Dreams
Chapter 27: The Man in Black Coat
"Good morning, Kaito!" Miku greeted from behind as she tried to catch up with the boy who was walking towards the school gates.
Knowing who it was, Kaito turned around and smiled warmly at her. "Good morning. You're early today."
"Of course, exams are around the corner so I'm having some sort of study session with some of my classmates," Miku casually replied as she held up a thick book which she had hugged earlier while walking to school. "Oh yes, did Meiko tell you about Rin?"
Kaito's eyebrows arched and he asked, "What is it about Kagamine?"
"Oh... Meiko hasn't tell you yet... Actually..." Miku paused and chewed her lower lip in hesitation. "Sadly to say... Rin has failed... you know, the audition... and... she left Meiko's house last night."
"So... she didn't make it." Kaito sighed to himself.
"That's not all," Miku continued in a worried expression. "Meiko tried to contact her because she was worried but no one picked up the telephone!"
"What?" Kaito shouted and immediately covered his mouth after realising a few people was staring at his way.
"Kaito, what if Rin can't accept the reality so she... she..."
"No... Rin would be fine."
Though Kaito was dead worried about Rin, all he could do was to answer positively. Yes, Rin would definitely be fine. She would not think of ways to hurt herself, or so he convinced himself.
"I hope so," Miku's voice quivered slightly. "Knowing Rin, she won't do anything stupid. I know she won't... I know she won't..."
"Won't what?" a familiar voice interrupted her all of a sudden, giving both Kaito and her a fright.
A blonde popped in front of them with large puppy eyes which seemed to dazzle under the morning sunlight. Kaito cleared his throat while Miku inhaled deeply and gaped at the blonde.
"Rin, you didn't do anything stupid, did you?" Miku yelled as she shoved her books towards Kaito and gave her blonde friend a big hug. "It must be hard on you but don't worry! There'll be a way for you! My mum always says there's route B when route A is blocked and there's route C when route B is blocked! So, it's fine if you fail!"
"Huh?"
"Kagamine, we'll support you all the way no matter what!" Kaito gave the blonde a determined look and patted her head. "Even if all the routes are blocked, we'll create a route for you by any means like breaking the barriers. As your friends, we will make sure that any one of the blocked routes will give way to you one day!"
The blonde stared blankly at her two seniors who suddenly seemed so passionate in breaking walls of whatever routes they were talking about.
"So... what are you guys talking about?"
-:-:-:-
"What? You... You passed?" Miku covered her mouth in surprised and after Rin nodded in reply, she started squealing and hopping excitedly on the spot. "Oh my god, Rin! You'll be famous!"
"H...h... hey..." Rin stammered shyly while Miku held on her shoulders and shook her.
"This is so great! Good for you, Rin!"
"Thank you..."
Letting go of her shoulders, Miku stole a glimpse at her own watch and gasped loudly. It was already time for the study session! She quickly snatched her books back from Kaito and bade them farewell before she left for the session. The two of them were left alone and this, nevertheless, brought awkwardness to Kaito. While Rin was busy waving to Miku's diminishing figure, he was trying very hard to find a topic to talk about, as usual.
"Ka... Kaga... Kagamine," he stuttered as he looked away, scratching the side of his head. "Since you're accepted, does that mean... you don't have to attend school anymore?"
"Hmm," Rin stopped waving and looked at Kaito. "Nope. My manager would be furious if she knows that I quit schooling."
If Rin was not observant enough, she would have missed a look of relief flashed briefly across Kaito's face as if he was trying to say 'thank goodness'. Rin rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times. Did Kaito really just made that face? But she did not want to go to school at all!
"Exams are around the corner. How's your preparations?" Kaito asked, changing the subject after realising he was being too obvious.
Upon hearing that, Rin looked away with a sour look. There was no way she had prepared them. Before that, she had always wanted to flunk those irritating modules and escape the living hell of that university. Thanks to Haku Yowanne, she had to pull up her socks and scrape through her course of study by houk or by coupe.
"You don't have to mention it," Rin winced and pouted. "I'll start studying from today onwards."
"Oh... if you need any help, you can always ask Hatsune."
Rin groaned and wrapped her arms around her abdomen. The thought of studying really made her feel nauseous.
"Yeah..."
-:-:-:-
"This is your daily schedule." Haku shoved a piece of paper to Rin and took another piece of paper out of her file. "And this is the list of trainings you're going to attend before your debut which is on... oh, it's next month."
Rin narrowed her eyes at her manager and mumbled softly, "What do you mean by 'oh, it's next month'? It doesn't sound... convincing at all."
"Huh?" Haku raised her voice as she leaned closer to Rin. "If you've a problem with the date of your first debut, tell it straight to the director."
"Ehh... nope. I'm cool with it," Rin answered hesitantly and looked away, hiding her crumpled face from Haku.
Clearing her throat, Haku continued in a monotone voice, "The director wants your first public appearance as a model, actually not really a debut though, to be made in a comedy variety show. Isn't that a great idea?"
