Sorry it took so long to update! Without further a due, here's the long-awaited update!
Len P.O.V
My younger sister, Lenka, had a sweet tooth and often brought desserts, cakes and the like, home. However, unlike the one in front of me, Lenka's cakes were always sickening sweet and unnecessarily slathered with a thick layer of cream which I found difficult to swallow. Shion's, on the other hand, I managed to savour each mouthful as it melted on my tongue.
"You like baking?" I asked between bites. She nodded in response, continuing to play with her bangs.
"So you're a fan of sweet things?"
"Not in particular," she mumbled under her breath.
"But..." she continued. Her expression softened, "I do like ice-cream." I noticed the corner of her lips curl into what seemed like a smile.
"In that case, there's this newly open café nearby in the central district. I've been hearing about their signature ice cream waffles for a while now. Wanna try it?"
Without moving a single facial muscle, her eyes seemed to brighten. Even though I was siting across her, I could sense the excitement radiating from her. "I'll go," she sounded more eager than usual, at least it sounded so to me.
"Alright then, I'll show you the place one day." She nodded.
I hastily finished the last bit of cake, sparing no crumbs on the plate. "Thank you for the food, it was delicious," I said as I clapped my hands together.
After clearing the plate, I took a good look at Shion's house and started pacing around the room. The open kitchen was right next to the living room, just behind the sofa where we sat, right behind the dining table. The television was in full view from behind the kitchen counter allowing one to simultaneously watch entertainment while cooking. What especially caught my attention, however, were the numerous shelves of books right next to the sofa where I sat. I skimmed through the titles blindly, remembering none of it for they all seemed too difficult. The corner almost seemed like a library.
"So..." I attempted to strike a conversation, "you don't seem to have siblings?" Shion shook her head.
"Neither do Gumi and Gumiya. You know, our classmates," I let out a sigh, "Being an only child has its own benefits, huh. You get more alone time, more freedom." I whipped my head towards where she sat, "I have a younger sister and it's never quiet with her around. She's aiming for our school next year, you'll get to know her!"
I noticed Shion's painful expression from the distance. Her eyes narrowed and creases formed between her brows.
"I almost forgot to ask you, Shion, what happened to your glasses? Did you forget them at home? Were they stolen?" I started to approach her in order for her to see me better.
She shook her head and mumbled, "It was… crushed," she looked down as if ashamed and disappointed at the same time.
"How did that happen?" I asked, curious as I returned to my seat.
She stared at me for a while, as if contemplating whether or not to tell me. After a long pause, she finally told me how she accidentally crushed it with her knee after waking up from a nap in the library the other day. A sense of guilt began to overwhelm me as I realised I was the one who carelessly placed the glasses next to her. In other words, I caused her to lose a good pair of glasses.
Before I could admit to my action, I recalled what happened that day. I pictured her watery eyes, her tear-stained face, I remembered the sound of her trembling voice as she clutched my shirt and the way I stroked her head in an attempt to comfort her… I decided not to tell her, convincing myself that Shion would not want anyone to know about her crying.
"Why don't I accompany you to make a new pair now?" I asked nervously. "We can head to the central district and check out the café along the way."
"But…"
"Oh, you're doing it again."
"What?"
"This," I leaned toward Shion, stretching out a hand to reach for her face. I brushed her fringe to the side and gently placed my thumb between her eyebrows trying to smoothen the creases between them. "You shouldn't squint your eyes so often, it worsens your eyesight, you know?"
"Do I… do that often?"
"You seem to do it quite often from what I've noticed, yeah," I replied while straightening my back. "Maybe that's how you got your myopia?" I added cheekily. No response, Shion hung her head low. "Shion?" I tilted my head.
Thoughts flooded my mind as I began to regret what I said. I gave myself a slap in my mind.
What did I just say to her?! Are you an idiot, Len? This isn't time for horrible jokes! ARGHHH this is so embarrassing, I want to die… I want to hide in a hole... I hope she isn't angry…
I frantically tried to explain myself, "! I didn't mean… w..what I meant to say was…"
"Pfft."
Pfft?
"That may be true," she giggled softly. Her laughter was higher-pitched than her usual speaking range. After her fit of laughter ended, she looked towards my direction. "Is something the matter?"
