Vocaloid POV: Len Kagemine

14th Song – Drama Club

I didn't sleep much last night; my mind was filled with thoughts about the play. As soon a Rin gave me that jump start, everything started to just come together in my head. I know that it's a simple skit, and that it shouldn't be longer than fifteen minutes, but I imagined such elaborate costumes and props… but most of all, I imagined sharing a kiss with Miku…

I had sat up in my bed looking up to the stars as I pictured putting my arms around her. We're finally at the same height, and I know I'll get taller, because my father is six foot one. I pondered if I should start playing basketball, even though soccer has always been my favorite sport.

Nana, well her name is Miriam, by motherly instinct seemed to have developed over the years, knocked on my door and noticed that I couldn't get to sleep. She invited me downstairs. Over some chamomile tea, I told her about the play, and eventually my feelings about Miku.

It turns out she knew about my crush the whole time.

"It was so obvious," she said, "I can still remember, nine years ago when Miku first moved into that house across the street. After you met her you were so smitten by her you kept asking when she was going come over. Nagging and nagging and nagging—'Nana, is Mii-chan here? She said she was coming!'"

"Shut up!" I barked embarrassed, "I was only five and Rin kept taking my toys and throwing them in the garden pond in the backyard…." I crossed my arms, "She was no fun to play with back then…"

"Oh really, you were really comfortable with your sister, as a matter of fact you wouldn't do anything without her. You wanted Rin to play with Miku too, remember?"

"Yeah and Rin didn't want to…"

Nana took a sip of her tea, "Yes, because she felt jealous of the attention Miku was getting from you."

It was quiet for a moment because I began to be buried in those nostalgic thoughts of childhood. Miku was seven years old, she would come over often. All the childish dramas, happy/sad moments, we spent together. They were all the happiest moments of my life. I balled my hands into fists on my lap. I don't want it all just to stay as memories.

I want her to know that I love her. More than just a childhood friend, but as boyfriend. I want us three to be together forever and keep making more memories until the end of our lives…

Nana seem to let me contemplate as she quietly sipped her tea. Mines however, rested untouched.

"Len, drink your tea, it will help you relax," she commanded.

"Nana! I want you to help me with the play!" I cried.

Her eyes opened wide for a moment, I guess startled by my sudden booming voice, but then her facial features relaxed as she took the porcelain teapot and served herself more tea.

"Drink your tea, and then we'll keep talking."

I took the cup and shoved the drink down my throat in a single chug and almost slammed the cup back on the table. The entire time, Nana kept her composure, it wasn't the first time she came across my brash behavior.

"Okay, now we can talk," I barked as I saw Nana serve me a second cup.

"Indeed we can…" she began quite eloquently, "If you want to make this play the way you envision it, you will have to invest your own money into the project."

"Yeah…. I was thinking about that…" I pondered out loud.

"BUT, tomorrow you must talk to your club group leader and tell him your intentions with the play. You will need to have a cast that is willing to back you up, and once you have all of your playing cards, then, we will talk about money. You know how father is about spending money, right?"

I groaned, "Yeah… such a money pincher…" I pouted, "But he would never say yes, I thought you would just pull out the money from my savings or something…"

At this Nana got mad, "How many times do I have to tell you that those savings are for college! For all you know, that money doesn't exist!"

"Ugh… fine… I just don't want to give myself a reason to talk to him, it never ends well…"

"Don't worry. I have a plan… you just have to do your part…" Nana said.

"Really?" I leaned forward on the table excitedly.

"Drink your tea," she chastised, "And don't slam the silverware again, or I'll slam your skull against concrete."

"Yes, Nana…" I mumbled.

–

I was bobbing my head in sleep in the middle of algebra class and I was woken up by Hiyama sensei clearing his throat. He kept making that sound loud enough for me to snap out that half-asleep trance.

I looked at him annoyed, "Tch what's the matter? You got a beaver stuck in your throat?" I hissed.

He crossed his arms and looked at me. I kinda feel sorry for him. The students have been all over him since he started. Female students are hitting on him, boys are playing pranks on him and the senior teachers throw the most difficult tasks on him.

As for my rude remark, well, I'm kinda of a grouch when I'm sleepy. I'm sorry. I can't help it.

"All I ask is for you to stay awake in class, I don't want to send you to the office…" he said in a stern tone.

