プレイリスト

一 ❅
二 ❅
三 ❅

I. II. III. IV. V.

ρυяяѕ αη∂ ραωѕ

_{Kaito had never had a pet before. As such, he didn’t really know what to expect from a vet’s office. The people at the shelter urged him to get Marshmallow to a vet for a check up as soon as possible, and he wasted no time in setting up an appointment, even arriving ten minutes early. However, the vet was running late with some sort of emergency, and it was already twenty minutes past the time of his appointment.}

_{He sort of wanted to go get food or do something, but he couldn’t leave Marshmallow here alone. And so he was doomed to sit by himself, checking his phone for texts every second, and occasionally petting the white cat he came here for as she lounged lazily across his lap.}

_{This was boring. He was alone in here except for a girl with a cage sitting next to her, so why was this taking so long? The attendants sitting at the front desk would only speak in vague platitudes, and Kaito wasn’t the type to ask more than once. He was sure they were only doing their jobs, after all.}

_{Out of want of something to do, he turned to the girl next to him. Marshmallow looked up curiously at his voice, then closed her eyes and curled her head against her chest again.}

     _{❄~ “Hello. Is your pet sick?”}

_{A generic greeting, usually followed by how are you or nice weather out there, right? But this felt like a better question, all things considered. More interesting. Besides, at a place like the vet, it was pretty natural to have pets on the mind, wasn’t it? Kaito idly scratched behind Marshmallow’s ears as he spoke.}

яαιη яєƒяαιη

_{Kaito appreciates later recording sessions, especially when he has nothing planned for the rest of the day. He can sleep in all morning, get his work done while not half-asleep from a misguided all-nighter watching TV or reading, and he doesn’t have to worry about sitting at home and doing nothing for hours on end. Yes, it’s a good situation, as far as he’s concerned.}

_{He can’t help but notice, though, that the sky is far too dark for the time. As he makes his way from the recording booth, he can see why. It’s begun raining, and the small, frosted window in the recording booth only allowed him to see the darkness of the sky outside, not the rain hitting the glass. But, as he walks down the hallways, people carrying umbrellas and covered in raindrops clue him in to the weather outside.}

_{Ah, he doesn’t have an umbrella. But it’s a short walk to his car, so he’s not too worried. He feels bad for anyone walking home in this weather, and he’s glad that Miku got her recording done early today, and doesn’t have to deal with it. He can’t say the same for the blond boy sitting in the lobby, though. He’s young, isn’t he? Kaito worries for his fellow co-worker, even though he hasn’t actually met the other personally.}

     _{❄~ “Ahhh, Kagamine-kun … Do you have a ride home?”}

_{If not, Kaito is more than willing to drive him home. Looking out the glass doors, the rain seems to be intensifying, and the dark storm clouds over head don’t look like their planning on dissipating any time soon. It wouldn’t be good for Len to walk home in that, especially when Kaito sees that the boy, too, lacks an umbrella.}

_{No, it would be cruel to leave him here like this, and Kaito won’t do it until he’s sure the other has a ride coming, one way or the other. It’s not like there’s anyone waiting for him at home, after all – he doesn’t even have a pet. There’s no rush to return to an empty apartment.}

ѕтяєєт ѕιηgєя

_{Although he could play basic chords, the guitar was not Kaito’s first instrument. He much preferred the piano, which he had mastered, but it simply wouldn’t suit the venue. It would be awkward even to drag a keyboard to the sidewalk that Kaito’s set up on, much less a full blown piano that gives a nice tone. So Kaito stuck with the guitar, strumming his basic chords and simplifying bridges that he couldn’t play well.}

_{It was Crypton’s idea, to have him perform in the street. They couldn’t do such a stunt for Miku, where she’d probably be mobbed instantly. The twins and Luka could have easily met similar fates. Meiko and Kaito, they felt, had just the right amount of popularity. Meiko was busy, so Kaito was left alone, a one man performance with the backdrop of cars driving past and the chatter of pedestrians.}

_{It would make the company relatable, Crypton claimed. Performing at big venues to screaming fans was nice (and probably got them plenty of money), but how many idols performed on the street, for free? There were a stack of fliers next to him, advertising Crypton’s upcoming concert, but that was it. Surely, it would paint a picture of Crypton as a down-to-earth company.}

_{Kaito didn’t care much about the politics of it all, really. It was good to sing, good to share his music even though most people passed by without a second glance. His name was known in most households, but his face wasn’t quite as prevalent as a certain twin-tailed diva’s. He had his share of fans, one or two that stopped and watched in awe. Kaito was glad to perform like this, singing along to the strum of his guitar. He couldn’t help but smile, even if the subject matter was a bit dark in the song.}

