[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ﾟﾙﾏ - Miku POV
Operation: Closure for R&L ? ﾟﾙﾏ
Kaito Fuuga
So, I just got back from Neru
Luka Megurine
The last gal we're meeting for this plan?
Kaito Fuuga
Yup!
Miku: Oooohhhh! Tell us tell us when it will be?
Kaito Fuuga
She can do it this weekend. But I had to tell her we're terribly busy with mid-year finals and that stuff.
Oliver Cody
True
Kaito Fuuga
I told her we might do it next week, that I'll get back to her after I confirm it with you guys here. So, next week is good?
Miku: ? ﾟﾒﾯ? for me
Luka Megurine
Same!
Gakupo Kamui
Count me in! It motivates me to finish some assessments by that time tbh
Oliver Cody
I might need to do some adjusting of my schedule on my end on that week but I'll be quick. Brb!
Kaito Fuuga
ok so we have Oli left to confirm and practically all of us are ok
Miku: GUYS EMERGENCY
Miku: RIN'S ASKING IF WE'RE AVAILABLE NEXT SUNDAY
Gakupo Kamui
CRAP
Kaito Fuuga
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO
Luka Megurine
Easy, folks. If two of us tell her we can't make it then she'll simply shrug it off and change the date
Gakupo Kamui
Won't she find that too sus?
Luka Megurine
nah she'll think it's just a coincidence
Miku: Oh yeah Lu's right brb will do it
[CHAT SCENE] (Supposedly group chat for) The Band™ - Miku POV
(Supposedly group chat for) The Band™
Rin Shimoda
YOOOOO can we go to the pub next Sunday to celebrate end of mid-year finals!
Miku: I can't make it babe soz! I'm having the whole family tree coming by. I'm not even kidding I wish I was!
Rin Shimoda
oomf yikes
Rin Shimoda
I know how much you "like" your relatives Miks ? rip to you next week
Rin Shimoda
That's fine, we'll just move our hang-out then, no stress! :)))
Oliver Cody
Same Rin I won't be able to make it next Sunday. I'm so sorry :( Parents have big plans that day
Rin Shimoda
Oli that's completely alright! We'll go to the pub some other time when Miku isn't dreading the arrival of her relatives lol. If she doesn't show up there her old grandma Miya might kick her ass painfully tbh
Miku: damn right that's why that day will be my biggest battlefield
Miku: tysm for understanding Rinny! luv u ? ﾟﾥﾺ? ﾟﾥﾺ? ﾟﾥﾺ
Rin Shimoda
luv u too bestie 3
[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ﾟﾙﾏ - Miku POV
Operation: Closure for R&L ? ﾟﾙﾏ
Luka Megurine
MIKS UR SUCH A BAD LIAR LMFAOOOOOO ? ﾟﾘﾭ?
Gakupo Kamui
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA ? ﾟﾘﾂ? ﾟﾘﾂ?
Kaito Fuuga
HAHAHAHAHAHA GRANDMA MIYA MIGHT REALLY BE KICKING HER ASS TONIGHT ? ﾟﾘﾂ
Miku: OMFG YALL STOP IT! ? ﾟﾘﾭ? ﾟﾘﾭ? ﾟﾘﾭ? ﾟﾘﾭ
Miku: Istg you bitches can't appreciate Quality Acting™
Miku: I threw away my pride just for that cover up and yall doing me dirty like this smh
Gakupo Kamui
Woah Oli that was a hella quick save there! ?
Kaito Fuuga
fr i was already typing when he suddenly showed up there and backing up Miks lol
Oliver Cody
I didn't want to interrupt the chat here when you were all frantic. So I jumped in as soon as Miku started.
Luka Megurine
Oliver Cody is the MVP, the man of the hour
Gakupo Kamui
The man of the day
Kaito Fuuga
The man of the year
Miku: THE MAN OF THE DECADE
Miku: Thanks vice-captain of this operation 3
Kaito Fuuga
Excuse me I thought I was the 2nd in command after you here?
