"Rin can't make it this week. She was scolded to avoid frequently 'having a good time outside'. That it might attract an accident and bad luck before the flight." Neru replied, her voice altered a bit thanks to the digital connection they all had in the group call.

Luka grumbled. "That's ridiculous. Who the hell still believes in those superstitions?"

Oliver replied as a matter of fact. "Apparently Rin's mum."

Lily tried to rationalise Rin's restricted freedom of movement, which caused delay on the execution of their plan. "They're taking extra precautions. They've waited years for this and an accident right before the flight might be their last straw."

Everyone in the gang were on a call to finalise the plan for Rin and Len's meeting.

Len was unavailable due to family commitments and would update himself through Kaito later.

Neru shared good news. "But she mentioned she had to force her parents to let her hang out with the three of us. The best date she can do is on Monday."

Kaito muttered. "Monday…"

He glanced at the calendar pasted on his wall in front of his desk. Near the date of that aforementioned Monday was the large red circle around the date on Wednesday… "That's two days before graduation!"

Gakupo commented. "That's our last day at school!"

Neru reasoned out. "It's our only chance. Rin said she was already lucky when they allowed her to attend your farewell party at CFH on Tuesday."

"I think we'll just have to make do on it." Miku sighed. "And it's Monday evening. Not many people would be at the park so it won't be busy when we're there."

Oliver and Luka agreed simultaneously.

Neru followed up. "So I'm telling Rin to seal in Monday night then, Miku?"

"Yes please Neru." Miku pleaded. "Oh boy, I'm so nervous… We have a week left for this."

Gumi asked in an attempt to distract Miku from the anxiety for Monday night. "Aren't you guys also preparing for Rin's farewell party on Tuesday?"

Miku replied. "Yeah. But our other classmates are working more on that. They just ask for our approval since we know Rin better. It's a surprise for her so that's another thing we also have to hide."

Oliver interjected. "Gakt, have you got the microphone and earpiece thing you were talking about?"

Gakupo hummed in assent. "Yeah. I actually tested it with my parents. We'll also test it when we get there at the park. We'll be there early, right?"

"Yeah," Luka replied. "We're just basically inspecting it and finding the perfect spot that's private and has a hiding spot for all of us."

Kaito prompted. "Well then, everyone prepare yourselves on Monday night. Gakt, Lu, Mi, Oli, don't exhaust yourselves. Lily, Gumi, Neru, prepare yourselves to drag Rin to the park once she arrives at the station. Let's say we all meet at the park at five o'clock?"

Everyone quickly said yes to Kaito's plan.

"Cool. Also bring out your thickest winter clothes. This week it will start snowing, so Monday night will be cold enough since we'll be outside for a long time."

Miku sighed once again. "I'm not Len but boy do I feel so nervous on his behalf…"

"I think we all are." Lily assured Miku. "You guys have been working on this since the start of the year. All of you here invested the effort to reach out from me to Len, who you pulled out from under the radar.

"You convinced the three of us to back up this cause. And it naturally would make all of us nervous for what could happen. But it's worth all the nerves and jitters."

Gumi encouraged everyone in the call. "She's right. We have to let Rin and Len do their thing. We did the best we could to get them to where they need to be."

"Thanks everyone." Miku inhaled and then exhaled to shrug off her nerves. "Now! Let's continue on with anticipating potential issues…"

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Monday - 2 days before graduation

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Since last week, snow gently fell from the sky.

It was enough for the streets to be wrapped on a thick blanket of snow. People shovelled snow from their driveways, streets had to be removed of snow and windows had to be cleared of it.

Winter activities began to be initiated in the city as people wore their hardcore winter outfits to fight against the harsh cold.

It was five o'clock sharp. The sun already left earlier thanks to the winter solstice.

The park only had a few people lingering. Mothers with their prams had their children in excited strides despite being enveloped in thick winter wear. Dogs with their owners took solace in their own plot of land and minded their own business.

There were fairy lights wrapped around tree branches as some dangled and left to hang for effect. Decorative lanterns lit up the pathway hung by invisible strings tied in between trees. It continued farther to the quieter parts of the park.

It created a romantic ambiance, perfect for couples who sought refuge from the busy world and for friends who needed a quiet space to appreciate the peaceful winter night.

Miku, Kaito, Luka, Oliver, and Gakupo approved the place. There were no interruptions nor busy events currently at the park.

It was truly the perfect time to execute this plan.

Beside Kaito was Len who had his hands deep in his pockets, and stared emptily at the distance.

He timidly stuck to Kaito's side ever since they arrived at the park and waited for Lily, Neru and Gumi.

Gakupo worriedly checked. "You okay, Len? You haven't said anything since we came here."

Luka suggested. "Do you feel sick? Do we need to go somewhere inside?"

Miku ridiculously, but out of wholehearted sincerity, asked the question. "Are you getting hypothermia?"

"I-I'm fine…" Len blushed. Whether it was from the nerves since this morning or the cold from outside, his friends could never tell. "I'm just worried for today… I keep having anxious thoughts…"

Kaito clasped a hand on Len's shoulder in solidarity. "We all do, buddy. But you'll do great there, I tell you."

The group rested either on the ground or the bench while they waited.

