My Racket Mic

by coletzq

They were meant to be professional tennis players. To bring victory to their teams. But no one expected that one day, the racket they were once holding would be replaced by mics and the stadium rather than the courts would be their stage. A story of friendship between juniors of different rivaled schools. Once meant to be rivals now truly unbreakable.

3. Chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS

CHAPTER TWO

"What?" Was the only word Sakuno could utter.

"Just like I've said a while ago, I need your help by singing for me. Or should I say, singing with me." An said with a re-assuring smile.

"You sing too? I-I mean, why would you need my help? Especially through singing senpai?"

"Yes I sing too but not as good as you are. That is why I need your help for the fact that your voice would surely capture every listener's heart and that is what I needed the most, to catch people's attention I mean." An explained before taking a nice sip of her hot cocoa. They ended up on a coffee shop near Seishun Gakuen since An was just sneaking up on their school, meaning she couldn't get caught or else who knows what in the world the principal would do to her. As to Sakuno, fortunately, she was able to excuse herself from the club since it was only regular's practice for today and just accepted An's invitation for a light snack.

"I'm sorry An-senpai. But, you see. I –I can't sing in front of everyone."

"That's impossible! You just sang a while ago and I was there!"

"But you were behind me senpai."

"Ohhh right." An said as she leaned behind her seat and thought about it for a while. Realizing that Sakuno did had a point in that. Silence engulfed the two of them as An tried to find out if the girl in front of her was just trying to humor her until Sakuno decided to end their conversation as soon as possible before An could even convince her again. Because who knows if she'll still be able to resist it later?

"Maybe, you should look for other singers. There are still a lot out there. I could help you find one if you want!"

"But they won't do it right! You're the only person I know who could sing the way I wanted them to sing!"

"But… An-chan I-"

Sighing, An, with pleading eyes, leaned over the table and took her hand with Sakuno blushing a light tint of pink on her cheek. If only An wasn't wearing a girl's uniform right now, she would look like some man proposing to a very hesitant girl. Is she even hesitant? Oh whatever.

"This is for the sake of a lot of children, Sakuno-chan. Come with me, and I'll show you what this is for. Perhaps that'll change your mind." An seemed pretty serious and Sakuno didn't like how she predicted this to end.

"But…"

"Please?"

Clashing her eyes on An's. She could only sigh. And her prediction is right. She can't believe how soft her heart is. Well don't blame her, who could even resist those pleading puppy dog eyes!

And with just one nod, An jumped off her chair almost beating the record of the highest jumper (ok that's exaggeration!) and hugged her.

"Thank you so much Sakuno-chan!"

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"Minna! We have a guest!" With just one shout from An, children of various ages, perhaps 3-9 years old, from different parts of the house came running towards her and Sakuno.

"An-nee-chan! What have you brought for me today?" A kid of about six years old tried to climb up An's arms and swing on it like a monkey, but he doesn't look like a monkey okay? (A/N: writer's sense of humor=F)

"No Jun-kun! This is for everyone not just for you!"

"Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Let's play hide-and-seek today!" Came from a five year old girl with curly blond hair jolly jumping up and down.

"Ok Mari-chan!"

Sakuno could only watch with wide eyes as the kids who are very much enthusiastic crowded around An. Each and every one of them speaking so loudly you couldn't even distinguish which one is talking but An seemed to know every ones' voices and did her best to respond to their pleads. Looking at her right now, she could see a very responsible onee-chan. An would be a great mother someday and her husband would be very lucky.

An had taken her to one normal house, that was what Sakuno thought after seeing the front of it. But now she knew what it was, it was probably an orphanage. Now she could proudly say that one should really not judge a book by its cover.

But why would she take her here? What kind of help related to her voice will she have to do?

Surely she could help take care of the kids but, that isn't related to her voice. Or is it? Maybe she would sing a lullaby to the kids and that would be easy as pie. If that's the deal then she's in!

"Oh I almost forgot. Kids, I want you to meet a new Onee-chan. Guys, this is Ryuuzaki Sakuno, say hi to her."

"Nice to meet you Sakuno-nee-chan!" they all said as they bowed in front of her, showing respect.

"Nice to meet you all too." She said smiling at them and she could hear An giggle near her.

"Alright, now it's time to eat! To the dining room!" An shouted, and as if on cue, they all rushed towards the said room and positioned themselves to their respective places, Sakuno followed after An.

Entering the room, Sakuno was surprised to see how small it was. It was meant for ten people but there are about twenty children on the house making it half smaller for the group. Watching them, she can't help but feel pity. Some of them were sharing one seat, others were using the seat as table instead, and few were already on the floor. And then she remembered how large their dining room can be and shook aside some strange feelings she had just felt when she imagined it almost empty. Maybe she could share her empty dining room to the children? Yeah that would be a good idea if only she isn't with her grandmom.

But even with the pitiful situation, all were still wearing bright smiles, thankful for the little food that she and An had bought. Seeing that they had made them happy even with the little blessing they had brought, she couldn't help but feel grateful.