Miku: After you actually declined to support me before I convinced you that Rin might leave us at any moment here?
Miku: Oli was the tie breaker to support me, so he's my #1
Oliver Cody
Aww thanks Miks
What I said to Rin was a half-lie. My parents do have plans next Sunday. But it's not as big as I emphasised to her so I can join all of you to meet Neru.
Miku: YEESS! LET'S GO HOMIES THIS IS OUR LAST MISSION BEFORE SETTING THIS WHOLE THING UP!
Gakupo Kamui
bruh you forget we still have to meet Len after Neru
Miku: ? ﾟﾒﾀ? ﾟﾒﾀ? ﾟﾒﾀ? ﾟﾒﾀ
Luka Megurine
? ﾟﾘﾬ? ﾟﾘﾬ?
Oliver Cody
? ﾟﾒﾀ? ﾟﾒﾀ? ﾟﾒﾀ
Luka Megurine
something tells me our encounter with him soon will be the most entertaining out of all our meetings with Rin and Kaito's friends
Kaito Fuuga
pls don't jinx it
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Kaito insisted his friends cross the street before him.
Their destination stood right before them. The front of the local restaurant was as comforting as ever to him.
So many after-school afternoons he and his friends at YMH was spent at this place to relax and enjoy each other's company without the burden of classes, or the restriction of break times.
It lasted until they all parted ways after graduation to start new lives outside their former school. Kaito felt ashamed he could not bring Rin here to relish on those good times from the past.
For now, he introduced a fond part of his past to his new friends.
The family-owned restaurant served home-made affordable dishes that appealed to the limited budget of students such as Kaito. It also had the convenient spot of being nearby YMH.
It became a frequent hangout spot by students, even the teachers (when there were no students). The restaurant was never empty when the schools were open thanks to the influx of the majority of their customers that were the students and staff of YMH.
It was no surprise that the old man, the father in the family, recognised Kaito who just sat down on the table he pointed at his friends to occupy.
"Hey! Ice cream boy! It's been too long! How's it been for you, lad?"
"I'm good, Mr Tonio! I hope business is still good here!" Kaito smiled at the old man. Miku and the rest of his friends observed the interaction curiously.
"Good as it's ever been, my boy!" The restaurant owner, Tonio, happily replied.
"But I missed you and your friends here before you all graduated. You and your lot were a menace to my kitchen! Always on multiple rounds in ordering the food. I thought I was feeding dragons!"
The old man roared his boisterous laughter. Kaito laughed enthusiastically alongside.
Oliver assumed they were old friends that finally met and caught up on each other's affairs. The laughter was so infectious that Gakupo and Luka chuckled under their breaths. He and Miku smiled along.
"I see you have new company here! Hello! Welcome, welcome new friends!" Tonio welcome Kaito's friends.
Miku, Luka, Oliver and Gakupo offered their own waves and smiles to the friendly restaurant owner.
"Where's that blonde bunny friend of yours? I thought you and her were together in your new place."
"Ah, Rin can't join us today. She would have loved to see you again, Mr Tonio!" Kaito replied with a hint of regret in his tone.
"But we're meeting with Neru today! You know the girl with gold eyes, hair on her left head in a long ponytail; always on her phone?" Kaito replied after he gave out the menus to his friends.
"I think I know her. Oh yes, I think I do! How exciting, old faces are coming back here!" Tonio felt sentimental, a palm on his chest covered by the apron.
"It's very nice to see you again here, ice cream man. I have to get back to the kitchen. Come to the front when you and your mates are ready to order." Once again, Tonio smiled at the group and waved before he rushed to the kitchens.
"Thanks Mr Tonio!" Kaito mentioned just as the man left their table.
Most of them had already decided what to order, except for Miku who still chose which dishes to try out first.
"If you're worried about which is the best dish to try out today, don't sweat. I can take you all here again next time." Kaito assured. Miku beamed with a smile and finally settled on her order.
Oliver joined Kaito at the front desk and placed their orders.
"Neru will arrive any minute now." Miku muttered after she glanced at the time on her phone. She turned her head back to the door to see whether their guest finally arrived.
