I'm sorry if I made you into a PikoxRin fan OTL (I have a bad habit of pairing everyone with Rin -shot-)
I don't own anything but the plot (like a boss).
I spent the rest of the shopping trip thinking about Len and Piko. It's like my entire exterior was on some sort of autopilot mode as my mind drifted into an ocean of my own thoughts. Sometimes, I checked up on reality to find myself either trying on some clothes or being pulled to yet another store by someone. Len didn't know how to feel about me. Honestly, I wish he did so that we could be close like we used to be. I want that more than anything.
"EARTH TO RIN!" Miku screamed in my face.
"What?" I asked, looking at her. We were in line at the mall's cafeteria, getting some food. "Oh, sorry. Uh...I'll have those."
"Rin, what's wrong?" Miku asked. "Ever since you showed up with Piko, you've been spacing like crazy. I am your friend Rin. You can tell me." I waved my hand at her.
"Don't worry about it, Kuku," I told her, with a smile. "It's just something I've got to figure out for myself."
"...it's something you can only discuss with Neru, huh?" Miku said, paying for her food. "Rin, we're all here for you. We're your best friends. Even me. I do make mistakes, but that's because I'm human. It doesn't mean I can't help you. We're all here for you, I just want you to know that." I decided to change the subject.
"Hey, let's have a slumber party," I offered, paying for my own food. Her eyes immediately sparked to life.
"That's a great idea!" Miku beamed as we walked to the table. "How about tomorrow?"
"I'm busy tomorrow, but how about new weekend?" I asked.
"Alright!" she said, setting her Styrofoam box down. "And I'm pretty sure Luka has something she needs to do tomorrow too. Alright, next week...Friday?"
"What's next week on Friday?" Lily asked, as she and Neru sat down next to us with pizza.
"Oh, we're planning a slumber party on Friday," Miku said, with a smile. "And Neru, no excuses. You HAVE to come." Neru sighed and took a bite from her pizza. "And since it was Rin's idea, we're going to have it at her house."
"No," I rejected. "Len's going to hit on all of- not you Neru, put that knife down- again. Or probably disturb us."
"Oh come on," Lily said, with a smile. "It's gonna be fun messing with Kagamine outside of school." Mikuo and Luka finally joined us and Miku went on to explain to them.
"Wait, I'm not included with this, right?" Mikuo asked. "Because I'm no-"
"Yes you are, Koko, now shut up," Neru snapped. "Right Rin?"
"Don't look at me," I said, sipping my soda.
"Totally," Miku said, smirking. "It'll be fun, Koko. You ARE Rin's lapdog, AREN'T you?" Mikuo glared at her, but it was obvious to everyone that he'd do anything I'd ask. But, lapdog seemed a bit too...mean. I pretended not to listen and continued eating my food. "Anyway, it'll be interesting...in fact..." Miku pulled out her phone and started texting away. If I'm not as stupid as I think-
"Are you serious, Kuku?" Neru asked, looking at her phone. Yup, I'm not stupid. Miku just answered with a smirk. "Alright. If you say so, crazy bitch."
"Hey!" Miku cried, faking sadness. This was normal, don't worry about it. Miku and Neru's contrasting personalities makes them the most interesting pair.
"You two, stop it," Luka said, with a soft sigh. "I've been meaning to ask, but where did you and Piko go off to? I'm pretty sure he's one of Len's cronies and no one you'd like to go near."
"He's a smart guy," I said, wiping my mouth. "Very smart- no. Shrewd. He's shrewd. He works the people around him into doing his own will whether they know it or not. He just needed me to do some favor for him that required getting someone jealous."
"So basically, he asked you on a date, didn't he?" Luka asked.
"He asked me that a while ago," I responded. "He just took me to see something that was...unusual. I'll elaborate when we get back to the car." I turned back to Miku. "Which reminds me, Kuku, I know it's been a couple of days, but...you seemed depressed." She looked at me in surprised.
"Kuku's not depressed," Lily said, looking at her. "She's fine, you're imagining things, Rin."
"No, I'm not," I insisted. "Kuku- no. Mikyuu," she flinched, "that was your nickname for him, wasn't it?" I've been blind to my friends, but now I can see... "You fell for Kaito, didn't you? It was something meaningless and now you miss him."
"I was thinking the same thing," Mikuo said, looking up. "Kuku, have you ever notice how you try and plan too many things at the same time? The routes we take to our classes? The girls you hate because they're promiscuity?" Her gaze dropped. "I'm surprised you noticed, Rin." It was the only thing I was good at: reading people. It was something I naturally had talent in. Everything else I did was because of practice and trial with error.
"Luka's been quieter than she's ever been in a while," I pointed out. "She's been...more motherly. Lily's been more defensive of others and Neru's trying to avoid something. Since when have we been hiding from each other?" Everyone stayed silent and I stood up. "How about we'll resume in the party, alright? It seems like a better place." They all looked at me and nodded.
"Are you going home, Rin?" Miku asked, softly. They were all thinking now.
"Yes, I'll get a ride home," I said, chucking my trash into the garbage. "Wipe those looks off your face. If I see them on Monday, I'll personally smack each one of you with a bat."
"You're right," Luka agreed, with a smile. They all let out a breath and placed a smile on their faces, pushing back their own thoughts to the back of their minds.
"We'll see you on Monday, Rin," Lily said, waving. "And remember, you're wearing MY outfit first."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, laughing. "Bye!" I walked away and pulled out my phone, calling Len's phone.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hey, can you pick me up?" I asked, placing my palm over my open ear. "I'm at the mall. And hurry. I'm alone."
"Got it." I heard the ending beep and placed my phone back into my pocket. At least he wasn't mad at me anymore, but a new question popped into my head.
What was Len to me?
Question of the Chapter: What do you think Neru's been avoiding; Lily's been defensive about; Luka's been more motherly about?
:)