Chapter 9: That Meeting Place

Meiko's POV

"I'm sorry Sakine-san, but I don't like you that way." Len told me and was going to leave. I stopped him and grabbed his arm.

"Who is it...", I said looking down.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Who is the girl you love?" I said with the tears on my eyes, on the verge of falling.

He paused for a while.

"Kagamine Rin."

My chest fell. Why was it always her? Why? Ever since she came here, I always became second. She got the lead role I want. Now, even the guy I like? It's unfair!

"Why? Why must it always be her? She gets everything I want! She's too lucky!" I ranted.

"She's not lucky. She's much more unfortunate than you think. She doesn't get what she wants, a family, many friends... You're luckier." he says. I was left speechless. She's... an orphan like Len and Lenka?

"She's alone, though she has a guardian. That's the reason why I love her. She smiles like nothing is wrong, and it made me want to protect her. She also carried the responsibilities of her parents, which made her have double work now."

Rin is... a great girl. She's tough. I saw how Lenka and Len behaved when they lost parents, and it's the total opposite of what Rin shows right now. Considering her responsibilities, studies are much of a burden. I feel bad for giving her a hard time because of my jealousy. At least, I know, Len is going to safe hands. I don't envy her now, I admire her.

"She's cool." I mumbled.

"Isn't she? Oh crap. I need to chase her."

I gave him a light push. "Catch her! Don't let her feel sad!"

He walked towards the doorway. He paused for a while and faced me. "Sakine-san, thank you!" he told me and smiled. He continued to run out of the place.

Orphan? Responsibility? I guess she is who Hagane is looking for.

Sorry for betraying you, Len.

Len's POV

I ran to the classroom first. I found Lenka and asked her.

"So Len-kun made her sad! She said she was going home early, she wasn't feeling well. I know something bad happened, and if I'm correct, you have something to do with this right?" she nagged. Man, why is this girl such of a nagger? Now I know why Rinto always scolds her.

"Sorry about this, Lenka. I'll fix this." I apologized and left.

I asked permission from Kaito-sensei that I will leave. I ran to our house.

At the house...

"Miku-nee-san! Have you seen Rin?", I asked her. She was sweeping in the living room.

"Oh, Rin went to her favorite place. She's sad, right? There's this secret place in the park where she goes to have some air. I don't know that place, but I know she's been going there ever since she was a child."

A voice rang in my head.

I go here whenever I'm sad. This is my secret place, don't tell anyone okay?

I think I know where to go.

Rin's POV

I'm sitting here under the tree in a hidden part of the park. I call this my secret place. That scene I saw was... painful.

I'll tell you another secret. I love Len.

I begin to sing. "I'm glad I didn't fall in love with you from the start~"

Tears start to fall from my face. "Was the lie that followed~", I sang with a rough voice.

Maybe I shouldn't love. I'm always getting hurt in the end.

"Seka~i de~ ichiban ohime-sama~ Sou iu~ atsukai~ kokoro e te~ darou~" (TL: The world's number one princess. I know by heart how to treat you that way.)

I heard a male's singing voice. This voice is familiar...

"Len?"

"I knew it. You were here." he said and smiled. That heartwarming smile.

I was to wipe my tears when he suddenly pulled me gently and...

He hugged me. I blushed tenfold shades of red.

"L-len..."

"You can cry if you want. I'm very sorry for earlier." he said. I just cried in his chest and he patted my back.

He let me go and wiped my tears. "This seems like déjà vu. You're that girl right? The one singing the song about the robot and the scientist."

Now I remember. I knew those familiar eyes.

Flashback, seven years ago...

I escaped from the mansion. Wow! This is the first time I got out! The outside world is beautiful!

I went to a park. There was a wide center area for people. I saw a path leading to a place full of trees. There was an isolated tree in the side, so I settled there to rest. I loved that spot, so I made it my secret place.

One day, I went to my secret place. Whenever I'm sad, I just expressed it through singing.

My parents didn't want me to sing. Not unless they secure a heir to their business. I was so sad since I loved singing.

"Sore wa kokoro to iu~ puroguramu~" I sang.

"Eh. Who are you? Why are you here?" a boy looking like me around my age suddenly appeared behind me.

"I go here whenever I'm sad. This is my secret place, so don't tell anyone okay?" I told him. He nodded.

He sat beside me. "Why are you sad? What happened?"

I remembered my problems again. A tear fell from my eyes.

"Umm-"

I was about to wipe my tears when he pulled me into a hug. I blushed hard. It was the first time a boy hugged me.

"You can cry if you want. Mama says that hugs make sad people feel better." he comfortingly said. I just cried everything on his chest.

He let me go, and wipe my tears. "They say people who always cry get old faster. So smile!" he said and smiled. I blushed, and flashed a smile at him.

In appreciation, I sang for him. I taught him the song and he when he learned it, we sang together.

We bid farewell, in so much fun we forgot to ask each other's names. But I was sure I would never forget him.

End Flashback

"You were... that boy..." I said, surprised with the sudden realization.

"I actually returned here to see you but you weren't here."

"Because they caught me escaping, and there were small chances of escape." I said and laughed.

"Now you're smiling. You won't grow old fast now." he said and grinned.

"You even remember that? Silly!", I told him.

We stayed there for a while. We talked, sang, and even practiced our lines.

I'm glad I loved him. In a glimpse, I forgot what I was sulking about.