Chapter 2 – The Announcement

The next day…

Ayu was in front of the school gate when she noticed a reminder on the board. It said, "All high school students assemble at the gym." So, she went to the gym to join her other classmates.

"Hey Erin. What's going on?" Ayu asked one of her classmates.

"I heard there's gonna be a program and then they will announce something. I think the announcement has to do something with the yearbook." Erin replied.

"Oh, so that's why we're here. Anyway, have you seen Nina?" Ayu asked

"She's gonna be part of the program. After that she's gonna sing. Oh! I can't wait! Everybody says that she has a great voice. Have you heard her sing Ayu?" Erin asked

"Nope. Not yet. Whenever I ask her to sing she always says that she's shy and that her voice isn't that nice." Ayu said

"Attention! Attention please. We will begin the program. Please be quiet and behave while the program is showing." One of the high school teachers said.

The first part of the program was a school play. It was about a girl who doesn't care what other people think of her and a boy who is very popular and quite rebellious. The main characters are Anna and James who were played by Nina Sakura and Yuta Kirishima. 45 minutes have passed and the play was coming to a close.

"Anna saved my life. She taught me everything. About faith. Hope and love. Even though she's no longer here, I can still feel her love. It's like then wind, I can't see it but I feel it. Wherever you are Anna, I love you!" Yuta said playing the role as James.

As the curtains close, people were cheering for the cast of the play. So, the curtains opened showing all the cast with Nina and Yuta in the middle.

"Great acting! Omedetto Nina Sakura." Yuta said

"Same to you! You were great! Specially the last part." Nina said while taking a bow.

Their classmates were cheering so loud. As the curtains closed for the last time, a teacher came out and introduced the next performance. There were dance numbers, contest winners, poem recitals and song numbers. Nina was the last to sing.

She started to sing a song entitled "Weak"

I don't know what it is that you've done to me

But it's caused me to act in such a crazy way

Whatever it is that you do when you do what you're doin'

It's a feeling that I want to stay

cause my heart starts beating triple time

With thoughts of loving you on my mind

I can't figure out what to do when the cause & cure is you, you

I get so weak in the knees

I can hardly speak

I lose all control then something takes over me

In the days you look so amazing

It's not a faze

I want you to stay with me by my side

I swallow my pride

Your love is so sweet

It knocks me right off of my feet

I can't explain why your lovin' makes me weak

Time after time after time

I've tried to fight it

But your love is strong

Keeps on holdin' on

Resistance is down when you're around

Fast fadin'

In my condition

I don't want to be alone

Repeat and

I've tried hard to fight it

No way can I deny it your love so sweet

It knocks me right off of my feet

Repeat

(I get so weak) blood starts racin' through my veins

(I get so weak) boy it's something I can't explain

(I get so weak) something 'bout the way you do the things you do it

Knocks me right off of my feet I can't explain why your lovin' makes me weak

Repeat

When she finished the song everybody clapped and cheered for her.

"Wow! She really has a great voice! Don't you think Ayu?" Erin said

"Yes! Definitely!" Ayu said cheerfully.

Nina was taking a bow when Yuri came up on stage.

"That was really great! Is that song dedicated to anyone?" Yuri said

"Uumm… Yeah, for a special someone." Nina said blushing.

"Oh, really? Who could it be?" Yuri said giggling

Everybody started cheering again! Some people started shouting different names hoping that one of the names they mentioned is Nina's special someone.

"Oh, it's a secret. Can't tell yah!" Nina said smiling.

"Ok. Anyway thank you very much for that wonderful song." Yuri said

"Your welcome. So why don't we announce the contest for this year?" Nina

said

"Ok. Listen up guys. This year we will hold a contest and whoever the winner is, will have her/his pictures and a few information about his/her life in the yearbook." Yuri said

"So what is it?" Few students shouted

"Ok. It's a popularity contest!" Nina and Yuri chorused

"Everybody will vote for the student who they think deserves to be one of the most popular girl and guy here in our campus." Yuri said

"It may seem a dumb idea but we just want to see if those people who you say are popular really have the right to be called popular." Nina explained

"So does everyone get it?" Yuri asked

Everybody responded yes and started to make conversations to which they will vote for.