Only then did I realise I had been staring at Shion in silence for a while now. I was taken aback by her words. Her staring habit seemed to have influenced me as well.
"Um, well.." I scratched the back of my head, "I just haven't seen you laugh before. It was surprising." After a pause, I continued, "So shall we go make you a new pair of glasses now? And no 'buts'. I'm going to follow you in case you walk yourself into a pole, a person, a car, into anything."
She stared at me as if considering my proposal. She then gave her final answer, "Okay."
The journey to the central district was just as quiet as the journey to Shion's abode from school, not sparing, of course, the occasional tripping and near-collisions with passersby. We entered the first glasses store we found and we were welcomed by a loud and friendly salesperson.
"Hello and welcome, how may I help you today?" she chirped. She, too, wore a pair of glasses. A product of the shop, I thought to myself.
"Um… I need a pair of glasses," Shion mumbled, clearly taken aback by the enthusiastic salesperson.
"Oh yes, right away!" she replied. She then led Shion to take an eyesight test. After that was done, she led her to choose a design for her glasses.
"Do you prefer a circular shape? Or perhaps this rectangular frame instead? Oh and this colour would look well on you, we have them in different shades. How about this pair, they are part of our new collection and are very popular among people your age,' the salesperson began to shoot questions after questions at Shion. I could only watch from the side as there was nothing I could do. Poor Shion seemed exhausted by having to answer so many questions. I could tell she was just looking for a simple pair of glasses, just like her old ones.
After the saleswoman left Shion to begin making a pair of glasses, I quickly approached her.
"Hi… um, I'm with her," I gestured to Shion, who's back was facing us at the counter, "could you perhaps... lie to her and tell her the glasses are free of charge? I..I would like to pay for her, without her finding out," I silently hoped the shopkeeper would comply with my ridiculous request.
"Of course! You're her brother, aren't you? You guys look so alike. I'll let you pay for it later." she whispered before making her way into a room. Once again I was reminded of how much Shion and I looked alike. Lose the glasses and tie her hair up, we could pass off as twins.
The shopkeeper later passed the glasses off as a promotion for first-time shoppers after I paid for the glasses behind Shion's back.
"Thank you for your patronage. The glasses will be ready in 2 hours for your collection. Please come again soon," The saleswoman escorted us out of the shop. The blazing heat of the afternoon was gone.
I heard Shion let out a sigh. She must be tired from all the questions the shopkeeper bombarded her with.
"She sure asked a lot of questions, huh?"
"I.. I never knew making a simple pair of glasses would be so difficult," her brows furrowed.
"Have you ever thought of wearing contacts? They are more convenient than glasses."
"I… wouldn't want to put things on my eyeball…"
"Well, now that you've put it THAT way, it does sound weird, doesn't it? Alright," I gave a smile, "shall we head to the café then? We've got 2 hours to kill." She nodded in response. I felt a vibe of enthusiasm from her, though her expression remained stoic.
I scavenged through my memory trying to recall the location of the café. Unsurprisingly, we were lost for a while as I could not remember the shop's name, only how it looked. I hoped that Shion did not notice me bringing her around in circles.
Who am I kidding, of course she noticed. I gave myself another slap in my mind at my stupidity.
"Here!" I exclaimed as I finally saw the shop's familiar exterior. I heaved a sigh of relief. We quickly made our way into the café after what seemed like an hour of aimless walking, no thanks to me. Good job, Len.
A wave of coffee aroma tickled my nose the moment we stepped inside the small café. Sunlight seeped through the glass windows, tinting the marble floor with an orange glow. The café wasn't as crowded as I expected, being a popular dining spot. I figured peak hours must have passed.
A waitress with her long, black hair tied neatly into a bun greeted us with a smile behind the counter. Shion bowed in response.
The ambience of the café was relaxing. A nice place for Shion to relax after that stressful encounter at the shop, I thought. As we walked further into the café, familiar voices caught my attention.
"This method is too tedious," the boy pointed to some writings on a paper and tapped his finger.
"C'mon, it doesn't matter as long as the answer is correct," replied the girl sitting in front of him.