     _{❄~ 『 絶えず想う　二人一人
                   暮れ落ちた言葉は取り返せずに
                                さよならダアリン　ダアリン　ねえダアリン
                                                                        クルクル回る環状線を} 

            _{「一人憐れに歩めや少女」』"}

_{That was the end of that song, one originally written for Miku (although he wasn’t sure if it was ever recorded or not), followed only by a brief guitar solo that he tried his best with despite limited skills. The end of that song was met with a smattering of distracted clapping from people who had other places to be, but Kaito smiled as he looked up from his guitar, anyways.}

     _{❄~ “Thank you … ah?”}

_{There was a familiar face among the crowds, and for a moment he thought that Rin had come, after all, perhaps in disguise with long extensions in her hair. But then he realized that this girl was too old to be Rin, and that their faces really weren’t similar, at all. He gave a sheepish smile.}

     _{❄~ “Sorry … You look like someone I know.”}

_{That wasn’t exactly unusual, though. People with similar faces were showing up more and more often; they often shared names with the people they resembled. Alternate universes were the commonly accepted theory, although not even top scientists knew exactly what caused the phenomenon. In the end, it really wasn’t all that strange. Everyone had a unique personality, and facial features were usually enough to distinguish between them.}

нι∂∂єη ѕσℓιѕ

_{The family vacation was something that Kaito looked forward to every year. However, he had to admit, their schedules didn’t really coincide. His parents and the younger ones kept a fairly usual schedule, going to sleep at a reasonable hour. The elder Shions, however, after being released from the household, seemed to develop very different schedules. Mokaito was up at 9 AM and asleep by 11, at the latest. Akaito slept until 3 PM and then stayed up all night. Zeito … well. No one could really predict his sleep schedule.}

_{And so Kaito was left awake at one in the morning, unable to sleep. He had missed the family’s morning walk because he had slept in, and figured he could make up for lost time. He checked to see if Akaito wanted to go, but he was irritable and sulking. Zeito was asleep (or appeared to be asleep), so Kaito set off on the nature trail on his own.}

_{It was a beautiful night for such a walk, really. The moon was full, providing more than enough light as he set off among the trees. In the distance, he could hear the soft gushing of a stream. The night was so lovely, he wasn’t even the only one on the path, even at this late hour. Most of the people, however, seemed to be couples intent on enjoying the night together. The sight made him smile.}

_{As the gushing of the stream gave way to the sight of babbling along under a bridge, however, Kaito saw a figure who wasn’t with anyone. Her uniform labeled her as a ranger, and he gave a friendly smile. He didn’t want to interrupt the couples, who had eyes only for each other, but he wouldn’t mind striking up a conversation with this young lady! He bet she knew all sorts of interesting things about this place.}

     _{❄~ “Good evening! Or, morning, I guess.”}

_{A small chuckle followed such words. He was in a good mood, really. It had been too hot, today, but with the sun hidden safely behind the moon, the temperature had become much more reasonable. Good for walking, in his admittedly not-so-professional opinion.}

ѕтαяѕтяυ¢к

_{Kaito was always relieved to have recording sessions in the afternoon.}

_{He was an easy-going person. Unfortunately, he was also very much a night owl. This caused some strife in his line of work when certain producers decided that they simply had to have this song recorded at the ungodly hour of nine in the morning, and Kaito, being his easy-going self, agreed without hesitation. Luckily, this producer as as laid-back as he was, and also appreciated a morning spent in pajamas.}

_{He didn’t have recording for another two hours, which gave him plenty of time to stop for an iced tea on his way to Crypton to rehearse before the producer came. Said song-writer was a notoriously tardy person, but it didn’t matter much to Kaito – It simply gave him more time to practice the song he’d only given one run-through before today. Well, he was going to have to re-record it multiple times, anyways.}

_{He stood at the crosswalk, sipping at his iced tea and humming happily, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young blonde looking at him. He turned to her and smiled, then went back to his own little world. Pulled out again was he, however, when he noticed she was still staring. And the look on her face, strangely enough, was a bit awed, almost …}

                                                                                                                    _Starstruck?

