A/N: Hiya minna! Sumi masen for not updating this chapter sooner. I got too carried away with my school life and I got the lazy bug in me. Hehehe. Sorry… anyway the chapter is up and so, be ready to read!!!

Standard disclaimers applied. So don't be itchy and sue me.

Blooming Rhapsody

Chapter Four: Racer

Patches of silver hair gleamed underneath the sunlight as an old man with spectacles walked into class. With a flick of his wrist, the door to class 2-10 snapped closed. In a moment, the class was silent.

The rim of his spectacles glinted as the sensei scanned through the class, making sure that everyone was present and awake for his class. The sensei was equally shocked when a certain red head was staring back at him with bored eyes. The sensei had expected him to drool on his table, not awake. After all, Sakuragi Hanamichi never fails to sleep in class.

"I'm going to return your papers today. As usual, the top three student names would be called out and share with the class, their studying skills. Also please be reminded that the marks would be entered in your report cards and signed by your parents," the sensei addressed.

Sakuragi toyed with his pen as the teacher, one by one, returned the papers to the respected owners. The question were, too easy in fact that after doing and checking his work five times, he instantaneously fell asleep. It took him forty-five minutes to solve the two hours paper.

"Mi-kun, who do you think is the highest?"

Sakuragi snapped out of reverie and tried to calm his racing heart. "I don't know. Perhaps it is Tsubame-san again," he shrugged. Why does his heart keep racing every time Hotaru talks to him?

"And now, the names of the top three students, Tsubame, Hotaru," the sensei called out. Instantly the beaming girls stepped out to the front to call their papers.

"The top student for the test is…" The sensei's eyes bulged out as he read the scribbled name. It can't be true!

Yohei watched along with the rest of the entire class as his mathematics teacher flips the paper again and again. Getting bored of waiting, Yohei turned to his best friend. "Sakuragi, what's your mark?"

"I don't know. I haven't got it yet. I bet the megane-jiji had used it as a toilet paper," Sakuragi joked. Both guys laughed at the lighthearted joke.

Masaka! It is true! Disbelieved, the sensei slowly read out the top student's name. 'The top student is… Sakuragi Hanamichi."

Immediately all the discussion, small talks and laughter ended at the announcement. Everyone was shocked at the announcement. Well except for three people. Almost everyone couldn't believe that the worst student who always got below ten and even zero could be a top student.

"Ganbatte Mi-kun! I knew you could do it! Go Mi-kun!" Hotaru cheered at the beaming self-proclaimed basketball tensai.

Soft whispers of doubtful questions started as Sakuragi sauntered across the room to the front. Side-glances was also added. Taking the paper, a small smile played at his lips. Yosh! 100 out of 100! Just as he had expected. At least he knew all the late night study in the library had paid off.

Hotaru exchanged marks Sakuragi and was pleased to find that he had scored full marks. "Sugoi Mi-kun! I could never be as good as you are. Not only are you a basketball tensai, you are also a mathematics tensai."

Sakuragi blushed beetroot at her praises. The sensei cleared his throat for attention and soon Tsubame shared her secrets to her success. After her Hotaru followed suit.

"Now it is Hanamichi-kun's turn. All of us must be very eager to listen to his miraculous success in becoming a top student." The sensei eyed Sakuragi challengingly.

Not deterred by even a small inch, Sakuragi eyed the attentive class and words flowed from his mouth. "As you would have known, I'm always the lowest scorer in every subject and also the ruler of dreamland. Yeah I know how humorous I looked drooling or snoring on my cozy desk. Anyway the point that I am making is that never underestimate a person."

Sakuragi paused and gave the sensei a challenging stare before continuing. "Just because he looks and act stupid doesn't mean he is. In fact the person might just be someone of great status in the future. The key to it is study hard and play hard. Arigatou."

If one were to scrutinize carefully at the teacher, one would have noticed the vague smoke coming out of his ears. A resounding cheer echoed through the lonely hallway as the student of class 2-10 cheered for a certain red haired tensai.

With a calculated jump, the ball swished into the net. Akagi watched in awe at the magnificent sight before him. Only six months the ex-brawler entered the club and he already had ruled the game and outshines other well-known players. Akagi felt a sense of pride swell up in his chest when he realized that all of his hard work and confidence on the red head player had not run dry.

"Akagi senpai! I didn't notice you were here!" The former captain of Japan's second most powerful basketball team turned around.

"Sumanu Ayako-san. I finished my classes early today and I thought to drop by for a little while."

"How is your studies in the university, Akagi-kun?" a familiat voice spoke, making, Akagi turned around and executed a perfect bow.

"Anzai-sensei. I'm doing fine in the university, sensei," Akagi answered once he straightened himself.

Ayako looked at her watch and blew the whistle. Immediately all practices and game ended. The manager of the team watched as the players walked towards the benches before a voice called out.