Eventually Miku and Oliver decided to make a snowman. Luka joined in with the two to create the best snowman.

Gakupo and Kaito simply sat with Len on the adjacent bench in silent support.

Around them the white holiday lights provided most of the brightness after the sky darkened to begin the winter night.

Three sets of footsteps made a crunching sound from the snow in the ground towards the group of friends.

They would have been noticed earlier had it not been for the loud voices of Miku, Oliver and Luka who enjoyed their time with the snowman.

"Hey everyone!" Lily's greeting made all heads turn. Beside her were Neru and Gumi in their own winter outfits and hands in their pockets.

Kaito stood up from the bench and approached the three ladies. "Lily, Megumi, Neru! You guys made it!"

Miku, Luka and Oliver left their work on the snowman to greet the ladies.

"Of course we would." Gumi simply replied with a matter-of-fact tone. "We would never miss this."

Lily's head was subtly titled to take a peek from behind Kaito and get a better view of the man next to Gakupo. "Woah, who's that walking next to Gakt?"

"That's Len, Lily." Gumi answered as a matter of fact. Air came out from her mouth from the cold atmosphere outdoors.

Lily's astonishment had her palms in her face out of shock. "Wait what the hell!?"

"Seriously!?" Neru had to do a double take on what Gumi just said, and the face of the approaching man. "Len? Is that really you?"

"Lily, Neru, Megumi… You're all here…" Len was stunned. Together with Gakupo, he finally joined the group.

Lily took in Len who stood right before them.

Not only did he look different, he acted contradictory from the Len they knew in high school. It felt as if Lily was in front of a mellow version of her classmate since third grade.

"Hello, Len. It's been a long time." Lily brought out her friendly smile.

She confirmed Len's usual snark from when they were kids toned down through the years, if his wide-eyed shock and soft voice was indication of how he greeted them.

Lily continued. "We were asked for our approval of this plan by your new folks. Of course we have to be here!"

Len still looked dumbfounded.

He still could not believe he finally met these three classmates of his for the first time in two years.

They all grew up with him since primary school, but it was his relationship with Rin that made him friends with them.

So when he left Rin, they cut him off.

"But Gumi… I thought you didn't want me to be with Rin anymore…" Len did his best to focus his gaze on Gumi's sharp eyes.

She did not glare nor had a crease on her eyebrows. Yet to this day, Len felt intimidated by her, especially from that day she raged because Rin was hurt.

Gumi sighed and stared right ahead to Len. "I can't honestly force you or her to stay away. I don't have the right to do that. It's yours and Rin's choice to do that, and I shouldn't stop it. Besides, I would lose by majority vote even if I insisted."

Lily simply smiled at Len after Gumi finished, agreeing with the statement. Neru snickered with a hand on her waist.

Gumi's gaze darkened. "But before you go talk to her, consider this as shovel talk from Rin's best friend."

It felt like time stopped for Len when she approached him and they stood an inch from each other.

Gumi's eyes penetrated Len's in the most intimidating way possible.

"If you bring a single tear out of Rin after hurting her tonight, you will not leave this park until I've dealt with you. If you're not sure about getting a second chance from Rin, you definitely won't get a second chance from me if that happens."

Ever since that very day, Len became afraid of Gumi.

But what was the use to sulk for three years after he ruined things with Rin and prepare for this day if he only cowered in fear today?

He fought his tears, so Len focused his eyes at Gumi's in defiance. He mustered up all the courage he had to silently tell Gumi that he was convicted, sure that he knew what he was doing to Rin this time.

Even when Gumi whispered it to Len, everyone heard it crystal clear as they listened to the conversation.

Gakupo, Miku, Luka, and Oliver shivered; whether it was from the cold or from Gumi's threatening aura, they were not sure. They had not known Rin's best friend for a long time, and so her anger was something that was daunted and a subject of fright for them.

But Miku was on a mission. She promised both Gumi and Len that she will push this.

It was not only Len and Rin who needed closure from each other.

"Hehe… I think it'd be preferable if nothing tense happens tonight, folks!" Miku chuckled awkwardly, waved her palms as a gesture of de-escalation between Gumi and Len. "This is already a nerve-wracking time for all of us, and we only have this one chance! So what do we say by taking a breath and relaxing those heartbeats, eh?"

At the prompt, Gumi took a few steps back to Lily and Neru.

Len easened up his hardened gaze after Gumi retreated. But he still had the look of worry on his face, more profound with more things he now fretted over.

"There's also a reason why we're all gathered here much earlier, besides preparing this place for Rin." Miku began. The curious gazes of her friends all focused on her.

After all, only Len and Gumi knew what would happen next.

Miku then did a mimicry of a cough. "I think someone here has to say something before we begin," Another cough after Miku covered her mouth with the side of her fist. "Megumi," And there were the consecutive coughs.

People from Len and Miku's side moved their sights on Gumi in a variation of shock and curiosity. Lily and Neru turned their heads to their friend in between them.

Rin's best friend sighed, her shoulders slumped in an obvious motion. It was as if she geared herself for something serious.

"It's now or never…" She whispered. But with the silence between them and only the hum of the winter winds, everyone heard it clearly.

