A Very Simple Story (A VOCALOID Fanfic)

Thanks for putting up with me-

Fukase pulled his hand back twice before cautiously ringing the doorbell to Oliver's house. He'd been there before, but never inside. He would've texted Oliver that he was there to pick him up, but he still hadn't gotten a new phone since his old one had broken. Turns out getting ran over by a truck in the snow isn't very good for handheld electronics (but that's another story).

The door jolted and opened. Fukase found himself facing what looked like an older, taller Oliver, with the same button nose and fluffy blond hair, albeit a bit longer. Fukase racked his brain for Oliver's brother's name, but came up empty handed. "Good morning...?"

Fortunately, Oliver's brother smiled and gestured for him to come in. "Fukase, right? I'm Yohio. Come on in, Oliver's running a little late."

"Right!" Fukase said, surprised. Oliver must've mentioned him to his family. Or to Yohio, at least. The front hall was small and opened into a living room with floral couches. Straight ahead was the kitchen, with a staircase to the right. Yohio sat down at the kitchen table and Fukase idled next the stairs before Yohio offered him a seat.

"Thanks for being Oliver's ride," said Yohio, picking up a coffee mug on the table. "The other day he was celebrating because didn't have to take the bus anymore."

Fukase smiled. He could imagine that.  "Well, it's been super cold ever since it snowed and I drive by here on the way to school anyway, so." Fukase shrugged. it wasn't like he could say he wanted to keep a closer eye on Oliver. "No problem."

The sound of running feet made Fukase turn to the staircase. He waved as he saw Oliver run down the stairs. Oliver smiled slightly, then glanced over at Yohio and—

Fukase couldn't exactly explain what happened next. At the sight of his older brother, Oliver jerked back, his feet slipping on the stairs and his hand grabbing the railing as he gave a sort of half-gasp, strangled sound. But it all happened so fast, and Oliver was back to normal so quickly that Fukase thought he imagined it.

"Good morning, Fukase!" To Yohio, Oliver simply said, "Mornin' Hio."

"Morning, sleepyhead," said Yohio. "Hurry or you'll be late."

"Shut up!" Oliver rushed through a door to the left and came back with a couple school books. "Wait right there"—He pointed at Fukase—"I'll be down in a second." In a flash, Oliver disappeared up the stairs.

Fukase tapped the underside of the table with his finger, thinking. He wanted to ask Yohio whether he thought Oliver was acting strange lately, but Yohio spoke first.

"It's okay around me. I'm not the tattling type." Yohio took a sip of his coffee.

"What?" A hundred different lies he'd told and secrets he'd kept ran through Fukase's head.

"You guys—" Yohio leaned forward. "You guys are dating, right?"

Was that a guess? "Uh, I...." