Thud
"Hoshi get up!"
"Come on HO-SHI! Nya~!"
"Hoshi. 10 more laps in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-"
"I'm up!" I shouted as I jumped up off the ground and raised both hands in the air as if I got caught by the police doing a crime.
"Hoshi just one more lap and then your done." Kunimitsu said as I started my last lap.
You see…I had to do a total of 113 laps. My current least favorite number. Apparently 5 laps where added every time I hit a Regular in the head with a ball. Which happened a few times…anyway…I'm very tired. As I finished my lap I feel to my bust exhausted and thirsty.
"Here you go Hoshi. To quench your thirst." Inui said as he handed me a lime green paper cup.
"Ah…arigato Inui-Senpai." I thanked as I brought the cup to my mouth.
"NO!!!" Eiji and Momo shouted as they extended their hands towards me.
I gulped down the contents as all the Regulars [save for Fuji and Kunimitsu] watched me in horror or shock. Once I drank the contents I sighed and stood up. I blinked once…twice….thrice…I tilted my head to the side and put my right index finger on my chin as I pouted a bit. I smacked my mouth to taste what I jus drank…tasted like…strawberries…my favorite!
"Ne Inui-Senpai what was that? It tasted really good." I complimented as most of the Regulars where shocked.
"Nya~? Another Fuji?"
"Practice is over! Everyone go home and get a good night sleep!" Kunimitsu shouted as the tennis club chorused a 'Hai' and with that they all left, save for the freshmen who started to clean up.
I changed back into my uniform and packed all my stuff away. I walked out of the girl's changing room and rushed to catch up with Kunimitsu. Once I reached him I walked with him back home in the comfortable silence that always followed us no matter where we went. Once we reached home we took off our shoes and greeted out parents.
"Hoshi, go and get ready for your violin lesson." my mother informed me as I nodded my head and headed upstairs.
When I was little me and Onii-San where introduced to tennis. I disliked and stunk at the sport so I never played while Onii-San spent a lot of time on it. My mother signed me up for violin so that I wouldn't get bored with no one to play with since everyone would be busy. Anyway I entered my room and changed into a pair of black skinny jeans, a plain purple cotton fitted t-shirt, black thick bracelet on my right wrist and I started my homework. I finished math and history since it was only a little bit and when I started my English homework my mother called me to get ready to leave for violin. I thanked the gods that I didn't have to do my English homework as I grabbed my black violin case and slung it over my right shoulder. I walked down the stairs and grabbed my cell phone along with some money. I said my goodbyes and left the house. The place I went to for violin lessons was in downtown Tokyo so it was like a 20 minute walk. I hummed a happy tune as I walked towards my destination. Soon I came upon a tan painted building, with two large windows on each side of the wooden and glass door to enter the building, to match to other buildings surrounding it. It was only now that I noticed that Taka's family sushi restaurant was across the street from my violin school. I shrugged it off and opened the door to be greeted by the other students in my class. I was the youngest in my class since I started off really young. It never really bothered me. I always felt special.
"Alright everyone in position! The recital is only a week away and I want you all prepared! You will each have your own piece and some of you will even sing! It brings tears to my eyes knowing how beautiful you will all sound. It's like your all growing up! I remember teaching you all when you where only 3." our teacher Wishima-Sensei shouted as she clapped her hands together.
Wishima-Sensei had brown hair with golden streaks tied back in a bun and bright emerald eyes. She was in her 30's and had big glasses that could pass for sunglasses if the tint of the lens where darker and today she wore a blue, black and white kimono shirt with dark blue jeans and blue flats.
"Ok! Everyone in position! And practice the song we shall play at the recital as a group…" Wishima-Sensei scanned and flipped through the pages in her book till she found one she liked. "Yume No Tsubomi." she smiled happily at her choice.
Yume No Tsubomi was a nice and sweet song that could make anyone happy when the right person sung the sweet and innocent song. Music came easy to me. It was something that just flowed easily to me like soccer. Once you learned the basics you where good to go. It was that simple. And that's why I liked it. Tennis wasn't just learn the basics for every player would have their own signature move like Ryoma's Twist Serve or Kunimitsu's Zero-Shiki Drop Shot. They always had to complicate things where in soccer there's nothing to complicate really. You just have specialties. For example. My specialty is that I'm an all-rounder. Put me in any place [except goal] and I'll be fine. Anyway…back to the lessons.
"Saa [Now] who would like to sing?" Wishima asked as she clasped her hands together. I avoided my gaze as many girls in the class raised their hands. "How about…Hoshi!"
I smiled at her.
"Ah…gomen Wishima-Sensei demo…I'd rather not and I'm too shy and I can't sing…gomen…" I apologized as I mustered up an innocent smile with my eyes closed like Fuji's.
"Hoshi…you WILL sing and you WILL enjoy it!!" Wishima-Sensei shouted as flames where in her eyes and a snake came out of her mouth hissing at me as he eyes sharpened at me with a fiery background. "Understood?" she asked sweetly as I shrunk in my seat and nodded my head about 50 times. "Good…"
The class chuckled. They where used to this. Wishima-Sensei was a great teacher who always wanted her students to do better than they could and have them try new things and overcome their problems. She was strict when needed but other wise she was always nice.
"Ok! Now let's start! Hoshi please come to the front of the class and sing along! You will also play your violin." Wishima said as I obeyed and stood in front of the class.
Well…it won't be so bad…I mean I practically grew up with this class. They're my friends and they know most of my secrets and about me.
"Look up at the night sky…the stars are twinkling just for you ma'dear."
"Bye Wishima-Sensei!" I called as I opened the door to the Violin Class.
"Goodnight my dear Hoshi! And remember to practice!" Wishima shouted as I yelled back a 'Hai' and exited the room.