_{Ah. Kaito still wasn’t too good at picking out fans from non-fans, and he was often wrong about such things, but he thought that this one was a bit hard to mistake. So he smiled at her again, this time giving her lingering attention instead of a cursory glance.}

     _{❄~ “Hello there!”}

_{She was maybe a few years younger than him, and he was quick to attempt putting her at ease. It was downright unnerving, to have such an effect on someone! He wasn’t used to it, but the feeling wasn’t altogether unpleasant. It was sort of an awkward sort of pride, the kind that caused a slightly bashful smile to spread across lips.}

[вє]ℓσηgιηg

_{Kaito hummed to himself as he heated up water for tea. It had been a productive morning, really. He had managed to clean his house and make it look presentable, and set up a bed in the music room for the guest that would be staying. Family friends were visiting with the Shions for the summer, but they only had one spare bedroom. In the interest of comfort, the daughter would be sent to stay at Kaito’s apartment.}

_{He didn’t really mind, one way or another. Guests were always welcome, even if he only had one bedroom. It was an easy fix, really. Besides, he knew the parents of the girl well. They used to babysit him, before they had a child of their own. He had even met the girl once or twice, but only when they were both very young. He hadn’t seen her in well over ten years, now.}

_{As the water was heating, there was a knock on the door to his apartment. Kaito answered, to find a short teenaged girl in a frilled dress and carrying a suitcase. He smiled, shifting aside to let her in. Even though he hadn’t seen her since she was five, he had seen her picture from updates her family sent to the Shion household, so he had some idea as to what she looked like.}

     _{❄~ “Mayu-chan! Long time, no see!”}

_{The affectionate address rolled off his tongue easily. They were, essentially, childhood friends, even if he couldn’t remember much about the time they spent together. He glanced around, expecting her parents or someone to be around, but there was no one. He shut the door behind her when she entered, concerned.}

     _{❄~ “Did you have to come here all by yourself? Ah! I would have gone to pick you up if I had known. I hope it wasn’t too hard to find the place.”}

_{He led her across the hallway, opening the door to the music room. The piano was in its usual place, but the other instruments had been shuffled aside to make room for the new bed, nightstand, and dresser that had been set up. He didn’t mind the expense, as his new album with Miku had just come out. He had enough money to furnish the place, since she’d be living here for a few months.}

     _{❄~ “I converted this into a bedroom for you. I hope it’s alright! Let me know if there’s anything else you need, and we can get it for you.”}

_{His friendly disposition was evident in the cheery way he talked. Really, she could have been considered a little sister to him! He remembered treating her as such, very vaguely, back when they were kids. He had only been ten then, so it was hard for him to remember.}

ѕρяιηg ѕυѕнι

_{Kaito was too lazy to cook.}

_{It was strange, how too lazy to cook somehow motivated him to get out of bed, shower, dress for the day, and walk out the door in search of food. Surely, making ramen or instant miso in his pajamas would have been much simpler. But that would have required effort, which apparently wandering in search of food didn’t. At least to his mind.}

                                     _{Laziness was rarely rational.}

_{In truth, he was probably just going stir crazy. Days of inclement weather left him in his own home. April showers have come late, and May flowers were now just getting the rain they needed to bloom. The trees were still bare, but the first buds of green could be seen on them as he walked. Better late than never, right? He was glad to see the approaching signs of a late Spring, glad to be outside on a day where rain didn’t threaten. On a day like today, driving wasn’t an option. He much preferred to walk.}

_{Of course, he wasn’t walking to look at nature, as his stomach was quick to remind him. He looked around, hoping for a restaurant, and was pleased to come across a sushi bar. He had never been to this particular establishment before, but there was no time like the present, was there? And so he entered, a bit surprised by the amount of chatter coming from the place.}

_{It was surprisingly busy, and at first Kaito was worried that there would be nowhere to sit at the bar. Luckily, he managed to find one seat, next to a girl with short brown hair. He gave her a friendly smile as he approached, a bit cautiously.}

     _{❄~ “Were you saving this seat for anyone?”}

_{He paused before sitting down, making sure it was alright to do so. It was the only seat in the house, so it felt rational to suspect that it might be taken. He had to admit, though, he hoped that it wasn’t. He really was hungry, and didn’t know if there was anywhere else nearby.}

¢єℓєвяαтσяу ѕιвℓιηgѕ

_{Kaito wasn’t even sure what he was here for.}

_{Well, he was here for Kikaito, he knew that much. But as for specifics, he was a bit lost. He was pretty sure it was some sort of awards ceremony, but what, exactly, was Kikaito getting? He meant to ask his younger brother, in private, but they never seemed to have a moment alone together. It would have felt awkward to ask in front of his family, but he refrained.}

_{When they arrived at the hall the high school had rented, students were sitting with their families at circular tables. Unfortunately, despite having many kids pass through their system, the school still wasn’t used to just how large the Shion family was. Their table was a seat short, and it was simply too crammed to fit any more. Instead, it was decided that Kaito would sit at a nearby table, next to a pink-haired pair.}