"Ayako-san!" a raven-haired girl with violet eyes called out.

"Come here to meet the self-proclaimed tensai again, Hotaru?" the manager teased.

A faint blush tainted the pale skin. "Ie. Its not what it seem…"

"Daijoubu Hotaru. Sakuragi is there. You don't want him to be worried, ne?" Ayako cut off as she winked slyly at her blushing friend.

"I guess a lot of things had occurred during my absence," Akagi thought out loud as he eyed the quiet looking girl smiling at the red haired tensai.

"You can say that again," Ayako smiled as she hands out the next practice schedule to Ryota.

Sakuragi wiped the sweat on his neck with his face towel. Hanging it loosely around his neck, he turned at the direction where Mitsui was smirking.

"Mi-kun!" It was simple cheerful greeting but it gave a great impact on the red head. It brightened up his day.

"Hotaru," the ever so sexy full lips quipped upwards.

"My lessons had just ended and I was thinking…"

"Daijoubu Hotaru. I'll accompany you home." Sakuragi watched the poor an adorable girl fights the urge to blush.

Sakuragi took a step closer and felt the familiar adrenaline running through him every time he is near her. "Just give me a moment to pack all right firefly? Then we can go anywhere you want." He unconsciously traced a finger on her cheek.

From a far end of the court, a group of people smiled and snickered. "I suppose I had to cancel her name off my list," Mitsui sighed as he smiled at the two different people who are in the world of their own.

At that moment, Haruko entered the gym and almost immediately frowned at the sight before her.

Soft music reverberated around the comforting room. Drawing her knees closer, Hotaru snuggled deeper into the posh sofa. A dainty finer turned a page of a novel. Who would have thought that a fragile, quiet and innocent looking beauty could destroy a planet with a flick of her glaive? The senshi of death and destruction is no other than the high school student, Hotaru.

"I wonder how Haruka is faring in the race. He should have finished by now," a dark green haired woman thought out loud.

"I hope he got first. But I think it is tough since the new rookie entered the race," Hotaru commented behind her book.

After a while, the main door clicked open. A clam teal haired woman and a flustered sandy haired man entered the living room.

Haruka threw himself on an armchair while Michiru leisurely settled herself into the opposite armchair. "He got second again."

Steam lingered above the prepared drink and slowly diminished. Setting the hot cocoa drink on a coffee table, Setsuna smiled. "He got beaten by him again."

"It's the fourth time in a row." Michiru nodded as she nursed her drink.

"He is good, very good. The best racer I had ever seen in a fact. For that I respect him and I am proud to have raced him." Everyone looked at the flustered man who is now calm.

"Wow! That was his first logical sentence since the race had ended," Muchiru commented in wry amusement.

"Chigau. He is the only racer that didn't disclose anything about himself. His looks, his age and even his real name is unknown.:

"Hotaru is right. He is mysterious. The only thing we know is his screen name, Lightning Falcon. Can just imagine what a storm it would be if the reporters could get a thing about him."

Haruka eyed his ruby-eyed friend. "At least I know he is a friendly chap. A humorous one to be exact."

All eyes were on the racer suddenly. "How did you know?"

"I was at the changing room when he started a friendly chat. Anyway I am tired and I deserve a good rest. If you ladies would excuse me, my bed is calling." With that all conversation on the mysterious racer ended.

Above the busy live of Tokyo, soft breeze blew against the Tokyo Tower. Perched on the tower, five figures watched the people bustle through Tokyo's nightlife.

Silver eyes glowed like the stars above as the only lady in the group tucked a strand of her Aqua with silver streaked hair. "The awakening is near."

Calloused hand stopped scribbling abruptly. Glancing around, Sakuragi eyed his surroundings. All of the readers in the reference section are either busy with their research or their book. Chigau! He had thought someone had called him.

Taking a last glance, he resumed scribbling down his notes.

@---}@-----}

A/N: At last!!! I got this chapter done. So how do you think this chapter is? My hands got a little itchy and I think I'm gonna let you guys read the first paragraph of chapter five. Yes and I'm not kidding… just scroll down!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 5 sneak preview

The ground was littered with bodies and stained with blood. A man with flaming red hair and matching ruby eyes stood at the center of the carnage with a bright blue light glowing around him. His body, face and arms were scarred and blood could be seen oozing out of the large wounds. It was obvious that he had been in a fight.

The fighter was clad in a dark blue sleeveless body-fitting suit that hugged to his body and in return brought out a nice contrast of his muscular body. Navy blue knee length booths and silver shiny belt that had a strange crest hug loosely around his lean hips. The crest which had a lightning blue falcon drawn with phoenix wings surrounding it was similar to the tattoo the fighter had on his left arm.

A silver falcon perched on his left shoulder was staring intently on something. Suddenly it let out an ear piercing sound.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

want more? Stay tuned to the next chapter…lol