Luka already poured everyone's glasses with water on the pitcher on their table. They would save Neru's glass until she arrived.
"Nah, Miks. Neru is too notorious for showing up late. It was a huge pain in the ass whenever we had to do school projects outside school, or just hanging out." Kaito informed them.
Gakupo innocently asked. "That shouldn't be that bad if it's like ten or thirty minutes late, right?" A palm on his cheek as his elbow rested on the table.
"We're talking—minimum of one hour, mate. Worst case, two hours." Kaito looked straight in Gakupo's eyes.
"What would take her so long, getting drowned in the bath tub?" Luka commented.
Miku snickered. "Or does she hold a world tour concert in the shower?"
Kaito sighed with a strained smile. "I honestly will never know. It'd be a miracle if she improved that habit of her's." His arms crossed on his chest and leaned his back against the chair he sat on.
A sound from the bell on the door rang.
All heads turned towards the direction of the door with the newcomer as they seemed to inspect every table.
Kaito had his mouth agape and his finger pointed in the woman's direction. Only one thought was on his mind:
That can't possibly be Neru!? She's actually on time!
When Kaito was still dumbfounded, Miku took it to herself and caught Neru's attention when she waved her hand up in the air.
The woman immediately noticed, smiled in their direction and quickly approached their table.
"Good Lord, are you actually here Neru!? Tell me my eyes are joking!" Kaito was still stunned but managed to collect himself. "I wish Rin was here to see this!"
He stood up to see Neru. She did not change much. Lemon-blonde hair that was still extremely long in a ponytail on the left side of her head. She wore a grey collared shirt partially hidden by a black cardigan to match her black skirt with yellow details on the edges. It was paired with black stockings and flatform shoes.
"Oh stop that Kai you look like you just saw a ghost! Of course I'm here! I couldn't miss this!" The girl, Neru, smirked. "I would have wanted Rin to be here with us if only this secret plan was not for her," She chuckled.
Then Kaito had hugged her to greet each other as old friends finally met.
"Hello Rin's friends! It's finally nice to meet you all, and to put faces to names Kai and Rin, and recently Lily and Gumi, mentioned." Neru excitedly regarded Kaito's friends.
Miku, Luka, Gakupo and Oliver returned her greetings with a shake of hands as they introduced themselves. Miku introduced herself last and Neru instantly had a reaction, as if something made sense to her.
"I'm Miku Hatsune. And yes, I am the 'mastermind' to all of this, as Lily said."
"Ah yes. The famous Miku Hatsune, the diva of CFH. Your name made some buzz in my school on the other side of town! But it's very nice to meet you. I've heard a lot of wonderful things about you from Rin and Kaito." Neru smiled. She already liked the energy she felt at the table with Kaito's friends.
"Thank you for making her feel comfortable for the past two years, also goes to all of you here!" Neru glanced towards Luka, Oliver, and Gakupo.
Kaito went back to the front to place Neru's order on her behalf.
Miku chuckled timidly, and engaged more with Neru. "Thank you. But I had not expected people from the other side of the town to know me. Now that made me feel a little embarrassed."
Luka spoke after Neru's teasing. "Rin is fond of you, so she would mention you besides Lily and Gumi. Do you want me to go through our plan with you just in case Lily, Gumi or Kai have not mentioned it?"
"I think I got all the deets from Lily all these months ago. So the gist is, you want to help Rin and Len get closure from their break-up before she leaves for overseas after graduation?" Neru asked for clarification.
Kaito returned to his seat and joined in the discussion.
"Yup! That's the whole plan." Miku replied with a smile.
Luka added the additional details. "But there's one detail you need to know—Len is in love with Rin until now. And after we talk to you, we'll talk to him and see if we have to help him confess or not."
"Ah, I was told about this by Megumi after you visited her. She was quite upset, not to you guys don't worry. But I find this turn of events interesting though." Neru began.
She was briefly interrupted when their food arrived even with Neru's newly added order.
