~~Disclaimer: Kamui Gakupo belongs to Internet Co.

By putting disclaimer on top note like this, I feel like giving a spoiler about who will appear in the chapter.

"Oh, it's them," Len says as we're nearing an ice cream shop. We're planning on meeting with Miku and her boyfriend at the ice cream shop. No need to question about why we're going to meet up in the ice cream shop, Shion is probably the exact reason—I can even see him and his huge bowl of ice cream from the place I stand at.

I nod and say, "Looks like they are having fun together, don't you think so?"

Then he looks at me with a playful smile. "Thinking of ditching?" he asks. "If they can have fun together, of course we can as well. Just the two of us."

I blush. Thinking that walking together with Len, just the two of us… That would be really nice. But I think it should be done at some other time. "N… No, as much as I don't want to meet Miku, I have to go there," I say as I glances at that couple. "If she gave me two choices, to meet her or not to meet her, although meeting her is somehow an… annoying thing, the latter is more suspicious and therefore I have to avoid it."

He watches his steps and says, "That's a reasonable thing, Rin. I think the same goes to me. Seems like that boyfriend of Miku has something up as well, and I haven't even met him yet."

I glance up at him with a look of uncertainty. "So, what should we do now?"

After looking back at me, he averts his gaze back to the ice cream shop and takes a step forward. "We have to go forward and face whatever-doom ahead."

Why, after he said that, this dreadful feeling in my heart increases. Taking steps felt like bringing myself to doom (just like what he said. Len, you're not helping at all…), as if I was walking towards a haunted house. Thoughts begin to fill my mind and it makes me feel uncomfortable, really. It wasn't this bad before—actually I almost get used with Miku and her insanity, but something is definitely wrong here.

Maybe because both Miku and Shion are there.

The feeling almost disappears when we have finally arrived on the table and they greet us cheerfully, then let us sit and order some ice cream as well. Nothing was off, Miku is being as nice as usual and Shion doesn't seem to be that ice cream addicted guy I met yesterday—although the big tube of ice cream says otherwise.

"Where do you want to go for today?" Shion asks, starting the discussion for today's activity.

I suddenly remember about that one movie that just came out not too long ago, and I haven't watched it. "How about a movie?"

"A movie, then," he says, seems to be taking a mental note. "What else?"

"Maybe the arcade," Miku suggests. I notice that Len is giving her a glance when she's saying that, but then he quickly looks away.

"Then arcade," Shion added that to his mental note. "Kagamine-kun, do you have any idea where to go next?"

What Len did is looking at Shion for a brief second—I don't actually get it why—then answers rather doubtfully. "Having lunch?"

Shion raises an eyebrow at the answer. "Nothing more special than that?"

"No, I mean, yes, having lunch, of course," I quickly say before anyone else can. "I'm watching over him about this matter, we have to have lunch."

Shion makes an 'oh' face and put it on his mental note again. "Then, I don't actually have any idea about the next… Oh, maybe we can go to that exhibition."

"What exhibition?" Miku asks.

"Art exhibition?" He sounds like questioning himself. "From what I heard, that one exhibition is good and really interesting… They have an ice cream statue." He adds the last part silently.

"I guess that will do…" I say. "Then, maybe we should get going to the movie now?"

"Of course, Kagamine-chan," Shion says and flashes a smile to me, then gets nudged by Miku. I can only smile at Miku's attitude towards his action. Oh, look at the girl's affection towards the boy, she doesn't want her boyfriend even to smile at her friend! And really, I think this is the only moment where Miku can be normal… normal girl, who goes lovey-dovey-ing with her boyfriend.

"Rin-chan is mine for today, don't you even dare to smile at her," then Miku says and walks towards me. Before I can react to anything, she has circled her arms on my own and started walking normally.

Wait, who said that 'I was hers for that day'?! Aren't we going to have a double date, not something like this? I quickly shoot a glance to Len, and finding out that he's looking at the two of us with his eyebrows raised in confusion. It seems like it's the two of us who has no idea about what's happening.

As if being able to read my thought, Miku turns her head to me and smiles cheerfully. "It's a double date, isn't it? Kaito and Len, then you and I~"

Chapter Twenty-Five

Knowing the Other Side, Okay.

I don't recall the walk to the cinema being this long before. Especially with Miku holding my hand as if we were lovers like this… No, that's the reason why it feels so long—because I'm definitely not enjoying being held by her like this. I can say the "double date" was a trap. She had thought that I would think about the 'normal' double date, so she didn't actually mention who was going to be with. And that becomes her defense. "I didn't say that!" she said and laughed. Damn it, I fell to the devil's trap.

