The most dreaded time of the day for Miku Hatsune came. Today is the last day that they have to attend their student-teacher role in the kindergarten. As the bell rang, the whole class departed into groups, and once again, she found herself walking with the group mates she never felt. 'Though the walking arrangement is quite different today because the irksome rackety blond told them he'll be there earlier to help the day care teacher by looking after the kids while she finishes the voucher that validates their accomplishment of the given date, Miku walks side by side with the class freak, Oliver.
'Why am I so lucky?' Miku thought as she maintained a meter away from the blond who keeps on clenching and unclenching his fists. The weirdo watched how his fists clench and unclench with those weird irides of his. Amber and red, his eyes looked like the eyes of some villain in a new novel Miku is reading. But again, the novel description of the character with same eye color with the blond with her is simply, inhumane. Pondering over the wonder of his eyes, Miku remembered seeing his family during the talent show in middle school. And none of them are blond.
'Ah. It was because of the rare condition of his albinism.' Miku informed herself as she glanced, once again, on the blond - who, was now laughing while seeing his fingers twitch. His eyes lacked pigments that's why his blood was responsible for giving that red iris. 'Cool,' she mentally noted. She watched secretly how the blond starts nail biting.
'Okay, this is getting weird.' She focused on the road ahead...only to stare at the two major images of the clique: Gumi and Neru. The cheerleader and the class president are chatting animatedly as they walk together. Miku hated how radiant they seemed to be whenever they enter the class, attempt to talk her (only when there's a teacher around) and when they have to earn majority of the class votes for something she will surely ditch. She hated how the two look as if they're glowing when they jog on the field during their P.E classes, or when they wear the school swimsuits. For Miku, they looked like nothing more than a porn magazine that catches every eye of the boy-population. Miku is obviously, and never will be, insecure because of the attention they are getting. She can't blame the two for being born as completely attractive, whilst the tealette herself, looked no more than a pauper in a fairytale. Miku may have everything in life. But she is still a pauper.
Pauper. Because she's poor on this certain thing.
The teal head felt the boredom struck her like cupid's arrow right on the perfect timing. It has been a minute that they are walking yet they barely covered twenty five meters away from school. Neru and Gumi are walking rather slowly because they seem to focus on a certain random gossip in the school. So, Miku has no choice other than walking at the same rate as they are. That's the time when the class freak nudged a shoulder to her. When she looked at him, he doesn't look like a freak at all because his smile, his smile is classified as normal.
"Aye up? How's tha doin'?" Oliver said, smiling like any normal kid will. But again, what's normal for Miku?
"Shut up. Stay away from me," she hissed and moved away, only to be followed by the blond.
"Thou shalt not do that, that's a bloody rejection. We need to talk,"
"Who told you I need to? Give me my personal space," Miku moved a little further away.
"Nay, I won'. Nowt o' a rational reason ah see why shalt ah distance myself from thee." Oliver grinned and she hated that as well, happy people are like deceiving Venus flytrap for her. But she isn't an insect so she shouldn't give in with people's mask.
"Then, please shut up." Miku looked away. Maybe if she won't say a thing, he will shut his mouth and refrain talking to her.
"Ah finally see why the lads art distan' to thee. Art thou yitten?" Oliver quietly asked, eyes kept on the road before them. The weather today is remarkably windy and the clouds are on lower altitude, moving in a fast pace. The blond reminded himself that he shall depart early before rain could fall.
"Art thou yitten? Miku?" Oliver turned his gaze to her and Miku pretended that she didn't hear a thing.
"Stop pretending tha' hadn't heard o' my inquiry. Ah'm 'avin enough o' thy people 'ere who kep' us shut out. I know that we're common, left behinds? So, art thou yitten? ...For I think I am." The blond kept in his pocket. "Downt road, I knew ah'm not alone. Thou art abiding?"
"I'm not suffering." Came the stern reply from Miku. This guy won't shut up, really. But she found it amusing. This is the reason why nobody talks to him, or if ever they do, they end up mocking him. Because he speaks Yorkshire.
"Being alone is not suffering. And I'm not afraid." She added.
"Hn," he nodded. "But art thou no' fed up o' peep's prejudices? Those art bloody scary."
"Why would I care?"
"... Because they talk about thee." He mused. "I'm suffering wi' how people laugh at me when I haven't done ohwt funny."
"There. You can almost speak normal English! Why don't you just talk normally like that?" Miku grunted and rolled her eyes. Oliver is making things complicated for himself, seriously.
"Hehe, I did my best learning this. Albeit it comes not handy at sometimes. It feels like I'm speaking a foreign lingo," he chuckled. "But what about thee? Tha' talk perfectly comprehensible English but they still don't speak to thee?"
... Yes, and curse you for asking. Miku mumbled to herself. She remained quiet as they trotted behind the beautiful ladies. Their footsteps are heavy and laudable, 'though hers are forced because she was asked a terrible question.
"Ah have a motto. Tha wan' 'o listen?" He asked. When he hasn't heard a response from her, other than a snort, he spoke, "It's no' a matter of pleasing people so stop giving up the real thee for conformity. What's so wrong being thissen, anyway? - I learnt that from mah granny."
And silence again.
"That's why I am yitten. I am rooarin' when peep's mock me because I speak differently. And I have no intention in givin' up my language. Thy lads art ninnies." He laughed.
"Yes, they are idiots." She agreed.
"Oh, look. Class freak and class ghost getting along so well," Neru finally noticed Miku and Oliver's amplifying conversation. The blonde gave them a sarcastic grin that she, soon, dropped when the two stared boringly to her.
"I think you should talk more often. You two fit perfectly. It's like...you're normal." The mean blonde laughed and dragged the quiet Gumi as they continued walking. The tealette watched the stupid blonde skip and hop away as they closed distance near the day care.
"Oliver? Why are you acting like you're some psycho or what? Don't you think that makes your image worse?" Miku quietly asked, slowing down her speed so the cheerleader won't hear them.
"What's worse than being worst already? Everyone thought I am freak, so why not make it come true?" Oliver argued back. "Is that normal English?"
"Yes," she quietly answered the latter part.
"And from trying to fit in, I'm slowly forgetting what is normal." The freak grinned and waved her a hand, with his last words, 'that's why I don't; that's why I pretend.'
