Len woke up to the beeping of his alarm clock and slowly reached over to shut it off. He sat up and stretched his arms over his head before yawning. What time was it? He looked over to his clock and saw the time he set it to ring at last night.
He sighed. Today was one of those days where he just wanted to get back in bed and curl up into the covers. But he knew his mother wouldn't allow that, and it was Friday. Might as well go to school and get it over with. He swung his legs and jumped onto the floor of his room. It was toasty warm thanks to the morning sun shining through his window.
He took his time with getting dressed and brushing his teeth. He might've just been stalling the inevitable lonely walk to school, but his mind wasn't awake enough to think about it too much yet.
The smell of his mom cooking breakfast wasn't there this morning. She had fallen asleep right after making food, and was snoring away on the couch. Len smiled at the comical sight. As he looked closer he noticed her shivering, so he went back upstairs and grabbed an extra blanket. Draping it over her, he slowly tiptoed back into the kitchen to heat up the breakfast his mom had made him beforehand.
Everday just starts off the same, he thought as he ate his breakfast. I wake up, brush my teeth, eat breakfast, get my stuff and I'm off for school. The only things that change are little things like my exhausted mom and my thoughts.
He figured he should do something to make his life interesting. As he watched pairs and groups of friends taking the same path to walk to school, he groaned inwardly. The first thing I should do is find another way to get to school. He checked his cellphone for the time. Turns out there was some time before classes actually started, so he turned back and started walking towards his house. If anyone asks why I'm walking backwards I'll just say I forgot something. No one asked him anything.
Looking up at his house, he briefly considered going back in and faking a sick day. No, no. He shook his head. I should at least go to school.
He looked around for another way he could take to school. He kept walking until he spotted a catwalk that led straight to the back of the school. It was kind of obscured by bushes and trees, but it was perfect. He went into the path and spotted someone who was already there.
Hearing his footsteps, Kaito looked up from his cellphone. "Woah! Hi Kagamine." He stood straight up.
I wanted to find a place that no one else knew about... And how does he know me? "Uh, hi. Did I scare you?"
"Huh? Nah, you surprised me." He scratched the back of his neck. "It's just that, no one ever comes here. I like it because I can get some alone time." He sat back down and leaned against the fence.
"You do know classes are starting soon, right?" Len questioned him. He remembered who he was now. This was the guy who wanted Len to call him so they could go on a play date. Weird and kind of creepy, but what other choices did he have for making friends? Besides, he wasn't a bad guy. At least that's what he thought...
"Pshh, please. I could get from here to the school in two, no scratch that, one minute."
Please don't tell me he's one of those arrogant jocks. Like Gumi... "Wow, you're fast."
Kaito frowned. "Oh come on. Is that all you have to say?"
"Well, what else do I have to say? You can get to the school in one minute. That's impressive." Len shrugged.
He sighed. "You know, I'm really trying here."
"Trying for what?"
Kaito stood up and walked over to Len. "What do I have to do to make you like me?" He declared as he grasped Len's hands.
"Eh?!" Len gasped. He thought it was fishy how this guy wanted to suddenly get close to him. "W-wait, I'm not prepared for something like that yet-"
"Oh haha, that came out wrong. Kaito blushed and let go of Len's hands. "What I meant was, we should hang out sometime."
"This again?" Len looked down at his feet. "I appreciate the offer and all, but..."
"What, you wanted to last night and suddenly you don't want to anymore? Wait, don't tell me..." Kaito smirked. "You don't want to hang out because your boyfriend will get jealous?"
"Hah?! Wh-wha- of course not! I'm not even dating anyone!" Len recovered from the momentary shock to protest.
"Calm down, I'm just joking." Kaito laughed and ruffled Len's hair. "I know you aren't actually dating Megpoid."
"H-how do you know?"
"It was easy to figure out." Kaito dropped his arm. "I had a gut feeling it was all a set up, or a misunderstanding."
Len sighed in relief. Finally there was someone who believed him. "That's right. I'm not dating him, or anyone! We're not even friends!"
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought you guys were at least good friends, since you were out with him and all."
The blonde took a step back. "A-ah, well, haha, it's a funny story, you see-"
Just then, the bell rang, signaling that classes had already started.
"Oh crap, we're late! Well I'll see you later!" Talk about saved by the bell, Len thought as he started running towards the school.
