Turmoil swirled around her stomach, making Rin feel sick. Pushing her way to the school building, the girl tried her best not to scream out loud in front of so many people.
She couldn't believe he had the audacity to speak to her, not to mention so familiarly too. 'Rin-chan'. It took a lot of self-control not to spit right as his face. Len, the boy who broke her fragile heart, had actually dared to come up to her with the same personality as the boy she fell in love with. Rin was about to kill him for even talking to her, it was amazing on how she managed to restrain herself to a simple spat.
Despite all this, the smallest part of her wanted to break down and cry. To see him again, to hear his soft voice again, it was so painful. Her heart, which had frozen over, threatened to melt at his pleading and begging, she wanted to let her tears wash away the pain, but she couldn't. Unlike before, she had a reputation now, a real one, and she couldn't mess it up.
"Rin-san, is class starting?" Momo asked, looking at her mistress's seemingly irritated, but controlled face. The blonde shook herself inwardly to get rid of her feelings.
"no, but we'll go there early, I don't need more distractions" Rin replied blankly, her mind still swirling with confusing thoughts.
"understood" the pink-haired teen nodded, aware of the unease that came off of her employer.
Still followed by the majority of the student body, the two girls made their way to the classroom. High schoolers chattered loudly, those who shared Rin's classroom went around to boast to their friends, a few even dared to talk to the singer herself.
"hey, Rin-san! Do you remember me? I was in all your classes back at middle school!"
"so was I! I remember, you were always so fun to be with! You still are, actually!"
"do want to sit in the front of the classroom?"
"oi! No way, she'll sit in the back with us!"
Arguments began on where she'll sit, who she'll hang out with. Rin felt her anger being forgotten for the time being, and began to swell, inwardly of course, with the feeling of being wanted. Some people really loved what she did, and it made her feel important and special, two things that she had craved in order to substitute the feeling of loss.
RRRIIIIINNNNGGGGGG
The bell screeched the end to most discussions, as Rin took her first step into the classroom. She took notice that her classmates were waiting for her to take her seat first. Motioning Momo to sit next to her, she sat in the front right corner of the room. Everyone piled in immediately, fighting and struggling to sit as close to her as possible. When the last kid sat down, they talked loudly, boasting not to Rin directly, but it was obvious they were trying to catch her attention.
"Class! Settle down!" a tall woman came in, she had short brown hair and sharp scarlet eyes. The talking simmered to low whispers, and eventually ceased under her glare. She skimmed over the students, and her gaze traveled to Rin. "ah. Rin-san, it's good to see you again, and so successful too"
"thank you, Sakine-sensei, you work in the high school now?" the said girl tried to pick up a conversation with her old math teacher.
"that's right, the old math teacher retired and I was picked" the woman let out a hallow chuckle, "Is she your companion?" She asked, pointing a red fingernail at a calm looking Momo.
"that's correct"
"Alright, now Rin-san I'm sure everyone knows who you are, but for manner's sake, please introduce yourself. Then so can your friend" the sensei neatly put down her papers and waited for Rin to stand up. Silence hung in the air, waiting for her words.
"Hello. I am Rin Kagamine, I moved when I was in middle school, but came back to resume my education" it was a simple introduction, but Rin doubted that she needed to go into depth with it. Everyone clapped like she had something amazing, and she smiled inwardly again. She sat down, and tapped her maid on the shoulder. Momo rose.
"Hello. I am Momo Momone, I am Rin-san's assistant." the pink haired girl stated quickly, trying not to show how nervous she was. She sat down as well, receiving a brief applaud. Rin nodded in approval and turned back to the front, looking at Sakine-sensei with cold, but familiar blue eyes.
"alright, now that that's over" If Sakine-sensei noticed the change of character in her old student, she didn't say anything. "remember that everyone here is an equal in this class, no one is better than anyone because we all have different strengths"
Rin almost laughed out loud, she didn't believe in equalization. Not just in education but in everything. No one grew up the same way, no one had the same experience with one thing as another person. How can they be equals when every person has something different from everyone? Impossible.