Gumi scolded Neru after what she has said. The class president considers the two, Oliver and Miku, as socially incapacitated people but that doesn't mean Neru can say such pitiful words. No one can.
Gumi stood at the gate of the indoor playground of the day care. She watched the children merrily playing because, somehow, it's their playtime. The loud resonating melodious laughter of the toddlers filled the lonely afternoon with such vibrant music, that will fade soon once these kids lost their energies. There's a sound of murmurings behind her, coming from the door of the classroom, and there stood the transferee and the day care teacher. Gumi watched Len's emotionless face stared and agreed on whatever the teacher may be talking about. Then he nodded, and the teacher too, as he left and jogged towards her direction.
"President," addressed Len as he stood a distance before her. Gumi wished him to continue. "Is Hatsune with you? Did she come here?"
"Yes, why are you asking?" Gumi kept an eye on the black haired girl chasing a white kitten.
"The teacher said that she'll be having problems with her grades if she will not try entertaining the kids, at least once, even just for today." Len informed as he locked gazes with the class president, who, on the other hand, seemed not surprised with his news.
"I see, Kagamine. I'll talk to her about this a little later. Ask the children to go back inside first, the sun is hurting my skin already." Gumi dismissed and stared into nothingness. Neru and Oliver are cleaning the classroom that's why the kids are out so the two can do ample cleaning. It's has been twenty minutes, so they might have finished cleaning already.
Because the sun is getting into her, she isn't too fond of the light, Gumi walked to the nearest tree on the playground. She ran under its cool shade and sighed quietly. The afternoon is lonely, tiring for some reason she doesn't know. Until a shuffling noise was heard by her, softer compared to the children's laughter where Len patiently escorts to go back in class.
Another shuffling. Sounds like a paper being turned. Gumi ran near the trunk and stood quietly there, observing, guessing where the sound will come. Minutes passed, shuffling again. The green-haired lady placed her palms on the trunk as she stepped on the bulged out root to peek whatever is behind the trunk.
Shuffling. Gumi stared down disappointedly at the girl leaning against the trunk. Amidst the heat of that tiring afternoon, there was the tealette seated, reading a new book - different from the one Gumi saw in the library. Her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows as her school vest is abandoned on her lap. Miku's shoes are set aside near her feet as she stretched her legs fully, toes wiggling as she seemed so excited with whatever she's reading. Gumi didn't miss Miku's controlled yelping as she stared on the page. The class president felt her head ache by just staring at those lengthy paragraph Miku is reading, the small font size made her more dizzy.
"Hatsune." Gumi called as she massaged her temples. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"There's a crime committed here, the inspector must come within a minute." Miku answered blankly.
"What are you saying? I'm behind you." Annoyed, Gumi wanted to tear Miku apart from her creepy imagination. "You're supposed to attend your student-teacher duties and not to skip it because, because...you are reading some novel, whatever."
"Ah." Miku turned around and rolled down her sleeves. "Sorry. But everything seems fine with the kids, I guess I'm no help since Kagamine managed them well."
"Uh-huh, he did?"
"Yes." Miku stared coldly up to her.
"...for the whole week? Yes, he managed it himself. I doubt your grades here, then. If Len did it all, by what efforts are you to be evaluated by the day care teacher? I'm very sorry in advance if you will fail this subject, Hatsune. Regards to Mr. and Mrs. Hatsune." Gumi turned away, shrugging at the same time. Miku is the best among the rest when making excuses whenever she needs to deal with people. Her attitude is doing no good to her, and people around her. Same reason why Gumi pitied her.
"No, wait. Can there be any other way? I can't fail." Miku called back. The two of them stood under the shade, the whistling of the wind answered Miku first.
'Such a headache,' Gumi turned around, her short hair was blown away from her face. "You should have thought about that at the beginning," she preached - but immediately paused after getting distracted with Miku's skirt that's a little folded upward, maybe because she's sitting there all the time. "Have some grace, will you? Fix your skirt!"
The tealette immediately did what she has been told, but there's no trace of embarrassment on her face. She looked back to her leader.
The hissing of tree's foliage echoed as the two engaged themselves in a staring battle. This happened many times before, so countless, Gumi grew tired of softening the girl's cold eyes.
"You should play with the children today." Gumi said monotonous. "You should stop running away from people. Interaction is natural, Miku."
"You shouldn't call me by my name," here Miku goes again.
"Oh, yeah. I'm not your friend, I forgot." Gumi dramatically rolled her eyes. "Do you have friends? No one seems to call you by your name. Wait, Oliver just called you 'Miku' on the way here, why can he and why can't I?"
The two stared at each other a little longer. However, Gumi was so tired of dealing Miku's ways - shutting people away, isolating herself - so she left the tealette alone on her ground. Sometimes, Gumi put all the blame to the tealette why she is alone, and that's because it's Miku's fault. Miku pushes people away.
Miku is horribly quiet as she stared at the children before her. They are not so many, just ten or a little more. All those eyes stared back at her curiously, Miku wanted to duck and hide under the table. Her partner, Len, is just watching her. Like the deal, for her to pass this, she needs to play with them even once. Just once.
Play? She asked herself, mentally laughing with ridicule. She couldn't recall the last time she played, maybe it's too long ago to remember, too deeply buried in her memory because she didn't want to remember. Miku shook her head, she has to stop talking with herself. She needs to say a thing before this...kids.
Len was sending her daggers now. She and the children were staring to each other for the past ten minutes already...and this wasn't even called 'play'. He sighed audibly to tell Miku to make some noise. The girl just glared at him, he shrugged and squared his shoulder. She should do her duty. He doesn't care if she can't, she have to.
"Hi, I'm Miku. You always see me, right?" She nervously asked, yet she tried her best to stop trembling. The children grinned and Miku hated to see their glowing faces.
"No!" Is their chorused answer and that made Miku deadpan and Len chortle - though he stopped immediately when Miku glared at him again.
"Yes!" A voice echoed when the chorused rejection ended. Miku tried to see to whom it came from as a black haired girl emerged from the crowd. "Yes," the little girl repeated as she released the white kitten she is holding. "I always see you behind the tree. You're reading!"
Miku smiled and patted the girl's head. "Thank you," Miku didn't expect that being noticed felt flattering. She smiled at the beaming girl and then looked around, but ended looking back at the girl. "Your name, please?"
