+ Into the Façade +

In the world where the boundaries between acting and living fade, life becomes confused… unreal… and almost as if imagination had taken over reality… The façade goes into place and life then becomes a living stage.

Ryoma stepped into the room, watching his reflections once again dance along the mirrors, brilliantly and distinctively. Automatically, he eyes swiveled to the seat where Tezuka was, looking over a stack of papers.

Golden-green eyes studied his teacher's profile intently- the cold and stern gaze that was directed at the papers, the long slender fingers that swiftly turned the corners of each page and the thin tight lips that was turned down into a frown… they brought back memories…

He had not changed much… Ryoma mused silently.

"Class quickly settled down please." Tezuka's voice startled him and quickly, he followed Eiji to take a seat on the floor after the classes had greeted Tezuka.

"As you know, we had a diagnostic test yesterday and I have analysed and grouped each of you into various groups of different capabilities. This way, each one of you can learn from each other, be it whether it is the weaker ones learning from the stronger ones or vice versa. Now then, when I call out your names, please sit next to the number cards that are placed around the room."

At this, Ryoma noticed the white cards with different numbers boldly written on each one.

"Arisato Miyu, group 2…"

Ryoma tuned out, closing his eyes as he allowed his mind to drift of, patiently waiting for his name to be called…

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Fuji Yuuta sat there, constantly eyeing the green-haired youth.

"Ora? Something caught your eye Yuuta-kun? Don't be looking at other guys now that Mizuki is not here."

"Shut up Sengoku!"

"Ara ara… you're blushing. Ooh? It's the Echizen kid whom you were looking at? I thought you didn't like him?"

"I don't… But Aniki appears interested…"

"Your Aniki? The famous Fuji Syuusuke? Lucky! He must really be important then."

Yuuta turned away, staring at his hands.

"He did take away Mizuki-kun's role though…"

"Ooh… acting like the jealous boyfriend already?"

"Sen-go-ku…" Yuuta seethed out through gritted teeth.

"Hai hai. Gomen. I'll stop I'll stop."

"Fuji Yuuta, group 3…."

Sengoku grinned as Yuuta stood up. "Well, bye bye Yuuta-kun. Have fun."

Chapter 008 – Starting Afresh

By fannychan

Ryoma stared idly at the white number card, gently trailing his fingers along its outline.

"Ne ne Echizen-kun, isn't it lucky that I finally get to meet you?"

Ryoma's eyes slanted to one side, glaring at the intruder in annoyance.

"Who are you anyway?"

Sengoku grinned.

"Class 2B, Sengoku "lucky" Kyosumi at your service Echizen Ryoma-kun. Ara, you are famous aren't you, chosen by our very own number one Fuji Syuusuke ne?"

Ryoma didn't bother to reply, face already slightly tilted the other way.

"Okay, now everybody should be in their respective groupings. The list will be pasted outside of the classroom until you get yourself familiarized with each other. Let us now begin.

I'm sure most of you are well acquainted with each other but out of habit's sake, why don't I give you all a few minutes to know each other better. I'll have to leave the classroom for a while so please don't make any noise until I get back."

Tezuka turned to leave but paused before looking at the class, or rather, two classes again.

"Would Ibu Shinji-kun of class 2A take charge while I'm gone?"

The class chairperson of 2A, Ibu Shinji, stood up. "Hai Tezuka-sensei."

With that, Tezuka walked out of the room.

"It's rather unusual of Tezuka-sensei to leave the class in the middle of a lesson… hmm… very suspicious. Anyway, I'll start the introduction for the sake the new transfer student, Echizen Ryoma-kun. I'm Choutaro Ootori from Class 2A, nice to meet you." The grey-hair person smiled pleasantly at Ryoma, who stared back curiously, wondering why he never noticed this classmate of his.

"Shishido Ryo," the person beside Ootori fixed his eyes on Ryoma, "class 2B."

"Mou Shishido-san. Please don't glare. It scares people," Ootori said, smiling.

