The days before the winter festival was uneventful. Len, Miku and Fukase were busy rehearsing for their performance everytime they had the chance. The day finally came. Len and Fukase wore the kimono they would always wear in this event. Miku, on the other hand, wore the gorgeous kimono Len's obaa-san insisted in giving Miku eventhough Miku rejected more than a few times. Miku felt she did nothing to receive the wonderful gift. She gave in at last after Len's obaa-san said Miku was like a granddaughter to her, to which Miku shed tears.

"Hurry up, the both of you. I'm going to wait outside with jii-san and baa-san," Fukase spoke as he headed outside.

"Ughh where is it..."

"What are you searching for?" Len asked Miku who was frantically rummaging her room.

"I can't find my bag. Could you help me look around my room, Len? I'll check outside. It's a pink bag."

"Oh, sure."

"Thanks!"

Miku rushed outside and left Len in her room. The room was already in a mess. How on Earth am I going to find something in this racket, Len thought. Nevertheless, Len searched through every drawers and cupboards he could open to find a supposedly pink bag. Len then opened the drawers on her table. Nothing were in there but medical bills and the clatter of medication bottles. Len closed the drawer back and scanned the desk when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Medical bills?"

Dread filled him to his core. He was afraid to what he would find if he took a look at those bills ― but curiosity got the better of him. He opened the drawer and took out the bills. The topmost bill was dated a few days ago. Doctor's handwriting filled the paper along with prescriptions of what seemed to be some kind of pain killer he rarely saw people use. It was hard to make out what the doctor wrote. Squinting his eyes, Len read it slowly.

"Stage... 4... brain... ca―"

He couldn't finish what he read. The sight of the word made his whole body crumble it brought him to tears. His body shook. Shaking his head, his mind denied what he just read. But the truth hit him hard. Nothing came out of his mouth but choked sobs. He held on to the chair for support.

"Len, I've found it! Let's― go..."

Miku stopped in front of her door when she saw Len by her drawers with her medical bill in his hand. She cursed herself for forgetting to lock the drawers. Len looked at Miku with his wet eyes.

"How could you... after all this time..."

Miku looked at the ground, avoiding Len's eyes.

"How could you keep this all to yourself? W―why, Miku, why?!" Len's voice creaked as he spoke with tears drenching down his face.

Miku was not able to answer him. She couldn't. What could she say anyway? She just stood there with silent tears when Len rushed past her, heading outside. Miku came to her senses and went after him.

"About time, you―" Fukase started as he saw Len coming out, stopping when he saw Len's face.

"Len, please, wait! Listen to me!" Miku called out, but Len kept on walking until they reached the entrance of the festival area.

"Len, please―"

Miku reched out for Len's arm, but Len turned around and broke free from her grasp.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?! Why are you making me be a jerk to you?!"

Miku remained speechless again with tears in her eyes. Len felt crushed. His gear finally clicked. This was the reason for everything; why she ran from home, why she cried every night, why she cried when he spoke of something she'd never get to do. Yet she didn't say anything and just smiled. Len felt like he was the jerk all this time. But he still couldn't accept the fact that her life would end anytime soon.

"No, no, no, no, no. T―there has to be a way. I―I can't let you die like this. I p―promised I wouldn't."

"Stop this!" Miku's sudden shout made Len jump to his feet.

"There isn't any fucking 'way'! You can't save me, Len! No one can! It's too late! I'm going to die and there's nothing anybody could fucking do about it!" The last sentence ended in a high pitch cry.

Miku broke down and her legs gave way as she cried her heart out on her knees, a cry Len never heard coming out of her.

"Miku..."

"Leave me alone!"

Miku stood up and left Len speechless as she turned her back towards him. He just stood there, watching her leave. Everyone were whispering as they looked at him. Len saw his grandparents covering their mouths in surprise. Fukase looked down. No wonder he didn't leave, Len thought. Fukase already knew somehow. Exhausted, Len sat on the nearby bench and swept his face with his hands. His grandparents and Fukase walked slowly towards him. Len's grandparents stopped and asked Fukase to talk with Len. Fukase quietly took a seat next to Len.

"...I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Len remained silent. He was trying to think, but nothing surfaced. His mind was empty, as if his brain was shot out of his head. His throat went dry. The shock rendered him numb. Even his tears ran dry. Commotion can be heard from inside the shrine, an MC commencing the start of the festival with performances by locals. Len stopped moving when he heard Miku's voice introducing herself through the microphone.

"Kagamine.."

"I know."

Len followed to where Miku's voice was. The others followed Len from behind. He stopped at a safe distance, Miku visible to him, but him invisible to Miku.

"There are so many things I want to explain. To those who know me: I'm sorry. I may look like I'm giving up living, but I'm not. I ran. I wanted to know how it feels to be free. I wanted to escape the painful reality I am in. To seize the moments of life the way normal people would. Things I couldn't do before. For the first time in my life, I understand how it feels to love someone. How it felt to be loved. How precious love is. I want to convey those warm feelings in this wintry noon with a song."

Everyone couldn't help but remain silent. All eyes and ears to Miku as the music played and she started to sing.

With every word Miku sang, memories of her with Len replayed in her mind. She couldn't help but shed tears mid-singing, pouring all her feelings through the song till the very last verse. She just couldn't live with this anymore. She didn't want to give hope to Len in the first place, but she fell for him everytime he smiled. She hated herself for it.

Every words Miku sang hit Len right through his heart. It was when the song finished that he saw Miku holding her head in pain and fell down. Everyone let out a gasp, Len ran to where the stage was. Fukase followed from behind.

"Miku!"

Pushing other people aside, Len held Miku in his arms.

"Len..."

"Fu! Call the ambulance now!"

Fukase nodded and reached for his phone.

"Miku, you just have to hold on for a few minutes. Pkease!" Len's body shook. He was terrified of losing Miku.

"Len..." Miku's weak voice spoke. "Please. Look at me." Miku held Len's face with all the energy she had left.

"I don't wanna lose you," Len's voice came out in crying sobs.

"You won't, Len. I'll always be here." Miku placed her left hand on Len's chest where his heart was as she gasped between breaths. She looked softly into Len's melancholic eyes. She never felt more than happy that someone loved her. A smile curved on her pale face as she said, "I love you," before her hand went limp and her eyes closed as she took her final breath.

Len's eyes went wide. "M―Mi..ku?" No matter how painfully he knew the truth, Len still reached his finger below Miku's nose to sense her breath, but he knew better. Gritting his teeth, he hugged Miku's body close and let out a heart-wrenching scream.

N.B Okay so. About this. I'm admitting that the story is jumbled up because my brain is. The flow isn't so great and I admit I'm running out of ideas. Maybe a few weeks break'll inspire me? Idk. I just finished university and most of the time I'm occupied with games and I haven't the motivation to continue writing. Can anyone find that motivation for me? Lol

Peace.