Chapter Thirty-Nine

-Miku-

"Miku! There you are!" I hear from the left of me the moment I walk into the restaurant. Luka was right- the place is incredibly elegant. I'm glad I stopped at home and changed into something nice. I can see that Miki did the same- her fashion sense, along with Luka's, is truly something enviable.

I turn around to face the direction of the voice- and it seems to be coming from Piko. Miki turns around. I watch her swallow down some kind of nervous expression as she stays close to my right shoulder.

"Piko! Hi!" I call back with a grin as I outstretch my arms to wrap mine around him. He looks sharp- his black slim-fitting tuxedo looks flawless with his silvery white hair.

"You look beautiful," he says, leaning over to peck my cheek. All I can do is smile, though on the inside, I feel as if my heart just completely burst into confetti. Pink, heart-shaped confetti. I can feel the spot where he kissed me warming up with a rosy blush.

"You look handsome," I compliment him, my hand on his shoulder as we both sit down. Miki pulls at her red hair and fidgets awkwardly as she sits down beside me.

"Miki, it's been a while," Piko says, his face a mix between a smile and a frown, "I'm sorry. It's totally my fault that I didn't call you or anything. I've been a terrible friend."

"P-Piko, n-no!" Miki stammers, holding out her hand as she accidently drops the napkin that she was folding onto her lap. She quickly scrambles to pick it up and smooth it back onto her lap. I guess confidence around your ex is easier said than done. "I'm sorry!" she contorts her eyebrows.

"Hey, Miki, don't apologize. You didn't ever do anything," he smiles at her. Miki looks down and fumbles with her fork and knife.

"I… Well…" she mumbles. Piko only smiles.

"Well, I'm sure you didn't come here to apologize, so let's talk," he suggests, leaning forward across the table. Just as he does so, Luka, Rin, Gumi, Len, and Kaito all come walking toward our table.

"Guess who's here!" Luka wears a dazzling grin, sitting down as the rest do the same. I grin back. "Len's car didn't wanna cooperate, but we managed," she explains. Rin giggles as she untangles her arm from Len's as they slide into their seats. Aww, how cute! That's right… Luka had something to tell me about those two… I'll have to find a time to ask her.

"So this is the Miki Furukawa you guys have been talking about!" Gumi grins, her eyes widening. This grabs Miki's attention as she seems to loosen up. "I totally remember you! Oh my god!" Gumi's smile widens, as do her emerald eyes.

"It's been like… forever!" Miki chuckles, reaching out her hand for a hand shake. Instead, Gumi slaps her a high five. Miki only laughs further. I can't help but snort and laugh as well at Gumi's warming silliness. "You're… Gumi Megpoid, right?" Miki holds her breath. By the expression on her face, I can tell that she's silently waiting for her punishment for an incorrect guess.

"No, I'm Bob!" Gumi rolls her eyes with a laugh, "Of course I'm Gumi Megpoid! Who can forget this face?" she flips her hair. I swear I can see Kaito facepalming out of the corner of my eye. Even Luka chuckles.

"Oh! And you're the Kagamines!" Miki gasps, smiling at Rin and Len.

"Ah, they don't like to be called that. They're just Rin and Len," Kaito quickly interrupts with a wave of his hand, saving the two the trouble. I watch as Rin and Len exchange a glance as they both give the smallest of smiles and the tiniest hints of a shrug.

"And you are Kaito Shion," Miki raises an eyebrow, pointing at Kaito. He nods, an expression I can't read brushing over his features. It's almost like he just told her "call me" without even saying anything… Jeez.

"That's me," he says coolly, leaning back in his chair as his blue eyes twinkle.

"Yeah…" Gumi huffs, slouching in her seat as her stares daggers into her water glass.

"Don't slouch in the restaurant," Luka advises her, giving her an underlining pat on the back. Gumi sighs and sits up as Miki and I exchange a glance.

"So, Miku, tell me, how did it feel being up there?" Piko asks, directing the conversation toward a different route.

"Great," I answer, after taking a moment to think.

"You sure did look great," he chuckles with a raise of his eyebrows, "I'm proud of you. And Miki, you too," he adds, looking over at her. She looks up, her lips slightly parted as she blinks. Piko tilts his head slightly.

"Oh! T-Thank you! Thankyousomuch!" Miki suddenly gasps, almost as if she forgot to say thank you. I give her a confused smile. "Oh, uh, waitress's here!" she suddenly says, her wide eyes darting to the side.

We all glance over at the waitress, a tall curly blonde who wears a beautiful silver choker around her neck. She's dressed in white with a black apron as she hands each of us a menu. Only now do I notice the ghastly expressions on Rin and Len's faces as they stare at the woman. It's almost as if the two are apparitions.

"Hello, my name is Ann, and I will be serving you all tonight," she smiles, looking around at our table. Her eyes suddenly stop midgaze at the two. "Oh, hi, Rin," she says to Rin, "And hello, Len," she adds, confusion adding to the emotions that seem to dance across her face.

"You know her?" Gumi asks, almost slamming her water glass down, "Cool!"

"Yes, she's our um… our… m-"

"We're closely related," Rin cuts off Len before he can say anything else.

"You sure do look like it," Luka's blue eyes dart between the three, observing and comparing their features. I admit… I have to agree.

"Oh, thank you," Ann smiles warmly, reaching over to refill Gumi's empty water glass. Gumi gives her a nod in thanks. "I'm their mother, long story," Ann sort of chuckles, "But I'm sure they've told you guys." I look around at all the petrified faces in our group. "I'll be back in a second," Ann tells us, darting around and walking away.

