A/N: I'm sorry, that last author's note was cruel :^) I'm not gonna go ahead and pair up Len and Meiko, but there are still some things I want to bring up with them if you guys promise not to kill me. I PROMISE RinLen is still endgame, there's just quite a bit more to cover before we get there. I also promise more MikuLuka in this chapter (shhhh, you didn't hear that from me!) Also, did someone say… lemon? [insert lenny face here] Eh nah, I don't wanna rush into full on smut just yet, but I suppose I could work a little something into this chapter. Expect good things next chapter though.

…

[Miku Hatsune's P.O.V]

Looking between Meiko and Len, their facial expressions are wildly different from each other. Meiko doesn't look anywhere near enough angry as Len, but I can see that subtle sort of disappointment because I didn't mention any of this sooner. I've kept this secret for years because of the way Luka ended up being such a horrible bully to my best friends. I feel nothing but guilt and I know how badly I've betrayed them both – especially Rin. They've been my family ever since I moved here. I just didn't expect Luka to turn into the person she is today.

"Lenny, give her a chance to explain please," Meiko reaches forward and squeezes the top of Len's hand. That touch doesn't do much to calm his emotions, and understandably so.

"I… don't even know where to start." I chew on my lower lip, sniffling lightly.

"I'd say from the beginning," Meiko softly answers, giving me a slight smile.

Taking a deep breath, I begin to recollect my memories.

I spent the first ten years of my life in a beautiful village. There were many other surrounding villages, this one being closest to a big city. I've always dreamed about city life, wondering how the outside world worked compared to our home. I used to think a lot of kids always wondered what a life outside of their own little world would be, but despite that, I had an amazing life.

The school was the best part. All the kids I grew up amongst at the village were all there along with me, and that was where I met my best friends, who I thought I'd be with forever. It really was perfect.

When I first told Len the truth about how I helped out Luka and convinced her to come back to the city for the second time… It was mostly true. Except my friendship with Luka stretched back a lot further than just a month. But when she transferred back at school in the city for the second time, it felt like she was a completely different person, even though I already knew about her mean ways. She had changed, a lot. I wasn't sure what did it, but I had my suspicions.

That encounter I told Len was true, as well. When I helped her out in the bathroom. We used to be so close when we grew up together back at our true home, the village full of our happy memories. But I suppose those memories haunted Luka far too much, because when she came to the city, it was like she didn't want anything to do with me. I was part of her painful past – she wanted to forget everything relating to that village, including me. And by the time she first came here, I had already settled in with my new group of best friends.

But I still wanted to help her. It was so foolish of me, but… Damn it. Seeing her again after being separated for a few years brought up feelings that I was deeply ashamed of. The effects of adolescence were already starting to set in during that time. Everyone around me was growing up; I didn't expect it to hit me so hard, but it did. I couldn't even describe those feelings at first. They came up so suddenly, and barely had any time to blossom into something beautiful, because Luka was gone again as quickly as she appeared. I was left confused and empty for a long time, but one summer, I decided to take a holiday back to my true home in the village with my family.

...

The hot air was almost overpowering. Stepping foot outside of an air-conditioned house was probably a very bad idea, but I wanted to go out and take a trip down memory lane. One of my uncles was still living in the village, and although our holiday here was very abrupt and unplanned, he agreed to take us in for the few weeks that we were staying. I was excited beyond belief to finally be back amongst everyone I used to know, but one of the main reasons I wanted to come back… was to see Luka. Not just Luka, of course, but Neru. My two childhood best friends.

I left the village when I was ten, almost eleven. Unfortunately, I never did get back in contact with Neru while I was living a brand new life in the big city. Same situation for Luka. I knew the kind of person Luka turned out to be, but I was hoping Neru was still as sweet yet mischievous as I remember. I took in a breath of the air – the scent of freshly cut grass and nearby blossom trees greeted me.

