**Hey peeps~! I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is the final chapter ;AA; noooooo, I was getting into this and all. The epic journey is soon coming to a close. Weh! And it's my longest one as well, loleth**
Sakura's POV
"Kura-chan, what's the answer to question seventeen?" Rin hissed in my ear. We're in... I think its July now. And it was a Biology test. What a great have a good last day present, huh? I can see why no-one likes Mr. Bridges.
"It's b." I muttered. Rin gave me thumbs up. She looked like she was gonna crack from the pressure of the test. I find it a bit easy, to be honest. I was on the last question when Aunt Sora came in.
"May I borrow Akiyama for a few minutes?" She said. Mr. Bridges blinked in surprise.
"B-But Ms. Fawn, Sakura's in a middle of a test –" Mr. Bridges said. Everyone turned their heads to me. And cue the sudden blushing of my face.
"Akiyama, as you very well know, would be able to do this kind of test in her sleep. I would not be surprised if she has already finished this test." Aunt Sora said bluntly. I answered the last answer discretely. Mr. Bridges looked at Aunt Sora exasperatedly.
"This test has been made up of college questions. It would take a while to complete –" He said smugly.
"Err, sir, I've already finished it." I said sheepishly, raising my hand. Mr. Bridges stared at me with wide eyes.
"I told you so, James. Akiyama, bring your bag with you. You will not be returning to your class." Aunt Sora said, smirking at Mr. Bridges. I packed my things, got up from my seat, handed my completed test to Mr. Bridges, and followed Aunt Sora out of the classroom.
"I expect that you know why I called for you, Sakura." Aunt Sora said, leading me to the Music room.
"It's about the music competition, isn't it?" I asked.
It's a long story. After leaving the hospital, Aunt Sora told me that she signed me up for a music competition, competing with some of the best musical schools in the world. I had to send a video entry of myself singing a song. I chose one of Miku's songs, Rolling Girl. Aunt Sora told me that I was picked immediately. Then I had to sing another song, which the stupid judges chose for me, which was, waiting for it... it was S&M by Rihanna... Yeah, it was pretty awkward. It's a good song, but not the song for me to be honest. And now, Aunt Sora was probably gonna tell me I didn't get through.
"You are one of the finalists for the final tomorrow." Aunt Sora said. I knew I wasn't gonna – wait what?
"You get to pick a song of your choice. I suggest a slow song; all you have been doing it upbeat and fast songs." Aunt Sora said.
"No." I blurted.
"I beg your pardon?" Aunt Sora said in surprise.
"Aunt Sora, it's the school prom tomorrow. I promised L- my date, that I was gonna go with him." I said. I was supposed to go to the prom with Len; it was an important priority for me. And we have to keep me and Len very hush-hush. Or else the paparazzi will never leave us alone.
"I do apologize, Sakura. You knew what you was signed up for. You have to tell your date that you have other events to attend to." Aunt Sora said bluntly.
"Aunt Sora, I can't. I made a promise." I whined.
"I am sorry, Sakura. But you are to attend the final. Meet me at the theatre tomorrow at eight thirty in the morning. We will be there all day. It starts at ten, and you will stay until they announce the winner. I am sorry, Sakura," Aunt Sora said, patting my shoulder as the bell went. "That is my final word." Then she walked out of the room. I was left standing in my own thoughts. How could she be so... selfish? It's not fair. I walked out of the Music room. Everyone's running out of their classes, whooping and cheering. I walk up to my locker and empty it out.
"Hey, Kura-chan, Miku and I are gonna go get our prom dresses. You wanna come with us?" Rin asked from besides me, opening her own locker. Miku was emptying her locker as well.
"I can't go to the prom tomorrow." I muttered. Rin's eyes widened.
"But, but why?" She asked, appalled. Miku looked at me. SO I told them everything, from the start of the competition to how I had to go tomorrow.
"... and I'm gonna be there for the whole day." I finished. Rin and Miku glanced at each other.
"Can't you like, I dunno, postpone it?" Rin asked. I shrugged my shoulders.
"W-Well, maybe, maybe you could be the first act. Then you can leave early." Miku said hopefully.
"I have to stay. I need to stay until the end of the competition." I said. Miku face-palmed herself suddenly, and Rin frowned at me.
"What're we gonna do?" Rin groaned.
~The Next Day~
8:58 PM
Sakura kept glancing at the clock. The prom started almost two hours ago, and she was still stuck in the theatre. She knew what she was gonna sing: Last Night, Good Night by Miku. She was wearing a white ball gown with a gold sash around her waist. She had a little jewelled cherry blossom (Oh sweet irony, she thought to herself) in her hair. She wore a gold necklace with a little heart that Len bought her when she got out of hospital. She never took it off. After this person sang some Kelly Clarkson song, it would be another guy's turn, who'd be singing a Justin Bieber song, which would be hell for Sakura. Aunt Sora walked up to her.