"Len, I know what I did back in eighth grade was wrong. I bullied you when I confronted you in the hallway after everyone left and purposely cornered you. I screamed at you for being the biggest asshole after hurting Rin." Gumi began. Her eyebrows were scrunched as she frowned.

"I said you never deserved Rin but the shit you got from all of us for simply wasting her time and effort. I also cursed you to go fuck yourself for what you did to Rin. I did all that while punching your shoulder and pushing you to the wall in anger. Last but not the least," She sighed, her gaze downwards as the guilt slowly crept into her.

"I told you how you were a good for nothing jackass who can never understand how to love someone. That I will never respect you even when Rin healed from you; that I was ashamed to grow up with you, and the last straw for me was when you hurted her. Tonight, I apologise for all of that. I'm taking all of those back with guilt. I'm sorry."

Len's mind went blank. Aftwards, one thought immediately crossed his mind.

Miku Hatsune actually did it. She made Gumi apologise.

Len admitted a few realisations to himself.

That day was one of the awful things that happened to him, and he carried the trauma from it to this day.

It all came back when the memory of that day resurfaced with every word Gumi just said.

He vividly remembered the tears on her red-swollen eyes. The hoarse edge on her voice as she shouted to him. Her grinded teeth together with the clenched fists. Every punch to his shoulder was all her pent-up anger on him. The helplessness he felt when Gumi left with tear stains and an aching fist, and he only stood still in that empty hallway.

He felt he had no right to tell anyone about it. Because no one would side him and all would take Gumi's side.

It was from that moment, Len knew he was all alone.

"I'm sorry for everything, Len. I was carried away by the frustration and overprotectiveness for Rin. I hurted you when it wasn't necessary. It did nothing for the both of us. It temporarily boosted my ego at that time but it permanently scarred you until today." Gumi returned her gaze at Len in the eyes.

"People in our class never liked me, so I was often alienated by them. But I wasn't different from them with what I did to you. I should have known better. You don't have to apologise. But I needed to confess all of this before you meet Rin.

"I never considered how much that day affected you if Miku Hatsune had not approached me and told the truth. Rin is not the only one hurting from the break-up. You also do. But I, and everyone else, failed to consider that."

When Gumi finished, the moment was ruined with Lily, Neru and Kaito's loud reactions.

Lily shrieked, hands on her head from shock. "Gumi!? Did you actually do all of that!?"

"Oh my fucking god!?" Neru almost shouted. "I'm just hearing this for the first time! It's been four years, Gumi!"

Kaito rested his palms on his forehead. "Why am I only knowing this just now!?"

Then he turned his head to Miku and pointed a finger to her. "And why do you know this before us!?"

Miku smiled in a sombre way. "I've done a pretty good job as an investigator, if I do say so myself."

Gakupo and Oliver's faces were a mix of dumbfoundedness and confusion for Miku's sudden role as middleman.

Then Luka recalled to herself a recent memory.

Her friend mentioned the day she coincidentally met Len on an open day for a prospective university, and the information she gathered from him.

"Because I told her." Len still stood from his spot, unmoving.

His gaze was still directed to Gumi who also stood still in front of him. "Miku forced me to admit all of it so that you'd know all about it tonight."

"It's not only Rin who needed closure from Len." Gumi turned her head to Lily, to Neru, and then to Kaito not far beside Len. "We all have things left unsaid from the past that we need to say now."

Len nodded and lowered his head with a sad smile.

"Let's all admit it. We ostracised Len after he broke up with Rin." Gumi scrunched her eyebrows.

"We let our emotions get the best of us. We were heartbroken in our own way after our ideals of their perfect relationship shattered. We rooted for them, so it was natural for us to feel dejected for what happened.

"But we should have done something else; help them overcome a misunderstanding, force them to talk to the other on why it had to happen, anything. All before they began hurting each other, before we added up to the damage and contributed to it." Gumi had a conflicted smile, and turned her head back to Lily and Neru.

Neru whispered. "We were reckless teens… We didn't know anything better… But now we do…"

Gumi's apology made more and more sense.

Of course a break-up did not hurt only just one person. It was both parties.

"I'm so sorry, Len…" Kaito proclaimed with the beginning of a sob. "There's never enough words to say how much I'm ashamed for abandoning you, leaving you when you also needed help. You were my best mate, yet I did nothing for you..." He said in between sobs.

"I'm so sorry too, Len. We were so focused on Rin that we forgot that you were our friend too…" Lily covered her mouth. "That was our biggest mistake… We're so sorry…"

A single tear dropped from his eye. The tear left a wet trail on Len's cheek and he felt relieved.

His pain was validated. Contrary to his self-deprecation, despite what he had done in the past, he finally realised he also deserved an apology.

His friends do not hate him after all.

"I-I…" He began sobbing. "I forgive all of you… I should be sorry for causing everything that happened. It's true… We didn't know better at that time. But it didn't mean that we won't be affected by it until now. I'm so sorry too, everyone. I'm ashamed of what happened to us."

It was Kaito who left his spot and wrapped an arm around Len as they sobbed together under the fairy lights. "Stop apologising to us. It's us who should be apologising to you!"

Lily approached next, went straight to Len and gave him the hug from the friend he had always needed.

