Romeo and Juliet
Chapter 01


The entire room was silent. A single pin drop could be amplified a thousand times. And there, in this particular room, all the meticulous writers and editors are down to work, their heads bent, their backs all up straight and their sharp eyes scanning through pieces after pieces of papers stacked high up in front of them, as their hands swiftly swept through more pieces of paper, lined up with illegible snakelike drawings.

This was the room for Shitenhouji's Newspaper Club, where the pupils themselves cook up some gossip or rumor or simply factual news for the rest of the readers. An issue of such a school newspaper comes out every fortnight.

In a corner of this room, at a wooden desk, a girl was busy scribbling away words after words. She wore this utterly annoyed look on her face, as she occasionally scratched her head- obviously mulling over what to write. However, she continued writing at lightning speed on whatever that sprang into her mind.

"And with that, our dear Risa Hikaru easily clinched champion, earning glory for Shitenhouji in the track and field section," she wrote as a frisson of excitement rushed through her body. She was finally going to finish this article!

"She'd be competing in a month's time against Hyotei Gakuen again in the preliminaries for the National Tournament." She continued.

And there, the article was completed.

Her face lit up, and she tossed her pen away. She then lifted the piece of paper, and admired her work, which were pieces of paper filled with horrible handwriting. Still, at least she had finished the article.

" !" a voice abruptly boomed from behind her and seconds later, she felt someone's palm resting on her shoulder. She turned, and realized that it was her senior- Shinn Asuke.

"Yo, , completed the article already?" he quipped as he adjusted the blue visor he wore over his disheveled hair, and nodded. "Indeed. Why are you wearing that visor in an air-conditioned room anyway?"

"Aha..." Shinn muttered as he scratched his head a little. "Wearing visors makes me look more like a writer of newspapers. You've completed your work right? Show me what you've written. You are actually pretty fast!" Shinn quickly commented to change the topic.

"No way! You are clearly aware that my works are simply illegible!" protested, as she tried to shun him away. "Aww, come on! Don't be diffident!" Shinn pleaded, as he tried to snatch it from her.

"No, no! Sempai!" cried out, as she tried to conceal her terrible work. After minutes of tussling about, Shinn gave up. "All right, fine. I'm sure you had written it well. But... how could you have written it so fast?"

"Well," began, "I didn't watch that drama you all watched and used that hour's time for this. What's so nice about it, watching two men fighting around for a lady?"

Shinn chuckled. "It's a pretty hilarious drama. One of my favorites."

"You like this kind of drama? That's so ridiculous-" A vibration in her pockets interrupted her speech. hurriedly fumbled for her pockets, and she soon fished out her handphone, which was ringing away, screaming for her to answer it.

"Hello, this is the Newspaper Club of Shitenhouji. I'm speaking, and how may I be of assistance to you? If you want to speak to me, please press one. If you called this number for nothing please press two. If you are a dumb ass who called the wrong number, please press 3. If you don't know what I'm talking about and am wondering if I'm still sane, please press 4. Thank you." asked jokingly as she answered the call.

" ! Stop all your craps about the pressing number thing, and tell me where you are right now?" It was her fussy and bothersome Mother who gets overly paranoid at times.

"I'm in school, obviously!" honestly replied, and her Mother asked, "So... are you now at the Newspaper Club or the Drama club which you had promised your dear Matsui best friend that you'll join?" was instantly aghast.

Oh shucks. She had forgotten that she promised her best friend- Matsui Fumida that she'd join her drama club with her. And now she has two clubs she need to run to.

"And," her Mother started in a rather enraged tone, "You even promised your childhood sweetheart- Fuji Syuusuke that you'll help out at his tennis club in appreciation for what he did to help you with your subjects!"

's face darkened a little. She was really forgetful. How could she have forgotten of all these pacts that she had made to her friends? Boy, now these weeks will definitely get hectic for her. couldn't resist the temptation of letting out a massive sigh.

