Lomachislots War - Lost Childhood (Original) ~

[Kasawa Lanford]

Their own teacher stopped when she noticed that the other boy's teacher wasn't doing anything.

"I hope Sakura isn't nervous, I never expected such a big crowd to show up," Rin said.

Behind her another student, an upper-classman, said. "That's because some of the people watching are judges who will choose whether or not Sakura can go to the capital for the finals," the student said, her arms on her chair and hair face on it. "You must be friends with her huh?"

Rin nodded, "we've known Sakura for a long time, my mother used to babysit her before she started kindergarten."

The student smiled. "I see..." she said. "I guess it'll be a bit while longer before they start the assembly..." the student said noting others walking in.

Behind the curtain, the chorus club got set up. They formed four rows a touch a bench, one row just higher than the other. On the bottom row, by herself, Sakura stood there. Unlike the other chorus members, she didn't hav a sheet in her hand.

"Ten minutes," the chorus teacher said. Sakura sighed and took a gulp from her water bottle, "calm down Sakura-chan!" a friend of hers said. Sakura turned and smiled nervously, her friend was the only one who used honorifics around her.

Her teacher looked at her watch but noticed that Sakura was nervous. She then watched as Sakura placed her hand in front of her and counted, then placed the hand up to her mouth and acted as if she had just ate something. "Thats the way Sakura, thats how you get rid of your nervousness..." her teacher smiled.

[Director of Music]

Andy sat next to Anise, while Phineas, next to RIn.  Andy looked on the stage and realized Sakura was nervous.  From where he was, he shouted, "HEY SAKURA!! GO FOR IT!"  Several students and teachers turned and stared at him.  Andy just grinned broadly at them.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Sakura's face turned bright red. Some of her friends giggled, even her own teacher couldn't help but laugh. "Err... why did he have to do that..." Sakura said and looked at the ground. She repeated what she had gone before and gulped down the audiance she had drawn in her hand.

Toward the edge of the stage, the chorus teacher was sitting at a piano. In the back, however, the high school band club was sitting things up. "A single where Sakura is singing solo?" The high school junior said and shook her head. "She sounded excellent at practice, can't wait I hear here here," another sounded.

As the auditorium began to get quiet, the chorus rose from her chair and welcomed the students to the assembly. She told them what song they would be playing, the first was a typical grade-school song, but she had told them it was changed slightly. Her piano told the tail, the song was much more soothing.

Sakura waited as her fellow chorus memebrs started singing; she had her eyes closed, waiting for her part - then she started.

[Director of Music]

As soon as Sakura started singing, the audience was hushed.  Even Andy, stopped talking.  He knew Sakura was a brilliant singer, but he hadn't heard her voice in this long.  It was almost like a dream.  His arm brushed Anise's as he leaned foward. 

Phineas, was also awestruck.  "Beautiful... he murmured.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise was to transfixed on Sakura to even notice, but her heart apperently did notice as he began to beat faster.

Sakura continued to sing, stopping every so often for the other members to sing their peice. After ten minute's she and the chorus club stopped, it was the ending of the first of several songs. The curtain came down and the students gave out a sigh of relief, Sakura took the water bottle that as under the bench and took in some water. "That was wonderful Sakura-chan!" her friend said.

"Yea, a lot better than in practice!" A chorus member said. She smiled, "but.. its not over yet."

"Five minute break," The chorus teacher said.

Out in the audiance, everyone applauded even though the curtain was down. Anise smiled and Rin nodded, "I told her that practice would make perfect!" she said, nodding several times.

[Director of Music]

Andy snapped out of his reverie.  "That was brilliant!"  Phineas nodded.  "It certaintly was.  I wonder how Sakura's feeling..."

Andy shrugged.  "She shouldn't worry  She's doing great."  He stood up and stretched, taking his jacket off.  He sat back down after a moment.  He then noticed that Anise had turned rather red.

Andy, concerned asked, "Are you alright, Anise?" 

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise blinked and stared forward. "W-what?" she said before answering his question. "I-i-i'm fine... w-why?" she said, not even realizing that her face was red.

[Director of Music]

Phineas inwardly groaned.  How can Andy be such an idiot?  Anise likes him!

Andy frowned.  "It's like you're burning up..." He moved to put a hand on her forehead.  It WAS very hot, but not for the reason Andy thought.  "Are you sure you're okay?"

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise blinked. "Maybe I'm running a fever..." she said. Rin sighed and shook her head, sometimes Anise can be so dense.. doesn't she realize that she likes him?

In the back, Sakura was almost ready for the next song. This one was also a grade-school song, but it was completely original with just her and two other members of the chorus singing it.

The curtain went up and the Chorus teacher told them who created the song. Then she turned to the piano and began to play, another soft tone, and soon Sakura and her two chorus members began to sing.

[Director of Music]

Andy and Anise both quieted down as Sakura and two other members of the choir started singing.  It was relaxing...soothing...as if nothing could go wrong at all.

Phineas relaxed, his tension gone.