In the process she gathered Kaito in her arms. "I'm so sorry I didn't bother approaching you, but saw you as the enemy. I should have helped you alongside Rin."

Then Neru grabbed Len and Lily in her arms. There were no more words needed. Her addition meant she sought the comfort to alleviate each other's mistakes from the past.

Gumi soon joined them and completed the group hug of their old friend group.

It was Len, Lily, and Kaito's sobs that resonated from their crumpled group hug. Neru and Gumi already tear tracks on their faces.

They simply tightened their arms as they leaned on the embrace that supported them.

Gakupo, Luka, Miku, and Oliver stood closer together and gave distance to the sobbing group. They gave the old friends distance out of respect.

Luka had her hands on her elbows. Her head bowed down so she would not look intrusive towards Lily, Kaito, Len, Gumi, and Neru in the middle of their emotional moment.

She took a glance to her side to see Miku's head also bowed and stared at the ground.

"You did a great job for these people, Mimi." Luka whispered. Her head bowed, but her gaze was towards Miku.

"I knew I had to make Len and Gumi do this. They all needed some healing with each other. It really wasn't just for Rin only, after all." Miku whispered her reply.

Luka nodded silently, with a small smile for how proud she was to her friend.

All of them managed to calm themselves from their cries. One by one they let go from the hug and Len, who was in the centre, felt lighter after.

They wiped their own tears through their gloves or their sleeves. A gloved hand reached out to Len with a small tissue box.

"It ain't much, but it's honest work." Oliver gestured the tissue box towards Len.

Luka, Gakupo, and Miku were dumbfounded on how their friend fitted the tissue box under his winter coat without damage on the packaging.

Len appreciated it, as shown on his smile with the runny nose and red-swollen eyes. He plucked one from the box and used it to wipe his face. In the process, he rubbed the lens of his fogged glasses with his coat.

When he saw Lily, Neru and Gumi in their small conversation, Len thought he needed to say one more thing.

"Neru," Len called.

The woman and her friends nearby turned their heads and listened.

"I just wanted to tell you…" He breathed, and finally said what he had needed to say.

"I will take care of Rin properly this time. I know what I've lost. So I know how much I worked hard to have it. She will have what she deserves in a relationship. Thank you for supporting me."

Neru had a hopeful smile. "I never would have thought I'd see the day that I hear those words from you, Len."

She sighed out of relief. "You better be grateful to me actually. I was the tiebreaker that made this night possible for you. Miku Hatsune made the best decision to approach me."

Gumi scolded lightheartedly with a smile. "You're getting too ahead of yourself, Neru."

Kaito teasingly retorted. "Oh come on, Neru. I was the one who included your name and contacted you first. Where's my credit?"

The whole group laughed over it. Their laughter was not as rambunctious as their usual, but softer as some of them just finished crying a few minutes ago.

Everyone finally felt at ease and well prepared for the actual event tonight.

Neru smiled. "But really, thank you for saying that Len. You just assured us that Rin is in good hands."

Lily and Gumi nodded in support.

Len, with his red-rimmed eyes, smiled in return.

"Sorry to disturb the heartwarming moment, everyone." Gakupo interrupted with his palm up in the air. "It's five-thirty, and Rin's arriving here at six. Do we start preparing the microphones?"

Everyone immediately followed Gakupo's plan. He, Miku, Luka, and Oliver led the rest to the designated spot they had decided earlier, where they set course for the next few hours.

Gakupo bought out the said devices and assembled it with Len. All of them were fascinated at the tool as they watched the man attach the earpiece to his ear.

Gakupo assisted Len to attach the device and hid the wire under his coat. When they observed the process, some initiated it for themselves. It was Gumi and Miku who enthusiastically set themselves up. Then they helped their friends after their noticeable struggle.

When Gakupo activated his mic and spoke, there were flinches from every one of them due to his loud volume.

Miku grumbled and rubbed her temple where her earpiece rested below. "Fucking hell, Gakt. That was too loud! "

"Now you all know how to speak on the mic soon." Gakupo said as a matter of fact. "We all have to hold this button,"

He demonstrated on the small handheld machine. "If we want to speak. As for Len, he has his thing in his pocket so he can hold it as long as he likes. If he needs to let go and still retain his connection to us, he can simply remove his hand because at that point the button is on hold until he clicks it back. Try it, mate."

Len did what he was told. He softly spoke. "Can you hear me?"

Gumi replied without her microphone activated. "Yup."

All her friends nodded along.

Gakupo initiated. "We'll test each other to see if one of us has faulty mics." For the next few minutes, they all took turns to talk into their microphones.

They began to test it from a long distance to prepare for the actual scenario where they hid behind the bushes when Rin and Len had the park to themselves.

There were multiple bushes. A large oak tree was on the side of the pathway and no benches. The bushes were not big enough for all eight of them.

So they decided to group themselves. Neru, Lily and Gumi took the bush nearest to Len for a quicker chance to hide once Rin began her way later.

A few metres beside was a smaller bush that had Gakupo and Oliver. On the other side of the pathway was a larger bush for Kaito, Miku, and Luka.

The testing of the microphones was a success. Luka checked the time on her watch and it was ten minutes before six o'clock.

"Rin is arriving soon. You three ladies should start heading to the station. It's a ten minute walk from here." Luka suggested and all heads turned to her.

