I woke up rather early the next morning, around six-thirty I guess, to the smell of fresh spring air mixed with toast. I slowly got up from bed, treading carefully, and holding on to the wall for support. I picked up the blanket which lay in a pile on the floor at the foot of my bed, which happens to be the case once in a while. After tucking in the blanket neatly and covering my bed with it like a shroud, I went to the door and twisted the cold metal doorknob. The wooden door creaked as I pushed it open, and I stepped into the empty hallway. I could hear water coming from the bathroom; it's no surprise actually, Rin-chan always wakes up this early. As I approach the dining room, I could see Mom busily preparing our lunchboxes in the kitchen, and Dad, already in his suit, reading the newspaper at the dining table. Breakfast was already laid out on the table, toast with jam accompanied by fruit-scented tea in mugs.

"Ohayo okaa-san" I greeted Mom, somehow every time I wake up, she's already busy doing something somewhere in the house. Who knows what time she gets up at.

"Ohayo gozaimas," she replied, while wiping her hands on her dry green apron "I've made breakfast, go ahead and eat first, then after you shower, Dad will send both of you to school together. "She said, smiling pleasantly at me, and then disappeared into the laundry room.

I remember the last time Dad sent us to school was way back in the first year of middles school, and ever since that he didn't anymore, probably because he leaves early for the office. He most probably arranged to start work late so he could send us to school. Because of me, in fact.

I took my seat on the dining table, fiddled with the toast a bit, still feeling half-sleepy, before taking small nibbles out of the corner of the crispy piece of toast. Immediately after, Rin-chan came downstairs, already dressed in her uniform, and took her seat opposite mine. I reached out for the jar of jam in the middle of the table, my fingers clasping onto the slippery cold glass container. I saw, from the corner of my eye Rin-chan looking at me, as if expecting something to happen. Her cerulean eyes following my hand made me nervous, and I gulped. The way she likes to act cute creeps me out sometimes. She's just overdoing it, but she's a really nice person actually, but I guess Miku-chan is sweeter and gentler. Ah why am I thinking of Miku-chan… I'm just her junior anyway.

I pulled the jar near me, and scooped out a spoonful of strawberry jam, and spread it on my other toast. I sighed in relief, I was afraid my shaky hands would mishandle the jar, since I was trembling so badly just now. I screwed the cap back on loosely, since somebody is bound to scoop out some jam, since Rin-chan still hasn't touched her toast and Dad was still engrossed with his newspaper. I placed the jar in front of me.

"Ah, onii-chan… Can you help me pass the jam here?" she asked me, with her soft voice like she always did. No wonder she was looking at the jar when I took it, I must have taken it before she even had the chance to reach out for it.

I tried to grab the jar, but this time, I accidentally pushed it, and the jam jar toppled over, and blobs of pink jelly flowed out like molten lava onto the red-chequered tablecloth. Oops. Rin-chan sighed, and Dad just lowered his newspaper for a while to see what the noise was, but seeing it was just the usual me being clumsy, he continued scanning through the headlines.

I quickly got up from my chair, intending to go to the kitchen to get some kitchen towels, but the sharp pain in my ankle stopped me from going any further, probably because I initially forgot about my condition and pressed my weight on my right foot, which was kind of a habit before. Before I could say anything Rin-chan stood up.

"Onii-chan, just stay here, I'll get the kitchen towel." She said in a partially irritated voice, and with that, she went off into the kitchen.

She came back with the roll in her hands, and she began to scrub the crimson stains off the tablecloth vigorously with a damp piece of tissue. Seeing nothing else I could do, I grabbed my blazer from the laundry room and went upstairs to shower and get ready for school.