"Wait, our announcement isn't done yet." Yuri said

"First of all, there are rules. First, no bribery. Second, no campaigning. Third, no threatening. Everyone has the right to vote for the person they want." Nina said

"And also, the first and second place winner for male and female will go on a date at a five star restaurant so that they could get to know each other. It's all free because we are sponsored." Nina added

When everyone heard that the winners will go on a date they started cheering again.

"Oh! The prize is great! I'm sure Kaji will win first place! And of course I'm also sure that I'm gonna win first place for the female division. At last, I'm gonna have a date with Kaji!" Maya said

"Anyway, the winners will be announced nest month. The voting will start tomorrow. This contest is only for fun. Nothing serious here." Yuri said

"So that's about it. See you all tomorrow!" Nina said

As the students went out of the gym noisily, Ayu waited for Nina. She wanted to have a conversation about the announcement that they just said.

"Oh, hi Ayu-chan! So, did you enjoy the program?" Nina said while walking towards her.

"Of course! The play was awesome! It made me cry. And you, you were really great! You sang so well! How come every time I ask you to sing you never do it? I mean, you have a great voice and then you're gonna tell me that your voice wasn't good?" Ayu said

"Oh, well… I'm just shy that's all. To tell you the truth it took days before Yuri convinced me to sing at the program. I was really nervous but I just imagined that I was only singing in front of one person. Anyway, let's go home." Nina said

While they were making their way home they continued the conversation they started earlier.

"You know Nina, I know that the song you sang was dedicated to Tsujiai, right? I mean you were looking at him from the stage while you were singing. That's why while you were singing you didn't feel nervous because you were imagining that you were with him. The song had so much emotion when you sang it." Ayu said

"Really? You saw me looking at him? I was that obvious! Did anyone else noticed? Oh! What am I gonna do? It was the only way that I can think of to make me relax." Nina said panicking.

"Cool it girl! I don't think anyone else besides me noticed. You weren't that obvious, you know! Anyway, I just wanted to ask you one question." Ayu said

"Okay, what is it?" Nina said

"Well, of all of the ideas you can think about why did it have to be a popularity contest?" Ayu asked curiously

"That's because I wanted to know if Maya and the others has the right to be called popular. And I also did it for you. I wanted to help you." Nina explained

"Oh come on Nina! You already know that Maya is popular. And what did you mean that you did it for me? You know, it wouldn't help me at all. I'll just get depressed knowing that I really don't belong with the popular people. I mean it's no big deal but Maya will only tease me even more. She'll call me names and I'm sure of that!" Ayu said

"Ayu! Believe in me. I wouldn't do anything to make you sad and to embarrass you. I'm doing this to help you. If you win first place, you'll have a date with Kaji. Wouldn't that be nice?" Nina said

"Of course that gonna be nice but what if Maya wins?" Ayu asked

"Be positive! I know that you'll win. Anyway, can we talk about somethin' else?" Nina asked

"Sure! You know, Yuta and you make a nice couple." Ayu teased

"Ayu-chan! How can you say that? You know that I like Tsujiai and not Yuta!" Nina said blushing

"Oh really? How come you're blushing? I mean, you two have chemistry." Ayu said

"I'm blushing because I'm not used to being teased with someone quite close to me. I mean, he's my close friend but nothing more than that okay?" Nina explained

"Okay, whatever you say. Hey , want to go to the mall? Just to kill some time because we don't have any assignments today." Ayu suggested

"Sure. That would be great!" Nina said smiling.

So they went to the mall. When they got there, Nina suggested to Ayu that they should eat because she's already hungry. So they went inside a restaurant.

"So what do you want to order Ayu?' Nina asked

"I don't know yet. How about you?" Ayu asked while looking at the menu.

"Well, I'm thinking too. I think I'll have… Kaji! Tsujiai and Yuta!" Nina exclaimed

"Hey Nina! What are you saying? You're gonna eat them!" Ayu said giggling.

"No Ayu-chan! They're here! See? Look!" Nina said

"Oh, don't play with me! The ratio of them be entering the same restaurant were in is like 1:100!" Ayu said still looking at the menu.