"Sakura, Sara is in the audience. I know you did not want your mom to come," Aunt Sora started in reply to Sakura's furious face, "but it is going to be alright. She even brought Dylan along." That made Sakura even more furious. It was bad enough that Mom was here, but Dylan? All she knew was that it was gonna be a very long night.
Len was standing outside the school, seeing that it was too hot. Rin had told him that Sakura was doing some kind of singing competition, and that she couldn't make it. Len didn't mind. He knew Sakura like the back of his hand. He knew she wasn't doing this on purpose. He was wearing a pearly white suit with a yellow bowtie and black shoes.
"Hey there, good looking." Diane said. Len closed his eyes. Oh God no, he thought to himself. He turned around. Diane was wearing a green mini dress, and dark satin green pumps.
"Oh, it's just you, Diane." Len muttered.
"Akiyama ditch you at the last minute? Yeah, she finds it fun to do that. Luckily for you, I don't ditch a guy." Diane said, grabbing Len's arm. Len pulled it out of her grasp.
"And unfortunately for you, I don't like you." Len snapped. Diane looked taken aback. Then she laughed.
"Oh please, Len. If she really cared for you, then she'd be here." Diane sneered. Len glared at her darkly. Suddenly, he didn't want to be at the prom. Where was Sakura performing again? Ah yes, Len thought, the Montague Theatre ten minutes away. He might miss her song though, with Diane acting the way she was. She was a lot like a leech.
"Hey, listen. Maybe you're right about Sakura. Why don't you go inside? I'll come in after." Len said of the top of his head. Diane looked shocked. Then she smiled brightly at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"I knew you'd come around eventually." She said. She turned around and walked back inside the school. Len looked around. There was a cycling bike outside the school gates. It would take at least five minutes to get to the theatre by bike.
8:05 PM
"And now, Akiyama, Sakura, singing Last Night, Good Night, by Hatsune Miku." The presenter said on the stage. Sakura's heart was beating in her throat. Aunt Sora patted her on the shoulder for another time.
"Good luck, Sakura. You can win this." Aunt Sora said eagerly. Sakura knew why she wanted her to win. First place would receive $10,000 for their school, and a place at a new performing arts summer camp in the country. Sakura attached the microphone ear piece to her cherry blossom clip. Straighten her dress and hair, and walked onto the stage. She couldn't see the audience because it was that dark, but she could see Mom and Dylan at the front.
"Saku! Saku! I wuv wou!" Dylan giggled, waving his fat hands at her. The judges awed at him. Sakura laughed a little. The audience clapped as the presenter walked off the stage. Sakura could see a camera in the far corner of the room. She swallowed. She turned her head. The band was staring at her, waiting for their signal. She nodded at them. The pianist started playing. Then it was the drums. Then Sakura started sing.
"Suya-suya yume wo miteru. Kimi no yoko-gao. Kizuka-zu, kobreta namida." Sakura sang. She was starting to feel more comfortable on the stage, more confident.
"Hohowo tsutau. SE-TSU-NA no toki-meki wo. Kono mune ni kakushi-teta no." Sakura took a deep breath.
"Last Night, Good Light! Last Night, Good Night!" Sakura sang. The audience started to cheer. They all knew who the clear winner was, it was so blazingly obvious. This girl glowed while she sang, she literally glowed, and she looked like she was emitting a white glow. And her voice was, well, they didn't know how to describe it. It was pure, clean. She was able to overpower the band, hit the high notes without any effort.
Len had reached the outside of the theatre to hear wild cheers. He jumped off the bike, and placed it on the side of the wall. He'd return it... eventually. He opened the door to the theatre. It was like any other theatre. He looked at a door, where the cheers were coming from. He caught a glimpse of himself in the glass window. His suit was still clean, just a little bit creased. Len put his hand in his pocket. He brought out a little box and opened it. Inside it was a silver ring, with a sapphire in the shape of a love heart in the centre of it. Len smiled to himself. Sakura was gonna have two surprises. He put the lid on the box and tucked it in his pocket. Len approached the door, and pushed it open softly.
Some people stared at him with wide eyes. Some stared with their mouths open. Some actually pointed at Len. But he paid no attention to them. His breath was taken away when he saw Sakura singing, wearing a simple, yet elegant white ball gown. Her hair was wavy, and it reached her chest. She had a jeweled cherry blossom in her hair, a microphone ear piece attached to it.
"SA YO NA RA wa ienai yo. Last Night, Good Night! Last Night, Good Night!" Sakura sang, placing a hand on her chest. Len was overcome by sudden cheering. Her voice was perfect, even better than Miku. She had the beautiful, natural voice. She sounded just like Miku as well, but Sakura's voice was more emotional in Len's opinion. He started walking down the aisle. People gasped as he walked down. He stopped halfway, and put his hands in his pockets. Sakura looked at him. Her eyes widened. Then she smiled as she sang.
"Yozora ni negau no. Tokiwa no egao wo." Sakura sang, walking down the stage side steps. Len walked towards her. They were face to face after. Sakura grabbed Len's hand. She was trying to say "There are cameras and reporters here." But Len put his hand on her cheek, smiling at her.