And I actually don't blame her completely for this. It was my fault as well for falling in too easily like that. Maybe because of my realization about that, and the fact that I can't do anything about that makes me… don't say anything during the whole walk.

"Hey Rin, you actually look really lovely today with that dress!" Miku says with that huge smile again. Before this, she had commented about my hair and bow—when I thought nothing have changed from them—but I ignored her, kind of.

But about the dress… I didn't actually plan to wear this, my original dress was chomped by the elevator, then ripped by Len. What a tragical life you had, my dress. You sacrificed your life for me… "Yeah… I like this dress," I say and glance down to it.

"Where did you buy it?" she asks again. Seems like she's interested in buying one as well. "Ah no, I don't think so… It looks expensive."

Why does she have to mention it? She's just making me feel bad… Len paid for it, Len paid for it, Len paid—! And it must be expensive, oh God.

"Anyway, why are you so silent today, Rin? You're not feeling unwell, right?" Miku says and gives me a worried glance. "Or maybe you're just doing the opposite of what Len is doing?"

Yeah, the second option. The answer is the second option, because Len is…

"No! I don't!"

"Why is that? It's rare to have someone like me~ Especially that one who loves you."

"I said, keep a distance!"

"But this is a date, we should stick together, Len-kyun."

"Do… Don't you even dare to 'Len-kyun' me!"

… yelling, on top of his lungs, to shoo Shion away, somehow. And that's so unlike him. I don't know what Shion did—I don't dare to look that way, but it sounds horrible.

"They seem to get along well," Miku states, and somehow I can't help but to finally speak.

"What… From where?! It's not 'getting along well', it's 'Shion seems to scare Len well'!" I say.

Miku laughs a bit before looking away. "Oh, that actually makes you speak," she says. "Look, there the cinema is!" Then I look ahead as well, finding out that the cinema is finally in sight.

At least the movie will make us forget about what's currently happening—I mean, what's messed up here.

The movie was good. Maybe it would be better if Miku released her grip on my hand, but well, after the first one fourth, I pretty much forgot that her hand was still holding mine and focused to the movie. Then, after the movie ended, this happened—you were being brought back to the reality where everything was so different than the movie. Typically movies have good endings, and after you see that ending, you get hit by the reality pretty harsh.

For me, example, was brought back to the reality where Miku wouldn't stop clinging to me.

… But forget that, she actually let go of me and went to Shion's side right away after we exited the cinema. I don't really get it why but… Whatever the reason is, it's good.

"Rin," someone calls, and I can tell it's Len. He's coming nearer to walk by my side. "Finally I am free from him." He lets out a heavy sigh.

"That was really unexpected, I mean, she tricked me about the 'double date'." I frown. "But at least they're together now."

"And we're together as well," he adds, then quickly changes the topic. "Anyway, now I understand why Miku warned me about Shion before."

"Eh, she had told you before?"

"Yeah…" he replies. "But I think it's better for us not to think about that anymore, it's pretty traumatizing."

I whip my head to him and tell him my protest, "Miku does that almost every day!"

Then he scratches his head. "Well… that's why I said not to think about that," he says, then coughs at the end. "Um, Rin, can't we buy some drink first? My throat still hurts."

I raise my eyebrows as I maneuver myself to a nearby convenience store, making him follow me. "Sure. But actually I didn't think you would yell like that!" I say.

As we're nearing the convenience store, he frowns a bit, then replies, "That's because… it was gross, although it was just a joke. I just don't know what else to do to push him away, or maybe to stop him."

Ah, he's right. The whole lovey-dovey thing that Miku (and Shion, probably) did was just a joke, nothing that serious to be thought of. But I don't even know why I start taking that seriously—if from the beginning I simply take Miku's words as a joke, maybe everything won't go this way! Just maybe.

What I don't understand is, why do they get the excitement from doing that?

We bought some drinks in the convenience store, then continue our walk to the arcade. Miku and Shion aren't in sight anymore, perhaps they've entered the building already. Thinking that they should've started the fun without the two of us, we decide to catch up in a slow pace, spending more time walking. But without realizing it, we're in front of the arcade already.

I shrug. "Well, maybe we really have to catch up with them."

It doesn't take long for us to spot Miku and Shion—he's smiling and laughing, when his girlfriend is giving pouts and grumbling again and again. I notice they're standing in front of a rhythm game machine, then we approach them.

I heard Miku says, "Kaito, it's your fault that I didn't pass the level!" before she notices our existence and looks at us. "Oh hey, what took you so long?"