Tonio went back to the floor and saw Neru. He approached their table to greet her and expressed his delight at another familiar face at his restaurant this weekend.
They had a quick chat about the 'good ol' times' when they were still students at YMH before the man had to attend newly arrived customers from the front.
They asked more about Neru, what she does currently and her history with both Kaito, Rin and Len as they enjoyed their meals.
Kaito was right-they all loved the food and how affordable it was.
"Well, I'm doing marketing at uni soon, with a focus on social media. Thankfully it's an evolving career path so I'm finally using my phone obsession to make money out of it." She chuckled.
"No way, that's bad ass stuff!" Miku claimed with amazement evident from her eyes.
"Wait so how much of a bitch you were back then? Have you actually fought with either Kai or Rin before?" Luka had curiously asked.
Miku and Gakupo immediately scolded her for how she phrased her question.
But when Neru laughed first after she heard Luka's question, it seemed she had taken it better than expected.
"I was a different person back then. I hung out with different people, and at the time I didn't like Kai, Rin nor their group. It's all petty shit now, looking back at it. We began to get along in ninth grade" Neru began.
"We all had our issues back then, Neru. It was a matter of us growing up and learning from those mistakes as we got older." Kaito added assurance in his reply.
Luka and Miku nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, exactly Kai. I used to think you were anti-social and not a fun person to be with. Then I'd talk shit about Rin and Len whenever they were together back in seventh grade." Neru chuckled, joined by Kaito.
"Speaking of Len, you dated him before Rin came into the picture? What happened?" Gakupo asked, and every side-conversation halted to turn their heads towards Neru.
"Ah, it was me who didn't know better and fooled around. I was extremely bored at that time and it was for the sake of me having the record of dating someone. It's my fault for not letting him be on the same page as me, and the tantrums he threw after I broke it off. So yeah, I was the asshole there."
Kaito, despite knowing the story for years, could not hold off the embarrassed look he had. Miku had an awkward look on her face while she took a sip of her water to hide it. Gakupo blew air from his lips. Luka and Oliver only nodded.
"I swear I'm not an asshole now! There were some failed dates here and there after tenth grade. But I think I'm doing a good job now with my current girlfriend." She had a small and sweet smile at the mention of that fact.
Kaito recalled something that Neru had mentioned in the past. "Is that still Haku? That was the girl you told me last time you had your eyes on."
Neru happily nodded in reply. "I'm very much happy with her." She opened her phone and showed the wallpaper of her phone screen. The people at the table dragged their torsos closer.
Next to a smiling Neru whose arms were wrapped on was a woman with snow-white long locks in a low ponytail and relaxed, maroon eyes. Her hair was tied in a large black ribbon as she clutched the neck of a bottle and leaned comfortably against Neru.
The group gushed over the photo and how adorable the couple looked.
"You two look so good together! I'm happy for you!" Miku shamelessly shared alongside a nod of approval from Luka. Neru appreciated the sweet gesture.
"I can guarantee you all here Neru is not an asshole after that. I wouldn't have reached out to her today if it wasn't the case." Kaito assured his friends.
"When I was a bitch, I felt salty seeing Rin and Len together out of insecurity because they were nobodies in class and then suddenly they were the 'power couple'. But with life's turn of events, now I'm good friends with Rin." Neru chuckled.
Oliver was surprised at the detail Neru mentioned. "Wait so Rin wasn't popular at your school? She's so popular at our class it's insane if she wasn't back then."
"She was. But in a lowkey sense, like she often kept to herself and to her close friends, if that makes sense? Unless she was asked to participate, she won't go out. And our definition of popular back in YMH was being the outspoken, outgoing, and the cliche popular kids. Rin thought she didn't fit in there." Neru explained before she grabbed a bite of her dish.
"Weird. Everyone liked her and Kaito after the first week of eleventh grade. It was after I asked Kai who brought Rin to tag along with us," Gakupo gestured to Luka, Oliver, and Miku. "-and long story short, we're here."
Miku commented with a sentimental tone. "That's nice to hear you became good friends with Rin through the years. Sometimes the people you never expected to get along with become the ones you spend time with the most."