"Is she like… serious?" Gumi gasps, smashing her hands on the table. Luka shrugs and nods. "You guys were like… brother and sister and didn't bother to tell us?"

"Gumi! Don't shout in the restaurant," Luka reprimands her, patting her shoulder twice. Len and Rin sink down in their seats as looks of horror freeze their faces.

"How are you so cool about this whole thing?" Gumi directs her gawk at Luka.

"I knew about it," Luka admits.

"You knew about it?" Len and Rin both gasp at the same time. Luka nods. "Guys, we're so sorry," Rin grimaces, "We just didn't know how to tell you, so we…"

"We didn't," Len finishes for her, taking hold of her hand.

"Oh my god!" Gumi screeches, practically fuming, "And here I was, shipping the two of you when you were brother and sister?" Len and Rin both blush furiously at the comment and tear their hands away from each other.

"Well, who's the older one?" Kaito asks, swinging his wrist around.

"Does that matter?" Gumi growls.

"Don't be so bipolar."

"We're twins."

"This is ridiculous."

"Why didn't you tell us before? We're your friends!"

"I was freaking shipping them!"

"I thought I was the only one!"

"I shipped them HARD!"

"I'm just confused."

"Nobody asked you!"

Soon, our whole table is freaking out over the entire situation, even Piko and Miki. It takes the whole of me not to scream over their voices. Instead, I push myself up off the table and scatter away from the commotion. My eyes dart around for a second, searching for the perfect get-away. Ah-hah, the bathroom! I hurriedly make my way over to the bathroom and splash a bit of water onto my face.

I stare hollowly into the mirror at my blank reflection. What has gotten into my friends? How long have Rin and Len been hiding the fact that they were twins? I swear I've seen them kiss before… Something about these facts slightly angers me. How is our waitress their mother when I've been over to both Rin and Len's houses and met their perfectly normal parents? Well, at least I've met Rin's parents. Last time I was over Len's house, he had a babysitter. Still, it's always possible that they were adopted! Suddenly, as I think through this option, it really begins to clear up as the only one that makes sense.

This had to be what Luka wanted to tell me!

Speak of the devil. Suddenly, the bathroom door swings open, and in it stands Luka, twirling her long pink hair around in her fingers. "Miku, are you okay?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say, taking in a deep breath and letting it out.

"I uh, I ordered for you. Is that alright?" Luka tilts her head.

"What'd you get?" I anticipate her answer.

"Come on, there was only one item on that huge fancy expensive menu that had leeks in it. I knew right away that was probably what you would want anyway."

"You know me so well," I ruffle her shoulder.

"It's stew," she explains, leading me back to the table. "You know how I hate stew, but this actually looks good, believe me." I can't help but smile.

"Are the twins okay?" I ask, testing out what it feels like to feel the phrase roll off my tongue.

"They're fine. A little ruffled, but fine. Gumi's still furious, Miki and Piko are still confused, and Kaito is still nonchalant about it, so, not much has changed. I have to admit, though, when I first heard about it, I was a bit shocked too," Luka says.

"And how exactly did you get this news?" I sing as we near our table.

"I have my sources," Luka checks her nails with a grin as we take our seats. I roll my eyes.

It's somewhat awkward though, since our table is completely silent. I guess the fuming look on Gumi's face is loud enough. Len and Rin's cheeks are still both stained with salmon pink. They keep on glancing awkwardly at each other and then at the ceiling, and then at each other again, and then at their place settings.

"Hey, you guys alright?" Piko asks, his eyebrows a bit furrowed.

"Yeah," Rin and Len both answer at the same time, avoiding each other's eyes.

"Hopefully when our food comes it'll be less awkward," Miki giggles in my ear. I nod my head twice.

"I didn't know Ann works here," Rin shrugs, trying to break the silence.

"Yeah, me neither. I guess it's just something to pay the bills," Len reasons. Rin nods solemnly, her gaze seeming to be stuck in the decision of whether or not to face us all or to rest on the tabletop. Both of the twins fold their hands and place them in front of them at the same time.

"The weather is nice," Rin comments mechanically.

"Indeed," Len clears his throat with a nod.

"Oh my god, this has gone too far," Gumi sighs, resting her cheek on her fist. "I'm sorry guys, I really shouldn't have got so mad. Seriously, you guys can be twins if you wanna be twins, there's nothing I can do to change it. I guess the ship just sank, but whatever. I'll just have to go back to shipping Luka and that guy we saw at the mall the other day," Gumi fake-sobs.

"What?" Luka shrieks, almost as if she had seen a spider. Gumi giggles. "No way! Not that kid! He's everywhere!" Luka claims.

"Why hello there," I hear a voice behind my head. Miki and I both turn around to see a pink-haired, sharp-faced guy about our age wearing a dress shirt and khakis.

"How the…. What?" Luka nearly faints.

"Is this the 'kid'?" I quote her. Piko's shoulders bounce up and down in silent laughter.

"Yes!" Luka whispers, not able to look away.

"Hey babe," he chuckles, pulling up a chair and sitting next to her. She almost reels over in disgust.

"Yuma, what the heck are you doing here?" she demands.

"Chillin'. What about you?"

"What do you mean? I'm just out with my friends celebrating their wonderful job in the fashion show. I should be asking why you're here!"

"Oh, I get it," he leans back in his seat, "I'm here because of that show too."

"You weren't in it and I'm praying you don't have a sister!" Luka points out.

"Ah, but see, why exactly wouldn't the designer's son join him in the afterparty?"

Luka pretty much dies right about there.

I apologize for any mistakes! Wish me luck on my test on Wednesday!