Miku yawned and woke up, stretching. She looked over to where Alex would have been laying, but he wasn't there.
Miku's eyebrows folded. She walked through the room, fixing her hair. He wasn't anywhere to be found.
She found a note taped to the door of the fridge:
"Eat up. Big day today. Your ride will be here at 11 am. See you soon babe. ~Alex"
Miku smiled with a slight tilt of her head. The note was extremely cute to her. She opened the fridge. Her breakfast was waiting for her inside. She warmed it up, ate, showered, then put some clothes on.
Her signature outfit.
Looking at herself in the mirror, something felt different. She looked like same Hatsune Miku she'd always been, but she certainly didn't feel like the same Vocaloid anymore.
Not that it was a bad thing.
She fixed her sleeves, resting her hands on her hips. Thinking back, she'd been popular for quite some time now, and she had only ever shared the spotlight with Vocaloids before now...
Now she was dating a regular human guy.
But that's just it. He wasn't normal by any means. He was, in all honesty, different than any other man she'd ever met. Even her male Vocaloid friends just didn't compare.
His own passion for what he does seemed to have ignited a new flame in her.
There was a knock at the door. Miku's attention turned away from herself. She checked the time: 11:02 am.
Miku walked to the door, looking through the peephole. Kathy, Alex's agent, stood on the other side. Miku grinned and opened the door.
"Kathy! You're here!" Miku exclaimed happily, giving her a hug. Kathy hugged her back with a chuckle.
"It's good to see you too, Miku. How are you?" Kathy asked.
"Better than I've been in a long time. How about yourself?"
"Same. Truthfully. Today's a big day. You ready?"
"Mhmm." Miku nodded with a smile.
"Come. I'll explain everything in the car." Kathy said, gesturing for Miku to follow as she walked towards the elevator.
Kathy and Miku got comfortable in the back of Miku's limousine. Hiru was waiting for them inside as they entered. Miku sat by Hiru, and Kathy sat on the other side.
As the limo pulled into the street, Miku asked her question.
"So what's the big thing happening today?" She asked.
Kathy smiled, "Today a few things are going to happen. Firstly, we're headed to KAITO headquarters, where you will officially pull out from the company."
Miku gasped, "What?!"
She turned to Hiru, "It's happening today?!"
Hiru grinned and chuckled, "Surprise." He said.
Miku was absolutely dumbfounded. It was really happening? Already? It was so quick! How was this possible?
All of these Miku wanted to ask, but she was so in shock that nothing was coming out at all.
Hiru patted his hand on her shoulder, "Today's a big day, huh?"
"Yeah, heheh... So you found a company to sign me into?" Miku asked Hiru, looking up at him.
"Actually, your boyfriend MADE one." Hiru responded.
Miku found herself speechless twice.
"H...how?!" Miku finally managed.
Kathy answered, "Well, after seeing the predicament you and your friends were in under Kaito's dictator-like leadership, Alex decided the best way to get you into a place where you all could freely express yourselves as you've been wanting.
"So, he got together with some of his friends in the music business, Ed and Abel, and they helped him make Tochi Bridge, the official Prince Alex record label company." Kathy said proudly.
Miku laughed giddily, "Unbelievable."
Hiru laughed, "I said the same thing. This will be a big move, not just for him or for you, but this will affect the entire Vocaloid industry. Under Alex's label, Vocaloids will have a lot of new freedoms that they've never had before."
"Wow... He did all that?" Miku asked Kathy.
Kathy nodded, "And it'll all start with you."
Miku found herself having a hard time breathing as the elevator went up one floor after another. Hiru held her hand, but she had butterflies beating in her stomach and her chest that were about to burst.
The elevator stopped. Kathy exited first, walking ahead. Hiru walked out with Miku, falling behind.
"I'm really nervous. And excited. I... I'm not sure what to do." Miku said breathlessly.
"Just relax, and take a deep breath. There'll be no press in the room, so you can feel free to say anything or nothing at all." Hiru reassured her.
"Okay." Miku nodded.
The two stopped in front of the doors. Miku's heart began to beat even faster. She swallowed.
"I'm ready."
They pushed the doors opened and entered the room. Kathy was at her seat, and Kaito sat on the other side silently, with two bodyguards standing behind him.
"Miku. How kind of you to join us." Kaito said bitterly.
He had dressed himself up nicely, in a white trench coat with blue stripes, with a matching suit underneath and a black tie. He tapped his fingers on the desk.
"Hello, Kaito." Miku said formerly, speaking slowly to not show anything or let anything slip. She took her seat.
"I hope you realize you're making a big mistake, Miku, Hiru. Your fans are going to turn on you. You're turning your back on the Vocaloid industry that made you what you are, who you are." Kaito said with a nasty sneer.
Miku folded her arms, "If that's what happens, so be it. I lost their interest once, I can certainly get it back again." Miku said.
"Is that what Alex told you? I'm sure he holds the same hope." Kaito said.
Miku scoffed in distaste, "Well, he's got Hatsune Miku now. I'd say he's making a pretty good comeback as it is now."
"You think it'll last?" Kaito asked.
The doors opened again. Alex entered the room wearing a blue denim jacket with black leather sleeves and an attached gray hood, a black shirt with the Pink Floyd logo, black pants, sunglasses, and black Converse with blue heels.
Alex flashed a grin as he entered the room, closing his shades and tucking them onto the collar of his shirt, "Sorry I'm a little behind. Had a phone call to take."
He gave Miku a brief kiss on the cheek before taking his seat next to her. He smiled at Kaito, who simply exhaled.
"So nice to finally meet the culprit in person." Kaito said.
"Likewise, buddy." Alex said, setting a briefcase down on the table.
"I've read your terms, and I agree to them." Kaito said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a pen.
"Good. I think it's a good deal. You'll still profit, but I will attain Miku's image and song rights." Alex summarized.
Miku leaned to Alex, "How much will he still profit?"
"Forty-five percent." Alex answered.
Alex pulled the contract out of his briefcase and signed it. He passed it to Kaito, who signed it with his own pen.
"Well, Kaito, with your signature, and everyone here present as witnesses, the transfer of rights goes into effect starting now. Pleasure doing business with you." Alex said, standing up and fixing his jacket.
"Yes, well, we'll see how everything turns out. Either way, I'll be happy." Kaito said.
"Then we should be all good." Alex grinned, closing up his briefcase and leaving with Miku under his arm.
Miku let out a long exhale. The pit in her stomach finally loosened up. It was all over now.
"Thank you." Miku whispered.
Alex stopped, kissing Miku's cheek before heading back to the room. He opened the door.
"You know, since we're here, let's discuss some more contracts." Alex said as he entered.
Alex and Miku sat at the edge of the pool on top of her hotel. It was late at night now. After an exhausting day of business and press conferences, they needed to rest.
"How does it feel to be finally free? Alex asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm very happy," She sighed, "You're something else, you know?"
"Haha thanks!" Alex laughed.
"No, stupid, I mean it. You've done a lot for me, more than I can really say, and it means a lot too. Thank you." Miku said, kissing him. Alex kissed back.
They held each other close.
"I love you." Alex whispered quietly.
"I love you too." Miku replied quietly, hesitating far less than she thought she would.
"Get a room you two!"
Miku turned back quickly, seeing that Len and Rin had quietly joined them.
"Len, honestly! I'mma beat you with my leek if you do that again!" Miku yelled. Alex laughed.
"Thanks for inviting us, Alex." Rin said with an awkward chuckle.
"Thanks for coming. We've got some stuff to talk about." Alex said with a glint in his eye.