"Miku, you could go back to the limelight!"
But she doesn't want to return to that life again. Miku is content with her life, and she doesn't want to change it. Sure, her old life was fun, but now that persona was no longer her own. It belongs to the fans, and Miku can't change that. No one could change that.
So when Meiko just told her that she'll be a secret guest for the Nyaa-chan and SeeU concert, it feels like a betrayal to Miku, so she've been kicked out.
Now, it was up to Miku to try to fix this, but the problem with that is that Nyaa-chan and SeeU havenn't been answering her e-mails, texts, and phone calls no matter what.
Miku could just leave this concert alone and pretend that it never happened, but at the thought of these 'Miku is real?' rumors running around the internet gives her a headache, so the least she could do is attempt to lessen the impact of that.
The only way to do that is to go to that concert and tell them that she doesn't want that life, that they shouldn't drag her into these kinds of plans ever again. It wasn't the best plan, but it was a plan. Especially when she was given a VIP backstage ticket and a +1 ticket. Ha! Why does she need a plus one?
Under a pair of glasses and a brown bob haircut, Miku was always surprise that nobody recognizes her, even in this overstuffed train cart, but it's partially a blessing for her.
Her gaze was glued to her phone at the moment, hoping that those two would send a text or an e-mail to her soon and they could pretend this never happened. Miku was certain sticking herself in the corner of the train cart might give her some protection from being squished by strangers, but the train apparently has other plans in stored for her.
At the sudden shift of the train, people were suddenly pushed towards the left, and one of them happened to be sent her way.
"Eek!" Miku managed to squeak out, finding herself encaged by two arms and the wall pressed against her back.
"Sorry about th-"
Miku managed to make eye contact with the man in front of her, and in an instant, the froggy man turned a bright shade of red, contrasting with his green, plaid shirt.
"I-I-I'm so sorry about that. I-I-I'll-" He attempted to slowly move away from her, but there was a sudden push from the crowd, causing the two to lightly brush against each other as the man pulled all his strength into stopping from being pushed into her any further.
What is this? A cheesy romance manga? Miku thought, watching the man seemingly die in front of her.
"I-I-I'm sorry. I-I-I'm not going this on purpose. I-I-I swear." The man nervously said, trying to keep himself separated by an arm's length.
She can tell, with how much he's shaking. He wasn't even looking at her as his eyes dart around like a game of ping pong.
Miku kind of wanted to push him away too, but she felt like if she touched him, he would certainly just... explode. Like just explode into a million pieces right there and then.
So, this became the most awkward train ride she had ever experience in her entire life as it became a series of quiet apologies as the froggy man tried not to touch her for the whole thing.
...And oh boy, the experience doesn't end there.
Apparently, they're going to the same place. Miku should have guessed that from the fact that the man is carrying around Nyaa-chan merchandise, but she was a little too distracted by the froggy man himself to notice right away.
Comparatively, the walk to concert was much less awkward, but the man was a constant reminder of that train event every time Miku noticed him in the corner of her eye. It's kind of worst that he's right behind her in the line.
As she pass by the bodyguard, Miku froze when she heard, "Wait! I swear I have it with me!"
Turning around, she could see the man in green panicking as he checked every pocket he has on his person.
Miku should walk away. Miku should have just left him there, but the sight of him crying made her broke down. At least she has a use for that plus one now.
At first, it felt like this day was just going down hill for Choromatsu; Osomatsu bragging about hanging out with that brown-haired lady (who looks oddly familiar now that he thinks about it), having one of the most awkward train ride in the world with a pretty girl, and then he have to lose his ticket for the Nyaa-chanXSeeU collaboration concert.
He was certain that the bodyguard would have kicked him out of the line if she haven't came to his rescue. The girl from before, the girl with the most beautiful, green eyes...
"Oh wait, sorry, he's my plus one." There, in her petite hand was an extra VIP ticket.
It was as if she was an... idol goddess. An idol goddess who rescued him out of a shitty day.
It was like he was on cloud nine as he was guided to the backstage with his idol goddess by his side.
Normally, he would have questioned the fact that they're doing this before the concert starts, but who cares? He gets to be the first one to see Nyaa-chan. This is the best day in his entire life!
His heart felt like it was ran a race against Jyushimatsu as he drew closer and closer to Nyaa-chan's dressing room.
"Hey- gack!"
"...cosplayer?" Choromatsu stared at the girl who looked exactly like SeeU.
"Why, yes, she's one nyan. Just trying to get a few more practices in before I dance with the hologram nyan." Seeing Nyaa-chan right in front of him caused him to be nearly distracted away from the fact that the SeeU cosplayer is dragging the brown-haired girl into a corner of the room, just away from his sight.
Not that it was needed because the world could be burning and he would still be distracted by the fact that Nyaa-chan is right in front of him. Even with Nyaa-chan's strained smile, Choromatsu was still content.
"When you got that plus one ticket, I thought you were going to bring one of your friends, not a total stranger." He could hear the SeeU cosplayer whisper.