Poke…. Poke…

She looked behind her to see a small girl with long black wavy hair that reached her mid-back standing behind her, looking at her with her blue round orbs. Thinking that the girl wanted to say something, she asked her.

But the girl wouldn't answer and just stared at her as if she wanted her to read what's on her mind. But Sakuno was no mind reader so she knelt down so she was in eye level with her.

"Come on, don't be shy. What is it?" Sakuno didn't know why, but, she could somehow see herself in her. Her shy personality, the way she wanted others to read what she wanted to say than telling them directly and the way she fidgeted with her skirt.

She was about to touch a strand of her hair when the young one ran inside the dining room and melt with the others. Feeling quite disappointed, she pouted and thought that perhaps she doesn't like her. But that thought was quickly changed by a voice that spoke in front of her.

"She likes you." Looking up, she quickly stood as an old woman in around 60's approached her with a soothing smile. She quickly bowed to show respect which the woman gladly returned.

"I'm Ryuuzaki Sakuno, An-senpai's friend."

"Motohori Meguno, I'm the caretaker of the orphanage. Rima-chan likes you."

"I don't think so Motohori-san. She ran away from me. And she wouldn't talk to me either." She said, absentmindedly looking at the said young girl who was now trying her best to get her ragged doll from an elder boy who gave it back to her immediately the moment An told him to do so.

"She's a mute." Her neck almost broke from the sudden movement she made when she looked at the old woman, who, she had noticed, was also looking at the topic of their conversation.

Why? She wanted to ask but her voice was as if stuck at her throat. Somehow, she had managed to know how it felt like being mute. The feeling of not being able to voice out your thoughts.

"Trauma, they said. She was the only survivor from their family. Her parents, two sisters and three brothers were all massacred in front of her. It was really tough especially for a young one like her to get over it. She almost got crazy that her other relatives decided to leave her here than take care of her. We did our best to prevent Rima-chan from getting into a mental. Yes, we did make it, but the problem is, she wouldn't talk anymore."

Silence was the only thing Sakuno could give.

"Did you know she used to have a very beautiful singing voice?" It almost made Sakuno's heart stop. The girl losing her voice was a shocker but knowing she was once a singer, she felt even more pitiful for the girl. For just like her, Rima-chan is also…

She looked at the old woman standing in front of her, smiling so sweetly at her. It somehow felt strange for her. It was as if the woman knew the situation she and An was in. The woman looked mysterious at Sakunos eyes at the moment so she chose staring at the floor to avoid making more unnecessary comments and observations.

"So you're probably one of the persons who's going to sing with An-chan on the competition?" Motohori said after noticing how much Sakuno spaced out from the sudden information.

"What competition?"

"Oh, you mean she hasn't told you yet? She was planning to participate in this competition." The old woman took a piece of crumpled paper from her apron pocket and showed it to her. It ended up as poster advertising for a group sing-and-dance competition that'll take place at the heart of Japan , Tokyo in a few months.

"What's with this competition?" Taking it from the older woman, she read every detail of the event while listening to her explanation at the same time.

"Well, as you can see it's a few months from now. An had wanted to join it to raise money for the orphanage. I told her that her usual visit were already a lot of help and that she wouldn't have to do more than that. But she insisted that the orphanage needs some maintenance and that the allowance we get for the children are getting insufficient due to the fact that were increasing more than we decrease in number."

So that is why she needed her voice. One of the mysteries on her mind is solved! But, how come she chose her? Surely there were a lot of singers that are so much better than her but, how come she pleaded so much on her?

"Has she got some members already?" She asked looking at Motohori who was also looking at her.

"No, not yet. She's really having a very hard time searching for members. Yes she could find a few but the problem is, whenever they found out that they were helping an orphanage rather than winning for themselves they immediately back out. Or if there were some who are willing to help, they would be too busy with their own projects and they can't risk their own necessities for others. Especially for just a bunch of unfortunate kids who they don't even know."

Looking back at the poster, she could almost imagine how dedicated An is to sing or rather to join in this competition to the extent that she would plead even to her kouhai. An had lowered her pride for these kids, even though they were just merely strangers to her before. Sakuno could only smile at An's humane intention as well as to her bravery. Even though rejected by a lot of people, she still continued for her quest in music unlike her who had just followed the flow of endless criticisms and suggestions that she should just give up about it.

How she wished she's like An. How she wished she could also help others with the domain she is good at. How she wish she could help this kids as well. And how she wished she's brave enough to say that she would gladly help An in spite of the fact that her family would obviously reject it.

"Sakuno-nee-chan is a very good singer indeed!" She woke up from her reverie upon hearing her name. Looking up at the dining room, she saw almost every kid's eyes were on her, all were twinkling in awe together with those goofy smiles on their faces.

"Saknuo-nee-chan would sing for us right?" Sakuno saw An winked an eye to her and then she was left with no choice. She could only utter a soft "Of course." before she approached Rima who was on the far left corner of the room.

