"So, you have a stage, made of sand. What are you wanting us to do with that?" Kaito asked. "We don't need a stage if you just want to hear us sing."
"I know, but a stage sounds better," Allie said, carefully flattening the top of her sand pile. "Is there a problem with a stage?"
"No, just seems like a lot of work with no real point. We could just use a table if you wanted." Rin commented.
"But that's not as fun." Allie pouted. "You can stand on things like sand without crushing it. It would be fun to use that to our advantage for once."
"Yeah, it would," Miku agreed. "But are we just singing for you? We really could do that any time."
"I was hoping to grab my mom as well. I'm almost done so—"
"I'll go get her!" Rin volunteered. "Come on Len."
"You could just go yourself." Len sighed, following Rin. It didn't take long for them to come back with Allie's Mom.
"Now what?" Kaito asked.
"Now, we're ready." Allie smiled. "I guess you could choose what you want to sing, or we could give suggestions," she said, helping lay out a blanket her Mom had brought out for them.
"I don't mind suggestions. We could always say no." Miku smiled as the other vocaloids agreed.
Allie and her Mom chose different songs until the other vocaloids joined in, choosing songs for others to sing. They were having fun until a voice interrupted one of Miku's songs.
"What is going on out here?" a man growled.
Allie and her Mom turned towards the voice along with the vocaloids.
"Oh, good evening Dear. You're home early." Mrs. Short smiled calmly.
"I am, and I come home to hear this robotic music coming from the playground. Why are these things here? How are they here for that matter?"
"They're holograms. They have a projector that moves with them and AI to move and act freely."
"AI?" Mr. Short scoffed. "Such things don't exist. They're just well programmed."
Len was holding on tight to Rin as she glared at Mr. Short. Miku, Kaito, and Allie remained still, watching silently.
"Perhaps, or maybe they do. That isn't what matters now is it?"
"No, it isn't. What matters is that they're here. Why is my daughter out here with these robots?"
"They're my friends," Allie said.
"Friends? You can not be friends with robots. Holograms no less. You can't even do anything with things that don't exist."
Rin growled in response, but Allie continued on. "You'd be surprised. Also, they can be solid now. We have a lot of fun together." Allie smiled brightly before it dimed quickly. "Please don't send them away," she whispered.
Mr. Short glared at the vocaloids.
"Honestly Dear, is it so bad to let them play?" Mrs. Short sighed. "Real or not, AI or just well programed, they make Allie happy. They've helped this move be much easier on her. You would do more harm forcing them away than letting them stay could."
Mr. Short growled slightly. He continued to glare as he spoke. "They better follow the house rules."
"They have." Mrs. Short reassured him.
"Fine, they can stay until school starts."
"But, that's so soon," Allie whined.
Mr. Short ignored her. "When school starts, they will be gone until you get at least one real friend. Am I understood?"
"So, they can stay if I make friends at school?"
"Yes."
"I… understand," Allie whispered.
"Good. Now, it's time for them to go."
"Sorry about this," Mrs. Short apologized as she shooed the vocaloids away.
"It's fine." Miku smiled as she started to leave. Kaito and Len were ahead of her with Rin who was grumbling as Len dragged her along. "We'll see you tomorrow Allie." Miku waved.
"Yeah. See you." Allie waved, giving her a small smile as the vocaloids left.