August 19 - 15:21
Okay, so actually, before I went on some crazy sleuth adventure, I decided to give my school another chance. In other words, I was too shy and scared at the moment to go in after school two days ago.
I came back the next two days to the same thing. Still a bunch of transfer students, still horrible teachers, but at least no fight. By the way, speaking of the fight―it turns out no one came up and stopped the fight. Where were the staff officers and campus aides? There was a police officer at the gates that morning! I saw him! Gumi saw him! Where was he when the fight was going on?!
Something was seriously wrong here.
So now I stood behind the Superintendent's door, nervously holding my breath and trying to go in.
I was thinking of barging in and saying some really cool (but knowing me, it would turn out really cheesy) catch line, like "Justice for the students!" or something really...okay I immediately crossed that thought out of my head. Bad idea.
But as I stood thinking of a new idea, someone pushed me out of the way of the door. I stumbled and almost fell, but caught myself on the wall.
"Hey!" I shouted, angered, and turned back to the direction of the door, but the culprit had disappeared inside the office, at least by the open door. Impulsively, and angrily, I grabbed the door and threw it open. And the culprit was―
Luka Megurine?
Okay, so of course someone like her could push me out of the way, it seemed there were no manners for the popular. Oh and was she popular. She took place among our school as the Original Drama Queen. She sung well, but her beauty and the way she flaunted it only tripled whatever fame she first had. Her bright pink hair made her commonly identifiable, and she always either wore skin-tight, flashy, or crazy outfits. I barely saw her when she wasn't back from a music video shooting. She is the most popular female VOCALOID, and the school newspaper constantly features news on her every move, ranging from "Luka Megurine with new boyfriend?" to "Luka's trouble with her career", even though none of those were even close to the truth. The only person who could ever rival her fame was Miku Hatsune, if anything, they were on the same level of talent and manipulation, but everyone knows Miku came first, and therefore is slightly more popular
The superintendent faced her with his hands clasped before his face, giving her a calm look, even though I knew the way she flipped her hair, held one hand on her hip, and stood in that position, that she was angry.
The way Luka had barged into the office, flipped her hair, and held a hand gripping her hip, she was radiating frustration. I decided to stay and watch from the open door, hoping they wouldn't shoo me out anytime soon. Luka had to be seriously ticked off―at least I don't think she would have started rudely talking to the superintendent if it were a normal school day.
"What happened?" She asked him with venom dripping through her words. I imagined her pink hair on a snake. Too funny. Oh and accurate. "Where's Hatsune Miku? Where is a God damn teacher in this place?!" She shouted, with an angry tone, but reserved stance. As if she could demand all the questions she wanted and get the answers.
But apparently she could.
"Miku left." The superintendent said, glumly. Sighing and shaking his head, his hands went to the sides of his head, rubbing his temples. "And because she left, so did all our funding. Not only were Miku's family so rich, but so were her sponsors. Basically, the academy ran on her money. Now that she's not here..." And he trailed off for her imagination.
So that was it? Luka's partner-in-crime and another top drama queen were soooo popular that they ran the school? Then what about the artists?
And unconsciously, I voiced the last question aloud.
The superintendent looked to the side of Luka to me, baffled how I was standing there, but hello, I never really opened the door, Luka just held it out nicely for me. Then Luka turned to me with the most dramatic swivel you could have ever seen, her eyes glaring at me, her lips pursed, and it almost made me feel like her hair could have burst onto fire. Geez, what did I ever do to her? But I knew she was naturally like that.
"The artists―" The superintendent started, but was cut off by the loud, shrill voice of Luka.
"The artists have no purpose, the real deal is us music students, after all, we run your school." And after her insult, her expression relaxed, as if she had just thought of something in between her comment. "If funding is so low for us music students," she really emphasized on that, and I didn't like where this was going, "Why not just cut the art program for them? That way you could strengthen our funds, our quality, without losing the school's reputation."
I scoffed at her suggestion, but when the superintendent started stroking his chin thoughtfully, I turned to him in horror. How could he even think about that? Weren't we important too? Or what about the people who made everything the music students did possible? Like the sound technicians, the photographers, or the video editors? Or even the music students who played instruments? They were even more important than the singers and dancers! And they should know it too!
