I'm back!! Hope you enjoy reading my story! And special thanks to the people who reviewed...
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis.
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Music soothes the mind and soul.
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Hi, the name's Ryuzaki Sakuno. My dream is to be the best pianist in Japan, or better, in the world ( which is too ambitious of her). The truth is, I'm already famous, but she's not exactly me. The person who had joined the 'International Piano Competition' years ago, was the other me.
It all started when I was young, I was following my parents to the mall. I looked around curiously, there were so many things that I never knew it exists. Then, something caught my eyes... A huge grand piano was right in front of my eyes, waiting in that instruments shop, for someone to take it home to cherish and play it every once in a while. My smile widened, excitement grew as I tugged my mother's sleeve, hoping that she would let me own it.
My mother easily agreed to let me play the piano, but my father, was another story. Dad never wanted me to be a pianist. He wanted me to follow his footsteps, to be a doctor. After that, I wasn't allowed to even glanced at a piano, not even once. My need of playing the piano grew day by day, until I couldn't stand that desire of mine. I begged my mother to send me for piano lessons, which she agreed, but on one condition. I can never play the piano in public as Ryuzaki Sakuno, but instead, as Anami Etsuko. Till now, I have been playing the piano as her, even though my parents passed away long time ago.
Wake up wake up brush your teeth get up get up-
'Thud' "...Ow... That really hurts..."
It was raining that morning. This particular mornings make Sakuno lazy, even just to off that alarm clock of hers. In attempt of killing that clock, Sakuno rolled off her bed and landed on the floor with a loud thud. No shit, sherlock... It does hurt... thought Sakuno, who sat up gently, carefully not to hurt her back more than it is already. Sakuno got ready for school and set off after that, but of course wearing a raincoat since she's walking to school. Her grandmother, Ryuzaki Sumire, had already left to check on the regulars' morning training. Guess they have to use the indoor tennis court.. since it is raining heavily this morning. Sakuno thought, spacing out while she was on the way to school. She stopped walking and stare at the sky. Rain was falling down lightly on her face, making her smile. Even though the sky looked gloomy, behind those dark clouds, is the clear blue sky, which means it's going to be a wonderful day.
I wonder what will Mizuki-sensei teach me today? 'To Zanarkand ' is a nice song to start with... it's an easy piece, so maybe sensei can teach me another song other than that one..
Seishun Gakuen, Indoor Tennis Court.
" Hoi hoi, ochibi... it's freezing, nya..." whined Eiji as he slacked off because his turn haven't come yet.
"... Mada mada dane..." said Ryoma, bluntly.
" Ochibi's being mean , nya... I know let's share some body heat!" Eiji smartly suggested only to see Ryoma staring at him in horror.
" Iie. (No)" Eiji wouldn't here of it, and glomped Ryoma instead of hugging him, cutting off his air supply.
" E-eiji-senpai..." Ryoma's face turned pale but Eiji didn't pay attention to it.
" Hoi hoi! You sure got taller, nya!... Ochibi?"
"..."
" Ochibi?"
"..."
" Saa... I think he fainted, Eiji. You were crushing him to death just now." said Fuji, his sadistic side showing. Even though Ryoma got taller, he was still the shortest among the regulars.
" Whoops... ehehehe... " said Eiji while sweat dropping. Ryoma woke up a few minutes later, grumbling quietly about his senpai trying to kill him.
" Hoi hoi, remember that day when we first met Sakuno-chan? She said she was going for piano lessons, nya! So far there is only one other person who plays the piano in Seishun Gakuen, right Fujiko?" said Eiji excitedly.
" You're right, Eiji. What is her name again, Inui? " said Fuji, smiling as he always does.
" Takeda Yuri. She's of the same year as Ryuzaki-san and Ryoma. Her family is very rich that her maids have maids to do their work. Even though she has nothing to do with tennis...it's still data..." said Inui, his spectacles glistening lightly. The regulars sweat drop.
