Chapter 1: I appoint You!
Disclaimer: Konomi Takeshi owns Tennis no Oujisama.
(But how raven-eyed-lass wishes she should partly be the owner of Tennis no Oujisama...)
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A/N: First try on my one TeniPuri OTP, RyoSaku. Hope you enjoy!
~oOo~
His Eyes on Hers
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First Chapter: I Appoint You!
"Teacher, you must be kidding!"
She stood up from her chair and faintly cried those words as her body shivered beneath her school uniform. At that instant, she knew that all heads turned to look at her and at her pitiful state. A man in his mid-twenties with a fair façade stopped writing the name "Ryuzaki Sakuno" beside the word "Singer" on the board. He calmly placed the piece of chalk he was using on the ledge then faced the girl who just stood up.
"What's wrong, Ryuzaki-san? Any objections with the decision of the class?"
The serious face of the class' teacher, Suzuhara-san, was then replaced with a bright, smiling one, causing all the girls to giggle to themselves. But then, the soft laughter was then replaced by a buzzing sound of whispers when the young teacher walked towards the girl. Her face which was a while ago a picture of agony slowly changed into one that clearly reflected helplessness.
"We all know, Ryuzaki-san," Suzuhara-sensei said, "that this is a class project." He stopped walking when he reached her side. The helpless-looking girl looked up at him to look for any other reactions in his face. Okay, she admitted to herself, I am not an exception from those girls who were captured by his killer smile. Blood started to rush to her cheeks when she heard him clear his throat – did he just caught her staring at him? He cleared his throat to wake her up from her daze. He continued talking.
"And since everyone of you is working as a class, I'm expecting everyone to participate in this huge work. Someone will work on this; others will work on that, until everyone finishes his or her part. It just turned out that the task assigned to you," he looked straight into her eyes while still wearing that look a girl could die for, "is to sing for the audience."
She looked away from her teacher, feeling that he was, indeed, putting more pressure on her to accept the role to be the singer for that event.
What does he expect? I can't even stand in front of a crowd to say "Hi!" and now this teacher wants me to sing for the population of Seigaku freshmen?
"Am I not right, Ryuzaki-san?"
That voice distracted her for a second, causing her to look up to her teacher again and see what was he up to. Lo and behold, Suzuhara-sensei's face was only a few inches away from hers! To her surprise, she stepped back like a frightened cat. It made the rest of the girls gasp and the boys chuckle discreetly.
"Y-y...Yes sir, I understand!" the girl nervously answered, her voice not as steady as she intended to. The young teacher nodded in agreement then went back to the blackboard. She, on the other hand, slowly sank into her chair, her mind all drained.
"Not only Ryuzaki-san should do her best, I'm expecting everyone to do their best as well. Am I understood by everyone?"
The smiling face of the teacher returned to the serious one, but even though he did so, he still received a roaring yes from the class.
"Okay then, I'll leave this duty to your class president since we ran out of time. Miss President, please arrange the necessary committees for the party."
Rika, the class president, stood up with a flushed face. She nodded in agreement towards the English teacher.
"Class, dismiss."
"Very well then, classmates, shall we begin dividing ourselves into the respective committees?"
She finished writing the names of the different committees in the board and with a smile, she faced the busy class. However, everyone was not that attentive-boys were talking to themselves and so were the girls who were happily chatting about their favorite teacher who just left the classroom. Only a certain pig-tailed hair girl with a mole on one of her cheeks and another girl who felt exhausted from the scene a while ago were left in a corner to talk to themselves about the matter.
"Sakuno, I'm very excited for your song number!" Tomoka blabbered endlessly to the other girl while pushing and pulling forth the latter's arm in excitement, "Of course, I'm also excited for the acquaintance party, but I would be more interested in planning how you'll look that night! Oh, by the way, we still have to think of a song for you to sing…"
"But Tomo-chan…" she answered weakly. Although it wasn't that obvious in her face, she was far more excited- and afraid- than her best friend, "I'm still thinking of…"
"Your dress? Accessories? Footwear? Song? Don't worry Sakuno, I'll take care of everything… Everything, I say! I'm so excited, I just can't contain it!"
She sighed. Osakada Tomoka will always be Osakada Tomoka And I, Ryuzaki Sakuno, will forever be Ryuzaki Sakuno, the same weak, clumsy girl who's always bad with any sort of directions. It was Tomoka who gave this idea to Suzuhara-sensei after all. If she turned down the "chance" to sing for the audience, Tomoka would persist until she agreed.
Sakuno looked at her friend beside her with a forced smile and itching eyebrows only to see her busy scribbling on a notebook or something.
"Tomo-chan, what is it?"
No response. Maybe she got too absorbed in her scribbling?
"Everyone! Am I talking to the wind or what?"
Everyone became surprised, Sakuno included, except the one beside her. They looked at their enraged president. She cleared her throat upon knowing that she had succeeded catching everyone's attention.
"As I was saying, there are several committees to help us manage the stage easier," Rika said. Trails of chalk left their mark under the words "Sounds", "Lighting," and "Decoration" as she proceeded to discuss what each group's responsibilities would be. Sakuno's eyes stared at those words. If only I could leave my position as the singer and instead, join the different committees then I would be-
"Finished!"
She looked at the overjoyed Tomoka beside her.
"Hey, hey Sakuno! Look at my suggestions!" the pig-tailed girl gave the other one her notebook while her eyes gleamed with happiness in what she somewhat could say "accomplished work." Sakuno then skimmed the details written on the page. She had to say she was quite impressed with what she saw. The color, design and cut of the dress; the color of her make-up from the foundation up to the eye shadow; the accessories, and even the stilettos to wear! Seems that Tomo-chan is really happy doing these things and with this she's making me feel like I'm a doll. Well, after a moment's surprise, her thoughts trailed off after some words came across her vision. It read: "Song: Eyes on Me."
"Eyes on Me..?" she whispered to herself. However, Tomoka seemed to be waiting for any reaction from her and that almost inaudible sound did not escape her sensitive hearing.
"Of course! That night, you will be the star to sing on stage and you will catch everyone's eyes…" dreamily murmured Tomoka, her eyes glistening with awe while both of her hands were clasped together. Sakuno felt her face become warm when the idea of her long-term crush watching her sing hit her. She thought that by that instant her knees started to shake.
"And of course, Ryoma-sama will notice you and finally…"
"Tomo-chan!" she protested, but the other one was not listening.
"The princess will meet her prince… What a romantic scene!"
She bowed down her head when the warmness of her face intensified.
"He'll never notice me…" she thought, her lips making this thought audible. But then again, Tomo-chan was too busy to hear Sakuno's sentiments.
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A/N: I also do not own "Eyes on Me." For those who are not familiar with the song, it's Final Fantasy 8's theme song. For those who are familiar with it, don't you think it is the perfect song for Sakuno to sing that night? R&R please! I really appreciate the reviews, but I will not answer them for the mean time.Ü