"I don't thi―"
"Run along now, kid," Luka scolded harshly, "Playtime's over." She said with a deadly glare and scowl so deep set into her face full of make-up and beauty, she looked like a fox. Lying, stealing fox.
The superintendent didn't say anything and looked at me with expectancy. And at my hesitation to get out, Luka crossed her arms over her chest and started tapping her foot.
I sighed, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment and my throat choke up with sadness. I was not a kid. But I couldn't even defend myself.
I turned around and slowly closed the door behind me, hearing Luka's voice before I fully closed the door say, "Now that Hatsune is out of the way..."
August 20 - 18:40
No school today, it was Saturday. School started again the following day, making our days in school a six-day-a-week thing. I heard other schools do five or four days of school, but not us. We have to drill in our talent and try to work as hard as we can everyday. But we get at least a one day break. Some of us don't even want a break.
But I welcomed it. If I could sleep in until 10 o'clock, anything on my break day makes me happy.
Not today though, I didn't sleep in, I woke up like I do on a school day. I was eerily quiet, even though I don't talk much, or to myself, at all. But even I couldn't even bring out the sounds of a hum or sing along to a song. I couldn't even play a song to cheer me up.
I am an art student. I was supposed to have the most normal and boring life ever.
I wouldn't get kicked out of school just for having the wrong major that's 'less important' compared to music, right? Besides, most people might see art as just something for fun, but it isn't.
It's what inspired music, it's what music inspires. They both incorporate the word 'art', they can't let one go.
But in my heart, I knew no one probably did care about the artists. Except for the artists themselves. Because it was my solace, my comfort, and I could use the blank canvas to placate any expression I had.
With these depressing thoughts in my mind, I wallowed in them the entire afternoon in the silent apartment I lived in.
Wasn't it odd? To have no family? To live alone? To have no normal last name? I used to think not, until I read books, watched TV, and had friends who pointed it out.
To be honest, I hated my last name. I wish I never knew about it, but the foster care god mother warned me that this was the only, if anything true, information they had about me. It made me feel like a science experiment. A2? Did I have a twin? Did I have a family?
I don't know, but I felt like an alien. No, I was an alien. The word 'alien' was meant to describe someone outcast or abnormal from the rest of society. That was me. Even outer space aliens would have more in common with me.
Feeling my stomach growl, I lazily sauntered to my refrigerator. A very small refrigerator that held nothing more than a few instant noodle cups and some soda and a jar of cherries. Cherries were my guilty pleasure. Hee hee hee...
But between the money I make from my paintings and going to school, I can't afford to buy as many as I want. Much less sit down and savor their taste. The tart and sweet, succulent taste that never got old. My hand wavered from the spot there cherries were and the instant noodles were. I eventually chose the noodles, with a heavy heart, even though I knew my body craved proper nutrition.
Maybe, everything would get better? Maybe we wouldn't get kicked out as art students. Oh but I knew we would! The Queen Bee Luka always won, using whatever talents she had to win over the authorities (and I'm not trying to insinuate here, but...).
Even though Ms. Miku Hatsune wasn't any better, I knew that she was the person I had to thank for staying at VAA. And now the person I had to scream angrily at for taking me away.
If only Miku was still at our school.
Then I wouldn't get kicked out―
Wait a second!
If Miku was still at our school, I wouldn't get kicked out!
Oh my God I can't believe I'd ever even think about doing this...but I have to get Miku to come back to the school. That's it! To save my career and the rest of the art students. Also to make sure that Luka wouldn't get to influence the superintendent. Oh my, I can imagine the horrors she would do to the school already. A totalitarian regime in a school, and she would be the dictator-ess.
But wait, why did Miku even leave?
August 21 - 07:00
Today I was speed-walking to school. Yes, school. Not Miku Hatsune's private mansion #2 or wherever famous people lived while other kids went to a magical place called school.
I passed the black gates at seven o'clock on the dot and smiled, perfect timing like usual.
