Thank you SO MUCH for all the reviews! They make me so happy and always encourage me to write immediately after I read them!

Sorry Bag o' Moon Frogs for ruining your makeup! Who did you cosplay as?

We're finally into the second half of the story! (there's going to be about 20 chapters)

I was frozen. After weeks of Miku's cold, distant appearance, I didn't know how to receive this change in her. Her nails clawed into my back in desperation and her tears stained my shirt as sobs rocked through her body.

I finally regained my senses enough to comfort the distraught pop star and patted her back awkwardly.

At some point, her unintelligible sobs quieted enough for her to murmur words. "She's going to die."

"Who's going to die?" I asked in the most soothing voice I could manage.

"Luka," Miku whispered. "My best friend." She reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out her phone. The background was of Miku and the pink-haired girl making silly faces with octopus hats on their heads. "She's in the hospital right now in a coma. She's already gotten some treatment, but her family doesn't have enough money to continue. The hospital is going to discharge her if they don't get another payment by the end of the month."

I stared at Miku, uncomprehending. She had been hiding so much pain underneath her mask. How was she able to last this long?

Without waiting for me to say anything, Miku continued. "I have to work hard. I have to help pay for the medical bill."

Something suddenly occurred to me. The memory of a poster on one of the walls in the studio… "Wait, is Luka-"

"Luka Megurine," Miku confirmed, "Yes, she's under contract with the studio too."

"So she's a singer too," I marveled, more to myself than to Miku. That meant that if we had met Miku earlier, before Luka's hospitalization, she might've been the way she had been in those pictures. Then again, Kaito had said that he'd known Miku a long time and she had never been friendly to him. Perhaps he had joined after Luka left? There were too many questions to ask that I forgot Miku was waiting for me to say something more.

In the silence, Miku had straightened herself from her vulnerable position and crossed to the couch, tears still streaming freely from her eyes. "Do you pity me?"

I blinked, shocked. "Why would I pity you?"

Miku laughed harshly. "I see. You wouldn't know how to pity. You've been welcomed here without even having to try. You never had to work to secure your position in this studio and everything probably just seems so easy! You walk around, singing through your luck all day long and it makes me sick!" Miku furiously yanked a tissue out of a tissue box on the table and wiped her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes. I had heard descriptions of my life from others before. I had heard the words 'dirty', 'poor', 'orphan', 'thief', and even 'demon', but never 'easy'.

Resentful, I turned towards the door, my hand on the handle, but before I could make myself turn it, I glanced back and said, "Did you know that I've never acted before?"

"Oh," Miku let out another bitter peel of laughter. "Now you're going to tell me how talented and gifted you are, right? Spare me."

"No," I said, wondering how I was able to control my voice to be so calm, "I'm just trying to say that what I did in the studio the other day – that wasn't acting. At least, the emotion wasn't. I've been protecting Rin my whole life and I would give my life if it meant that she could live comfortably and happily. She deserves better than living on the streets and stealing food at every opportunity."

Miku's eyes went wide. "The streets?" she repeated when I didn't continue.

"Yes," I confirmed, "We were homeless orphans before we came here."

"Len…" It was weird to hear my name on her tongue. Had she never called me by my name before? "Len, I didn't kno-"

"Of course you didn't. That's because you never bothered to learn or ask or even greet me." I sighed. "What I'm trying to say here is that you're not the only one who has hardships to deal with. The difference between you and me is that you refuse to accept the support available to you." My lips shifted into a small smile as I held out my hand. "What do you say? Would you like to start over?"

A fresh torrent of tears spilled over her cheeks and she reached out one hand towards mine, but as soon as hers made contact with mine, she yanked me into a hug and held tight.

Just as the first time she embraced me, I froze. But it only took me a second to correct myself this time and I hugged her back.

I really hope you guys liked that! I know I enjoyed writing it!

If it's not too selfish, I'd like to hear your reactions to the change in Miku's personality! Please review!

Oh, and I'm going to be leaving for a month for a camp, but there is internet so if I'm lucky I'll be able to update again soon ^^ (better chance of an update with a review)