"Hmph." But no one missed the gentleness that was evident in the eyes of Shishido Ryo…

"Class 2A, Kamio Akira." Kamio inclined his head slightly.

"I'm Kikumaru Eiji, class 2A," Eiji chirped enthusiastically, grinning at Ryoma. "Yoroshiku."

"Sengoku Kyosumi, Class 2B. A pleasure to be here."

"And you conveniently left out you being the class monitor eh, Sengoku?" Shishido remarked off-handedly.

Sengoku shrugged. "It isn't of much importance anyway."

Ootori turned to look at Ryoma.

"And we all know this is Echizen Ryoma-kun, class 2A ne? Yoroshiku."

Ryoma stared hesistantly at the hand, knowing that now, he is merely getting deeper and deeper into creating a bond with this school… but returning the handshake, he uttered, "Hai, Yoroshiku," quietly.

The door was then pushed open, and Tezuka stepped in silently, his eyes contemplative and focused.

"I apologise for the delay. We will now resume the lesson. Based on yesterday's results, I have worked out a lesson plan. In the first term, we would focus mainly on proper pronunciation and facial expressions which I believe most of you unconsciously missed out and these are also the greatest flaw to commit. Next term would be on hand gestures and poise. For the following two terms we would be combining these techniques into a performance and, working on bringing life to a character, we would top it off with the annual performance at the end of the year. I hope you all would be mentally and physically prepared as though these may sound rather basic, however, it is very vital for a successful actor. Next year, you would be going through higher levels of training hence it is important for you all to get your foundations set right.

Okay, please pick a representative amongst yourself to hand out these worksheets on some English terms that are most commonly used yet usually mispronounced."

Unanimously, group 4 chose Sengoku Kyosumi as their representative.

With a sigh, the orange-haired student stood up slowly, taking long strides purposefully towards Tezuka-sensei before grasping the paper within his fingers and carrying them back to the group.

"Hmm… let's see… Pro-noun-ci-a-tion," Eiji enunciated, scrutinizing the white sheet of paper as if it was written in some language that was in a long-forgotten tongue.

"Pro-nun-ci-a-tion, Kikimaru-kun," Ryoma muttered involuntarily.

"Eh? Sugoi Echizen-kun. English sounded so natural on you. I always had trouble with it," Eiji laughed.

"My family had been living in America until six years ago where we came to Japan."

"Sou… interesting Echizen-kun," Sengoku said with a note of curiosity. "Isn't it a coincidence that our principal, Echizen-sensei, happened to come from America as…" Sengoku trailed off at Ryoma's glare.

"Maa, maa you two. Tezuka-sensei speaking. We shouldn't disrupt the lesson ne?" Ootori immediately broke into the conversation before the tension could get any worst.

Ryoma turned away, watching Tezuka fluid hand-movements, the way his mouth spoke such clear and precise English… and once again, Ryoma felt memories washing over him, memories he thought he had kept under lock and key and hid in some deep crevice in his mind, never to be found… but consciously, he forced them back, his mind a blank, and unwaveringly, he stared straight into the eyes of his teacher…

"Ahh… It feels good to stretch again," Eiji commented.

Ryoma didn't say anything, and plopping down on his seat, he stared out of the window. The classroom was more or less cleared out except for the few lingering behind, catching up and gossiping about the happenings of the day.

Then, turning towards his bag that was on the table, he stuffed the set of notes Tezuka-sensei had given them to practice on.

"Okay Echizen-kun. Time for our tour," Eiji grinned widely before dragging Ryoma out of his seat and out of the classroom. "Come on. There's a lot of see and so little time."

"Well? What do you think?"

Ryoma walked slowly into the room, eyes wide with astonishment that such a classroom exists in an acting school.

"What's the use of an astronomy club anyway?"

"Oya oya Echizen-kun. You cannot think so simple-mindedly. Of course it's important. It helps you understand the world of the stars and moon and all this can be as fascinating as it is inspiring. Really, you should try it sometime. Most of the members here are script writers hence mainly female. However, there are a number of guys such as myself who are in this club. So what do you think?"