"OYASUMI." Sakura sang. The band played out. The audience were cheering, all standing on their feet. Len smiled at her again.
Then he kissed her. The cheering was louder now, and some people were whooping in joy. Sakura could hear camera shutters clicking away. But Len didn't pull away; in fact, he held her closer to him. When he stopped kissing after what seem like millenniums, Len was beaming.
"I don't care if they find out. I want everyone to know that I love you." Len said. He was saying it to her yes, but he was also saying it in Sakura's microphone. He wanted everyone to know. He didn't care if the paparazzi knew about them being together. As long as Sakura was by his side, he'd be able to face the paparazzi with a smile. Sakura smiled at him, a tear rolling down her cheek. She kissed him on the lips, and the crowd was cheering louder than ever. Sakura pulled away, grabbed Len's hand, and pulled him along onto the stage. Some school girls were screaming hysterically as Sakura and Len disappeared from sight.
8:30 PM
All the contestants (and Len) were called onto the stage, one by one. Sakura was trembling a little bit. All the teachers were standing with their student, but Ms. Fawn wanted Len to take Sakura on stage. The girls stared at Sakura with envy, the boys glared at Len with envy as well. The presenter, a man with curly blonde hair with hazel eyes, wearing the same suit as Len, pulled out an envelope from his pocket.
"All of the contestants have performed to the best of their ability. But now, it's time to choose are three top stars." The man said pleasantly. The man opened the envelope, and pulled out a gold-ish coloured piece of paper.
"In third place, winning $1000 for them is... Miss. Natalie Cartmen, who sang Rolling in the Deep, congratulations!" The man said. The audience clapped as a girl walked out of the line. She had chocolate coloured skin with long black hair with two side braids, wearing a dark green ballerina dress. A blonde woman gave her a bronze medal and a bunch of flowers.
"In second place, winning $5000 is... Miss. Hatty Steed, who sang World is Mine!" The man read, off smiling. Hatty had brown hair that was in two ponytails with brown eyes, wearing a black dress that reached her knees. The blonde woman from before gave her a small, silver trophy that had a medium sized bouquet.
"And now, in first place, winning $10,000 and a place at the new performing arts summer camp "Virtuoso," is..." There was a pause. Sakura squeezed Len's hand and closed her eyes. She just wanted to get it all over and done with.
"Sakura Akiyama, singing Last Night, Good Night!" The man said. Sakura's eyes shot open. She felt her face got red, but she was able to smile a little bit. The crowd was cheering at her, whooping and yelling. Len hooked her waist with his arm.
"You had first place in your hands." Len laughed. Sakura started laughing. The blonde woman gave Sakura a large bouquet, a gold trophy and a kind of ticket, and placed a small tiara on her head. Len put his hand in his pocket, and brought out the box with the ring in it. He opened the box and tapped Sakura's arm. She turned to him, a large smile on her face. She saw the ring in his hand. Her eyes widened. Len smiled, grabbed her left hand and put the ring on her middle finger. Sakura flung her arms around Len's neck, still holding her prizes. She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, Len." She whispered. Len wrapped his arms around her waist.
8:45 PM
Sakura and Len were able to enjoy the rest of the school prom together. They rushed up the school steps and reached the school gym. The two of them walked in, some people stared at them.
"Now, let's dance to the last song, people. Everyone grab a partner and just slow dance." The DJ said smoothly.
"C'mon, it's the last song." Len muttered, leading Sakura to the centre of the dance. He grabbed her right hand, and placed her left hand on his shoulder. He placed his other hand on Sakura waist. The song started playing.
She's got a baby inside, and holds her belly tight, all through the night...
"I love this song!" Sakura sighed as she and Len started dancing.
"What's it called? I've never heard of it before." Len said.
"It's called Capri. It's by Colbie Caillat." Sakura replied, resting her head on Len's chest. She could hear his heartbeat: it was soothing; it made Sakura feel a lot more at ease. Len rested his chin on the top of her head.
... things will be hard at times, but I've learned to try, just listening patiently...
"I've got another surprise for you, Sakura." Len muttered. Sakura looked up at him.
"You know that summer camp you're going to?" Len asked. Sakura added.
"My mom had already booked me a place. So it'd just be me and you this summer." Len said, his eyes twinkling. That was a surprise for Sakura. A happy surprise. A very happy surprise. She kissed him on the lips softly for a while.
"I can't wait." She whispered. Len smiled at her. He kissed her on the lips, the two of them lost in the kiss.
... oh, Capri, you're beauty, just like your mother, that's carryin'. Oh, Capri...
Rin was slow-dancing with Akaito, eavesdropping on Len and Sakura, Miku and Kaito slow-dancing next to her.
"Did you hear what I hear?" Miku whispered, loud enough for just Rin to hear. Rin nodded deviously.
"Well, you know what this means, Miku?" Rin asked. Miku shook her head. Rin smiled.
"We're going to summer camp." Rin said, glancing at Len and Sakura. Hey, she couldn't leave Len with her best friend. She'd miss perfect camera oppurtunities.
