Incompitable

Chapter 20

Two years later.

Bored, I rested my chin on the back of my hand as I stared out the window. Right now, I was sitting in my classroom of high school. Yup, high school. I am 17 years old now, believe it or not. A lot has happened since…Rin died when we were 15...

First of all, once she died, we sent her back to the Crypton building in Tokyo. That's apparently where all the dead VOCALOIDs go. It was really hard to let Rin go, I must say. I got to be with her for a couple days, but even though I was with her, what hurt the most was that she would never respond to my voice.

Also, Luka and I constantly avoided each other after Rin's death. We avoided each other like the plague. We honestly did not want to be around each other. Which was actually pretty hard considering we were at the top of the house leader list.

"Are you paying attention, Kagamine?" my teacher called out to me from the front of the room, and I turned my head instantly.

"Ah, yes, Sensei." I nodded and faced forwards; putting both of my hands on the desk I sat at. Several of my classmates murmured to each other and Sensei went back to the board. I saw Rui giving me funny looks and Rei tugging on her arm to keep her focused.

Oh, and I forgot to mention. The majority of the VOCALOIDs in the house went to college. The only ones who stayed were Rui, Rei, Ted, Teto, and I. Luka stayed behind because she takes care of the house. Ted and Teto were 18 now, so they'd be going off to college next year. That would then just leave the 4 of us… Although, if Rin hadn't died…

"Alright, so that is your homework assignment. Class dismissed."

Students stood up and started to gather up their stuff, getting ready to leave. I looked around slowly and got up too. Better get going. Luka wants me to see mom today…

"Ne, ne, Len-kun, c'mooon!" Rui called out to me, walking up to my desk with Rei trailing behind her. I faced her and nodded my head.

"Yeah, I'm coming…" I mumbled as I shoved my books and pencil case into my school bag.

"You doing anything after school?" Rei asked me, and I stared at him for a moment. The two have really matured in 3 years. Rui has gotten much taller and has gone from cute to pretty. Rei has always looked old for his age, but now he's taller and his features are more sharp and strong looking. I, on the other hand, have only gained several inches and there isn't much of a difference in how I look. Sadly. My voice has gotten lower though! But only a little bit. And I can still sing really high… What can I say? Puberty sucks.

"Ah, well, I have to go see my mom…" I said, and Rei shrugged, fitting his backpack strap on his shoulders.

"Oh, okay then." He replied and turned around, and Rui waved to me.

"Okie dokes, Len-kun! See ya' later~" she sang and I nodded at her, smiling. I watched the pair leave the almost-empty classroom and my teacher approaching the doorway, until he turned around to face me.

"Kagamine." He called out, and I looked up towards him from my bag.

"Yes, Sensei?"

"Don't forget to lock the door on your way out and be careful on your way home, alright?" he told me and I nodded at him.

"Yes, Sensei." I answered, and he turned to leave. Now I was the only one in the classroom. I looked out the large window that was to the left of me and I sighed.

It was a sunny winter day, so looking at the snow on the ground kind of hurt. But it was so pretty and I couldn't help but to stare at it.

"Rin would have loved this…" I found myself saying aloud, and then I shook my head in realization. Why am I still thinking about Rin? She's…not here anymore.

Sniffing, I also noticed my eyes were wet, so I took of my glasses to wipe at my eyes.

"Dammit, quit crying…" I muttered quietly, rubbing at my eyes. "She's not here, so don't cry. She's okay now..." I told myself to prevent the waterworks, which only worked halfway. Don't cry about it. You're too old for crying now. Rin wouldn't want you to cry, now would she?

"No…" I whispered and slowly, I put my glasses back on and grabbed my school bag, and swung it over my shoulder, trying to stop tearing. With a heavy sigh, I took one last look out the window and then left the classroom.

As I approached the small café on the corner of a small street, it started to snow lightly. I looked up at the small puffs of white and shivered as they fell onto my face. As they hit my glasses, they instantly melted, so I had to constantly wipe them off, and that was particularly tiresome. I hugged my scarf closer to my neck and continued to walk down the street towards the café.

I walked in slowly, the small bell on the door ringing, and saw one of the waitresses look up at me from washing a table.

"Ohh, Len-kun, welcome!" she smiled at me and I smiled back, walking over.

"Hi there, Kerii-chan." I greeted and she went back to washing the table.

"How's school going?" she asked and I sighed, sitting down.

"It's y'know, boring and everything. Why?" I answered and she looked up.

"I'unno, just wondering~" she smiled at me and I laughed quietly to myself.

After Rin died and I went to school, I made this one friend. Her name is Kerii and she has dark brown, almost black, shoulder-length hair that she always pulls back into a bun. She's really nice and clumsy, too. She's actually my first friend that isn't a VOCALOID, and she doesn't even know that I am one. I don't really plan on telling her either.

"You're mom is waiting for you in the back, Len-kun." Kerii told me and I nodded, leaving my school bag on the chair.

"Oh, thanks, I'll be back in a bit." I told her, and she grinned, nodding.

"Okay~" Kerii sang and went back to washing the table. I turned around and started to walk towards the backroom where my "mom" was. She's the manager of this café and only occasionally do I work here. She tells me that I should come here a lot 'cause I would bring in a lot of customers and to wear my glasses at all times. I don't really see why I specifically need to come, and why I would need to wear my glasses at all times, because honestly I only need them for school. I often find myself wearing them anyways though because I forget really easily. She also tells me I should sing here sometimes, but I only told her 'no thanks'.

I gripped the doorknob slowly, turned it, and walked in. I saw my mom sitting at a large wooden desk covered in papers and books. It was covered, yes, but it was neat at the same time. My mom looks kind of like me, although she has light blonde hair that's pretty long. My hair is more of a golden blonde color and stuff, but we both have blue eyes. I slowed my pace as I walked in, and my mom looked up at me. She seemed out of it at first, but then her expression softened and she jumped up.

"LEN-KUNNNN!" she yelled and ran over to me, tackling me. Startled, I flinched as she was randomly hugging me now. It was really weird. Mom doesn't usually do this... But then again, the last time I came to see her was last year…

"Ohh, Len-kun, you finally visited Mommy!" she cried, and I stared at her, a little taken aback from her sudden personality change. She used to be all cold and mean, but now she was acting as if she actually loved me. Well that's an improvement…

"Uhh, yeah, well…" I stumbled and she pulled away from the hug.

"Oh, Len-kun, you're so handsome now! How old are you? Seventeen? My goodness, you still look so young! What are you here for? And especially so close to winter break?" she smiled at me, and still surprised from her different attitude, I was lost on the next words to say.

"Uhh, that is… Uhh…" I stuttered, and she hugged me again, nearly choking me.

"Aggckkk—!" I gagged and she squealed happily.

"Oh, Len-kun! You're completely speechless! Are you that happy to see me?"

No, but you sure are…

"Uhh, well, it's just that…it's been a while and…" I said, slightly pushing her away, and she walked over to her desk.

"Well, yes, yes, now what have you come here for?" she asked me, fixing around her papers and I shifted on my feet nervously.

"I uh… Just came here to talk to you, I guess." I answered, and she smiled at me.

"Is that so? I'm glad you did!" she smiled happily and I stared at her with certain interest. Why is Mom acting so different all of a sudden? It's like she's a whole new person…

"Oh, and I see you're wearing your glasses! Good boy~" she sang and I laughed nervously.

"Ahaa, yeah, well, I just walked here from school, and—"

"Oh yes, school! How's school going? Isn't it cold outside? You should wear a coat, Len-kun!" she told me, and I raised my eyebrows.

"Um, I'm wearing a scarf and…"

"Len-kun, a school uniform and sweater plus a scarf are not enough! You need a winter coat…" she said as she fixed my sweater buttons and brushed out the wrinkles. I arched my back with my arms bent up in the air a little, feeling slightly awkward. This has ought to be a first.

"Oh dear, Len-kun you have to take better care of yourself, you know…" she said as she picked the lint off of my sweater. I stared down at her and frowned awkwardly.

"Uh, yes…mom…" It still felt weird to call her 'mom' considering she and I aren't even related.

"Aww, Len-kun! That's the first time you've ever called me 'mom'~!" she hugged me again, and I stared down at her back, a bit surprised. "I love you~!" she added, and my expression turned more sad.

And that's the first time you've ever said you loved me.

"Yeah! I'm so excited!" Miku told me over the phone the next day.

"Really?" I asked as I packed up my stuff at the end of the school day.

"Yeah, when do you get out of school? What day?" she asked and I closed the flap on my school bag.

"Uhh, today. It's the 23rd." I answered, and Miku squealed happily.

