Reasons I haven't updated sooner:

-I got an XBOX 360

-My aunt had a stroke

-I have finals to study for

-I'm lazy

With that said, stuff happens this chapter. Yeah. Enjoy!

/

Miku's next encounter with Len didn't occur until Wednesday afternoon. She was completely and utterly shocked to find the idol dressed as a boy and standing outside the gates. He hadn't yet drawn too much attention to himself, but it wouldn't be long before he did. And when that happened, Miku didn't have any intention of being anywhere near him.

She rushed up to him quickly, just about throwing her own coat over his all-too-familiar face, even though it was cold enough to be her own personal hell.

"What the hell are you thinking?!" she hissed at him, glancing around and speaking quietly. Girls were already glancing over curiously.

"I didn't feel like going to school today. Played hooky, so I never ended up dressing like a girl. Honestly didn't feel like it," Len replied casually, as if he hadn't just done an insanely stupid thing. Miku growled.

"We need to come to an understanding. You don't do stupid shit like this and I won't be angry all the time," Miku declared as quietly and as forcefully as possible. Len chuckled.

"I don't really care if I'm seen. It's been months since I went out as a boy. Minus the concert," Len told her. Miku didn't have the heart to respond the way she wanted to so she kept her mouth shut.

"But being seen around me isn't a good thing," Miku finally said, quietly. So quietly, in fact, that Len had to strain his ears to hear her.

"No one cares about who I'm with. There aren't any reporters around here, anyway," Len reassured her, a smile slipping gently onto his face. "Let's go."

"Go where? Where are you taking me, Kagamine?" she demanded as he placed a hand firmly on her back in an attempt to push her forward.

"Out of the cold, for one. Now shush and follow me," Len instructed, winking. Miku bristled, but decided to go along with whatever the blond was concocting. The two walked side by side in the cold winter air, breath fogging the spaces in front of their faces frostily.

"You're certainly feeling confident," Miku replied as his arm fell back to his side, away from her.

"Yeah, well. I feel better dressed as a guy. Less awkward, I guess. Not that it's any of your business," Len replied coolly. His smooth voice clearly portrayed how much the fact didn't matter, but Miku was sure the difference between Kagamine Len and Kagine Lin was significant, at least to Len. After all, Len didn't seem to enjoy cross-dressing. It was all to escape his fans. Miku wasn't even sure he really liked his fans now. Maybe he held some secret hatred for them, and that's why he wanted to hide. Well, it was a possibility. And don't forget that Miku herself had been a fairly avid (avid, not crazy) fan of the idol. And wasn't she still? He was so talented; pissing her off to no end wouldn't change that. Hanging out with him wouldn't change that.

Len was confusing. That's all Miku really knew about him anymore.

Well, actually, he was also super attractive.

Miku wished she could punt herself upside the head as the two turned down the street. Unwanted thoughts had a way of delivering this feeling straight to her. In any case, Miku was still unaware as to where they were going. Knowing Len, it would be stupid, but acceptable. Or she'd absolutely hate it. Either way, she was stuck following the boy. Maybe she'd enjoy herself.

…No, she wouldn't.

Sighing at her pathetic inner monologue, she turned her attention to Len, who looked down at her in response. She found herself far too close to him for her own comfort and inched away as they walked, wondering if he noticed. Maybe, but it wasn't like he cared.

"I thought the reason you wanted a date with Kaito was because you're more confident dressed as a girl," Miku replied. She did remember him saying something like that.

"I'm more comfortable around girls when I'm dressed as a guy. I'm better off telling Kaito-san who I really am dressed as a girl. I'll even tell you a secret," Len leaned across the few inches that distanced the two to breathe into her ear, "I'm better at talking to guys dressed as a girl."

Miku snorted, suppressing real laughter. "You do realize how that sounds." She offered a skeptical look, but deep down, Miku was amused.

Len set a grin on his face. "Yeah, well. I guess I'm just strange, because I'm not gay."

"And why should I care what you are?" Miku replied.

"You don't have to. But isn't it a girl's dream to have a gay best friend?" Len teased, tilting his head at just the right angle to look absolutely perfect.

I'd settle for just having a best friend sometimes, Miku thought, but kept this to herself. Instead, she rolled her eyes and huffed. "Don't group me with everyone else, Kagamine-san."

Len couldn't help agreeing as she ignored what he had just said entirely. Miku as my best friend? Pff, yeah. No, thanks.

But the fact that she didn't jump at the suggestion, or even hit him or something, was odd. What went on in that girl's head? He wanted to know; after all, she was weird enough on the outside.

"Alright, Kagamine. Where are we going?" Miku demanded, "I'm starting to get really cold."

"Want me to warm you up?" he suggested, earning a glare that made him smile, "Oh, it's nowhere far. We're visiting Rinny at work. She's been wanting to see you, because you're literally the only person who has hung out with her in years. I think she likes you."

