Ch. 14: Group Discussion
"What do you think you're doing Len-san? This is a GIRL'S ONLY invite." Gumi stated upon noticing the boy did not leave after dropping off the girls. There was already a group of Vocaloids waiting for Rin and Ariku as the trio arrived at the café.
"Oh, well see Gumi, I was actually invited." Len replied calmly, shocking the girl.
"Rin! Why would you invite him?"
"Because he had some good ideas for Ariku-chan's performance. Look, just trust me on this one girls, okay?"
There was much commotion but after a few moments of talking it over with each other, they agreed. "Alrighty then, we'll trust you Rin-nee." Miku stated with a nod. "Now let's go inside!"
Once all situated at a round table, Gumi placed some papers on the table. "Alright, I was jotting down some things and song ideas and stuff earlier today and I finally decided that my best thought was-" She paused as she grabbed one specific paper. "-to sing Killer Lady!" Gumi exclaimed excitedly. The group just stared at her and Miku shook her head slowly.
"Gumi, you would pick one of YOUR songs for her to sing. Obviously she should sing World Is Mine ah duh!" Miku replied with a grin.
"Oh? And what's so much better about World Is Mine than Killer Lady? Ariku wasn't even acting like the spoiled brat you are in that song!" Gumi stated as she stood up.
"Um, guys? I-I don't want to sing either of those songs…I-I was thinking-"
"Well it's perfect that's what! Ariku-chan should own up to the fact that now she's broken up with someone who was no good, she should feel on top of the world."
"H-hey!"
"Hah! The reason you want her to sing it is because you want everyone to know that she sang a Miku song! You can't stand to be out of the spotlight for one minute can't you?" the girls argued back and forth over whose song was better and completely ignored Ariku's attempts to get their attention.
"Ladies, ladies, you're both pretty. Pretty stupid that is, now shut up and listen to someone else's input." Rin stated, hurting the girls' pride.
"Harsh much."
"Jeez Rin-chan, you coulda been a little nicer." Rin ignored them and turned to Ariku.
"So, what was it that you thought Ari?"
"Well…instead of focusing on me trying to exact revenge on Kaito-sama… why don't I just sing a song that fits me? I-I mean it is a talent show right?" Ariku stated.
"Hey! That's exactly what I told Rin earlier!" Len exclaimed causing all eyes to look at him.
"Uh…Well it's true…." He said softly as he shrank back down in his seat. "I dunno Ariku-chan; I mean there aren't many songs that fit you."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"No way! I wanna make Kaito-nii cry for what he did!"
"Yeah, you should totally do something like-"
Ariku sighed and shrugged her shoulders as she listened to the rest of them go on their own tangents again.
"Well… I think it's a great idea." Zatsune finally said, tired of their pointless drivel.
"Whoa…I forgot you were even here Zatsune." Teto said causing her to roll her eyes.
"Look, Ariku and Len had a great idea. Instead of making the night about Kaito and blowing his ego up anymore, why not focus on letting Ariku have a fun time? Did you all even account for the fact that she might not even want to sing? Maybe she wants to dance and have someone else sing for her or maybe she wants to sing a duet with Mitsumori-san or somethin'. MAYBE Arikusandoria just wants to attend the party and see what we all do; let her make her own calls guys, she's not a little doll you dress up and command at will." Zatsune explained, the others all getting quite drawn into what she was saying.
"Wow….that's some deep stuff right there…" Teto commented and Zatsune flipped her bangs.
"You know, I think I like Zatsune's idea." Rin stated, causing the girls to gasp.
"Oh come on! I'm not this cold hearted demon you all make me seem like! I do actually care for my friends, y'know." She replied.
"It's a very good idea, Zatsune. B-but I don't think I'd sing with Mitsumori-sama." Ariku stated with a laugh.
"Well why not? You two are best friends and sound great together. Plus, you all would get lots of practice time since you two have lived together for quite awhile." Len suggested and Rin nodded.
"I think you two should sing together Ari-chan! It'd be so cute!" She squealed happily, encouraging the shy girl to accept.
"I dunno, I mean sure he's my best friend and all but…do you really think I should sing with him? Wh-what if it's awkward?" She responded making them laugh.
"Awkward? Ari-chan, you two are like inseparable, if we didn't know better everyone would think you two were dating!" Gumi laughed. The comment made Len flinch slightly.