"yes Sensei" the class chorused, the two newest girls included. Satisfied with that answer, Sakine turned back to the board and began to scratch chalk into the board, writing down simple equations that Lily had taught Rin to do already. Even as she began working on the problems, she could feel stares pricking the back of her neck. It was strange at first, not unpleasant, but strange to Rin. She remembered that at school, she was disregarded by her fellow students, but now everyone wanted her attention.
"alright, who has the answer to number one?" Sensei asked after five minutes, jerking Rin back to reality. Several hands rose, including the singer's. Sakine's red eyes floated over Rin's, but she didn't call her. The blonde's other hand clenched at the thought of being ignored, but she silently reminded herself that she wasn't the only one in this classroom. Sensei pointed to a slim hand, "Kasane-san?"
Rin's blood froze, and she brought down her hand instantly. She dared not turn around like everyone else to look at the speaker, she didn't want to. Kasane… she shouldn't have been surprised, she knew that, after all, this was a small town, and less people move out then people who move in. Rin should've realized that if she met one of the four, she was going to meet all.
"the answer is 32.68" Teto's voice, it didn't change much. It matured slightly over the two years, but the soft ring didn't leave it. Rin bit her lip to stop the anger, she remembered everything from that day, everything. she remembered what she wore, what she ate for breakfast, how torn she felt, and she remember how cruel Teto was.
"that's correct" Sensei's voice snapped her out of her dazed state, and Rin forced herself to relax and ignore her feelings. She didn't want a second outburst that day, and she hoped Teto wouldn't come up to her as Len had. "a few more minutes to solve number two, and it better not be just Kasane to answer"
"yes sensei" the class grudgingly spoke again, a large majority silently cursing at the smart red headed girl.
Time skip
Rin knew what to do as soon as the bell for lunch rang, she tapped Momo's hand once, signaling the maid to follow her closely. She didn't know the school well, but she remembered a few spots in the school that were rarely visited during lunch. She did eventually plan to reveal herself to the school, but first she wanted to eat in peace.
They ducked into the old history classroom, it was always open for students who needed help on history since it held a collection of books that refer to that study. However, with the internet, kids started using it less and less until it was close to abandonment. It was a nice spot to relax and eat lunch, however, since the AC inside was still running and the lights were always on.
"I made a simple bento today and an orange. I hope it satisfies your hunger" Momo took out the box from her school bag, making sure she didn't spill or tip the package.
"did you bring lunch for yourself?" Rin asked, taking the orange and began to peel it with her perfect, long nails. The maid shook her head, and remained standing next to Rin.
"no, I will eat when we go home" she promised.
"sit Momo, we have a few classes next, including P.E, it's best if you rest your legs" her mistress stated, not looking up from her orange as she ate it. Momo resisted the urge to smile, she knew that Rin, in her own way, still cared for others.
"yes Rin-san" she whispered instead and sat in the chair across from Rin, enjoying the peaceful silent with her mistress.
Teto
Like a stroke of luck, Rin had her homeroom and two of her other classes, Teto didn't know if it was fate, but it felt like a chance.
"Teto!"
The said girl looked up from her baguette, wiping the crumbs away from her chin as a certain green-headed girl pranced over to the table. Miku and Len followed a bit slower, a bit less enthusiastic.
"where is she, now?" Gumi asked as they all sat down in their seats, Teto shrugged.
"I lost track of her once the bell rang, a few people attempted to follow her, but I assume she managed to shake them off" she admitted, " I don't know where she could've gone though"
"ok, we'll look for her later, she can't hide forever" reasoned Miku thoughtfully, munching on a vegetable.
Len was looking down at the table with his crystal blue eyes. Looking slightly lost and confused, the earlier events had him confused and uncertain. The girls stayed quiet for a moment, they understood why she got mad at up, it was completely reasonable, but they didn't understand how Rin managed to change so much in two years.
"it's amazing" Gumi sighed, breaking everyone's train of thought. Resting her head on the table, she closed her green eyes. "I can't believe she came back after what we…did" regret hung in her words, and the other three nodded in agreement.
