Len could not believe what was about to happen.

He returned his gaze at the front, to where her very own guitar rested on its stand in the stage. A microphone in its stand was placed a few metres in front of it.

He turned his head again to Gakupo, eyes wide open with anxiety, and check if he was not hallucinating—

"Yeah, I'm not kidding! Even Kai was surprised she rocked up with a guitar strapped on her in the first day of rehearsals." Gakupo calmly explained, a direct juxtapost on Len's shocked expression.

"She's finally using it after all these years…" Len intended to only keep that thought to himself. Yet when he was pulled back by the sight of the guitar, he unconsciously said it out loud.

Gakupo noticed a certain sentimental look from him.

"He explained everything to Miks and I. About your thing with Rin back in the day. We couldn't say what she thinks of it and to you now. But it can be a sign…" Gakupo faced Len, who looked more and more hopeful.

Sonika brought out her microphone. "Please give a round of applause for today's band! Dex Blakeslee on the drums, and Cul Eli as the supporting guitar!"

Dex and Cul waved to the crowd as they went to their places on the stage.

"Coming back to our concert hall is Miku Hatsune on the bass, and sharing with us her charming singing once again!"

The crowd went wild when Miku was on the stage and waved her hand. Her hair was in her iconic twin tails but curled and had a sakura pin, accompanied with light and natural make-up.

It was from her previous performance. The only difference was that she wore her school uniform with the matching black blazer.

"Finally, we have Rin Shimoda as the lead guitarist who will sing alongside Miku!" Rin shyly entered the stage, arms a bit stiff on her side. But she gathered up the courage to look relaxed and steady her stride. She waved to the crowd and approached her guitar.

Rin was in her usual get-up all too familiar for the students who saw her. The guitarist had her school uniform with only the white long-sleeve shirt tucked in the standard black plaid skirt that Miku, Cul and the rest of the students wore. The iconic white ribbon was on her head with long, waist-length locks that swayed freely with the gentle breeze.

Len was enamoured, if Gakupo had to say a word on what he witnessed at his side. The man did not look anywhere else once Rin appeared and strapped on her guitar.

A particular group had their voices overlap everyone else's with their combined shouts. It was Kaito, Luka and Oliver who were behind Lily, Gumi and Neru.

The ladies excitedly waved their arms, big smiles on their faces and enthusiastic shouts of joy for their friend.

"WE LOVE YOU RIN~!"

Len noticed Rin glanced to where Neru, Lily and Gumi were at the front.

Rin excitedly waved at them with a smile on her face, as she held the neck of her guitar.

He felt a stab of hurt in his chest.

Had he not messed up all those years ago, he and Gakupo would have been with them and supported Rin together. Len sighed and returned his focus to the stage, to Rin.

Rin had a big smile on her face. Her old friends were here today to watch her perform. She excitedly waved to them. It eased off a bit of pressure from her shoulders even when she felt the heavy guitar strapped on her shoulder to ground her.

"Without further ado, today's band will perform to you their song Doubleganger." Sonika left her spot from the side of the stage as the audience roared in cheers.

The claps and screams slowly halted. There was silence in the concert hall as the band waited for their cue.

Outside of the studio booth, Ars raised his hand after he received confirmation from the crew.

With Dex's gaze on him, Ars silently counted with his fingers from five, four, three, two, one, zero.

Dex hitted the cymbal three times. Then Rin sang.

"I'm a 'ganger, I'm always like this. Turned around with a finger in my mouth."

She played her guitar to accompany the cymbals.

"Whether I go over there or over here. No matter what I do."

Miku joined Rin in the last few lyrics.

"I end up hiding in someone's shadow."

The song escalated as Dex hit the drums. Cul began to support the rhythm. Rin fired her guitar and Miku started the bass.

People in the audience cheered along to the song. They all chanted "hey" to the beat of Dex's drums, alongside Rin on her guitar. She and Miku bopped their bodies as they got into their element.

It was a surreal experience for Len to watch Rin be in her best state.

Whatever she did, Len was always fascinated. Rin was an interesting person after all.

He was an idiot to think of the opposite four years ago until it was too late.

But was it too late? If he was right there amongst the crowd that enjoyed the music Rin created for the first time in four years.

Miku sang the first line.

"'Please take my seat, ma'am'"

Rin followed along.

"I just stayed seated where I am."

Cul played her notes right after.

"'Oh my, that's so kind of you.'"

Miku and Rin alternated.

"I pretend not to see, to see, ah-ah~"

Miku sang one line.

"I hear a lot about–"

Before Rin took control for the rest of the verse.

"'Kids these days' but there's no point hiding it, I'm their poster child."

Once again, their vocals alternated in between until they synchronised.

"Scary, scary, the depths of others' hearts are scary. I'm not here, not here, not here, no one sees me!"

Then the chorus kicked in, and the audience bopped their heads and waved their arms when Rin, Miku, Dex, and Cul bopped their bodies to the music they created.

"I'm a 'ganger it's always like this, People mocking me, who needs a life going here, going there? I don't get much sun."

Rin sang for one line, made eye contact with the crowd as she strummed the guitar.

"So I step on a lot of shadows."

She and Miku wrapped up the chorus.

"Being a loner, I always say 'I could never become like them'. And look (look), the distance between you (you) and I grew again. I can't keep up~ Ahh~"

Rin slowly closed her eyes. She and Miku prolonged the last word until they faded out from the instruments.

The guitarist opened her eyes and looked below her strings to focus on the melody and rhythm. Her white ribbon moved along with her rough sways within her spot.

Rin took a few steps away until she returned forward and went into the zone with the music. Miku had a more relaxed movement of gentle sways in her spot as she played the bass with a serious and solemn face.

The instrumental began as Rin led the song with her guitar with support from Dex, Cul, and Miku. The audience howled when her guitar screeched on the speakers.

Their chanting ended when Rin hit the D major, A major, E, G major and another D major before her resting note. The forty-second instrumental began as Rin raised her head and relaxed her body.

The guitar's vibrations lingered as Cul took the centre after Dex and Miku's notes were on rests.

Rin stopped the vibration with a swipe of her hand on the neck. She stood sideways to stretch her hand towards Cul on her solo part.

The crowd cheered and raised their hands for the rhythm guitarist's solo.

Dex eventually joined in with the beat of his drums while Miku's bass came in right after. Rin simply stood, swayed her body to the music and her weight alternately rested on each foot.

Rin rested her hand on the microphone until she quickly spoke to the audience.

"Everybody count with us!" Rin quickly added before she and Miku raised her hands and clapped their hands above their heads. Cul raised her hands to clap to the beat as Dex hit the drums and maintained the rhythm.

The audience, mostly the CFH students, sang the loudest as they joined in on Rin and Miku took turns to count from one to four to the beat of the music.

During the last week of rehearsals, when the concert hall was finally built, the crowd was finally included on test runs. It was why the students knew this part by heart.

Kaito, Luka, and Oliver gave notice beforehand to Lily, Neru and Megumi. Now the ladies ended up the ones who led the sing-along in the audience.

Gakupo, among the students, sang enthusiastically alongside. Len felt embarrassed to sing out loud so he clapped his hands above his head but sang in a normal range.

"One, two, three, four, yeah~"

They repeated their chanting four times before the autotune effects on their mics applied.

Rin's voice deepened whilst Miku's was higher after the change in pitch of the microphones.

The autotune effect disappeared when Rin counted for the last time, her right hand up in the air as she counted.

"One, two, three, four, yeah~ Yeah!~" Rin counted with her hand, and raised all her fingers when she sang the last note.

Rin immediately recovered with a quick breath and sang the bridge. Her hands quickly moved on the strings of her guitar, alongside Dex who beated the drums and Miku with the bass.