Ryoma tentatively brushed his fingertips along one of the telescopes that seemed to gaze at something the naked eye cannot see.

"It may be worth considering… but I think I'd rather look at the other clubs before I decide. Isn't there any sports club?"

"Hmm… now that you mention it, I think there is a table tennis club but it is rather obscure as it seems like Echizen-sensei is rather sensitive about the topic of sports. So that particular club has to make sure they are neither seen nor heard." Eiji laughed. "But if it was me, I would rather take on another club rather than play what I like as if I'm some criminal. After all, school is not the only place to play sports."

Ryoma glanced at his wrist, biting his lower lips. Something in what Eiji said touched a nerve but it was best if he did not say anything. It was only his second day here… and he did not want to lose the friend he made here…

Friend huh? Ryoma glanced at Eiji who was turning around to exit the room, babbling excitedly about some club or another.

Slowly, Ryoma pulled away from the telescope and followed Eiji, eyes slightly apprehensive. Maybe looking to the stars in the dead of night, surrounded by millions of tiny sparkles of light amidst the darkness might not seem like too bad an idea after all…

As they left the room, Ryoma glanced down the corridor, absent-mindedly fixing his eyes on the door of the classroom where they held their final lesson of the day- the room with mirrors. Then he looked at the other adjacent rooms, wondering if their interiors were the same as theirs.

"Actually, since we're already at it, why don't I introduce the school to you a little more as well?" Eiji gestured to a door to the right of the astronomy room. "That would be our teachers' temporary headquarters. Temporary as our dear principal actually forgot to build a staff room for this school. He must have been thinking too much about his students. That room was supposed to be our lecture hall but ever since the first day, it has been used as a make-shift staff room. Hence lectures were mostly carried out in the auditorium instead, along with assembly."

Ryoma glanced at the room, frowning at his father's absent-mindedness. He thought he'd change his character if he wanted to try out a venture on his own but then again, a leopard can't easily change its spots can it?

"Okay, I had wanted to ask our beloved chemistry teacher some questions after today's lesson. Why don't you wait here while I quickly head in for a while? Be right back."

Eiji rushed off, disappearing behind the double doors of the lecture hall, or staff room, whichever you wish to call it.

Almost immediately, Ryoma sighed and leaned against the wall. Then he glanced at the astronomy room again. Maybe… just maybe…

"Echizen?" Ryoma started at the sound of his name as well as at the familiar voice, slowly backing away from the source.

"Good afternoon Tezuka-sensei," he muttered, still inching away, hoping that his teacher would just move into the staff room without bothering him yet his gut feeling told him otherwise, especially after yesterday's confrontation.

And his gut feeling proved all too true.

"Echizen, may I have a moment?" Tezuka asked, beckoning him into the staff room.

Ryoma hesitated, but still, he followed obediently. Maybe now I could finally know why…

Eiji glanced up as the door opened before stopping in mid-sentence.

"Echizen-kun?"

His chemistry teacher spun around in her seat. "Oh Echizen Ryoma? Wonder what Tezuka-sensei has with him."

She smiled before turning back. "Now Kikumaru-kun… you were saying?"

Ryoma could never have seen any other more awkward and messy staff room as the one that was laid before his eyes at that very moment. Clusters of papers, piled high, were haphazardly dumped at various strategic locations of the lecture hall, seemingly marking out each teacher's respective territory.

However, teachers which occupied seats at the back of the hall, which was an empty area, looked more like the stereotypical staff room with office desks and proper chairs. They are most likely to be the Heads of Department, Ryoma mused.

Tezuka headed to the far end, where he had a desk which was neatly organized unlike the mass of other teachers, especially those who had made their workspace among the seats in the lecture hall.

Tentatively, Ryoma sat down on the seat. If it was any other student, he would definitely be reminded of a scene where he had to go to the principal's office as he did something bad but for Ryoma, he just felt numb. After all, it wasn't like he was foreign to Tezuka. They had a long history up until five years ago, when he lost two people he had come to respect.

