A/N: I seriously shouldn't be doing this at 2:30 AM... But I wanna update so bad QAQ

So here it is :D


Chapter 4: Mikuo never meant to be mean

The memories are coming back.

Those horrible memories.

Mikuo didn't remember his age at that time. He only knew that he was quite young.

"I heard that you sing very well." Who was the speaker? Mikuo didn't remember. It could've been a relative, or one of their parents' friends.

Mikuo remembered holding Miku protectively. "Yeah, we love to sing, so what?" They were very close then. Unlike now.

"Why don't you sing a bit? Mikuo first."

Mikuo didn't like being called by his first name by a stranger. "No!"

"Your parents said you could."

It was expectation that Mikuo received when he turned to his parents. Expectation. Mikuo feared that the most. He never knows when he'll fail to meet the expectations and be punished.

"Mikuo said no!" Miku cried, holding on to Mikuo. "Don't make him do things he doesn't want to!"

That was the key to misfortune.

Mikuo remembered what happened afterwards. Miku was punished for talking back.

He remembered Miku's tear-streaked face.

He remembered her lonely figure.

He didn't want to, but he remembered.

He remembered feeling sorry for his sister. He remembered feeling angry at himself for being so useless.

He remembered thinking that Miku will never forgive him.

That's why he kept his distance from Miku. Why he doesn't sing.

"Ah..." Mikuo stopped remembering and tucked the memories back into the dark. He was sitting at the stairs and hugging his knees.

'No more remembering, Mikuo,' he told himself, 'No more.'

"Found you." It was Luki.

Mikuo didn't look up. "I can't..."

"It's okay." Luki sat down beside him. "I was shy when I first sang, too. Sorry for forcing it on you. I forgot the feeling of singing in front of people for the first time. Must have been hard, eh?"

Mikuo nodded.

"You know, why won't you believe in us for a change?" Luki drew up his legs and looked at Mikuo earnestly. "Trust that we won't make fun of you even if you sang all the wrong notes. We're there for you, so don't be afraid to sing."

That wasn't the point... or was it? Mikuo nodded anyway. "Thank you."

Luki loosened up a little and smiled. "If you're wondering about Rinto, he had to help out in club activities."

"Oh." Speaking of club activities, that person has quite a lot of those... Mikuo smiled a little. That's why they can't meet often...

Luki stopped worrying after seeing Mikuo smile. "Alright, then. I have a show to catch on television so I'll be going now. Bye."

"Okay. Bye." Mikuo watched Luki leave. He wondered if he should go visit that person, then decided against it. Maybe that person had gone home already.

Mikuo stood up, ready to go home.


A/N: There goes the fourth chapter...

My friend pointed out that the incident with Miku shouldn't be that big of a problem for Mikuo. After some thinking through, I decided to keep it that way and dish out an explanation as the story progresses. I'm pretty good at dishing out explanations from nowhere :D

As for who Mikuo's 'that person' is... It'll be revealed in the next chapter! And then you'll all know my OTP... lol.

Anyway, see ya! :D