Gumi took a peak from her own phone to confirm. "Rin said her train's coming here soon. We really should head there."

Lily heaved a sigh and stretched her shoulders. "Looks like this is it, folks. Our night is just getting started."

Neru reminded them. "Remember to hide the earpieces." She removed her own and kept it behind her scarf.

Lily and Gumi followed suit.

Kaito gave a one-arm hug to his three friends. "Good luck, ladies. Let us know if you need help."

Len approached them, his face flushed from the cold. "Lily, Neru, Gumi. Thank you again, for today."

Neru smiled. "We should thank you, Len, for wanting to do this. After all, you are the only one who can give what Rin needs now."

She and Kaito then adjusted Len's appearance. Straightened his coat, finger combed an unruly strand of hair and smoothened a crease on his clothes.

Neru chuckled. "You need to look perfect. We can't have you looking like a lost cause."

Kaito joined her to tell Len. "This is an important night, after all. Rin will see you for the first time in two years."

Len smiled from the attention he received. It felt like his parents fretted over him with every fix on his appearance.

"Alright, we'll head off." Lily spoke to the group of Miku, Luka, Oliver, Gakupo, Kaito, and Len.

Gumi simply nodded and held her phone while she waved. Her screen showed her chat with Rin.

Kaito smiled. "See you guys very soon. Send us the text when she's close, Gumi."

The three ladies went back to the train station. The plan was for them to pretend they had just arrived and waited for Rin.

Miku, Kaito, Luka, Oliver, Gakupo, and most especially Len had approximately twenty minutes left before the long anticipated moment they all have planned for most of the year.

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The train's doors opened wide, together with the long sound that signalled the train had gone to a full stop. Despite being a Monday evening, a thick wave of people went off to depart the train and a similar amount waited from the door's sides to board.

Rin crossed the carriage to the platform and followed the crowd towards the exit.

The station only had roofs that protected the platforms from the snow, and so the breeze made the cold bone-shattering. The thicker clothes that people wore were an indicator they had anticipated this kind of weather.

Rin wore a thick, black winter coat with fur hood left unworn at the back of her nape, and an inner turtleneck shirt.

She had a white scarf wrapped around her within the coat. Paired with black woollen pants and casual winter boots, it was her best defence to the seemingly innocent but harsh winter night.

Her favourite white ribbon still sat on top of her head, together with hair pins to keep her fringe together and avoid the breeze to blow it up to her face.

Despite the weather, Rin braved through it all if it meant a private time with her best friends.

She avoided the thought that it would be her last time to see Lily, Neru and Gumi, so her eyes would not start to get wet and an onset of tears would appear.

As she took the escalator, she noticed three ladies together and waved at her from below.

"Rin!" Lily waved from her spot. Neru and Gumi had their own smiles.

When Rin finally reached the bottom, she stepped off the escalator and quickly went to her friends.

"It's so nice to see you three again!" Rin smiled, enveloped all three of them in her arms for a tight hug. They all laughed in the warm group hug.

Neru cheered and held on to Rin's arm. "We'll have the best time tonight!"

Rin chuckled. "You sound so excited today Neru, even when we're simply strolling at the park and grabbing a quick dinner."

"Well, exactly! No matter what we do, I always love having you with me, Rin!" Neru replied. It was true and she was happy to tell her every time.

Lily smiled as they went through the ticket barriers. "We'll take your mind off things for what's happening soon, Rin. We'll make the most out of our time together."

When they all crossed through the other side after they tapped their phones, Gumi led the group towards the park.

Rin cannot put it into words on what she felt today. So she could not share it with her friends for now.

There was a sense of heartache within her and Rin did not know where it came from. She chose to simply shrug it and put it aside from her mind.

The girls continued on the busy streets filled with stores and restaurants for the locals to enjoy the winter night.

Neru and Lily shared their recent past experiences at restaurants and certain dishes during winter. Gumi was invested in the conversation, even with only just nods and hums of her approval.

Rin simply listened and appreciated the sound of her friends' voices.

The buildings and the trees were all decorated for the upcoming holidays. The trees in particular were wrapped with fairy lights in their empty branches for a romantic scene brought by the illumination.

Neru and Lily still continued their conversation as they waited to cross the road.

Rin shifted her attention to the bench a few metres beside them. An older couple, by the way they held hands, sat on the bench.

Two men that seemed to be quite older than Rin and her friends. The one on the right, with short, dark black hair and brown eyes behind blue eyeglasses, pointed out the lights.

"These lights are so beautiful. I'm glad we went out tonight to see this."

"It sure does. And what better way to spend it with you by my side." His lover, with hair as white as the snow, smiled. His eyes, a dark blue shade that reminded Rin of a person familiar to her, spoke all the love he had to the one beside him.

They stared at one another for a few seconds, until the moment broke with their chuckles. Both had blushing faces with sweet smiles for each other.

Rin moved her sight away from the couple after she realised her unintentional eavesdropping.

Could I ever be in that kind of situation someday? She asked herself.

In her mind was an image of herself in the arms of someone who cherished her, warmed her body from the cold and her heart with all the love they had.

Would she experience that kind of joy and that comfort from being in love?

