Chapter 7

Newcomers

"Who could it be?" Rin asked Miku.

"We don't know for certain yet, but we know so far that there's a V3, a Utau, and a V4." Miku panted.

"A V4? Who do you think it could be?" Masami asked.

"The V3 and the Utau haven't said any identification, but the V4 is rather chatty." Miku giggled.

"You're here!" Luka waved to them. "Come on guys, come meet the new Vocaloids!"

"Oh, more people?" One of the newcomers said.

Masami stopped. She knew that voice. It couldn't be…

She parted the crowd. "Yu-Yui?"

The girl froze, and slowly turned, "Iwasawa? Is that really you?"

Iwasawa nodded, closing her eyes and smiling at the familiar face.

Thud "Oh my goodness, Yui! Are you okay?"

Miku poked the eccentric girl. In stark contrast to Yui's original appearance, the new Yui had a rounder face, and she was around angel's size. Everything else was around the same.

"She fainted." Miku said without emotion.

Masami couldn't take it. She fell over laughing, "Yep, that's Yui! Oh dear, I'm gonna die!"

Masami regained her composure, and looked over the other two. One was slender, with long hair, not unlike Angel's. As it were, all three of the newcomers were in the default suit, but the Utau girl quickly changed it to a short dress and knee high socks.

Luka walked to her. "And what is your name, little one?"

She turned her head away, "My name is Monaca. I'm going to make it clear right now; I don't want to associate with any of you."

Len shook his head, "Of course. She'll fit in perfectly with the V3's."

Miku slapped him with a leek again.

"Ow…" he groaned.

Rin walked to the V3. "Don't worry about him. Most of the V3's stay away from us. Not all of them though. He just doesn't like to associate cause he has an enormous crush on Gumi."

Len went red, "DO NOT!"

Rin laughed, "Do too…"

They went back and forth like that, and Miku shook the V3's hand. "What's your name, new girl?"

The girl smiled, and did a courteous bow, "I'm IA."

Masami thought it was strange that the girl sounded so much like her, but shrugged it off.

"Well, welcome to the city, IA!"

IA nodded, and gave another bow.

Luka laughed, "You don't have to bow so much! No one's better than anyone else here, we're all just friends. Call me Luka, this is Miku, that's Rin and her brother Len, and that's Masami. She's rather new too, maybe you can be friends."

IA laughed, and caught herself mid-bow. Instead, she shook Masami's hand. Rather awkwardly, but a hand shake nonetheless. "So, where will we all stay?" IA asked

"This city is enormous, but you can stay anywhere you want to. Most of us live over that way, and most of the V3's on the other side of the city…" Luka began to explain.

"Some of the Utau's live over in the industrial area too! I like to visit Teto-chan from time to time there." Miku smiled.

"And Gumi lives over by the hospital." Len pointed to the western corner of the city.

Rin giggled, and mouthed to Masami: "He memorized where she lives! Kawaii desu!"

Masami laughed, barely managing to cup her mouth.

Len tilted his head, "What? What's so…"

"Don't worry about it, Len." Rin smiled to Masami.

"Seriously, Rin! Tell me what's going on!"

Rin giggled, "Never."

"Come on!" Len whined.

"We're not talking about anything. Just me telling Masami how lovey-dovey you and Gumi are!"

"COME ON, RIN!" Len yelled, face red again.

IA laughed, "I think I'd like to meet this… Gumi? Maybe Len could escort me, so that he can talk to her." IA smiled.

Len looked at the ground, his face still red, "Sure…"

Rin laughed.

Masami looked at the sky. The digital sun was receding. She looked down, as Yui began to stir. "Yui? Hey, let's go find you some place to live too, huh?"

Yui got straight up from the ground with lightning speed "Anywhere near Sempai is good enough for me!"

Masami smiled, "Alright, let's go! Race you to the neighborhood!"

Yui smiled ferociously, "You're not gonna beat me!"

"We'll see, Yui!"

They ran off together. As she ran, she turned, and saw the form of Monaca, who appeared smaller and smaller as Masami ran. Was Monaca… crying? Masami looked forward again, and barely dodged the pole she was on a collision course with. When she looked back, Monaca was gone. Masami turned forward again.

She didn't manage to beat Yui- dang was that girl FAST! But they got Yui a house in the neighborhood, and Yui got prepared for sleep.

As she walked back home, she heard Yui yell, "Good night, Sempai!"

Masami turned, and yelled in return, "Call me Masami!"

Yui nodded, and shut the door with a small "Nya!"