"Yuki. My name is Yuki, teacher Miku."
What the girl said made Miku smile. A smile that surprised herself because she didn't know she's capable of doing that. Feeling like she found her inspiration to keep on going, she stood and courageously asked the children to sit in circles, and she joined the kids.
Grabbing the educational toys on a basket, Miku began challenging the children to tell her what shape, animal or thing is she holding. Slowly, she felt like being with kids is the most common thing in her life - like she's used to this before, so everything went accordingly. She enjoyed, for the first time. She enjoyed being with people, but she will narrow that to children alone. They are fun to be with. Children are funny yet enjoyable comrades. They are honest and are always positive. They appreciate little things, they find everything wonderful, at least. The kids are curious. They don't know how to lie. They won't leave you.
Unless they grow up and realize that they shouldn't be so clingy and dependent because nothing stays the same.
.
.
.
'Nothing stays forever.' Miku remembered saying that when she was twelve. She told such saying to a fellow. Her only friend just laughed at her grabbed her book torn into two.
'Yeah, 'nothing' stays forever.' He repeated before keeping her book in his bag with a promise to fix it. 'So,' he looked at his book buddy again. 'Will you be my 'nothing?' So we can stay forever like this?'
And Miku saw herself blushing in embarrassment.
.
.
.
Len watched the tealette reading aloud to the kids. The Little Prince, he smirked. He was certain that the children won't understand the analogy in the book. After all, only grown ups can understand what Exupéry meant there. Oh, of course. Some children's book are really meant for adult readers to realize the lessons of childhood. That's why he loves The Little Prince.
Seeing the enigmatic classmate of his - enjoying, he decided to call the teacher to see this. The day care teacher nodded and smiled. She mistaken Miku as a child hater. But seeing the scene? Her first impression didn't last. As soon as the teacher left, Len decided to buy something for the odd Hatsune to congratulate her. He thought she'll just escape today the way she usually does. Maybe, some things are really inevitable.
'Pain is inevitable in this world,' the blond remembered his uncle saying that. He picked up the can of cold coffee from the vending machine. His uncle, a Philosophy professor in a state university in the country, had thought him a lot, including the habit of reading.
"Pain is inevitable this world, huh? What does he mean?" Len glanced at his can of soda. The condensation process, ah. This process made the can sweating. Cold yet crying like Niagra. "This must be her." He smirked. "Cold yet crying like..."
"Aye up?"
Len turned around and saw the blond with weird irises. Oliver, if Len isn't mistaken. The class freak, huh? What does he want? Len obligingly nodded in acknowledgement and replied, "Hey."
"How's the lass doin'?"
Len felt like his own tongue rolled back to his pallet. His brow cocked questioningly. Is he speaking English or what? He stared like an imbecile and didn't reply - not even a breath.
"Hey? Tha seemed capped? Stop gaupin." Oliver shrugged once again when Len kept his eyes on him as if Oliver is a weird speaking Mickey Mouse plush.
"You are thinking I'm weird, aren't you?" Oliver adjusted his tongue. Fit in - no, just let him understand you. "Are you fine? Stop staring, will you?"
"Sorry," Len winced, blinking. He shook his head as if he has waken from a, well, eerie dream. "What is that...how do I call it, dialect?"
"Yorkshire, little man. So, how's the girl doin'?" Oliver asked again, brushing some dust out of his school vest. Earlier in their duty, he cleaned the the class A's room alone. The blonde brat Akita just stood beside the board and command whatsoever she thinks correct. He just finished a while ago but Neru asked him to pick the garbages the kids left during their break. He remembered Miku so when he saw Len - which is already strange because he knew that Miku can't deal with people, let children alone - he decided to check how is she.
"That's cool," Len quietly mused. "...and your eyes. Is that a contact lens? Are you just an avid anime fan or what...?" Len curiously asked, tilting his head on a side to get a good view of his bloody red eye.
"No, haha. You're creepy, you know." Oliver chuckled. "I'm an albino. And what makes you think Yorkshire is cool? Well, for me, it is. Bu' everyone snickered when I speak broadly Yorkshire."
The two continued talking, more like Len asking about his eye and dialect and accent, whilst Oliver is answering willingly. Thus, the cold coffee was forgotten on the bench while the two kept on conversing on the same wooden seat. The two kept on talking randomly - from what are their teams in football and basketball, what video games do they play, what kind of class did they actually expect when they first entered the class, how was their firs day in high school - until they ended up on a topic that Oliver and Miku can relate - the alienation in the class. Len knew what Oliver was feeling, being isolated and longing normal interaction. But they both agreed that Miku is a different matter, that she is a the one pushing herself away from people. They both knew that her behavior is strange itself, but the red eyed blond explained, that maybe she had her reasons. And those reasons are for them to know yet.
"Why don't we try befriending 'er?" Oliver asked as they gulped on their soda. Len was quiet, baffled by Oliver's proposal. Len couldn't agree, fully, because he promised that he won't bother the enigmatic girl anymore. But he couldn't disagree as well, because he is being kind and don't want her to be shut away by the humanity and the other way round.
Len heaved a sigh that made Oliver look at him cautiously. "And I shall take that as a 'yes'?" Oliver claimed with a little smile on his moon-thin lips. "Is that normal English?"
"Haha - yes." That's quite a chortle but it was the first time Oliver saw Len change moods and facial expressions - which is a good sign.
"I have a motto. Tha wan' 'o listen?" Oliver asked the same question as he did to Miku. This time, to Len. The other blond nodded and waited for him to speak, so Oliver continued. "It's no' a matter of pleasing people so stop giving up the real thee for conformity. What's so wrong being thissen, anyway? - I learnt that from mah granny."
"I agree. I agree." Len bumped fists with the so-called "class freak" because finally made his first high school friend.
Miku was now assisting a moppet who demanded that she needed to pee. And Miku being an ignorant how to help a child, panicked and scooped the kiddo in her arms and ran to the toilet. There it was revealed that it's not just a 'pee'. She scrunched her nose as the foul smell of the 'dark matter' sneaked out of the restroom, killing her olfactory nerves. And when the smell became too much for her to handle, she felt like she needed to puke.
'Gross,' she scampered away from the restroom's door, informing the lad that she will be waiting at the couch. When she succeeded to get rid of the filthy smell, she crashed against the couch, exhaustion nibbling in every cell of her body. It's tiring to deal with giddy kids, huh? Her head rested on the arm rest as she completely claimed the couch as if it was her bed. She closed her eyes, slowly giving in the depths of energy deprivation.
The murmuring of the child inside the toilet made Miku smirk. Kids, they are doing rituals to hasten the waste elimination, huh? She'd laugh. She couldn't remember doing the same thing during her age. As if it was a lullaby, Miku succumbed to the need of rejuvenating her energy. And just like that, she fell asleep.
The kid went out of the toilet, her business done. She happily ran back to their classroom - her teacher, Miku, forgotten. Miku was dreaming of herself, working in some publishing company. Once dreaming, you wouldn't realize you're in a dream, right? Herself dressed in some blouse and blazer, she was writing on her table, probably editing a book wishing to be published. She was enjoying the story, the twists and turns are fun, really. Until she felt a tug on her left sleeve. When she looked, being an easy-to-startle being, jolted up when nothing was on her left but her arm was constantly pulled.
"Ah!" She rose from being laid, panting like she had run a mile. The surroundings materialized in her head, she's in a day care. What happened earlier is a dream.
"Teacher Miku?" She felt the tug again. There was Yuki, looking up to her with glistening teary eyes. Oh no, Miku deadpanned mentally. Not a poop please.
"What's the matter, Yuki?" She crouched until she's on the same height with the kid. Yuki sniffed and pointed her finger outside and said;
"Piko is stuck on the road. I'm calling back, he don't listen."
"Piko?" Miku repeated, wondering if she's talking about an imaginary friend.
"Yes, the kitten I'm holding? He's white and got a blue and green eyes." Yuki answered along the process of dragging Miku out with her. Miku nodded, the girl was talking about the cat with different eye colors. As soon as they reached the fences that separates the day care from the road, the kitten was there in the middle of road, licking its paws.
"See! He's not listening." Yuki pouted. Miku patted her head and told the kid to stay where she is. Miku went out of the day care, closing the gate to assure that the girl won't follow her to avoid accident, in case.
"Look, teacher Miku saves Piko!" - wow. Miku isn't expecting a bigger audience. She just heard the kids screaming and yelling there, as she continued to walk towards the kitten. Silly cat, it ran away, and Miku felt so stupid chasing after the kitten. The yells grew louder, some saying that Piko should run faster because Miku is already behind.
"No, please. That's a bad prayer," Miku winced internally. She was almost chasing the kitten back to the day care when the cat stopped amid the intersection, sniffing the piece of bread left there. She was thankful that the day care is at least twenty five meters away. Or else the kids would run to her as well. They were practically yelling inside.
"Teacher! Get Piko already!" Yuki screamed.
"No, Piko! Run! Run, Piko! Run!"
Mean fat boy, Miku glared at the one who said that. Nonetheless, Miku bent down and tried to steal the bread the cat was licking, but she was threatened when the cat showed its fangs. Miku looked back at Yuki with an apologetic smile. Miku wouldn't admit it, but she's afraid of any mad animals. She wouldn't dare touch the kitten unless it's done.
"Ah, wait a little longer, Yuki. I won't risk my fingers to be bitten by this kitty!" Miku yelled.
"Take him back here, okay?" Yuki yelled back.
"Yes" Miku smiled. "I promise to bring this kitten to you." The friendly smile faded from the tealette's face. What she just said sound... Nostalgic. She felt like her shoes are glued on the ground and her environment is fading like a canvass splashed with waters. She stopped hearing for several seconds and she saw herself trapped in old memory.
.
.
.
The haze filled her vicinity as she saw a raven haired boy, around twelve standing before her. He stared at her warmly with that heartfelt smile plastered on his lips. "There's a new book, there! I promise to bring it to you!" He glided away from her, but Miku knew she has to stop him. She stretched her hand to stop him from running away, but a child beside her, the same teal haired girl around her late childhood screamed;
"Take care! I'll be waiting here..."
And the younger version of Miku called his name, Miku stared at her younger self, wondering what name did she just said...because they were deafened by the screeching tire brakes, and when she whipped her head around. She couldn't move or utter in shock.
The raven haired boy was lying on the ground, bathing on his own blood. Instinct kicked Miku, she ran to him. She tried to touch him but her fingers slipped through him, she was insure if the ghost was she, or the boy. Just then, the younger her knelt beside her and shook the boy, saying; "Rei! Wake up!"
"Rei," Miku mumbled to herself and stood. How can she forget such name? She goggled the scene before her, it sent her a wave of emotions she never thought she'll be able to recall.
"Miku! What happened!?" She looked around and saw a woman running to them.
"He..." Miku voiced only to remember that no one can hear her. Her fingers slipped through the boy, okay?
.
.
.
"Hatsune!" Miku felt an arm pulled her back as the wind from a car's momentum slapped her back to reality. She almost stumbled back, well, she really did. But she leaned against someone. Miku quickly looked ahead, the kitten ran back to the day care. She's still...confused. What did she see just now?
"Are you trying to get yourself killed in front of these youngsters?" Gumi let go of her arm as they walked ahead, adjusting the bag of snacks with her and retrieving the ones she asked Neru to hold.
"That deserves a 'thank you', ghost." Neru remarked and left her astounded. Miku looked around and saw the kids rejoicing and Gumi motioning them to get back inside the day care. Miku didn't miss the sharp scolding look from Gumi. Maybe, she will be a teacher in the future. Miku noted and decided to walk back to kindergarten.
The first thing that welcomed her as soon as she entered the class was the nettlesome guy who surfaced from the pool of kids playing with him. His eyes filled with coldness that's ready to beat her up. She rolled her eyes, preparing for this battle of caring-not.
"What are they saying? The kids are saying that you're almost hit by a car...when saving a cat?"
"It's a kitten," Miku corrected and went straight to the empty chair.
"It's the same." Retorted Len as he trolled behind her.
"If you're asking if I'm fine, I am."
"That's not my question, miss." Len squared his shoulders and stared down at her. "Why did you almost let yourself get hit? If class president isn't around I wonder where you are right now."
"It's none of your business, blond. I spaced out. That's all."
"Okay." Len turned away.