"Do whatever you want," I said with a casual wave of my hand, "I don't care… I just didn't get enough sleep, but I'll try to pay attention. Just don't start coughing up fur balls okay?"

The class broke out in giggles.

–

Somehow by some miracle of God, I managed to make it through the day. I stopped by my locker to put away some books so I meet up with Ron and Ppoiyo. I got a text from Rin saying that she's at the clubroom with Miku and I felt that shivery sickish feeling do twirls in my stomach. Will she like the skit? How will she feel when I tell her about the role she will play? Will she be okay sharing a stage kiss with me… ugh I wish it could be a real kiss…

"Look at 'im he's thinking about something nasty…"

I snap my head back into reality and notice Ron and Ppoiyo leaning against the wall of that hallway looking at me with amusement. Well Ron was doing most of the musing. Ppoiyo didn't seem to care. Sometimes I think he doesn't care about anything, for that matter.

"Shut up, Ron," I smirked as we did our handshake. Ron loved to poke fun at me but I know it's all in good fun. I sometimes gun on him too.

"Nah, but seriously, what were you thinking about?" asked Ron.

I just wave it off, "It's not important, so uh, what are you doing after club activities?"

Ron scratched the back of his head, "Actually I'm thinking about skipping choir practice, and just hit the mall again…"

"Come on, quit doing that," I pressed, "You have a good voice, and I don't think anybody despises you. So why?"

"I hate the teacher," came the abrupt response.

If there is something you need to know about Keine Ron, is that he doesn't do well with authority figures. He's like a rebellious dragon that will bite off the head of anything and anyone that steps into his threshold. But deep inside, he's actually a nice guy. I'm guessing his issues come from some problem he's had since childhood.

But these are only my assumptions; I've never brought it up to him, as much as I would have wanted to. We're friends, but not as close as he is to Ppoiyo. Sometimes I wish to be more included. However, he keeps a tight lid over himself and his true emotions; it's something that you notice right off the bat. At least I'm noticing that.

Well, Ppoiyo saw that I looked a bit ticked off Ron's apathetic attitude towards choir practice, and stepped in.

"Hey, Ron… why don't you come with us to the drama club? It's extremely laid-back there, and Len's got a really good idea for our skit that he's going to share today."

Ron scrunched up his nose in thought, "Ehhh… sure why not?" I saw him smirk and lock his arm around Ppoiyo's neck, "Sounds like you're gonna play a part, eh? Imagine you on stage! Sounds hilarious!"

"Ah shut, up Ron! It's not like it's going to be my first time on stage…."

"Well," I said jumping into the conversation, "If you're planning on coming, then lets go. Everyone is waiting for us as we speak…"

"Oh alright, but I wanna stop by the vending machine in the lunchroom," Ppoiyo interjected.

"I'll go," chimed Ron, "I owe you a drink anyways… Blueberry soda?"

"Yup won't have anything else… Come on Len, Ron will meet up with us in the clubroom."

"Alright," I said, "Sounds like a plan…"

I walked into the clubroom with Ppoiyo and I saw Miku sitting down on our regular small table while the other members of our rag-tag group where hanging about and just chatting and what not.

"Hey Miku…Where's my sister?" I asked looking around.

"Good afternoon Len," she then looked at Ppoiyo, "Good afternoon, Matsuda… Well," Miku directed her attention towards me, "She's worried about Miki, she won't answer any of her text messages…"

"So Rin just left?" I cried.

Miku frowned, "You can't blame her, she's worried about her friend…"

I covered my face feeling slightly embarrassed. I just sounded so heartless in front of Miku. It's just this play is so important to me, I didn't expect for Rin to just walk out on me like that.

"She told me to let you know when you came in," Miku added.

"What's going on with Furukawa?" Ppoiyo asked as he took his seat across from Miku. I took my seat next to her.

Good. While he's keeping conversation with Miku, I'll just mentally prep myself to present the play and my vision of the final product…"

"I'm not too sure, but I think Miki is worried about that friend she has…"

"Utatane…" I whispered.

"Do you know him?" Ppoiyo pressed, "How does he look like?"

I looked at him for a second. I think it's been the first time since I've seen him genuinely interested in something, "…He's this white haired kid. With an ahoge sticking out that's kinda like Miki's…"

Ppoiyo crossed his arms, his red eyes narrowing a bit in thought, "Don't think I've ever heard of him."