Together, they established the rhythm towards the last chorus.

"I'm on my own, no one else is around. I've spent so many nights in solitude."

"But the single flower blooming in the corner gives me courage. Peeping into your heart, I found something that had been lost."

"I don't feel emotions the way I should—"

Miku sang the final line.

"I'm an imperfect being."

Dex hit the cymbals to start off the final chorus. Rin raised her guitar to hit the G note as she and Miku kicked off the energy with the higher key of the song on her bass and Cul's guitar.

"If, tomorrow, when the sun rises again, it makes a boundary between shadow and light—"

Rin sang the next line by herself while she shook her head sideways.

"I'll probably just keep on—"

Then Miku quickly joins again.

"Running away—I'm a doubleganger, I always hide in your shadow like this. If someday the light hits me. And I vanish~"

As she sang the final line, Rin had a sombre smile on her face towards the crowd.

"—That would be okay."

"YEAH! "

The two ladies quickly sang the filler lyrics in the last twenty-three seconds of their song.

After two sets of their filler lyrics, Miku quickly hopped on into Rin's mic as they both swayed their bodies and played their own guitars.

The whole move was a pleasant surprise for Rin who quickly smiled at her friend's antics and refrained from laughter.

Miku and Rin looked at each other while they harmonised with smiles. Cul and Dex had their own fun as they smiled at each other whilst on their final notes.

It was a charming thing to see the band was all serious throughout the song.

Now they gave off an impression they merely played on stage and had fun with each other's antics.

Some of the audience, mostly the students who had seen this performance since rehearsals, joined along to the filler lyrics and cheered or hopped to it.

Miku and Rin sang their last set, their last note prolonged for Dex to finish the drums, right before Rin had her final note.

She allowed her guitar to vibrate for a few seconds, before she stopped it with a swipe of her hand on the neck to finally conclude the song.

Miku initiated a hi-five, which Rin quickly reciprocated with a huge smile. They raised their hands with a thumbs-up towards the audience.

Rin, Miku, and Cul stayed in their position. Dex put his hands up, drumsticks in his fists.

The crowd roared. All of them clapped for the awesome performance. But it was the students, especially the seniors, who howled their support with screams and fists in the air.

"THAT'S MY BEST MATE RIGHT THERE! FUCK YEAH YOU WERE AWESOME RIN!" Gumi raised her fists in the air as she shamelessly screamed.

The band chuckled when they heard it from the stage. Kaito, Oliver, Luka, Neru and Lily bursted out in laughter beside Gumi.

Gakupo also laughed at Gumi's unashamed behaviour. He heard her despite being a few rows behind them; proof of how loud her voice was.

Len had a fond smile on his face whilst he clapped. That was the bold Megumi Nakajima right there.

Cul, with her guitar still strapped on her, and Dex approached Miku and Rin to form a line in front of the crowd. They clutched each other's hands, raised it above their heads and bowed to the crowd.

The people shouted their applause and increased their clapping for the band.

The four performers waved to the crowd one last time before the stage crew came out from the sides to disassemble the instruments.

Rin, Miku and Cul unplugged their guitars and helped bring their microphone stands and amplifiers as they left. Dex lifted his snare drum together with his stool, his drumsticks on his hands, to the amusement of the audience.

"That was an energetic and awesome performance by Rin, Miku, Cul, and Dex! Seeing you all here so pumped up even when they left, I think it's safe to say you all enjoyed it?" Sonika engaged with the audience as the stage crew continued to tidy up the stage.

The audience, mostly the students, screamed their affirmations.

Sonika proceeded to talk about the remaining performances left on the agenda until the end of the festival. At that point some students, especially the seniors, left the concert hall and dispersed.

While others began their shift late in the day as part of the stage crew or in other areas, a few seniors returned to supervise their booths.

"They did an awesome performance there, Gakt! I'm so happy for them!" Len enthusiastically shared with Gakupo.

While Rin and her entourage was there, Len refrained from joining in on the shouts and cheers. He thought it increased his chance of being recognised.

When they finally left the stage, he felt more at ease.

"Hell yeah they did! I'm proud of those two. They worked hard on it for the past month since they started composing the song." Gakupo returned the enthusiasm of his friend.

He had not noticed Kaito, Oliver, and Luka blocked the two of them from Neru, Gumi, and Lily's collective view when they left the concert hall together.

"Right? Rin was amazing! She didn't need to wear anything else. She didn't need to do any special effects or back-up dancers or anything in that performance. She did exactly that and was the best performer! Her whole persona and the way she played her guitar was captivating! Her voice was perfect for the song! You couldn't just look away!" Len continued his commentary, specifically focused on the certain guitarist he would reunite soon.

Even if Gakupo could not see him behind the mask, Len had a big smile on his face from just how his eyes squinted and seemingly twinkled as if he was about to receive candy.

Len was wrong on a certain part. Anyone could definitely look away from the performance for a few moments. Gakupo did just that so he would check on Len.

His friend had the same hopeful and lovestruck expression on his face.

One could never look away if they were in love with a certain Rin Shimoda who sang her heart out.

Gakupo knew a man in love when he saw one. And his thoughts confirmed itself.

"But I was wondering about one thing in their song though," Len paused. He had a worried look and he fidgeted on his fingers.

"The lyrics of the song. When you comprehend the words, it's depressing. Like the singer was disheartened and miserable despite looking jolly and happy. Miku and Rin swayed cheerfully along the beat while they sang about accepting the fate of disappearing into oblivion."

Gakupo understood his friend's sentiment. "You'll have to ask Miku herself about that. She and Rin wrote the song together so she can answer all your questions. As for the meaning of the song, it's really a vulnerable move the two of them did. I heard the school admins had a say on it. Knowing Rin, she most likely fought back and gave them a middle finger."

"Literally or figuratively?"

"Hopefully the latter. But isn't that what made their song so charming? People can relate to it." Gakupo asked Len.

The crowd surely thinned out as the crew prepared for the intermission. It was at that moment Gakupo brought out his phone from his trouser pocket to check for new messages.

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[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ - Gakupo POV

Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ

Miku Hatsune
Gakupo Kamui, I can grab Len from you. We'll just stay there and watch the rest of the performances so you can do your own thing.

Rin's exploring the booths with Kaito and the YMH people so we won't stray far.

Gakupo: Ok! We're both just in our spots in the concert hall. You'll see us quickly

Miku Hatsune
Thanks mate! I'm omw
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"Miku will be here to accompany you very soon. We'll just wait for her here." Gakupo put his phone in his pocket and faced Len.

"That's okay. I don't mind staying here." Len replied. There was not much to do anyway when they had reached the latter half of the festival.

The heavy foot traffic within campus slowed down with dozens already left as the hours and events went by. With Miku and Rin's performance being the last one the older students knew, they mostly left the concert hall to use their breaks until the end.

"Do you know where Rin is now?"

"She's exploring the booths with Kai and the three ladies. They're having a YMH reunion tour, something like that." Gakupo answered as they watched the performance at the front of the stage.

Len poorly hid his reaction with the slumped shoulders and small frown.

He was part of them. But he was not supposed to join them.

Gakupo noticed his silence and put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

Len let out a small smile in gratitude.

"I think I can see Miks approaching." Gakupo pointed out from the side of the stage. A woman with curly teal twin tails was in the distance and slowly came closer.

"Gakt! Len! There you guys are." Miku smiled. Her make-up was removed but her hairdo was still up. It would more likely stay that way until she got home to wash it. "Did you have fun with our performance?"

"Len had gone on to me for a full minute about your wonderful performance with Rin there." Gakupo gestured to him as part of his teasing. Len's face flushed.

Miku was impressed. "Good. But if we're honest, he only focused on Rin."