I stood on the front path of my uncle's house, hands on hips as I surveyed my surroundings. It was still incredibly beautiful and breath-taking. I didn't ever want to leave this place, but my father had a job opportunity over in the city that he just couldn't deny. "Alright!" I grinned, putting my arms back at my sides and strutting down the front path. Along with taking a trip down memory lane, I also made plans to spend a day out with both Neru and Luka. My parents got into contact with Neru's once we knew we were taking a holiday here, and Neru's parents went ahead to plan a few trips out here and there so we could reconnect. According to her parents, Neru would see if Luka could come along for some outings.

Today was one of those outings that Luka agreed to come along on. I was a bit surprised at first when I heard that kind of news. I half expected Luka to want nothing to do with me after the way she treated my friends in the city, but perhaps all of us being together again changed her mind. Maybe even Neru was able to soften Luka's heart and convince her to ease off. I laughed lightly to myself, all sorts of possibilities running through my mind.

We were scheduled to meet up at a cafe not too far away from my uncle's house. With the way the houses were situated, we were in an area that was close to the small town. Of course, there weren't many huge shops or anything – everything consisted of local businesses as opposed to big brand names. And that was one of the many things I loved about this village. I headed down the winding path that led down a hill into town, smiling and waving at the people who recognised me. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces, and it warmed my heart knowing they still remembered me.

I hummed lightly to myself as I walked down the hill, with a skip in my step. My hair was tied into one single ponytail today; I thought I'd change up my look a little bit, plus I figured it might help me cool down better in this heat. I wasn't sure if it was working, but oh well. As I hopped along, I saw the town come into view finally, and so I adjusted the straw sun-hat that rested on my head, then straightened out my frilly, short white dress. I didn't know why I was fussing so much over my appearance. And… Was my heart always pounding this much? Maybe it was the heat getting to me, causing my cheeks to feel so flushed.

Taking in a breath to steady myself, I soon found myself not too far from the cafe. Everything looked just the same as it did a few years ago. Trying not to lose myself in sweet nostalgia for too long, I caught sight of the tables outside of the cafe. Naturally, the town was bustling. A lot of villagers had shopping bags in their hands; children were running around and playing with each other, and some of the elderly villagers were taking a casual stroll. When I looked over to the tables again, I caught sight of them.

Two girls. There was no mistaking them. One with pink hair tied into high double buns, and another with hair tied into a side ponytail. Luka definitely looked different, but the girl with her… "Neru!" I called her name first, breaking out into a great big grin. The girls both turned to look at me as I approached their table.

"Oh, Miku! It's sooo good to see you.~" Her voice had definitely gotten a little more mature than the last time we spoke – of course. She used to sound like a cute little scamp, like she was always trying to sound tougher than she was. But now, that toughness stood out, in a more playful way. She and Luka were sitting opposite each other, so I sat down on the chair that was sticking out from the side of the table.

"Wow, it's been so long. I can't believe we're all together again!" I said, overjoyed. Neru genuinely did look happy to see me. It was a reunion long overdue, and it made me wish I never had to leave. When I flicked my glance over to Luka, she was smiling softly. It hadn't been long since Luka and I last spoke, but for some reason, it really did feel like it had been forever. Had she always been this pretty…? I was breathless, but maybe it was just because I wasn't used to hiking in the hot sun.

"Miku's such a cutie now, isn't she, Neru?" Luka spoke, smiling over at the blonde.

"Mm, totally," she answered, snickering lightly. "So, what brings you here anyway, hmm, city mouse?"

I blinked in surprise for a moment at the strange way Neru referred to me. I certainly didn't remember her speaking like that when we were last together. "O-Oh, y'know… My father had a bit of a break from work, so we were able to take a holiday for the first time in a while."

"Hmm, I see. That's nice," Neru answered, giving a nod. That's when I noticed the girls had already went ahead and ordered themselves some drinks. They both had ice cold milkshakes, and Luka was stirring hers with a straw while Neru and I chatted.

"Ah, you girls ordered?" I casually asked. I tried not to make a huge fuss over it, because I suppose it wasn't, but… Huh.

