Hye! I am back with the next chapter. I am so sorry about this, guys. I am so busy since last year, with all this cosplaying and stuff, yeah, I'll cosplay a character so I am afraid I'll be slowing down a little for the preparations. I don't know what to say… next. I've been holding you back with the next scenes… I hope you are still there and give me enough boost to continue. This is the next chapter. I hope you'll like this… domo…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never ever will.
sweetangel – Tee hee hee… thank you very much… Sorry for taking this so long. I hope the wait will be worth it. Thank you once again… :)
johanna – thank you very much. I am glad that you like it. Sorry for the very much delay of this chapter. I hope you like it. Domo. :)
anon - thank you very much. Actually, I am surprised that there was another review the moment I updated this chapter. I needed to re-post this again and reply to your review. Well, sorry for the long wait, the next chapter is up now. Thank you once again... :)
Chapter 14: Sugar System on Stage
Chapter Summary: Everyone performed and now it was their turn to show. Cherry's band was on stage.
The sugar system members started playing their instruments—err—acted like playing their instruments. The crowd started to clap and whisper when the intro of the song began. The band started to clap their hands as well as they emphasized that the song was about to start. Eiji was on the vocals. The audio sound welcomed the stage as Eiji lip synced the song.
'I've never dreamed before
I am gonna knock the door
Into the world of perfect free
(You ain't no lonely)…'
The people started to laugh and clap at the same time. The way Eiji was performing was actually funny. He was on the second stanza and he was doing something odd with his guitar. Ryoma and the rest pretended that he didn't know him… didn't know that he was a part of their band.
'I was made to hit in America!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit in America!...'
Ryoma, who was 'playing' with his instrument, started to notice something. The song was telling him something indeed. The song was in English and it was impossible for all the students to understand each word. Being fluent in English, it wasn't that hard to understand it. Eiji 'sang' the repeated song at that time and Ryoma was trying to think of something and he was letting the audience know.
'You're gonna say I'm perfect
But now I made it through
How many times I've tried but failed
(You ain't no lonely!)…'
Sakuno also noticed Ryoma's discomfort as Eiji the chorus once again while his backup singers were singing for him afterwards. She had been observing him and eyes widened when the younger tennis prodigy smirked.
She knew that he was planning something nasty.
'You are the sun
You are the star
(To me, forever!)
You are the sun
You are the star
(To me, forever!)…
The interlude entered and Ryoma dropped his instrument on the floor and walked to the backstage. Sakuno and the rest followed him and wondered what he was up to. He disappeared from their site for a few seconds and returned to their vision… carrying some apples in his hands. He smirked as he tossed one to his hand. Sakuno and Momo's eyes widened when they saw that.
They knew what he was planning. They couldn't stop the smirk that was plastered on their faces. Then the chorus entered… and the fun began.
'I was made to hit in America!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit in America!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit in America!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit in America!
I was made to hit—TOK!...'
Eiji was hit on the head and looked at the backstage but he never stopped doing his adlib. He was given the message that he should get along with it.
'(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit—
TOK! TOK!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit—
CLASH! TOK! TOK!
(I was made to hit in America!)…
Eiji ignored the toss and hit of apples, stones and chairs to his head as their audience were laughing at the display. Ryoma who enjoyed throwing things at him appeared at the side of the stage that he didn't notice and went backstage when he did. The performance was ridiculously humorous.
'I was made to hit –TOK! CLASH! TOK!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit—
CLASH! CLANG! BANG! BANG!
(I was made to hit in America!)
I was made to hit in America!...'
The song ended for the adlib. Eiji was thrown out twice to the side of the stage and would come back to continue lip syncing. Ryoma kept throwing things at him even though it was already finished. They could hear several TOK! CLASH! CLANG! BANG! BOOM! To Ryoma's side until Eiji was thrown away for the last time.
The band looked at their audience. They were laughing at clutching their stomachs due to laughs. They looked at each other before smiling. Eiji despite the pain grinned and started waving at them. Sakuno sweat dropped when she saw visible bumps on the acrobatic player's head.
"Minna-san! Thank you for staying with us," Eiji said and looked at the backstage, "Taffyta-chan! Get back here this instant!"
The crowd laughed after he said that. Taffyta walked back slowly on the stage. His eyes closed as he tossed an apple with his hand before he took a bite on it. He walked back to his position and grabbed his instrument.
