Hye! I am back with the new chapter. I am so focused at the novel. Well, I am actually a novel lover, reasons why I don't have time to write fics because I am reading. Gomen for that guys. It's just that my muse is abandoning me and I need some time to think about it. Reading novels would give me some ideas. I hope you could wait… for now, this is the next chapter. I hope you'll like this. Domo… :)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never will.

Chapter 7: Jondrette Girl

Chapter Summary: She promised that she would do her best to the role. No matter what even she was only…

She couldn't quite stop laughing as she watched them practicing on the court. With her intense persuasion, Sakuno was able to have Kanata play against Tomoka that Sunday morning. Tomoka called her that day and thought of something to do then this popped out to her mind. Her best friend was fine of the idea, it was her other friend that she was worried about.

Kanata was still wary of Tomoka's sudden appearance in that court the last time she brought her there.

She should've warned the silent boy first before she brought her. What done is done and now he was making a progress. He made a promise that he would do his best to be friends with Tomoka.

Playing on the court was one way to do that.

"Ganbatte, futari domo!" She shouted cupping her hands to her lips.

Tomoka looked at her for a while and shouted back. She was beginning to sweat due to the game, "Better do your job as an umpire than cheering us Sakuno," She smirked as she looked back at Kanata, "Hit it!"

Kanata was all fired up as he began with his elegant stance and served once again. As Sakuno watched the boy with his stance, she thought that everything about him was perfect, his moves, his hits and his tactics. That the thing she remembered the first time she met him in that very court.

She often wondered if he could have a good match with Ryoma and it would probably be worth remembering if that happened.

"Hey!"

She blinked when Tomoka called once again. Both of them were staring back at her. Seeing the conclusion of the game, she giggled before she announced the winner, "Six games to one! Game, set, match! Ichigata Kanata!"

xxx

"Girl, I know you were not paying attention to our game for the last second." Tomoka said wiping the sweat on her forehead. She was sitting on the ground together with Kanata who was also wiping his own sweat with his towel.

She gave her a timid smile as she opened the lid of the bottled water that she brought and gave each one of them before she finally replied, "I was just thinking…"

"In the middle of our game?" Tomoka raised an eyebrow at her, "You were the one who gave this idea."

"I was not entirely out of the game," Sakuno looked at her as she opened her own bottle, "I was just thinking the first time I met Kanata-kun."

Stopping from drinking his own bottle, Kanata looked at her with an amusement in his eyes. It seemed that it got his attention.

She looked at her bottle of water as if she was concentrating of its volume that contained there, "Kanata-kun…was rallying on that wall when I first saw him here," She started eyeing the wall with the 'WIN' letters in the middle, "He was awesome. I knew that he was good that time."

"He served that purpose," Tomoka said eyeing the same wall before she looked at the boy, "You are good at tennis. Why hide it to the public?"

Kanata didn't see that coming. The girls saw him react and sort of waited to his answer. He only shook his head and smiled at the same time… giving enough disappointment for them.

"Why?" Tomoka insisted him of answering her.

Blinking twice, he grabbed his board and wrote something in it. It took seconds before he showed it to them.

'I prefer to play in peace.'

"Duh, Kanata-kun, you are not dead just to hide your skills here." Tomoka commented.

"T-Tomo-chan!"

Tomoka ignored her and looked at the shocked expression of the silent boy, "Well, sorry to say this. You are mute but you are not completely disabled. You still have the moves right there." She pointed his feet and then to his hands, "And here. I bet the other players are dying to play against you."

Kanata's eyes widened after she said that. Sakuno was looking at him, observing what the boy was thinking.

"I am glad that Sakuno here found you," Tomoka said looking at her making her blush in the process. Seeing her reaction, she couldn't stop grinning, "Actually, you helped her shift from the attention that she was getting through."

"Tomoka-chan!" She shouted as loud as she could.

"So, it's okay if it will be just you and her," Tomoka concluded grabbing him to his shoulder, "…for now."

Kanata stared at her for a few seconds before he broke his lips into a genuine smile. He wrote something on the board and showed it to her.

'Thank you, Osakada-san.'

Her hand which was on his shoulder went to his back and hit him hard, "Oh geez, stop that and call me Tomoka and I'll call you Kanata-kun all right."

The boy just sweat dropped, enduring the shock slap from his back. Sakuno also sweat dropped as she witnessed that. Tomoka didn't realize it but she already called him by his first name a while ago.

"But if you changed your mind and decided to come out of your nest, just tell me and I'll be your manager." Tomoka continued suggesting.

Sakuno sighed as she gave Kanata an apologetic look. Kanata returned the gesture and smiled afterwards. From the boy's expression, she knew that he understood what her best friend was talking about and would consider what she was offering.

…When the time came of course.

Before lunch:

They parted ways before lunch. She promised her grandmother that she would be home before lunch that morning so she gave Tomoka and Kanata their packed lunch. Tomoka actually decided to stay in the court accompanying the silent boy for a while. Kanata gave her the gesture that he was fine with her.

She was glad that Kanata felt at ease with her best friend. That was a good sign of friendship. She was glad that she could introduce the two and there would no problem in the future.

Remembering something, she went to stop by in a book store. Searching for the stacks of books, she finally found what she was looking for.

…The Les Misérables novel by Victor Hugo.

She knew the story of the book but she still needed to know how the characters would act. She was really familiar of her own character despite that she knew her character's fate. No wonder that she couldn't react to her heart and the moment she discovered that her instinct was right.

She would be playing 'Eponine' in the play.

Sighing, she grabbed the book and went to the direction where the cashier was.

Only to be stopped.

Not a few meters away, she stared at the amber eyes staring back at her. Echizen Ryoma was standing a few meters from her. It seemed that the tennis prodigy was also shocked to see her there.

"H-hi, Ryoma-kun." She initiated the conversation after a few seconds of silence. She noticed the way she looked at her duffel bag before he looked at the book that she was hugging to her chest.

"You are going to read." That rather sounded a statement than a question which she answered.

"Hai, I needed to know the whole story."

He nodded as he walked closer to the book shelf as well and was looking at the same book.

"Anou… are you going to read too?" She said after he walked past her and stared at him staring at the books.

"I don't really know the story… and my character." He answered still looking at the books.

It took a few seconds before she replied to him who was picking one of the books now. And before she could stop herself, she already blurted her thoughts out, "If you don't mind… I can share you my book after reading it."

Still looking at the book, he replied to her offer, "Betsuni. I am planning to buy one today too."

"Oh, I see," She said feeling ridiculously stupid in front of him. He was inside the bookstore so it was natural that he would buy that book as well, "Well, I'll be going now. See you tomorrow at school, Ryoma-kun." Before he could reply to her, she immediately turned around and continued walking to the cashier and bought the book. She just only remembered something;

It was still suffocating to be alone in a narrow place with him… and that was what she would try to avoid next time they would encounter.

The Next day:

Under the cherry tree, she decided to read the novel at the school grounds that morning. She started reading the book last night and she had understood so far. It was like how she remembered the characters from before; only reading the book gave her more ideas of their personalities.

…Especially Eponine.

She realized something. All of the girl's scenes in the book were somehow the same as her. She was her in real life. No wonder that Honoka chose that role for her.

"Hey, Jondrette girl."

Looking up, she saw the tensai walking towards her location. She was about to stand up but told her not to, "O-ohayou, Fuji-senpai." She bowed her head to him instead.

"May I?" He asked pointing to the side. When she nodded, Fuji sat beside her and greeted her normally, "Ohayou, Ryuzaki-chan. Quite busy now, aren't we?"

She looked down on the book and smiled a little, "Hai… I need to be familiar with my character," She chuckled a little when she remembered what he had called her a while ago, "The Jondrette girl."

"Eponine is such a remarkable character in the story," Fuji started looking ahead of him. There were some students walking to their classes and clubs. Some were looking at them but he just ignored their stares, "And I know that you will be too."

"I don't know senpai," She answered, soothing to page where she was reading, "This will be my first time doing a role in a play. I am still trying to know her character," Her eyes blinked and softened before she continued, "I am perfectly aware of her fate in the story."

"All I know is she's been happy," He said looking at her soothing the page of the book, "…in the arms of her love."

Well, that was an awkward situation. That was another thing she was worried about. No matter how much she denied it, she knew that Honoka did everything on purpose. She just wouldn't accept the fact or else she would be affected by it. Fuji was not dense not to notice that as well. He had been one of the witnesses of her downfall during that time.

"Ryuzaki-chan," He said grabbing her hand that was in top of the book and made her look at him, "What important here is your feelings. Just give all your best in the play and you'll be fine."