"Of course we did, silly," Luka said, giggling. I didn't want to assume things, but something here felt… weird. That tone of hers was almost sort of patronising, and it caused my mouth to turn dry. I was getting worried. "It's so hot out here, I felt like I might faint!"

"Ugh, tell me about it," Neru agreed, rolling her eyes. She swirled her straw too, before taking another sip.

"Aha, of course..." I slowly nodded, giving a strained laugh. There was a bit of an awkward silence hanging between us after that, so I decided to flick my glance between the two. There definitely was a different sort of atmosphere around Neru, but I couldn't quite figure out what was causing it.

I scanned my eyes over the girls quickly, and noted that they were dressed in a similar sort of fashion. They both had their nails done; they were long, sparkly and decorated neatly. I expected to see Luka with a brand new set of nails, but it wasn't something I expected from Neru. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be so expectant, considering Neru and I hadn't interacted for a while. It was only three years, but a lot could change in that span of time. She didn't seem to be the same sweet, selfless girl she was… She reminded me far too much of Luka – almost like a mirror image, in terms of latest fashion, shallowness, and the way she spoke. More specifically, she near enough perfectly mimicked a city teenager. Or at least, she resembled a lot of the kids I had come across there.

"Sooo, Miku." It seemed like Neru wanted to start a conversation with me. The girls were on their phones up until a moment ago; I felt like I was suffocating in the silence, so I was glad to talk some more. "Have you met any cute boys over at your new home? Anyone you're possibly dating?"

Each thing she said was more absurd than the last. I didn't recall Neru being like this at all. This was a nightmare. I didn't let any of my feelings show on my face, though. I played it cool, trying to blend in. Why was I trying so hard all of a sudden? If SeeU, Lily or Gumi tried to ask me something like this, I would never give them the time of day. This was exactly the type of person Neru had become. So why was I trying? "Oh, ahah… N-No, not really. I guess I'm just focusing on schoolwork until I feel ready for that kind of stuff."

"Aww. Miku's always been the goody two shoe types," Luka chimed in, a sickly sweet tone coming from her. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's quite… cute… that you're still the same way."

"She hasn't changed a bit. She's still our sweet little Miku," Neru added, agreeing with the pink-haired girl. This felt so surreal. How were they being so patronising and rude, yet not directly saying anything too offensive? I felt like I was stuck as my ten year old self at this moment, whereas my old best friends had grown up without me. I had to try and do something to stop their attitude from becoming progressively worse, right…? I didn't want to be too judgemental, considering Luka's family circumstances – and Neru had always been easily impressionable.

I took in a breath to prepare myself. "Girls, I..."

"Oh! Sorry, I just got a text." Neru suddenly blurted that out, interrupting me before I could even begin to speak my mind. She stared down at her phone for a few moments, and then let out a heavy groan. "Geez… Mom needs me back at home. Dad apparently got sick out of nowhere and apparently she can't handle him on her own."

"Seriously? She's a grown adult, isn't she?" Luka scoffed.

"Maybe your mom thinks you can help cheer your dad up while he's sick…?" I sheepishly suggest, which earned me a blank stare from both girls. I gulped.

"Tch. Yeah, right." Neru rolled her eyes right at me, and then stood up from her seat. "Well, it was cool to see you again, Miku. Maybe we'll catch up later. Bye-bye." She nonchalantly waved to both Luka and I, then began to head off in the direction of the houses.

"Bye, Neru!" Luka called to the blonde, before sipping up the rest of her milkshake. She sighed, sounding rather tired. That was such a strange reunion. And now I was left alone with Luka. I had the feeling this wouldn't go well.

…

I've been pouring out my memories to my friends for a while now. I'm not even sure how much time has passed at this point, but Len and Meiko have been listening to me in silence, allowing me to tell them just about everything. It's been incredibly difficult reliving all those things, especially remembering how cruel Neru turned out to be. I was only fourteen at the time, and after Neru left to help her mother, I didn't see her again for the rest of my holiday.