"Wait." Kaito ran in front of Len and blocked the way. "If you start running now, you'll be late."
"We already are late!"
"So let me help." Kaito picked him up and threw him over his shoulders, so his head was right beside his. "There, this should do it."
"Put me down!" Len tried futilely to get out of Kaito's grasp by patting and kicking his back. He felt like a baby being carried by his mother, it was incredibly embarrassing. "It doesn't matter if I'm five minutes late or thirty-five minutes late! It won't make a difference anyway!"
Kaito ignored him and began running at speeds that Len had never experienced before. He stopped struggling and held tightly onto his shoulder to avoid falling off. Not even a minute later, they were at the school.
He put Len down. "We're in different classes, so you're on your own now buddy."
"O-okay..." The younger boy was still recovering from the sudden rush.
"I'll see you later Kagamine! Call me." Kaito made a phone signal with his thumb and pinky, winking at Len.
He would've said something back in retort, but was too dizzy as he stumbled to his classroom. He wasn't lying back there... He might even be faster than Gumi. He quietly giggled at the thought of someone being better than him at something.
"What are you giggling at, Kagamine-san?"
"Eh?" Len looked up to see his homeroom teacher staring back down at him. He gulped. "U-uh, um-"
The teacher sighed. "Class has already started. You get on over here, it's extra drills for you today."
"Yes, sensei." Len sulked. Not again.
After class, his teacher called him over to her desk. "Kagamine-san, I need to talk to you. Come over here."
Len left his bag at his desk, nervously walking over to the front and sitting down on a chair.
"Haha, don't look so tense. You're not in trouble." She put down her papers and turned to face Len. "I wanted to ask you something, so let's get straight to the point. Why were you late today?"
Oh great, another interview. This happens nearly every month. "I swear I was definitely on my way to class. I got carried away talking to- a friend, and before I knew it I was late. I'm really sorry!" Len stood up and bowed for good measure.
The teacher raised her hands. "Ah, you don't need to apologize! I just wanted to know why." She rested her hands on her lap again. "What were you giggling about back there then?"
"I was thinking about something funny." Len quickly replied. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Oh, I see." She smiled. "I thought for sure you were having the time of your life skipping class."
Len jumped. "O-of course not!"
"Heh, I'm kidding. Alright, talk's over now. Go eat some lunch."
"Y-yes!" Len gratefully stood up, getting his bag and quickly walking out of the classroom. Everyone was always trying to mess with him.
He had to find someplace to eat now, since practically everyone was out of the class somewhere to eat. There was a cafeteria, but he didn't want to stand out by sitting at a table by himself. Then he remembered. There was the place in between the vending machines, deep down in the halls. Nobody ever went there.
When he arrived at the vending machines, he set down his lunch box and took out his wallet. Might as well buy something to drink while I'm here. He took out some money, inserting it into the slot and pressing the button under the banana milk option.
He grabbed the beverage and was just about to sit down when he heard another pair of footsteps down the hall.
"This is the perfect place for solitude..."
No way! It's Gumi? Hearing his voice, Len scrambled for his lunch and milk, panicking. In the moment, he dropped his milk on the floor which echoed through the hallway.
Gumi, hearing the noise, called out to him. "Is someone here?" He walked over to the space in between the vending machines and found Len crouched over, about to pick up his banana milk.
"You're here?" The older boy face palmed. "Ugh, of all people! Couldn't you find somewhere else to eat?"
Len stood up in defiance. "Just so you know, I was here first! And I come here every recess."
Gumi crossed his arms. "And just when I thought I had found the perfect spot..." He sighed and dropped his head, and began to walk back to the main hall.
As Len watched the retreating figure of Gumi, he couldn't stop himself from speaking up. "W-wait." What am I doing?
Gumi turned around with a scornful expression. "What?"
"You can sit here if you want..." Len sheepishly said. "I don't mind." What are you talking about Len? Of course you mind!
The older boy looked at him for a little longer before letting out an even bigger sigh. "Well, since you're offering." He walked back to the space between the vending machines, and sat down on the other side of the gap.
They opened their lunch boxes and ate in silence. Len sipped at his banana milk and Gumi found himself jealously staring. Len noticed, but didn't say anything as he not dared to break the awkward silence.
Deciding he's had enough, Gumi went to the vending machine closest to him and inserted some change into it.