_{He didn’t particularly mind the separation, although he loved his family dearly. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to worry about faking his way through knowing what was going on for his mother’s sake. He already felt embarrassed enough about not knowing in the first place. He was usually pretty on top of these things, and he felt like he had dropped the ball.}

_{Ah, no matter. He turned himself to the two sitting by him. If he had to guess, he’d say that the girl was younger, probably in Kikaito’s class. The boy was older, although Kaito couldn’t peg the age exactly. Both had pink hair and rather striking yellow eyes. He gave them both a friendly smile.}

     _{❄~ “Hello! I don’t think we’ve met.”}

_{If the boy had been in his class or near it, Kaito didn’t remember him. He hadn’t paid much attention in school, outside of his small circle of friends. Most of them were musically inclined, like himself. Big surprise there.}

тяυℓу.

     _{tru·ly (ˈtro͞olē/),
          adv.
          to the fullest degree; genuinely or properly.}

                                         _{"I care about you, Miku. Truly.“}

_{It started as an assurance of his truth, when so much of their relationship had been built on lies. He noticed himself saying it more and more often, fighting to convey his true emotions and to have her accept them as such. It began to become a habit, automatically stated after everything romantic that he spoke.}

                             _{"You’re beautiful, Miku. Truly.”
                                                                          “I find you fascinating, truly.”
       "I love spending time with you, Miku. Truly.“
                                                            "T r u l y.”}

_{Ever since that day, he’s felt that he needed to speak that reminder, to tell her every day that what he does is between the two of them. He doesn’t care for Ito or his schemes; he only chases after her smile. He seeks it, like a man in a barren desert seeks water. Every flash of joy from her warms him to his core, even with the still-lingering chill from the long winter.}

_{It’s been months since that day, when their fancy dinner crumpled into tired confessions. Months since they ordered pizza and sat and, slowly, got to know each other all over again. Their relationship changed that night, but it did not end. In Kaito’s mind, the curtains had been drawn back, revealing the truth of things. And, to keep them truthful, he spoke that single reminder at every opportunity.}

_{They’ve met a lot since that day, as much as their schedules could allow. As of late, it’s been more difficult. This is what brings him to Crypton’s mostly empty lobby on his day off, waiting for Miku to finish her shift. He hasn’t seen her all week, and he misses her. So he texted her last night and she agreed to meet him here, when the sun is just beginning to set and her shift finally meets his end.}

_{And so he waits in eager anticipation, absently staring at the small fountain in the center of the lobby, remembering that larger fountain that they had sat by when it seemed as though nothing would ever be normal between them again. It’s not a sad memory, anymore. Because now, that’s all behind them.}

ѕмιℓє αη∂ ησ∂

_{Crypton’s parties were spectacular, fabulously decorated, and, in the opinion of a certain blue-haired singer, horrendously boring.}

_{The singers weren’t allowed much of their own agenda, forced to smilingly accept handshake after handshake. Kaito was usually the one to be most ignored throughout times like this, but Miku had it the worst, being the number 1 diva. He had been standing by her side, hopefully offering some sort of emotional support through the endless tirades of pleased to meet you and yes it’s been too long, but she had been whisked away somewhere, leaving him alone.}

_{He was used to quiet moments in parties like this, where he was able to tune out whatever tired popular song they were playing for those who were dancing around the polished dance floor. Perhaps it was even a familiar voice, the voice of a twin-tailed songbird or two rambunctious twins. Perhaps, even, it was his voice, and that would be … awkward. He loved singing, but listening to recordings of himself doing so? It felt too strange.}

_{And so he stood near the fountain in the center of the hall, a short thing as far as fountains went, but able to create enough noise to drown out the music he usually loved to listen to. Water pattered down stone to a small resovoir lined with plants, with a small area that allowed people to sit. It was here that Kaito had positioned himself, hoping for Miku or someone to come, to make the evening more enjoyable.}

_{Someone did come, but Kaito didn’t know if they would make the evening more enjoyable or not. It was a stranger to Kaito, a young man with pink hair. Kaito thought there was something off about him, and after a bit of study, he realized that the other was an android, one of the many creations programmed to sing. He didn’t think the other was one of Crypton’s creations, but he couldn’t be sure.}

     _{❄~ “Ah … Hello.”}

_{He wasn’t sure exactly how to address the other, but sitting in silence hardly felt natural. The pattering of the water behind them made a nice filler, but it also made the silence between them a bit more oppressive, since it drown out the sound of others talking around them.}