"but why did she? After this morning, it doesn't seem like she forgave us" Len muttered quietly, still hurt from his predicament in the morning. Teto supposed he did deserve it, but the sharpness of her tone, and the iciness in her eyes, just from that they could tell it wasn't the Rin they remember.
"She said it was to resume her education" Teto answered, remembering the singer's word from homeroom. "but that doesn't seem like-"
"RIN-SAN!"
The girl with twin-drills was cut off by a shrill cry. Movement rippled everywhere as students crowded around the entrance of the cafeteria. The four friends stopped their talking and rose as well. Although they kept their distance from the mob, they stood on the toes, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl in the middle.
"please excuse us" a bold voice spoke from inside the web of teens, the seemingly permanent edge in her voice rang out clearly. Once again, the students opened the way for her and Momo. Rin strode to the cafeteria's counter and muttered something to the lady, who smiled widely at the attention of the star.
"hm? Oh some bread? Here you go, sweetie" the lunch lady picked out the freshest piece and handed it to the girl who paid. Surprisingly, she didn't eat it, but gave it to her maid.
"here, eat this and when we get home you can eat a proper lunch"
"oh, are you su-"
"Momo, it's ok, just eat" Rin gave a stiff smile which seemed to have the faintest glow of kindness before it dissolved again to her usual stoic expression. The maid wasted no time in nibbling the sweet gift from her mistress.
"see? There's a tiny bit of her old self" Miku pointed out hopefully, but Teto didn't quite agree. That guarded look in those dark blue eyes, it gave her this uneasy feeling. The teal noticed this, and spoke up again, "I'm going to talk to her"
"after what we witnessed this morning?" Teto blurted, in the corner of her eye she could Len flinch, however, her purpose now was to watch over her friend. "your result might be the same as his, or worse!"
"I understand that much" Miku replied, looking down, "but I want to at least try! Maybe I will be able to get through her!"
The other three doubted it, but didn't say anything else to oppose her.
"just be careful on what you say" sighed Gumi, looking worried for her friend. "don't make her angrier than she already is"
Miku
Promising to watch her words, Miku left the group and pried through the crowd of high schoolers who managed to gather around the singer again.
"excuse me!" she pushed through, and after five minutes, she was in front, facing the straight back of Rin Kagamine. Miku checked her breathing carefully, steadying the nervous feeling in her stomach. "R-Rin?"
The blonde turned, facing the girl suspiciously. Blue eyes widened a fraction, and the teal thought she heard a curse being uttered.
"what" it wasn't a question, it was a demand. Rin stood up, a carefully guarded look passed through her beautiful eyes. Miku gulped.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you, in private" she added quietly, students glared at her, but she turned to give them an apologetic smile. They softened, unable to stay mad at her stunning beauty.
"and why should I?" the tight, icy words chipped the air, sending chills down Miku's spine. She turned back to the singer. " I'm very busy, you know"
"I understand…" the girl was suddenly at lost for words to respond, how could she find a reason to talk to her like this? "Rin-san, please, I'm really sorry about-"
"wrong" Rin cut her off, narrowing her blue eyes even more. Her faint pink lips starting to scowl, making it obvious that the memory had scratched an old wound. "please excuse me, Hatsune-san, but class is about to start"
The singer stood up quickly, and left the cafeteria with her loyal maid behind her, leaving the teal-haired girl stiff and hurt. Students avoided her cautiously, not wanting to converse with the girl who targeted Rin's annoyance.
"Miku, are you alright?" Teto asked, rushing up to her friend as soon as the other students melted away.
"… hopeless, I couldn't do it" disbelief strung through the soft words. Her voice cracking sadly. "I-I couldn't do it…"
No one knew what to say to her, they were all confused, yes they had expected this result, but it was still so… shocking.
"I can't believe… that we were so happy when she left" Len croaked, and everyone's shoulders dropped.
It's true, after Rin left, they had a brief time of ignorant bliss, happily spending together, laughing, the girls found boys who attracted their attention rather than Len, and Len was carefree in everything he did, all of them forgetting about the one person they betrayed.