I let out a shaky sigh, deciding to take a break, as I can feel my emotions starting to overwhelm me again. It's too much to handle, and I'd rather not tell them every single thing. There are still some things I have to keep to myself, because I know they'd never accept me as their friend again if I told them. There's silence for quite a long time, and I assume it's because they want to process exactly what this new information means and how it's relevant to Rin.

But finally, Len seems to get it. "So, my sister is stuck over there with that Neru girl," he says. "Are you trying to say she might end up bullying Rin?"

I chew on my lower lip, unsure on how to answer that kind of question. Even though we had reunited just over a year ago, and it was clear just how different she was... It's hard to tell if she's still that kind of person. Anything could've happened to make her change her attitude between then and now. "I… I wish I knew how to answer that," I mumble, in a defeated tone. My head is aching. "I honestly don't think she's a bully. She's just a bit… passive aggressive. Nice on the outside, but she covers her insults by pretending they're compliments and jokes. Think of the way Luka is, but maybe tone it down a little bit." I feel bad even talking about Luka like that. Especially after what happened between us on that day…

"I'm glad you told us, Miku." Meiko finally joins in the conversation, giving me a soft grin. "Maybe she only acted that way because Luka was around," she suggests. I really don't want to blame anyone. But I don't want Rin to get hurt again.

"What was the point of telling us this, anyway?" Len asks, in a cold tone. I'm a bit stunned by the sudden change from him. "Rin is in the middle of nowhere, and we're all the way over here, where we can't do a single fucking thing to stop her from being hurt again!" He lashes out at me, and all I can do is stare with wide, teary eyes. I know he has good intentions, because he wants to protect his sister… But I thought it would be the best thing to tell the truth.

"Lenny..." Meiko reaches a hand out to him, trying to calm him down. He just swats her hand away, his eyebrows furrowing in irritation, before pulling himself up from the sofa. "Aren't you just glad she told us the truth instead of hiding it?"

"Do you really think it makes a god damn difference either way?" Len remarks, with a scowl. "Knowing the truth or still being oblivious, there's nothing we'll be able to do. You're just so… fucking useless…!" He spits those words out, and I'm not sure if they're directed towards me or just to himself. Either way, it hurts.

"Please Lenny, calm down. This isn't helping any of us…! Miku did what she thought was best, and that's it," Meiko calmly responds. I still can't find words to defend myself. That look in his eyes… He's full of fire.

"I can't stand this shit any more." Len isn't yelling at me now. He mutters those words to himself in a fatigued tone. Without saying anything else, he turns on his heels and storms out of the living room, head hanging low.

Meiko and I can't do anything to stop him. There's silence for a few moments… The distant sound of footsteps, and then a loud door slam. I can't help but flinch at the harsh noise, my heart pounding in my chest, and tears ready to spill from my eyes.

"I… ahh..." Meiko is visibly flustered; her eyes dart between the living room door and me. "H-He's just a bit stressed, that's all. He can't bear to be apart from his own twin sister, y'know? Heh..." She weakly laughs.

"I shouldn't have said anything… Should I?" I seek her approval now that he's gone.

"I'm not sure if it was necessary or unnecessary," Meiko quietly admits, lowering her glance momentarily. Then, she looks back up at me with confidence. "But you were honest with us, and that's all that matters…!" Nothing more can be said about this situation at this point. I thought that by admitting my connection with Luka and Neru, we could somehow band together to protect Rin from those two. Thinking on it now, though, it was foolish and it really wouldn't have made a difference if I kept my mouth shut.

"All I wanted to do… was protect Rin..." I whisper, though it's mostly to myself.

"I'm sure he'll understand that soon," Meiko says, but even I can hear the lack of assurance in her voice. "A-Anyway… Do you want me to sleep over tonight? We can still have some fun, if you want. Maybe play some games?"

I look over at the clock hanging on the wall. It's not long after 9pm – my parents still aren't home yet. It seems like they'll be staying out overnight, meaning if I let Meiko go home now, I'll be left alone with my invasive thoughts all night. A sudden idea flashes into my mind. What if I politely ask Meiko to leave… and confide in someone else instead? Oh boy, this could be a very, very bad idea. But it's what I want. "It's okay, Meiko… You don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine." I manage to flash a soft smile, wiping at my eyes.