I still had my plan to go get Miku Hatsune in my head, but I would have to survey the scene first, get a feel for how bad the school would get with Luka's influence, then go after Miku.
A part of me wished that I really didn't. Not only was I scared to go face her (though in my mind, I seemed like the most outgoing and bravest person alive), but I didn't want to face the reality that I could get kicked out. For lack of funds.
I decided to go see Gumi first, as I didn't have anyone else to confide in (besides Rin, who was no doubt with her boyfriend or busy―I'd go see her afterwards anyways) and I would have to tell her the truth about what was going to happen to the dream school she just started attending.
As she opened the door and found me, she immediately circled her arms around me and squashed me with her lanky arms and flat body, screaming while jumping up and down. All talk about the impending Luka-pocalypse was going down the drain. What friend would ruin their obvious happiness?
Instead of things going out the way I wanted, she dragged me into her small (though I have to admit, it may be bigger than my tiny three-room apartment) dorm and sat me down on her bed. I looked up at her expectantly, as she stared down at me with eyes filled with pure, and sheer joy. Never, ever, had I wanted to close my eyes this badly to protect them.
"Okay, what's up?" I asked, and shifted my eyes around, rubbing my eyes with my index fingers, taking a break from Ms. Brighter-than-the-sun's-surface face. "I've never seen anyone this happy."
"I got into the highest level for the foreign-language VOCALOIDs!" She said, well more like screamed, which broke into a high-pitched squeal that I swore cracked the glass windows around us. Then she brought me into another death hug.
I groaned as I felt unable to breath in properly, my internal organs being squished at the moments and all. And another groan, that she had joined the level of Luka Megurine and other famous foreign-language VOCALOIDs. I plastered a fake smile on my face as I asked her, laughing, to loosen her grip.
"Why," I decided to ask her, "Who would sponsor this sudden change? Did anyone put you on top? Or was it your talent?"
"I guess so!" She was still in a I-scream-everything-because-I'm-so-happy phase. "Luka Megurine, the school's most famous VOCALOID, you know her? She saw me and told me she thought my singing was top-notch and I deserved a share of the spot she was in at the top! I can't believe this! I can't believe I..."
And she rambled on her happiness, basically giving her Music Award speech to me right now. And I didn't listen to the rest of it, because, it's not that I was being ignorant or anything, but I was thinking this over. Luka Megurine stole my newest friend? Did she even know she was my friend and did it on accident just to get a crony? Or did she really know and stole her on purpose?
Yeah, so Luka had started already. No one could 'magically' get on the top of the list by anyone's recommendation, it would have to be through vigorous try-outs on why you were so good, that was then judged by professionals from higher schools (like Universities, although this technically counted as one, I suppose) that made the bar raised higher, which was better, because then you knew the people in each level was meant for that level.
Surely Gumi had to have more wit than this right? Didn't she know that Luka wouldn't just choose any singer? She must have met or read something about Luka that exposed what a brat she was! And besides, she of all people knows that fame and popularity can get to your head!
"That's great!" I interrupted her speech, and she stopped looking at me with confusion. "But...I really have to go, I'm late for class." I said, pointing to the non-existant watch on my wrist. She nodded with understanding and babbled on about how happy she was as she led me out the door.
As we reached the door and I was about to be off, the door about to be closed, already in Gumi's hands, I turned around and looked at her with a smile. "Oh and do me a favor?" I asked her quietly. She nodded for me to go on.
"You know, that Luka wouldn't like people with lower status' than her or you talking with you," I pointed out, and she immediately looked down thoughtful. Oh great, the fame was getting to her head, and I was ninety percent sure she would choose fake-success and popularity over just one friend. "And I don't mind it at all, I'm really happy for you―" I was actually sad for her, and I'm sure she couldn't read the sorrow in my eyes. Kind of like she died and I was telling her family 'I give my condolences'. "―so let's just pretend we never talked. So don't tell Luka we ever talked this morning, okay?"
She gave me a reassuring and one last, "Bye!" in her normal cheery voice, before I smiled and waved back at her, and the door closed.
My heart sank. I missed the cheery voice already.
I suppose all I could do now is visit Rin―
But right, I was already late for class, so when the 10 minute break bell rang, I realized how much I had missed.