However, once Rin's name appeared on the news, everyone knew her. She became an idol, one that surpassed their status by so much more. They watched her become a simple background singer to a single hit in two months. When they realized how much she had grown into, and when they remembered what happened, that's when they became guilty. The trio of girls would suddenly say that they missed Rin with her light, easy-going laughter, and Len confessed that he actually did like her back two years ago.
They kept telling themselves this. They kept saying that they only wanted to protect their reputation as 'the best singer quad' in middle school, and that every time they saw Rin perform in front of thousands of people on stage, they would regret everything. They told themselves that in reality she was dear to them, and that it hurt so much to let her down, to make her cry.
Eventually, they had said it so much, they couldn't remember if that was true or not. They can't remember if what they said was so that they could keep themselves calm, or if it was said out of true guilt. They couldn't remember anymore, so now what they had said, is now what they feel. Or so they had tried to believe.
"Don't worry" Teto spoke up at last, although her voice cracked, she kept it cheerful. "she'll open up, eventually! I-I'm sure"
"y-yeah" Gumi smiled a bit, looking at her friends, "w-we'll be with her again, we just have to wait for a bit. It's only been two years after all…"
Miku smiled back, and nodded, although her eyes stung, tears did not fall. Len sighed heavily, still feeling dim, but for smiled as well for his friends' sake.
RRRRIIINNNGGGG
The bell rang the end of lunch and the four friends jumped slightly at it's sudden arrival. Once the ringing stopped, they shared a light laugh at their reaction. Waving at each other, they dispersed to their different classes. Their smiles melted as soon as they were away from each other. Depression wrought on their faces as they wondered if Rin would ever forgive them for what they did.
Rin
All through the next class, Rin couldn't focus properly. She glared at the board angrily, chewing the eraser of her pencil furiously.
As if Len in the morning wasn't enough, 'Mi-chan' came to her as well, requesting to speak with her in private. She even attempted to apologize for that day. Rin felt the pencil crack a bit under the pressure of her thumb, but she couldn't help it.
She knew what her old 'friends' wanted; fame. Rin wasn't stupid, she knew that much at least. After all, 'fortune' were the reasons they did what they did, right? Just so that they wouldn't have an opponent threatening their popularity. Now, they want even more attention, and of course, she was not going to give it to them, even thinking about their satisfaction made her blood boil. No, this time Rin would the one on top, this time Rin would get to have the satisfaction.
The pencil broke with a sharp snap, and Momo looked up from the assignment. Rin shook her head, showing she was ok, and put away the pencil halves. She grabbed another pencil from her book bag and began to take a couple notes on the lesson.
She took a deep breath and calmed down her heated anger. Rubbing her head tiredly, she tried to ease her agitated feelings. No use dwelling on the past sorrows, because she had to focus on becoming even stronger tomorrow. It's not like she could change the past anyways, and deep down, she didn't want to. As dramatic and painful that day was for her, it was also when she managed to change her whole prospect of the world. It was no longer a place filled with love and dreams to her, it was now a world of false illusions and lies.
That was the inspiration in her songs, her songs that go up against the tricks and lies of reality rather than believing in the perfect world that most people set it up to be.
Rin shook her head lightly, expelling her thoughts and tried to think clearly for the question on the board.
Now she thought to herself I'm becoming too full of myself.
Yes, she was selfish, greedy, and proud, but even Rin knew the limits to these emotions.
Time skip~
The first day of school ended without drama, and Rin was glad for that. Leading Momo out the school doors, she carefully avoided the students who were either running home or watching her in hopes to get her attention. She was aware of long stares on the back of her neck, and she knew who they were from. Luckily enough, they didn't approach her again, and instead slunk back inside the school building and up the flight of stairs.
What they were doing? Rin couldn't be sure, and she didn't really care. Turning her full attention onto making sure that teens didn't 'accidentally' bump into her to say sorry, she made her way to the waiting limo with Momo on her heels.
The driver opened the door with a bow, and the two teens stepped into the vehicle, buckling their seatbelts. Momo couldn't help, but look out the window to all the kids who were walking home. Rin looked downwards, trying to think of anything but school.
