It was Monday, the first school day after a nice and relaxing weekend. Miku wore her dark blue navy uniform and went downstairs quickly.

"Miku, you're going to miss the train!" her mother warned her.

"Geez, don't bring me bad luck, mom!" she pouted and drank her milk rapidly before packing her umbrella. She started running as soon as she was in the street. She had to make it to the bus station on time. Miku hated Mondays, as many other people did but she also hated having to wake up early. When she finally arrived, the train was about to leave. She entered quickly and let out a sigh of relief as she sat in one of the seats and panted. Everyone looked at her oddly but she didn't seem to notice. She felt nauseous due to having run so much.

"… and that was how in the Kenji era…" the teacher could be seen writing on the board but Miku was absorbed looking at the falling rain through the window. It's not like she wasn't a good student, just sometimes she got distracted because she had too many things on her mind and then the usual question came to her mind… She had been studying so hard all this time to get to a good university and become a musician. But, what would she do once she did so? Well, she would just set more and more goals, like become well-known and such things… But was that really the reason for her to be living? In this boring world without meaning no one really cares about why they actually live and just keep going on. Shows with boring situations are not usually interesting to see, so what makes people think that living in one is okay? Miku didn't understand it, but there were few things she could do at her age. Fortunately, she would become eighteen soon and those problems could cease to irritate her but, what would happen to her school days? Would they just be boring? Miku sighed at the thought of that. She didn't want it to become like that.

The bell rang; it was time to leave the school. It was still raining slightly outside but it was so slight Miku didn't really need her umbrella. She had decided to do something about the thoughts that had been tormenting her for years; not something very interesting but it was at least better than going at home. It could delay her though, but that hardly mattered. She wanted to go to an old library and stay there and read. Few people came there and she was sure that it would be nice. It was a bit far from her school, so she took the train and went there.

The door cracked as Miku opened it. "Welcome," and old lady wearing a kimono said. The library was small and dark, the space between the bookcases was narrow and many of the books seemed like they had seen better days.

"Good evening," Miku answered and headed to one of the bookcases nearby. She picked one of the books in her hands and examined it carefully. The cover had a faded brown color and the inside of it was almost illegible, "why would anyone sell a book like this?" Miku wondered.

"Luka-chan, Luka-chan," the woman called and Miku almost gasped since she was so concentrated in the books. A tall woman with pink hair was seen coming downstairs along with a calico cat that rubbed its head on her leg.

"Yes?" she asked with a serious expression on her face and Miku couldn't help but stare.

"How is your research going?" the woman asked as she took a sip from her coffee. The cat ran near her.

"I haven't been able to find it yet but I'm at it…" the girl called Luka answered as she rubbed her head. Miku watched her as she went back upstairs and after thinking about it for some seconds she approached the woman's desk. The woman lowered her glasses and looked at Miku.

"Is there something you need?" she asked as she examined Miku carefully.

"It may be rude to ask…" Miku started a bit embarrassed, "but, what research was the girl talking about?" she asked reluctantly.

"Oh that…" the woman leaned on her seat and took another sip of her coffee. Miku watched curiously. "That girl gets some of the books I have here; she goes to get them for me… as you can see I'm really old and I can't do it myself. Many of the books here are antiques or old books that were never published," she explained.

"Yes, they certainly seem like antiques," Miku declared. "Does the girl work here?" she asked.

"Yes, why? Do you want to work too? I have some requests if you're interested…" The woman said as she opened a notebook and flipped through its pages.

"I can?" Miku said as though she couldn't believe it.

"Yes, why not?" the woman replied, not paying attention to Miku's astonishment.

"Yes, yes, I'd like to!" Miku exclaimed cheerfully. The woman looked at her for some seconds before handing her the notebook.

"Here are the books and the possible locations you might find them... I'll pay you once you bring one here," the woman explained.

"Th… thank you!" Miku said excited. At least now she had something adventurous to do.

-o-o-o-

"Marie-obaa-san, I have another book!" Miku exclaimed as she entered the small library.

"I see, I see, very fast indeed…" Marie said as she took the book in her hands. She opened it and read a bit before leaving it on her desk.

"Is, Luka-san not here today?" Miku asked curiously. She had talked to Luka a few times now but it's not like she knew her very well. She was supposed to be her co-worker or something like that but they rarely did anything together. By that time, Miku already knew that Luka was a college student but no more than that.

"She's upstairs," the woman affirmed.

"O-okay…" Miku said hesitantly after going upstairs herself. The wooden stairs cracked as she stepped on them. Then, she finally saw Luka in a dark room staring at the sunset through the window as she sat on the tatami, holding a can in her hand.