"I'm not kidding Ayu! Look! Look!" Nina said trying to convince Ayu.

"Okay fine!" Ayu said and looked

"Wah! It's them! It's them!" Ayu said

"See? I told you! Hey, maybe we could invite them to sit with us!" Nina said

But before Ayu could even answer, Nina already came up to them to invite them to sit with her and Ayu.

"Hi Kaji, Tsujiai and Yuta!" Nina said

"Oh, hi Nina!" Yuta said

"Are you guys gonna eat here?" Nina asked

"Yeah, why?" Tsujiai said

"Well, why don't you just join me and Ayu on our table. It's big enough for the five of us if you guys will join. So, what do yah think?" Nina said

"Sure!" they all agreed.

So they joined Ayu and Nina.

"Hey Ayu!" Kaji greeted.

"Oh, hi guys! Glad you can join us." Ayu said trying hard not to blush.

"So, let's order. I'm kinda hungry." Yuta said

So Ayu, Nina, Kaji, Tsujiai and Yuta ordered and ate their food. Nina and Yuta paid for the food even though Ayu, Kaji and Tsujiai refused.

"Where are you planning to go now?" Yuta asked

"We don't know. We just went here to kill some time but I don't think we'll stay that long because it's getting a bit boring. Ne Nina?" Ayu said

"Yeah, hey why don't we go to the park?" Nina suggested

"Sure, but what are we gonna do there?" Ayu asked

"I don't know. Ummm… chat, play truth or dare. Whatever we can think of." Nina said

"Okay, so you guys will stay here?" Ayu asked

"Nah, can we just come with you and Nina?" Kaji asked

"sure" Ayu said

"I'll go with you in one condition." Tsujiai said

"Condition? And what is that?" Nina asked curiously

"Okay. As soon as we arrive at the park, I want Nina to sing." Tsujiai said smiling.

"Me? Sing? No way!" Nina said

"Me too! I'll go if only Nina will sing!" Yuta said

"Yuta! Oh come on! Please?" Nina said

"Okay, if you won't sing just tell us who's your special someone." Kaji said

"You too Kaji? Okay, I'll just sing." Nina said

"That's settled then. Let's go." Ayu said

So when they got to the park, they looked for a good spot.

"Okay, this spot is nice." Ayu said

"Now that we're here, you can sing now Nina." Yuta said

"Do I really have to sing?" Nina asked

"Yeah… you have to!" Tsujiai said

"We had a deal!" Kaji said

"All right but what am I gonna sing? I can't think of anything." Nina said

"Umm… how about It's Gonna Be Love?" Ayu suggested while winking at Nina.

"Okay. I know that song but you have to promise that you won't laugh during and after I sing okay?" Nina asked

"Hai! We promise!" The four of them chorused

Then Nina took a deep breath and started to sing:

It's gonna be me baby

It's gonna be you baby

Time, I've been patient for so long

How can I pretend to be so strong

Lookin' at you baby

Feelin' it's you baby

If I'm asking you to hold me tight then it's gonna be all night

1 It's gonna be love

it's gonna be great

it's gonna be more than I can take

it's gonna be free

it's gonna be real

it's gonna change everything I feel

it's gonna be sad

it's gonna be true

it's gonna be me baby

it's gonna be you baby

It's gonna be

It's gonna be love

Time am I restless or a fool

How can you pretend to be so cruel

Maybe it's gonna be me baby

Maybe it's gonna be you baby

Maybe it's everything were dreamin' of

We waited long enough

1

the sooner you let two hearts beat together

the sooner you'll know this love is forever

it's gonna be love (love needs time, now or never)

it's gonna be love

it's gonna be strong enough

1

When she finished, the four of them clapped. They were smiling.

"That was great!" Yuta said

"You're voice is nice!" Ayu and Kaji said

"That was the best! You really are good Nina Sakura." Tsujiai said

"Thank you very much for all the compliments." Nina said

"Oh, you deserve it Nina-chan!" Ayu said smling

"So, what are you planning to do next?" Kaji asked

"I still don't know." Nina said


end of chapter 2… I know it seems like a boring start but I'm working on it. I hope you guys will continue to read the next few chapters.