The pedestrian lights turned green. The four ladies crossed the road.

Rin silently contemplated; how it had been a long time ago since she fell in love.

Far too long that she forgot the feeling.

They passed by a food chain that sold oversized street food. Rin felt she needed to grab a snack. Neru and Gumi joined her to buy their own food.

They stayed back for a few minutes to sit down and finish their meal.

Rin sighed and rubbed her stomach. "I didn't expect to feel full from that snack. I don't think I would need to get dinner at this point." She closed her eyes for emphasis, which was effective by the chuckles from her friends.

Rin would not have noticed the knowingly look and eye contact Lily, Neru, and Gumi shared with each other.

Unbeknownst to Rin, they would never have dinner. It was not part of the plan.

That was why Gumi convinced Rin to eat before they met. The reason that they might spend too much time at the park.

"Alright, let's go to the park!" Rin stood up and held her rubbish to be thrown out.

Her friends followed and began their journey finally to their last destination.

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

Kaito Fuuga

Gumi: Finished eating. We're on our way to the park.
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Gumi quickly sent the text discreetly, while Lily and Neru made Rin talk about her upcoming graduation and the awards she would receive, including the coveted cohort leader title they heard during the school festival.

Lily, Gumi, Rin, and Neru made it to the park. The green space was not busy compared to its usual crowd in the daylight.

Small families had their evening strolls, dog owners walked their fur babies in the large pathway they all shared.

Rin realised Lily was definitely right. Indeed the park had a magnificent display of lights that illuminated the whole place.

The trees had fairy lights either wrapped on their branches or hung loosely. The walkway was lit up with small garden grass lamps. The lampposts also had fairy lights wrapped around its poles.

As they ventured further in the park, there were overhead lamps attached on an invisible string tied to trees on both sides of the walkway.

Rin could not help a huge smile as she admired the lights. If magic had existed, then this park was the centre of it, with how otherworldly it was tonight.

Her three friends had to put up acts of being amazed with the lights. Rin should never know they already visited the park a few hours ago.

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Unbeknownst to Rin, Len waited farther away from where she was, all by himself.

Kaito, Miku, Luka, Gakupo, and Oliver were already in their bushes after Len told them he needed to be alone to start his preparation.

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When they passed by a large tree decorated with lights that highlighted the piled up snow on its branches, the girls stopped by to admire it.

Rin clutched her hands together in awe of the sight. Lily joined her to appreciate the simple elegance of the lights.

While she was preoccupied with Rin, Lily knew what needed to happen now.

Neru shared a discreet nod beside her friend. Gumi brought out her phone to send the signal.

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

Kaito Fuuga

Gumi: Call Rin now.
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A few seconds after Gumi returned her phone to her coat pocket, someone else's phone rang within their vicinity.

Rin was jostled after she recognised her ringtone. She gestured to her friends that she had to take the call, which they all did not mind.

When in fact, it was them who caused the phone call she was about to answer.

"Hey Kai, how's it going? What brought you to call today?" Rin held her phone beside her right ear and stared ahead at the old tree.

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"I'm good Rin. How about you? Are you at home?" Kaito answered.

Miku and Luka heard his every word as they sat in between him. Oliver and Gakupo, despite being a couple of metres away, clearly heard him.

It was especially the case for Len who stood still but faced behind the bush. He silently listened to the conversation.

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"I'm with Lily, Gumi, and Neru at the park on the other side of town, nearby Gakt's." Rin answered. "It's actually very nice here! I really love the lights here. I wouldn't have thought they decorated the park so wonderfully this time of the year."

"Oh shoot. Looks like I called at the wrong time. I can call later when you get home."

"Hold on a second there." Rin turned her head around.

One second she made eye contact with them, her friends suddenly knew what she wanted to say.

"We're fine here! That call must be important! We can wait for you." Lily assured her. Gumi and Neru nodded along.

Rin hesitated. "It's just Kai here. Is that alright? This might take a long while?"

"Nah, perfectly fine! Go, Rin. It looks like he needs you more than us right now." Neru smiled. "Just tell him we said hi for us."

Rin smiled and turned her head behind them. "Hey. It's fine. The girls don't mind waiting. They said hi. They think you need me more now. We're not doing much, other than enjoying the view here."

Kaito smiled on his end. "Thanks for that. Good to hear you're enjoying your time there. Feels so weird when I'm just here, bored as hell in my room."

He faked his sigh, which turned out to be very believable.

"Poor you," Rin sarcastically said with a teasing smile on her face, even when Kaito would never see it. "So, what really brought on this call tonight? If it's tasting a new ice cream flavour, I can't do that in this weather, mate."

Kaito had a light chuckle. "That sounds like the perfect idea. But not tonight, Rin. I wanted to tell you about her."

Rin was not sure of the hint she just received. So she had to guess to make sure. "You mean Miku?"

Suddenly a gust of wind went straight towards Kaito that was caught up on his microphone.

"Woah, you still have your window open in this weather?" Rin noticed the slight disruption from her friend's microphone.

Kaito chuckled to get along with the excuse. "Yeah. Just wanted to touch the snow and admire it."

Rin laughed at Kaito's whims, it was no surprise to her. Her friend was the type to do exactly that.