"Hey," Len was shocked out of the atmosphere when Gumi suddenly spoke up. "I've been meaning to ask you..."
Is he gonna talk about yesterday? Len waited, expecting an apology of some sort.
"Why'd you let me sit here?"
Okay, maybe not. Don't get your hopes up Len. "I just thought you looked, lonely, or something..."
"Oh well, tha- I mean!" Gumi stopped himself and angrily turned. "I'm not lonely! I don't even know why you would think something like that." He conceitedly turned his nose. "In fact, you're the one who looks lonely!"
Len turned to stare at his knees. "I guess so, yeah."
"Eh?" Gumi looked at him, surprised.
"There's no denying it. Of course I would look lonely, sitting here all by myself with nobody else around. Maybe that's the real reason I let you sit here, so I wouldn't be alone..." Len took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say next. Even if he felt like he wasn't in the wrong here, he still had to do this.
"A-also, I'm s-sorry about yesterday. I should've known better than to take that chance, especially with all the ridiculous rumors going around." There, he had finally said it. Whatever happened next wasn't his fault.
Gumi let what he had just heard sink in. Len was sorry? For what? Yesterday, it was him who had told Len to go away and not talk to him. It was all his fault, not Len's. Len didn't have anything to be sorry for.
"Ah, geez." He loudly groaned and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry too. I was a little rude to you last time."
A little rude?
Gumi glared at him. "Okay fine, very rude."
Oh, I said that out loud.
"But we've forgiven each other now, haven't we?" Gumi asked.
"Yeah." Len giggled. "Guess we can be real lovers now." That was a sick joke.
Gumi slammed his hand against the vending machine, "Y'know, that's not-" He was interrupted by the clanging of a drink coming out. "Ah, I accidentally pressed something." He opened the slot and picked up his randomized drink.
"Hot red bean soup."
"Heh," Len tried to stifle his laughter.
"Ugh, I can't drink this." Just as he was about to shrug it off and sit back down, the bell rang for class.
"Oh shoot! I can't be late again." Len quickly gathered his stuff and stood up.
Gumi was twice as fast as he was, and started running. As he was heading back, he threw the hot beverage behind him. "Here! You take this!"
"Woah!" Len nearly dropped it, cringing at how hot it was.
"I don't want this." He sighed, taking his things and heading back for class. He was late again, but this time he would have a different teacher on his case. He slipped the red bean soup into his bag, not wanting to waste it. Maybe he would give it to someone else who actually wanted it... Like anyone would.
Len walked out of the school, feeling accomplished. He had patched things up with Gumi, made a potential friend in Kaito, and most importantly, finished the school week. There were two days of doing absolutely nothing ahead of him. The only downside to the day was walking past the newspaper and having to face the other wall as if it wasn't there.
Actually, if he wanted to keep a friendship with Kaito he probably would have to hang out with him over the weekend. So that left him one day of doing absolutely nothing... Great.
He speed walked back to his house. Somewhere along the way, he noticed Kaito walking with a group of friends he'd never seen before. They were all a year older than himself, maybe even two years. That's kind of amazing, isn't it? He hangs out with older people... How nice. I wonder why he'd want to get friendly with someone like me then?
"Ah, hi Kagamine!" Kaito, noticing Len looking at them, waved at the boy.
Embarrassed that he had been seen staring, he shyly waved back. "H-hi."
He saw one of his groupies whisper something to Kaito, and him replying very loudly. "Oh, him? He's a friend. A year younger than me, his name's Kagamine."
When the next friend said something, he heard it loud and clear. "Isn't that the gay guy?"
Is that what I'm known as these days?! Len tried to obscure his face from their views.
"Yeah." Kaito simply answered back.
"Wha-" He didn't even try to defend me! And after saying that he knew I wasn't dating Gumi! Len suddenly found the strength in him to run straight past the group and to his house.
So I make up with Gumi, but at the cost of another friend? Is this how friendships work? Len slowed down and went back inside his house. Ah geez, I give up. I didn't wanna do anything this weekend anyway.
Author's Note
I've stopped trying to update any of my stories frequently. I know I don't have the time or willpower to do it. I'm sorry. u m u
I couldn't stand leaving it on such a bad note, so I had them patch things up in this chapter. But there's always gotta be conflict in Len's life, so he's faced with another "betrayal" of a friend. ohoho
bye lel