I locked the door shut, and turned the tap open, letting warm water gush into the tub, filling it. I slid out of my sleepwear and let them drop onto the white-tiled floor. After the water has reached three-quarters of the tub, I slipped into the water, letting myself be absorbed by the warmth. I rubbed the soothing water onto my naked legs, scrubbing my knees and thighs with fluffy lather. And all this while, the image of Miku-chan smiling was playing in my head. Oh gosh why do I keep thinking about her? I've only known her for two weeks, and already not a day goes by without an image of her, or the sound of her sweet, melancholic voice echoing in my mind. And sometimes there are those thoughts. I shook the thought of Miku-chan out of my mind, besides there are more important things to think about like… And at that moment I've realised I haven't done my literature assignment, which was due today. I panicked for a while, but hey, there's nothing I can do except ask, well actually beg Sakine-sensei for an extension, hopefully she gives me one. I sighed and leaned my tired body against the back of the tub, sinking into the warm soapy water. With my right index finger, I took a swathe of foam and drew, actually, doodled on the tiled wall beside me. But why do I keep thinking of Miku-chan, she's always there, playing in some part of my head. Maybe, just maybe… Could it be that I somehow like her? No, no that can't be it, I've only known her for two weeks, how is it possible that I can develop feelings for her? What am I, some kind of pervert? I slapped myself, causing a thick slab of foam to stick onto my cheek. I let out another deep sigh, that can't be it. I don't have a crush on Miku-chan, I don't think that enough time has passed already for feelings to develop. It's hard to explain I guess. That was when I realised the bathroom was getting a bit misty and I guess that I must have spent quite some time there, and got out of the bathtub.

After stepping out of the warm bath and putting on my uniform, I looked at myself in the misty mirror. I squeezed some toothpaste onto my wet toothbrush, and started brushing my teeth. I spit the last of the soft foam into the porcelain sink and rinsed my mouth with a glass of cool water, removing the intense spicy feeling off my taste buds. Well, there's track today, so maybe I can do my assignment during that time since I won't be able to run anyway.

I got out of the steamy bathroom, grabbed my bag from my room, and headed straight to the car. I was surprised to find Rin-chan and Dad already getting into the car. Oh boy how long did I take in the bath?

After a fifteen-minute drive through the streets in silence, we finally reached the school gates. We both got out, and waved goodbye to Dad as he drove off. We walked towards the classrooms, across the courtyard, as the cool morning air swept through the courtyard. I walked beside Rin, who was reading some novel, and also wearing headphones, while not failing to keep her stride. Although many people, me included, have told her that it's no good to be reading while walking, the advice always falls on deaf ears. She just likes reading books and her novels are inseparable from her, no wonder she was so quiet on the car. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and fished around it with my hand and took it out. Ah well, I just forgot to switch off my alarm, and now it's ringing. What a bother.

"Ah! Gomenasai!"

I looked up, and saw Miku-chan in front of me, while Rin-chan still walked ahead. I guess she didn't even realised they both nearly walked into each other, and just carried on moving forward. Miku-chan, as usual was wearing her blazer, and tartan skirt, and was carrying two boxes stacked on top of each other, and also pinned down her clipboard against her chest using her chin. Her long teal hair flew in the soft morning breeze, and I couldn't help but stare in awe at her beautiful hair. She was struggling with the boxes, and looked kind of pale. Hesitantly, I approached her, my heart beating faster with every step I take.

"Erm… Do you need help with that Miku-chan?" I asked nervously, the shakiness apparent in my voice.

"Ah, thank you!" she replied, smiling happily.

She bent down and placed the boxes in front of me. Colour seemed to be returning to her cheeks once more. She let go of the clipboard under her chin, and held it with her right hand. She started writing some things on the clipboard, while I picked up both the boxes. Actually, they weren't really that heavy, and honestly I expected them to be heavier when I saw how Miku-chan was struggling with them.

"Sorry to have troubled you Kagamine-san," she apologised, while swiping her fringe to the left with on hand and holding the clipboard in the other.

"Erm- It's okay, you were having so much trouble with it, and it's Rin-chan's fault anyway, she walked into you. Well she's always like that, I'm sorry." I replied.

"Ah, you know that girl just now?" she asked.

"Yeah, she's my sister." I said, shifting my weight.

"Ah, no wonder she looked so much like you, you know, the hair and all. Anyway, we're bringing these boxes to the equipment store, I'll show you where it is." She told me.

We walked through the corridors of the main building, past Lily-sensei's office and climbed up a few flights of stairs. The school was rather quiet in the morning, since most students either hung around the courtyard or went straight to their respective classrooms. She opened the door with her key, and pushed the door into the dark storeroom. The room was stuffy and smelt musky. She instructed me to place the boxes on the floor, and said that she'll be dealing with them later. She closed the door behind her as we exited the room and into the cooler and fresher air of the corridor.

"Ah, Len, Thanks so much!" she said "I owe you this one, so are you free this Saturday?" she asked.