"Actually I heard rumors on how he was taken out of school and put into a home study program…" I added, "He was hardly at school to begin with. He causes Miki a lot of problems from what I hear…"

Ppoiyo looked at me, feeling bewildered at the fact that he didn't know. To be honest, his reactions where kind of creeping me out. As if on cue, Ron walked in with a bag of snacks. He tossed me a banana muffin, the soda for Ppoiyo. He had a small bento for himself.

He pulled out a chair next to Ppoiyo and looked at Miku with indifference, "Sorry didn't get you anything, donno what you like…"

"That's alright," she said smiling, "I brought my own snacks." She signaled by point to a bag she had set off to the side on the table.

I opened my notebook with my notes and looked them over, while I waited for Ron to settle down and maybe give Rin a chance of coming back. I could hear Ppoiyo whispering to Ron. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron give his friend a look of deep concern as they both continued with their whispering.

Which made me think, what connection does Matsuda Ppoiyo have with Furukawa Miki?

"Alright chief, are we gonna start this thing or what?" Ron pressed, "I see little Miss Fu-Fu isn't back yet…" (He means Rin…)

"Yeah… I'm sure Ppoiyo told you why with all the mumbling you two are doing..." I sighed, "Okay, I guess I'll start." I looked over to Miku. She was unusually quiet the whole time. But she didn't seem to be upset or anything. So I decided not to press or ask questions. She's probably waiting for me to start anyways.

"I just wanna say before anything else, that I'm super serious about this play, I want it to be perfect. This is going to be my first year performing at the Holiday Concert. Not to mention that I wrote this myself."

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't interested," whined Ppoiyo while sticking his pinky in his ear. He knew I was directing my criticism at him. He's infamous at dropping projects at the last minute, "You gotta remember that I'm your sempai. I've got more experience in this group than you freshie…" He scowled.

Miku gave me a look that said, He's right Len, you should respect your upperclassmen. I had no choice but to apologize to Ppoiyo.

"I'm sorry, I'm just… really nervous about this…"

"So out with it!" hissed Ron, "You're making such a big deal, it's killing me to know already!"

"Fine, fine!" I pouted, "Okay, so this skit has to deal with angels and stuff, but it's a tragedy so it carries kind of a dark moody theme," I noticed how quiet the group became as soon as I started talking.

So then I continued, and explained the entire plot. At the end of it all, Miku was the first to speak.

"Len… this sounds good… really good," she whispered.

I tried not to, but I started smiling like an idiot.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool, it's dramatic, but it's cool. It's kinda got that 'Little Matchmaker Girl' feel to it…" commented Ppoiyo.

"So who's playing what?" asked Ron already suspecting some of the roles in the play.

"Okay, there's the angel and her alternate form. The sinful woman and the vengeful angel. In other words, four roles. My sister agreed to be the angel, and I'm her counterpart since we're twins it's perfect… um…" I looked at Miku.

She just smiled, "I'm playing the sinful woman right?"

"I-if you don't mind…" I said, trying my best to hide my blush.

"It's only logical," Ppoiyo interjected, "She's the pretty girl with the long hair. Of course she'll play the part. I wanna be the guy who puts a bullet through her head…" at this he gave off a sinister smile.

Okay, forget apathetic, I think he's a closet sadist.

"Vengeful Angel it is…" I mumbled as I jotted it down in the notebook.

I heard Ron unpacking his bento, and the sound of Miku opening her can of vegetable juice.

"I guess we can take a break now…" I heard my phone chime. I looked at it and saw that I got a text from Rin.

–

Len! I just came out of Miki's house they said that Miki wasn't home all day, that she left to school. I didn't tell them that she skipped, but I'm really worried now. Miki wouldn't lie like this…

–

I sighed and decided to call her. I stood up and excused myself from the group. I stood outside in the hallway waiting for her to pick up on the other line.

"Hey!" came the familiar sounding voice, "Did you get my—,"

"Yeah, I did. Look, this may sound cold but—come back to the school. I need to tell you about the group and what we're doing…"

"You're worried about the group? Stop thinking with your dick! This is more important than wooting Miku. This is my best friend we're talking about!"

"Rin stop shouting…" I hissed, "We can't do anything about this. It's Miki's decision if she wants to cut class. You can't be on her like that. In the end it's her problem," I reasoned.