"Well, that's just what happens when you change and get your face out of your phone screen for once. Can you believe I once thought those two were this cheesy 'couple-next-door' that became my pet peeve?" Neru teased and shook her head at the ridiculous nature of it.
"Yeah, I'm wondering here how Rin and you got through being friends. It's interesting to think about it." Luka took a bite from her plate.
"It was a matter of the two of us changing our attitudes from when we were younger, getting into similar interests and then on that random day when we both confided about each other's exes. I thought that's when we started that special connection." Neru answered.
"Ohh tell us more of that! We need answers!" Gakupo jokingly added. But Neru, unfamiliar with his antics, took it seriously.
"How did it actually start…" Neru looked up at the ceiling in contemplation, as if the answers were written there.
"I think it started in ninth grade. Now that was an eventful year. Rin and Len's breakup was a mere speck of dirt out of all the shit that happened. Everyone had something going on with them. All my earliest memories involving Rin happened around that time. Let's see… I knew she and I had less tension when talking in eighth grade after we often found ourselves working together. But it was nothing more at that time until ninth grade.
"I knew Rin didn't like me because I was a bitch, which was fair. At that time I didn't like her being too reserved and a killjoy. I was spiteful and thought the ribbon at her head was a poor attempt to look cute." Neru had a dry chuckle and her head nodded side-to-side.
How things had changed so much from when they were young.
"It was in eighth grade I started seeing Rin without my bias against her. That included Kai and their group, thanks to when I started having issues with the people I used to be with. You know with cliques and groups. That's why I was able to notice a huge change in Len when Rin was around. He looked and acted motivated, in his studies and his attitude. He was a much more pleasant person to interact with when they were still dating. Less of a cry baby, less tantrums, at least from an outside perspective, and actually takes criticism well whenever someone or especially Rin scolds him. I'm not exaggerating when I say he was a changed man!" Neru paused to take a few bites of her food and took a sip from her glass.
"Basically, Rin and I were getting along but only on a surface level. Now the big things started after they broke up." Neru took another quick bite before she continued.
"I heard the news from the popular kids, like Yuma and Mizki, on the first day of ninth grade. They said it happened sometime during the holidays and it all happened online. It felt too privy and invasive to know about it. I knew Rin was a private person despite how talkative she was."
Kaito added to the narrative before he took a sip from his own glass. "What Neru heard was right. I was the one who confirmed it to her."
"Because you were the first of Rin's friends to arrive, so I approached you. I was actually doubting it at first. Because you seriously can't believe someone started spreading rumours on the first day of school, right?" Neru had a mild horrified expression in her eyes as she recalled that day.
"But I guess the word really spreads fast before you realise. Even Rin and her friends, like Kai here, weren't aware the news spread outside their circle by the time we all started classes. It didn't help that Rin arrived and she looked like a huge mess. We're talking-large bags under eyes, deep frown, her hair seemingly had less effort than she usually does, and she looked too fatigued as if she didn't sleep at all. Her presence already confirmed the rumour even before she spoke." Neru sighed.
Miku had her eyebrows scrunched as she gazed below her plate.
Luka sighed while her shoulders slumped. Her cheek leaned against her hand as her elbow was on top of the table.
Miku muttered. With the silence in their table, it was audible enough. "I can't believe that happened to Rin at the start of the year. She already had a tough time during that holiday period."
"It only got worse from there." Neru began, the dreaded tone of her voice indicated it was something she was not fond of remembering.
"Rin is an anxious ball, everyone knows that. But she never breaks down so easily and pushes to compose herself until the end. But that first year of their break-up was the most intense. I've never seen Rin break down at so many random times. It was a good thing Len only kept to himself, because everytime Rin saw him she visibly reacted and tried to hold back her tears.
"Clenching her fists, grinding her teeth and glaring daggers towards him. I wasn't close to her during those days. so obviously I didn't want to impose and only observed from a distance. But I saw how much Kaito, Lily, Miki, Nana, and Gumi struggled to handle Rin and calm her down."