"During exams, it's all about time management. You won't be able to finish the paper if you use this roundabout method," he hit her on the head with his fist gently.
"But, Gumiya…" whined the girl opposite him, clenching her hair in exasperation.
"Hard at work, I see?" I interrupted while leaning on the edge of Gumi's cushioned seat.
She spun her head. "Len!" she exclaimed.
"Shota! Our favourite blondie," Gumiya echoed with a smirk. He then noticed the other 'blondie' standing behind me. "and... Shion-san?" I heard the uncertainty in his voice. He looked at me confused as if seeking an explanation.
"Long story," I replied.
"Is that Shion-san? Nice meeting you here! Why don't you sit down with us?" Gumi patted the seat next to hers, inviting Shion.
"N..nice to meet you, I'm... Rin Shion," she muttered, her weak voice slightly trembling. "Pardon my intrusion," she bowed, before taking the seat next to Gumi. I took the one next to Gumiya.
"Haha! You don't have to be so formal, geez. Aren't we're all the same age? You're making me feel like a senior or something, it's embarrassing. And you don't have to introduce yourself, silly, we're classmates," Gumi casually nudged her.
"Sorry, N...nakajima-san," Shion's voice trembled. She seemed to have lost her stamina talking to outspoken people after the incident at the shop.
"Nooo, don't call me by that!" Gumi shivered, "It's so weird to be called that by someone my age." She extended her hand, "Just call me Gumi, like everyone else! GU-MI. 2 syllables, isn't that convenient? You try it!"
Shion reached her hand out and shook Gumi's hand. "Nice to meet you, G...g..g..gumi," her voiced trailed off.
"Hahaha! Yes! That's better!" Gumi grinned cheekily and vigorously shook Shion's hand. "Nice to meet you too!"
"Alternatively, you can refer to her as an idiot, too. That's her middle name," Gumiya added, grinning cheekily. It was an obvious line meant to provoke Gumi and she falls for it every time.
"Oi, Gumiya! What do you think you're trying to teach Shion-san?" Gumi retorted angrily.
"I'm merely telling her the truth," he shrugged casually.
"No, Shion! Don't listen to him, okay? Call me Gumi, okay?" she whined while turning towards Shion.
"Okay… G..gumi," Shion replied softly. This time, with more certainty.
I felt strange watching how friendly Gumi was to someone she'd just met. I was amazed by how easily and naturally she was able to talk to Shion and how easily she managed to get a response from her. There was a weird sensation in my stomach. I must be hungry.
Ignoring the two's bickering, I picked up the menu. "Let's order something, Shion. I'm starving. Ah, I'll get this banana split. What about you, Shion?"
"Ah, um... This," she pointed to a fruit parfait.
The two continued to fight even after Shion and I had our orders taken. I was relieved we were the only few left in the café as my friends' behaviours were embarrassing.
"I'll show you, Gumiya! Once we get our tests back tomorrow we'll see which one of us is…"
"Tests? Tomorrow?" I looked at Gumi, their bickering stopped and they both looked at my direction looking stunned, "You're not kidding, are you?"
An eerie silence engulfed our surroundings, contrasting the ruckus just a few seconds ago.
"Len," Gumiya pat me on the shoulder and sniffled, "it must be nice being so carefree."
"When were we informed about this?! Why don't I remember anything?"
"Today, during class," Gumi and Gumiya replied in unison.
"I'm not mentally prepared for this!" I exclaimed in panic.
-A few moments later-
"How are your new glasses?" I asked Shion as we exited the glasses shop.
"They're okay," she replied while adjusting them.
"What a coincidence meeting Gumi and Gumiya at the café today, huh." She nodded.
"Did… we make you feel left out? You didn't say much just now."
"Not at all. The conversation was interesting to listen to."
"Yeah, they're a fun bunch to be around," I replied, laughing.
Shion stayed silent and from the corner of my eye, I could see as though she was staring at me.
"What's wrong?" I looked at her.
"... You have good friends," she finally spoke.
"Haha… You think? Hmm… Yeah, I guess you're right. They're nice people you can get along with."
The rest of the journey was quiet. Instead of the awkward silence I felt from when I first met her, this silence seemed almost natural and was comfortable. Once we reached her doorstep, we bid goodbye.