She gives a pout in return. "I don't mind looking after you if you're still sad," she tries to insist.

I shake my head, acting like I'll be okay. "Thank you, Meiko. But you should go home and rest up. It's getting late and all," I gently laugh. With a sigh, she reluctantly gives in with a nod. She stands up, says goodnight to me and makes her way out of the house.

With that, I'm left alone. But I'm hoping I won't have to be for long. I inhale deeply, trying to settle my nerves. I pull my phone out of my pocket and switch the screen on. I navigate through my contacts, and click on an all too familiar name. My movements pause for a moment; my fingertips hover over the call button. Whenever I get into contact with her, something bad always happens not too long after. Deep down, I know I should stay away from her, but something keeps telling me that she needs to be saved. Considering our history, I feel somewhat responsible for her…

"Besides, I need her right now," I mutter to myself. "Maybe she needs me, too?" I finally stop delaying the inevitable, making the call.

…

It had taken quite a bit of convincing, but now I'm sitting on my bedroom floor, opposite Luka. I'm still not entirely sure why my mind went straight to her when I wanted comfort. The fact that she's here now, though… It only proves what I've always thought. She's not entirely heartless. "So, I..."

"I wanted to tell you something." Just as I start speaking in a low tone, she also starts to say something, in a more audible tone.

"O-Oh..." I stutter, blinking in surprise. Is that why she's here now? "Go ahead." Even though there's a lot I want to get off my chest, I figure it can't hurt to hear her out first.

"I only came here because… Well..." She draws in a breath. "I think it's best if we don't see each other again. I mean… We should cut our, uh, 'friendship' off."

"Huh?" I'm not sure how to take those words. But what I do know is that the moment I hear them, something deep in me starts to ache. Her eyes are so serious. I don't say anything else, and wait for her to continue.

"I just wanted to let you know," Luka says. She lowers her glance to the floor. "I'm… I'm a terrible person, Miku. You know that. I don't want you wasting your time trying to help me any more."

"Th-That's ridiculous, Luka…!" Without thinking, I reach forward and grab hold of her shoulder. She lifts her head up to look at me, eyes wide. A nervous gasp gets caught in my throat when I realise what I've done, and for a short while, there's silence as we gaze into each other's eyes. I can see that she's broken. She's been through more than I can imagine during our time as friends, and I feel as though I'm the only one in the whole world who understands her.

"Stop being so nice to me…!" She hisses at me through gritted teeth, shoving my hand off her shoulder. She pulls herself to her feet after that, and folds her arms over her chest. "I don't deserve to be helped. I don't deserve a second chance. I… I wish you'd just stop trying to be my friend, damn it…!" She then turns on her heels, her back facing me.

Sighing, I stand up and decide to talk to her back. "I won't pretend that you didn't hurt my friends. You said some horrible things, especially about Rin..."

"Exactly. I made her life a waking nightmare, all because of my stupid insecurities, and my stupid family." I can't see her face, but I can hear the break in Luka's voice.

"I wasn't finished. You said all those awful things, but I know that deep down, you didn't mean any of it!" Clutching a fist to my chest, I reach out my free hand to her back, wondering if she'll accept my reassuring touch yet. "You got drawn in by Lily and the others because you were weak and vulnerable… And you thought they genuinely cared about you. It's not your fault, Luka. That's what truly cold-hearted people do; prey on insecure people like you. But it's not too late to break free from them." I lower my arm, realising my words might not be getting through to her.

Her head hangs low, and she's unresponsive for quite some time. I desperately want to help her now that she's revealing her true feelings. Finally, she breaks the silence, turning back around to slowly face me. Our eyes meet. I can see the tears in her eyes, something I haven't seen in a long time. "I can't break free any more, Miku..." she whispers. "I've said so many horrible things. I've completely fucked up things between your friends, and now… Rin is gone because of me…! I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do!" She breaks eye contact, only to squeeze her eyes shut and begin to break down in tears.