Len stuttered before he denied. Even behind his face mask, he blushed from what Miku just said.

"Don't deny it. Rin was pretty awesome there. She managed to sing so much while hitting all those notes in her electric! Even with how much practice I did with the bass, there was one time I thought I was going to slip." Miku chuckled.

"By the way, you guys were good at hiding. I didn't notice you two until the end."

"Well, we chose the perfect spot after all." Gakupo smirked.

The current performance was an intermission, another dance performance. It provided a sense of privacy now that the audience who actually paid attention to the stage thinned out.

And so those who had their own social interactions separated in their own bubbles within the concert hall.

Gakupo stated. "This whole area was packed when you guys were up on stage! I'm not surprised you didn't see us."

"Unless we screamed with the top of our lungs like Megumi." Len jokingly added, to which Gakupo and Miku laughed.

Gakupo chuckled. "I can see why Rin liked you, Len. You two both know when to insert the comedic moment."

Len had a relaxed smile at the assumption. It was also the truth.

Miku suggested. "I can take it from here Gakt. You should get back there. Are you joining the sign out soon?"

"Hell yeah I am. I've been waiting for this moment for six years. You best expect me to lead the damn thing." With that reply from Gakupo, Miku had a hearty laugh.

She was sure Gakupo would definitely take the microphone from Ars and lead the whole thing later.

"I better get going. I did promise Rin and the ladies I would hang out with them soon. Thanks Miks. And see you around Len. If we don't meet again, I hope you enjoyed the festival and have a safe trip home!"

"Thank you Gakt. Thank you for being with me while watching the performance. Sorry for dragging you away from Kai and the others."

"Don't sweat it, Len," Gakupo shrugged it with a wave of his palm. "You were awesome company. You deserve to see Rin perform there as much as the rest of us."

Len could not help the smile on his face. With the slight squint on his eyes, Miku and Gakupo knew he appreciated it.

Gakupo made his exit when he turned back from them. It was a coincidence that he received a call. Len and Miku heard Gakupo call out Luka's name for the last time.

Miku sighed. "Okay, hello Len! Sorry I basically abandoned you and had to fend for yourself today." She began. "I feel bad since I'm the one who invited you here in the first place."

"That's fine! I expected that, especially when you sent the program schedule." Len shook his palms to shrug off Miku's apology. "And you guys were awesome! No bias there. Everything sounded so professional. It looked like you were on tour!"

Miku blew lip bubbles at that. "You don't have to flatter us like that. But you enjoying Rin's performance made all this plan to sneak you in worth it for me. That's all that mattered now." She smiled.

They went on to watch the performances on stage by the younger students. This time the spotlights were heavily used, to Len's amazement.

"What's with this crazy professional set-up? How did you guys afford it?"

"The school bought it. Well, not recently. They've been using it for ages and bring it out once every year for the festival." Miku began her explanation.

"This is the biggest event of the school, so they're going all out in everything. And if you didn't notice," Miku turned her head to look at Len.

"Most of the booths here are handled and organised by students. Primarily because they get marked on it in their classes. You'd notice homeroom teachers helping out, or some teachers holding clipboards and lingering with the guests. They were actually already marking."

"Wow, that's tough and demanding." Len's eyes widened. "No wonder everyone is so extra. And the crowds are ridiculously large! I've never seen a school event that's this busy."

Miku chuckled. "Everyone in the local area anticipates this day every year. So we had to make sure it accommodates them."

"So were you and Rin also just evaluated there for your performance?"

"Oh dear heavens, no. That's not how it works for us, thankfully." Miku had a sigh of relief. "Only the younger kids are evaluated. Besides, we're already finished with exams and our marks are already tabulated.

"We do all of this organising, assisting the kids in their booths, logistics, and the performing, like what Rin and I just did, out of volunteering. It's a tradition for every senior cohort to organise the festival before graduation."

"That's stressful. But awesome at the same time. If I get to work on a large-scale project like this, I'd be proud of myself. You guys are incredible for doing this!" Len remarked.

"Thank you! We all wanted to hear that. We've worked so hard for this to be smooth and successful. We grew up watching our seniors do this every year and it feels fulfilling to be able to pull it off finally."

"I could imagine. I still can't believe you guys are already doing this kind of huge work already. I mean, that's what I'd expect for a big and fancy school like CFH."

"Ehhhhh, it can have some moments where people here are bonkers," Miku slightly disagreed. "Honestly I don't know why we got that reputation outside. And I've been here since I was in kindergarten."

"Says the poster student of CFH right in front of me." Len sarcastically replied.

"Can't be a poster kid when I talk shit about the school," Miku smirked. "But despite all that, I always love this festival. It really brings out everyone's camaraderie, so it ends up impressing the visitors like you.

"Not that we all force ourselves to do it. The majority of us actually enjoy doing what we do here, despite our differences." Miku paused.

"I'll miss this when we leave, that's for sure." Miku gazed at the stage with a look of sombre nostalgia.

The younger students had the time of their lives as they danced and cheered along to the music. Like what Miku and her friends did all those years ago.

"You know, our gang actually wanted to start a band since last year. But with how busy we were at school, we couldn't do it. But this event allowed us to do what could have been a different reality for us.

"Kai, Lu, Gakt, and Oli actually performed last year in their own separate performances. It was Rin's first time to perform in front of a huge crowd. I'm happy with what we're doing here right now. We're all still good friends and we still get to enjoy our bond over music."

Len hesitated to speak and allowed the silence to engulf them, until he decided to ask what was on his mind. "... So Rin never performed at all last year?"

"In front of a large audience beyond our classroom? No, honestly. She only played whatever instrument she could during music class, or if we had a school project that needed those skills of her's. She said she had performance anxiety and couldn't overcome it. Until today I guess? And Kai told us about her electric guitar."

And Miku knew Len was more intrigued at the mention of the instrument.

"Rin actually had the balls to ask if she hadn't mentioned her 'main instrument' was the electric guitar. She never told us. I would have never known, had she not surprised all of us by bringing a high quality and well-used electric on her back for the first time."

"So I'm guessing Kai told you about me and Rin then?"

"Yup. I saw on her guitar this sticker with 'Black Star' and 'Blue Moon'. Kai told me it was your thing with Rin back in the day."

"Yeah, it was…" Len's voice was soft, with a hint of heartache. "I would have thought she removed that sticker after everything that happened…"

Miku frowned. "I have to be frank with you, Len. Why would Rin do that? She hid her guitar on the back of her closet for a good four years."

"So it was true then…" Len stared at the ground. "Her guitar reminded her so much about me that she couldn't see it without crying and had to hide it."

"Yup," Miku sighed. But she was determined to change the mood.

"But you just saw it yourself. Rin played that guitar and sang in front of that huge freaking crowd. That's already a huge deal, Len. That must have meant Rin considered something.

"Gakt reminded us that Rin already sold all her instruments for the move. And Kaito confirmed it was the same guitar she had since seventh grade."

"It was the same guitar all those years ago…" Len contemplated. "Ever since we started as a duo…"

"Especially when you started dating so you guys played more often. You were each other's muses." Miku stated.

It was the pure truth. Len confirmed the fact he was proud of once upon a time.

Maybe there was hope , Len thought to himself.

But he was also afraid. And so to not jinx it, he had not dared say it aloud for the wind to carry his words and somehow bring it to Rin.

With their conversation, they had not noticed two performances already went by. A new session was being prepared and it was at this moment Miku got a text.

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[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ - Miku POV

Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ

Oliver Cody
Miku Hatsune, Rin's starting her shift as stage crew there. You best leave with Len right now if you don't want to be seen.