"Ye-ah sure… Why?" I replied, feeling squirmy.

"Well, I want to treat you to a meal or something; well I owe you for today, and also the other time when I rode on your bicycle. I just want to return the favour." She added, this time smiling.

"Well… sure I guess." I accepted her invitation, and I could feel thick red painting on my cheeks.

"Anyway, can I have your number?"

"Erm-" I gulped. Did she just ask me for my number? This is awkward.

"No, don't worry it's just for club purposes, if there's any updates or anything." She said, probably upon seeing my nervousness. She gave me that reassuring smile again. The one that made me melt. I told her my number, and as if she was taking a dictation test, she scribbled it on her clipboard while listening intently to the digits I mentioned.

"Yeah, and I'm not going to be running today. I sprained my ankle." I told her.

"Well, then you have to sit out then. Well have you decided on what event you're going to be in?"

"I guess I'll go for hurdles…"

"Oh, cool. Yeah, so I'll meet you in track?"

"Yeah, sure."

She walked off in the other direction headed along the corridor, her steps echoing down the hallway, while I walked off in the opposite way, heading for class. Well there's track today, at 3, after curriculum time. I'm actually beginning to enjoy track, maybe it isn't so bad after all. But it's kind of pitiful I'm only able to go for actual training next week, since my ankle is sprained. Mom called Sakine-sensei yesterday (who also turns out to be in charge of track, even though she's too busy to even supervise us), and informed her about me. She hasn't brought me to the Doctor yet, and Sakine-sensei told us to get a medical certificate for me by the end of the week. The week is already coming to a close, today already being a Wednesday (well I guess I might be pessimistic in that sense), so I guess I'll go dragging myself to the clinic tomorrow after school, I'll check my schedule to see if I'm free. Talking about schedule, I forgot what the first lesson was for that day. I let go of both my bag straps and placed it on the ground. I was still at the stairwell, but I just urgently felt the need to check today's timetable. I kept to the side of the stairs, to allow some students to filter past me, school was going to start quite soon, and now many students are shuffling between the blocks to get to their respective venues. I flipped through my not-very-neat clear book folder to look for the class timetable given out by Sakine-sensei on the second day.

Well, it seems that the first lesson is going to be Math. Oh great, my 'favourite' subject. Also, adding the fact that the teacher's rather fierce, it doesn't alleviate the hatred I felt towards math lessons. I've never been good at it in the first place. I sighed, with the folder in my hands and my bag unzipped, walked towards class.

I can't believe I actually survived the two-hour period of the teacher monotonously rambling about replacing numbers with letters and some complicated formulae. It was boring, to say in the least, but at least I managed to take down some notes and stuff. The lesson after that was history, and it wasn't that bad, we learned about the Sengoku period or something, or was it the Kamakura period? Ah, just goes to show I wasn't paying attention in History. Finally it's lunch break, and I went down to the cafeteria to eat. I brought along my lunchbox Mom made for us earlier this morning, and waited for Rin outside her classroom. She came out of her class a few minutes after me and the both of us, and Gumi went down stairs for lunch.

The three of us sat at a table in the corner of the cafeteria, Rin and I unpacked our lunchboxes while Gumi went to buy some food. Looks like Mom packed us identical lunches again. We both had some rice, tamago and two pieces of ebi. Gumi came back a few minute later, bringing with her a packet drink and a melonpan.

Rin-chan and Gumi-chan began talking after a while, and I sat there with them eating in silence. Both of them seemed kinda close, and they tend to slip into their own conversations, leaving me in awkward silence. On the other side of the cafeteria, I saw Miku-chan and Kaito-senpai eating together. She was already nearly done, and she repacked her lunchbox and got up. They were both walking in our direction, along the aisle.

I turned around, hoping she won't see me. My heart thumped faster and faster as I heard her steps approaching. I hope she won't see me…

"Kagamine-san!" she called out, and waved as she walked past me.

"A-ah… Hi." I stuttered.

"See you in track later okay?" she said, and walked off, holding Kaito-senpai's hand.

Ugh. Why do I keep acting like this around her? Why can't I just greet her in a normal manner, gosh. I sighed and slumped back into the chair. I could hear Rin-chan and Gumi whispering to each other and giggling, but to be honest I couldn't really care less. Lunch was soon over and we had to go back to class, there were a few more hours to go before Track. The three of us walk restlessly towards class.