I tried to blend in with the crowds of students that quickly poured out of their class buildings and worked my way through the traffic to the art building.
August 21 - 08:18
I had reached my art building after the 10 minute break bell rang. It was a mandatory break where all students had to come out and stretch and stuff, so they didn't get blood clots (one thing my former art teacher desperately stressed upon) and some odd diseases (which I doubted the music students needed). But really, not everyone paid attention to that rule, even though the school put it in bold signs near the entrances and exits of every class―MANDATORY. See the emphasis?
As I climbed up and reached the front of my class, I took a deep breath and took the handle of the door, and slowly pushed it open―
To see Luka making out with Gakupo on one of the art desks.
I closed the door as quietly as I could. If both of them found me out I would have been even more mortified than I already was.
OH MY GOD WAS SHE EVERYWHERE?!
Was she a weird psycho woman who knew that I had a hey-this-is-crazy-and-I-just-met-you crush on him? Or did she magically bump into him and think "Oh he's hot" and hook up with him?
Anyways, I couldn't help it anymore. I fell on my butt right next to the door and leaned my head back against the wall. God I was an idiot. A stupid, ugly idiot.
Then my angst feelings got stronger, and my head felt too heavy, like I was about to faint or throw up or scream, or how about all three?
No one told me that being an art student meant I have to endure these stupid, heart-wrenching things called feelings.
But then I tried to make myself emotionless―it was just a crush. It was just a crush on a stranger you just met.
A nice stranger who risked his life (well I liked to think of it like that, but maybe he really didn't at all since he knew how to fight anyways) for me in a huge brawl yesterday. A handsome stranger that proved to show that there was hope for the world and your picky expectations to find an artist that was attractive too. A chivalrous stranger that rebutted all the 9 out of 10 teenage boys that were vulgar and didn't treat women properly.
Oh my God my mind would never let me out of this!
I deeply exhaled. I couldn't do this, mope first of all, but second, think about it and make myself feel worse.
August 21 - 15:05
When the extra class bell rang, I immediately ran to Len's sound lab.
Then I stopped when I remembered what a poor excuse of stamina I had.
When I got there, I stopped the cute kids' couples Eskimo-kiss session. Glad they weren't going anywhere farther, like when Luka ravenously pushed against Gakupo's lips, surprising him and making him force the pressure of his lips down on her harder, just to beat the competiti―I mean, no thoughts on their make-out. Bad thoughts.
"Hey guys, sorry for breaking up your couple time..." I said, apologetically, and I was sincere..."but hey, did Luka do or say anything to you guys today or over the break?" ...but my reasons were a bit more important, and for the both of them, I hoped. Like Gumi, Len and Rin had dorms here. Which means they were more likely to be approached by Luka over the one-day break.
Rin shook her head furiously, seriously this girl either did this on purpose or had a knack for looking cute, because she looked just like a little three year old, shaking their heads profusely, their hair waving around and their expressions zany. Anyways, Rin didn't like Luka much either. Which I was proud of her for doing. She was amazed with Luka at first, and she was okay in the beginning, but then popularity got to her head. Which is the downfall of all good singers/actresses/etc. Rin promised to look up to her as an example and not become an airhead for fame.
Then Len nodded slowly, as if nervous and hesitant to tell me what I wanted to hear. But I was desperate, and my entire body shook with nervousness.
"What'd she do?!" I blurted out, grabbing Len's hand and holding it hopefully. Rin wasn't in the slight bothered. Which made me happy that the two had such good faith in each other.
He shook his head, and looked up at me with the equivalent expression of a beat-up puppy. Did I ever tell you he had the purest, softest face set in with the same big blue eyes as Rin? No wonder they were such a good match, they practically looked like the cutest two people on Earth together. Now imagine that as a couple. Mind-blowing.
"Oh come on, Len, you can tell me anything." I said, softly, giving him an assuring expression.
He inhaled deeply, then said slowly, "Well...I was bribed...to help in the plan to convince the most advance art students into school activities like Student Council or into another major, and kick out the Intermediate and Beginner's Talented programs..." He said, and looked up at me with eyes that basically mouthed themselves, 'sorry'.