"See you tomorrow, Shion," I waved.
"Thank you, Kagamine-san." Just as I was about to leave, she seemed to remember something.
"W..wait! Stay here!" she quickly made her way back inside the house. Moments later, she returned and handed me a container. "Y..you can share it with your sister if you'd like. Good night, Kagamine-san." Before I could say anything, she went back inside.
I peeked into the container, wondering what was inside. They were slices of the same cake I ate this afternoon at her house. Excited, I quickly shouted, "Thank you, Shion!" hoping she would somehow hear me. I began to make my way back home, container in hand.
Lenka P.O.V
I sat comfortably on the sofa eating a pre-dinner snack while watching the television, a slice of my favourite strawberry shortcake. I then heard the door open and my brother's voice rang through the hallway behind me.
"I'm back," he said.
"Welcome back," I replied, turning towards the corridor behind me. "Whoa, did something good happen? What's with that disgusting grin? Len?"
My brother simply ignored me, or rather he didn't seem to hear me as he began to walk up the stairs to his room.
"What's up with him, geez, idiot brother," I continued to stuff my mouth with cake. I squealed at its deliciousness, "This is sooo good!"
-The next day-
Len P.O.V
As if my whole body was petrified, I could do nothing except stare blankly at what I held in my hand. My eyes and mouth opened wide, my fingers trembled, barely managing to grasp the paper in my hand.
"Now that you have received your result slips, please take note that those who score a red mark in any subject in the mid terms will have to attend summer school, is that clear?" Miss Megurine's voice rang clearly across the classroom.
The class responded with a long and lazy yes. I followed the class in a zombie-like trance, stunned by the predicament I was in. As the bell chimed, signalling the end of school, I couldn't help but feel like it was chiming for my end as well.
Gumiya approached me gleefully and threw his arms over my shoulder, "Yo, so how did you d… ohhhhh…" his voice trailed as he saw the disaster of my results slip.
"I got red marks for all of them... Haha..ha," I let out a forced laugh.
"No! Stay with me, Sho.. I mean, Len! Look you did well in 2 subjects, didn't you?" Gumiya shook my shoulders vigorously.
"Home Economics and Physical Education won't be tested in the next 2 weeks," replied lifelessly.
"Well, you can always…"
Suddenly, the classroom door slammed open. The sound of the impact reverberated throughout the whole classroom. A few familiar faces stood by the door, they were members of the soccer team, like Gumiya.
"Gumiya!" one yelled.
"I knew he was still here," another exclaimed.
"Practice starts early today, remember? Quick, we gotta go or the coach is gonna be pissed!" the last member paced into the classroom and dragged Gumiya away by the collar.
"W..w..w..wait, I'm not done talking! Leeeeen!" Gumiya struggled Gumiya to get free from his teammate's clutches but to no avail. He was taken away efficiently by his teammates.
I stared hopelessly at my results, wondering if this was somehow just a bad dream, or a typo, an error. However, it was the sad truth. I rested my head on the table and let out a cry, "My precious summer break.."
"Kagamine-san?" a soft voice spoke. I looked up and saw Shion standing beside my table handing me a broom, "We should start cleaning."
At that moment, perhaps it was desperation or an impulse, an idea clicked inside my head. Without thinking, I quickly lowered my head and clapped my hands together as if worshipping her, "Shion!" I spoke with determination, "Please! Teach me how to study!"
She remained silent for a while. I then realised how embarrassing my actions were. She must think I'm so stupid… I prepared myself for a scolding from her.
"Why should I teach you?" was what I thought she would say.
Instead what I heard was a soft, almost uncertain, "Okay." That alone seemed to lift a burden off my chest. Perhaps the nervousness from my bizarre request hasn't gone away, my heart was still racing.
Hello, it's been forever since I've updated, I'm so sorry. I have no intention of giving up on this story it's just that I get writer's block and I get kind of busy. Plus I take really long to think of what to type and that's why it takes extra long.
Thank you for the kind, patient and supportive souls who continue to read my poorly-written story. I will do my best in the upcoming chapters that will hopefully come soon.
Tell me what you thought about this chapter! See you soon! (Hopefully)