"Buying things in the convenience store," Len answers, then slowly he turns his head to Shion. Then he just stares at him. I don't know whether it's because he's scared, or because he's pissed off.

Shion just waves his hand in response. "It's okay, it's okay! The 'pretending game' is already over!" he says cheerily, but Len is still glaring at him. Maybe this makes Shion think about something. "Well, to make everything up, let's play the shooting game. You against me, or co-op, it's up to you."

"Nah, I'm not mad or anything, but let's do it," Len says without taking a long decision. Waiting for nothing else, he starts walking to the said place. Shortly Shion follows him and that leaves Miku and I together in here.

I look at the game Miku played before. The 'game over' text is still displayed on the screen, and she offers, "Wanna continue?"

"Oh, sure." I move closer and hit a random button to continue, and then the song selection screen appears, showing hundreds of songs. I scroll it down a bit, then I found EV System's song and I hit the accept button and wait for it to load.

"You know EV System's song is in the game," Miku comments lightly.

I glance at her while replying, "Of course, I memorized them all—which song in which game."

Miku playfully clamps her mouth and gasps, "Rin-chan is a stalker!" And I just respond by rolling my eyes. Yeah, said the real stalker.

The game starts and I go through it pretty well. Miku is being helpful for staying silent for the whole time, seems like she's staring at the screen as well. I enjoy playing rhythm games, since they have music in it—well, of course—then you follow the beat, and press the buttons. It's really enjoyable.

The song is finished and the result is displayed shortly after that. I got an S, a perfect score. I can hear Miku snickering at that. "A perfect! Is it because you're lucky, you really are good in things related to music, or you hear EV System's song too often that you remember every single detail?"

I don't know whether that's a compliment or not, I just answer, "Don't know, maybe because I like it."

"Oh, I see…" she says, then looked back to the screen. Then she suddenly continues, "Hey, you're not going to tell me about that?"

"About what?" I ask back, not looking at her but scrolling the songs again. Maybe one more song from EV System…

"EV System asked you to collaborate, right?" she casually says.

This stalker… "From where did you know that? I didn't tell anyone!" I yell at her, but my voice is drowned because the arcade is pretty noisy anyway, people shouldn't mind with my yelling. "Did you hack my email account or what?!"

Miku shakes her head, making the twin-tails swish in a soft motion. "Nope, I'm not a hacker… I actually don't understand that kind of stuff," she says. "I just simply stalked you when you were getting home from the airport yesterday, then got into your house and opened up your computer."

This person is being too honest, makes me start to think it's better to be stalked without knowing it. I just let out a heavy sigh and look back to the machine, then continue playing as if nothing happened, but actually it wasn't like that, not at all.

But it's like I can stay silent about that, anyway. I grab both of her hand right after finishing the game—I don't pay attention to the final result—and say, "Yes, yes he did and it made me feel really happy—!" I say with a widening smile, I just can't hold it.

"I feel happy for you too, Rin-chan! Your happiness is mine as well!" she says with an equally wide smile. "Then what's your answer to that offer?"

"Of course I accept it! Someone like him to ask me to collaborate is too good to be true!" I say happily. "Actually we have started discussing about what we will make since yesterday night."

"Congratulations, then! I hope it will end up good!" Miku says, then she looks to the game. "Shall we leave to another game, then?"

"Of course, Miku-chan."

"It feels really good playing co-op with Kagamine-kun," Shion says, then pausing to sip his drink for a while. "The enemies went down much quicker than the usual, when I play with my other friends," he continues.

"Good for you, then," Miku comments. "And oh, I won when Rin and I were competing in a race!"

We're having lunch. Well, almost, we're waiting for our meals to be served and decided to have some little chit-chats. After Miku said that, I look down to my own drink and reply, "Well, I've never been good in doing those kind of games, of course you won, Miku-chan."

"Ohohohoho, no need to feel low like that, Rin-chan," Miku says, then she raises her hand up, brings it down and taps Len's shoulder, hard. "Len always loses to me, no matter how many times he tried."

Len pushes her hand away, then he starts rubbing his shoulder slowly. It… It actually hurts, doesn't it? "I'm not good at those as well," he says.

"But that shouldn't be a problem, because he's good at aiming," Shion says again, sounding like he's on Len's side, trying to defend him.

And after that, silence. Somehow I'm just looking down, checking on my phone (hoping for a reply from EV System) and when I realized it, this just kinda… happens. Shion is looking around the restaurant, Miku is looking at her phone as well, and Len is staring out to the… road? What is this? What's happening? Why doesn't anyone make any sound or movement, this is awkward!

