" Ming-Ming asked with a hand on his shoulder.

"…Um…oh, uh, two weeks," Takao replied but was surprised he recalled these lines at all! Ming-Ming's hand leaves his shoulder and was put on her waist.

"You are so dedicated…Just like me!" Ming-Ming smiled and turned, "Toodles!"

"…Toodles…" Takao stared as she walked away and then used his hands to slap himself, "I'm sorry! I wish to do it again! I promise, I can perform right!"

"Very well…go ahead," said the director writing stuff down.

"That's right, I can do this myself…thanks for the boost, Ming-Ming!"

Takao let out a breath as he sat at home,

"I'm so glad it's over…" Takao thought as he pressed play on the remote to finish the movie, "I did do my best…I wonder if I'll make it or not."

Takao pushed a hand full of popcorn into his mouth as he watches the movie progress.

"But to think I actually froze…I never thought I'd get so nervous in front of people. I'm so glad it's over but…if I do get the part then I'll have to do it some more. Then again…it was pretty fun. It was like being someone else. Kinda like when little kids play dress up!" Takao smiled to himself as he realized how much can be gained by acting. Maybe this will be fun after all…if he gets the part that is.

Final Roles:

Troy Bolton: Takao Kinomiya

Gabriella Montez: Hiromi Tachibana

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Sharpay Evans: Ming-Ming

Ryan Evans: Kiyoshi Sato

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Next:

Takao finds out he's going to spending most of his afterschool time doing theatre! Not only that, his popularity soared through the roof!

He'll then realize how tough the theatre can be with all the rehearsals and choreography; but it gets even more frustrated when he butt heads with the other actors! Including those that have helped him!

Please R and R!