University of Vocaloid International

Rating: T for Teen

Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance

Narrative mode: First Person

Summary: Meet Cul: a 19 year-old singer who's dream is to become as famous as the legendary pop celebrity Hatsune Miku. She managed to get a scholarship to the University of Vocaloid International; the same school her idol went to. The University of Vocaloid International has produced more Vocaloids (musical celebrities) than any other musical university in the world. Once a year, a student concert is held at the university, and the elite Vocaloids gather as judges to select five students who they think have a shot at becoming Vocaloids. Will Cul make the cut?

Chapter 1: The big day

"Clothes?"
"Yep."

"Phone?"

"Yep."
"Toothbrush?"
"Yep."

"Tampons?"
"Mom!"

"I just want to make sure you have everything."

Sigh. "Yes, Mom."

"Money?"
"Yes! I have everything. Can we go now? I don't want to miss my flight, and it's leaving in... 45 minutes?! Come on, we have to go!"

"Alright, alright. Say good-bye to yo-"

"Bye Dad, love you! Let's go already!"

And with that, we're off. Time for an introduction: My name's Cul. Most people call me C, and my best friend calls me CC. I'm 19 years old, and I live with my parents in Portland, Oregon. Well, at least I did. See, I'm on my way to Los Angeles, California for my first day at the University of Vocaloid International. It's a boarding school, so I'll be living there until I graduate. I'll probably come for a bit during Winter/Summer break. This school is where my idol, the famous pop-star Hatsune Miku, went to. If I want to have a career in music and someday be as famous as she is, then this is where it all starts.

"Almost there, honey. Are you excited?" My mom glanced over at me as we pulled into the huge parking lot of the Portland Airport, smiling.

"Excited... and kind of scared. I've never been on an airplane before..."

"That's understandable. A lot of first time fliers are scared. You've got nothing to worry about, plus your flight is only about six hours."

"Yeah... can you come in with me? I've only got 15 minutes to find everything, and you know where everything is in there."

"Of course I will. I'll even watch your plane fly away."

"Thanks, mom. I'll go get my stuff out of the trunk."

We made our way into the building, and walked towards security. "Whoa... I've never walked through one of these before!" I was disappointed to see that this specific security line didn't have one of those X-Ray screens. "Alrighty, let's get going! 10 minutes until my flight leaves."

"Yes, I know. We've just got make a few more stops before we get to your terminal." I groaned. Then I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"CC? Is that you?" I turned to see my best friend whom I hadn't seen or talked to in months.

"Oh my god! Yukari! What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forever." Yukari is my age, and we're about the same height, but she's a bit taller than I am. She's got silvery, lavender hair, where I have bright, tomato-red hair.

"Yeah, I know... been too long. Anyway, I'm flying out to California for school."

"No way. Me too! Where you going?"
"UVI. You?"

"Me too!

"This is amazing. But we have to catch up later; my – er, our – flight leaves in like five minutes, so we gotta move!

"Right. Wow... Mom, can you believe this?"

"No, I can't. But this is a good thing, because now you two will each have someone you know at school. Maybe you two can even be roommates if you request it. Yukari, do you know the way from here?"

"I do. Do you need me to show CC the way?"

"That would be great. Call me when you get there. I love you."
"Love you too, mom. Come on!" We both started to run, making it to the terminaljust in time. "Whew... that...was cl... close. I can't breathe!" Yukari simply nodded as she too tried to catch her breath.

"He.. here's our tickets!" She handed clerk our tickets, waiting for the okay.

"Looks like you two will be sitting together. Off you go, now; your flight's about to leave."

"Oh no! C'mon, CC!"
"W-wait, I haven't caught my bre-" Before I could finish my sentence, she grabbed my hand, dragging me along. It's amazing how much upper body strength that girl has. Luckily, we made it on the plane in time. We got to our seats and put our luggage up in the top... whatever they call those. I've never been on a plane, remember? Anyway, we each sat down, and let everything sink in. "Wow... so we're really going to the same school, eh?"

"Looks that way. Hey, about what your mom said... Do you think we can really be roommates if we ask?"

"Probably." We each nodded. We started to catch up as the plane took off, and I forgot all about my being afraid of flying.