"What song would like me to sing Rima-chan?" Sakuno saw how Rima shied away at the concrete wall and she softly laughed inside of her when she saw their similarity for she also acted that way when she was about her age.

Upon remembering that Rima can't talk, Sakuno took a sketch pad, which seemed to Rima's, and told the kid to write it there. She smiled when Rima obeyed.

'Break Away'

Good thing Sakuno knew the song. She tapped Rima's head before standing up and walking back to her previous place, which was near the door. Taking a deep breath before singing, she thought that perhaps this is the time to make someone happy by means of her voice. (For Sakuno-chan's version of Break Away I chose Miarose's version…. Here's a link of her song.. watch?v=60lqUDWdP5Y)

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreamin' of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get on board a fast train
Travel on a jetplane, far away
And breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that I love
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging round revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
But, gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye, gotta
Take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway

Breakaway
Breakaway...

After singing the last stanza, she slowly looked at Rima who seemed to be in awe at her. Her mouth half open and her eyes transparent, letting Sakuno see every emotion inside of her. Admiration, glee, delight and perhaps a little of sorrow. Although she didn't know why the last emotion was included.

"Sugoi!"

"Sakuno-nee-chan is better than An-nee-chan! Haha!"

"That was the best song I've ever heard!"

"Sakuno-nee-chan? Do you sing on T.V.?"

Different compliments filled the ever noisy dining room. Even An was speaking about how good Sakuno really is and that they should let her be their inspiration in music but all of them was just background on Sakuno's mind. For right know she was stuck in her on world with Rima, who hasn't moved on yet with her previous reverence.

Sakuno smiled her brightest smile to her, making her shine upon the kid's view. And she smiled even brighter the moment Rima smiled to her too.

Unknown to Sakuno, she had just made a silent and very hard to break bond with the young girl. For in her mind, she had unconsciously uttered,

"If it is for this girl, I'd be more than willing to sing."

Yes, they were the identical. They were both mute, although they differ in reason. Rima was mute for she couldn't speak at all, while Sakuno is mute for, even though she could talk or most exactly sing, she is admissible. She's being forbidden to voice out her real thoughts while the other couldn't really speak hers. Sakuno is forbidden by the people around her while Rima is being hindered by her incapacity to speak.

And in that moment, she had decided that one of them would have to speak. She decided that she'll be the one to act up as Rima's unheard voice. So that they would not be any more voiceless.

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"Do you and Sakuno-nee-chan really have to go?"

"Yes Yahiro-kun. We have houses too you know. And my brother was really suspecting about where I've been going these past few days." An said as she patted the young boy's head sympathetically.

"Aaaaawwww." An and Sakuno could only smile at the young ones gloomy responses to them. Her and An had stayed at the orphanage for almost three hours playing with the kids. Sakuno had never been this happy and grateful before and she promised them that they'll come back as soon as they have time.

The kids were so pleased about hearing that Sakuno would come back again, since some of An's friends who were brought here before never came back, and told them that they would start preparing for their next visit then think of more games that they could play around the house so that half of their time wouldn't be wasted on sitting and brainstorming.

She and An laughed at how the children ran back towards the house and started to plan.

The two teen age girls gave one last bow at the caretaker of the house and started to walk home, still talking about the kids in the orphanage and the competition An wanted to join for them.

"I'm sorry about how I tried to force you to sing. I shouldn't have been so pushy about it. Guess I was just so eager to help them."

"Don't be sorry An-senpai, I understand why you care for them so much. Even I am starting to get attached."

Flashbacks then crowded Sakuno's mind as she thought about the truth that they were not too hard to hang along with. In fact, they were even fun to be with. Well, it is right; being with children is less hassle than being with grown-ups. For with them, you just have to be you. No peer pressure, no pretending about who you are not, no need to worry what they think about you and no need to worry if they're true to you or not for they are bold enough to say if they don't really like you, unlike teen agers these days.

"About the competition An-chan, I-"

"Oh! Sakuno-chan it's ok! I understand that you don't really like to join the competition. Really it's fine!" She added the last part upon seeing Sakuno's bewildered expression.

"But-"

"Hush. I already brought you trouble by taking you to the orphanage. I shouldn't have shoved anyone into this anyway since it's only me that's trying to pry open the competition. And besides, the competition was getting hopeless since it's only a few months from now. Thank you very much Sakuno-chan for helping me in the orphanage a while ago and-"

"An-senpai I want to join you in entering the competition." The single sentenced stopped the older one from her continuous babbling and she could only emit a soft "What?" from the sudden admission.

"Let's join the competition senpai! And win for the orphanage!"

Determination. That's what Sakuno felt building up inside her. Determination that was once brought by a tennis prodigy and was once again revived by a mute angel.

Echizen Ryoma and Koharu Rima. It's funny when I think about their names almost sounding alike.

Dan Dan Dan Dan! I am done! Oh yeah! By the way! If you have any song in mind that you think is good you could tell me about it and I'll try my best to put it in the story! :DD Please review to those who can.