"Oh, so now you are regretful over your actions? And, the Drama Club is organizing a play in a few weeks' time, and from what I gather the title is, 'Romeo and Juliet'." Mother spoke.

"Of course I'm in the Newspapers Club. I started the conversation mentioning about the club. All right, can't speak any longer... My chief is heading for me right now... And! Fuji Syusuke is not my childhood sweetheart. He's a childhood friend. Friend!" I emphasized, before I ended the call and slipped the handphone back into my pockets.

"Yo, my Master!" Shinn greeted, and the chief glowered at him. He was forced silent instantly.

"Don't you dare call me that. I prefer the simple address as Chief. All right then, , have you finished with your work?" Chief asked as he pointed at me, and I reached out to grip the pieces of papers on the desk. "Yes, Chief, I've finished them." I said, as I handed them the pieces of paper.

"Very impressive, finished within such a short period of time. Your Drama Club is calling for you right now, so you'd better hurry over. Remember to look me up today after your series of activities, because there's something that I need to tell you," Chief told me, and I nodded, as a million thoughts bombarded my mind. What was he going to tell me about?

"I bet Chief is going to make a confession! Aww, this is so sweet, he's only 20, and 's 15, such love is totally cool!" A writer remarked as he grinned, but all he received was a pen hurled over by Chief that hit the top of his head. "Shut up." The Chief had a note of finality in his voice.

The other writers and editors burst away in rumbling laughter. couldn't help herself and giggled a bit. However, Chief was never flippant, and he immediately went, "HEY! ALL OF YOU GET BACK TO WORK! , you are permitted to leave now." With that, waved to Shinn-sempai as she darted out of the room, where Chief was roaring and clapping for the writers to get serious and get back to work.

What a day for me in the Newspapers Club.

Afterwards, I sprinted over to the Drama Room, where the Drama Club was. There, my best friend Matsui Fumida stood in front of a notice board, her eyes fixed on a certain pamphlet on the notice board. "Hey, Matsui!" I waved when I was near her, and her eyes immediately left the pamphlet. She then flung her entire body onto mine and embraced me tight.

"! You are here!" she squealed as she gave a tight squeeze.

"Y-You are s-s-squeezing brain j-juice out of me..." muttered, and upon hearing those words, Matsui loosened her grip and led go of her. "Have you seen this pamphlet? It's on the Romeo and Juliet play." Matsui asked, as she pointed to the piece of paper that was pinned onto the notice board. took a step forward to take a look at the ostentatious pink pamphlet, filled with fanciful swirls as a decoration. It read, "Shitenhouji's Drama Club is proudly presenting... Romeo and Juliet, a story of twists and love. The play will be acted out on Valentine's Day, which falls on a Tuesday two weeks after. This play shall be held in the School Theater at 3 in the afternoon. See you there!"

then turned to look Matsui, whose eyes once again rest on the pamphlet, as she exuded euphoria. "U-Umm... Matsui?" asked, as she shook my hands in front of her eyes. "U-Uh?" She blinked as she turned to face her as well, "What's wrong?"

"You were building sandcastles in the air. A penny for your thoughts?" asked, and she shrugged. "Well, I really hope that the main male lead can be Shiraishi Kuranosuke."

"Shiraishi Kuranosuke? You mean the captain of our school's tennis team who plays perfect tennis?" asked, as her eyes widened. She was bewildered that her best friend would mention about him; he was hot, yes, but knew perfectly well that her friend Matsui had never even dared to stand a meter close to this Shiraishi guy. And because of this "policy" that she holds, others always tend to criticize her as being a numskull, or simply someone fatuous. For though, she would only walk past him, unless she needed to get information out of him.

Matsui smiled. "Yes, that Shiraishi Kuranosuke. He's the one and only Shiraishi in this school anyway." "I feared that you had fallen in love with another Shiraishi Kuranosuke outside Shitenhouji. Well, why'd you want him to be the male lead? I mean... he's not in the Drama Club, is he?" was baffled.