I can only watch as she stands in front of me, her entire body trembling, with soft sobbing noises escaping her lips. I have no idea how to react to this at first – am I supposed to hug her? Tell her everything will be okay? Even if I forgive her, I highly doubt that Meiko and Len will do the same. And I know Rin will never forgive her. "Luka… Please don't cry. We'll work something out." I'm not sure if I can carry out that promise, but I don't want her to feel any more pain than what she's expressing right now.

Luka furiously shakes her head, refusing to believe me. "We can't work anything out… It's impossible…!" she cries out, and her body begins to shake even more. Her chest rises and falls quicker than before, her sobs growing heavier. Seeing her like this is tearing me apart. It's in that moment, I understand my feelings better than I ever have before. All the confusion and lack of confidence I felt before melts away. "Please, please don't be nice to me… Please, please..." She repeats that over and over in a quiet voice.

I take a step forward and wrap my arms around her. I pull Luka into a tight, warm embrace and let my eyes slip shut. She remains static, arms at her sides for the longest time. "I'm here for you, Luka. I'm not going to give up on you, so please… Don't give up on yourself. You deserve a second chance, and I promise you, we'll work together to gain everyone's trust back."

And then, she finally breaks again. Letting out a pained howl, she returns my embrace, throwing her arms around me and accepting my help at long last. She gives up on trying to fight me; instead, she buries her head into my chest, and lets out all of the anger and sadness that's been pent up for years. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… P-Please, please help me, Miku. I can't stand this any longer, please, I'm begging you, help me…!"

Smiling softly, I remain silent and allow her to vent her emotions to me, all while gently rubbing her back to reassure her that everything will be okay. That warm feeling is still there deep inside me, making my heart pound lightly. Perhaps now is the worst possible time to express those feelings, but a little voice is telling me to go ahead and do it.

Luka and I stay in our embrace for what feels like forever. As time passes by, she eventually begins to calm down, her sobs growing quieter until she's calmed down enough to pull away from my chest. When she sets herself straight, she takes in a deep breath. I look into her eyes again; her cheeks are quite red, and her eyes must be stinging, but… She still looks so beautiful even after exposing all of her inner emotions to me. She sniffles, an embarrassed expression replacing the one of sadness she was just wearing.

Seeing that she's calmed down, I slowly lower my arms and release her from the embrace. I take a slight step back to give her some space. My shirt is soaked from her tears, but I don't mind. Luka appears to be a bit breathless after all that. "You know, you're welcome to stay here a bit longer. We can, um… talk some more..." I try to be as vague as possible.

"Y-Yeah, maybe," Luka quietly mutters, giving a single nod. She wipes her eyes, sighing heavily. She turns on her heels and heads towards my bed – she sets herself down on the edge, groaning. "You've always been so good to me, Miku. How did I get so lucky?"

She looks over at me, so I decide to make my way over to the bed and sit down beside her. I feel the nerves welling up inside me once more; I get lost in my thoughts for a moment, wondering to myself how on earth I should bring up what I want to say. Eventually, I grow tired of overthinking it, so I just blurt something out. "I think I love you." Apparently the filter between my brain and my mouth stops working in the process. I immediately clamp a palm over my mouth, and I'm met with a blank, wide-eyed stare from the pink-haired girl. "Ahh… I-I didn't mean to say it like that…!"

Luka simply pouts at this. I half expect her to freak out and make fun of me, despite everything that went down previously. However, all I get is a half-hearted laugh. "You don't love me, silly. I've been nothing but a total bitch to you ever since we got back in contact a few years ago. Besides, all I've done apart from being a bully is string you along and play with your feelings."

I chew on my lower lip as she answers me. She's technically correct – when I convinced her to come back home around the time of Len and Rin's birthday, she didn't bully me into it. She pretty much flirted with me and tricked me into thinking she was going to kiss me. I think she knew for a long time how I felt about her, even when I didn't know my own feelings. It was definitely a cruel thing for her to do, but I can't be mad at her for it. She's been confused for a long time. "I already told you it wasn't your fault. I know you didn't mean to mess with me."