Wait a second I was officially kicked out? By Len? The trust-worthy Art-Sound Class Representative?!
"But you couldn't tell me that!" I said, shouting at him incredulously. How could he do this? The jerk! And I thou―
"Miki, can you please let go of my arm? You're piercing it with your nails." He said, wincing. I immediately let go of his arm.
And how could Rin still love a creep who did this to me? When I looked to face her, I found she disappeared from the room. No wonder why it was so silent while me and Len talked.
Either she must have gone to get me a cherry-flavored tea to calm me down, or she must have escaped from the shame she faced from her boyfriend kicking me out. Either of those two would still validate our friendship.
Because so far, I've been going from corner to corner, face-to-face, to backstabbing and disappointment!
For all I know Rin could have been an accomplice for Miku Hatsune's leave from VAA too! Why not add that to my messed-up life already?
I know I was being whiny and really sarcastic, but seriously, I'm put in the middle of a huge dramatic crisis and what would anyone expect? To be fine after I lost my two best friends, my crush stolen away from someone you know is always going to be better, talented, prettier, and one-step ahead of you. No! You're going to get your heart ripped in five gajillion pieces and then served on a platter―but wait, it's thrown in your face, like a pie in a comedy gag!
I just couldn't take this anymore!
August 21 - 19:38
Wow...I guess...no I know, I really am kicked out of VAA. My school ID since then has been invalid. My records erased, and my last work, portfolio, and extra funds already mailed to my house.
I knew I would be at the top of the list when it came to who would get kicked out first, because I'm a poor orphan who's only good at painting, but I never expected it to happen so soon.
I never expected any of this to happen.
The TV series I was watching even echoed the answer to my thoughts, "Well, that's just life." The male character said.
I made sure with the office that Len didn't make a merciful mistake of accidentally forgetting to kick me out, but nope. The administration made it crystal clear with their harsh tones, "You're not a student at this prestigious academy anymore."
Well, at least I didn't have a dorm!
That's one positive thing to think on...haha...
Oh God I would have to go out and find a job if I were to become self-independent again that isn't on the summers.
If Gumi or Rin were here, I would have been bawling the entire time, even when they left. So many water to get rid of in my system, so many things and so much water over these stupid...STUPID...
Damn it! I can curse if I wanted to! No one could hear me alone!
No one would even care if I died in here!
I bet it would take ten fucking years until someone found out huh?!
Unconsciously, I was voicing out all my thoughts. Hearing myself say the F-word aloud...? Whoa.
But it felt liberating, it really did. It was light on my tongue, and it added so much emphasis to my words.
You see, I was a shut-in artist, I was pure and innocent, and gullible. I never ever wanted to turn into those people that cursed all the time, because really, the darker side of language scared me. The F-words and the D-words. And the...
Really? I just said 'fucking' and I couldn't even think without abbreviating it or making it less worse.
...Oh...my...
Oh God how did I turn from myself, to a crybaby, to a dirty-mouth, to a realizing-I'm-a-jerk, all in the past two minutes?
I'm really messed up here. Really. Right? I don't know. I was always alone, being the lonely orphan I was. I never had anyone to tell me what to do with these stupid feelings. No one made me cheer up in dark times. No one helped me get over my fear of lightning and loud sounds (did I just think that out loud? I mean...whoops!).
But now it was all hopeless. And I guess I had a reason to be like this. I'm heart broken in so many ways, and I'm devastated at the fact that not only was I expelled from VAA, I have to go back to another school again. Regular school.
There's no arts in regular school. It was terrible, and I hated it. I loved VAA. I loved VAA so much. If I knew I were going to be kicked out so soon, I would have kissed every brick on the art building (okay never mind, that's gross...).
I needed something to help me out, get me through this, give me a headache until I couldn't think anymore.
Then it came to me, thanks to all those countless novels, mangas, and TV dramas I watched that gave me the idea:
I might as well be drunk.
August 21 - 20:53
A local bar, and the owners still couldn't tell I was underage.