Kaito's smile was sad. His gaze moved from Neru to his plate below. "She never smiled or laughed during the first month. You never saw her do her usual hobbies like reading or writing, and even playing music or singing. She was just… there. There were occasions she'd suddenly have tears on her face when she was alone. If Rin was not crying at the ladies' toilet while the girls comfort her, she would be in this hidden corner in the school during break time or during class that I have to find her."
Oliver interjected with the question. "Wait, Rin would leave the room during class so suddenly? What did your teachers do?"
"She did it in the guise of going to the toilet. Usually she timed it on the last half of class so some teachers won't notice. But when they realised she was taking too long, that's when one of us volunteered to get her back. The hard part was calming her down and settling herself. So we end up talking her out of that self-deprecation, reminder her Len isn't around and just comfort her." Kaito elaborated on the scenario, even if it made him uncomfortable.
Those were one of the lowest points of his friend that he never wished to go back to.
Gakupo worriedly commented. "Rin couldn't possibly miss class time. I can't believe it was that bad." His plate was already empty, so he focused on the conversation with Neru.
"All of this is just mentioned to us for the first time." Miku admitted. "Now I understand why it's only Kai who shared what happened to them before they joined our cohort."
"Like Kai said, Rin wasn't coping well with what happened." Neru began. "Rin's academic performance flunked shortly after for a while. I'm sure you're all aware she values that so much and it means a lot to her. No one actually knows why, but the 'gossip',"
She gestured with her pointer and middle fingers folded together, "-was that someone from the faculty told Rin her parents would be called soon. But that she desperately begged them not to do it. I've talked to Kai and Gumi at the time, but they said Rin never mentioned anything about it."
All eyes turned to Kaito once again.
"You said the teachers would intervene, and since it's Rin's attitude of wanting to be in everyone's good graces. She had to get her shit together far too early during the recovery." Luka pointed out.
The young man stammered with the sudden focus on him. "It was technically right, if you think of it. I had to make it short because I was telling all of this during lunch time where Rin could have joined at any minute."
Then he continued to support Neru's side. "But Neru's right, we still don't know what happened exactly. Rin wouldn't budge no matter how much we try to ask about it. That's the closest we can get to the truth."
Neru nodded, and continued on to her narrative. "Rin was very apathetic, it was never in her nature to be like that. Their break-up was the hot topic on the gossip mills at our class since it was early in that year. I wanted to know everything about it since it was that one thing that intrigued everyone. Role-model top student transforming the anti-social edgy dude and becoming the innocent couple-next-door. Then suddenly it went into shambles."
Neru paused. "Eventually I realised how disgusting it was to impose, speculate and gossip on Rin's misery for something that wasn't her fault with all the rumours."
Miku commented on the side. "Look like you guys had piranhas and vultures as classmates."
"Exactly. It was good riddance we all separated from that cohort. If you didn't toughen up, you'd be the laughing stock if you weren't careful." Neru sighed before she continued.
"Everyone moved on from Rin and Len when some series of new dramas began. Unfortunately, I was one of them. Looking back, I sort of helped a bit in putting Rin's and even Len's name in peace from the gossip mills even for just a while."
Oliver asked a question before Neru could continue. "Kaito told us bits. But I'm betting here on my own. Does this new drama about you involve Len?"
Miku and Luka's eyes widened. Gakupo adjusted his posture on his seat. Kaito sighed.
Oliver had that 'it's obvious' face after he noticed their reactions. "Kaito told us about this part. It seems as if you don't recall it."
"Yup, though not as direct as you guys anticipate." Neru quickly answered.
"I dated Kiyoteru, a classmate of ours, that year and shortly broke up before the year ended. We didn't have a healthy relationship so most of our time together was spent fighting. Let's all just say it was a mess, okay? I was aware Len had feelings for me again after he left Rin. Obviously I didn't pay attention since I was seeing someone. To answer your question on why I know, the dude was obvious and a walking open book."
