Ace!

Written by : Chiaki Nozomi

Class 00 – Determination

"You want to go where," Tomoyo exclaimed in horror.

"Tokyo Otoko Daigakkou," Sakura answered simply and tossed the brochure to Tomoyo, who let it hit her chest and fall to the ground. She stared at the paper as if it were the most disgusting thing she had seen in her life.

"It's a –"

"Male college," Sakura interrupted and plopped onto a plush, soft sofa. She sighed and reached for the fallen brochure with her foot, then dragged it close and laid it gently on the coffee table.

They sat in silence for a minute or so, until Tomoyo sighed and sat in the chair across from Sakura. "Why?"

Sakura's eyes shined, "Their tennis program is the best in the country!"

"But," Tomoyo protested, "You're a girl!"

A devilish grin appeared on Sakura's face. "That's where you come in. Tomoyo's gray eyes widened and flashed with disbelief.

"You want me to help you?!"

Sakura pouted – she hadn't expected Tomoyo to react so strongly against her idea. Her green eyes turned serious, "You're my only hope." Tomoyo frowned a bit, feeling a tad guilty. "You know my dream is to go pro – and the only way I can achieve that is through Tokodai."

Tomoyo's frowned deepened, and her forehead formed wrinkles in thought. "You and I both know males are stronger and faster than women on the court. There's no way you can return their serves – or expect to compete evenly for that matter."

"Power is nothing – its where you place the ball that counts," Sakura quoted from her tennis trainers of past, "And I can compete against them. Remember tennis club? I had to practice with the boys because I whooped the girls."

Sakura had a good point. Tomoyo looked at the brochure, then at Sakura, who looked close to crying. As a child, Tomoyo promised Sakura that she would do anything to make her happy. The promise would hold true, even if it meant dressing her best friend in baggy jeans and oversized shirts rather than frilly dresses and stylish gowns. Tomoyo stood and bowed. "I'll help you."

Sakura looked up in astonishment, and then jumped onto Tomoyo in glee. "I love you," she cried out happily, and let out other bursts of happiness.

"Let's get started, shall we," Tomoyo asked, then whipped out her measuring tape.

By the end of that week, Sakura had about thirty different outfits and fifteen 'boob reducing' vests. Tomoyo had been especially proud of the vests, not only because they functioned perfectly, but also were made of a lightweight, breathable fabric that would never get too hot. She had even gone as far to make a special 'period' vest that had little pockets of warming pads to ease the cramps. Sakura preferred a bra of the sorts, but it would have been too obvious.

As Sakura modeled the outfits, Tomoyo sighed. Sakura still looked too much like a girl, despite the alterations. After a few minutes of deliberation, she decided it was the hair. "We need to cut your hair," Tomoyo said as Sakura walked out of her dressing room in practice short and t-shirt.

Sakura fingered her mid-neck length hair. "It's too long?"

"It makes you look more like a flat chested girl than a guy," Tomoyo replied, then pulled out a pair of scissors. "I won't chop off too much, but you'll have short, choppy layers rather than long, framing layers of your current hair."

Sakura bit her lip; she was hoping she wouldn't have to cut her hair. But if cutting her hair meant she could go to Tokodai, then it would be worth it. She nodded reluctantly, and sat herself in front of Tomoyo and closed her eyes, listening to the snip of the scissors.

When she got home that night, her father expressed his surprise, chiding "You look like a teenage boy!" Sakura laughed and explained she wanted to try a new look for college. "So who cut your hair?"

"Tomoyo," she replied, "And since we both got into Tomoeda All Girls Institute, we're going to be roommates!" Fujitaka smiled gently at his daughter; she finally had grown up and was ready to leave the house.

"Sounds wonderful to me," he replied, and Sakura skirted off to pack her school necessities.

"Tokodai, here I come," she cried once she was in the sanctuary of her room, and danced around excitedly while she threw items into a suitcase, specially made by Tomoyo, of course!

Notice to would be flamers – I KNOW this story is like Hanakimi, Power!!, ect.  Don't try and be smart by saying "Your story is a copy of insert shoujo title!"  I WROTE THIS STORY KNOWING THAT I INCLUDED ELEMENTS OF THESE STORIES.  These stories are not the first, nor the last to include the plot devices I have used.  In fact, it is quite common in shoujo.  I wrote this wanting to include as many shoujo clichés as I can, as a sort of tribute to the genre.  Again, if you ignore this, prepared to be flamed by myself in return.  I'm getting tired of telling people the same thing over and over only to have none listen.