"And for the second performance," Eiji said after he coughed to get the audience attention and looked at Sakuno, "Let's give it a round of applause to the princess of our band, Venellope Von Schweetz!"
Sakuno walked in front with a blush on her face.
"She will be singing next!" Eiji said and whispered to Sakuno, "You're going to sing for real, Cherry-chan."
"E? What?" She was taken aback of the message Eiji whispered to her.
"One, two, one, two, three, four!" Horio counted when Eiji hinted him.
"W-wait!" She tried to stop them but it was already late.
The band started to play the intro of the song… leaving her in panic. They didn't plan that at all. She knew that she would be lip syncing as well. She wasn't prepared at the sudden change of plans. She looked at the crowd when they clapped for her.
Her heart was beating really fast as she started playing her instrument as well as she sang for real;
'Donna michi tatte
massugu janai darou
Sou magarikunette
Dekoboko shiteru hazusa
Tsurai koto tokiniwa aruyone
Bokutachi wa soredemo hashiruyo
Amai mono demo ikaga?...'
The others couldn't believe what they were hearing at that moment. They were staring at her singing the song. She was a girl in front of them. A girl was singing on the stage. A girl who had a beautiful voice was singing and performing to the crowd.
'S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH! (HEY!)
S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH! (HEY!)…'
Sakuno was starting to enjoy her own performance. She couldn't believe that she was able to sing like that. She even smiled genuinely. She started singing the second stanza earning whispers and praises from the crowd. The second chorus entered and more reactions from the crowd came. Yukimura, Akaya and even Kintarou were seriously watching her reaction. No one knew what they really thinking about at that moment. They were just staring at her.
Fuji had witnessed their stares from the corner. Sakuno ended the second chorus and she was on the refrain part of the song. Eiji and even Ryoma supported her from singing.
'Come down the highway
Kake meguru yo
Open Road
Genki no gasoline
Oh-
Her feet were acting on their own as they skidded and dashed to the floor. Her feet started to hop as well as she made effects to her bass guitar.
'S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH! (HEY!)
S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH! (HEY!)
'S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH! (HEY!)
S-U-G-A-R
Jump into your racing car
Say SUGAR RUSH!
SUGAR RUSH!...'
The crowd applauded for the last time. Eiji grabbed Sakuno from the back as he raised one of his hand where his guitar was still connected to it. Sakuno blushed to the fullest thinking that she wouldn't mind about doing it for she was a girl that time.
Tomoka was cheering on her as her 'boyfriend' the girls started to fall in love with her as well which was really weird for her. The boys love confession to her was awkward for her part. She looked at the rest of the band.
Ryoma, Momo and Horio were all grinning at her. She only knew one thing. The band was successful and she hoped that it would continue until the last week.
Later on:
She sighed restlessly as she went out of the restroom. Sakuno told everyone that she would need time to take a break and go to the restroom. A few minutes ago, she had the time to stare at her looks. Her cheeks were really flushed and she really looked like a girl in front of the mirror.
She had the idea that she fooled everyone and she couldn't help but feel guilty about it. With a new countenance, she promised to herself that she would do her best to be a good student in the school and make sure that no one would feel upset once she revealed her true identity to them.
"Sakuno-chan?"
Stopping from walking, she knew that her whole body stiffened when she heard her real name from a certain someone. She mustn't have mistaken about the voice. She slowly turned around and spotted Kintarou staring straight to her own eyes. His face was serious but he was blushing to the fullest.
"T-Touyama-kun…" She walked a step backward when he took a step forward, "W-what did you just… call me?"
Touyama didn't answer her instead he kept on walking towards her. Sakuno was panicking and almost shrieked when the jungle boy grabbed her to her shoulder and still staring at her eyes.
"I… I can't believe it." He whispered.
"E?" She blinked as she was getting nervous. She couldn't find her voice at that moment. She hoped that someone would see them there.
"Y-you look like her."
"W-Well I—"
"Arrgh!" Kintarou pulled his hair as he distanced himself a little, "You are confusing me, bishounen-chan! I know you are him but then, you look like her. And then I like you but I like her too. But you look like the same. I don't know whom to like anymore!"
Moving her feet backwards, she couldn't help sweating drop at his reaction. Kintarou was confusing himself as he making his words complicated, "I need to go. I'll see you around." She turned around and walked away from him.