"Hey, Miku-chan," Luka said indifferently without even looking at Miku. Miku smiled bashfully and sat next to her.

"How are you, Luka-san?" she asked with that same smile.

"Fine, and you?" Luka said without seeming to be very keen on starting a conversation.

"Fine…" Miku blushed and played with her fingers awkwardly.

"What a beautiful sunset, yet it's so sad at the same time…" Luka suddenly said as though she was talking to herself.

"Umm… I guess you are right, it does feel kind of nostalgic for some reason even though it doesn't remind me of something," Miku admitted. Then Luka looked at her for the first time. She didn't say anything though. "Do you know what happened in this library years ago?" she finally spoke.

"No, why?" Miku asked curious.

"I see…" Luka smiled lightly. "Then, that's fine," she said.

"What happened?" Miku asked insisted.

"Why don't you go home, Miku-chan? You must be tired…" Luka replied, ignoring her.

"Umm… why do you stay up here, Luka-san?" Miku said as she stood up.

"I just like seeing the old streets of Tokyo through the window," Luka answered.

"Oh, okay. I'll be leaving. See you, Luka-san," Miku said and as she was about to open the door Luka grabbed her hand.

"No actually… stay here tonight, Miku," she suggested with a troubled expression in her eyes. Miku looked at her puzzled. From all the things that Luka could have said this was something Miku didn't expect at all. "Watch the sunset with me and the old Tokyo…" Luka said a bit worried.

"Lu… Luka-san?" Miku called her in confusion. "I don't even have any sleepwear…"

"I'll lend you a t-shirt…" Luka suggested. "If you stay… I'll tell you the story of the library," she smiled.

"The story… of the library?" Miku asked as she sat down again. Luka's expression calmed. "Do you have any special relation to this library?"

"Well… I used to come here when I was a child…" Luka said bitterly and Miku wondered why.

"So, what happened?" she asked.

"Oh, come on. I'll tell you when it gets dark, it will be your bedtime story," Luka patted her head, causing Miku's cheeks to redden.

Luka turned on the lights and Miku got inside the futon, next to Luka.

"Are you going to tell me the story now?" she asked eagerly.

"Sure, I'll tell you," Luka smiled. "It was a long time ago, when Marie-obaa-san was still young," she began. "A girl happened to pass by this library, just like you. She became good friends with Marie-obaa-san and thus gave her precious diary to her so that she could sell it as an antique in the future. I'm not sure whether it counts as one, but the story behind the diary is most interesting…" Luka explained.

"What was the story?" Miku asked curious.

"She was in love," Luka said gently. "But she never revels with whom… The person was murdered in this library by some mentally disturbed individual. After that, the girl disappeared and Marie-obaa-san did never hear anything about her again. However, she kept a second diary at that time and I'm in charge of finding it," Luka finally said.

"Oh that's so cool!" Miku said happily. "But… I'm a bit scared a person was killed here…" she said nervously.

"Don't worry," Luka whispered and stroked her head.

"Luka-san…" Miku called her as she gazed at her in the eyes.

"What?" Luka asked a bit flustered.

"Can… I help you with that research?" Miku pleaded.

"Hm… yes, I guess so," Luka said after some seconds. "Go to sleep now," she ordered.

After that day, Miku and Luka began hanging out very often. But they were never able to find the diary until one day Luka invited Miku to a sushi restaurant. It was a traditional and elegant place, which made Miku feel a bit uneasy.

"Luka-san… umm… is there something you would like to talk about?" Miku asked as she took a sip of her green tea.

"Not really, why do you ask?" Luka responded with a smile.

"Do you have any news about the diary?" Miku queried.

"Let's see… I might have something…" Luka smiled again. Miku suddenly felt some chills but she didn't know why exactly. Soon, an expression of terror was drawn in her face. For the rest of the time they both remint silent until Luka suddenly spoke, "I might not have much time left…" she blurted in a casual tone. Miku dropped her chopsticks…

It was raining heavily. Miku ran as fast as she could in the middle of the night. She didn't know where she was going. She ran as fast as she could and ended in the old library… But why was Luka there? Luka looked at Miku surprised, as though nothing had just happened. Miku stared at her with her eyes wide open. Marie-obaa-san didn't seem to pay attention to the 'library Luka' though.

"It can't be… is Luka-san a hallucination?" Miku said to herself but of course there was no answer…

"Miku-chan!" she heard Marie-obaa-san's voice as she opened the door and left. She didn't believe that she had just done. She left something really odd when Luka said those words to her. She didn't know how to explain but she just knew Luka was completely serious about it.

"Luka-san…" she said panting as soon as she arrived at the restaurant. She sat down reluctantly.

"I was waiting for you," Luka said as though nothing had happened.