"Um…" I unconsciously make a sound and makes three pairs of eyes stare at me. They're looking at me, probably waiting for me to say something, but I don't actually want to say anything! I quickly trying to find something to say, or to do, by looking around the place, then look outside and this gives me an idea. "I want to have a little walk, the food is supposed to be served later, right?" I say. Wait, I don't need to go outside.

"I'll go with you, then," Len says. No, no, why? I don't plan on doing this! But he has said it, I can't refuse anymore.

Well, I don't have another choice.

So we're walking together, and seems like none of us has a certain place to go as we're just walking aimlessly. And none of us says a single thing. I wonder why—somehow after realizing that we're having a double date, I wish that we could stop and just have fun together, only the two of us. But when it actually happens, which is now, I can only stay silent with no words to say.

Maybe being with him is enough. No need to talk, no need to see, just being together…

Is this how it feels to like someone?

"Why do you want to take a walk?" Len suddenly asks and that catches me off-guard. Any red tint on my face, any red tint on my face, please disappear as soon as you can.

"Is-isn't that supposed to be my question? You're the one who decided to go with me," I retort.

"And I think asking isn't a wrong thing, no matter who started," he says. "I think I need a fresh air to be able to get some inspiration."

I laugh at the accidental pun. "Inspiration, the process of inspiring air. The first step of breathing."

"You don't really need to bring that up, Rin," he says with a smile. "Besides, you haven't answered my question."

"Oh, I just didn't know what to do there and all of you were really silent so I want to go out…" I say, unsure. "You too, seemed like you were too engulfed with your own thought."

"Is that so? I'm sorry, then," he said as he rubs the back of his neck. "Where to go next? You want to go back or maybe you have somewhere to go?"

"No, I have no idea about this place, actually," I say while looking around. There are barely anyone, and somehow it looks darker than the other place, I guess because the light is blocked by the big tall buildings. "You know the way back, right? Then it's better if we go—"

"Oh, look what we have here. A cute girl!" suddenly a deep voice from somewhere says, a figure follows, appearing from the side. A tall boy with silky purple hair, flowing down to his shoulder. He's smirking at me, but then quickly averts his gaze to Len who's standing beside me. "You already have a boyfriend? Sorry, my fault for not noticing it before. But more importantly, a Kagamine Len?" he says, smiling at Len.

I quickly glance at Len, who is now glaring silently at the other boy. They know each other?

The purple-haired boy continues again, "How is your life, Kagamine? A better life, I guess yes, since you got a girlfriend." He snickers. I would think they were in a good friendship if he didn't say those words in a mocking manner like that. "I miss those old moments in middle school."

I can tell that what he's doing is pissing Len off, as I can feel the sudden change of atmosphere around us—around them. But I can't help it that more questions pop up in my head. That boy was in the same middle school with Len? Why is he 'missing' those old moments anyway? What happened at that time?

"And you, girl." He looks at me again. "You're actually going out with him?"

I take a step back as he's starting to scare me, then I answer, "Y-yes I am." But I think there's nothing wrong with me going out with him? Why is he asking such question?

"Why do you want to be with someone as low and disgusting as him?"

"Don't you even dare to… Don't bring her into this, she's not involved!" Len yells at the boy.

At first the boy looks shocked, but then he just… laughs. "You're talking back?" he says between his laughter. "You're trying to stop me from… Oh, oh. Entering high school changes you? Now that's surprising."

I can feel Len squeezing my hand harder, but it's not because he's scared—he's getting angry. I know that.

"But look, deep inside you don't actually change, don't you? You're just changing your outer image so everyone will be fooled. This girl too," the boy continues. "You didn't expect meeting me in this place, did you? Uwah, I'm glad I showed up in the first place so this unlucky girl would see your real…"

He squeezes me even harder, to the point where I feel my hand is going to get crunched. It's scary, having this boy in our way is scary. But what scared me the most is Len's anger. It's scary, it's scary. Why does this have to happen?!

"… pitiful and pathetic—"

"Why don't you just shut up?!"

At this time, my hand is finally free, having been being released from Len's grip. But I don't know whether what I'm seeing is better or not.

Len is stabbing the boy's hand by a cutter, and blood started to flow out from it.

Startled, I let out a gasp, my hand finds a way to cover my mouth without me noticing. Then the boy's blueish-purple eyes widening at that and he yells out in pain. "Gah! What are you… Draw it out!"

Instead of drawing it out, Len jabs the metal blade even deeper, then starts to slit it down, making the boy's shirt getting ripped and more blood flowing out from his arm. I make a small yelp at the sight and take a step back, then another step, more steps until my back hits the wall. Then I can only stare at the two boys in front of me.