P.S. she's going there via the back exit of the building

Kaito Fuuga
Oli this isn't a handwritten letter where you say P.S. lol

Miku: you're adorable mate lol

Miku: We're heading out now!
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"We need to leave here, gamer boy. Rin's coming and starting her shift as stage crew." Miku put her phone back in her skirt pocket.

"This late in the day?" Len was surprised. Gakupo mentioned that most of them would have already been on their vacant periods. When Miku walked away, Len followed.

They went straight to the booths instead of the back of the building behind the stage. He assumed Rin would enter through the building, so the booths area was safe.

"Yeah. Rin finished most of her breaks now. She's working there until this festival finishes. Which would be…" Miku checked her phone once again at the time on her lock screen, "An hour and a half from now!"

"Sweet. Then you guys are almost finished for today then." Len commented.

"Sort of. We have to do the cleaning up since the kids are only obliged with their own booths and then they go home. Everything else you see here is our work." Miku answered with a tired smile.

Oh boy, would this be a hard time cleaning everything up, she thought to herself. "But that's okay. We'll get through it. It's the weekend anyway so that's enough time to rest before we have to go back on Monday."

"You guys still have to be here next week!?" Len was disturbed at that notion. These people still had to be back despite the busy two weeks after they already finished school.

"Yeah. The clean up we'll do soon is half of it, which is like safe-keeping the important and valuable stuff and continuing it on Monday. We also have to start doing some admin stuff to finalise for graduation."

"Sheez. I wouldn't have rocked up on Monday if I were you." Len boldly stated. "I mean, I'd insist on doing the preparation for graduation in advance and push everything in one go if that means not showing up here."

"I wish that was easy here, Len," Miku had a pained smile on her face as they ventured through the booths.

"For all the fun we just did today, the bureaucratic process of this school will be the last nail in the coffin before I finally get the hell out." She grumbled under her breath. Upon checking the nearby booths, she found the perfect stall to buy what she needed.

"I'm thirsty, so I'm grabbing us drinks. What do you want?" Miku brought them to the booth and got a sweet greeting from the freshmen at the front.

Len glanced at the menu. After he found his go-to drink, he said it. "I'll get an iced coffee. No food. I'll pay for both of us."

"Hep, hep," Miku pushed her palm in front of Len's face.

"I'm paying for both of us. You're our visitor. You spend all your dimes on Rin instead. You'd need all the money on those future dates!" She then quickly brought out her money and ordered their drinks with a sausage roll for herself.

Len could only oblige as he stood beside Miku.

When they got their drinks, they went to their bench and sat down after a long day of standing and overloaded energy around them.

Miku noticed the certain way Len held his cup. He held it from the cap as he sipped from the straw.

It was the exact same way Rin held her own cup.

But Miku chose to simply observe it and say no more.

Maybe someday she would see them side-by-side. Both of them held coffee cups in that strange way, and then each other's hands.

She smiled at the image of those two hopeless romantics on her mind.

"So, I want to ask something about your performance with Rin. Gakt said you were the only one who could answer it." Len began after he took a sip of his iced coffee. They both stared ahead on the bustling booths that slowly died out in the last few hours of the festival.

Miku felt the need to raise her eyebrow. What could possibly be that question that Gakupo would not have known how to answer?

"Sure. Go for it." She replied right before a bite of her sausage roll.

"It was the song. You guys were badass in hyping up the energy. But as I paid attention to the lyrics, it felt too sad, especially for a cheerful performance."

"Ahhh, you noticed." Miku looked up at the sky briefly.

The late afternoon sky was soothing with the absence of the sun's harsh rays. The clouds had shadows underneath it as the sun slowly set soon.

"Rin mainly wrote the song, contrary to what the host Sonika said at the beginning. The whole music, melody, harmony, even majority of the lyrics. I only added in some missing parts, some few holes here and there throughout the song." Miku chuckled under her breath.

"She did most of the notes for the instruments since I sucked there. Rock songs aren't my strongest point. If she didn't help me with the bass, I would have flunked. And yeah, I know you're an expert in the bass. Kaito mentioned," Miku turned her head to the side towards Len. "I hope my bass wasn't cringe-worthy back there."

"No, it was good actually! I like how you played it. It's not as bad as you think." Len immediately assured her.

Miku shook her head with a pitiful chuckle for herself. "You're too humble, gamer boy. But that wasn't what I wanted to say overall."

Her facial expression became serious with a slight frown. "I did notice the mood of the song when Rin gave me her finished parts for me to fill in the holes. I seriously had to ask her if she was alright and that she could tell me anything if something was wrong."

Miku sighed before she continued. "I'm not sure if Rin was this stubborn back in the day with you and Kai. But it was a usual struggle for us whenever she didn't talk about her own feelings. She could be a chatterbox about literally anything under the sun. But her worries? Nah. I had to push her often."

Miku sighed. She had a worried look, scrunched eyebrows and frown, as she gazed at the sky.

"But she promised me she would tell me, which hopefully is a good sign, right?"

"Yeah, that's a good sign." Len answered. "Rin never went against her word, as far as I know…"

He briefly paused. "But why with the doubleganger theme?"

"Rin told me there were times she felt like an imposter. Kaito told me in your old place, well even until now here," Miku commented on the side.

"They all see her as the diligent and reliable student. Yet she thought, despite what everyone else thought, it still made her 'feel as if it was not enough for it to be real'. It's one of her insecurities—that imposter syndrome. She admitted it felt like everything she did was fake."

She paused to take a sip of her drink. "It was one thing we both related to. All about this popularity and 'being a diva' is so exhausting to me. It felt like everyone's expectations were shoved into me.

"Like whenever I did something wrong or something scandalous like getting into fights with Yuki, it got to the point I felt so overwhelmed and over conscious of myself worrying over people accusing me of lying to them. That I was getting carried away from what others think of me rather than what I think of myself."

Len did not know what else to say. Though he tried his best to reply. "That definitely sucks… You don't deserve to feel that. Both you and Rin."

"It does," Miku affirmed. "But I managed to recover from it, realising I seriously can't give a shit on what everyone says. My family supports me. My friends always have my back. The people that matter to me trust that I know what I'm doing, and that's enough for me. But with Rin, I'm worried for her." The girl frowned.

"Rin struggles getting it out of her head. You know that she's not really the most confident person in the room despite the image she tries to display to other people. She doesn't deserve to feel that, she's such a good and awesome human being. I know this is one of those things that she wants to resolve on her own. You know with her whole 'being independent and don't want to rely on others' attitude of hers. I hope she learns to ask for help for once."

"I did tell Rin about that early on in our relationship," Len admitted softly. "Looks like the voices in her head are still there. And I admittedly did make that worse when I left her."

"I told you to cut it with that blaming bullshit, mate. Even if you still date Rin today, you couldn't possibly fix all her insecurities. You were her boyfriend, not her therapist." Miku lightly scolded. Then she stirred them back to the original topic.

"I think the parts Rin wrote in the lyrics, which is the majority of the song by the way," Miku quickly added. "-were her own experiences at home. She said she was withdrawn and hid in the shadow of her family. Rin told us from her time in primary school she felt it even outside home.

"It wasn't until she arrived at your old school with Kaito that she felt better at herself and realised she can thrive outside her home. I mean, you would know this. You knew Rin intimately, especially during this period. You might even know more than me."

"I can't comment much anymore. I feel like I don't have the right to." Len admitted nervously.

"Whatever suits you." Miku respected his decision. "Then I'm assuming this continues now with us here at CFH. I mean, with feeling more like herself outside her home scenario."

"You're right. Luka just told me about that." Len added. "She told me about how Rin would release her pent-up energy when she's here with you guys. That she was more bubbly and mischievous here."

"Luka has big issues with Rin's family," Miku chuckled. But with the crease on her eyebrows, Len knew it was beyond a joke.