"Wait!" Kintarou stopped her by grabbing her arm and pulled her back, "I want to court you."
"E?"
"I don't care if we are both guys!" Kintarou said blushing in the process, "I want to know myself who I really like. I want to confirm myself."
"Confim what?" She asked but deep inside she was beginning to feel nervous. She was still Venellope at that moment and she knew that she was showing her girl side at that moment which was okay.
They were acting girls for the festival anyway. Having a conversation with Kintarou like that would make herself regret of not dressing back into a guy a few minutes ago. Her reverie was cut when Kintarou pushed her to the wall which was just behind her within a few inches. His eyes were seriously staring at her as his face was really red.
"That if I am completely straight or not." He said not blinking an eye.
Her eyes widened when he said that. No one said anything after that. They were just staring at each other. She was not aware that her own face was red as well and her heart was beating really fast. Moments past as they stayed like that until someone coughed not far from them. They both looked at the sound where they heard it.
Echizen Ryoma—err—Taffyta Muttonfudge was standing not far from them, drinking his favorite ponta, "Students will come at you if you stay in 'that' position."
Registering what he said, she released herself from him and went closer to the other boy, "R-Ryoma-kun."
"I don't care," Kintarou said, "I'll protect bishounen-chan."
"Hmmm." Ryoma said hoisting his soda to his lips.
"Even to you, koshimae!" He said pointing his finger at him, "I won't lose to you either."
Sakuno was just watching the two conversed and she noticed that it was actually one-sided. Ryoma hoisted the can down and turned around not forgetting to say his last words to him, "Good luck then."
She watched Ryoma leave the corridor while Kintarou was ranting at him about not giving up from all of her admirers. Not really aware how long her feet was planted on the ground until someone grabbed her hand and pulled her away from there.
"R-Ryoma-kun!" She was surprised when the tennis prodigy walked back and pulled her out from that area. She was not even aware that he just did that.
"You are not going to stay there with him, are you?" He asked not looking at her as he was just walking continuously.
Looking back to their previous location, she spotted Kintarou stomping his foot on the ground but he didn't follow them, much to her relief, "I don't. Arigatou back then."
"You have to be careful," He said still not looking at her, "You were lucky it was only him and not our schoolmates. Don't go around like that by yourself."
"Hai…" She responded to him as she stared at his back. It was the first time Ryoma reminded her of something. Was he concern about her? He never talked that long at all so it was new to her. To her surprise, Ryoma abruptly stopped at a corner and let go of her hand. He turned around and observed her. She became anxious when he was doing that.
She was a girl at that moment… well Ryoma was as well. Peeking a little, she also observed him. He looked cute from the dress that he was wearing. No wonder that boys would take interest at him as well. If their situation would turn upside down, she would like him too… not that she had already liked him.
She admired Ryoma ever since he saved her from the pervert anyway.
"On the contrary," He said cutting her from her thoughts, "You can save me from all the attention I could gather from them."
"Eh?"
"You really are a girl in that outfit."
Her face flushed as she looked away, "I look like a girl. Not a real one." She pouted as she found the ground interesting to watch. She needed distraction to forget the panicky beat of her heart. He was staring straight at her. Even though she wasn't looking at him, she knew that he was."
"You almost fooled anyone here," She heard him whisper. Her eyes were still fixed on the ground until she heard him say his next words, "…even me."
Her head jerked up just to see him staring straight to her. His eyes were serious. His amber eyes were serious like how a cat would stare at his prey. They knew how to control someone.
"Ne, would you mind," He said not tearing his eyes away from her, "If I court you?"
Seconds past before she finally registered what he was asking to her. She raised her hands in a panicky mode, "W-what are you saying? We're both guys! Don't get fooled by my looks. I—" She stopped giving reasons when he snickered. Then she realized something when he smirked.
"Mada mada dane…" He only said and turned around from her. He started to walk away from her waving a hand in the process.
She was flabbergasted after that incident. If she wasn't able to hold it, she would be jaw dropping at that moment. The flashed paint color that was plastered to her face didn't fail her as it appeared there. She stomped her foot on the ground before she followed the sly cat, "Geez! Ryoma-kun no baka!" She whispered as she caught up with him.
Few days later:
The stage performances were really successful. The other students enjoyed the humorous performances of the Sugar System. The exchanged students were also enjoying themselves.