Once I stepped foot outside I took out my cell phone and opened it. 8:47pm. That was just enough time. I started to dial the number of my house and I heard a few rings before my mother answered.
"Moshi, Moshi. Tezuka residents. How can I help you?" my mother's sweet voice filled my ears as I fiddled with the strap of my violin case that was slung over my right shoulder.
"Okaa-San, I'm goanna go get my violin fixed before I head home. A string broke." I answered as I heard a small jingle over the semi quiet noise of a few people rushing home.
"Ok…that's the third time this month. I think you should buy a new violin. The one you have now is very old and I don't want you to play with a violin that's real old. Be back before 10...I know how much you like staying at Mizuki's place. See you home! Be safe!"
"Arigato. Dewa mata [See you later]." I called as I hung up and placed the phone in my pocket.
I took one step forward but-.
"Nani yatte n da yo [What are you doing]?" a voice from behind asked causing me to jump 50 ft in the air.
"N-N-Nani?!" I asked as I looked behind to see Ryoma in the school uniform with his tennis bag slung over his shoulder. "Watashi no serifu da [That's my line]." I told Ryoma as I looked at him.
"Never knew you practiced tennis. You give away the impression that you hate it. Must be a small tennis racket." Ryoma stated as he pointed to my violin case.
"It's a violin, and I do hate tennis." I stated as I turned around and started walking.
Ryoma seemed like the type who would ignore people he knew if he saw them out in public, heck if he saw them period. So why didn't he ignore me?
"Whelp! Later!" I shouted as I started walking.
"You didn't answer my question. Nani yatte n da yo?"
"I'm going to get my violin fixed. Want to come?" I asked as Ryoma shrugged his shoulder.
"Sure. Don't wanna go home yet." Ryoma stated as I nodded my head and started walking with Ryoma in tow.
After a few minutes we reached a small store with two large displays in the front that held violins and their bows. The display window read "Mizuki's Violins and Repairs". I opened the maple wooden door to enter a room that smelled of cinnamon and coffee. A smell that I enjoyed. The shop had wooden floors and many wooden shelves against the wall. There was a large platform from the center of the room, back that held a large wooden workshop desk and to the right corner was a archway with stairs leading up. An old man with messy gray hair, a grey moustache and thin round silver framed glasses looked up from some paperwork and smiled warmly once his onyx eyes landed on me.
"Ah…Hoshi! So nice to see you! What seems to be the problem?" Mizuki inquired as I walked up the steps and towards his workbench.
"A string broke again…can you fix it?" I asked as he took out the old violin from the case.
"Oh this is the third time this month…one more time and I think it's time for a new violin." Mizuki said as he examined the violin. His gaze then rested on Ryoma. "Hey whose the boy? Is it a boyfriend?" Mizuki asked as he smirked and quirked up an eyebrow.
"No, no, no he's not my-"
"Hoshi has a boyfriend~!" Mizuki sang as I tried to tell him 'no'.
Soon loud, hard footsteps could be heard and a boy about 7 or 8 came bursting down the stairs.
"HOSHI HAS A BOYFRIEND?!" the boy shouted as his eyes widened.
The boy had tussled brown hair that slightly covered his onyx eyes. The boy wore a simple night blue collared t-shirt, some white shorts that reached his knees, and white ankle socks.
"No! Ryoma's not my boyfriend!" I shouted as I crossed my arms together forming an 'X' shaped with my face slightly scarlet as I closed my eyes.
"Ah so Ryoma's his name…"
"Ryoma? You mean THE Ryoma. Ryoma Echizen?" the boy asked as he gapped at Ryoma.
"Since when was Ryoma THE?" I asked as I sent the boy a questioning look.
"Taro why don't you go and make some green tea while I fix up Hoshi's violin." Mizuki said to the boy as the boy nodded his head.
"Hai!" the boy answered as he rushed up the stairs he just came down from.
Mizuki then took a look at the violin.
"Ah…this violin brings back so much memories…it was your Okaa-san's first violin." the man said as I pondered about this.
"I think about…three years ago…? I'm not sure either." I stated as I sat down next to Ryoma on a bench that was on top of the platform.
"I remember when I made you a purple violin…your eyes sparkled so much…but your Okaa-San wouldn't let you keep it." Mizuki recalled as Taro came back with four cups of tea and handed one to everyone and one for himself.
"Speaking of Okaa-san…" I paused as I looked up at the old violin. It's wood had the look of antiqueness and looked somewhat grim yet beautiful at the same time. "She told me to order a new violin since my recital is in a week and she doesn't want me playing with a bad violin." I explained as I took a sip of tea.
"Ok. I'll fix up this one and then get started on your new violin. It'll be ready in a week. Just in time for your recital." Mizuki explained as I happily nodded my head.
I noticed Taro occasionally glancing at me and Ryoma then glaring at Ryoma. Suddenly he shoot up from his seat in between me and Ryoma.
"Hoshi-Chan! I learned a new tennis trick watch!" he shouted as he ran up the stairs and back down with a tennis ball and a tennis racquet In hand.
"Here watch!" Taro shouted as he tossed up the ball and hit it. Once the ball came in contact with the ground it spun and then stopped in it's place.
"Sugio! That's very cool Taro." I complimented as I smiled at him.
"I'll teach it to you Hoshi-Chan!" Taro shouted as he put my cup of tea down and pulled me up to my feet.
He placed the tennis racquet in my hand, tossed the ball up and swung my arm causing my to actually hit the ball. But send it flying all over the place. It finally bonked Mizuki on the head. I smiled a nervous closed eye smile as I rubbed the back of my head along with Taro.
"Gomen Mizuki…" I apologized as he merely shook his head and smiled amused as he turned back to his work.
Tennis isn't my thing.