Chapter 44: Now is the Time to Overreact

Hello again, everyone! I know, it's been a while since an update, but I've been really busy at school with activities and studying, so hopefully this summer will give me time to write chapters quicker!

Also, today's the one year anniversary of "Meltdown". Whoa, to me, it doesn't even feel like it's been that long. But I'm happy that over the span of one year, people have grown to enjoy my fanfiction ^_^


Normal POV~~~

Girls can be difficult to deal with on their time of month. And that time of month does not exclude Neru Akita. In fact, due to this, her classmates fear for their lives for the following days to come.

The first day is a warning. Neru is barely feeling the pain and realizing what is happening, so her classmates use this time to prepare all shields and try to convince Mrs. Megurine to change the seating arragement. But after a while, Mrs. Megurine grew tired of so many students crying to her about sitting next to Neru so she just ignored their requests.

The next days are torture. It's a simple rule that if you are five feet around Neru at any time, you will get injured in some way or another, no doubt about it.

Seems like that torturous week is about to come up for Neru.


Monday Morning, at School~~~

"G-good morning, Akita-san. I hope you have a great d-day!"

Neru growls at the cowering girl. "Don't tell me what to do!"

"I'm sorry, Akita-san!"

Neru rolls her eyes and leans back against the wall, waiting for her teal-haired friend to arrive. Miku always arrived at the same time and was strict about the weirdest things. It seemed even odder how she came back after winter break with not just her mouth taped shut, but cut hair. Of course, she received an hour long lecture from Neru about how the haircut was totally unappealing.

A couple minutes pass and still no sign of Miku.

"Tch. Whatever, not like I'm her lapdog or anything," Neru mutters and moves herself off the wall. The sudden motion of walking again makes her feel uneasy, and her hand hovers on the back of her skirt.

I hate feeling so insecure once a week every month...

Neru sighs and removes her hand, playing it off by adjusting her backpack straps.

But speaking of lapdogs, a blonde one is running up to her at the moment. And just as ordered, with sweets and other comforts bulging out of his satchel. Oliver pulls to a stop in front of her, trying to pat down his tussled hair and calm his harsh breathing. He really shouldn't have been running outside in the cold...

"Are you not even going to greet me?"

"Ah!" Oliver bows down and quickly raises to say hello. "Sorry, N-Neru! I was just trying to catch my breath-"

"And making my eyes even more tired by coming before me like this. Really Oliver, you are such a sight. You should at put at least a little effort into getting ready for school."

Oliver looks away in shame as he fidgets with the bandage over his left eye. Teto and Gumi are walking by at the same time, Gumi rushing off to meet Aito just as Teto gives a concerned look at Oliver and then a cold glare at Neru. Neru catches this stare and cocks her eyebrows up, challenging her to say something.

"Come on, Teto! Aito said he had something to show me!"

"Grab your narwhals by their tusks and calm down!" Teto yells back, reluctantly pushing her feet forward and not making a scene. But she does stick her tongue out.

"What a loser."

"What a whore."


Mrs. Megurine's Classroom~~~

Luka's POV

I bite down on my nail, looking at my mother writing down today's lesson plan on the board. Is it just me, or does my mother seem more dull now? That hair is now tied up in a messy bun, stray pieces hanging out in uneven places. More make-up too, more forced to try and hide the bags I see every morning. And that horrid pink lipstick that flushed out her entire face- how that mouth hangs in a frown more often bothers me.

Or maybe it's all in my imagination. Maybe it's just because the winter season often gets to her.

I groan and rest my head on my crossed arms as others enter the classroom. I wonder when Aito will get to class. He keeps waiting for Gumi lately.

Well, she is his girlfriend...

"Eh, who left this sack of potatoes lying on this desk?"

A poke accompanies that comment. I look up from the desk to see Rin giving me a cheeky grin. I give her a smile of my own and sit up.

"I don't think I'd be potatoes though- more like a bag of tuna or something," I reply, looking at the classroom door as Aito and Gumi step in. Hand in hand. Oh gosh, how cute those two look! Being the amazing friend I am, I giggle at their red faces and Rin shows her approval with a thumbs up sign. Gumi just turns even more red as Aito shyly rubs the back of his head.

Rin turns back to me as the two break apart their hands and talk to each other beside the door.

"So, where have you been lately, hmm? Going on non-stop dates with Kaito?"

"Oh gosh that would be amazing," I say as my own little daydream begins. Hey, it's never too early for a girl to dream, okay?

"Actually, he just took me out for a dinner and movie date this Saturday," I start again and then poke her side. "And what do you mean, 'where have I been lately'? You're the one always at Len's house!"