[Kasawa Lanford]

As they sang, the students all went into a trance, they all appeared to be very happy. As she neared the end of her song she stopped and smiled at the students, the other two members also stopped a short time later. The curtain then went down and the teacher gave them another five minute break.

[Director of Music]

This time, Andy stood up and walked outside.   It was snowing gently.  It was so peaceful and serene, that Andy couldn't help but sigh.  He didn't bring his jacket, so he got cold.  He walked around a bit, thinking of what his dad had said to him.

He went back inside and shook the snow off.  The snow on his hair melted, making it damp.  He went to his seat and put his jacket back on, sniffing.

Meanwhile, Phineas turned to Rin.  Anise didn't hear.

Whispering, Phineas said, "Andrew can be such an idiot sometimes...I don't understand why he isn't catching on..."

[Kasawa Lanford]

Rin gave a soft giggle. "Yea... but the same can be said of Anise, she hasn't caught on either," Rin whispered and smiled.

High above them, the support columbs that held up the roof began to show signs of stress as bolts began to snap apart, but the bolts didn't fall to the ground like they should've but instead turned into fine sand that was blown away by the light wind that blew through the building.

Below on stage, Sakura had just finished singing. She let out a sigh of relief and then smiled at the audiance, the curtain went back down. "Almost time for teh band huh Sakura-chan?" her friend asked her.

"Uh huh, after my solo peice the headmaster will dismiss the students for a one hour recess, after which the high school band will play a song with me singing," Sakura smiled at her friend who smiled back.

The teacher came out and asked Sakura if she was ready for her solo peice. "You have five minutes," she told her. Sakura nodded, the song she was singing had no music attached to it, instead she would be using her voice to add the music to it.

As the curtain's rose, Sakura stood there on stage in the center. Her fellow chorus members stood on the bench and watched her, her friend smiled.

Sakura smiled. A wild song, a solo song, I wonder if the students will like it? she thought as she looked across the audiance. She brought her arms and hands up to her chest, clasped them, and then began to sing.

[Director of Music]

Curiosity filled Phineas.  This song was faster, wilder, more out-of-the-box.  He smiled slightly.  It was new.  He liked it.  A seat away from him, Andy was smiling happily too.  He liked upbeat songs.  Add to that, an incredible singer, it was just breath taking.

[Kasawa Lanford]

When Sakura was done she let out another sigh and smiled at the audiance. As the curtain closed the headmaster walked in front of it and adressed the students, "I hope everyone here is enjoying the assembly so far," she said and got an applause from almost everyone.

She nodded. "The chorus club is going to take a one hour break, in the mean time everyone here is also on break. You can either go on recess or go to the cafeteria and eat lunch," she said and gestured to the clock which read eleven forty five. "In one hour return to your classrooms so your teacher can bring you back here, is that understood?" she asked.

Everyone said 'yes' or 'yes ma'am' with the students were dismissed.

Behind the curtain Sakura sat down on a chair and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You ok?" her friend asked her. "Huh? Yea.... I'm fine..." she smiled. "What do you want to do?" her friend asked her. "Practice some-more.." she said before the chorus teacher came up, "Sakura, let's return to music room and see if we can improve upon your next song," the teacher said. Sakura nodded and followed the teacher out another exit.

***

Anise and Rin smiled, "that was exciting, but looks like Sakura is saving the best for last," Rin grinned. "Can't wait," she said and looked at Andrew and Phineas. "I don't know about you two, but Anise and I are going to head back to our classrooms and grab out coats and head outside in the snow, want to join us?" she asked.

[Director of Music]

"Yeah!" Andy replied enthusiastically.  He hadn't brought anything but his coat jacket so he just buttoned it up.  Phineas had brought a jacket and wore it.  They followed Anise and Rin to their classrooms, then the foursome headed outside in the snow. 

Once Andy was outside, his eyes were gleaming mischiveously.  He quickly made a snow ball and thew it at Phineas which promptly knocked him up side the head.  Phineas turned and glared.  He quickly made a counter attack, but Andy dodged, grinning gleefully.

"C'mon, Anise, Rin!, Finny!   Let's have teams!"

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise and Rin grinned and the two of them made a snow ball. Anise threw hers at Phineas while RIn threw her's at Andrew.

[Director of Music]

Rin's snowball hit the back of Andy's head, causing his hair to get even wetter.  Good naturedly, he made one and aimed at Rin. 

Phineas, clearly trying to get back at Andy, threw another one at him.  This time, it got the blonde on the back.  Phineas smirked happily.

Andy quickly hid behind a clump of trees, pulling Anise with him.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Anise blushed. "eek!" she said.

Rin dodged the ball, but the snow ball hit a student behind her. "Sorry!" Rin said and rolled up another snow ball and threw it at Phineas.

[Director of Music]

Phineas was able to dodge.  "Hey!" He said softly.

Meanwhile, Andy and Anise were safely behind the clump of trees.

"Okay, here's what we do.  We just have to make a load of snowballs, then start throwing and we just don't stop."  Andy grinned.  "We'll be sure to get them that way."