"I said draw it out— Are you deaf?!" purple boy screams on top of his lungs, then he kicks Len away and that makes the cutter get drawn from his flesh. Then the blood; blood are oozing out from that wound, some are dripping to the hard concrete.

The boy uses his other hand to cover up his wound, then he gives Len a final look while saying, "I'll beat you up the next time I meet you. I'll make sure I will make you suffer to the worst!" And with that, he runs away, leaving the two of us.

I notice Len has gotten up and is now standing with his back facing me. Then he brings the bloodied blade up and I can hear a light snapping sound after that. He puts the cutter back into his pocket and turns to face me. He walks closer and asks, "Rin, you're not hurt anywhere, don't you?"

"N-no, I'm fine. I was just… shocked," I say, nodding to myself.

He sighs. "It's my fault, isn't it? I'm sorry," he says as he glances away before looking back at me. "Let's go back, the food should have been served by now."

We start walking away, but I can't help but think about his behavior. Somehow, he acts as if nothing had happened before this, and I find it strange. Just how…?

"Len, are you okay?" I ask carefully, feeling afraid. I don't know, it just feels this way.

Then he answers casually, "I'm not."

"Eh?" I question. So actually he isn't? He isn't as sadistic as I thought, but why he looks like he was okay?

"I've promised," he starts, "I won't lie to you."

Without saying anything I stare into his eyes. "But your face is lying to me," I say afterwards.

"No," he replies while shaking his head lightly. "It's an act so you wouldn't worry too much about that. Besides, I've told you the truth, right? Even though this is what you see, you know that there's another meaning behind, which I've told you. Acting is not lying, you know."

~~And yes, I did not make Gakupo with long flowing hair that reached his butt. Just imagine it to be shoulder length... And the cutter Len has is a snap-off utility knife thing, explains why he snapped it at the end.

Other than that, I don't think I would be able to update next week, it's going to be a busy week.

The number of people who say they want to read Len's POV has increased. Maybe I'll make it if I have time... You know, it's the internet.

Replies, replies:

MonoAddict-san: Ah, you really don't have to write the name like that! Thank you so much! And thank you again~ I am your favorite writer in this site? I really am? To the story. Actually I didn't plan on making that elevator scene, and same with me, I have never seen it happen, I doubt it could happen ww Nobody knows about Len, maybe he's lying as well when he said that ._. And actually I have no idea how that other story could end at the same number of chapter, but think this won't be 46 chapters long...

Lynn 'Ne'-chan: It start to look weird for me as well, but I'm not going to stop the 'okay'. And yes, her date didn't go really well, haha, from where did you know that?

anime-hq-12345-san: It depends on how you look about that matter. Thank you~

Pandapper-san: Haha, Miku, that's Miku for you, always suspicious. I actually want to say thing like 'it's okay Rin!' when she feels like that. And Lily actually said she's cute, but she didn't know that.

12domba-san: You mean Len's sister? Well, I guess she's into adorable things, and Rin is adorable so of course shr was happy that her brother has a cute girlfriend. Miku's craziness... It turned up to be Miku-Kaito craziness w More things about Len are revealed in this chapter, so what do you think?

ZanyAnimeGirl-san: Okay then, thank you for telling me your opinion~ I'll make it soon!

MelancholicVirus-san: Len is rich, that boy denies too much. Really? Well, Lily sometimes is portrayed as an 'evil witch', but I don't think it's that often. A blast, yes, a blast.

Wonders of Chocolates-san: So, you're with chocolates right now? www Yeah, Rin is so lucky to have Len... and Miku! Yes, I make Lily has a nice sister personality in this. Oh, that's Suki Kirai!

violet-rash-san: Updated and thank you~

electricangel12-san: Keep on guessing, keep on guessing~ Maybe what you always thought it's right.

Potatoes And Len Otaku-san: Well she actually admitted her feelings (to herself) in this chapter... Yay, thank you! Good luck for you too! Rin had tried her best to face Miku as well, haha!

w-san: Okay then, I reply to the new one. Thank you so much~ You think it's a good idea? I'll make it, then. Yeah, some things are 'obvious' but maybe it's just a coincidence or accident... Eh, why more tsundere? About Lily and Rin's mom... I guess I have said it that Rin's mother is a nameless person, hehe. Really? Your friend does that? I guess it must be disturbing, heh, heheh... *laughs nervously* And updated!

As usual, thank you for reviewing, adding to alert and/or favorites, and thank you so much for reading!