Len's head pokes up from the conversation with Teto and Kaito as he hears his name.

"Be quiet!" Rin hushes me and places both hands on my desk. She continues whispering while Len turns his attention back to his group. "People could take that the wrong way!"

"They will only take it the wrong way if you two are doing 'things' in there." Add emphasis on the "are" and "things" to annoy Rin more.

Rin's face begins to turn pink at the thought. "We barely even had a make-out session yesterday- I mean-"

I raise my eyebrows at her stutter. "Ah, so you two are doing things! I knew it!"

"Not those things, you pervert!"

"Just tell me more! A girl has to give her best friend the details!"

"There's really nothing to tell-"

I raise my eyebrows again. She and I both know that's a lie. I mean, he wasn't a player for nothing. I'm pretty sure that boy has skills in nearly everything.

"Okay, it was kinda exciting," Rin says finally and looks around the room to see if anyone heard. "I'll tell you more later when we're alone, okay? How about coming over to my house today?"

"I'll be over at six."

Rin smiles at me once more before moving on back to her seat. Good, now I can escape my house for at least one evening.


After school~~~

Teto's POV

I can't believe what I'm hearing.

Pausing at the sidewalk, I hold my cellphone closer to my ear and, well, practically yell into it.

"You're ditching me for Neru?! But you have stalking duties! This is a command, Oliver Kagamine, not a request!"

Shota Oliver whimpers in the phone. "B-but I have to take care of Neru..."

"Neru is a grown ass man! Just like you're supposed to be!"

Some more whimpering and whining comes from his end.

"I can't believe this," I mutter and then repeat it. "I can't believe this!"

I can hear some shuffling in the background and a shrill voice yelling down the hall.

"Oliver! What are you doing? I told you to go get me more ice-cream!"

Oh, if Akita wants a screaming fest, I'll give her one.

"I'm sorry Teto, but Neru's my girlfriend and I have to pay attention to her first-"

Pulling that card on me, huh?

"No, no forget about it," I coldly reply, looking at the street in front of me. "I see how it is."

"And I have to make my girlfriend happy..."

"Just forget about it! I didn't even want to stalk with you anyways! Have fun with your g-girlfriend!"

"Teto-"

"Fuck off, Oliver!" I yell into the phone and hang up. Childishly, I stomp my feet down on the ground like a little kid. I begin to kick the small bush on the side of the road, only stopping when my pants get caught in the branches.

"Crap." I breathe out and pull my leg away. Okay, I am definitely losing my cool. Okay, I already lost it.

How long has it been that I've had a tantrum like that? I don't get mad easily- nope, nope, I do. But damn, to the point of screaming and cussing into a phone? And for Oliver. That stupid dumbass motherfu-

Gah, there I go again. My mom always warned me about having such a bad mouth. And I can't kiss my anime body pillows with this dirty mouth.

"Gah, I hate you, shota," I mutter and pull out my "Plan Book". Looks like I'll just stalk people on my own today. My phone buzzes in my hand, a text from IA.

'Cuss even louder. America can't hear you yet.'

And of course IA would be sarcastic at this time.

'Alright, alright -_-;'

I need to stop thinking about Oliver and his stupid demon girlfriend. I mean, what am I to him? The girl who helped him out? The girl who forces him into stalking?

A friend?

Am I even that much?

What a stupid question. I don't even care. I need to go and follow Miku around or else I'll be wasting even more time. I'm pretty sure everyone knows it, but there is something seriously wrong with that girl. Ignoring everyone in class, not even going out on weekends, and according to IA even her grades are dropping.

I stop looking at my "Plan Book". This is more than some normal teenage drama. Just like that whole Meiko business. I have a feeling that both of these girls are going to cause a lot of trouble.

Or already are in trouble.


Miki's House~~~

Miki's POV

There's no need to be on that website anymore. Piko and I don't even talk anymore.

I click open the message history and shift through the messages. Those silly emoticons and texts of his...

Damn it, why does he have to be the guy I love? And damn it, why did I slap him before? And damn it, why am I such a stupid girl?

Okay Miki, stop it with the "damn its".

I honestly thought he liked Miku. Maybe that's just because when a girl likes a guy all signs that he might like her back are invisible. Or seem invisible. The whole denying factor. As Teto explained it, that's what makes Korean dramas and most stories drag on. The stupid guy and girl just can't seem to get that they both like each other.

But what signs are there that Piko likes me back?

Well, I'm the only girl he talks to. And he's told me some pretty deep stuff. But that's what all best friends do.

Oh god, and then there's that time where I confessed at the New Year's Eve Party.