"Yeah! You two have such a natural chemistry; it was REALLY hard to accept that you're just friends. …Who live together. …Under the SAME roof." Teto hinted with a wink, Ariku going red.
"W-w-we aren't anything more than friends I swear!" She defended instantly, making the girls laugh some more.
"Come on guys, I'm sure if they were up to something, Rin would've already known." Even Neru jumped in on the conversation now.
"Oh wow, what did your phone die Neru-san?" Gumi asked and the girl sighed and nodded.
"Yeah…I forgot to charge it when I got home." As they teased Ariku a little bit more, Rin noticed Len's mood change again as her brother became very anti-social.
"Hey, something wrong?" She whispered, nudging his arm.
"Oh, um yeah, its fine, its fine." He mumbled after a moment. She snorted.
"Total B.S. again Len, but we can talk about it later. Deal?" She replied and the boy seemed to agree.
"S-so you really think I should sing with him?" Ariku seemed to finally give in to the girls' protests. They all nodded.
"It'll be fun for the both of you."
"What if he tells me he doesn't want to do it?"
"Then we'll make him! Haha, I'm kidding but I highly doubt he'd refuse."
Ariku took in their feedback and after a moment nodded. "Well…I-I'll talk to him about it tonight and see what we come up with. O-okay?" She said and they all cheered.
"Great!"
"We'll be expecting the details later."
"Does this mean our meeting is over?" Zatsune asked, clearly getting bored with the subject.
"Yes Zatsune, we can leave now." Rin answered as she stood up.
"Was Mitsumori taking you home or were you gonna come back with me and Len?" She asked the girl next to her.
"Oh, yeah, Mitsumori-sama was gonna come get me but not till later, I told him I wanted to go to the lake after this so he wouldn't show up too early." Len looked over at her.
"But Ariku-chan its getting dark, it's not safe for you out here all alone." He warned and she smiled.
"Welllll….if only there was a guy-"
"Who was here with us-"
"-Who would be willing-"
"To stay while the rest of us go home."
Rin, Miku, Gumi and Teto finished each other's sentences, each standing up as the other finished. Zatsune chuckled, noticing Len's confused face. "In other words, the rest of us are going to take our cars and leave you here to protect our friend. Miku can easily drop off Rin on her way home too Len." She stated as she grabbed her purse.
"H-hey! I didn't sign up to be the bodyguard! I wanna go home too!"
They all pouted and Rin placed her hands on Ariku's shoulder who questioned what they were doing.
"Pleeease onii-san? Just look at this pure innocence, this perfect little embodiment of an angel who was heartbroken this afternoon." She paused at this part and pulled Ari's head to her chest.
"R-Rin! Let go please!"
"Shush shush shushhhhh….See Len? She's just so vulnerable right now! You're the ONLY one who can stay behind to keep her safe for us!" Rin explained, acting very dramatic. Miku and the others had walked over to Len's side at this point.
"Why me though?"
Miku playfully swatted his head. "Are you dumb? Did you not just here are explanation?"
Neru laughed. "He's a BOY Miku, they don't usually listen."
"Not true Neru, I-I mean, they listen most of the time." Ariku defended, making stated girl laugh again.
"Ariku-chan, the only reason they listen is because-"
"It's because she's nice and not psychotic and weird like the rest of you!" Len interrupted suddenly, jumping out of his spot and backing away. The Vocaloid girls gasped.
"How…dare you!"
"Len, you don't have to be so mean!"
"Oh my gosh enough! Do you all ever shut up and let someone else who has normal conversations speak? Jeez, poor Ariku has been sitting here the past 10 minutes trying to talk to me while all of you have just butted in. Now the ONLY reason I'm staying here is because she asked me. Like a normal person would." Len answered with a 'huff'.
"…Well then….I guess we should be going now." Teto spoke up quietly, eating a piece of bread.
"Teto…where did you get the bread….?" Gumi asked slowly. "I always have bread. Don't you carry some with you too?"
"Uh...no. I carry my keys and my purse but I don't carry bread with me." She replied as she started to walk towards the door.
"Oh…I see." Ariku stood up, realizing Rin had let go of her.
"Well…thanks for wanting to stay with me,, even if you really don't have to.. I-I'm fi-" Rin nudged her arm, stopping her from finishing her sentence.
"Hey…you're welcome. Enjoy a recovery night with Len, silly." She whispered as she walked away with Miku.
"Ariku-chan I don't really mind." He responded as the last of the group walked out.
There was a bit of awkwardness between the two that both picked up on.
"Um…I-I guess we could go to the lake now."She said shyly, looking at her feet. Len smiled.
"Why are you acting so shy around me right now? That was some good acting earlier but you don't need to keep it up silly. It's just me and some random café staff." He said with a laugh.
"I-I know." Ariku began as she directed her attention back to him.
"But…It feels a little weird knowing that I just broke up with Kaito this morning and now I'm here. With you." She concluded, hoping he understood.
"Well, we don't have to do anything you don't like." He suggested, putting his hands in his pockets. "As long as you're comfortable is what really matters right now; I know how break ups can go, I don't want you to be viewed as something you're not because of me." He continued as he walked with her outside.
"Oh yeah? I don't see how anyone would leave you Len. You're very nice." Ariku said thoughtfully, making him laugh.
"No no no, not me!" He began quickly with a laugh.
"In truth I haven't actually dated anyone before; apparently I give really good advice for people who go out though." He admitted softly, flipping his bangs. Ariku's eyes widened and she dropped her glasses.
Never dated anyone before? He knows so much though! There's no way that's true!
Len tilted his head to the side before picking up his glasses and laughing softly. "Oh Ari-chan…you thought otherwise didn't you?" He questioned as he cleaned her glasses.
"Aww…It looks like you cracked them this time girl. Didn't I tell you to be more careful with them?" Len concluded, handing the girl back her cracked glasses. Shaking her head quickly, Ariku came back from her thoughts and gasped.
"Aw shoot…. "She muttered as she tried them on and then took them off again.
"I-I guess you're statement just surprised me a little, haha." She concluded with a smile, placing the damaged article in her purse.
"Hehe, yeah…" Len said nervously. As the pair continued on their way to the nearby park and lake more conversation came up, each new topic getting more serious than the last.
"Okay…I'm gonna stop beating around the bush here and just be flat out honest with you Ariku-chan." Len said bluntly as watched the moon's reflection on the lake surface from a spot on a pier.
"..I'm not sure I understand where you're going with this but continue." Ariku replied, just watching the calm water. Len moved in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"How on earth have you been able to live with Mitsumori-sama under the same roof and still be such good friends and nothing more?" He asked, looking her straight in the eyes. The shocked girl froze and stammered trying to answer him coherently.
"Come on Ariku-chan, use your words." He said slightly less serious. Slightly annoyed by his actions, Ariku swatted his hands off of her.
"D-don't patronize me! I'm sorry I-I stutter okay?!" She began as she turned away from him with a huff. Len sighed.
"I just…I don't understand for once. I didn't mean to upset you, but this has been bothering me for quite some time." He admitted softly, hoping she accepted his apology for acting hasty.
"…Len-san, why does it bother you so much? I thought you and Mitsu-sama got along well."
"We do. I just can't seem to fully understand how you've both been living together for almost 4 years now and you have stayed just friends."
"Four years? Oh no no no. No. That's impossible. Mitsu and I have been living together for two years silly, where did you hear four?" The UTAU asked with a laugh.
"Um Ariku…You're the one who said that. And you actually said that about a month ago." Len pointed out.
Her laughter stopped at once. "I-I did? That doesn't sound like something I'd lie about though…" She seemed to trail off into thought about it.
"Well… let's find out which number is right. When did you meet him?" Len asked calmly, trying to help her out.
"Um…Wh-when Professor Alex-chan created him of course!" She responded.
"And how long ago was that?"
"It was… six, no five. Five years ago, I think….Maybe it was 8…No…has to be around five" It appeared as though she was having trouble piecing together the past. Len raised an eyebrow.
"Um alright. So five or six years ago was when you met. And so I'm guessing something happened in between there and you both ended up over here. So let's say like a year passed and you two have been living together ever since." He stated and the girl shook her head.
"But that doesn't sound right either. I feel like there was something that happened before we came here…Something that made Alex suggest we move in together…What was it..?" She said softly, looking up in thought again. Len frowned.
"Ariku… how is it that you're so unsure of your past now when you were able to tell us just about everything last month? Is everything okay?" The flustered girl held her head.
"I-I just can't remember Len…I'm sorry…" She said sadly. Len held her close. "It's okay….I'll drop the subject." He stated.
Why can't I remember all of a sudden?