Rin's head turned back quickly and faced the already smirking manager. Did she just say comedy variety show? What the hell was that? Did the director treat her modelling debut as a joke? She wanted to yell those questions out loud, but her mouth was hanging open and her jaw was totally stiffened by the so-called great idea.
"Before you start lashing out your five 'w's and one 'h' questions, I would like to add that the fashion designer who was supposed to make your outfit for that variety show has officially retired. So, for now, the director and I will try our best to find a new one while you've to concentrate on equipping yourself with the needed skills and you don't have to worry a thing."
She didn't have to worry a thing? Rin scowled. There was no way she did not have to worry about herself! Making her first debut in a comedy variety show? Who did they think she wanted to be? A comedian? A comedian-model?
"Why comedy?" Rin sulked. "Why not some sort of beauty contest?"
"And you think you could win?" Haku interjected and then chuckled. "I don't really mind though. There's a beauty contest called 'Japan no Hime' holding next month as well but..."
Rin knitted her eyebrows together as Haku purposely took a sip of coffee in the midst of her speech. Haku slowly put her mug down on her table and smiled at Rin.
"... Miss Luka Megurine is going to be in it."
Upon hearing that, Rin instantly knew her position as an amateur. Luka was beautiful and any outfits would look good on her no matter how plain they were. The obvious winner would definitely be Luka, even a dumb person would know that. As an amateur, she had no chance of winning at all.
"Don't be disheartened, Miss Kagamine. I'm sure that the director has a plan for you," Haku said and checked her watch. "Oh, it's late now. Would you like to have our dinner in the nearby udon shop?"
"We're eating out again?"
"Why? Do you have a problem with it?" Haku bellowed and flashed her a glare. "Or would you like to have biscuits for dinner?"
Rin gulped and shook her head rapidly. Haku took out her spectacles from her pocket and put it on before walking away. It was rare for Haku to put on her spectacles unless she was working, Rin thought. Anyway, spectacles did make people look cool, just like Len...
"Stop standing there, Miss Ka..."
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Rin shouted and mentally slapped for suddenly thinking of Len. "Miss Yowane, please... call me Rin."
Haku tilted her head nonchalantly and asked, "What's with you? There's no difference in addressing you..."
"I'm younger than you and it just feels weird that... I mean, we're working together from on so being too formal is weird," Rin spoke softly and gave Haku an uncertain smile.
Haku clicked her tongue and muttered something under her breath which Rin found hard to hear.
Finally, Haku stopped muttering and stuttered aloud,"R... Rin, I'm maybe older than you bu... but... I'm not old. Jus... Just saying."
Surprised by the new response from her manager, Rin gawked at her and then giggled. Maybe Haku disliked that the fact she was in her early thirties and being with Rin really made her feel so old. That was why she kept addressing Rin so formally like she was around the same age as her. Haku could be cute at times.
"What? Let's go!" Haku snapped and walked ahead.
Rin nodded with a grin and followed behind. As they walked along the hallway, a tall man wearing a thick brown coat and a black hat walked out of a room located near the far end of the hallway. Suddenly, Haku stopped walking, causing Rin to crash onto her back.
Rin rubbed her nose and groaned, "Miss Yowane, what..."
Rin stopped after seeing Haku's shocked expression. She shifted her gaze to the front and noticed that the man who Haku was staring at was walking towards the end the hallway with his large back facing them, then he turned to his left and disappeared from their view.
"Miss Yowane..."
"Rin," Haku said breathily while still staring at the far end of the empty hallway. "You go first. I've to check something out. Please meet me at the lobby on the first floor."
Before Rin could say anything, Haku shoved her files to Rin and ran ahead to catch up with the man. Rin looked at the files and sighed. Haku was definitely behaving weirdly. That man's light grey little ponytail and body figure looked familiar... Where did she see that man before?
Hi! I'm back with another chapter! I would like to thank those who had waited very patiently for this chapter and those who reviewed Chapter 26. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D
Here are the reviewers:
- YellowFluffiesForever22
- Retorica
- ImOfficiallyAwesome
- mirrors02
- Guest (Chapter 26 reviewer): Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I really appreciate it. I don't blame you for not liking Rin x Len pairing because everyone has his or her own taste or opinion, instead I am amazed that you had spent the time reading this fanfic till the latest chapter (Chapter 26 at that moment) even though you felt that this fanfic was an absolute crap.
- PiscesAquamarine12
- B.L
- SHUTUPANDDON'TCALLMESHORT
Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story.
Preview of the next chapter:
Chapter 28: Pink
"Who should I side with this time?" Meiko turned to look at Gakupo with beads of tears rolling down her cheeks, which shocked him terribly as he had never seen her like this before; she was always strong and crazy, in a good way though.
Feeling lost, he muttered her question out loud, "Side with... who?"
"Miku likes Kaito..."
Gakupo nodded. "Yeah, I know that."
"But... he... he likes Rin."
"What?" Gakupo exclaimed and held Meiko's shoulder. "Since when?"
Meiko sniffed hard and suddenly her head fell backwards, causing her whole body to fall off the high chair and sprawl on the floor. Stunned, Gakupo got up from his seat and squatted down next to her.
"Hey! Sakine! Meiko Sakine!"
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