SCHOOL RUMBLE -To see you under the blue sky again
The characters in this story are not owned by me but to their respective creators.
Act 10-Eri's Story: It's Showtime!
"I choose Eri!" Sora replied to Akira his answer.
The girls were surprised by his reply. Especially Eri who is blushing this moment.
"Sora chooses me?" Her face went red. Mikoto and the rest of the girls congratulated her for getting the lead.
"Sora chooses you, Eri Chan!" Mikoto told her.
"Congrats on getting the lead, Eri Chan!" Karen added.
"You'll make a great lead!" Megumi said to her.
Akira wrote Eri's name in the script book she was holding and spoke to Sora.
"Here's your script, Sora Kun. I'll inform Eri about your choice."
"Do you think Eri Kun will agree to it?" Sora asked.
"Don't worry, I can be very persuasive." Akira smiled confidently.
Eri and the others quickly went back to the classroom and moments later, Akira went in front of the class to break the news.
"Everyone! I have an announcement to make. The male lead for our class play will be Aoki Sora and he has chosen the pretty Sawachika Eri as his female lead!"
The class went wild as they heard the news. Most of the guys were full of envy that Sora will be performing with Eri while some of the girls started to make small talks about the two of them.'
Akira approached Eri who seemed to be quiet about it.
"Eri Chan."
She looked up at Akira.
"Akira Kun."
"Sora has made you his lead. Aren't you excited?"
Eri immediately put up an arrogant face and replied.
"Sora Kun must be honored to make me his lead!"
Sora heard it but kept mum to himself.
"Sora Kun!" Eri called out to him.
"Yes, Eri Kun?"
"Let's do our best and give everyone the best stage show ever!" Eri smiled at him.
Sora agreed with her and they began to discuss about the play.
After school has ended, Eri immediately left the school without telling anyone.
"Where's Eri Chan?" Tenma asked the others.
"I think I saw her walking out of school." Harima answered.
"Is there something wrong with her?" A concerned Karen asked.
"I doubt so." Mikoto told her.
"Sora Kun?" Akira called out to him.
"Huh?"
"Why don't you go and find out what's wrong with Eri?"
"I don't think that's a good idea." Sora answered.
"You're the male lead! If you don't find out what happened to your female lead, the chemistry between the both of you will crumble." Akira explained.
"All right, I go." Sora reluctantly spoke back.
Sora went to Eri's mansion and arrived at the front gate. He pressed the doorbell and heard Nakamura's voice on the intercom.
"Who is it?"
"It's Aoki Sora, Nakamura San."
"Oh, it's you, Sora San."
"Is Eri Kun around?"
"I am sorry but she hasn't returned."
"I see." Sora was a bit disappointed.
"Do you want me to convey anything to Ojou Sama?"
"It's okay, Nakamura San." Sora then turned around and head for home.
Little did he know that a figure was watching him on the second floor of the mansion. The figure looked outside from the window and seemed concerned for Sora.
"He has left, Ojou Sama." The figure heard Nakamura's reply.
"Thanks, Nakamura." Eri then sat on an armchair in her room and spoke.
"Nakamura?"
"Yes, Ojou Sama?"
"It's nothing...you may leave." Eri didn't want to bother Nakamura over her personal problems and looked at the blue sky outside her window.
"Why do I feel a sense of guilt in me?" Eri wondering to herself...
The next day after school, Akira began to direct the cast for the play. Eri came too and rehearsal with the others.
"Take ten, everyone!" Akira called out to everyone. Yakumo, Sara and Megumi brought snacks and drinks for everyone.
"Here you go, Sora Kun." Yakumo handed over a large rice ball to Sora.
"Thanks, Yakumo Kun." Sora took it from her.
"Look, Yakumo is being nice to Sora Kun!" Sara teased her.
"Sara!" Yakumo blushed.
"You're very unfair to your elder sister." Tenma pretend to be pitiful and everyone laughed.
Except Eri who is outside the room, and drinking a cup of tea. Sora realized that she was alone and approached her.
"Eri Kun?"
"Sora Kun." She was a bit startled but kept her cool.
"I went to your house yesterday but you weren't around."
"I went window shopping."
"I see." Sora kept quiet.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What's it?"
"Why did you choose me as your female lead?"
"I felt that I was comfortable with you. I mean being with you, I could tell you anything."
After hearing it, Eri's face changed.
"Who do you think you are? I am not your comfort zone! I just happened to use you. Besides you're probably like all the other guys around!"