"He's not in the Drama Club, how can he be? He needs to concentrate on his tennis team. However, for this play, we can vote for our desired actors, even those not in the Drama Club. That's what makes me so ecstatic," Matsui said, as she started jumping around in jubilee.

"Oh, oh, all right! Now save your energy for the persuasion part," said as she tried to stop her from jumping around. "Persuasion part?" Matsui stopped jumping and raised her brow at me.

"Yes, you can persuade the teachers-in-charge to have him as the male lead and you as the female lead so you two can kiss," explained, and Matsui backed away. "N-No! I don't want to k-k-kiss him!" She refused, and sighed as she slapped her forehead. "Then how are you going to get him to love you? Waiting for miracle to happen and tie you and him together by the strings of destiny?" I snapped, and she shrugged as she gave me an apprehensive look.

"I'm just a fiasco, a complete loser, like how everyone calls me to be. Who'll fall for me?" she said in depression, and patted her shoulder. "Why bother about what those freaks are saying about you? Some of them even called me 'Ugly Duckling' or a sore loser. I never ever bothered about them. As long as you know deep right in your heart that you are not like how they described you as. Moreover, how can you be a complete failure? I nearly failed my Math test, when you passed it with flying colors."

Matsui shrugged again. "Stop dithering, that's set! I'm going to tell the teachers-in-charge to give you that role!" said, as she moved away to look for the teachers, who busily coaching some other students on their drama skills away. "No, no! ! PLEASE! DON'T!" But never listened to her. She just moved forth.

"Good afternoon, . I was looking for you," one of the female teachers started when they noticed her approach.

"Good afternoon, teacher. I've a simple request... And it's on regards to the Romeo and Juliet play that is coming up in two weeks time," said, and they beamed. "Yes, we also wanted to tell you something on that."

"H-Huh? You also wanted to tell me something on that? What is it, teachers?" quipped, and one of them spoke, "Well, we are voting for you to be Juliet, the main female lead in this play. Are you up to it?"

She froze instantly, and stood rooted to the ground.

"I b-beg your p-pardon? Me? Juliet? No way! I was just wondering if you could have Matsui Fumida as the female lead and Shiraishi Kuranosuke as the male lead since he's considered to be the hottest guys in Shitenhouji..." muttered.

"Matsui Fumida, yes, she'd do a great job, but we’d love for you to perform as Juliet, because Matsui tends to stutter more and is more diffident than you are. Her voice is also sometimes somnolent when she's all shy and everything, while yours is always loud and booming with liveliness," they explained, and shook her head.

"Nah, she'd do a better job than me. Just let her try. And is it agreed that umm... Shiraishi Kuranosuke will take the male lead?" she asked, and the teachers hesitated for a while as they discussed their different opinions.

"Well," one of them started again when their discussion ended, "We'll give Matsui Fumida the role of Juliet temporarily, and if she does a great job, we'll let her take it. And Shiraishi Kuranosuke seems like an ideal choice provided that he has the time to participate in this play. , can we entrust you with the task of looking him up for an answer on this and get back to us by tomorrow?"

's jaw dropped. "Tomorrow? Wow, that is pretty hasty..." she muttered, as she walked off, trying to find Matsui and break the good news to her. She found her hiding behind a wall in embarrassment and she pulled her out of the wall.

"What are you doing behind the wall? The teachers have agreed to give you the role and they'll monitor your performance. If your acting meets their requirements, they'll give you the role of Juliet. If you don't meet their requirements, they might have to give the post to someone else. And, oh yes, Shiraishi Kuranosuke might be the male lead. Aren't you over the moon about this?" asked as a radiant smile was plastered across her face.

"S-S-Shiraishi K-Kuranosuke?" Matsui stuttered, as her face went pallid.