Still surprised at his action and words, she just looked at him before she gave him a smile. One thing that she admired about the tensai was he knew the right words that she needed to hear, "Arigatou senpai, I'll definitely do that."

"That's better," He smiled as he looked ahead once again, "It is something I'll look forward to."

His message caught her and made her look at him, "W-what? Senpai—don't tell me..."

His smile widened as he continued, "I bet the others will be doing the same too."

The blush that was slightly visible a few minutes ago became intense. She covered her face with her hands as she understood what he was talking about, "Mou! Senpai!"

Fuji ended up chuckling at her reaction. At least he was able to make her react like that… forgetting her dilemmas for a while.

And it was really working.

xxx

He saw her there reading alone first, before the tensai approached her. Sakuno was talking at him with ease. He even saw her blushing at whatever he said to her. When he saw her yesterday, she was staring at the book for minutes before she grabbed it and when she grabbed it, she turned around and saw him staring at her. No wonder that she was also shocked seeing him in the same store. He knew that she was aware the slight surprise reaction he gave her yesterday.

Ryoma was never a bookworm but he ended up buying the book. He was never interested in any activities but tennis. If that was the case, why was he giving attention to the play now? He hadn't read the book so he didn't have the idea about his role. All he knew was what his girlfriend told him.

Marius was in love with Cossette the first time he laid an eye on her. Cossette was Honoka, his girlfriend. She was telling him something about their characters but he was not really paying attention about it.

What was the difference?

"They look good, aren't they?"

He heard Honoka comment as she wrapped her hands to his arm. Registering what she said to him, he observed the two under the cherry tree.

They did look good. Smiling together, talking together and joking together, the thing that did not completely fulfill when they were together.

"Well, I am glad that she was finally over you," Honoka said giggling as she smirked, thinking that he didn't see that, "She moved on from you. It only meant that she wasn't really serious about you when you were together."

His jaw tightened when she said that. For the first time in months, he wanted to hit his girlfriend. He was not like that and he would never hit a girl. Honoka's words were offensive. He had… valued their relationship after all… when she was still his girlfriend. Now that he was with his true love, he didn't know what to think anymore.

Now that he was with Honoka, he wasn't sure anymore.

Without saying a word, he entangled her hands to his arm and turned around.

"Where are you going?" Honoka asked after the slight shock covered on her face.

"Practice." He only said not really looking at her. He loved his girlfriend but right now, he didn't want to see her for a while. His thoughts about the braided-pigtailed girl didn't sound right to his ears.

Three Days later:

'There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
not in my castle on my cloud…'

The audio sound of the song filled the classroom as Honoka did the child version of her character… lip syncing in the process. Sakuno was out in the open when she was staring at her touching the beautiful doll from the display. Honoka hid from the window and held on to her own 'doll' as she continued acting.

'There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says, Cosette, I love you very much

I know a place where no one's lost
I know a place where no one cries
Crying at all is not allowed
Not in my castle on a cloud…'

Tomoka came in to the view and started lip syncing her own music. She started scolding the little Cossette who was still sweeping the floor. Sakuno came into the view who was still outside. Tomoka called her in;

'Éponine, come my dear.
Éponine, let me see you.
You look very well in that little blue hat!
There's some little girls who know how to behave,
And they know what to wear
And I am saying thank heaven for that…'

Tomoka saw Honoka hiding behind the wall and that didn't escape her rage.

'Still there, Cosette?
Your tears will do you no good,
I told you to fetch some water
from the well in the wood.

Cosette:
Please do not send me out alone.
Not in the darkness on my own.

Madame Thénardier:
Enough of that, or I'll forget to be nice!
You heard me ask for something,
And I never ask twice!...'

"CUT!" The teacher announced after that scene. The people in front of the stage stopped doing their roles, stopping the music in the process, "Good job everyone. You are doing well with your roles. Osakada-san, I am so pleased to see you well in your role. Continue doing that."

Tomoka beamed when she heard that from her teacher, "Hai, arigatou sensei." The teacher left for a short break after that leaving them on the stage.

"Denying the role before but now she's into it. What a bipolar girl." Honoka whispered looking at her fingernails.

Tomoka heard that and retorted, "What did you say? You deserved to be punished."

"I am right, you didn't like to do the role at first and now you do," Honoka said facing her, "I bet you read that part where the madame made Cosette suffer in the role but I knew that you haven't known the rest of the story yet."

