Author's note: Thanks for the reviews!
Please do not expect an update soon cause I am not feeling really well lately and am sleeping a lot lately.
I realized how my scenes always seem the same, manager then song and so on. Please do your very best to bear with me!
Enjoy chapter 7 and please review! (Oh my head is starting to fail me…) The reviews really are my soource of strength!
To chidoriochibi: Your pics really spurred me on! This is just anther Christmas prezzie for you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis
Chapter 7: Not You
The National High School Tennis Tournament was scheduled to begin in two weeks time. Hyotei Gakuen had entered the Nationals as runner-up in Tokyo and third in the Kanto region, losing to Seishun Gakuen and Rikkai Dai Fuzoku. Sakuno meanwhile, was preparing her song for the performance.
Principal Sakuji had invited Sakuno back to school to cheer the Hyotei boys' tennis team on. Sakuno attended school for just that day.
Sakuno visited the sakura tree once again. It was becoming her favourite place in school and she knew how to reach there by heart.
"You are going to sing at the Nationals?"
"Oshitari-senpai! Konnichiwa!" Sakuno greeted Yuushi.
"Aren't you busy preparing?" Yuushi asked again.
"Oh! The Principal asked me to cheer the boys' tennis team on! That's why I'm back, just for a day only!" Sakuno replied.
"I see. So you'll be coming down for practice later?" Yuushi asked.
"Hai! Ah, Oshitari-senpai, are you hungry? I made too much food today!" Sakuno shyly offered Yuushi a bento.
"Really? The girls in Hyotei hardly ever make their own bentos!" Yuushi took it from her and tried a tamagoyaki.
"Mm! Delicious!" Yuushi said as he swallowed the food down.
"Arigato!" Sakuno smiled while blushing. She was very much as ease and happy when she was around Yuushi.
Sakuno and Yuushi continued chatting happily under the sakura tree.
The opening of the National High School Tennis Tournament finally came. Schools from all over Japan gathered at the ARENA stadium. There were many familiar faces among them, most from the middle school tennis Nationals. Besides Seigaku, Hyotei and Rikkai, Rokkaku, Yamabuki and St. Rudolph are also representing Kanto.
Hyotei entered the stadium with captain Atobe leading the way. Seigaku followed after them. Ryoma was last in line and yawning all the way.
Sakuno was doing some last minute make-up at backstage. She was very nervous, a reason being she would have to perform to a crowd of over 10,000 which she had never experienced before. Another reason was that she could meet Ryoma once again and so have the chance to do what she had failed to do before.
"Now!" The commentator announced. "To formally kick start the opening of the National High School Tennis Tournament, we shall have the hottest teen idol in Japan, Ryuuzaki Sakuno to bring to us the theme song of this year's tennis Nationals, 'Future'!"
High beats sounded around the stadium. The crowd cheered and applauded. Sakuno went up on stage dressed in tennis wear.
"na mo naki kono bashou de hiraita shoudou no hana
shizukana hajimari wo tsukeru
osanaki akogare ga tashikana netsu wo motomete
kono sora ni SIGNAL wo hanatsu yo
kurikaeshite iku hibi wo sei ni habataku shunkan wo sagashiteru
kodoku na negai da to shite mo
mada minu sekai e genkai wo koete yukitai
karadajuu de kono yume ga afuredasu mama
atarashii jidai wo atsusu azayaka na asashi no you ni
tsuyoi kagayaki de saita omoi wo mune ni"
"Wow! That's our little Sakuno-chan!" Momoshiro said while nudging Ryoma. Ryoma just glared at him.
"Sakuno-chan! Sakuno-chan!" Eiji waved his hands in the air excitedly. This invited a death glare from Tezuka while Oishi tried to calm his doubles partner down.
Fuji was the VIP seats, smiling all the way.
"Sakuno-chan's really great isn't she?" Gakuto said without taking his eyes off the stage.
"Of course!" Ohtori replied.
"She's not bad, ne Kabaji?" Atobe smirked.
"Usu." Kabaji replied.
Yuushi looked silently at the stage. He was noticing every single thing about Sakuno, how she moved, how she sang, how she looked.
"ashita ni okubyou na mezamete yume no tsuzuki mo
kowaseba mata sora ni kaeru kedo
hitotsu no shinjitsu to mukiau kimochi ga ima mo
kaze ni mau tameiki wo uchikesu yo
machichuu ni hibikiwataru tokimeki shunkan wo kanjite wa
fukakukizami komu MELODY
mabushii mirai koudou wa kasokudo wo agete
tashi kirenai sabishisa mo furikireru nara
arukidasu sono saki wo kanousei to tomoni ikiyou
tatoe namida de nijin da esoragoto de mo
mada minu sekai e genkai wo koete yukitai
karadajuu de kono yume ga afuredasu mama
atarashii jidai wo atsusu azayaka na asashi no you ni
tsuyoi kagayaki de saita mirai wo mitai"
The song ended amidst loud cheers and applause. Sakuno bowed and returned to backstage.
"That was a great performance Sakuno!" Manager Tanaka praised Sakuno.
"Arigato! I was worried I wouldn't do well!" Sakuno smiled.
"Tanaka-san, can I visit the players later?" Sakuno asked.
"Well, it will be a bit dangerous. I don't think…"
Sakuno cut him off. "Oh please Tanaka-san!" Sakuno looked at him with her puppy dog eyes. "I'll be very careful." Sakuno pleaded.
"Oh all right!" Manager Tanaka gave in. "But please be careful."
"Arigato!" Sakuno thanked Manager Tanaka.