"What's going on?" Miku asked confused.

"Don't ask me," Luka said bitterly.

"I'm sorry…" Miku replied guiltily.

"You are completely soaked," Luka commented with a strict tone as she caressed Miku's cheek. She slowly approached her and looked at her shirt purposely. Miku's face completely reddened. Luka placed her hands on her shirt and began unbuttoning it slowly.

"Lu… Luka-san?! What are you doing?!" Miku yelled.

"Shh… don't be so loud," Luka placed a finger on her lips.

"Luka-san!" Miku said a bit quieter as she pulled her away but Luka didn't seem to care. She had completely taken off Miku's shirt and Miku tried to cover herself in embarrassment. Then, she leaned a bit and whispered to Miku's ear.

"Miku… I think…" she began. Miku gulped. "I think…" Luka repeated. Miku's heart was beating incredibly fast and she shut her eyes, afraid to her hear the rest of Luka's statement. Then she felt a cloth over her shoulders and she slowly opened them. "…you'd catch a cold," Luka said boldly as she drew back. Miku stared at her dumbfounded.

"Th… thank you…" she finally said.

"We're leaving now," Luka announced. "I'll take you home," she said as she took hold of her hand. "I'm sorry but I must leave… in order to find the diary. I will be abroad for some time, I don't know for how long…"

-o-o-o-

"I can't believe it…" Miku thought to herself one day as she was leaving from school. "Luka-san is leaving…"

She went straight to the library as she would do every day of the week after school. Marie-obaa-san was there examining some books in the book cases. The cat slept on her desk near a small plant.

"Good evening," Miku said, almost whispering.

"Good evening and speak louder… I can't hear very well at my age…" Marie-obaa-san complained.

"Oh, sorry…" Miku apologized. "Um, where is Luka-san?" she asked a bit apprehensively.

"She's upstairs, as usually…" the woman replied.

"When… when is the leaving…?" Miku stammered.

"Soon, very soon. Tomorrow," Marie-obaa-san explained.

"No way…" Miku said as she stared at the ground, tears forming in her eyes. She rushed upstairs.

"Luka-san," she called as soon as she saw her beside the window.

"I didn't expect you would be here…" Luka replied rather indifferently.

"Luka-san, are you leaving tomorrow? Are you going to return?" Miku asked afraid.

"I don't know," Luka responded as she began packing her things.

"Luka-san I…" Miku started.

"Yes?" Luka asked without looking at her, still concentrated in her packing.

"I… really like you…" Miku finally said. Luka stopped for a moment and looked at her confused.

"Yeah… hmm… me too…" she answered a bit flustered.

"Um, th… thank you…" Miku answered embarrassed and Luka just kept packing her things.

"Ah, I'm so helpless…" Miku thought. She actually liked Luka as a woman but she wouldn't dare admit that in front of her.

"Luka-san…" Miku said as she hugged her from behind.

"Miku… you act as though you were in love with me…" Luka declared quite casually without paying attention to Miku.

"N-No!" Miku stammered. Luka giggled.

"Yes, yes, don't worry, I'm sure it will fade away…" she joked.

"It won't!" Miku said but then she covered her mouth upon realizing what she had just done. "I mean…" she said nervously. Luka cleared her throat and turned towards Miku.

"Are you serious?" Luka asked.

"Um, well…" Miku stammered.

"I asked something!" Luka said strictly.

"S-sorry! I'm just embarrassed. Ugh… it's true…" Miku admitted completely flustered without even looking at Luka.

"Oh," Luka just pulled Miku to her embrace after saying that and stroked her back gently.

"Luka-san?" Miku asked confused.

"I'll be back in around a month…" Luka whispered and let Miku go.

"Okay…"

Miku had always wondered what it would be like to live an adventure.

-o-o-o-

Two weeks had already passed since Luka left. They hadn't really talked much and Miku couldn't help but feel lonely. That day she had been practicing the piano in the club room for hours when the teacher walked in.

"Sensei!" Miku exclaimed.

"The weather is getting warmer…" he said with a smile.

"Yes…" Miku agreed. Suddenly her phone rang. "Um, hello?" she said as she picked it up. "Luka-san?!" she widened her eyes. Her teacher looked at her worried.

"Miku you have to come soon… I-" that was what Luka said and her voice was cut. Miku let her arms drop.

"What is going on?" she managed to mutter in a low voice.

I had a bit of trouble writing this because I had to rewrite it a few times since I wasn't really writing what I wanted to write and I just kept going on about murders and afterlife... . The next chapter is going to be the last one. I just wanted to take a short break before continuing with Miku in the Shinju Forest.

~I hope you enjoyed it~