Day 1: Mosaic

Miku Hatsune wins award for "musical influential person" two years in a row.

Luka Megurine and Gakupo Kamui's "and taboo..." stands strong for #1 in music chart!

Rin and Len Kagamine sells out new album in just 5 minutes.

Meiko is stunning for VOCAL magazine once again!

Gumi sighed as she turned the pages of the daily newspaper. The Vocaloids have done it again. Winning awards, achieving great success, selling millions of albums, and posing for countless number of magazines. Gumi knew she should feel happy for her friends, but deep inside there was something that pained her very much.

"Gumi, Master wishes to see you now," a female voice boomed over the speakers.

Standing up, Gumi walked over to her Master's door and knocked.

"Who is it?" said a voice behind the door.

"It's Gumi," she answered.

"Ah, come in, come in!"

The green-haired girl opened the solid door and slowly walked in. Gumi was here for one reason: Master had wished to speak to her. Privately.

"Gumi, have a seat." Master pointed to a chair to which Gumi obeyed and did what she was told. "Megpoid, you are our second Vocaloid revealed to the public. Do you understand?"

Gumi nodded. "Yes, of course. I am very grateful."

"Why yes, I am too. However, I...have something to tell you. There's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I think it's best if you are demoted."

"...Excuse me?"

"You won't be completely gone. You'll just be in the back for the time being."

Gumi sucked in her breath. "Master?"

"I'm sorry Gumi. I know you have the passion for singing, but right now it's just not working well."

"B-but Master, I can do better!"

Master leaned back against his chair. "Our sales haven't been very high lately. Actually, it hasn't been high since the beginning. I'm sorry Gumi. I've tried doing everything I could."

Gumi, who had tears forming in her eyes, was now on her knees like she was being punished. "M-master. P-please. Just o-one more chance. If you do, I promise I will do better. Please master," she cried. "Won't you give me one more chance?"

Master sighed in defeat...or was it pity? He rubbed his hands against his forehead. "...Alright. Just one chance. Make it your best, since this will be your last."

Gumi stood up and bowed. "Thank you," she whispered as she turned.

"Good bye, Gumi. I hope to see some improvements next time we meet."

What Master didn't know was that as soon as Gumi closed the door behind her, she was weeping.

"Gumi!"

Gumi looked up startled as she walked into the Vocaloid mansion. As soon as she knew it, Rin was hugging her as if she hadn't seen Gumi in years.

"Gumi, I missed you!"

The green-haired girl tried to put on her best fake smile she could manage and patted the little blonde's head. "I missed you too, Rin."

"Rin," said a voice from behind, "stop it. I'm afraid you'll kill her."

"Stupid Len! She won't die!" Rin pouted as she playfully slapped Len's shoulder.

As soon as Rin and Len ran off somewhere, Gumi quietly slipped into her room and quietly shut the door behind her. It seems like Miku, Lily, Gakupo and Meiko are hosting another concert while the other Vocaloids have the day off, Gumi thought as she slumped on her bed. But soon she found herself standing, looking for something. Looking for paper. Gumi couldn't sleep. She had to sing. She couldn't disappoint Master anymore. She had to rise or else she would fall. Gumi walked over to her desk to grab a pencil and an empty music sheet.

It's okay Gumi. You can do it, she thought. Write down a note; any note. Just go with the flow.

With a pencil in hand, Gumi sat on a chair looking blankly at the unwritten paper. Minutes past as she just sat there, and then the minutes turned into hours. It seemed like nothing was improving.

Why me? Gumi thought. Why am I the failure? Gakupo looks like a girl but he has a lot of fans. I look more normal than him, but why am I not loved?

As Gumi stood up, she noticed the room was dark since the lights weren't on, but she didn't care. Nothing mattered to her anymore. It didn't make sense. Gumi is a Vocaloid. Vocaloid's are widely popular around the world. Not everyone could easily become a Vocaloid. They have to be born with talent in order to become one. However, Master always told her that being a Vocaloid isn't a good thing. There's always some kind of a curse they are given. It made Gumi think her curse was to not become loved compared to the other Vocaloids.

Why am I not loved? I love to sing. I'm here to make people like my singing. Gain population. Gain love. Gain...everything.

At last she saw her reflection on a mirror hanging on one side of the wall. She stood there for what it felt like eternity. Is it because of my green hair? Am I weird?

Trembling, she grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby table.

"Maybe if I change myself... Will I be noticed?"

With the scissors about ten centimeters close to her neck, Gumi shivered.

I'll change. I'll change to make people like me. Gumi thought.

She closed her eyes. "...I'll change."

Gumi was so focused on her appearance that she didn't notice someone entering her room. She was sucked into her own little world so much that Gumi didn't come back to reality until a strong hand grasped her arm and someone said, "Gumi?"

Gumi opened her eyes. She was so startled at the person standing next to her. Her eyes locked on Kaito, the man standing next to her, as she wondered how long he had seen her in this terrifying condition. The blue-haired man looked at her with a frown and raised his eyebrows in curiosity. Kaito was a Vocaloid just like Gumi. Even though they are from different companies, what makes them the same, however, is the fact that he was deemed as a failure by Crypton Future Media. Kaito was a failure just like her, except Master was kind enough not to say that horrid word to her face.

Failure.

As you all know, Gumi, Gakupo, and Lily are by INTERNET Co. while Meiko, Kaito, Miku, Rin, Len, and Luka are created by Crypton Future Media.

I will have the next chapter uploaded soon! I hope you enjoyed reading! :)