Miku eyed Len. That was certainly strange and sudden. Nevertheless, Kagamine Rin seemed to be a decent enough person. Miku had yet to witness any insanity on the blond girl's part, and quite frankly doubted she had a screw loose at all.

"Where does your sister work?" Miku asked, mildly interested despite herself.

"Nothing interesting. She's just a waitress. Or a babysitter, maybe. Or-" Len cut himself off, looking confused, "I don't actually know. She keeps getting fired for, ah, things…"

Miku could suppress a giggle. Well, maybe the girl was different, after all.

"Then how do you know where we're going?" Miku asked.

Len grimaced. "I'm hoping she didn't get fired in the last few days." He seemed surprisingly serious, so Miku held back her second giggle.

Silence let itself hang over the pair, allowing the two to settle into a comfortable pace. Miku was hyperaware of her hand as it brushed Len's coat, hoping he didn't notice or care. She tried to keep an even distance between them, not too close or too far. Too close would get her teased. Too far would get her teased. Besides, Len was warm. She liked being next to someone in such cold winter air.

The silence lasted such a long time, Miku was completely shocked when she heard her name. She turned, knowing the voice and who it belonged to, unsurprised to see Piko following the two.

"Hey, Piko," Miku greeted, "Did you follow us?"

Piko let her have an unashamed grin. "Miku, you're walking around with a strange guy. Of course I followed you."

"All the way from school?"

Piko nodded, and Miku was surprised, if not mildly embarrassed. She sent him a look of exasperation, but her heart warmed all the same. He cares who you spend time with, she thought happily, Is he possibly jealous?

It was a stupid thought, but it made Miku happy all the same. However, she quickly remembered Len, and turned to him. He looked annoyed. No doubt because he had been forgotten.

"Now who's sour?" she smirked.

Piko glanced to Len, unsurprised that he actually happened to be Kagamine Len, the famous idol, as well as unfazed that he stood beside Miku. Instead, he sized him up, running a careful eye over him.

Now, Miku knew that Piko wasn't very familiar with Kagamine Len. Heck, he barely knew the name, and even then, Piko only knew such a thing because of her obsession with the idol's music. But Piko was observant. He never forgot a face after he saw it. He had the same ability to recognize a voice. If anyone could connect Lin and Len after one meeting with both, it would be Piko. Her breath caught for a tense moment, but she relaxed when Piko glanced back to her.

"He's that one idol, right? The one you fangirl over?" Piko seemed bored by the conversation already. Miku wasn't surprised. He always put on such a fake persona around other people, boys especially. As if caring would make him seem weak or stupid. It bugged her to no end sometimes.

"Th-that's, well… Yeah," Miku admitted, blushing and avoiding the eyes of both males.

"Thought so. Nice to meet you, Kagamine-san," Piko offered half-heartedly.

"And you, too," Len's smile was clearly forced. What was wrong with him? Did he not like Piko? He acted civilized at their last meeting. Well, he did talk to guys differently when dressed like one, according to him.

"So, are you going to keep following us or join us?" Miku asked, raising an eyebrow. This was a skill Piko had always been a bit jealous of.

"Whichever, Miku. Depends on what you want," Piko told her.

Miku didn't even pause. "Alright, come on. That alright with you, Kagamine?"

Len nodded in the same half-hearted way Piko had. Miku decided not to bother figuring out the interactions between boys. They were just weird.

The three continued together, Miku in the middle, walking ever so slightly closer to Piko. All three of them noticed, but didn't bring it up. Eventually, Len led them up to a small café, pulling the doors open to reveal warm colors and scents. Coffee coasted into Miku's senses. She could smell it, taste it. Warmth flooded against her, knocking against her cheeks, worn red with cold. The floor was hard wood, dark and clean. The walls were a warm orange, paintings and photographs hanging on display in an attempt at sale. The front window was large, bearing the name of the shop in elegant red font. In one corner, two couches and an armchair, all red leather, sat facing a sturdy coffee table. On the other end of the café, tables were arranged in no pattern whatsoever, only a few occupied by people. Against one wall, a lovely piano was settled beneath a large photograph of a mountain range. It was a cozy place, warm and welcoming.

"Kagamine-san works here?" Miku asked, and Len seemed confused for a moment. Realizing his companion was referring to his sister and not him, he smiled and nodded.

"It's a nice, little place. I'm shocked she still has her job," Len smirked, and earned a muffin the head. It may have been wrapped in saran wrap, but the hilarity wasn't lost on Miku or Piko as the two stared in disbelief, then proceeded to explode into laughter.

The culprit was none other than the short blond behind the counter, who they had yet to notice. Rin held a superior look, tossing a second muffin in her hand as she leaned across the counter.