"Her problem? She's my friend, my best friend. And friends don't say 'it's not my problem' . Real friend care about others, and they help each other when they are stuck. The reason why Miki's doing is probably for Utatane-san. She cares about him as her friend and she's willing to get in trouble to help him. But Utatane probably doesn't even realize the hell she's going thorough for his sake. I have to open her eyes before something bad happens to her."

"Rin, you're being over dramatic!" Now I was realizing that Rin was being dead serious about this…, "Look come back to the school and we can come up with a plan okay. Running around like a chicken without a head is not gonna help anybody. Not you, or Miki or me for that matter. Come back. Now."

"Ugh. Fine…"

"How far are you?"

"I told you I just go out of Miki's house. She lives pretty close to the high school…"

"Okay, I'll wait for you…"

"Alright, bye."

"Take care of yourself…" I said before closing the phone.

I walked back into the clubroom and saw everyone in the group looked somewhat excited and smiling. I even saw the drama club president, Kasane Ted, sitting down among them. I looked a little lost, because it seemed that a lot transpired while I was outside taking my phone call.

"Ah Kagemine-san, your group was telling me about this skit idea you have," He began. He was a very tall senior with long reddish hair tied to a long thin pony tail. He wore glasses and treated himself with much class.

"Yeah, I actually did want to talk to you about it…" I said as I sat down.

"Len!" Miku piped, "Kasane-sempai said that we can include music in the skit. We were thinking about having the entire play be told in song."

"In song?" I asked.

"Yeah," added Ron, "I suggested the choir can play a part in singing the song, but you guys can sing the major roles too… kinda like a Broadway musical," he reasoned.

"I'm not going to sing," said Ppoiyo, "I'm just putting that out there…" he chugged down the rest of his soda.

"How does that sound to you Kagemine-san?" asked Kasane-sempai.

"Sounds good, umm… can I put money into this project?"

"What do you mean? You are already entitled to a portion of the funds of this group…." He said.

"No, no… like my money, because I wanna get really nice costumes and stuff."

At this, Sempai raised an eyebrow, "Well…." He took off his glasses and cleaned them with a small microfiber cloth, "Just be aware that I'm going to be responsible for the money you invest into this. I will get you a consent form in which your parent has to sign in order to do this… but I want the costumes to be rated for general audiences, okay?" He adjusted his glasses pushing it on to the bridge of his nose.

"I got it," I said with a nod.

"Good," Sempai stood up and pushed in his chair, "See me tomorrow in the morning to pick up the paper work and have it signed as soon as possible, "As for the rest of the members in your group. Get them to play as stage hands or something… I may have been lenient but if they don't do anything, I will consider pulling people out after Christmas break…"

At the mention of those words the other slacking members looked up and them and then towards us. After the Sempai left, they gathered around us, one of them addressing themselves to Miku.

"Don't worry, Kasane sempai just wants you all put an effort into the play. I'm sure if you all help us, our group will have the best skit in our club."

They all look like little sheep being comforted. Miku then looked at me, "I think it's safe to say that you will be in charge of how this play will turn out in the end. You are the one with the vision of the final project."

I saw Ron and Ppoiyo stare at me and nod in agreement. I swore to myself to not let anyone of them down.

"Right!" I said as I clenched my hand into a determined fist, "Okay Miku-chan, you're good with music, so I'll leave you with coming up with the song that we'll be using for the play." I handed her my notebook, "Just make copies of the entire plot I wrote out. Somehow you have to make the song tell the whole story."

Miku nodded. I saw her stand up and walk out with the notebook.

"Ron, what are you going to do?" I asked.

Ron leaned back on his chair and put his hands behind his head, "Well, I can't do much until you guys get the music and song down packed. Or any sort of music going on for that matter. In the case that you guys get music, then I'll just present it to the choir."

Miku stopped at the door before she was going to leave and looked back, "I'm sure that Kasane sempai can talk to your choir teacher when the time comes."

Ron nodded and then looked at me, "Yo, Len mind if I stick around with you guys tomorrow? I'm curious to see how this skit thing, would work out."

"Sure!" I scoffed, "Just don't blame us for you skipping in your choir activities."

With that Ron laughed, "What activities?"

I laughed too.

This play is going to be awesome!

END CHAPTER