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Reader’s SEKAI was… perfect, to say the least.
It always seemed to be different every day since they had discovered it, in fact. Like a new surprise every visit.
One time it was an open field of flowers. One time it was a deep, dark ocean. Another time it was an old astronomy tower. And today? It was a ballroom of some sorts.
“… Miku?” Reader had called out, looking around for her. To be quite honest, they didn’t know a lot of people as deeply as Miku. She was pretty much a perfect helper to find feelings, even ones buried. But naturally, it meant she was aware of every feeling they had.
“Reader…? You came to SEKAI?” Miku laughed excitedly, though she sounded just a little bit tired. Reader began to smile.
“Of course I did. I wanted to see you. Where.. are you, Miku?”
“Turn around!”
A gentle tap on their shoulder. They looked, and… yep. Miku herself. She looked happy to see them.
“It’s great to see you!”
“Same to you, aha! But I’m curious… why a ballroom of all things? It’s beautiful, but not like our typical ones,” Reader questioned softly. “In fact, it feels… smaller.”
Miku’s hair curled inwards.
“I just thought it would be more appropriate for dancing… you don’t dislike it, do you?”
“Huh?- n-no! No, I like it. You worked hard on it, so I’m grateful.” Reader smiled, which made her nervous expression falter. Miku laughed robotically.
“Great! Then… come here, Reader.” Miku did a dramatic yet graceful spin, then stopped in the centre of the room with the lights gently shining down on her.
“… Ehh?”
“Shall we dance?”
Reader found that they were laughing slightly. With a calm nod, they took her hand.
It wasn’t like the usual dances they did. Sometimes it would be more energetic, sometimes it would be a bit more complex, sometimes they wouldn’t even dance and they would have instruments instead. Reader was basically trying to find the real them.
This felt closer than ever. Close enough to hear usually silent commands in Miku’s body.
‘Turn.’
‘Hold their hand tighter.’
‘Spin.’
It was all somewhat bittersweet - to have a friend like Miku, just to be constantly reminded that she isn’t human and SEKAI is all she really knows beyond her occasional hologram.
Miku really did wish she could be more.
As the music faded out, Miku gently released their hand with a grin.
“You did really good today. Take a break.”
“Oh?- uh, it’s okay, Miku! I can keep going.”
A water bottle and a chair materialised next to them. Miku put the bottle in their hand slowly, playfully glaring.
“Reader.”
“… Okay.” Reader laughed softly, taking a seat on the chair and taking a sip. They paused, noticing something. “Why didn’t you make yourself a chair?”
“… H-Hm?- oh, I don’t need one.” Miku laughed, but her voice suggested she was a little surprised to have been asked that.
“But… aren’t you a bit tired, too?”
“Me? Tired? No, not necessarily. I don’t get tired like you do.”
“I know, yeah. But… you put all this effort in for me. I think you at least deserve a seat.”
“… O-Okay, I’ll make one.” Miku nodded, eyes a bit shiny. Another chair materialised right next to them. Brushing her pigtails back, she took a seat.
… Silence. It wasn’t like her to be so silent, and it made their heart a bit heavy.
They opened their mouth to speak, but an annoying sound rang through the air. An alarm.
“… Ah! I totally forgot - I was meant to be getting that pizza out the oven! I’m so sorry, Miku, I better go before I burn my house down.”
Miku’s expression dropped for a second. Blink… then she smiled again.
“Oh, that’s alright. You can come see me any other time, okay? Go get your pizza before you forget.”
Reader gave her the bottle with the same care as her giving it to them, then they got their phone out. They gave her one last stare.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Miku. Thank you for dancing with me… take care of yourself.”
“Goodbye, Reader!”
They had disappeared into a trail of coloured triangles. Then… silence filled SEKAI.
Miku sat completely still, feeling her circuits whir. Her smile slowly faded.
“… Come back soon…”
She murmured, staring at the glossy floor of the ballroom SEKAI. That dance… she’d remember it forever.
She had nothing else to remember, anyway.
There’s nothing but the memories they make.
No other Virtual Singers, no other SEKAI members, just them and her.
Miku took a small breath, then sighed.
“I better start to rearrange SEKAI before next time.”
…
“... I wonder what it feels like to be in the real world. I bet it’s so much nicer...”
Her digital eyes water.
“… Maybe it’s less lonely.”