Sora was shocked by her reaction!
"Listen to me, Aoki Sora! The reason I'm doing this play is because I take pity on you! That's all! After that, we go our separate ways!"
Eri turned around and headed straight to the ladies, leaving Sora in doubt.
Eri turned the water taps and splashed water on her face. She looked at herself on the mirror and realized her eyes were red.
"Am I doing the right thing?" Eri asked herself...
The days passed. Eri put up a strong face in front of everyone and rehearsal the play. She completely ignored Sora after the rehearsals but nobody took notice except Sora.
Sora didn't know how to clear the misunderstanding and struggle to keep his feelings from ruining the play.
Luckily the kissing scene, which was the finale, was suggested by Akira to have it done on the actual day.
That's saves Sora and Eri much embarrassment.
Finally the school festival begins. The school was filled with excitement as people began to stroll in.
The class of 3-C has already prepared for this day and the theater hall was filled up completely with people.
Akira took a peek behind the curtains and spoke. "It's a full house out there."
"I am so excited about it." Tenma answered in her maid costume.
"Me too! Like real superstars!" Mikoto told her.
"Hey, can I have your "autograph"? Megumi teased them.
They all laughed but Eri's mind was not with them. Akira noticed it and asked her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Akira Kun...nothing."
"Relax. Take it easy and act natural." Akira pats her shoulders and smiled.
"Relax...sure." Eri reluctantly answered.
At the other corner, the guys were waiting for the cue.
Sora keeps looking at Eri with a concerned look and mind what she said before.
"Hey, did anybody see Ryuuhei?" Asou asked the others.
"No, I didn't." Harima replied.
The others also nodded too.
"That's funny...he was supposed to be here wearing the monster suit."
"Look, there he is!" Hanai pointed at a clumsy looking monster costume walking toward them.
"You're late, Ryuuhei!" Asou scolded him and slapped the head.
Ryuuhei didn't reply and kept quiet.
"Anyway, remember your role. You're supposed to held Eri hostage and Sora will come and beat you." Asou told him and the monster just nodded.
"Okay, everyone! It's show time!" Akira announced to them.
A bell rang and everyone got into position.
Madoka started narrating the story on a mike.
"Once upon a time, a prince from a faraway place came to this country, searching for a beautiful girl to be his bride."
Sora entered the stage with Harima and Asou as his followers.
"Oh, where can I find this beautiful maiden to be my true love?"
"Over there, my prince. Over here, my prince." Harima and Asou answered.
Tenma and the rest of the girls entered the stage, getting into their roles.
"Oh, handsome prince. How I wish that I am your beloved." The girls said to Sora.
"No. All are not perfect for me. Oh, is there any maiden worthy for a prince?" Sora asked.
The stage went dark and a spotlight shone on Eri who is dressed in the most beautiful gown ever.
"Oh, my fair maiden. May I know your name?" Sora approached Eri and held her hand.
"My name is Erica and I am a princess in this fair kingdom." Eri answered.
"Oh, a beautiful name fitting for such a fair maiden such as you. My heart felt in love with you the moment I looked at your eyes." Sora escorted her and they began to dance when the lightings came out.
As they were dancing, Akira, who was backstage, noticed Yakumo, Sara and Itoko in the audiences. She smiled to herself and continued to watch their performance.
The lightings went off and the sounds of thunder shook the stage. Out came Ryuuhei in his monster costume and held Eri hostage.
"Princess Erica!" Sora was pushed to the ground by the "monster".
"Prince Sora!" Eri answered as the "monster" held her tighter.
"Hey, easy there, Ryuuhei San." Eri whispered into the monster's ears.
"I am not Ryuuhei either." The monster whispered back to her.
Eri was shocked by the reply. If this is not Ryuuhei in the suit, then who is it?
Akira sensed something amiss from the performance. The way the "monster" holding Eri is different from the way they rehearsal.
"Something is not right here." Akira said.
"Akira San!"
Akira turned around to see Nagayama Toki carrying...
"Suga Ryuuhei!" Akira called his name.
She immediately tends to him and asked. "What happened? Who is in that costume now?"
Ryuuhei's face was covered in bruises but managed to whisper the name of his attacker to Akira's ears.
"What?" Akira couldn't believe who it was.
At this moment, the audiences were getting excited. Akira looked at the stages and saw the "monster" was pushing off Sora.
"This is not in the script!" Sora sensing amiss and noticed Eri is in pain.
"Who are you, you fiend?" Sora pointed his sword at the "monster".