Tomoka was fuming. Sakuno tried to stop them from fighting but her best friend wasn't finished, "Oh I know the story. Cosette is just the girl that Marius falls in love to. And I am perfectly aware that Éponine didn't steal Marius from her unlike what some other girl did in real life!"

"What did you say?!"

Sakuno was really shocked when Tomoka said that. She was stiffened at her location. Why did Tomoka have to say that? She was still in the process of stopping both girls who were so close of doing a cat fight.

"Why? Aren't you guilty?" Tomoka said not planning to lose the fight, "You let Sakuno play the role of Éponine because you know that she will never have Maruis' love. It is all one-sided."

"T-Tomo-chan, please stop it…" Sakuno said grabbing her to her shoulder. They were catching attention not just in their class but also the other students who came from the outside.

"Everyone fits the role I've chosen for them," Honoka retorted back, smirking mockingly in the process, "Sakuno-san's role is a perfect match for her."

"You are selfish, arrogant, boastful, devil—"

"Describe me in all the negative adjectives you know. I bother don't care!"

"Tomo-chan, Honoka-san!" Sakuno tried to look at them both, "Will you two stop fighting. None of it matters now!"

"Oh geez, Sakuno-san," Honoka was frustrated at that moment, "Just be thankful that I gave you a major role in this play. At least have a little privilege of doing that because you can have some moment with my Marius in the play."

Sakuno didn't expect that. She was awfully shocked when the girl said that. Not knowing what to say, she just stared at her, who was smirking at the both of them. They only looked on the crowd below when a screech from a chair was being rudely moved or probably fell down from its location. Echizen Ryoma stood from the fallen chair and his face was unreadable.

"Honoka, that's enough." He stoically said.

"But Ryoma-kun, they insulted me!" Honoka said facing her boyfriend pointing them. Tomoka was about to retort but she beat her to it, "How can I let go of that?"

"You insulted Osakada first if you remember," Ryoma said facing her. Honoka had taken a back when she saw his cold amber eyes staring at her, "You have gone too far."

Honoka bit her lower lip as she gripped her fists really hard. The others started to murmur around them. The atmosphere was tense and it was really awkward. Ryoma looked at Tomoka and Sakuno. Out of everyone's surprise, they didn't expect Ryoma bowed in front of them.

"Gomen…" He only said one word but that made everyone speechless. After he said that, he slowly walked to exit the gym. Honoka called out to him as she followed him outside.

The rest of the class sighed after that scene. Sakuno looked at Tomoka who shrugged. That was really intense indeed.

Later on:

"You shouldn't have done that, Tomo-chan." She said eating their lunch at the cafeteria.

Tomoka ate her frustration up as she ordered lots during their lunch, "She's getting on my nerves. I can't believe that you let her do what she pleases."

"I am not. I am just doing my best in the play."

"We still all know the ending," Tomoka looked at her while chewing, "Your fate will never change. I am so hate that girl. No—I despise her the most."

"Tomo-chan…" She didn't know what to say. If they saw everything upside down, they both knew that Tomoka was right. And there was no way to change it. Somehow, she felt thrilled that her best friend stood up for her.

"Anyway, just give your feelings in the play and do your best. Don't let them beat you."

"Fuji-senpai said that same thing to me three days ago," Sakuno said smiling in the process, "He's giving me some boost to continue with my role."

Tomoka stopped from eating and grinned widely at her, "Ne, Sakuno. What's between you and Fuji-senpai?"

"What?"

"You seem to be getting along," She continued wiggling her eyebrows as if teasing her.

"N-nothing's going between us," She blushed as she looked at her plate, "He's just helping me."

"Really?" Tomoka sounded unconvinced.

"Really!" She confirmed, hoping that Tomoka dropped the issue… which her prayer answered. She continued eating her food for a few seconds but not until she started speaking once again.

"On the contrary, I am glad that she gave that role that role to me. She would know how madame Thenardier treat her little adopted daughter. I have the chance to be wicked in the play." She started laughing like a witch.

If she didn't know Tomoka she would feel scared and weird at the same time. Good thing that she knew her… and being with her was something that she needed to deal with. Above anything else, she was glad to have Tomoka as her best friend.

With her best friend, she knew she could handle everything…

Done! How was this chapter? I have many ideas for the play. I hope it will turn out fine. Anyway, please let me hear your thoughts about this. Domo.

The song and the scripts are actually from the movie itself. I do not own it. Zero-related. I just love sharing it. Capiche?

Next chapter: A Heart Full of Love