"Okay?" Miku was rather surprise. But he sounded relieved.
"That's what I'm asking, after all. Reason. Just reason, okay? Most stories tell the what, where, when, how... But stories always fail to answer why." He answered and went back teaching the kids to add through the flash cards.
Miku watched his figure to sit with the kids on the ground, vexed answers crumpled her eardrums, but she isn't listening at all. Even her spacing out has a reason, she sneered internally. Her eyes landed on them again when a scream from the kids echoed in the room. A boy was crying because he claimed that the cat scratched him. Miku's going to hate the cat now. Len shushed the brunette boy and examined his wound and told the kid that they'll clean his wound. Miku hypothesized that Len has a soft spot for kids. Unbelievable for a cold guy.
She stood and walked out of the class, hopefully this is the last time she'll be forced in a grouping, and associated with people...or so she thought.
It was like a curse. The school year ended then it started anew. She felt like vexed. Because the group activities continued to what seemed as "perpetual" for Miku. By partners or triads or entire group, she always ended up either with Len or Oliver. The three of them fell under the same labels. Len was luckier because some still tried to talk to him, but he was picky, seriously. Len was talking always to Oliver, and she was just watching the two whenever they have to attend practices after class. The three of them were avoided, but even the class classified the three as a group, she wasn't really with them. She was merely talking to Oliver and obviously avoiding Len and his attempts of a normal conversation.
Len called her austere, and such adjective became his nickname for her. She loathed it most when the blond calls her in the middle of the cafeteria when he has some worksheets to pass to her (they were lab partners, so fated - she hated), because he was shamelessly yelling, "Hey austere." And those who doesn't know her real name, the juniors and upperclassmen thought her name was as weird as, Austere. It was one of these days when she decided to talk to him while he and Oliver was laughing under the tree where she usually spends her break time.
"Kagamine." She called with an evil glare. She never liked the change in her life since the day Oliver and Len paid much attention to her since that led people to approach her - her normal life of being invisible as she pleased, was never the same anymore.
"Aye up!" Oliver waved a hand. "It's a surprise to see tha' around... Normal English." Oliver and Len laughed.
"Stop fooling around." Miku silenced the two. Oliver began nail biting. Len displayed the same cold expressionless mask he always put on. Len stared up to her and watched her with his icy stare, wishing her to rant.
"I don't want you to talk to me. Anymore. Both of you." She grimaced. She's not uncomfortable with Oliver. To think, they really get along well. It's just because Len is with him that makes it worst.
"Eck! Wha' makes tha' say such? Ah'm not faffin wi' thou or ohwt!? Tha' munnot scold us as if we're garden plants that lacked a lot o' prunnin'!?"
"Bro, you messed up with your analogy." Len patted Oliver's shoulder.
"Did I?"
"Excuse me? I'm talking here, sire." Miku sarcastically said that made the two look back at her. She saw Len smirked and stood, he clearly towered over her as he spoke with little decency.
"If we'll not talk to you, who will?"
If Miku is a sentimental person, she could've smiled and hugged him. But she felt the opposite. Her scowl shone with eternal disgust and she felt the urge to kick him so he'll lose his ability to reproduce.
"What's wrong with you? Isn't it clear that I don't want to interact with people?" She argued, holding back her hands on her side before she may grip his neck and choke him to death. The blond hummed and nodded then paced forward her, encircled her, and settled beside Oliver again.
"No. The question is, what's wrong with you." Len tossed the question back to the short tempered tealette. He just watched her roll her eyes and hiss in disapproval to answer his question. He enjoys annoying her. "You seem to have fun when we're in the day care last school year. So, what makes you say you don't want to interact with people?"
"None of your business." Miku retorted.
"Oh, I see. Therefore, our reasons why we continue - at least - talking to you is none of your business as well." Len said and brushed the leaf blades on his pants and walked away, leaving the grunting tealette and smiling Oliver.
"Never thought that the offcumden had such tongue, 'though he spoke the truth mostly. Ah' shall go, Miku."
"Don't call me Miku. I'm not your friend." That stopped Oliver on his track, quite saddened by her remark. Oh - that's the only syllable that he could muster. He stared momentarily at her who kept her face away from his vicinity, then he sighed.
"Let us say it in a language tha'll understand," Oliver straightened his back. "We're trying to befriend you."
"If you're pitying me because I'm alone, I'm telling you I'm fine." With that, Miku left Oliver on the school's lawn alone. Little that they know that Len was watching from their science lab. Class will begin a moment later and Len is sure that it will be awkward for him and Miku since they are unfortunately (as what she calls it), lab partners. But the class went by, no Miku attended the entire class for the afternoon. Len was holding a lot of notes and worksheets that his partner ditched today, so here he was, forced to bring the papers to her... Being him unknowing where she lives. Since their biology teacher asked him to bring all these papers - majority is biology worksheets - the teacher gave him her address. Oliver left early because his mom asked him to help her changing the bulbs, so Len went on an adventure - clueless where he is going.
Miku was peacefully sleeping on her bed when her mom arrived that afternoon. Meiko was early today, she complained about her back ache and her boss decided to let her leave for today so she could rest. Much to her surprise, she saw her daughter sleeping in her room. It was too early for her dismissal. That time, it was just two in the afternoon. Quietly, she left her daughter in peace. It's already darkening outside when the tealette went downstairs to eat something.
"Mom?" Miku was as surprised as her mom when she saw her mother cooking. The brunette smiled at her daughter and asked her to occupy one of the stools so she could have her dinner. Meiko interrogated why her daughter went home too early, and received a response that her daughter isn't feeling well that afternoon. Meiko was sadly watching her daughter to eat when the doorbell rang. She left her apron on one of the stools and hurried to open the door.
A flaxen being stood at their doorstep, his shoulder-length hair caught in a messy pony. He has papers held against his chest and he was wearing a male version of Miku's uniform. Meiko almost jumped in glee. Miku got a visitor. The blond was just about to introduce himself but Meiko quickly dragged him inside their house.
Len almost stumbled behind the brunette, but he made sure to have a glance of their living room before he found himself in the kitchen, or what seems to be. Their house is in good condition, warming to be honest.
"Miku! You have a friend I found standing on our door!" Miku's mom chirped as she pulled him in front of her, as if she's presenting a product she brought from the grocery. The blond looked around before steadying his eyes to the tealette eating on the dining table. Her hair laid down, much more like a bird's nest, her eyes half open.