"Hey, what's wrong? It's your long-time crush! Can't you look a bit... more enthusiastic?" muttered, and Matsui shook her head vigorously. "N-No! Not Shiraishi Kuranosuke!" she protested, and I looked away. "Matsui, there's no other alternative for now. We'll need to look for Shiraishi Kuranosuke later, and I'll make sure you talk to him."

Matsui just gave me the reluctant look.

"All right! All right! Everyone, that's all for Drama Club today. About the upcoming play, any violent objections to Matsui Fumida being the temporary female lead and Shiraishi Kuranosuke being the male lead?" the teachers announced when the time was up, and the members of Drama Club all went in unison, "No problem." Well, but they went crazy when they heard that Shiraishi was going to be the male lead. Maybe because this might be one of those rare occasions that they can make use of to get close to Shiraishi.

"See?" I began when Matsui and I were walking over to the tennis courts to locate Shiraishi, "Everyone is supportive of you. Just give yourselves a bit more confidence, and I'm sure you'd shine." Matsui just kept quiet, and looked slightly disgruntled. And I thought with the play she could get closer to her crush. Isn't that just a piece of good news? Then what is she mulling about?

Oh well. Humans. They are just so baffling creatures existing in this world. Sometimes even finds herself hard to fathom. Once at the tennis courts, scanned around the courts for Shiraishi. However, she couldn't even catch a glimpse of him. Could he have left already?

Just then, "-CHAN!" a subtle voice came from behind her, and immediately spun around to find out who it was. There, standing behind her, giving her a meek smile was her 1st year Junior- Kintarou Tooyama. "Aww shucks, sorry to have given you a scare! I didn't mean it! What are you doing here? Are you here to gather more information on the tennis team? Some of them had left!" he rattled as his voice bubbled with joy.

"Oh, it's Kintarou! Is Shiraishi the captain still around?" I quipped, and Kintarou recoiled at his name, and gulped.

Oh, oh, shucks. I forgot that he kind of have a phobia of his captain. Such naivety. He feared his captain because Shiraishi Kuranosuke have this bandage around his left hand, and he once came across this manga that said something about this monster with poisonous, lethal claws. And just like this, his imagination ran wild, and he imagined himself to find such sharp, pointy claws when Shiraishi removed his bandage.

"Umm... so where is he?" I asked again, without mentioning his name.

"W-Well, I think he should be around the tennis equipments' room checking out some stuffs... Or maybe he's over at the other end of these courts, where he normally practices alone. You two should split." He suggested, and glanced at Matsui.

"Well, I'll search the tennis equipments room. You search the end of the tennis courts. Deal?"

"Okay..." Matsui's voice sounded a little weak, before she started darting away to find Shiraishi. just made her way to the tennis equipments room.

"He'd better not be in here. Saves me more trouble," muttered under her breath, as she reached and turned the doorknob. Unfortunately for her, a guy with hazel hair was inside; sorting out the equipments, making sure everything needed was there. It was Shiraishi Kuranosuke. When Shiraishi noticed her, he stopped what he was doing.

"Oh, you are that reporter. Sorry, I don't have time for any questioning," Shiraishi muttered, as he continued arranging the equipments. "W-Well, not r-really, that's not my reason for looking you up today. I j-just wondered if you are interested in participating in an upcoming play." I stuttered. Dear. I'm really nervous again. I mean- look at him! He's so hot!

"A play? That'll have to depend on whether I have the time or not. There are no competitions coming right up, but still, I'm not very good at acting." Shiraishi muttered, as he removed a few objects off some shelves. "W-Well, it's not compulsory, and we are not going to force anybody. If you can't make it, you don't have to. But I think many people would love to have you act in it." tried her best to convince him, but it didn't really sound persuasive at all.

"Even I'd encourage you to join that play," Another foreign voice came, and we turned to look. A man, having some loose moustache, wearing a straw hat over his disheveled hair stood at the door, peering inside.