"Why does it interest you if I am him or not?"

My cheeks change colors. Even bluntly asking a question like that…

"Well, Miki?"

My heart races as I think about what to say. Should I lie? No, why should I run away from the truth? I'm not like those girls who deny and deny until the romance is gone and regret is all I have.

"Because I love you."

And no stinking reply. He just opens his mouth and then closes it again.

"Tell me, Internet, can a girl truly love a guy that she fell in love with on the Internet?" I ask my computer screen. Well, of course not. There's such a negative bias to that statement though.

I mean, you're not there with the guy. You can't see how he truly is. You don't know if he's hiding anything from you. All you can establish is an emotional and intellectual conversation and you know, things are easier to say when you're not directly in front of that person.

But then again, what if you can fall in love that way?

Girls think too much sometimes. We get moody, we scream, yell, say things we don't mean, try and act calm when really we want to bash your face in. And we sit in our rooms thinking about a guy for too long, over analyzing every little detail. Not every girl does this, but we do have our moments.


Rin's House~~~

Rin's POV

"It feels good to have girl time again."

I chuckle at the thought and toss my phone to my bed. If Len calls, well, I'll be busy catching up with Luka anyways. Just like a girlfriend should allow her boyfriend to have time with his bros, a girl should be entitled to the same thing.

And we already talk everyday so...

"I swear, Kaito is like the love god of all gods," Luka announces into my soft pink pillow. A giggle follows as she kicks her feet up in the air.

"I swear, sometimes he makes me feel like it's just the two of us in this world..."

"I bet that's a nice feeling," I reply, taking a seat next to her and laying back. We both look up at the ceiling, letting our hair rest on the plain covers.

"Has Len made you feel the same way?"

Although the question makes me blush, I answer. "Y-yes."

I turn over to her since it feels weird talking to the ceiling. "But it wasn't always a nice feeling. When I first met him and we argued, it felt like that. But of course, that was arguing. There are times where our eyes meet in class and it, it just feels odd. I can't really explain it."

"That is so cute!"

"N-no it's not!"

Luka giggles and turns over to face me.

"I wish I could do that with Kaito but my mother would catch me," she mutters. "In fact, I often daydream in class a lot."

"I know. I was in the same class with you for a couple years."

Luka was certainly something in those years. I can still remember Aito introducing her to me in that sidewalk near my house. She had shorter hair and didn't exactly have the best fashion sense.

"My dad still picks out my clothes," shy Luka explained, picking at the bottom of her shirt.

I licked my blue Popsicle and looked down at my own clothes. A plain blue shirt with red shorts. "Don't worry, I don't dress well either!"

Ah, those there great times. And to think of how much closer we've grown over the years...

"I wish Aito was here to talk with us, like he normally does," Luka says out loud, looking back at the ceiling. Could this be a sign of attraction, or does she just miss him?

"Yeah, he's been by Gumi's side ever since they began dating."

Yes, I know I told myself at the New Year's Eve Party that I was over him. And I know that I love Len. But you know, sometimes a girl still gets a little jealous about that "what if" guy. I mean, we were together for so long, I do have a strong bond with him...

Luka smiles. "I'm happy for him."

Well, that's random.

"Gumi's a nice girl and I think she can make Aito really happy," she continues and then pauses. "But you would think he would hang out with us a little more, huh? I mean, I kinda get the feeling that he doesn't want to talk to me. Haha, silly, huh?"

Although she laughs I can tell there's a little worry there. I wonder... is Aito ever going to tell her?

Is he going to try and push his feelings aside like he did when he was dating me?

And Gumi, is she aware of all this? Aware of what she could be getting herself into?

I shiver as I feel those tiny little memories come crawling back. That heartbreak I went through of trying to change Aito's feelings, surely that is hell for anyone to go through.

Gumi doesn't deserve this. I should have a talk with her about it, just to... To warn her of what could happen.

But first, Luka needs to know something that's been kept from her for years.

"Hey, Luka..."

"Yeah?" she asks, looking up at me as I look at my white carpet.

"What if..." I pause as I think of how to word things. "What if I told you that Aito..."

"The Aito we know?"

I nod and continue. Oh gosh, why is this so hard to say? I'm not even the one with those feelings.

"Just say it, Rin."

Crap, well, now's no time to back out.

"What if he loves you?"


I have a feeling that ending this chapter like this will probably frustrate some people. Especially those who really want Luka to find out about Aito's feelings XD

Don't worry, there's a time for everything.

Anyways, as always, thank you for reading and you can always review if you'd like! Ah, feels good to type that again. Bye bye~!