"Hey," Len looked at her lazily. He found Hatsune's house ordinary while it is nurturing an extraordinary hard-skulled bias Hatsune Miku. Her bored eyes widen in shock as she finally realize who's this blond. She immediately rose from her seat, coughing like there's no tomorrow.
"Took you long enough," Len mumbled as he watched Miku's mom give her water.
"What the heck are you doing in my house!?"
"Miku! Don't talk to your friend like that!" Meiko quickly interrupted and Len felt like he wanted to play this game. "This is the very first time you have a friend visiting you, don't be so rude. Finish your food."
"No." Miku protested as she approached Len, forgetting she's on her Wendy-like night dress. And it is pink, very weird. "Get out of this place or I'll tear you into pieces."
"Says the one who can be easily hit by a car." Len whitewashed and lightly pressed the papers against her face, because he's uncomfortable with their close proximity. He's way taller than she is and this girl still trying to level her face with him. "Thanks for ditching the afternoon class, you ruined my afternoon routine."
He watched Miku grasped to avoid the papers scatter on the ground. Len looked at her mom - the brunette was smiling goofily at them, and Len knew better than to stay. "I shall leave, Mrs. Hatsune, I presume?" He politely asked and he heard Miku gagged with his curtsey.
"No, 'mom' will do!" Meiko beamed. He felt his eyes drop out of his skull. "It's really nice to see Miku interacting with her friends, or friend - rather. Why don't you stay for dinner? What's your name?"
"Len Kagamine, Mrs. Hatsune." Len informed as Miku ran upstairs. "I don't want to kill your mood but Miku and I are mere acquaintances, we're never friends." His cold tone swiped the brunette's smile. "I tried befriending her, Oliver and I tried. She refused. She told us she doesn't want to get along with people. Is your child a rebel or what? I see nothing wrong in your house. You seem to have a happy family."
"Kagamine, get out. Now." Miku descended from the stairs. Len briefly looked at Meiko with a nod that announced his departure. Without any other word, he brushed shoulders with Miku and left the household.
"Hold on, Len. Stay for the dinner. Miku, go back to your room if you don't want to entertain your visitor." Meiko shot Miku a glare and the tealette that she should obey. 'Though Miku never wanted such arrangement, it's her mom speaking, so she has no choice. She went up, locked herself and busied herself finishing everything she missed that afternoon.
Len withstand Meiko's plea as he occupied a stool. She served him well, and talked to him. Her mom kept on asking how Miku is doing in school - and the way he appraise the woman's question, he knew that Miku isn't the typical high school girl who rants every event in her life to her mom. He felt like her mom hasn't kept in touch with her daughter. And he was correct. After several questions on how Miku was in class, Meiko began apologizing for Miku's behavior. She explained that the girl was obsessed with books and refused to go out with friends.
"I understand." Len said, making the brunette look at him with relief. "Did she ever have a friend before?" Because if Miku reasons out that she prefer books than human beings, he won't buy that. There's a deeper rationale why books than human, there should be.
"Well," Meiko began. "She had, once. She's just twelve, then..." The brunette snapped. "That's it."
"How am I suppose to interpret that, Mrs. Hatsune?" Len asked curiously. Snap could mean a lot, honestly.
"An accident happened, Miku witnessed." She briefly and carefully informed him. Len was waiting for her to continue. She continued her story, quite unsure if it was Kagene or whatsoever the surname is. Meiko told him that Miku was twelve when she first had a friend, Rei, as what Meiko recalled. They were book-buddies, that's how Miku and Rei called themselves. Until that day, Miku and Rei went to the downtown because Rei promised to buy her the new novel from a series they liked most. Miku was waiting on the sidewalk opposite the bookstore when Rei was hit by a car. Meiko mentioned that the boy got an amnesia and didn't remember anything. Right then, his family left the town, or the country, probably.
"I still can't see why...your daughter, your daughter avoids us." Len bluntly said. He took time to choose perfect word or words that will substitute Miku's name.
"...well, I don't know anymore. That kid won't say a thing to me or her father. She wanted to have problems solved by her own,"
"But all she does is to run away from it." Len argued back.
Meiko shrugged and started to gather the plates. "It's my first time telling this to her friend," she told him truthfully as her soft stare left him. "At least, you had a lead how to knock on her door now, right?"
Len kept quiet. He stayed silent for several minutes, contemplating on his and Oliver's move to befriend the tealette. His curiosity will kill him someday, but he wanted to be her friend. After all, he sees her as a cold can of soda. He sees their similarities. Their only difference is that, he suffered from being alone, while she seemed to endure it like it's a necessity for her existence.
The doorbell rang. A slightly deep masculine voice announced arrival. Instantly, Len stood from his seat and told Meiko that he will leave. The blond received a smile from her as she accompanied him to the door. He received a questioning look from the man with midnight blue hair resting on the couch who, Len assumed, is Miku's father.
"Dear, Miku's friend will be leaving now." Meiko pulled the door open. Len thanked the couple before he turned his back. He wouldn't forget Miku's father say, "are you sure? He is Miku's friend?"
Miku was raging when Len learned her past. He kept on ranting that Miku shouldn't take all the blame after Rei's accident, that the incident just happened once. Therefore, she shouldn't consider herself as on omen to anyone who becomes her friend. "Because the more you say, the more you believe, the more it is likely to happen." He whispered to her on their biology class while she's dissecting a frog. She almost stab the frog when she felt his breath against her ear, telling her the words that will change her forever.
That night then, she was chewing over his statements. She had to accept that she's slowly getting used with Oliver and Len's presence around her - Oliver asking her to join them in lunch. 'Though Miku denied Len out of pure spite, she soon found herself responding to him more often than she used to be. They work more comfortably around each other, in lab, in gym practices, in duos. However, she still talked always with Oliver, finding the albino more open and fun than what seemed to be a reserved Len. She was sure that she sometimes she caught him staring at her and Oliver, but when she did, he would quickly call Oliver, and ask him random things. The three of them, soon, had their own world behind the classroom - just the three of them at the back of the class.
