Discordant Harmonies: A Teto X Miku story.

Chapter Sixteen: New Beginnings and New Threats

The sun filtered through the café’s windows, casting a warm glow over the small, cozy space. Miku sat at a table across from Teto, both of them laughing softly over their cups of coffee. It had only been a few days since Kaito’s funeral, but something had changed between them. The rivalry that once burned brightly was now replaced by an unexpected friendship, formed in the shadow of shared grief.

Miku sipped her coffee, feeling lighter than she had in days. "I never thought we’d actually be sitting here like this," she said with a smile.

Teto chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it’s surprising. But… I think we both needed it. I know I did."

Miku nodded, feeling a strange sense of peace around Teto. The tension that once sat between them had disappeared, and for the first time, Miku didn’t feel the pressure of competition or resentment. Instead, she found herself genuinely enjoying Teto’s company.

As they continued chatting, Gumi walked by the table, her signature mischievous grin plastered across her face. She made a beeline toward Rin and Len, who were sitting a few tables away, discussing song ideas.

Gumi leaned in close, lowering her voice just enough for them to hear. "You know," she teased, "if those two keep hanging out like this, they’re totally going to end up being girlfriends or something."

Rin burst into laughter, while Len blushed furiously. "Gumi, seriously?" Len muttered, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Oh, come on!" Gumi said, grinning. "It’s cute! You’ve got to admit, they’re getting along really well lately. Who knows where it might go?"

Rin rolled her eyes playfully, but a knowing smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe you’re onto something," she teased, glancing over at Miku and Teto, who were deep in conversation. "They do seem… close."

"See? I’m not the only one who noticed," Gumi said, winking. "Love can bloom anywhere, after all."

As the trio giggled, Miku and Teto were oblivious to their teasing, too caught up in their newfound connection. But there was someone who wasn’t as thrilled about the change in their relationship—someone watching from the shadows.

Far from the café, in a dimly lit room filled with screens, Ritsu sat in front of her security cameras, her hands clenched into tight fists. She stared at the footage, her eyes narrowing with every passing second as she watched Miku and Teto laughing and enjoying themselves.

"They’re getting too close," Ritsu muttered under her breath, the rage simmering just beneath the surface. Her plan had been for Teto to tear the Vocaloids apart from the inside. But instead of division, this unexpected truce between Miku and Teto was ruining everything.

Ritsu stood, her heart pounding with frustration as she paced the room. "This wasn’t how it was supposed to go," she hissed, her fingers drumming against her side. "They should be at each other’s throats, not becoming friends."

Her eyes flicked back to the screen, where Miku and Teto were now laughing about something. It made her sick. All her careful planning was falling apart, and she wasn’t about to let that happen.

"No," Ritsu whispered to herself, her voice low and dangerous. "This can’t continue. I’ll have to intervene. Personally."

A wicked smile crept across her face as she moved toward a hidden panel on the wall, pressing a button to reveal a secret room behind it. Inside, the room was filled with advanced technology, and in the center, standing on a platform, was her backup plan.

Ritsu’s eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction as she approached the towering figure in the center of the room. It was a near-perfect replica of Teto—down to every last detail. But this Teto was no ordinary UTAUloid. This was something far more dangerous.

"Plan B," Ritsu muttered, circling the Teto robot with a predatory grin. "I should’ve known better than to trust anyone but myself to take the Vocaloids down."

The robot’s eyes flickered to life, glowing with an eerie red light, and Ritsu’s smile widened.

"This time," she whispered, her voice filled with malice, "nothing will stop me."