" Che." Ryoma was not interested in that kind of stuff. What's the point of being rich? You still can play tennis even if you're not. Unless... you don't have money to even buy food... Even though money doesn't give you happiness, it's good to have them just in case you're going to starve to death.
Sakuno finally reached at her school, as she walk in, a grand-looking car was parked in front of the school and the chauffeur, opened the car door for his mistress.
As Yuri came out of the car grandly, people kept staring at her. She even had a maid to hold an umbrella, to shield Yuri from the rain.
" I want to go to the indoor tennis court to see Ryoma-kun play." Yuri stated arrogantly to her maid as they set off towards their destination.
While that, it was Ryoma's turn to play, but this time, with Fuji. Yuri came a while later, her expression changed from being arrogant to being love-struck. She ran towards the court Ryoma and Fuji was playing.
" GO RYOMA-SAMA! GO!" shouted Tomoka and Yuri in unison. They looked at each other and glared furiously. And this is only the beginning of an intense rivalry between Yuri and Tomoka.
The match end with the score 7-6. Ryoma won, as he usually does.
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First period started, but their homeroom teacher was off that day, which means that Sakuno had time to space out for a long time..
" Sakuno-chan..."
" ..."
"... SAKUNO-CHAN!!" shouted Tomoka, so loud that Sakuno actually fell out of her seat.
"... T-tomoka-chan... Please don't shout..." Sakuno said, rubbing her already sore ears.
" Ryoma-sama really played well today! To bad you weren't there to..." Sakuno sighed. She tuned herself out, returning to her dreaming state.
"... And the way he hits the tennis ball... it's so like, awesome!" said Yuri, chatting with her popular friends.
Ryoma was really annoyed. The fan girls had forgotten the fact that he is in the class. Were they talking like that on purpose or they really had forgotten about him?
While the students were talking and all, the music teacher of Seishun High, Yui-sensei, came into the class. Patiently waiting for them to notice her presence, she sat down quietly. Fifteen minutes later, Yui-sensei was twitching furiously. The students hadn't notice her presence. Not even one.
" Uhm." The students stared at her and resumed what they were doing. Yui-sensei's vein popped out on her forehead.
" Pay attention before I dress you all up as lambs for the drama club!" Yui-sensei said angrily but randomly, making the students sweat drop.
" Good. I'm here to ask which one of you can play the piano." said Yui-sensei, praying that at least one of them could.
" Oh! I do! In fact, I'm the only one who does!" said Yuri proudly.
" I... see... ok... Takeda-san, can you present a song for the next coming assembly? The vice- principal is retiring soon and we want you to present the song ' Sweet bye and bye' for him."
" I will do my best, Yui-sensei!" said Yuri.
Eh? Sweet bye and bye? That song is really tiring to play if you ask me... But it is a very nice song and it does kind of suit that occasion... thought Sakuno, aware of what was going on when she heard the word 'piano'.
After school, Sakuno's piano lesson.
"As you can see, Frederic Chopin's historical period was the Romantic while Ludwig van Beethoven's was the Classical. The songs they composed depends on their historical period. Other than Chopin and Beethoven, there are other great composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Classical period, Johann Sebastian Bach( J.S. Bach) and Antonio Vivaldi, both in the Baroque period." Mizuki-sensei explained to Sakuno in details, which Sakuno understood easily.
" I see.. so... what's the point I'm learning this again?" Mizuki-sensei fell down anime style.
" Sakuno... I'm going to tell you once again, and you better remember this... It's all about the composers, they composed songs, which is connected to the piano, and if it's connected with piano, you have to learn it, understand?!"
" Ok... I get it.." I was just kidding... Sakuno sweat dropped at that thought.
" Good... Will you be joining this year's competition?" Sakuno suddenly found her feet interesting to stare at.
" ... I don't know."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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Mwahahaha! Cliffhangers! Wheeee...! I'll update as soon as I can..!
Kirei Haruka: Smile?