The "monster" immediately throws Eri onto the ground and removed his costume in a flash!
"Why...you're Yoshidayama!" Sora now knew who his attacker was!
"I won't let you have Eri! She is mine! And Mine alone!" Yoshidayama grabbed Eri by the wrist and she felt the hard pressure being applied to her.
"Let her go, Yoshi San!" Sora shouted to him.
"Stay back! Or she get it!" Harry pointed a sharp blade onto Eri's neck.
Everyone backstage was stunned by the turn of events. The audience thought that it was part of the act and continued to be engrossed by it.
"What're we going to do?" Tenma asked Akira.
"That Idiot! Using Eri as a hostage!" Harima wanting to come out and stop them but Sora gave the international signal of stop and decided to play along.
"Look, Yoshi San. We can talk this out. Just let Eri go. This is between you and me.
"Shut up! You're in no position to bargain with me!" Yoshidayama pushing the blade onto Eri and she started to feel scared.
"Sora Kun." Eri's eyes beg him to save her.
"Hold on, Eri. I'm coming to save you." He ensured her that it'll be all right.
"Sora...please." Her heart begs him to be careful.
"Throw off your weapon!" Yoshidayama ordered him.
Sora threw his sword onto the ground.
"Now I want you to go on your knees." Sora slowly went on his knees. His eyes looked at Yoshidayama and Eri as he is waiting for an opening.
When Sora went down, Yoshidayama came closer to him and finally with a raise of his sword, he yelled to him.
"Now you die!"
"Sora!" Eri screamed his name.
Suddenly, a loud bang was heard and to everyone's surprise, Yoshidayama collapsed, releasing Eri from his arms.
Eri immediately hugged Sora and everyone cheered for them.
"What just happened?" Tenma asked.
"Beats me, but who care!" Mikoto answered.
"That was close!" Karen let out a sign.
"I wondered what happened." Harima wondered and Akira looked around the theater and noticed a figure holding a long object sitting on the roof.
Akira smiled and the figure placed his object into a suitcase and spoke.
"This is for making Ojou Sama happy during her times of unhappiness."
The figure then vanished into the crowd.
The audiences stood up and applauded to Sora and Eri who then realize that they are now hugging each other! They immediately broke the embrace in embarrassment.
"You did it, Sora Kun!" Tenma called to him and the rest of the cast came in and took a bow in front of the audiences.
The curtains went down and Akira quickly carried Yoshidayama backstage with some questions in her mind when he wakes up. Tenma and the girls asked Eri about her close shave while Harima gave a manly hug for Sora for protecting Eri. The two leads looked at each other and show a small smile.
That night, the school committee organized a bonfire dance in the school and everyone were welcome to join in. Tenma dances with Harima while Mikoto and the rest of the class joined in too. Sora spotted Eri sitting alone at a corner. He approached her slowly and saw some of the guys are offering her to dance.
"Maybe I should go home." Sora then turned around.
"Sora Kun!"
He heard Eri calling out to him. He turned around and Eri was standing in front of him.
"Eri Kun?"
She immediately took his hand and joined in the dance.
Sora was loss of words but continued to dance with her.
"Eri Kun?" He asked again.
"Well, I rejected everyone and choose you to be my dancing partner!"
"I should be honored." He smiled.
Eri kept quiet for a moment and spoke.
"Just let me be with you for this moment."
They continued to dance on and after a while, the music changed to a slow number. Everyone began to hold each other and slow danced.
Sora and Eri followed suit and she tried to avoid looking at Sora's eyes.
"Remember what I said about if any guy chooses me as their lead, I will reject them."
"I do. You said that you will give your first kiss to someone special."
"In the end, we never did kiss in the play." Eri answered back.
Suddenly Tenma and Harima accidentally knocked Eri from behind and they both fell to the ground! The last thing Sora saw was Fuyuki Takeichi taking a snap shot of them before falling.
Takeichi took a look at the image in his digital camera and it revealed Eri's lips peaking on Sora's cheek.
The next thing Takeichi realized was Eri and Sora chasing after him and ordering him to delete the image…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Auth's notes: Yes, the first of the spilt routes starting my fav blonde Eri! As you can see, Eri is showing a love and hate thing for Sora so how things work out? Read on...
Update: As Someone told me that Harry shouldn't be the villain of this chapter as his character is too "cool" get involved in Tougou's Schemes, so I decided to change it to Yoshidayama as he is one of those guys want to keep Eri for keeps...