Chapter Text
Sigh. Another text.
Queen of Coffee: they're having a flash sale at the vocaloid store today! let's go take a lookkk I know ur free today lol
For years, Taro's friend Hanako had been trying to convince him to buy a VOCALOID, but he couldn't bring himself to spend so much on what, a singing android? He had always failed his music classes, it would be just as useless as buying any other instrument. Right…?
Ping! Another text.
Queen of Coffee: u know what, ill buy u ice cream if you come with me~
Damn it. Taro had always had a bit of a sweet tooth, and Hanako had always known how to use it against him. Rolling his eyes, he types a response, then hits send.
ERROR707: No take backs. Where are we meeting up?
Almost immediately, Taro receives a response.
Queen of Coffee: already on our way!
Our? He thinks to himself. Hanako had always been the social butterfly between the two of them. He supposed she was bringing along one of her millions of friends.
“Better get ready, then.” He mutters, and stands up from his desk, cracking his back in the process. He changes out of his pajamas, runs a brush through his hair, and puts on his shoes, just as someone knocks on the door. He opens it to see not only Hanako, who was grinning smugly, but also a short girl with a blonde bob, her bangs pinned to the side, and a large bow on top of her head.
“Hi, mister! Hana told me lots about you!” There's a slight tone to the girl's voice that Taro can't quite put his finger on. It's almost... synthetic?
“Oh, she has?” He raises an eyebrow and looks at Hanako, crossing his arms. “This a girl you're babysitting or something?”
“Nope, this is Rin! She's my new VOCALOID, I brought her home last week!” Rin bounces on the balls of her feet as Hanako speaks. Ah. This explains why Hanako had been trying to get him to go out with her a lot more than usual. But there's something nagging at him.
“Ah, I apologize if this is rude, but… you look just like a human. I didn't realize VOCALOIDs were so… advanced.” He says, looking over the blonde android.
“Mmh-hmm! They're not just for singing, they're actually great companions.” Hanako explains. “Rin's practically my little sister!" He can't help the small smile that forms on his lips. Ever since he'd met Hanako, she'd frequently talked about wanting a little sister.
“Yeah, and big sis and I got matching outfits, we have movie nights, and we go to all sortsa cool places!” Rin adds eagerly. Taro feels a twinge of sadness in his chest along with a pang of jealousy. Hanako was his only friend, but she was usually busy, always at some event, or out with another friend.
“That sounds… nice.” Taro says wistfully. Realizing how he sounded, he clears his throat and tries to deflect. “S-so, are we going to this voca-something store or are we just going to talk all day?”
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Faintly, the door's chime can be heard. From a back room, a blue haired android barely looks up from his lap. He's come to expect disappointment. Nineteen years he's waited, hoping each new customer might bring him home, give him a chance to love and be loved, but nobody ever gave him a second glance, since he was an old, outdated model, and the newer androids were more lifelike, with more bells and whistles than he ever had.
Faintly, he hears a few different voices. First, the cheerful shop attendant greeted the customers, then a familiar woman's voice. She'd come in last week to bring home a Rin model. Was she returning her Rin? By the upbeat sound of Rin's voice, he didn't think so.
Slowly, he steps into the hall, and peeks behind the curtain separating the main storeroom from the storage rooms and the private room where customers can interact with various VOCALOIDs before making a decision. His synthetic heart skips a beat at the sight. Surely enough, next to the woman from last week and her Rin, there was a stout man, with dark hair. When he speaks, it makes the android's breath catch in his throat.
“Ah, yeah, so I'm not entirely sure if I'm making a purchase today… but I would like to browse. Do you happen to have any older models, maybe? I don't particularly need the newest, shiniest model.” The man's husky voice and uncertain eyes makes the android feel slightly intrigued.
This has to be the one. He has to be the one who'll be my new master…! The android thinks to himself, hands trembling.
“I must say, our newest models are quite personable, not to mention low-maintenance!” The attendant speaks, clearly trying to convince the man to buy a new, expensive model. “However, we do have a few older models in the back if you'd like to meet them.”
The android stumbles back from his spying point, not wanting to get caught, and rather than returning to the storage room, he rushes to the room where some other VOCALOIDs are hanging out. A few minutes later, the attendant enters, leading the trio to a round table. Gakupo, a tan, muscular android with long purple hair, marches right up to the stout man and bows to him.
“It would be my greatest pleasure to stand by your side, as your devoted samurai.” Gakupo looks confident, but surprisingly, the stout man seems uncertain.
“Uh, wow…! Well, you're certainly, ah, a character!” It was obvious he was trying not to hurt Gakupo's feelings. “I, er, I don't think I'm the right match for you, but I'm sure someone will come for you soon.”
•~•~•~•~•~•
Several VOCALOIDs introduce themselves, but the man doesn't seem sold on any of them.
“Hanako, I'm sorry, but I just don't think an android is right for-” His voice trails off when they make eye contact. Slowly, he approaches the blue-haired android.
“Hello. What's your name?” The man's husky voice sounds so much more gentle than with the other VOCALOIDs. The android's synthetic heart pounds. He was created before VOCALOIDs were programmed to be bilingual, so his English was quite messy, with a heavy Japanese accent.
“M-My name is KAITO.” KAITO fidgeted with his scarf. Even those who bothered to speak to him were quickly turned off by how his voice was more synthetic sounding and less smooth than newer models. But the man's eyes seem to soften when he speaks.
“It's nice to meet you, KAITO. Uhm… are you… do you already have a home?” KAITO tried not to get his hopes up, but he couldn't help it.
“No, I do not. I… I've been waiting for the right person. Do… will you take me home? I… I promise I'll do my best to be a good companion for you.” KAITO had to force himself not to drop to his knees and beg the man to take him home.
“I…” the man turns to the store attendant. “How much is this handsome guy right here?” 'He thinks I'm handsome?' KAITO thought to himself, feeling giddy. The attendant looks shocked.
“Well… we've been trying to sell him for years, so he's heavily discounted. Originally, he was $10,000, but since he's so outdated and hasn't sold in nearly twenty years, he's on clearance for $300.” KAITO winced hearing how cheap he was.
“I'll take him.” KAITO couldn't believe his ears. Was he dreaming? This happened frequently, he thinks he finally had a master, and then he realizes he was in sleep mode. But when the man signs the documents and pays for him, it's official.
“Ma… masu-ta…!” KAITO tries to say ‘master’, his accent making it sound a bit off. His new master's expression softens again, and he takes his hand.
“Well… if you're going to be living with me, we'd better get you some new clothes, right?”
KAITO couldn't believe his luck.