"To answer your previous question, yeah." Kaito simply replied.

As if the woman they talked about was not beside him and berated the wind because she had not heard what Rin said. There was the addition of that woman's best friend on his other side.

Thankfully the wind was so strong it overlapped with the sound of Rin's voice.

Kaito assumed they more likely had not caught the mention of Miku's name.

So he simply stared ahead.

If he needed to distract Rin and give Neru, Gumi, and Lily the needed time to get back here, he would do everything. Even at the cost of his dignity.

"I've had some realisations tonight. And I want you to help me make sense of it and just let it go from my mind."

"Okay, so what about her?" Rin looked to the side towards the phone she held in her ear.

When Kaito began his long monologue, she was invested in it. She was so focused on his words that she had not noticed Neru, Lily, and Gumi's silent departure.

The three ladies felt their heartbeats vibrate from their chests. For every step they took, and in every turn of their heads to check if Rin noticed them.

Even if Kaito did not buy his old friends the time to get back here, every word he said to Rin was poured from his heart.

All the thinking he had to do with himself ever since he saw the start of Miku being smitten and falling for Gumi. It still made him downhearted, despite his lack of effort in the first place.

When he thought he had a slight chance to get Miku's attention more than as a friend, all semblance of hope had now obviously been thrown out of the window.

"She said she's into somebody else now. And I just lost my chances to ask her out someday." Kaito shared. "I'm happy for her. That she found someone who captivated her. But the hard part is realising and accepting the truth that it wasn't me."

"Oh I'm so sorry, Kai." Rin said from her end.

Maybe that was why she felt the odd heartache tonight. Her gut feeling meant for this moment of hurt on behalf of her friend.

"And here I was hyping you that you got a chance. I've always thought she didn't have her eyes on someone. Damn, she hasn't said anything to me. Did she tell you who it was? Or you know who they are from clues?"

Kaito lied. "Nah, she didn't say anything. I don't even know if they're in our school or not. That's why I guess I'll never know. Unless she introduces them to us."

"Well. If it came from Miku herself, then I think it's the endgame then." Rin stated. "I feel so sad you have to start moving on from her, Kai. It's not easy to move on, but you will make it to the other side where it doesn't hurt anymore." Rin tried her best to comfort her broken-hearted friend.

The tables definitely turned when she was the one to comfort a broken heart this time.

"Thank you. I needed that, Rin. I know I will. If you could handle the broken-hearted phase, I definitely will." He chuckled light-heartedly.

"Oh no, that's a messed-up experience. I hope you don't go through the same way as me." Rin sighed and had a pitiful laugh for herself. "So are you still hurting?"

"Yeah, because I still love her. But I know I have to stop now." Kaito answered. "I'm slowly unlearning it myself. I'm sparing myself from any more heartache. You know how hard it is to be in love with someone who will never return your feelings, right?"

"Yeah, you're right. But sorry to say Kai…" Rin began. "But I never had that experience. I never knew what it felt like to see someone you like end up liking someone else. So I'm not the best person to ask for advice about that."

"Of course you didn't." Kaito chuckled. "The one time you liked someone, they actually liked you back. You were a lucky bastard hitting it off with just your first crush."

"Was I?" Rin chuckled back. "I mean, sure I was. But where did it all end up now?"

It was unintentional that her tone had a hint of sadness.

"I think it will appear if it wants to come back."

"And where did you get that idea?" Rin teasingly asked.

"I just have a weird feeling." Kaito shrugged his shoulders even when he leaned his back on the bush, as if Rin was in front of him to see it.

"It's been two years since I last talked to him. I doubt anything will happen now." Rin simply said.

If Kaito could see her face as she looked above the tree to the beautiful lights, maybe he would notice something in her eyes.

Was it longing? Or shame, thinking it was all too late?

It was still incomprehensible for Rin.

"Who knows, Rin? Maybe it can happen someday. Could be a month from now, a week from now, a day from now. It could even be tonight." Kaito tried his best to maintain his tone.

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Miku and Luka covered their mouths and held back their squeals of excitement.

Behind the bush stood Len, his back still faced the bush while he waited for his three old friends to return.

He had a sad smile as he listened to Kaito's end of the phone call.

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"If he can catch me before I have to leave the country, why not?" Rin answered. It brought a small smile to her face.

She visualised a scene from her playful imagination of Len coming back from the dead to talk to her for the final time.

"How would he know you're leaving in a few days if you don't talk to him?" Kaito convinced Rin.

Just then, Kaito felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He titled his head upwards to see Len.

Kaito's friend gestured to his back with his thumb. From another bush's edges were the smiling faces of Neru, Lily, and Gumi. They waved silently as Rin continued to speak.

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"Would he really want me to suddenly appear and make him talk to me after all that? I'm worried he won't appreciate me doing that." Rin answered, more mellow this time as Kaito noticed.

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Kaito gave a thumbs up to the people on the other side of their bush before he quickly answered.

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"What are you talking about? Of course he would appreciate it. What if the moment you approached him was the one thing he needed the most?"

"Oh I'll never know Kai. Until now I'm a coward to do it even if I have the chance…" Rin sighed.

"Maybe a small leap of faith will do the trick. You'll never know unless you try. What was once abandoned can be returned." Kaito gently assured her.

