Geeze, guys. Someone should've thought to nag me about finishing this chapter...

I was thinking about making the chapters a bit shorter but updating more often, since my usual word goal is getting a bit too stressful to manage. Anyone against this?

So I have no idea what it's like to be in a relationship. Quite frankly, I've never been interested in getting a boyfriend (or a girlfriend, I guess. IDK really). So if I'm not writing this well, blame it on lack of experience. I've always thought of Miku as someone who would act a bit overly affectionate in a relationship, so that's what I was going for.

I have a few loose ends to tie up and then there's the big finish. I might even reach twenty chapters! It all depends on how long the chapters are, really.

Review if you will. I'm glad to see so many reviews! Each one makes me smile a little, no matter how short! It shows someone out there still has some interest in this story.

/

Miku was astonished to see Yoshida Mayu of all people on Len's campus. One glance at the girl nearly sent her into shock. A second glance and a realization sent her into a spiral of shame. Miku never thought the wheelchair would be a long term thing. But here they were, years later. The sight made Miku sick. She had done that. What kind of monster could do that?

Apparently, whatever kind of monster Miku was.

After exchanging those two simple sentences, Miku didn't know what to do. They both remained silent, eyes locked as Len, Yukari, and Aria stared between them. Other people who had witnessed Miku and Len's earlier interaction watched intently as though they were viewing the latest episode of a TV show. Quite honestly, Miku wondered if her life would make a good sitcom. Everything that could go wrong seemed to. Not to mention the romantic troubles. Who knew love triangles actually existed?

Len's hand silently found hers, offering wordless support as Mayu continued to hold her gaze. The girl was visibly distressed, though held onto that well. No one Miku knew was actually very good at controlling their emotions.

"Peace, then?" Mayu offered the suggestion lightly. Miku wanted to instantly jump on the idea but letting go of what happened what far easier said than done. How could you just simply forgive years of physical and mental torment? Then again, Mayu was willing to forgive her actions.

With a hint of hesitation, Miku allowed herself a nod. "Yeah. Peace." Her own hand extended, seconds later clasped by Mayu's and shaken once. A decisive move. Mayu's skin was soft and warm, though Miku should feel the tremor in her arm.

"Goodbye, then," Mayu said, releasing her hand. What else was left to say? Though they had made up, the two would never be friends. With a history like theirs, how could they? Leaving it at that was pretty much as close to perfect as they would ever get.

Miku turned to Len as Mayu left, her head bent to rest her forehead on his shoulder. There was a moment of silence before Len spoke up.

"Need to go home?" he asked.

"Your house," Miku replied. "It's been a tough day."

Len nodded, glancing to Yuzuki and Aria. "I'll text you guys later."

The girls agreed, Aria shooting him a bright grin that foretold much teasing in the future. There was a joke among the three that Len would never get a girlfriend due to his lack of interest in an actual relationship. Even if he did, it would look weird for him to act affectionate with her in public.

"You'd better," Yuzuki threatened lightly as the group parted ways. Len forced Miku to raise her head, keep their hands linked gently as he led her off the campus. It was almost amusing how many odd looks were sent their way. Who cared if everyone saw two girls? They knew the truth and they were comfortable with it, though Miku would really rather have Len dress as a boy.

"You're acting so strange," Len told her. "Not that I mind. After all, you did just kiss me, which was damn unexpected."

"Thanks. I try," Miku drawled. "Strange circumstances result in me acting strange."

"It seems that any circumstances involving you end up strange," Len said.

"This is coming from the cross-dressing super idol," Miku replied, smirking. She allowed herself to shift a bit closer to Len as they walked, enjoying the heat shared between the two. It suddenly seemed okay to be close to him, as though no one would question it. Especially not Len. All the same, Miku felt his confused gaze on her, choosing to ignore it. After all, affection wasn't something Len was used to receiving from Miku.

"You really have had a tough day," Len decided. Miku nodded, letting them slip into a natural, content silence.

/

The pair arrived on the doorstep of Len's large house about ten minutes later. Rin's bicycle was thrown across the front steps, orange tire rims catching the light brightly and shining directly into Miku's eyes.

Len unlocked the door, calling out his entrance to the building. "I'm going to go check on Mom," Len told Miku. "I'm sure Rin's dying to see you. She should be in her room studying. Remember where it is?"

"Yeah," Miku replied. Len split off from her, up to his mother's room. With a sigh, Miku kicked off her shoes and piled her winter clothes into the front closet. Her hair clung to her uniform with static and her cheeks still burned red from the cold outside. The heat of the house was a welcome blessing.

With some amount of trepidation, Miku climbed the stairs to find Rin. She couldn't imagine the reaction she was going to get from the girl. Had Len told her about their argument? Miku couldn't imagine it, but Rin could turn into some sort of crazy mama bear (although Len was her brother, not her son) and chew her out for acting like a complete bitch. There was no other word for her, really. But maybe Len hadn't said anything. Miku still had cause to be a bit twitchy. It was Rin, after all. She and Teto had something in common; neither understood personal space. Miku liked her personal space.

Of course, the blond girl's first reaction was a tackle-hug that made Miku's knees weak.

"Hello, Mi-chan! I'm glad you came to visit!" she squealed. Rin's face brightened considerably, whether because seeing Miku cheered her up or because she had a distraction from studying, Miku couldn't tell. Probably a bit of both.

"It's good to see you again, Rin," Miku told her as she awkwardly returned the hug. Miku wasn't much of a hugger on her best day. Somehow, though, she felt Rin deserved a hug after naïvely putting up with Miku for a while now.

"I was studying!" Rin informed Miku when she finally released her, picking up the desk chair she had knocked over in her excitement.

"I can see that," Miku said.

"I'm pre-med!" the blond girl announced proudly. Miku's eyes scanned the large textbooks piled atop one another, flinching at the idea of lugging them around a college campus between classes.

"That's right," Miku replied. "I forgot." She couldn't imagine Rin having the stamina or the patience to attempt a degree in medicine, but maybe Miku didn't know Rin as well as she thought.

"It's hell but it's fun, too," Rin exclaimed, straightening her papers under the watchful eye of Miku. "That sentence pretty much sums up my school experience."

"Yeah," Miku agreed.

"How long do you plan on staying?" Rin asked turning large, pleading eyes on Miku. The teal-haired teen could see the hope in those eyes, begging her to stay and keep the Kagamines company.

Miku shrugged. "I don't know. A while, probably."

Rin's face broke into a grin. "Great! You should stay for dinner!" All at once, Miku felt the older girl's hand in hers and was being pulled toward the door. "Let's play a game!" A yelp of protest was all Miku could manage before she was dragged downstairs.

/

Next chapter is set for today or tomorrow. After that, chapter twenty should be tomorrow or the next day. Unless I magically work for the next few hours and get all those chapters out today...