Rikkaidai's ace player Akaya praised her for a job well done. Even Shiraishi congratulated the band contestants and wished them luck. The others did the same. The performances were tiring but they were worth it.
No matter how much Ryoma dislike being a girl, he was enjoying it unintentionally… by entertaining his bandmates to the audience. What motivated him was he was able to play tennis after the performance which was played to the other courts of the club. One game would bring him back to normal.
One game would bring back the prodigy that he was.
Three weeks later:
It was indeed a busy month for the club. It was tiring but they did enjoy it. They were now at the monthly ceremony. They were gathered for the second month of the festival and prizes would be given for the best club who performed well for the entire month. The gathering was different for the month. The students would stay together by their clubs not by their year levels.
The emcee was in the middle of announcing of the winners when Sakuno felt the use of bathroom. She whispered to Horio that she would go to the bathroom since Ryoma was being bombarded with their teammates teasing that if he ever won the individual prize he would share it to everyone.
She went to the bathroom when she heard the winner of the third price since the gym was not far from the area.
"So, the basketball club won the third place." She murmured as she washed her hands before she walked out of the bathroom. Her feet were put to a stop when someone was just standing in front of the door.
Yukimura Seiichi was leaning on the wall which was across the door to the bathroom.
"Yukimura-san…" She voiced out his name as she recovered from the slight shock, "What are you doing here?"
The guy with a blue hair shrugged as he moved from the wall, "I saw you go in here so I followed you."
"E?" She blinked her eyes twice, "W-why?"
The announcement for the second place was heard before Yukimura was able to answer her question.
"The drama club huh?" Yukimura whispered as he looked up and thought for a while, "Not bad."
"They were great too." She agreed as she mimicked what he was doing.
"Students might jump on you if you go off alone."
Hearing him say those words, her attention went to him. Yukimura was walking towards her. It took seconds before she understood what he was saying;
"I am wearing our normal school uniform," She defended as she walked backwards, "They won't jump on me just like that."
"Really?" He said still walking closer to her.
"Really," Her eyes were looking everywhere but him. The guy was something. He was smiling but his smile was giving her a different meaning. She couldn't help but feel nervous around him. She almost missed the announcement of the winner and that brought back to her senses, "Y-Yukimura-san, our team, our team won first place. I should go there now."
"What are you so worried about?" Yukimura said placing a hand to the wall cornering her there, "We can hear the announcement from here and congratulations for that."
She remained speechless as she stared at his eyes. Why was she had the feeling that this happened before? Right, it was indeed déjà vu. It did happen before.
Why would boys love cornering her to a wall?
"Seems like Echizen-san won the individual prize."
That got her attention. Ryoma won the prize and now she wondered what would his wish be? She wanted to congratulate the boy but how was she going to do that. She wished that someone would rescue her there. She regretted about going there alone which Ryoma had warned her beforehand.
'Ryuzaki and I will see that movie, done!'
Her eyes widened when she heard that. There was a slight change for the reward. There were two movie tickets and spending the weekend of the month were the prizes. They could do persuasion from the students and wished that Ryoma would pick him for the other ticket. She was shock that the boy would choose her despite of everyone. Her heart was beating rapidly once again. She couldn't contain her happiness at that moment.
"I wonder if he knows it."
Her reverie was cut for the umpteenth time. She looked at him only to see him moving closer to her face. She was getting anxious now that his stare was awkward. The applause from the gym was really loud but somehow she couldn't hear them. The cries of the crowd in the gym were totally booming around that area but she was deaf from them. The only thing that she could hear was the next set of words Yukimura said that made her world stop for a few seconds;
"That his roommate is a real girl."
Done! How was this chapter? I am done with the performance. Sigh… I want to give the other characters a chance to express themselves and I hope I can do it in the future chapters. Help me guys. Yukimura shared his thoughts. What will happen next? Find that out in the next chapter. Domo…
Note:
Hit in the U.S.A – Beat Crusade from the Anime called Beck. I just love the song from the anime.
Sugar Rush – AKB48 from the Wreck-It-Ralph movie. I also love this song as well.
Songs and characters used in this chapter are not mine. I just love sharing what I like. Zero-related.
Reviews please. Tell me your thoughts. Domo…
Next Chapter: Can I get your number?