Chapter 4

"Ne, Princess. Can you help me with something?"

"Eh? What?"

"Well... I like someone. She is my friend. But she never looked at me at all. Not that way."

"Uh... How can I help you?"

The blonde smirked a bit before answered.

"I know, I shouldn't trust her."

Rin muttered, while walking quickly. She had gotten the news about Miku's collapse from her cousin that afternoon. And as soon as class ended, she was flying to the infirmary to check her teal friend.

You know, right? When one person running without care of her surrounding, she would definitely collided with someone else who had done the same. Unfortunately for Rin, the other person was much bigger than she is. So she was the one who received more damage; she had fallen to the floor, while the other just had to step back after the impact.

"Err.. sorry, are you alright?"

Of course, she wasn't.

"Yeah. No problem."

Rin looked up to see the other person whose standing in front of her. The first thing she had seen was pink. Pink hair. Without doubt, she was, none other than Megurine Luka, the one her friend always talk about.

Wait. Maybe she could ask-

"Uuh... great. I need to go now. Bye."

Just like that, Luka had gone before she could speak anything else. However, Rin could sworn she had seen tears in Luka's eyes. What's wrong with them? After Rin saw Miku cried that afternoon, she didn't need to see another one, you know. It makes her feel bad for some reasons.

Stood up, Rin continued her way to infirmary. More carefully, this time.

"Hey, my little cousin!"

Lily waved at Rin with a grin, wider than she had ever seen. It feels a bit creepy and she knew she should raised her guard, if she saw it. Rin walked carefully, eyeing Lily suspiciously before she moved her attention to the next person.

"How are you feeling?" asked Rin, without answered Lily's greeting.

"Better, I think."

The tealette answered, while nodding her head gracefully. Well, she didn't look too pale compared before, Rin thought to herself. So, she must better, or my eyes need to be examined.

"You had eaten, right?" the blonde stared at her friend sharply, make sure Miku answered her question without lie. She didn't want to be deceived twice.

"Yeah. Thanks to Lily-senpai," said Miku, smiling.

"Huh? What this person had done?" Rin looked disbelief. Her good-for-nothing cousin who likes to make fun of other people? There's no way she had done a good deed without an ulterior motive.

"You're too mean, Rincchi~"

Lily, pretended to be hurt, hides in the back of Miku. Her eyes sparkled mischiveously, while she looked at the little blonde. Rin just stared back sharply. You couldn't tricked me, Miss. I know you too well, for that.

"Uh.. she bought me food. And... well.. yeah," Miku seemed a bit confused. "I don't know she was your cousin, Rin."

"Hmph... I wish not."

Rin answered coldly, her eyes still stared at her cousin, without moving. What did you do this time?

"You're really mean," Lily laughed. "I didn't do anything weird to her. Right, Miku-chan?"

"Uh yeahh.."

"Oh really?" she was now glaring at the big blonde. I can't believe you.

"Really," Lily raised both her hands, like she was giving up. But her amused look, added with the grin, never disappear from her face. And Rin knew that expression too well to trust it.

The two blonde continued their bickering, while Miku looked a little lost between them. The tealette had no idea what're they arguing, at all.

She didn't know what to do. And why had she feel the need to do something?

Luka had just gone to the infirmary only to see her classmate, Lily, feeding the tealette. They looked really close, and... what? she didn't know the word to describe it. Besides, she never knew they were friends too. However the scene in that room had proven that they're close enough to do something like that. What was like that actually?

So, what should she do?

And why she has to do something?

The pinkette knew she just repeated the question over and over in her head. Maybe she already found the answer, but didn't want to admit it. Maybe she really didn't know and just feeling confused. Or maybe she wasn't sure and wish someone else would tell her the answer.

Yeah, right. Like it could be that easy.

The pinkette closed her eyes, tired. This past few days was really strange for her. The repeated days, or the false memories, or the dream, or now what? She'd even treated her best friend poorly because of that. The pink haired girl knew it was partly her fault; Miku was sick that afternoon.

And she didn't even come to see her after that, just because she saw her alone with Lily...?

Maybe strange is understatement.

"Miku?"

"Yeah?"

Rin glanced at her friend for a moment, studying her expression, while they walked together in silence. Until she breaks it, that is.

"Lily didn't do something weird, right?" asked Rin, still suspicious.

"Eh? No. I think not," Miku answered, a little vague. "Why did you ask?"

"Hum.. she just has a bad habit for nosing into other people's business."

"Ah.. Is that so," the tealette nodded to herself like she was understanding something very difficult. "But I don't think you need to worry about that."

"...I think I need to worry," Rin mumbled under her breath. Her eyes downcast. She knew her cousin had planned something, and she had a feeling it related to her business. Well, if the big blonde planned to involving Miku, it must be related somehow.

"Eh? What did you say?" The tealette tilted her head to the side, eyeing her friend who looked lost in her thought.

"Nope!" said Rin loudly, after she back to reality. She, then, smiled at Miku before adding, "Nevermind that! You want to buy ice cream before we go home?"

"Eh.. oh... sure," Miku agreed, a little bewildered with the sudden change in mood.

"Then, c'mon!"

The blonde started running excitedly, pulling Miku with her. However, without them knowing, there was a pair of eyes who stared at the scene, joyfully. Masuda Lily, stood proudly in one of the classroom, bathed in the sunlight from windows. She was smiling brightly, while looked down at the two. Or maybe three.

"This would be interesting," she said softly. "Right, Rincchi?"

"Tonight, would be a long night."

Her name is Megurine Luka. She had insomnia. She couldn't sleep even for a wink. Her brain, too busy remembering the scene that she saw on the afternoon, didn't allow her to rest at all. Why the hell she had to received this sudden torture?!

She need to sleep. She need to forget. But she couldn't do both of them.

So, what should she do? She had finished her homework, she already studied until she wants to collapse, she even had done pacing back and forth in her own room just because she couldn't stay calm.

"..."

And she felt the need to screamed out loud in the middle of night, without care. But she cares, so she couldn't do that. Luka buried her head in the pillow. Frustated.

Miku didn't think it was a very good idea. She didn't even know the name of the girl. And she mustn't forget that she was bad at lying, pretending, acting or doing something that involving deceiving people. Her emotion is as transparent as glasses. Luka always said that to her.

Is that really true?

She couldn't decide it herself.

After she thought that, the teal haired girl closed her eyes, lying on her bed, almost peacefully. Little did she know that she had to counting to almost one hundred sheep before she could really fall asleep that night.

Rin sipped her tea quietly. She was reading in her room, when suddenly her twin-oh-so-dear-brother came, and opened the door after he knocked it once. The blonde raised her head slowly, flickered her eyes to the boy who had arrived just now.

"Len."

"Rin," the blond replied. "What did you say about Lily..."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Is that true...?"

Rin nodded, her blue eyes stared at empty space in front of her. Her expression didn't change much, but Len knew her sister better than anyone else in the world. Rin was thinking, he ought to silent if he wanted to exit the room with his body intact.

"Yeah. But maybe it's for the best," Rin muttered softly after a while of silence.

"Are you sure?"

She glanced at her twin who looked surprised, briefly, before nodding slowly.

"Our plan is not really perfect after all."

Len bit his lips, understanding the implication it held. We almost failed, after all.

It was past midnight. Just a few hours before morning. Masuda Lily sat on her couch, just smiled when she realizes it. She couldn't wait. For the next day to come.

thanks for the review, favs, follows, etc \o/

review again? :3