"Of course she would tell you that. It's also the truth. Every time she and I visit Rin's house, her parents are just… different, to say the least. Even when we had Kaito who knew her the longest, all they just gave him was a quick hello and then walked away to their offices or god knows where in that house.

"Kaito gets that when we're around. But if he's by himself or with your YMH classmates, it's the opposite. And no matter how nice I act and how much thought I put into my words to her siblings, they're just…" Miku gestured her hands in a confused manner with an accompanied groan.

Len sighed. "I knew Rin experienced pressure from her family. And it evolved into her thinking it was also the same for people outside school. It's an overbearing feeling; when people push you to be someone you're not, all because it was based on their misplaced expectations of you. I kept telling Rin back then that I accepted her for who she was, that I was proud of her… Even until now when we're not talking."

Miku raised an eyebrow.

For someone who just said he did not want to comment, he did exactly that; with a bullseye.

Talk about perfect shots of reality from Len.

"Huh, you really sounded wise there Kagamine. I hope you display that same courage and wisdom when we act on that plan soon." She smirked.

Len stuttered. "I-I-I'll try my best! I would like to thank you again for inviting me today!" He managed to compose himself. "I really appreciated your effort to bring me here so I can watch Rin in her best element. I know she would have never wanted me there, so it felt guilty being there. But I did really love watching her!"

"If she ends up discovering you, I'll take all the blame. You don't need to worry about that. Rin and I had some disagreements in the past but we both compromised and got better through it. We'll get there with the plan."

Len smiled, a feeling of hope rose within him. "Yeah, we will."

"Uhuh, so allow me, Kai and our friends here to get over today. And then we'll focus full-time on the plan." Miku declared enthusiastically.

She stood up from the bench, threw away her rubbish, and invited Len to roam around the booth area to get their feet moving.

It was a pleasant experience. They were about to enter the building when someone familiar shouted for Miku's name behind them.

The two friends turned their heads behind to see Kaito on his knees, heaved for his breath.

"I was looking for you guys! Miku, I sent you a text!" He lightly scolded with a pointing finger towards her.

Miku grabbed her phone from her pocket and opened it to see the dozens of messages indeed addressed to her.

"Oops, I didn't notice. Sorry Kai!" She sheepishly smiled.

Kaito only sighed. "Anyway, they're looking for you. I mean our people. They want to take photos and hang out since we all finished our shifts by now. I'm grabbing Len from you so you can join them."

"I think I should be heading home now." Len suddenly added, to the surprise of Miku and Kaito. "I don't want either of you to get hold up being my chaperone when you all should be with Rin and your friends."

"Nah, Len! It's alright. It's mostly Neru, Gumi and Lily being all hyper and excited so it's good to take a step back from time to time." Kaito assured.

"Nah, mate. I mean it. It's fine. Besides, it took me a while to get here so it'll be the same as getting back home." Len insisted.

Miku convinced him otherwise. "But you'll miss our sign out soon! It's something we want you to watch, because it's fun!"

Kaito asked, with Miku's support as she nodded. "Are you sure Len? We could hang out after the festival ends."

Len pushed for the final time. "No, that's alright. I don't mind missing it. It's your moment so you guys should make the most of it. Thank you for the offer though. My parents are expecting me for dinner."

"Thank you again Miku for inviting me here, and thank you Kai and to your friends for accompanying me. I really enjoyed today. It reminds me of the Open Days back in YMH. Those were good times."

"They were," Kaito nodded. "I can walk you to the gates. I'll have Miku make an excuse to them when she comes back without me."

"No need for that, buddy. I mean it when I say it's fine. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of the day. We'll talk again soon. Thank you again for having me here."

"Thank you for joining us here Len. We appreciated you getting on board to watch Rin perform. We know it was awkward. But no matter what Rin may think when she realises you were there, we loved having you here." Miku smiled.

"I love watching Rin there." Len smiled at the thought of Rin while she did what she loved the most: singing and performing. "I better head off now to catch the train."

He received hugs from Kaito and Miku, and waved at them for the last time. He turned around and went to the gates.

Kaito and Miku stood for a few seconds to watch Len get there safely.

When he was farther from them and nearer to the exit, it was time for them to head back to their group.

"Let's go Miku." Kaito invited her.

They were about to turn their backs when a set of arms suddenly wrapped their shoulders.

"What were you guys doing here? We were waiting ages for you!" Rin suddenly inserted herself in the small space between Kaito and Miku.

Miku chuckled and held onto Rin's arm on her shoulder. "Sorry, we were just about to start finding you guys! But you beat us."

She noticed Neru was prepared to take photos, and said: "So let's get this photoshoot started!"

Gakupo, Lily, Gumi, Rin, Miku, Kaito, Oliver, and Neru, at the front who held the phone with her portable selfie stick, took tons of photos as a whole group.

They were separated in some photos. Neru invited the girls to take photos together. Kaito insisted the boys should have one also.

Kaito, Rin and their CFH classmates finished their group photos—the last one on campus before their graduation. Then the twoinvited their friends from YMH for their reunion group photo.

Rin felt satisfied. She was deeply content at the turn of events today.

She managed to get all her old friends in one place on this special day.

For the first time in three years, she played the electric guitar in front of a huge crowd in a well-loved performance.

The organisation of the school festival her whole cohort worked hard on was considered a huge success early on by the school admins.

Life was good and very well, Rin thought while she posed for photos with Luka and Miku. She was in the middle, her arms wrapped around the shoulders of her two trusted friends.

"Awesome! Can we take a look at those, sister?" Miku approached the photographer's side.

"Of course my friend, here they are!" Neru gestured her phone camera towards Miku. Luka went to her side to take a look at the photos.

The two ladies were surprised when some photobombers interrupted the last photo.

Gakupo, Kaito, and Oliver pulled out silly poses in the background to mess up with Rin, Miku and Luka's decent shots.

"You boys are so-!" Luka karate chopped the heads of their friends.

When Gakupo ran from his spot, Luka chased him. Their friends laughed loudly at the silly antics of the pair.

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While they were in the moment and enjoyed each other's company, on a corner behind the edge of a booth was Len. He hid and watched from a distance at the group in the time of their life with one another.

He noticed Rin's relaxed stance. The sparkle in her eyes, her wide smiles and her hearty laugh was endearing to Len.

Even when she made ridiculous funny faces when she stretched parts of her face in selfies with Lily, Neru and Gumi. Especially when they did the group photo and Rin crouched on the ground in front of them in some mimicry of street gangster poses.

Len smiled fondly at the scene. He was content to see Rin happy from afar.

Though he could not help the shame emerge from his heart at the idea that she was happy not because of him.

The man's azure eyes gloomingly dropped to the ground. He carried this pain all by himself.

Len returned his gaze back to the group and noticed Lily, Neru and Gumi—his former classmates, who were very much welcomed by Gakupo, Luka, Miku, and Oliver.

He wanted to be with them.

The four of them could have been the entourage of Kaito and Rin's friends outside school. Len could have been introduced as Rin's boyfriend today.

But that only happened in an alternate reality he would never live in.

He wished he could be beside Rin, even for a short while before she had to leave for good.

That would be enough, Len thought.

Even when everyone else—Kaito and Miku especially, told him to stop lingering on the past, Len could not help himself.

It was a depressing cycle he struggled to escape whenever he went on a tangent at the alternatives. What could have happened had he done something else?

Had I told everything to Rin early and fought harder to save our relationship, what could have happened today?

Len scolded himself to stop.

The last thing he wanted was to be called a creep for hiding at a corner.

As he approached the exit, he removed his beanie and his face mask. Finally, there was no more fear of being seen by a certain someone anymore.