After what seemed like hours of monotonous rambling, the school bell finally rang signalling the end of class. I got to the track way before the scheduled time, since I didn't have to change and deal with packing my stuff at the locker. When I reached there, I was about ten minutes early, and the stadium was rather quiet, other than the chatter and commotion coming from the classroom blocks in the background. The wind blew lightly, and the faint shadows tilted away from the afternoon sun.

I let my bag drop onto the floor and sat down on the bench. Well, since I won't be running today anyway, so might as well do my homework. And yes, my literature assignment. I nearly forgot about that. I took the sheets of paper from my bag, and began scribbling in answers for the questions, starting with algebra first, since I find it more straight forward than analysing text. I was absorbed in finding what x was I didn't realise the rest of the track members were already making their way there.

"Ah, Kagamine-san, you're not training today?" I looked up, and saw Shion-senpai approaching me.

"Yeah, well you see, I sprained my ankle, so… yeah." I tried to explain, gulping.

"So, you're gonna just stay here? I mean, you don't need to come for training since you can't train anyway." He continued.

"Well, I'm planning to do my homework here if you don't mind; I have to wait for my sister's club activities to end, that's all right isn't it?" I asked my track captain.

"Yeah sure, I'm fine with that. Well, I have to set up the equipment now, do your best okay?" he said encouragingly, and then went off.

I fiddled with my mechanical pencil as I filled in the last of the algebra questions. Shion-senpai has already set up some of the equipment, and the other track members were already starting to do their warm-ups. I kept the algebra worksheet into my math file and took out my literature assignment. I sighed. It isn't because I don't like literature; it's just that… it's not my forte. I squinted at the poem written on the paper, trying to analyse it.

Though I go to you
ceaselessly along dream paths,
the sum of those trysts
is less than a single glimpse
granted in the waking world.

By Ono No Komachi

I stared at those words bewilderedly, my mind blank. I flipped the page to read the questions, attempting to answer them. I read the questions repeatedly each time more vigorously and agitated, but still, nothing gets to my head. Calm down, I told myself. I took a deep breath, and read the question for what seemed to be the tenth time.

"What was the attitude of the poet to the subject?"

I pondered on it again, and sighed. And this was supposed to be the easy question.

"Afternoon, Kagamine-san, what are you doing?" I looked up from my work and saw Miku-chan putting her bag down and taking the seat beside me.

"Erm… Well I'm just doing some literature assignment. What about you?" I replied nervously, trying to continue the conversation.

"Oh, just some Prefectoral Committee administration stuff. Anyway, do you need help with your work? You look kind of stressed up." She asked.

Oh god, she noticed? Only then I realised I was sweating profusely. How embarrassing.

"You know you don't have to be so hard on yourself, every problem has a solution you know? If it's just an assignment and you're already that stressed up, then it won't get better with other harsher situations won't it? You should ask people for help if you can't handle things you know, everybody needs people to lean on. " she remarked, and gave me her that warm reassuring curve of her lips.

I blushed and looked away, I know how true what she said is. I just couldn't accept that I could make mistakes and couldn't solve some problems. And I don't like asking others for help too, it's not like I find other people unreliable, it's just that I feel like I'll trouble them when I ask them for help. I guess I really am too hard on myself.

"Here let me have a look," She said, and I passed my assignment worksheet to her.

"Oh, we did this poem last year, it's one of my favourites." She said casually as she read through the poem and then the questions. "Well my poetry isn't really that fantastic, but I'll try to help as much as I can!" she continued.

She flipped to the other page slowly.

"Well for this type of question right, you have to read the emphasised words on feelings for example, in this case…" she started to explain.

I sat there trying to listen intently, managing to gulp down the majority of what she's trying to get across, but I just couldn't help staring at how… beautiful she was. Her silken teal hair, shiny and smooth, glittered in the afternoon sun. Her eyes, her round, soft aqua eyes, shining with enthusiasm as she tried to explain to me the intricacies of poem analysing and poetic devices. Also, not to mention her calm and peaceful expression as she plunges into deep thought, and finally, her warm, sweet, reassuring smile. I think I might have smiled unconsciously, as she looked at me with an inquisitive expression and raised her eyebrows. I blushed, and looked away.

"Ah, come on Kagamine-san, focus!" she said and smacked my head lightly with her clipboard.