Once they were at Rin's old home, the driver handed her a set of keys, bowed, then left without one word. Quietly, the girl opened the door to her house and was surprised when someone from inside reached to grab her. On instinct, she backed away and put up a fighting stance.
"who's there!"
"whoa! Rin, relax, it's just me, Lily" the caretaker flipped on the inside lights, revealing her long golden hair and calming blue eyes. Rin relaxed her form and scowled.
"you know how I hate surprises" she growled, but Lily took it lightly and patted her shoulder.
"do I?" she asked loftily, admitting Momo into the house as well. The oldest lady closed the door and locked it. She turned expectantly to Rin, "did you miss this place?"
"more or less" grumbled the singer. Truthfully, she had missed her old house; it always had that warm and familiar feeling, as opposed to the rentals or other houses her parents bought with the money Rin earned. Those new houses were modern and had that updated feel, but nothing compared to the relaxed feeling she had when she was back in the old house.
"great! I cleaned your room nicely, you still have a lot of your old stuff in there" commented Lily, as she drifted into the kitchen, something clattered and Rin suspected that dinner was nearly ready.
"did you see anything?" Rin asked quietly, the caretaker peeked around the corner, looking at the teen.
"don't worry, I organized a couple things, but I didn't examine anything too closely" she reassured, before going back to finishing up dinner. Instantly, she tugged off her shoes and carried her book bag up to the small room, the familiar musty smell of home welcomed her when she opened the door, it made her smile ever-so-slightly.
"I'm home" she whispered to no one in particular and sat down on her bed. It creaked at her weight, but supported her nicely. She drew a golden nail over the soft sheets, going over the designs of the blanket. Sighing, she rested her head on the pillow, curling her body as she looked up at the cracking ceiling.
Suddenly, her blue eyes widened and she rolled off of her bed. Once on the floor, she rested on her palms and peeked under the bed. Her sharp eyes sparked with surprise as they landed on an old shoebox.
Rin took it out delicately, she knew what was inside, but she wanted to make sure. She took off the lid, and peered inside. Photographs rested in the exact way she had left them, crooked and unorganized. Baubles, trinkets, and a collection of pebbles clinked together as she sifted through them.
Looking in her hand, she felt nostalgia overcome her as she focused on a photograph she took four years ago in the summer. Her mother, and father on either side of her, all of them smiling at the camera. Behind them was a bluff that opened out to the sea.
That was before everything started, before she met them. Although she had lived around other kids, she was always shy around strangers so she never had friends. The closet thing she had to companions before was when they entered her life. But before all that, it was her parents and her in their happy life.
When Rin became famous, however, her parents became spoiled with money. Now she hardly sees them because they're always traveling, they still love her, and she knew that, but now that they weren't around, she felt a bit lonely.
The teen shook her head roughly, once again to shake out the unwanted feelings. She closed the box and stuffed it back under her bed, telling herself not to open it again, it held too many sweet memories, memories that will just hurt her more.
"Rin! Dinner!" Lily's deeper voice traveled through the small room. The young singer sighed, pushing back her short blonde locks. She walked out of the room, nearly running into Momo, who was holding a bunch of neatly folded clothes.
"Rin-san!" the maid gasped, but her mistress dismissed it lightly.
"just leave it on the bed, I will deal with it later" Rin instructed, before brushing past her and trotted down the stairs. Lily had set the table, and a pot of stew rested in the middle.
"here, eat up then do your homework" the motherly female told her, wiping her hands on a dishcloth.
Rin nodded, sat down, and began to eat. As soon as the warm liquid flowed through her system, she felt her burdens lift slightly. It felt good to let the pain wash away with the taste of Lily's cooking.
A/N
Thank you to all those who Favorited/Alerted/Reviewed this story, it really brightened my day. I am not exactly proud on how this chapter ended, but the chapter itself should finish the introductions. Next chapter more excitement(?) will occur, so please wait for that.
Also, I would like to give you all a Wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you all for your support.