"Brother, dear. Respect you're older sister," she smiled innocently as Len eyed her cautiously. The siblings stayed in a silent battle of wills, fought with their eyes, until Len gave in.

"No more muffins, you insane child. I brought a peace offering." Len took hold of Miku's shoulder, spinning her in front of him. Rin squealed and, to everyone's shocked, jumped the counter to rush to them.

"Miku-san! Hi!" Rin greeted, bouncing on the spot she had found before Miku and the two boys.

"Hello, Kagamine-san," Miku replied. A look of distaste settled onto Rin's adorable features.

"No, that won't do! Call me Rin-san! Rin-san!" the tiny girl exclaimed, then paused for a moment of thought, "But since I'm older than you, it could also be Rin-sempai. I'm okay with that, too."

Miku resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "No, Rin-san is acceptable." Calling a girl like Rin by a name with any sort of admiration implied wasn't something Miku could ever imagine doing.

"Alright!" Rin beamed, "Do you three want coffee?"

"No," Len told his sister. Miku shook her head, but Piko offered a different answer.

"Sure. If it isn't a bother," he seemed to be resisting a smile, and was that a blush she was seeing?!

Rin let him have her sunshine smile as she rushed to prepare his drink. "I don't know what you want, so I'll guess!"

Miku couldn't resist a snort of amusement, but cut herself off when she noticed Piko's pale cheeks turn the lightest pink she had ever seen. The boy's eyes trailed after Rin, soft and focused. Maybe Piko didn't notice what he was doing, but Len and Miku sure did. Len let his own gaze slip to Miku, who had a frown plastered on her mouth.

Interesting development we have here, he decided, If that blush of Piko's is any indication, he seems to be falling for my crazy sister. Love at first sight is collecting around me lately.

Miku's thought were less straight-forward. She chose that, for now, she'd ignore that look Piko had. That sweet, entranced look that she had never seen on his face for any other person besides her. And even then, she only got smiled, laughs. This was a look of awe and adoration. She didn't like it.

"You three should sit down! The couches are really comfortable!" Rin told them as she busied herself with whatever drink she was preparing.

"What, do you sleep on the job or something? You shouldn't be relaxing on couches at work," Len scolded, but followed her advice, dragging Miku by the elbow. She yanked lazily out of his grip, offering a dark scowl. Clearly, she was in a foul mood now. Even Len didn't want to push his luck.

"Do you want another muffin, brother dearest?" Rin sang, letting her eyes narrow and her smile widen. Len vigorously shook his head, blond ponytail spinning strands of hair through the air.

"Thought as much," the girl laughed brightly.

/

Miku was thoroughly miserable when she arrived at home. Len had walked her to her door in the absence of Piko, who had remained at the coffee shop far past the time she and Len had. That blush he was developing never left, even as Miku glanced one last time through the café window. The sight of Rin and Piko talking and standing much, much too close together had prompted a quick whirl of the head in an attempt to ignore the scene she had witnessed. Her heart tightened with each step she took beside the blond idol as they got farther away from that café, farther from Piko and Rin, who had been left alone.

Miku wasn't ignorant. She wasn't going to lie to herself either. Piko clearly liked Rin. It didn't matter how she felt, but she thought Piko had returned her feelings. They had always been so close. Miku was the only one who could help Piko smile and laugh, the only one who held his hand and feel asleep next to him on the couch when they stayed up late watching a movie. She was the one who stole food from his plate playfully. He was the one who put snow down her back. He was the one who teased her about her cooking, her non-existent ability to apply make-up beyond mascara, her height. It wasn't fair.

But what could she do? Some high school crush; it would never be worth ruining a friendship over. No, she couldn't ever abandon Piko because he didn't feel the same. After all, they loved each other. Just… Not the same way.

Len seemed to notice her decline as they walked home. The slouch in her shoulders. The drag of her feet. Her eyes had become progressively dull as they continued, the same way the sun had lost its height in the sky over their heads. Sunset wasn't far off as Miku opened the front door, unaware of what she might face as she kicked away her shoes.

"Bye, Mi-chan. I'll bug you tomorrow," Len offered, grinning. She slammed the door, letting the noise ring inside her own skull.

"Shut up, Kagamine," she muttered, allowing her mood to completely deteriorate into a state of depression. She was cold, she was hungry, and she was still in her stupid uniform. With these complaints in mind, she shoved her shoes into the closet and turned into the living room, which lead into the kitchen. She failed to notice the light was on, attempting to hit the switch anyway. The fact it didn't change anything, let alone the room's lighting, didn't register in her brain as Miku crossed to the fridge, pulling out a leek. Her comfort food. However, something finally registered in her mind as she turned and noticed the person sitting at the table, her laptop placed before her. Eyes similar to Miku's own green pair turned to stare at the girl.

"Hello, Miku," the woman greeted.

Miku managed to choke out a single word.

"M-mom?"