When he crossed through the gates with the large sign that greeted the visitors a farewell, he began his journey back home.

It felt Len was in a daze until he found his head leaned against the window of the train, and he daydreamed on a future where he and Rin started over.

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When Miku and Luka were busy with the photos Neru took on her phone, Rin was left to herself on where they once stood for those photos.

She did not mind the solitary moment.

Lily and Gakupo were in the middle of a light-hearted discussion. Kaito, Oliver and Gumi were engrossed in a conversation that involved a certain topic that Rin had not wanted to interrupt them by joining.

Rin observed the flow of the crowd thin out as most of them began their way towards the gates. The festival slowly prepared for its end.

The sun was setting. The sky was red-orange in the late afternoon for the approach of the evening. Families left with smiles on their faces. Tired but relieved younger students carried equipment from their booths and walked in groups to end the day.

Then Rin noticed something odd.

Something familiar.

She only saw their back. But even with the brown coat and grey trousers that was often a usual get-up of men, Rin squinted her eyes to concentrate.

The person had messy blond hair in a long ponytail below their nape. Why did Rin think their stride was familiar?

Her mind began to give her clues. It was on the back of her tongue yet she could not put it all together.

Until it made sense.

Rin was about to run and then she blinked.

In the one-third of a second that it took, the figure was gone—nowhere to be seen.

She quickly scanned through the moving people towards the gates. But there was no familiar blond hair among the wave of the departing crowd.

My eyes must be playing tricks with me from the fatigue today. Rin sighed and merely shrugged off what she thought she just saw.

What was I thinking? He can't possibly be here. He doesn't have a reason to.

"You okay, Rin?" Gumi approached after she noticed Rin stood still and faced the leaving crowd.

"Ah, it's nothing Gumi." Rin turned around and smiled. Her friend had a worried look on her face.

"I thought I saw something. But I was just mistaken. Maybe it's just the fatigue from today catching up on me." She did not want to worry her friend any further.

Gumi felt the need to point something out. Yet she thought it was not the right time.

She only nodded to Rin.

And so she never bothered her best friend with that ever again.

The callout in the concert hall was finally announced through the set up speakers for today. The group quickly ran, all laughs and jokes shared on the way there.

The principal of CFH began his short speech to congratulate the tremendous success of the festival. They also went on to commemorate the successful year of the senior cohort that mostly made up the crowd, with a few visitors and younger students in the mix.

"With how you all have worked hard to make today happen, I am very pleased to send you all off to the real world two weeks from now; when we meet once again at your graduation. Thank you, class of twenty twenty-five."

The senior students cheered and applauded the end of the short speech by their principal. For how bonkers he was, Miku thought, he better be proud of the work they did this year.

True to his word, Gakupo led the sing along after he boldly raised his hand in the audience to volunteer.

Sonika and Ars announced the start of the sing-along, not before they greeted the audience for the last time.

"Thank you for having us in this year's CFH Festival. This is the class of twenty twenty-five signing out! Have a good night everyone." Ars and Sonika spoke together to begin the celebration.

With the audience's roar and claps, the two stepped aside farther from the centre of the stage with multiple mics, and an amplifier in the middle, in place for those who led the sign out.

When Gakupo climbed to the stage, the song they had all unanimously voted on the day before the festival blasted on the speakers.

The crowd began to sing along to the lyrics with its soft introduction. Gakupo made it just in time to sing the gentle and slow melody.

"And the world~ I'll turn it inside out, yeah~ I'm floating around, in ecstasy~ So…"

"Don't stop me now~" The senior students sang along. "Don't stop me—"

"Cause I'm having a good time! Having a good time~" Gakupo raised his hands to encourage the energy in the audience.

Then the music transitioned to a faster tempo. The audience roared simultaneously as some of them loudly sang along.

At that point Dex, Wil, Kyo, Yuu, and 'the boys' in their cohort climbed to the stage and joined in the fun.

Gakupo's incredible stage presence captivated the crowd. He grabbed the microphone on its stand and roamed on all sides of the stage.

When the song reached its pre-chorus towards the instrumental, Gakupo sang the main vocals as the audience understood their assignment with the backing vocals. He guided them when he pointed his microphone to the audience for those who needed help to know their turns.

Luka noticed the amplifier in the middle nearby her friend but saw no instrument nearby.

She loudly asked Miku beside her. "Why is there an amplifier when no one is playing an instrument!?"

"I don't know! That's my question too!"

"Have you guys seen Rin!?" Lily loudly asked as the audience continued to destroy their throats to sing loudly alongside Gakupo and the music.

"HOLY FUCK RIN JUST JUMPED OUT!" Chris pointed at the stage.

Where indeed Rin had casually appeared and approached the centre stage.

She already played the guitar solo part of the song. Just when people thought the audience reached its peak energy, it further increased as Rin casually smirked and on her electric guitar to pull off the killer notes.

"FUCK YEAH THAT'S MY BEST MATE RIGHT THERE!" Gumi furiously raised her fists in the air with a huge, excited smile on her face.

Lily shouted with excitement. "YOU ROCK, RIN!"

Neru was more eager to film as she focused on Rin's guitar solo since the performance began.

Gakupo continued the vocals together with the audience. Rin, Dex and his mates all sang together on stage to the upbeat energetic song.

"If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call!" Gakupo made a gesture of a phone call with his left hand.

"Don't stop me now~" Rin, Dex, and everyone else sang along.

"Cause I'm having a good time!" Gakupo led the whole crowd to the main vocalist's lines.

"Don't stop me now~"

"Yes, I'm havin' a good time!" Gakupo prepared for the last line.

"I don't want to stop at all!~" Everyone sang out the last lyrics in unison with all their emotions.

The song then fell into a slow descent, the melody softened gently. Gakupo, together with the audience, vocalised the ending notes until the sound of the piano faded and the song was finished.

It was a fitting ending of the sign out for a sentimental finish.

The audience roared at the end of the song. Some were already in tears of joy for what would happen next now.

It was the end of the school festival. Graduation was now only a few steps closer.

The senior students on stage waved to the crowd and climbed off the stage. One last round of applause was all it took before everyone broke off and went their own ways to finish for the day.

"You didn't fucking tell us you were going to play back there!?" Miku and Luka had excitedly asked when the two stars returned to their group.

"It was actually last minute! When we finally voted for the song, Sonika and Ars asked if I could play that guitar solo part as a surprise. I liked the idea so I practised it last night." Rin had a huge grin, even with some unkempt hair and her flushed face from all the energy back there. She was joyfully satisfied.

"That was freaking badass, Rin! You should be playing the electric more often! I'd drag you away from your law classes next year and take you to gigs if I have to!" Neru was half-joking and half-serious to Rin.

The sun was close to set as the sky slowly darkened.

And so Neru and Lily, who lived farther from the area, needed to head back home. They sent the two ladies off with their love and appreciation for making it today.

Since Gumi lived nearby Kaito's area, she stayed back as she wanted to also spend more time with Rin. She helped with the quick clean up on the concert hall and some booths for easier clean up for Monday morning.

It was quarter to six o'clock and the street lamps were already turned on when the majority of the senior students made their way to the gates.

Several of them carried bulk items on their hands and on their backs. Whether it was kitchen supplies, arts and crafts supplies, props from the booths they chose to bring home and even the instruments from the performances, it was a common occurrence every year the hour after the festival finished.

As Rin took one more glance at their campus, devoid of the decorations and only the hardware materials, she smiled to herself.

The base of the booths were still erect and needed attention on the following Monday. But it was something that she could still look forward to on their last few days in the campus.

Rin felt a warm feeling in her chest as she absorbed the emotions from today. She would surely treasure this very memory even after a few years in the future.

