V3 for the blues

[recklessice]

[One morning in dressing room, flyers have been given to everyone, even in the front paper of the newspaper. 'The first Crypton VOCALOID 3' and the news follows; Crypton has upgraded the male blue Vocaloid, KAITO, and he is known as KAITO V3. He received a very welcome from the public and surpass Hatsune Miku in sales. Comes with four voice banks, it's similar to Append; Straight, Soft, Whisper, and English for international use. KAITO V3 is successful result for VOCALOID 3 and Crypton decided to upgrade the others as well.]

It should be out months ago, but oh well. This year is a good start anyway.

[Says the append looking blue Vocaloid on top of the bus. He swinging his legs while reading the news.]

Comments

[subjecting]

[He smirks behind the newspaper while turning to the next page.]

I hardly had a choice. [He looks up at her.] There are flyers everywhere. Apparently the slaughter of an entire forest was worth printing these. Humans make the best choices.

[portalholic]

[shoot, okay, he does sound upset... not that she can blame him.

sitting down on the bench next to KaITO now, alternating between glancing over at him and staring down at the ground]

Actually, I'd almost bet that the Kaito these things are talking about did it. A lot of Vocaloids around here are pretty into advertising themselves and being competitive. Heck, we were all that way once, weren't we?

[subjecting]

[That actually gives him pause. The others were probably more competitive in regards to advertising themselves, although he did recall his own sense of pride and occasional boast about a song or two. She's probably correct.

Mentally shrugging, he returned to skimming the newspaper.] I suppose we were.

[portalholic]

The twins and sometimes Miku, especially. Right before shows or album releases...

[trails off. okay, she's not exactly sure if she wants to discuss their days as 'singing robots' right now, especially in light of this new announcement]



...How are you?

[subjecting]

Relatively well, [he says honestly.] There has been little reason to be unwell.

You, however, seem upset.

[portalholic]

Of course I am! That...

[gives the newspaper a jerky terse gesture]

Isn't upsetting you at all?

[subjecting]

[He folds the front over to take another look at the advertisement on the front page. When he finishes re-reading it, he looks over to MEIKO.]

Why should it upset me?

[portalholic]

Because...

Because this should have been you.

[subjecting]

[He watches her quietly, letting her words hang in the air.]

...you still want it to be me.

[portalholic]

No! No, Kaito, I swear that wasn't what I meant at all!

[leans towards him, her eyes wide]

I meant that in a 'This isn't fucking fair' way. They-- those assholes fucked up everything and I knew they were incompetent as hell but to see pretty direct evidence that it really should have been this easy... this good... it's just the icing on the damn cake.

I said before I accept how you are now, and I meant it. You are my brother.

[subjecting]

[It's hard for KaITO to understand how else to take her reasoning. Of course the news only proved his point further; the programmers were utterly incompetent and deserved their deaths by the hands of the very thing they created. But that fact didn't upset him. If anything it made him feel justified. MEIKO's concerns, however, sounded like jealousy to him — that it was unfair for one KAITO to receive upgrades unscathed while he remained... different.

He doesn't recoil from her lean, but he does appear to be more hesitant when he responds.]

It simply proves they deserved what they received.

[portalholic]

[while she feels that it was unfair that her brother was tortured, broken, and jerked around while another in the same situation emerged from it fine and happy. KaITO deserved a good fate too, and should have gotten one, she thinks.

of course, there's no way to know what he's thinking, so she won't be voicing this]

I... they did deserve a shit-ton of awful horrible things... but...

[giving him a concerned look now. please don't say stuff like this, it hurts and maybe frightens her just a little (not that she'd admit it). please don't make that damn Haku and the others who agree with her sound right]

[subjecting]

[He interrupts.] Then there is nothing to be upset about.

[He knows what he says disturbs her— disturbs his siblings. KaITO doesn't feel like he can really help it. This is the way he is. But... is it still wrong? The question still continues to come up every once in a while. Even when he thinks he's finally accepted and moved on.

A thought occurs.] Are the others taking the news well? [Or were they upset, too?]

[portalholic]

[oh good, a subject change. we very very much want a subject change, thank you]

Haven't spoken to them yet. Wanted to clear my head first and then talk to you before I did them.

[subjecting]

I see.

[It would probably be worth it to seek them out, then. He was interested in knowing what their reactions were, too.]

Do you suspect they are also upset?

[portalholic]

Suspect? I know! Why wouldn't they be be upset? This is upsetting.

[subjecting]

...I understand. [Except not really.

This warrants investigation.] I'll search for them, too.

[portalholic]

Thank you, Kaito.

[said with the utmost sincerity]

That'd really help.

[subjecting]

[He nods and slowly stands, folding the newspaper up into a precise rectangle before tossing it back into the bin nearby.]

[portalholic]

...Can we meet later? Talk, I mean... Maybe some food.

Doesn't have to be about this, I just... want to spend more time with you. I always do. Even if...

[it's just the lure of the bottle and easier conversations]

[subjecting]

[...well, he's in no hurry to return to the Center right now.]

That will be fine.

I'll see you later.