There are times Gumi would look at her and she would return the stare, only for the natural borne leader to smile at her. Less people whisper when she walks on the corridor, less eyes look on her with prejudices. She doesn't know if that's a good thing, but she felt like it was. Her weekends on the coffee shop were spent with Len, more like the two of them sharing a table, reading each's books. Although they don't speak to each other, she found their silence comfortable, as comfortable as Oliver's blabbing.
Today, she sat across him, the rain showers the pane beside her. It astounded her because of the weather this Saturday. She just finished reading her book, The Angel, a romantic suspense novel she found on her mom's chest drawer. Miku regretted to read the novel last night because she has nothing to do now, she barely spent an hour in the shop. Her sea green eyes lazily looked at the blond's visage. He seemed so calm, like the sea. He looked like a morning sky. A golden sun climbing up against the cerulean sky. She leaned her head against the cold window while keeping her eyes on him, this is the first time she peered on him, and he was an amusing sight, she decided.
Len lifted his cup to his mouth, but no more bitter liquid damped his lips. It was already empty. He lifted his gaze from his book to the cashier so he could call out for another cup of coffee - his third already, but his voice was caught in his throat when he saw Miku leaning against the window, her serene was face was tinted with pink. Her eyes were pressed closed as her shoulders rise and fall.
''How can she sleep like that?" He thought just when his eyes drifted to the space before her, she's done reading. He winced and stood, deciding to approach the owner of the shop from the other table instead.
Like a turning wheel, they were already on the finis of their junior years. A new student was introduced in their class, who happened to be Len's cousin, Rin Kagamine. They looked a lot like each other, one can mistaken them as twins. Unlike Len, Rin was lively and unambiguous. Len introduced her to Oliver and Miku, his cousin eventually wrestled Miku. He wanted to pry Rin away from the choking tealette who was surely uncomfortable with a bubbly blonde, Oliver was an exception.
Miku grew accustomed with Rin, she willingly shared her knowledge to the blonde. Rin can be an airhead some time, but Miku was patiently teaching her with their lessons. Miku and Len's weekends were no longer serene because Rin joined them and forced Oliver to convince his mom to make his Saturdays free so he could hangout with them as well. If there's someone who enjoyed the weekends in the coffee shop, it was Rin, along with Oliver. The two would talk a lot, oftentimes, Len and Miku found themselves staring on the ungraceful blondes, laughing their ass off with such corny jokes. When those times come, Miku would turn away from looking at these draining extroverts, only to stare at Len accidentally. And he stared back as well. They would smile, and laugh on their own accord.
In their last year in high school, the prom was announced to be held with in the week. Miku's colors drained. She wanted to ditch such trivial dance! Too late though, Rin called her mom and asked if they could shop for the gowns they could wear for the coming Friday. At that moment then, Miku wished she didn't let Len bring his cousin with him when she forgot her book on the coffee shop. Because as soon as Rin entered their house, her mom was as mad and as loud as Rin.
"Hey, Miku. Your mom agreed! She asked her boss if she can leave early today. Lucky you, you have your mom around. While I? She's miles away." Rin said with a fake amused laughter. Miku knew that she missed her family, it doesn't take a genius to know anyway? The tealette inched closer to Rin and hugged her, with the words to comfort her.
"Call my mom, 'mom'. She'd love to hear you call her like that."
That afternoon then, Miku felt herself trapped in an unfortunate trip that will be in her memory soon. Oliver, Len, Rin and her mom, with her, of course, were in a glittering dress shop - so girlish it hurts her eye. She tried to walk out but her mom grabbed her arm and dragged her inside. Her mom and Rin began to rummage the shop to find the perfect gown, together with Oliver, who asked for assistance to find himself a dress shirt.
Miku slumped on a couch near the fitting room to ease her aching head. The empty space beside her was occupied with another slouching being residing in Len's body. He smirked at her, she shrugged and watched the trio in their hunt.
"Aye up!" Miku tried to imitate Oliver's greeting, but she sounded like a chipmunk with a twisted tongue. Len laughed. Soon, the two looked around the shop, hoping to see something they can buy just to get out of the place. When Len spotted something he excused himself and took the dress shirt so he could try it. As soon as Miku was left alone, she went to the corner where masks and veils are displayed. Her eyes were particularly caught by a white veil affixed to a tiara studded with shimmering stones. Captured by the elegance of the veil, she took it and placed it on her head. Looking around, she saw Len nearby and she ran to him.
"Kagamine," she never tried to call him Len for he never called her Miku. Well, she never allowed, maybe? Len let go of the dress he's holding...gaping at her.
"Can I wear something like this on the prom?" She asked, adjusting the veil that fully covered her face. Len bit his lower lip, she doesn't know if he's suppressing a laughter or what but he lifted the veil over her face. Their icy staring could have frozen the place if he didn't pushed her around and questioned her sanity.
"You're not a bride and that isn't a wedding, Hatsune." He abandoned her and went back choosing what to wear.
After what felt like forever, Rin came out of the fitting room with her simple peach gown that plumped down her toes. It hugged her on the right curves, enough to conceal what needed to be concealed, showing her collarbones and smooth shoulders and arms.
"You looked like a model, Rin!" Meiko praised while Len and Miku just clapped their hands. She's a beauty, no need to repeat that. Oliver and Rin faked a dance, Oliver on his white suit. They looked entertaining to watch.
Len and Miku changed at the same time, on separate dress rooms of course. Len came out wearing a white suit, and Rin began to ramble about how ugly Len's choice was because white was easy to get stained. Len ignored and pleased her to shut up, but she just did when Miku came out. Miku laid her hair down to cover her exposed shoulders-not really fond of sleeveless shirts. She looked like a princess in a dirty white gown that showed how fit she was, Rin just gawked at her small waist.
"Are you sure you're still eating?" Rin asked as she raked her eyes downwards, the gown seemed petticoated. They all stared at her - Miku was uncomfortable all the time. The tealette sighed when the shuffling of curtains broke their trance, Len came out announcing that he'll wear something black instead.
Miku was expecting Oliver to pick her up that afternoon. Both her parents were literally glowing in excitement because this is the first time they saw their so-thought tomboy of a daughter.
When a car parked in front their lawn, a man I'm gray suit came out. Blond though he is, he isn't Oliver. It's Len. His usually messy hair is caught in the same ponytail at the nape of his neck, his used-to-be unruly fringe is neatly brushed towards the right. He looked like a beauty himself, looked like someone from a rich family.