"Ah, coach," Shiraishi started, as he smiled a little.

"Well, well, Shiraishi! Isn't it time that you got a little break off tennis?" the man asked, as he grinned a little.

"Taking breaks are inevitable. But as a captain, I have to work hard to set an exemplary example for my fellow teammates. If by joining it and it aggravated the team's performance and sending everything into disarray..." The man chuckled, and Shiraishi fell silent.

"Haha, Shiraishi. Are you looking down on my leadership? I can lead the rest of the tennis players in place of you. After all, it'd just be a week. It won't be long. I've already read that pamphlet. Pretty catchy it was," The man said, as he lifted his straw hat slightly.

"So... as your coach, I'd want you to go for this play. I won't take 'No' as an answer. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm feeling pretty famished now..." he muttered himself as he lowered his straw hat and sauntered away with his hands in his pockets.

Afterwards, Shiraishi gave a perfunctory glance, before saying resolutely, "Fine, fine. I'd join that school play. Can't defy my coach, can I?" And then he bent down to pick up the equipments that he had removed from the shelves.

"Need a hand?" offered, and he looked at her.

"No thanks-" Before he could even complete his sentence, already had a bag of the equipments up in my arms.

"I'll help. Where d-do I need to put these?" she asked, and he pointed to his left.

"Well, there's another room around there. We just have to leave these there. I'll lead you there," he spoke, as he beckoned her to follow after him.

The first few minutes of their walking journey over to that room was immersed in a deadly silence, until broke it by asking him about his tennis practices. Silence was creepy after all.

"S-So... Shiraishi-kun how's tennis practice?" she asked, and he responded, "Quite fine. We are preparing for a tennis match coming up soon. It's against one of the strongest teams in Japan- Seigaku. They are quite formidable, I hear. We haven't faced them before, though. I'm getting this adrenal rush in me when I think of those battles..."

"Wow, you mean Seigaku? I've a childhood friend there, and he also just happens to be in the tennis team as well! Have you heard of Fuji Syusuke?" asked, and he gave a chuckle. "Heard of him? I've even seen him? Who in the tennis teams around Japan doesn't know who Fuji Shusuke is? He's known widely across the country as a tensai in tennis, and you are his childhood friend! What's your name again?"

" ," answered, and he nodded. "Oh okay, so I'd address you as , or ?" he asked, and she pondered for a little bit. " sounds better. sounds too formal," said, and he nodded again. "You share my sentiments. Sure. I'll call you . Are you participating in the play as well?"

"Maybe. I'm not too sure about that. I might be a frozen prop at the back of the stage... You'll be the male lead- Romeo, and my dear friend... Hmm, she should be around here, should be the female lead- Juliet. T-There is even a kissing scene! Has anyone lay claim on your f-first kiss before?" asked, and he raised a brow at her.

"That's a pretty gawky question to ask, but no," he replied, and widened her eyes. "What? No? I thought you'd have at least fallen in love once or twice. Never mind, we are in the same boat. I only crush on people; I've never actually fallen in love."

"What's the difference?" Shiraishi couldn't tell the difference between "crushing on someone" and "falling in love with someone". Can't blame him either, thinks that her way of thinking and comprehending might also differ from his.

"Crushing on someone might be short-lived. And it might also be a one-sided affair. While for falling in love it's a two-sided affair, and it might not be that short-lived, well, depending on the two parties... Am I right to explain like this?" she quipped, and he shrugged. "Opinions always differ. But what you say do make a little sense."

By then, they had reached this room with a rusty yellow doorknob. Shiraishi fished out a pair of silver keys and then opened the door. "Come, enter. We'll store these equipments here temporary, since they are quite expensive, and we'll have then as spares during the tennis matches. Thanks for your help," he thanked, as he took the bagful of equipments from 's hands, before he led her out of the room and closed it with a click.

"So, are you going home now?" Shiraishi asked, as he swung the bunch of keys around his index finger.