Oliver commented on the side, mostly for himself. "The open book, with a heart on his sleeve, dated the reserved enigma."
Luka chuckled sarcastically in reference to Oliver's statement. "Gotta love attraction of opposite ends."
"I think Kai would have already mentioned this. Len would meddle whenever Kiyoteru and I fought. They used to be best buds back in primary school, so I thought nothing whenever he approached me and say he's doing a favour to Kiyoteru and pass his messages to me whenever we argued. But it got too much and went to the point he himself would physically be there and 'stop' us from fighting. I had to do something for him to stop because I will never notice him. It was also a huge insult for Rin who was still trying to move on from him."
Kaito's friends had collective reactions to Neru's new story.
Miku and Luka pressed their palms quickly on their foreheads for a classic facepalm. Gakupo shook his head sideways and continuously clicked his tongue. Oliver sighed that almost turned into a groan.
"I did tell him off, and he did stop just in time after Kiyoteru and I officially called it quits. Rin may or may not have played a part in that." With that, she winked.
"Even when I had my peace from Kiyoteru and we were not subjected to the gossip any longer, it wasn't the case for Rin with Len. It just lied low, but it was still there. Had they not treated each other passively-aggressively each time they had to talk, I think they would not have added more fuel to the fire."
Gakupo added. "Can I say that I would have wanted to see Rin roast Len at that time?"
Kaito chuckled. "I can't blame you. Rin was hilarious during those times without trying."
"But what we need to know is," Miku brought out her hand and showed only her pointer finger first. "How did you tell Len to stop going after you and," She lifted her middle finger next. "What did Rin do with you and your ex-boyfriend? How did Len stop bugging the two of you?"
"Miks, I don't think we should know more about that." Luka gently chided.
"Ah, don't worry! I'm very happy to share. Since I'm the last person you're asking permission with, I think you would want every detail you can have for your next steps, am I right?" Neru explained.
All of them nodded. Miku was glad Neru actually understood. She just felt a strong connection to her.
"Rin gave the best advice to me, that's all. As for Len stopping, I had to tell him to shut him up in the group chat. I know it was rude of me," Neru sighed, but with a sense of comic relief.
"I can only say I was stressed with school, on top of problems at home and then the whole mess with Kiyoteru. I had to call out Len's bullshit in his desperation to be this 'knight-in-shining armour' mediator. And even before that happened, I already told him to stop by messaging me. Some people just learn the hard way, you see."
Oliver commented on the side. "Why does Len often get attacked in group chats? No wonder he's scared of you people," It unexpectedly earned a laugh from Neru and even Kaito.
Miku continued the conversation. "How did he react?"
"I'm not too sure. Idiot left my message on read and then dipped the group chat. Must have thrown another tantrum about nobody liking him again." Neru replied.
Kaito added more context. "He did. He posed on his social media that night how people didn't trust him nor needed him."
Luka covered her mouth and made her laugh muffled, "Sad boy things. While he had the audacity to say that, Rin was still crying over his asshole move. Pathetic, honestly."
Neru simply sighed. "Well, that was Len from my perspective. But I've never heard anything from him right after graduation, so heaven knows what could have changed from him. Have you stayed in touch with him, Kai?"
Kaito coughed. "No. Which is shameful of me to admit, since we were getting along again at the end of the year."
"Then it looks like you'll get the answer of how he is now after today." Neru followed.
Miku replied with an enthusiastic 'Yeah!' while her friends, with Kaito, nodded.
"Now I'll tell you about that one afternoon after school that I was with Rin in ninth grade. I think this can support your plan. This was the first time she gave me advice about my situation with Kiyoteru." Neru began as her palms stayed on the glass of water.
All of Neru's new friends, even Kaito, were keen to hear her; especially when she mentioned how it would support their plan.
"It was a weird thing for me at the time. Rin was already enduring too much for her poor mind with the break-up with Len. Yet she still had the wits and the emotional energy to help me. We were both hurting on our own issues. But that very day made our friendship stronger, and my respect for Rin much more. It was a core memory for me..." Neru began her elaboration of that certain day.