Meiko watched how such gorgeous being approached her daughter. She dreamily observed how Miku slapped his hand away and walked ahead of Len. Meiko found that sweet. Nevertheless, Miku wasn't as graceful as her dress seemed to be.
Wallflower. Len kept on teasing Miku because nobody asks her for a dance. She's pretty that night. She's noticeable. It's just because of her "character" that made all guy who wanted to try asking her back off. Moreover, Len and Oliver's glare to anyone lingering around Miku and Rin pushed others away. She was seated, head pressed against the table they were occupying. Oliver was chatting the exhausted tealette - exhausted even she didn't do anything particular, other than to sulk on her seat and gag whenever she sees couple cooing. Len remembered how she intentionally stepped on his foot because Oliver was her date and not him. He explained that Rin left him because Oliver came with a more beautiful car and his cousin forced him to pick the tealette.
"Len, Miku is beautiful isn't she?" Rin asked as they danced on that slow melody. Len has his eyes on Miku since he began dancing with Rin, since he left the table. He never stood away from Miku that night, this dance is the exception.
"Ah," he watched Miku sneered with whatever Oliver has told her. "Maybe,"
"How do you find her beautiful, Len? For me, she's a diamond in the rough." Rin continued, turning her head to where Miku was. A smile forced its way on her painted lips, Rin didn't regret studying in Len's place because he has wonderful friends. Len examined Miku from the distance, with or without makeup, she's pretty. Maybe. She looked mediocre, aside from her unique hair that he once insulted as fake. He won't forget how furious she was that day as she began explaining the wonder of genetics...that her mom had a recessive gene for blonde hair and that was expressed together with her father's midnight blue hair.
"What is essential is invisible to the eyes." Len quoted from his favorite book. "Is my answer enough for you, Rinny?" They finished the song and went back to the table. This time, Oliver asked Rin to dance. The blonde seemed to have drunk a liter of energy drink because it was like her fifth dance and yet, she isn't tired. When Len and Miku was left on the table, all they do was to stare.
Len initiate the talk, opening the topic about their new neighbor. At first, Miku felt it weird for him to talk about their neighbor, and to talk to her. He kept on ranting about his nice neighbor that Miku didn't care at all, until he told her that their neighbor lived before in the same village. They came back after many years. Miku held his eyes with hers, wishing him to continue, although she was at loss of words. "His name was Rei," he said. He watched her eyes widen in surprise as she clenched the table cloth. The sight of her being surprised didn't distract Len's poker face, thus he continued. He told her that he asked the guy if he remembers his childhood friend, because heard that the guy recovered from his head trauma. Rei told Len that he does, and he is willing to see her again... In proper time. Miku looked disappointed instantly, but being Len, himself, he began teasing her. "I thought you don't need friends, hn?"
Len leaned against his palm and watched her harden against his mischievous smirk. She responded. Her voice tinted with angst.
"How can you say that when I let you, Oliver and Rin, in my life?"
Len smiled and pulled her up from slouching and dragged her to dance with him. They were quiet as they dance. No sparks and flushing face at all. Might be because of this principle that says, 'similar poles repulse.'
Len leaned down, his lips at her ear and he whispered the words that Miku held until the very day, "be sure not to take that back. You're one of my first friends...best friends, Miku."
Len and Miku found themselves in a bar where their workmates told them to go. The blinking multicolored lights and the bombarding loud music made the two dizzy. They hesitated coming in, but their head editor found them standing at the entrance and dragged them in. Miku wanted to blame Len why they were in such unholy place, the people inside has gone mad while screaming and dancing in the floor. Whilst, Len kept an apologetic look all the time while he never let their workmates pry them apart. It's dangerous to let Miku wander alone among the drunk people scattered there.
Len was just a part timer in Miku's job. Miku was working in a publishing company known in the city. Being a good student she was, after she graduated college, the company hired Miku. He, on the other hand, took medicine, still finishing his specialization in pediatric. He loves kids. They were in the city, far and independent from their town in high school. Rin and Miku shared the same apartment as soon as they finished college, yet worked in separately. Rin was a nurse, she's on a graveyard shift today that's why Len asked Miku to go out with him to treat her. Today, Len has no class and work, so he thought it's perfect. Their workmates learned that it was Miku's birthday so they told Len that they know a place where they can celebrate the tealette's day. Heck if he only knew this is the place...
Len and Miku, left with no choice, accepted and downed whatever their workmates hand down to them. They felt their throat scorch as they gulped the bitter liquid and both agreed that coffee is zillion times better than beer. But their workmates urged them to continue and challenged them who, between them, can handle alcohol much better. Len chose not to be so drunk, he has her as his responsibility. So, while he was still sober and Miku was intoxicated, he told them that they'll leave.
He was annoyed how noisy Miku was as they stumbled on his apartment's door. She kept on ranting about how annoying he was during their prom. He chose to ignore her, he knew that he wasn't. He was so nice that time, if he recalled it correctly. She was his last dance. But again, he only danced his cousin and Miku. The two plopped on his bed. They were laid in a prostrate position while an arm of hers is still on his shoulder. Miku kept her tirade against the sheets, producing incoherent utterances. Len would like to pour a pail of water to his best friend just to stop her from babbling. He removed her arm on his shoulder but he was pulled down as she rolled to face him. She was giggling and commenting how sexy Len looked with such messy hair. He blushed, that was not expected from Miku at all. But what made him awestruck was her next words. Even unconscious, Miku told him that she wanted to be honest. Just once.
"Len..." Miku cooed as she pulled him closer to her. The smell of beer on their breath made Len dizzy as his forehead was pressed against hers. He watched her from his softening blue eyes, battling with his 'desires' against her. "I love you. Hahaha - hic - I wish you know that already, yeah?" She dragged him down as their lips clashed in a soft kiss. His first kiss. Her first as well.
"I'm afraid to tell you. Because all I do...is hurt peop-" before she may continue, Len crashed his lips to hers, feeling her lips like those are the softest thing he could ever touch. As seconds passed by, the kiss became fiery. And despite their lack of knowledge wherever such action may lead to, he dragged her further the bed and let their own desires control them. Because just for once, he would be honest. He would make love with her...even she may hate him once they think straight again.