"Not r-really... I still have to find my best friend..." As soon as said that, Matsui miraculously appeared in front of me. "Oh. Now she has found her way to me," she muttered, and Matsui gawked at Shiraishi.

"S-S-Shiraishi K-K-Kuranosuke...?" her voice quivered terribly, as she pointed at the guy standing next to . Her face turned pallid again, as if she had just spotted a ghost or something.

"Yes, that's me. What's your name-" Before Shiraishi could complete his sentence, Matsui started backing away step by step, before she took to her heels, and vanished within seconds.

"I never knew she was such a runner. Pardon her," coughed a little, "She's suffering from some illness called 'Crush Fear'." "She has a fear of her crush? Wow, that's a rare case..." Shiraishi muttered.

"Well then, I need to look up my Chief for the Newspaper Club. I'll see you at the Drama Room tomorrow then. Do you know where it is?" asked, as she was about to take my leave. "I suppose so," he gave a vague answer, and she sighed. "Well, if you don't know how to get there, just look for me. I'm a third year as well. Classroom 3-1."

With that, waved goodbye and rushed to find Chief, who was still waiting in the Newspaper Club's room for her.

"I'm really sorry I came in so late!" apologized instantly when she stepped into the empty room- everyone had already left for his or her respective homes.

"No, no, it's okay! Come, , take a seat," Chief beckoned, as he tidied a stack of papers in front of him. "Well, , I've good news for you. It appears that the students of this school like your articles more than anyone else's, and there's an overwhelming response from them about your articles. Therefore, I'd like to appoint you to be the writer for the school's tennis team's newspaper." Chief spoke, and was puzzled.

"Why'd the tennis club need a newspaper?" she asked, and Chief shrugged nonchalantly. "I hear it's because the coach would like to know the progress of the tennis team through all these articles and make the school's students know them better. Either way, I'll be entrusting this task to you. And also, there's nobody going to make the announcements through the Public Announcement, or P.A system these few days, because they obviously found it treacherous, having to go there every day. Well, they are just lazy bums, so I was wondering if you'd want to try it out as well."

"Wow, the P.A system?" exclaimed, "I'd love to try it out!" She was definitely agog. Speaking to the school through such a system sounded cool, and you can even hear your voice being transmitted throughout the entire school! Isn't this cool?

"Then it's all settled! Great! Here are the keys for the P.A room, and you can commence work tomorrow! You'd most likely just find the papers with the announcements to be made on them, and you just have to read them out aloud into the microphone. Don't worry; I'd help you out tomorrow. With all these said, you may leave," he said, as he waved at , and she bolted out of the school before she slowed down and started ambling home.

She even hummed her favorite tune as she walked, trying to relax herself after such a strenuous day at school, running to 2 different clubs in a single day. This year must be tough.

At this moment, she chanced upon someone.

It was someone very familiar.

It was Shiraishi Kuranosuke.

And he was standing rooted to the ground outside a glossy shop, gazing into the display longingly. took a closer inspection, and realized it was a shop sweet little gifts. The external of the shop was grandly furnished, and was festooned with ribbons, as if they were celebrating some sort of festival.

Just what was Shiraishi Kuranosuke staring at? The items on display? Is he planning to buy something nice for his crush?

However, seconds later, Shiraishi took to his heels, and darted away, disappearing faster than you could count from one to five. Not in instances where you count one then five, of course. If he could evanesce from my sights when count one then five, she'll go to her knees and idolize him.

"Well, well, what was he staring at?" mumbled, as she headed over to where Shiraishi last stood, and gazed inside. There weren't any items on display, surprisingly, and really wondered what could have attracted Shiraishi's attention and make him speed away afterwards. She decided to explore the shop for an answer. "Compelling curiosity... Boy, it always gets the better of me. That's why being a writer is such a suitable job for me..." thought as she pushed the door into the shop open.

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