A/N: This is a request from RiaHiromishimo who has written a fanfiction for me titled "Gakupo is in Jail" based off of my fanfiction "10 Things you Should Never Mention to your Mother" ...I feel like a crappy advertiser.

Just read and (hopefully) enjoy...

The Straightforward and the Shut-In

-Chapter One-

...

The last few days of summer are most important for any teenager. Big decisions are prompted like whether to enjoy the last few days of summer to their fullest or get your sleep-schedule back on track before you wake up like a zombie Monday. Arguably, the most important decision of late summer is what school to attend. In Japan, high school is not compulsory. After middle school (which ends at ninth grade, not eighth) graduates are free to enjoy the rest of their lives as they wish. Even so, over 80 percent of all Japanese continue on to take an exam for one of the many high schools available in each city—Kagamine Rin is no different.

"Hiromishimo High School is nice but wouldn't Vocaloid Academy be so much cooler," Miku commented, her teal eyes distant with a small sparkle suggesting a far-out daydream playing itself in her head.

Miki pursed her lips in thought for a moment from beside Miku, a single shopping bag loosely held in her hand. Their feet made only a faint thump as they leisurely but steadily walked along the red brick road, curving around many small shops and vending carts preparing to pack up for the evening.

"I guess—but none of us would ever be able to afford it even if we had fulltime jobs."

Rin glanced away from the picturesque sunset beach view as the three strolled the boardwalk, an irritated expression on her face.

"She's just saying that because Vocaloid Academy's population is 75 percent male. We already chose our high school anyway, there's no point discussing it."

Miku scowled at the blonde and Miki watched on innocently.

"You're so tsundere, Rin. You know you've been dreaming about VA since sixth grade, too."

Rin didn't comment and Miku suddenly changed the topic to cute vendors as they passed a boy selling his last takoyaki* with a brilliant smile.

"Waah, that waitress is pretty cute," Mikuo cried excitedly, leaning forward on the Starbucks wooden table. The store was an open-concept floor plan within a very popular mall, allowing the three boys at the table to see anyone who walked inside.

Piko looked up from his raspberry scone to see the girl Mikuo was referring to.

Her hair was long and chestnut brown, reaching her waist and contrasting against her pale skin nicely. Her eyes were of matching color and her outfit was worn very neatly along with trendy shoes as opposed to the comfortable ones waitresses usually used. She had long, slender legs to boot and a flirtatious but not overly slutty smile. She seemed to know of Mikuo's interest in her, as she kept glancing over with a wink and purposefully waiting customers near their table.

"She's okay," Piko commented softly, wishing his teal-haired friend would stop practically climbing the table and grinning like an idiot.

Len looked up as well after hearing Piko's comment. Piko was a lot less shameless than Mikuo, so it was rare he'd have an input at all—the girl must have been really pretty.

Piko regretted commenting at all once he saw Len, beside him, look towards the waitress as well. Piko knew the blonde long enough to understand the look in his blue eyes as he evaluated the woman top to bottom. In reality the analysis of sorts lasted barely five seconds but it felt like an hour to Piko—and maybe Mikuo as well if he wasn't currently drooling over the woman in question without any shame at all.

Len glanced back to his iced vanilla latte just as quickly and casually as he'd looked up while the waitress headed over to their table to "ask if they were doing alright" (more like flirt with Mikuo).

"She's average—sort of boring. She obviously prefers younger men, probably because they're gullible enough to give her enough money for stuff like those Nine West boots she's wearing. Plus she has oily skin."

The waitress gasped loudly, bringing everyone in the café's attention to their small table. Mikuo gaped at Len with an "are you crazy" expression and Piko prayed he could just disappear.

A whole ten seconds of silence followed before the brunette made an outraged cry, nearly losing her grip on her tray full of delicious coffee drinks.

"You asshole," she screeched, snatching Len's half-full plastic cup from his hand just as he was about to take a sip and pouring it on his head, splashing Piko and Mikuo a little in the process.

Len froze, partially out of shock but mostly out of "oh my god this is cold".

Before the waitress could do anymore damage (she was already reaching for a cup of steaming hot dark chocolate on her tray when the manager and mall-officer managed to restrain the furiously cussing woman.

The three boys were promptly kicked out, an elder passerby kind enough to offer the dripping blonde with a small towel, telling him "there are more fish in the sea", obviously misunderstanding the scene to a great extent.

Outside, with the cool nighttime air causing Len to tremble slightly, Mikuo was pissed.

"You're way too straightforward—can't you just shut up a little?"

Len shrugged nonchalantly.

"I was being honest."

Mikuo was about to yell something back when Piko interrupted.

"Let's just find a convenience store and get another towel, okay?"

Mikuo huffed and looked away and Len thankfully agreed, easily forgetting why he was soaking wet in the parking lot.

"I'm home," Rin called out unenthusiastically as she closed the front door behind herself. She slipped her shoes off and placed them in their usual spot, closest to the door.

"Welcome home," Mrs. Kagami called back from the kitchen, much more excitement in her voice than her daughter's.

"We're having nikujaga** tonight. Daddy is going to be home in a few minutes, he stopped by the store for eggs," the woman explained cheerfully, mixing the stew.

Rin didn't respond, instead silently heading across the hall on the left to her bedroom. Mrs. Kagami was used to this though, and continued humming a song she'd heard at the fish market earlier.

Once Rin reached her room she flicked on the lights and closed the door. Her room was average size, with white walls and bamboo flooring. There was a desk in the corner, a bed in the other corner, and a dresser near the closet. Her room wasn't very decorative, but it was messy nonetheless.

She stumbled over a pair of jeans and a cat, glaring at the latter, before reaching her bed and landing with a "pomf". Spending the whole day with Miku and Miki was exhausting just by itself, especially when shopping was thrown into the mix. A few bags lie carelessly by her desk chair.

I have school tomorrow, was the main thought on her mind as she lie motionlessly for a few minutes, urging herself to regain enough energy to turn off the lights. Finally she sat up, sluggishly rolling out of bed to turn off the lights, her cat finding it the best time to claim the bed her own.

A mere millisecond before the lights flickered off, electric blue eyes happened to glace at the desk on the edge of the room, more specifically a pamphlet on the desk.

Vocaloid Academy for the Musically Talented

*Takoyaki - A popular Japanese vending-food. Made of octopus, usually, and often friend, sometimes baked.

*Nikujaga - Literally "meat potato" is a type of Japanese stew made of beef and potatoes. Very common food, often served with rice.

Note: If you have any other cultural locations, words, holidays, etc. that you don't understand, please review the question and I'll answer.