★ rainbow rocks yansim au ★

2. better than ever

[It's a beautiful day at Akademi High. The halls are full of students chatting and laughing together. Teachers grade papers in the faculty room, as always—most notably, the gym is full to the brim with students painting on paper. In a corner we see Hojiro Zameshiro, Unagi Denkashiza and Chojo Tekina talking and painting with blacks, blues and greens. In another sit Otohiko Meichi, Hazu Kashibuchi, Kyuji Konagawa and Toga Tabara, also making a poster with primarily bright colours. The Strawberry Thieves, minus their leader, are re-designing their old posters.]

[The camera pans on Mantaro Sashimasu, Iruka Dorufino, Shima Shiya, Mina Rai and Midori Gurin. Midori is happily dipping a paintbrush into a can of green paint. Mina is using yellows. When Mina goes to dip her paintbrush again, she sees something—or rather, someone—that makes her frown.]

Itachi: Need some help?

Iruka [frowning]: We're fine.

[Mantaro and Shima nod. Itachi looks away and sighs awkwardly.]

Itachi: Okay—

Miyuji [from a distance]: ITACHIII!

[Itachi looks over to where his name has been called. Miyuji Shan is jumping up and down and yelling his name with a huge grin on her face. On the floor lays a finished poster, and four other familiar faces—Gema Taku, Budo Masuta, Geiju Tsuka and Tsuruzo Yamazaki—sit around it.]

Miyuji: OVER HERE!

[Itachi smiles softly and begins heading their way. He hears whispers all around him as he walks and looks to the ground, avoiding the angry gazes of everyone around him. He finally reaches the group—the only people he could ever call his friends.]

Itachi: If I had known the whole school would be here, I would've probably just stayed at home...

[Geiju pats his shoulder. Itachi gives him a soft, thankful smile.]

[Tsuruzo clears his throat as he and Miyuji hold up the poster they had been working on. It's mainly composed of pinks and other bright colours such as yellows—probably due to the name and theme Gema had given the band—but it reflects each of their personalities. In a corner, a replica of Gema's glasses can be spotted, alongside what is meant to be Budo's bandana. In another corner is a paintbrush for Geiju. A microphone is in the center, both representing Miyuji and singing, and roses proposed by Tsuruzo are adorned on the edges to give the impression of a frame.]

Tsuruzo: Quite the eye-catching advertisement, if I do say so myself.

Itachi: It looks great.

Miyuji: Looks great, and smells like cake! [she grins] Shoku helped on that. [She points in the direction of the Cooking Club. Shoku just so happens to look in their direction and gives them a friendly wave. Geiju and Miyuji respond to it before Miyuji turns back to her friends.]

Itachi: Is Shoku not in your band?

Gema: Not exactly. Geiju told him to enter, but he wants to stick to his crowd, I guess. [shrugs] We'll rock as hard without him, anyways. [looks at Geiju] No offense.

Geiju [smiling, rolling his eyes]: None taken.

[Through the gym doors enter two figures very known to us by now: Principal Genka Kunahito and Vice-Principal Kyoshi Tachikawa. The two are smiling proudly.]

Genka: Good afternoon, students! [She walks to the center of the gym so that everyone can see her, followed closely by Kyoshi.] I just wanted to tell you all how proud I am of each and every one of you who are going to participate in the first ever Akademi High musical showcase! [Everyone cheers, including the band formed by the friends.] This is a wonderful opportunity to raise more money for our afternoon programs, especially after the, erm, [clears throat] unfortunate events at the last Friendship Games that led Mr. Saikou to not want to fund us anymore.