It was not only Rin who had a smile on her face. Most of the seniors and some of the juniors that helped out had relieved smiles, despite the exhaustion and fatigue from the demanding jobs of today.

With the company of friends and fond memories to look back to, it was where they pulled the source of their joy on their last school event before graduation.

The last moment of being together as classmates.

The good times were coming to an end. And so they all spent the most out of it until the very last second.

Kaito and his friends were one of the big preachers of that. Especially as they thought of Rin's departure that lingered in the corner.

It was the only thing they could do even when they walked and separated, one by one, towards their own homes.

Make the most out of living through the best memories.

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[CHAT SCENE] Gumi (sender) and Len (receiver)

Megumi Nakajima

Megumi: Len

Megumi: Why were you at CFH today?

Len: I wasn't there wdym

Megumi: Cut your bullshit. You were there.

Len: Where did you saw me?

Megumi: When you were being passed by Kai to Luka Megurine.

Megumi: Do you seriously know the risk you took by going there?

Len: I know that. All of Kaito's friends did. That's why they were with me all the time until I left.

Megumi: Yeah, and just when you left that's where you fucked up.

Megumi: Rin almost saw you.

Len: WAIT SERIOUSLY?

Len: TELL ME YOU'RE JOKING

Megumi: Why would I joke about this you idiot

Megumi: You better thank your stars that you're not in trouble.

Megumi: Rin thought it was her fatigue catching up on her so she shrugged off the thought of seeing you. When she was actually right.

Megumi: Seriously Len?

Len: Look, I get it. I was reckless even when Kaito and his friends were helping me.

Len: And it wasn't me who insisted on coming. It was Miku Hatsune. She invited me, thinking I would have wanted to see Rin perform for the first time in four years.

Megumi: And you actually accepted it? When you could have said a video of the performance was enough.

Len: come on you know I'm weak for her, Nakajima

Megumi: You're hopeless, Kagamine.

Megumi: I still can't believe you were dumb enough to actually show up.

Megumi: But good job on hiding with Gakupo when Rin and Miku were on stage.

Len: Thanks?

Megumi: You better prepare what you have to say to Rin. Your meet-up with her might be very soon.

Len: How do you know?

Megumi: I have a gut feeling.
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Monday mid-morning began the clean-up from last Friday's annual festival.

On top of that was another week for the senior students to catch up on any last remaining requirements for graduation.

Booths were disassembled. It was a similar case with the concert hall when school staff assisted just like when it was being assembled a week ago. Classrooms were restored to their original condition for tomorrow's classes of the younger students.

As to why the last priority were the classrooms for the senior students because they had no classes anymore.

When there was no more work to do within the campus after the lunch break, they cleaned their own classrooms.

In the hallway of the senior classrooms were huge bags. Contained inside were non-fragile materials and equipment identified to have belonged to any senior student.

Dex brought the bag from the gaming booth and put it down with a sigh. Rin was on her way to their classroom when she was called.

"Hey Rin! Good timing here, I was about to return your drum controller to you." Dex opened the bag and on the top of the pile was her very own drum controller. He checked for the R.S. engraving on the stand first.

When he finally saw it, he passed it to Rin.

"Thank you Dex." Rin smiled and inspected the controller for any damage.

The wire was still in perfect condition and tied with her usual rubber tie. Two plastic drum sticks were also in perfect condition as she lent them a week ago. The drum's surface had no damage.

But she noticed something strange. When she pushed the surface of the drum, it felt softer…

Dex noticed Rin's speculative mood around her drum.

"Hey Dex. Just wondering if you know, but did someone spend a long time in the game with this drum?" Rin curiously asked.

And so he offered her the story of the man who used her controller that Merli shared with him that day.

"Yes! Gamer God used it! Merli and her classmate told me everything!" He was all smiles and excited fists while he recalled the miracle of Gamer God's descent in the gaming booth.

"Who's 'Gamer God'?" Rin raised her eyebrow. She knew it was about to go weird here in the hallway.

Just then, Dex's other friends Wil, Kyo, and Yuu approached him. They noticed Rin and so they also greeted her.

"You can't believe it, Rin! There was this dude who visited us at the booth. He just smashed all the games he touched! He got all the record breaking high scores! He used your controller," Kyo pointed to the drum controller Rin held. "And perfected Six Trillion Nights in just one try!"

"Oh! Gamer God! Bless him! He graced us with his presence in the lab when we were there!" Wil clasped his palms together in prayer. Kyo, Yuu, and even Dex followed suit.

Rin was really bewildered. This was beyond the usual tacky antics of this group of friends.

"Perfected Six Trillion Nights in one try? That's ridiculous." Rin replied.

Dex insisted. "But it was the truth! Ask everyone who watched! All of them couldn't believe it right in front of their eyes!"

Wil added. "You should have seen him with Project Diva too. He aced Intense Voice Ex-Ex right after finishing the drum game!"

Yuu began. "But the thing Rin needs to know is," For someone who was not the type to talk and only listened, whatever Yuu had to say was important. "This man not only knows his fighting games or rhythm games, even on MMORPGs! Don't you all remember that moment he was in a match there?"

The boys started an excited ruckus at the mention of the famous MMORPG they adored, which Rin was only familiar by name.

Dex did hand gestures to convey the seemingly out of world experience he witnessed. "Holy fuck! He wiped out everyone not once, not twice, but thrice! I couldn't close my mouth there with how the hell he just did that!"

The four friends continued to rave about Gamer God and his seemingly god-like skills in the games he touched.

Then their delirious squeals turned into sad whimpers and dramatic sighs, after they remembered they had not gotten the chance to ask for his in-game username.

"So they were amongst the visitors if no one knew him before and did not wear our uniform?" Rin asked, curious on who could have been this figure of reverence for these young men.

"Yeah! He said he was just visiting here and was invited by Oliver!" Wil answered.

"Huh, Oliver? So he ended up inviting someone after all." Rin was more intrigued than ever.

As the person who sold the ticket to Oliver, Wil explained to Rin. "Oliver told me Gamer God is his cousin. I was at the door when they arrived. Cody was guiding him throughout campus and in the entirety of their stay at the booth until they left."

Wil pointed out an interesting detail. "It was actually right before you came in with your best friend! Was it Megumi?"

"Yes, you're right. It's Megumi..." Rin nodded, her eyes slightly wide as she pondered on the information.

She hummed before she expounded her answer. "... It was busy during the festival so maybe it was just unfortunate I didn't get a chance to meet Oliver and his cousin. He often mentioned to us how close they were…"

Yuu gently interrupted. "Uhh… Not too sure about that part where they were close, Rin. Sure they did look like cousins. Gamer god had bright yellow blond hair while Oliver's is ash blond, right?"

Dex nodded. "Gamer god has blue eyes, and he had his hair in a low ponytail. He wore a face mask so we didn't see his whole face at all." He paused.

"They don't seem that too close if they were cousins though. It looked like they were getting along just fine as friends. But family? I don't think so."

Kyo, Wil, and Yuu nodded quickly in agreement.

Yuu chuckled. "Even with the face mask, his glasses made him look like a typical nerd. He had the look of a black horse killer player so he did fit that look!" His friends agreed.

Wil added. "But he looked fine with his clothes though. As if he jumped out of a magazine."

Dex whined. "I know! But Merli said it was tacky. Of course, I had to defend Gamer God's dignity as my respect to him. And I was called tasteless!"

Rin was speechless. Everything they just mentioned swirled in her mind. She suppressed her eyebrows from scrunching.

In the middle of the excited chatter around her, Rin already asked questions in her head.

Had she noticed eyeglasses on the back of that figure's head? He never would have dressed like that…

But it has been years since they last met…

"I wish we got to know Gamer God's name at the least…" Dex sighed. "May we ever meet him during an online match again!"