Sakuno changed to her Seigaku uniform and ran to where the courts are. She looked round for the Seigaku tennis team.
"Sakumm!" a voice behind her sounded.
Sakuno turned back to see the Hyotei regulars and Yuushi who had cupped the mouth of Gakuto.
"Yuushi! Why did you do that?" Gakuto turned to his doubles partner angrily after Yuushi released him.
"Don't you know you are going to cause trouble for Sakuno-chan if everyone knows she's here Mukahi-senpai? Ne Sakuno-chan?" Ohtori chided Gakuto. Sakuno stood there and blushed.
"Konnichiwa!" Sakuno greeted.
"Sakuno-chan, why did you dress up in your Seigaku uniform?" Yuushi asked questioningly.
"Ah, it is because people now know I am from Hyotei. If I wear my Hyotei uniform, it might be easier to spot me! Also I haven't worn my Seigaku uniform in a long time and so I decided to wear it!" Sakuno reasoned.
"You look really cute in the Seigaku uniform too!" Ohtori complimented Sakuno.
"A…arigato!" Sakuno blushed.
"But I think you look better in the Hyotei uniform." Yuushi said.
"Eh?" Sakuno was surprised by Yuushi's comment.
"Sakuno-chan, it was a great performance! I like the song a lot!" Ohtori said to Sakuno.
"Arigato!" Sakuno smiled brightly.
"What are you doing here Sakuno-chan?" Atobe asked.
"Eh? Ah yes! Do you know where the Seigaku tennis team is?" Sakuno asked innocently.
"Seigaku? They won't beat us again! Ne Kabaji?" Atobe said.
"Usu." Kabaji replied.
"Why do you want to find them?" Gakuto asked jealously.
"I just want to see my old senpai-tachi, that's all…" Sakuno replied.
Just then Fuji appeared in front of them, dressed in Seigaku's uniform too.
"Well I see you guys are all here." Fuji smiled.
"Fuji, not you too!" Gakuto exclaimed in surprise.
"It makes things easier." Fuji smiled at Gakuto. "Anyway Sakuno, I'll bring you to where the Seigaku players are. They must be really glad to see you again."
"Hai! Then I shall see you later!" Sakuno bowed to the Hyotei regulars.
"Wait a minute Fuji." It was Atobe. "Tell Tezuka we will not lose to them again!"
"Sure thing Atobe." Fuji smiled.
The team looked at the leaving Fuji and Sakuno. Nobody noticed that Yuushi was not very happy.
The Seigaku regulars were glad to see Fuji and Sakuno. Eiji almost jumped onto Sakuno only to be stopped by Oishi.
"Echizen, how's your tennis?" a smiling Fuji asked Ryoma.
"Good enough to beat you Fuji-senpai!" Ryoma smirked.
"You're the same old Echizen I knew!" Fuji laughed.
"Ryoma-kun…" Sakuno said meekly.
"Ah! Ryuuzaki." Ryoma said, looking up.
"Saa, Echizen!" Fuji said, pushing Sakuno in front of Ryoma. "Sakuno-chan here is a little thirsty, why don't you go with her and get a drink?" Fuji smiled. Years in the entertainment scene had only allowed him to perfect the art of hiding his sadism.
Ryoma was about to protest but seeing Fuji's smile and Tezuka's glare on him, he decided to go with the suggestion.
Ryoma walked to the vending machines while Sakuno walked shyly behind him.
Ryoma handed a Ponta to Sakuno and sat down beside her on the bench. He started drinking his Grape Ponta. Sakuno just fingered her can.
It was Ryoma who broke the silence. "How are you doing Ryuuzaki?" he said between sips of his Ponta.
"I'm… I'm fine!" Sakuno answered shyly. Something was different but she could not place her finger on it.
"How… how about you, Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked.
"Mada mada da ne." Ryoma replied with his usual phrase.
Sakuno was comtemplating whether she should confess to him now. However, she thought something was not right.
"All players please report at your respective courts now!" A voice through the loudspeaker sounded.
"I've have to go now." Ryoma said standing up.
"An…ano Ryoma-kun!" Sakuno stood up hurriedly. Ryoma turned to face her, expecting her to say something.
"Ah! Ga…ganbatte kudasai!" Sakuno said quickly.
"Arigato." Ryoma said indifferently and left.
Sakuno stared at Ryoma's leaving figure. She felt that although she was blushing, her heart was not as racing as fast as before. The feeling of being together with Ryoma now was different from that of being with Ryoma in their middle school days. She was also not really disappointed at her inability to tell Ryoma her feelings this time. Sakuno was confused and sat down on the bench to think. She did not notice Yuushi looking at her from a distance away.
Notes:
1. konnichiwa - hello
2. bento – lunch box
3. tamagoyaki – fried egg rolls
4. arigato – thank you
5. senpai-tachi – all (my) seniors
6. ganbatte kudasai – do your best
Credits:
Future
Song: HIRO-X
Music: Uza
Arrangement: ABS faces
Lyrics taken from Anime Lyrics dot com
Chapter 7: Not You
Artiste: Miz
Album: Dreams/ Say It's Forever/ Story Untold
Sakuno's singing 'Future'! Please imagine Sakuno singing 'Future' in a style like the song 'Emotion' (Tanaka Rie – Gundam Seed Destiny). So it would be something like 'Future (EMOTION Remix)'. Much as I would like not to associate Meer Campbell with Sakuno (Well Lacus and Sakuno both love pink…), the mood of the song really suits Sakuno! So you may want to listen to it while reading this fic? Alternatively Quiet Night C.E. 73 is also possible (They come from the same album.)
Please read and review!