"Morning, sleepyhead!" Len said cheerfully, already dressed in his uniform. He and Fukase were sitting at the dining room table apparantly having a competition to see who could fit more Lucky Charms in their mouth. "Mom and dad are sleeping in, best not to disturb them,"

"What is Señor Period Blood doing here?" Rin grumbled, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. 

"Taking the bus with my favorite blonds," Fukase replied after swallowing his mouthfull of cereal. 

"Charming," Rin said, wrinking her nose in disgust as he immediatly started cramming more into his mouth. "I've suddenly lost my appetite. I'm going to change," she turned around and went back up to her room to wash her face and throw on her uniform. As if today wasn't stressful enough already, she just had to be heading to school with the most stressful person of all time. 

Rin put on a little blush and mascara. She considered it for a moment before adding a little glitter lip gloss. She then placed her alice band on her head, positioning it just right.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Who was she trying to be, anyways? Inconspicious, mostly. If she could get through the day without anyone yelling at her in the halls, that would be enough. She just wanted to go through this year without any drama. Even if that meant not talking to anyone but her brother and his oddball friend group... anything to avoid a repeat of the previous year.

Rin grabbed her backpack and went back downstairs where Len was now breakdancing in the living room while Fukase was recording it and yelling "Get it blondie! Go hot boy!"

Rin banged her head against the wall. Fukase was almost convincing her to expand her social circle. She walked over to the counter and put her water bottle and bento into her bag. This was going to be her life until next summer, huh? The two biggest idiots in her kitchen every morning, avoiding everyone, just doing her best to pass class.

"Shit, we gotta catch the bus!" Fukase said, finishing recording and looking at the time. "Hurry up guys!" 

As if he wasn't the one being slowest!  Rin thought. Either way, she slung her backpack over her shoulders and slipped on her loafers. 

She led the way out the door, Fukase and Len following behind her, laughing and snorting the whole way down the street to the bus stop. About what, god knows. 

Rin immediatly sat down on the bus stop bench as soon as they reached it and pulled out her phone. Len and Fukase leaned against the bus sign, still chatting and laughing non-stop.

Rin looked through her phone. She didn't really have any social media, not anymore. Just a Pinterest account with two followers (Len and Flower). She opened the App Store, and, hesitating slightly, hit the download button on Instagram. She had long since deleted her account, but new school year, new things, right?

She quickly chose the username rinrin_937 and tapped 'Create Account' just as the bus pulled up. Rin slipped her phone back into her pocket and got onto the bus just behind Len and Fukase. 

The bus was packed full of students, as expected. Luckily, none of them seemed to take any notice to Rin, who was able to hide behind Len's loud personality. He was already chatting with a guy and girl who were sitting right beside where he was standing, holding onto one of the loops attatched to the cieling. Rin was much to short to use them, and as much as she kept hoping for a growth spurt, she was at least for now only able to use the poles in the bus to stay upright. 

After what seemed to be a much too short ride the bus stopped in front of Ayaka Prep School, where student after student poured out onto the sidewalk, rushing to meet friends or get to homeroom early.

Rin waited hesitantly, taking slow steps towards the bus doors.

"C'mon, Rin," Len said, in a softer tone than usual. He placed an arm around her shoulder, guiding her outside. "It's going to be just fine, wait and see,"

Rin wasn't paying much attention to where Len was directing them, and before she knew it, she was face-to-face with the whole Meme Squad, as they called themselves. 

There was Fukase and Len of course, starting Junior year just like she was. Oliver, a freshman, who had been neighbours with the Kagamines until his family moved about a ten-minute drive away. Piko, a senior who had known Rin and Len since they all met back in first year of middle school, and Flower, another senior. 

"Piko, will you come to homeroom with me?" Oliver, who was practically in tears, was asking Piko.

"We've been over this Oliver," Piko said, patting Oliver on the back. "It would be very weird if I went to class with you, considering we're three grades apart,"

Oliver sniffled. "Okay," he replied miserably.

"Hey, gang!" Len yelled.

"Shut the fuck up, it's literally seven in the morning," Flower said, glaring daggers at Len. Rin laughed a little, remembering why she liked hanging out with her. 

"Hi, Len," Oliver sniffled. 

"Hey," Piko greeted. 

"Aww, what's wrong, Oliver?" Fukase said, poking the younger boy in the arm lightly. "C'monnn, High School is soooo much fun, right Flower?"

"Yeah, I love gum-covered desks and the most perverted men ever being allowed to teach kids," Flower replied, not looking up from her phone.

"Perverted?" Oliver cried. 

"Rin, what homeroom are you in?" Len asked, pulling his schedule out of his bag to check. They had been sent out a week earlier, giving Len plently of time to memorize a single classroom, but no. 

"A4," Rin replied, remembering her own schedule. 

"Ahh, I'm in B2," Len said. "You're on your own, Rin-Rin,"

"Whatever shall I do," Rin said dully.

"Did I hear homeroom A4?" A sing song voice came from behind the twins.

Rin spun around quickly, ready to run, only to see a familiar face with long, pink hair and bright smile. 

"IA, you scared me," She said, putting a hand over her beating heart. 

"Oh, Sorry!" IA said, looking very apologetic indeed. She was just about one of the nicest people you could meet, and Rin was beyond relieved she had been the one to startle her. "I'm in homeroom A4 as well, Rin!"

Rin felt a sense of relief wash over her. At least she'd have one friend in her class. "I'm glad," she replied, smiling at IA, who smiled back warmly. 

Rin was about to ask about IA's summer vacation when the bell rang loudly, making them both jump a little. "Well, I guess we should head over there," Rin said with a tone of pure dread.

"Oh-kay!" IA said happily. "Let's go!"