Luka rolls her eyes – but promptly apologises for the reaction. "S-Sorry… It's still kind of an impulse," she nervously laughs. "But still… Just because I was vulnerable, it was no excuse to pretty much rip out your heart and crush it under my foot." Brutal... But I guess I understand how she sees it.

"I know. But if anything, what you told me today has only reaffirmed how I feel..." I shyly answer.

"Still, it doesn't feel right," Luka averts her eyes. "I made fun of Rin for her crush on me… I said disgusting things just because she was a girl who liked a girl. All because of-"

"You don't need to explain yourself to me," I interrupt, not letting her finish. I know exactly why Luka felt so strongly against anyone who isn't straight.

"Well, the whole reason was…" She pauses to gulp. "I… I think I'm that way, too. I like boys, but… I like girls, too. I fought against it for a long, long time. I couldn't accept myself – I was disgusted and outraged at the very mention of it, because of… Well, yeah, you know."

I'm not that surprised to hear this from Luka. I figured a while ago she must like both, simply because of the way she used to toy with my feelings and openly flirt with me. Of course, that doesn't mean I expected her to actually like me. I'm guessing she'll tell me we're better off as friends. "Don't misunderstand me or anything. I don't love you out of pity or anything… I love you for the person you are, down to every last flaw of yours. I've had these feelings for a few years, and I've only just started to accept them and realise what they are."

"I'm not sure how I feel," Luka answers, smiling weakly at me. "Right now, I feel… empty."

"Well, I can help you through those feelings, you know..." I softly say, and part of me wonders where this sudden confidence boost has come from. Boldly, I continue. "Maybe if you let me… kiss you…?" I can't believe I've suggested such a thing.

Luka raises a brow at me, and that's when I see her cheeks turn red. "I… I..." She's struggling to get her words out. Even I'm starting to feel embarrassment now. Wordlessly, she finally gives a nod.

"Aha..." I awkwardly giggle. I didn't expect to get this far. "Y-You were supposed to turn me down. I dunno where to start now."

A smile breaks out on Luka's face. Her smile is so pretty… "W-Well, you get a little closer, first. Like this, see?" She shuffles closer to me on the bed, closing the small space between us. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as I feel her rest a hand on top of mine; she slides her fingers between mine, and then she takes hold of my wrist with her free hand. I'm confused at this. She moves my hand to rest against her cheek. When she lets go, I start to acknowledge how lovely and soft her skin feels. "And you… kinda sit like this."

Oh, gosh. Is it just me or is it suddenly very hot in here? I break out into nervous laughter, unable to look her directly in the eyes. The mood is a lot different now. There's slight tension between us and it's starting to suffocate me. "R-Right… then I guess I…?" My words trail off, as I realise what I have to do next. "Mmph..." I can't help but almost inaudibly whine due to the amount of pressure I'm feeling.

"Mhm… G-Go ahead..." Luka lightly nods, and with that, I watch her eyes slip shut. Her cheeks are still rosy from the tears earlier; her pink lips are parted and shining. She appears to be waiting in anticipation for me to initiate the kiss. The look on her face makes it clear that she's just as nervous as I am, and for a short while, I can't think of anything else except how adorable she is.

Shaking my head at myself, I snap out of it and slowly lean in. I quickly dart my eyes down to her lips, my breathing growing shaky the closer I am… And then I screw my eyes shut and very abruptly press my lips to hers. I may have done it a bit rougher and quicker than I intended, but there aren't any complaints from Luka. Once I let go of my apprehensions and racing thoughts, an overwhelming warmth and rush of adrenaline takes control of me. My heart beats slightly harder in my chest. I can't believe I'm doing this. I squeeze her hand a little tighter, and I can feel myself growing breathless already.

I break away from the kiss after a few moments, gasping out quietly when our lips part so that I can catch my breath. I lower my hand from her cheek. Once our eyes open, we gaze at each other for what seems like an eternity.