"Hee hee, hooray! I'm so excited~" she said, and I raised my eyebrows.

"Duh, you're coming home for break." I said jokingly, and she laughed.

"Well, there's a surprise~"

"…Christmas?"

"Haha, you'll see!" Miku giggled. "Oops, gotta go, Len-kun! Bye-bye~"

"Huh—? Oh!" I stuttered into the phone, but Miku hung up. I looked at my cell phone, frowning, but then closed it. I placed it in my pants pocket and then I put my bag on my shoulder. I looked around the classroom and found that it was empty.

"Huh." I mumbled and walked towards the front of the room. I locked the door and stepped out, heading for the front entrance. As I stepped out, I instantly felt the cold air hit me in the face. I squeezed my eyes shut, shivering and hugged my arms.

"Geez, it's so cold…" I muttered under my breath, causing white clouds to appear in front of me. I tightened the scarf around my neck and walked down the steps.

Oh. I have to do some errands… Right.

I started to walk in the direction of town alongside the street and looked around. I felt a prickly sensation around my neck, so I instantly turned around. I searched the space but found nothing.

I…I feel like someone's watching me…

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion and turned back around to continue my errands.

Minutes later, while I was buying instant ramen, I felt the same sensation again.

What is that…? Is my tracker system acting up?

I touched the back of my neck out of curiosity and shivers were sent down my back.

Ennghh. What IS that?

I frowned in confusion and went back to placing the ramen in my bag.

As I left the mart, I looked around and checked the grocery bag in my hand. Do I have everything? Yeah… Time for the supermarket now.

I started walking in the direction of the supermarket and entered the automatic doors. It was chilly in there, but it wasn't snowing, so I shrugged it off. I walked around to the produce section to get some fruit, and stopped where the banana bunches were. I picked up one of them and held it in my left hand. When I turned around, I saw a box of oranges.

I stared at them for a minute, the sight of them making her come back to mind.

I felt tears behind my eyes but then I shook my head vigorously and slapped the side of my head with the edge of my wrist.

No! Don't cry; don't cry…!

I quickly turned away from the oranges and ran away over to where the packaged tuna were.

"That'll be 2375 yen, sir." The cashier told me, and I nodded, searching for my wallet.

"Yes, ma'am." I took out some money and handed it to her quickly. She smiled at me, and I smiled weakly back. She put the money into the cash register and then she tapped the computer screen. I looked around at the item displays; small toys for 100 yen and chapstick, giftcards, and other stuff.

"Alright, sir…" she handed me a receipt and smiled at me. "Here you go~" I smiled back at her and took the receipt in my hand and the grocery bag in my other one. I started to walk away while looking at the receipt, making sure that all the prices were right—the tuna was on-sale. I walked out of the supermarket and continued looking at the thin paper and noticed at the bottom it said, "Come back soon~ ;3" with a little heart under it.

I made a face at the paper and then stuffed it into my pocket. For some reason, ever since I came to high school, girls I don't know always come up to me and ask me out. I don't know why. It's kinda creepy.

I started to walk towards the bridge that led to this forest where our house is. We have to live deep in the forest because people aren't really supposed to know who and what we are…

Suddenly, I felt that same feeling on the back of my neck. It was like this tingling feeling in my neck that wouldn't go away, and it was driving me absolutely crazy.

Frustrated, I whipped around quickly and opened my mouth to speak.

"Would you just—" I started to say, but immediately stopped.

Several feet away from me stood a blonde girl dressed in a brown coat and black skirt with black knee-high boots. An orange scarf was wrapped around her neck, and the most defining thing was on her head.

A white bow…?

"Rin…?" I breathed, and the girl smiled at me, gripping the hem of her coat.

"Hi, Len." She greeted, and I nearly dropped my bags.

Rin? RIN? What is she DOING here? I thought she—

"Rin? Rin…?" I gaped at her, stumbling forwards, and she caught me in her arms.

"Hee hee, Len, you've changed~" she giggled and I tried to stand upright.

"Wait—how'd you—I thought you—?" I stuttered, my face flushing. I couldn't believe it; Rin looked so incredibly pretty now. She just looked…amazing. I even felt the heat rise in my face despite the fact that it was freezing outside. Rin tilted her head to the side, smiling, and laughed. Again, I felt my entire body heat up.

"Len," she started, sighing. "Robots can die, but they can always be repaired, you know."