Chapter 7: Books, Bonds, and New Beginnings
While I was wondering what to do with myself, Luka suggested reading and led me to the library.
Given the Vocaloids’ age range, manga and novels dominated, but thankfully, there were some history books, guidebooks, self-help books, and career-related ones too.
I grabbed one and started reading, and time vanished instantly.
King Crimson!
The process disappears, leaving only the result!
I can see it—its movements!
“…What am I doing.”
Sighing, I turned around blankly.
The corner of the bookshelf, like a quarantine zone for so-called “boring books,” made my thoughts tangle.
It hit me again—this isn’t the world I know.
The self-help books listed jobs like drone engineer or solar energy device manager—things I couldn’t even guess at.
Some job titles were so cryptic I had no clue what they entailed.
Do I really have to go to school?
No matter how you slice it, education is key for a job, and at minimum, you need a high school diploma.
This place might be different, but in my head, high school is the bare minimum for employment.
But that means, at my age, I’d have to cosplay as a high school girl.
No way.
I’d rather die.
Ugh, whatever.
I’ll talk to Master about it if it comes to that.
Burying my complicated feelings deep inside, I headed to the dining area.
It was already buzzing like a marketplace.
“Hey, welcome.”
“Grab any empty seat.”
Following their guidance, I took a corner seat, but for some reason, all eyes were on me.
Why are they staring?
As my eyes darted around nervously, a lifeline appeared.
“Food’s not ready yet?”
“I’m starving…”
Unfamiliar voices came from the entrance, drawing my attention along with a few others.
Two girls radiated a sunny aura.
Despite their contrasting gold and silver hair, they felt like sisters, and… their chests were equally impressive.
Seriously, they’re huge…
Meiko and Luka are pretty well-endowed, and Miku’s not small either, but these two are on another level.
The silver-haired one looks young, yet she’s almost as big.
If she grows more…
Wait, that’s harassment.
Cut!
“Hey? New face. Oh, you’re the one Meiko mentioned?”
The blonde girl spotted me and zoomed over.
So fast.
Like she’s using teleportation.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Tsurumaki Maki! Just call me Maki!”
“I’m IA. Nice to meet you.”
I stood to bow, unable to stay seated during a greeting.
Maki’s expression shifted oddly.
“You don’t have to be so formal. Relax, okay?”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
She paused at my response, then glanced at Meiko.
Their eyes met, Meiko shook her head slightly, and Maki nodded.
What?
Did they just have a whole conversation I missed?
Are they communicating with just their eyes?
“Alright, we’ll get closer over time. Looking forward to it! Oh, how old are you?”
“16.”
“16? Same as me and Yukari! Nice, we’re the same age, so you can speak casually.”
“I’ll… try when I get used to it.”
“Hmm, fair enough.”
No matter what, I can’t just drop formalities with people I just met.
My face isn’t that thick.
Plus, speaking Japanese, I naturally lean toward stiff, polite speech.
What can I do?
It’s the only polite tone I know.
I might manage softer formal speech, but for now, this is safer.
“And you…?”
After wrapping up with Maki, my eyes landed on the silver-haired girl beside her.
Her blue eyes sparkled as she waited, then suddenly raised a hand and leaned forward.
“Hi! I’m Kizuna Akari! 14 this year! Just call me Akari~”
“Uh, hi. I’m IA…”
“Hey, you’re 16, so you’re older. You can speak casually. Oh, can I call you big sister?”
“What? Uh, um…”
Big sister?
That’s a huge hurdle.
Not “big brother,” but “big sister”…
My mental fortitude is crumbling.
At least it’s better than calling Meiko “big sister.”
It’s better to be called it than to say it, right?
No, the best option is neither!
“Alright, IA-nee! Looking forward to it!”
“Y-Yes…”
“Nihihi!”
Satisfied, she plopped into an empty seat, exuding an extrovert aura I could never touch.
Maki’s the same.
They’re both so far from my league.
I just want to be a pile of flour.
“Where’s Yukari?”
“She’s caught up in a mission. Said she’ll eat takeout.”
Mission?
Oh, right, she’s a streamer.
Missions are serious business.
No idea how big it is, but as a streamer, she can’t just brush it off.
My condolences.
“Alright, everyone’s here? Let’s eat~”
“Sure!”
By the way, Master got called away somewhere.
He said it’s Saturday, but… seeing his lonely, overworked back as he left made me feel for him.
Dinner was, as expected, prepared by Meiko.
Kaito jokingly called her the mom of the house, and I can see it.
With Master swamped by work, Meiko guards the home like a mom.
It’s a bit of a fantasy, but they suit those roles.
The food was delicious.
Technology’s advanced tools and ingredients helped, but Meiko’s skill was something else.
It came together so fast… I can’t explain it.
Details omitted.
*
“IA-nee, are you staying with us?”
“Yeah, there’s no room here.”
Master, Meiko, Kaito, Luka, Miku, Rin, Len—seven people live here.
Of course there’s no space.
It’d be weird if there was.
It’s not like a dorm cramming multiple people per room.
“Then I’ll take you over now! Cool?”
“Sure, do as you like.”
“Huh?”
Wait, right after eating?
“Come on, IA-nee! Your room’s already set up!”
“Uh… okay?”
Before I could react, Akari grabbed my wrist and started dragging me.
What kind of strength does a 14-year-old girl have?
Come to think of it, she ate multiple bowls of rice at dinner.
Did all that food go straight to her muscles?
“You’ll hurt her like that.”
“Whoops! S-Sorry!”
Thankfully, Maki stopped her, and Akari let go immediately.
Oddly, it didn’t hurt at all.
She grabbed me hard enough to drag me, yet…
Maybe this body’s specs are higher than I thought?
No, wait, I was panting back at the lab’s entrance.
So inconsistent.
Come to think of it, aside from the entrance, I didn’t feel tired or achy at all.
What’s going on?
Which is it?
Oh, she apologized, so I should respond.
“It’s fine.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry. I got too excited…”
“Really, it’s okay. Don’t worry.”
After reassuring her, Akari finally relaxed.
It didn’t hurt, just startled me, so it’s genuinely fine.
But is it okay to just leave like this?
“Don’t I need to say goodbye?”
“Goodbye? You’re just going to your room, no need for that.”
Right.
Two buildings, but it’s basically one household, so no need for formalities.
It’s like not saying goodbye when going from the living room to your bedroom.
Makes sense.
“Anyway, let’s go. Gotta meet Yukari and see your room.”
Though Yukari’s probably too busy streaming to talk properly.
Maki finished with a wry smile.
Yuzuki Yukari…
What kind of person is she?
As extroverted as these two?
With a spark of curiosity, I followed them.