Exhilerating, right? I was about to drink―and I had no regrets. I needed this. Right?
Oh wait there was no one to tell me if I was right or wrong.
Sitting down, I ordered a shochu sake, and glumly rested my head on my chin, my elbow sitting on the counter.
"Hey, aren't you a bit young to be drinkin'?" A voice asked.
I immediately jumped up in my seat, turning to the voice, even though she said it quietly and not accusingly, I stammered and completely broke down under that single statement.
It was a woman with a red work out suit, like she just came from a gym or ran a marathon or something, her chocolate brown hair was cut short, that curved in to cradle her face. I knew she was an older woman, but she looked very young and pretty.
Oh my God someone had caught me! Red handed! Okay, just take me home, I'm a good girl!
"Relax," the woman snorted. She almost laughed at the wide-eyed expression I was giving her. I felt a little uneasy at this. Should I relax because she's excusing me? Or should I still be on guard so she won't report me? "I can tell you need it." And she gave me a wink before taking the one seat between us. I exhaled with relief.
"How did you know?" I asked and leaned closer to her, whispering. She smiled mischievously.
"I am the master of all alcohol drinks and all those who drink it." She said matter-of-factly.
What should I call her...a sake fairy?
"W-Who are you...?" I asked cautiously, but paused a moment as I thanked the bartender and took my shochu. She smiled and punched my arm lightly.
As if completely ignoring my question, she asked me, "Is this your first time drinking?" And I have to say, the entire time she did very well with keeping her voice low enough as to not attract attention to hmph, my age.
I nodded shyly. She clasped her hands together, "Wonderful!" She said, but I could tell she took extra effort to not try to say things too loudly. "You're my new drinking buddy!"
I was about to object, and to be fair, I had my mouth open, because no no no, this would only be a one-time thing, I couldn't do this. My conscience wouldn't let me. I just saw that on TV, even the most troubled teenagers go to alcohol to settle their hardships. And honestly, to forget everything, even for a moment, would make me feel happy.
Anyways, the woman ignored my protests, or maybe unintentionally interrupted me, "Of course, you can talk to me, no kid should turn to alcohol." She said and put a hand to her chin, nodding seriously. "So what happened, what inspired this downfall?"
At this, I sighed, at least she would listen. And that made me feel better. Even if I didn't know this woman. I immediately opened up, because stranger or not, no one had ever offered to listen to me before. "My life became the most twisted Korean Drama."
"Hmm. Go on." She said. I nodded, happier that she would even listen this far.
"It was my first day of school six days ago. I used to go to VAA."
"VAA?" She asked, her face crinkling in recognition. "That school for VOCALOIDs? That wonderful school of singers, artists, and more?"
I nodded saddly.
She furrowed her eyebrow. "Well, why aren't ya happy there? You must be an amazing VOCALOID!"
I shook my head. "Miku Hatsune used to go to my school." And I saw the woman's face light up in recognition. "But she left for some reason and took all the school's funding with her. I was an artist, like painting. Apparently we were too un-important compared to the singing VOCALOIDs."
"No! You just got kicked out because Hatsune's not there? That sucks dick!" She said and slammed the bar with her fist, which the bartender promptly asked her to stop.
"That's not all." I said, and she urged me to go on. "The next Queen Bee of the school, Luka Megurine has the superintendent, who's in charge of the entire school, under her influence and took my new friend, bribed my best friends, and stole my crush." I said and bit my lip on the last one. Did I have to mention the last one? Might as well, it was pretty heartbreaking.
"No!" The woman said, dropping her mouth open, the sympathy was all over her eyes. "That bitch!"
I nodded sadly, again. Even when Luka stooped this low, I couldn't call her a...a...b-word.
The woman put a finger to her chin again, thoughtfully. "Well...how about you go find Miku Hatsune, and they'll let you if you lie and say you have school clearance...then convince her to come back? It can't be that bad. Last I read the papers, that Hatsune would do anything to get the upper hand from Luka, even if it meant taking control of VAA."