"I… I've always loved you too, you know," Luka whispers out of nowhere. Although I should be in shock, I really only feel overjoyed from hearing those words. "So much got in the way, though… which made it impossible for me to tell you how I feel."

That rush of adrenaline is still kicking deep inside me. And the more Luka says, the more I'm filled with a strong urge to do things I've never even thought of before. So, wordlessly, I cut her off just as she opens her mouth to speak. I swiftly close the gap between us, gripping onto her shoulder as our lips meet for a passionate kiss once more. I find myself putting in a lot more emotion than the first time, and I can feel her return the same level of desire. Her hand rests against my cheek, and our grips on each other makes that desire burn stronger.

"M-Miku..." Luka softly hisses against my lips when I part to take a breath. "L-Let me… show you something..." I have no time to ask her what exactly she means, as her lips are back on top of mine. I'm overcome with slight surprise when I feel a strange new sensation; Luka begins to swirl her tongue over mine, and I'm met with an unexplainable, warm tingle in the pit of my stomach. As soon as she crosses our tongues, she follows it up by beginning to suck on my tongue.

"Mm…!" I softly gasp, unable to control my reaction. I've never felt such an amazing sensation before, and there's another wave of that tingling feeling, except it's stronger than before. She plays with my tongue for a little while longer before pulling back again.

"Feels good, right?" Luka breathlessly whispers, and all I can manage is a nod. "Here, you should do this..." She grabs my right hand that's still resting on her shoulder, then guides it down to instead rest on her hip. I feel slightly embarrassed holding Luka like this, but she must want it. I'll gladly let her guide me – I'm feeling more and more eager to experiment with her with each second that passes.

"Your body is… a-amazing," I softly laugh, even though I'm only touching her hip.

"Aw, thank you. You're so sweet, Miku." Luka sincerely answers, grinning with joy in her eyes. "You want more pleasure?"

"M-Mmh..." I nod. I'm not totally stupid. That tingly feeling I got when Luka kissed me must be from… down below. Now I understand. She instructs me to stick my tongue out. I feel awkward upon hearing that request, and so I reluctantly poke a little bit of my tongue out of my parted lips.

"Hehe...~" Luka's sweet giggle fills my ears. "You look sooo cute like that. And you taste so good. Let me have all of you..." I want to answer with some kind of stutter, but I can't. She asks me to close my eyes, and the second I do so, I can feel Luka wrap her warm, soft lips around my tongue. I can also feel both of her hands lightly gripping my cheeks to hold me in place.

"Mm..." I quietly moan. I can feel more of that tingling sensation down below, and it's starting to become more and more intense, the more Luka sucks on my tongue and connects our lips. She slides a hand down from my cheek and rests it on top of my thigh – I feel her gently squeeze my skin, before caressing the area. It's such an overwhelming, unbelievable sensation. The pleasure is too much to handle. I've never done anything like this in my life. I've always been a good girl, focusing on school…! I've never… never even touched myself before…!

I kiss Luka back when she's done with deeply sucking my tongue, and hesitantly following her lead, I decide to take the next step. I slip my hand under her shirt from its original position on her hip, tracing my fingertips up her stomach and then into her bra. A surprised gasp comes from Luka when I gently squeeze against her.

"O-Oh..." she whispers, breaking our kiss. "M-Miku, don't tease me… if you don't want to go all the way..."

I look her in the eyes and respond with confidence. I've never been more sure about anything in my life. If I want to have my first time… I really want to have it with Luka. I don't care if she's done way more than me before, with other people and all that. It's clear that the only one for me is Luka, and I'm the only one for her now. "And… if I do want to go all the way?"

Her eyes light up. "Then let me get my hands on you..." she smirks.

I can't help but gasp, but also laugh in excitement, when she very quickly slips her hand up my skirt. She teases the hem of my panties with her fingers, sliding only her fingertips under the band. "I'm… I'm ready for you, Luka."

Thanks to this wonderful thing called adolescence, I've been ready for her for a long time. "A-Ahhh...~ L-Luka…!"

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