Chapter 4

A new environment

When everyone got themselves back together, Luka turned to her, still smiling, "So. Have you chosen a house yet?"

Masami narrowed her eyes. "A house?"

Luka gestured all around, "We've got an entire city to ourselves. A whole city, and several residential areas. As such, we all have a house. You've just got to choose one, and bam! You've got your own house."

Masami smiled. It would be awesome to have her own house. No dorm mates, no wake up calls... no drunk parents trying to kill each other...

"Masami? Are you alright?" Len asked.

Masami started, "Oh? Oh, yes Len. I'm fine."

Len smiled, "You left the barn for a moment there."

Masami nodded, "Don't worry. I just... space out sometimes."

Miku gasped, putting two and two together. "You don't... you don't still have all of your memories from when you were..." She turned to Rin and Len. They didn't seem to have yet grasped Masami's dillemma yet, bless their cybernetic souls. "Human?"

Masami knew. Miku was about to say 'alive'. She nodded.

"What was it like, Masami Nee- Chan? Being human?" Len asked, finally getting to ask his question.

Masami shrugged, "I think it wasn't that different from living like this. The cities were packed though."

Len nodded, less than satisfied.

Masami laughed, "There are other differences. Like, when I got here, when I was in the room where I woke up-"

"Your Port Room. It's where you are formed before you can be inserted into the system." Luka clarified.

"Thank you. I tried to pick something up, a mirror. I couldn't grab it though, my hand passed through." Masami finished.

Rin nodded. "We had the same problem. Latimea, the attendant for the rooms, leaves a mirror in the room for us to see ourselves, but never makes it so that we can see in it. I don't know why, she might be messing with us."

Len shrugged. "That's what I thought."

He was Negi slapped again. Luka laughed, "Back to the topic of finding Masami a suiting house, Vocals?"

Masami tilted her head. "Vocals?"

Luka nodded, "We know full well that we're not human. As such, we use our equivalent of 'people', the word 'Vocals'. This refers to our classification as Vocaloids, something far different from humanity."

Masami nodded, "So where are these residential areas?"

Luka tilted her head in a gesture that said 'follow me.'

They passed one house, and Masami's heart stopped.

It was beautiful. Rich Sea Green in color, with a cobble stone pathway leading from the driveway to a beautiful oak door. She pointed to it. Luka turned, saw it, and smiled. "It's yours, Masami."

Masami gasped, "It's amazing."

Len looked around, and smiled, "You chose a great neighborhood. Me and Rin live over there, right across the street in the big yellow house. That big traditional-Japanese style house is Miku's, just at the end of the road. Kaito and Meiko live in that house right next to yours, the red brick one. And the one on the other side, the pink one, is Luka's. Gakupo lives a bit away, so that's good. He's up at the mouth of the street."

Luka nodded, "If he comes into your home and makes you uncomfortable, just call for either me or Meiko, we'll send him running."

Masami nodded, "Thank you."

Len rolled his eyes, "I really don't see what the problem is. He's a cool guy."

Rin rolled her eyes as well, making Masami feel like she was seeing double. "He tried to take a picture of Miku Nee-Chan in the shower once, Len! There's plenty of a problem!"

Masami shook her head, smiling. I'm going to enjoy this place...

So, how do you like this so far? Good idea, no?

Here's a bit of a hint: Rin knows more than she lets on. You'll see in the next installment of- True Paradise!