"Echizen, I would like to apologise for the incident yesterday. It was improper of me as a teacher. Hence I think it would be best if we reach a truce if we should ever want to get along in the future. However, I am unfortunately unable to tell you anything concerning my personal decisions that I have made in the past. So it is encouraged that you don't make things more difficult for me than it already is. The tension… can be literally felt in a sense."

Ryoma kept silent, not bothering to protest. They were in front of a horde of other teachers. It wouldn't be good to lose his temper now.

"Echizen, so with it as it is now, do you agree to just settle this? Let bygones be bygones as the saying goes. Whatever had happened had happened. Why don't we just agree to start afresh as you, a student, and me, a teacher?"

Ryoma took in a deep breath, calming his thoughts and viewing the situation in a more objective sense. I guess Tezuka-sensei is more or less right. If I want to get along… I guess I'll just have to settle it for now. But still…

"You did used to be a sensei to me last time as well." Ryoma tone was edged with bitterness. "But I guess I will just have to accept this. However, I hope you grant me the answer to just one question Tezuka-sensei. How did my father… iie… Echizen-sensei find you?"

"He didn't. It was actually all just a coincidence, me working at the school your father built."

Ryoma nodded, unsure on how the conversation was to proceed from here.

"All right. I hope that we are able to get along now Echizen. I'm pleased to be your teacher. You had always been an exceptional student."

Ryoma, startled by the praise looked up at Tezuka to see a slight, subtle smile on his face.

"Arigatou, Tezuka-sensei," Ryoma replied before standing up to find Eiji right behind him.

"Let's go shall we?"

Ryoma shrugged and allowed Eiji to drag him out of the staff room. Then, he remembered the smile that played on Tezuka's lips.

"I will beat you one day."

"Anytime, Ryoma-kun," his trainer smiled softly. "But I don't believe you will beat me either."

Seven-year-old Echizen Ryoma frowned and glanced at the older man, at the brown hair, the glinting spectacles, and the smile that danced upon his lips…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ryoma, Fuji or anyone from POT . … Another two plushies bought… I'm spending more than I should! Haha. Oh and anyone knows what happened in episode 144 and beyond, please tell… I've been wanting to know haha.

Fannychan: Mwahahahahhaha… Okay, I admit I was a little down and out during the last chapter BUT NO MORE! Hehe. Finally the holidays are here… and I err… was slacking off until I thought. Why don't I start the next chapter. And you know what? When I started, the ideas just couldn't stop flowing. This chapter is kinda short. But I thought it was a sweet ending in a way. Well, if you could understand it I mean… haha. And no worries. There is no Tezu/Ryo… at least slight slight hints but the relationship is definitely platonic. Haha… I do like very intimate relationships, touching if you can say the least… especially among family members. Don't ask me why but I really love to write stories that deal with family relationships. Hence all my compostion which I have written were almost, if not all, concerning ties between family members. Weird ah? This whole year too.

Anyway, I guess many will notice the absence of a one Fuji Syuusuke ne? A tensai in tennis and in this fic, acting. But no worries, I'll try to update asap. I'm having fun writing this now. Hope you like it. And oh yes, Fuji will most likely be in the first scene of the next chapter if anything goes along with my plan. Haha… I already typed that part out if you were wondering. But till then, Ja ne!

(Once again, ignore the spelling errors and punctuation mistakes… especially with those direct speeches… haha. But if you are ever so kind, point them out to me k?)

And well, I apologise again for the late update. It has been hectic. And I could only have started recently as, though my hols officially started last week, I have to go back for extra E Lit lessons… so it wasn't really my choice. Then suddenly, when I still didn't feel like starting, I just couldn't stop hehe. I kinda started the next chapter coz' I actually considered putting it here… then thought against it. It just couldn't fit in.

Chibi Fanny: And once again here is the typical ending comment: "Please R&R! Thanks"… Mou /whispers to fannychan/ Can we just pre-record it next time?

Fannychan/shrugs/