Rin did not respond. The howl of the wind was the only sound he heard from her end.

"So sorry Rin but I have to go. I need to do something important before bed. Thanks for tonight. You really helped me."

"I didn't do much Kai. But I'm glad to hear you feel more settled." Rin smiled. "Don't stay up too late watching anime and exhaust yourself, just because we're almost graduating."

"I won't, mum." Kaito jokingly said with pretend spite. "You better get back with the ladies there. I've interrupted too much of your girls' night. Have a good night, Rin."

"Good night too, Kai." Rin replied just as she heard the call end with a single beep from her phone.

She saw Kaito's photo with his name and the details at the top. with their call that lasted twenty minutes.

Had their call actually taken that long? Rin asked herself in astonishment.

Rin put back her phone in her pocket, turned around and saw her friends were gone.

"Gumi? Neru? Lily?" Rin called out.

She kept turning her head and looked farther ahead to catch a glimpse of her friends. They could have lured her into a prank for all she could know.

It was official, her friends were nowhere in sight nor answered her calls out loud.

Rin brought out her phone; still warm after the long phone call with Kaito. She unlocked it and quickly went to Gumi's contact.

A few rings later and she finally answered. "Gumi! Where are you? And where's Lily and Neru? You just ditched me here!"

Even if they could not see her, Rin wanted her pout to be evident from the tone of her voice and the added grumble. "Don't tell me you guys are playing a prank on me."

"Sorry, Rinny. I had to find a toilet and it looked like your call with Kaito was important. We thought we shouldn't interrupt." Gumi sincerely explained.

"Just go straight. You'll pass by one more big tree on your right and then we'll be there waiting for you."

"Alright. I'll be there. Thanks Gumi." Rin ended the call. She saw the time was twenty-five minutes past six in the evening.

Snow still fell from the dark sky beyond the scope of the park's lights. Rin sighed, a gush of air from her mouth when she did.

She stuffed her hands in her pockets and began the walk straight as Gumi instructed.

Her conversation with Kaito still lingered in her mind.

With the way he said those words, it felt as if he was not telling Rin something else.

Was he just stupidly optimistic with the possibility of her reuniting with Len? Or was there any other reason for him to say all of those words?

What was abandoned can be returned…?

Kaito had always been the poetic type. It looked like he was in one of his creative drives tonight.

She could not deny it, Rin admitted to herself. There were times she wondered how Len was doing.

What was he doing?

Was he dating someone currently?

Is he okay?

Does he enjoy his life now?

What did he think after all these years of her and the relationship they had?

Of course it was something that Rin could occasionally ponder on.

But nowadays she was able to just put it aside and never to linger on it ever again.

Yet why did Kaito say all of that?

And there was also the phantom heartache she felt within. Rin felt her chest with the palm of her gloved hand and sighed.

The young woman continued her walk in silence.

There were a few people at the park but most of them kept to their own areas and were distant from her on the pavement.

It was a blessing that no breeze blew and so her walk was peaceful at best. Only the soft crunch of snow crushing under her boots were the only sounds in every step Rin took to get back with her friends.

The closer Rin got to the last tree Gumi mentioned, she noticed something.

There was someone standing beside it. They seemed to face the other direction and moved a little bit, but still remained in their spot.

But the closer she walked, Rin noticed the man must be fidgeting, perhaps due to the cold.

But he should have retreated indoors if that were the case, instead of just standing by himself in the middle of the park. Rin silently confused herself on the man's intentions.

All Rin wanted was to get back with her friends.

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The whole group glimpsed from their bushes and finally saw Rin.

Her figure grew more and more closer with every step she took. Her head turned towards Len who stood.

Soon she would finally recognise him and realise who he was.

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When Rin was near the tree where the figure stood, she halted her steps.

She narrowed her eyes after she listened to her gut feeling.

The man nearby was familiar.

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It was this crucial moment everyone took turns to send greetings of good luck and hope to Len for the final time.

Gakupo excitedly spoke into his microphone. "She's close! All the best, mate! I'm supporting you and Rin."

With the synchronised system in their microphones, everyone heard what he just said. It did not deter them but only encouraged them to know when they would have the chance to speak.

Luka simply smiled into the microphone. "I know you will make it. We got you."

Oliver enthusiastically added. "We're all rooting for you, Len!"

Gumi talked into her microphone after Oliver finished. "Don't fuck it up, Kagamine. You have one chance." She had a frown but the sincerity and support was very much evident.

Lily was giddy in the microphone out of pride for her friend. "Good luck, Len!"

Neru had a sentimental tone in her message. It almost sounded like a plea. "Tell her everything, Len. She needs all of it."

Miku smiled into her microphone. It was the moment of truth for all of them. "It's been a good ride. May your feelings be reciprocated, gamer boy."

Kaito looked at Len's back as he talked into his microphone. "I'm proud of you, Len. You heard her yourself just now. Rin will appreciate this night."

Finally, Len noticed the surprised look on Rin's face far ahead.

It was the start of everything they had waited for.

And with bated breaths, everyone waited for Rin to connect the dots.

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Then Rin resumed her walk with a faster phase.

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A flash of recognition crossed through her face.

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"Len? Is that you?"

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