"Look, you have been ignoring my tests, e-mails, and calls since this whole mess started. I'm only here to make sure you know that I don't want to be involved with all of this. He just happened to be along for the ride. Besides, why do I have to reveal myself? You're the one who started all of this." The brown-haired girl said, not really trying to keep this conservation a secret.
"You're infinitely more popular than me. That guy literally thought I was a cosplayer. I'm sure if you do this first, then people would believe our existence a lot more than if I did."
"You do realize that I don't even look like my old self anymore, right?"
"Do you really think we would come unprepared for that?"
For a moment, Choromatsu looked away from his dear Nyaa-chan to see what's going on back there, but the voice of his idol draws him back.
"Do you think you can get me some water nyan?"
"Y-Yes-!" Choromatsu felt chills down his back as he felt a hand grasping his sleeve.
"Let's go." The brown-haired girl said, trying to pull him towards the door.
He felt extremely conflicted on who he should listen to, looking back to back on them.
"Hey, you can't just go! How about just a costume change? Just try it." The SeeU cosplayer raised a green, pigtailed wig. "Maybe just try on the wig."
"Look, if I didn't want to do all of this, why would I want to wear- hey!" The girl try to swat her away, but somehow the wig was able to be place upon her head, and her brown hair effortlessly disappeared under that wig.
"See, doesn't she look nice?" The blond girl turned to Choromatsu, expecting from something from him.
Choromatsu blushed a little bit brighter. "Um... Y-Yeah-"
"Don't drag him into this!"
"You did it first!"
"Now girls, we don't have time to fight nyan." Nyaa-chan tried to separate the two. "We still have a few minutes before the concert."
"Miku, just do it! You can have your life back." Her blue eyes soften for a moment until Choromatsu repeated, "...Miku?" Her eyes widen in realization at the fact.
Choromatsu looked back at the girl wearing the wig... She looks just like Hatsune Miku. In fact, she looks exactly like her. His mind told him that the girl also sounds like a non-robotic Hatsune Miku, but Choromatsu reminded himself that the internet icon is not a real person. Maybe the two are friends and 'Miku' used to be a former cosplayer. Yeah, that makes so much more sense, right?
"I-I mean... You look like her..." Choromatsu felt like he has to say something with all these cute girls staring at him. "Were you also a cosplayer? ...Because I think it would be a pretty good cospl-"
The girl suddenly threw the wig onto the ground and left with a loud slam from the door.
"We'll use the hologram." Nyaa-chan told... 'SeeU' who went limp.
Then Nyaa-chan approached Choromatsu, causing him to go stiff, with a decorative paper bag. "I'm sorry about all this... drama nyan. Can you talk not talk about this to others, pretty please nyan?"
"O-Of course!"
Even with all the confusion, Choromatsu still enjoyed the concert, especially with the artistic use of the SeeU hologram, but at the same time, Choromatsu still have lingering thoughts about what happened in the dressing room.
He could remember his (shiver) high school days when Vocaloids became a thing. Even though his family still has no normal access to a computer at time, Choromatsu were able to hear about them through others and use the school computer at his own private time. Not that private time, mind you. Anyway, he've only known Vocaloid as these popular voice synthesizers with anime character representations, and he may or may not had a crush on the most popular one, Hatsune Miku. Who didn't? ...Right?
Anyway, he was certain that they're not real. There's no way for them to be real, right?
"Hey," Choromatsu nearly jumped to the sky at the sound of the brown-haired girl's voice.
Just as Choromatsu exit out of the concert hall, there she was, waiting by the exit.
After a wordless stammer, Choromatsu managed to say, "...Were you waiting for me?"
I'm pretty sure the concert was two hours long. Choromatsu briefly thought, though the idea that she would wait for him was rather... flattering.
"The entire time here? No." She admitted. "You know there's a shopping area here, right?"
"Ah, yes..." How the hell is he being calm about all of this?! She's actually real! Physically real! As in a physically, humanly real! He should just explode at the very idea that she's real and right in front of him! And talking to him of all people in the entire universe.
"Over my time to myself, I thought it's best that I should apologize for dragging you into... all of that."
"Oh, no. No. It's alright. I was able to meet Nyaa-chan after all." Choromatsu rubbed the back of his neck. "A-And I got the chance to meet you, so that's a big bonus!"
"Still, it must be disappointing for you to find out that such an internet icon became such a cranky lady."
At his stunned silent, the brown-haired girl said, "You've thought of it at least once, right?"
"I-I mean... maybe." Choromatsu quickly shook his head. "Wait, wait, you're not a cranky lady. Er... um... you just seem a little... stressed?"
She stared at him, as if he waiting for him to ask some questions. By all means, Choromatsu definitely does have a bunch of questions, but he's apparently talking to an actual Vocaloid here, and it's the most famous one in fact. ...the most famous one that he happened to have a crush on since high school. Oh God.
"I'll... be on my way." She said, turning away.
"Y-Yeah..." Choromatsu's mouth felt dry, but he managed out. "...M-M-Miss Hatsune."
Choromatsu was worried he've said too much, but she've simply waved back at him without turning back. He could only stare back, wishing that maybe someday he could meet her again.
No way, there's no way I could get that lucky. Choromatsu reminded himself, walking his way back home.