I sighed. "It's not as easy as that. I can't do it." Then getting up, I put my money on the table. "I know I don't know you, but you are nicer than anyone I have ever met. No one has listened to me before. And...And I realized I can't drink. I really can't do this. I can't pay you back the favor of being your drinking buddy, but it was a nice title. No one had offered me that title either." I said sadly.
The woman seemed shell-shocked. "Wait, wait wait, where are you going?" She asked.
"My home." I answered simply.
The other woman sighed and took a slim, sleek cell phone...out of her...bra? She held it out to me, but half of me really didn't want to take it for the fact that it came out of her bra. I looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to explain herself.
"Take it and call your parents, kid." She said and laughed, as if it was funny I didn't know what to do when a cellphone was offered to me. Because technically, I didn't.
So with pursed lips, I gave her a blank stare and said softly, "I don't have any parents. I'm emancipated. I'll walk home, it's only four blocks." I said, those four blocks only leading up to three-fourths of a mile. I would be fine. My apartment was in a residential area, away from the urban city life and stores and bars.
She looked up at me with shock, and her mouth dropped open. She slipped her phone back in her bra (once again, creeping me out) and slapped some bills onto the bar, telling the bartender her thanks and then urging me outside.
"Kid!" She scolded. I looked up at her confused. Why would she be mad at me? "You don't just go into a bar at what is it..." Again with the bra phone? "...Jesus right on the mark huh? I got 21:46, which is right after city curfew."
"Wait what?" I asked her.
"Look kid, this is really damn ironic right now. I'm being a mom for someone who's had no kids, and you're getting a mom-sized lecture despite the fact you don't have parents. Emancipated my ass! Why the hell would you be out here unless you were expecting to be raped and mugged? Not only that, I can't believe I encouraged you on drinking! How old are you?"
Scared, I quietly answered. "Sixteen."
"Sixteen!" Her eyebrows nearly skyrocketed off her face. "Shit, I thought you were at least 18 or 19."
"Ma'am, I want to go home, and you are not my mother." I said curtly. Walking off and hoping she'd leave me alone.
No luck.
"You get your ass back here young lady! I'm not done talking to you!" She yelled. Now sprinting and not caring about my terrible athleticism.
I can ascertain that she was drunk long before I met her. But now I was really scared and I really regretted coming to the bar.
August 21 - 22:45
Yes, this crazy, drunk woman was in my house.
Yes, she was being annoying and nagging.
But she listened to me, helped me get back to my house safely, and gave me a huge lecture on why alcohol is bad for you.
She also took one look at my artwork and muttered, "I knew I liked you from the minute I saw you kid...real talent, right here."
Which made me flush with happiness. At least someone appreciated my art.
Oh by the way, her name was Meiko. And an hour later, I was ready to claim her my foster mom.
It was one of those relationships you didn't get at first, and then you fought, and then out of that fighting came love? Yeah that doesn't make any sense. And all those dramas and stuff never prepared me for this kind of relationship.
And one last yes, I took my relationship with Meiko as the closest thing to friendship, now that I was kicked out of VAA and friendless.
"Hey Miki..." Meiko said and cleared her throat. "It's getting late, and you should be asleep by now."
"But Mei―"
"No buts, you are going to sleep if I tell you to." She said sternly and shook her finger. "I'm going to leave, but you take it easy, alright?"
"Alright."
"And hey, don't give up on finding Hatsune and convincing her to get back into the school. There's no such thing as 'I can't's and 'It's not easy as that's in your vocabulary, okay?" She said stubbornly.
"I know but how can I even―"
"I'll help you. You just think of a plan, okay? Good night, kiddo." Meiko said, and left, closing the door behind her.
After Meiko left, I locked the door behind her and plopped on my bed.
Should I stick to the original plan?
I don't know. So many things happened today...such a whirlwind of emotions. Oh right, it's a rollercoaster of feelings. My heart hurts.
At this point I was still so hopeless and lost, I had indifference towards everything.
Fine, I would go find Miku Hatsune. I would try to get her to come back to VAA. I would stop Luka's evil reign of terror.
And...it was all said half-heartedly.
Maybe I did mean it, but I was too tired, and decided to shut out my thoughts and just go to sleep.
I still had that thought lingering in my head...
What if I failed?