The boys then seriously prayed in the middle of the hallway for everyone to see.

Some of the people alongside them in the hallway, who were at the gaming booth, understood and actually joined the boys' vigil.

And Rin, who did not take any comedic value with what was happening, had to ask the sensible question.

"You guys seriously watched this man play multiple games and played together with him. Yet none of you asked for his name even for a second?"

"You don't get it, Rin!" Dex cried. "You couldn't look away from how awesome he was! His techniques, his strategies! His whole gameplay was captivating!"

People who listened to the conversation all nodded.

Rin raised a confused eyebrow.

"Before we could ask after he finished a game, Oliver suddenly dragged him away. They seemed to be in a hurry to leave." Kyo explained the situation. "So yeah, we didn't get the chance to ask him."

All their shoulders slumped in misery.

Rin chose her words carefully to avoid her real impression. "... You do know you guys could ask Oliver himself… right? He's here, cleaning inside the classroom."

They were all acting ridiculous, she thought.

"We actually did. But the thing is, Oliver wouldn't tell us!" Dex cried again. "He said he's waiting for something before he could give us gamer god's IGN! So we're just waiting for something we don't know because Oliver wouldn't tell us what that something is!"

Rin suggested, with another question. "Maybe he's waiting for graduation? But then why though?"

Yuu sighed. "I have no idea. But I want to play with his cousin so bad."

The boys still lamented.

To think Rin only wanted to know what happened to her drum controller.

She only needed the simple answer that it was used by a professional-level player.

Yet she was given a hymn about the glorious pursuits of this 'gamer god' who turned out to be Oliver's cousin.

Rin wondered how come Oliver had not introduced him during the festival despite meeting each other several times during the day.

"Very well. I'll leave you guys with your pining to 'gamer god'...? I hope you get to meet him soon." Rin could only politely say before she took her exit and went to the classroom.

She needed to ask Oliver.

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"Hey Oli. I heard from the guys at the gaming booth you ended up bringing your cousin here! How was he?" Rin approached Oliver who put away the bag of rubbish outside the building where it would be collected later. She carried her own bag to tag along with him.

"Oh! My cousin! Yeah he really enjoyed his time there! He was in town unexpectedly so I invited him at the last minute." Oliver casually replied.

But he felt the upcoming dread.

He needed to make a cover-up on the spot, quick!

"Yeah. Seems like he's a huge celebrity with how Dex and the boys are desperate to see him again." Rin chuckled. They both went upstairs to grab more bags from their floor. "You didn't get to introduce him to us though. I was looking forward to it since you mentioned how close you were to him."

"Ah, about that! Unfortunately he had to catch the train for his unexpected appointment. So we had to quickly rush for him to catch the next train!" Oliver chuckled, along with a silent plea to the heavens that Rin did not find a hole to penetrate in his alibi.

"Oh. That's a bummer. But that's alright. I just wasn't lucky enough to get the chance, with how busy we were on Friday." Rin smiled.

"I also heard from the guys that you're not giving them your cousin's details. You really want to keep them on their toes, huh?" She smirked.

Oliver chuckled, hopefully it did not come out as too forced. "Yeah! It's fun making them look like fools once in a while! My cousin's finishing his finals so he can't afford any distractions. It's a coincidence his final exam is at our graduation but I didn't tell them that."

"Ah, so that's why you don't give out your cousin's IGN. You're messing them up… That's evil, I like it." Rin had a cunning smile on her face at the idea. She was very impressed.

This is what Oliver was known for: the little trickster of the class.

She should not have suspected things in the first place.

Of course her drawing of conclusions was the ridiculous thing, not the boys' worship of Oliver's cousin.

"Yeah! You could say that. Some things just never get old, right Rin?" Oliver smiled.

Until Rin left his vicinity and he was all alone, Oliver sighed in relief after he nearly dodged that bullet.

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[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ - Kaito POV

Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ

Oliver Cody
GUYS

I ALMOST GOT BUSTED

Miku Hatsune
you got WHAT

Oliver Cody
Rin asked me about what happened at the gaming booth when Len was there. I had to make up a whole excuse that my 'cousin' had an unexpected appointment to leave early, and that I'm holding Dex and his dudes from contacting him because he has finals

Miku Hatsune
oh my god Oli you're such a good lifesaver there!

Gakupo Kamui
good job on the cover-up oli! We're proud of you

Luka Megurine
you're truly a legend oli ? ゚ムマ? ゚ムマ

Oliver Cody
I felt my life span lessened for 5 years at that very moment. I can't bear this secret anymore ? ゚リᆳ?

Len Kagamine
I have to tell some news too

Megumi knew I was at the festival with you guys

Kaito: no freaking way

Miku Hatsune
[church_lady_passing_ ]

Gakupo Kamui
WHAAAAAATTT!?

We were so careful!

Kaito: It's not our fault, Gakt ? megumi just has sharper eyes than the average person

Kaito: What did she tell you, Len? Does Rin know?

Len Kagamine
[sent 2 photos]

Luka Megurine
sorry yall ? ゚メタ

Oliver Cody
nah that's not your fault, Lu! We just didn't expect she caught us that early in the day

Kaito: Oli's right. And think of it this way: Megumi didn't mention a word of it to Rin. That means she's actually saving us

Kaito: If she did, Rin would have already said smth by now

Gakupo Kamui
Yes, correct.

Miku Hatsune
Okay folks, let's not worry too much. We're almost there! Tomorrow we're scheduled to have a call with Neru, Lily and Megumi for this! We'll finally set the date and time for this plan!

Oliver Cody
Yes, we can do it!

Miku Hatsune
Rin won't suspect things for long because we're speeding through this plan ?
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[CHAT SCENE] Gumi (sender) and Kaito (receiver)

Megumi Nakajima

Megumi: KAITO

Megumi: RIN'S FLYING OUT RIGHT AFTER YOUR GRADUATION

Megumi: WE HAVE TO SET THE PLAN NOW

Megumi: WHERE ARE YOU!?
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[CHAT SCENE] (Supposedly group chat for) The Band™ - Kaito POV

(Supposedly group chat for) The Band™

Rin Shimoda
hey folks

I have big news

our visa just got granted today. Since graduation is close, they're willing to wait and then right after we all leave

:(

Miku Hatsune
HOLY SHIT

WHAT THE FUCK RIIIINNNNNNNN

I'm actually tearing up here hello crying in the club?

Gakupo Kamui
NOOOOO RIIIINNN

aight gang WE NEED TO SET THE BEST FAREWELL PARTY THAT RIN DESERVES

Luka Megurine
oh dear Rin I hope you're taking the news well! I wish I could give you a hug now

Rin Shimoda
thank you Lu :') I definitely do need a hug rn

Thankfully I'm still here for graduation. But I can't stay long after that :(

Like literally, the midnight after graduation we're leaving. Feels bad man,,,

Oliver Cody
We'll do whatever we can to enjoy our time together!

We love you Rin!

Kaito: Rin Shimoda protection squad 3

Rin Shimoda
i'm crying again hfdfgfhdh thank you guys !
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[CHAT SCENE] Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ - Kaito POV

Operation: Closure for R&L ? ゚ルマ

Gakupo Kamui
HOLY FUCK RIN IS LEAVING

Oliver Cody
THIS IS A RED ALERT! RED ALERT! ? ゚レᄄ?

Luka Megurine
fuuuccckkk ?

Len Kagamine
Len Kagamine is typing... Miku Hatsune
SCRAP TOMORROW WE NEED TO FUCKING TALK NOW

Kaito Fuuga CALL LILY AND NERU AND GUMI!

Kaito Fuuga NOW

Kaito Fuuga !
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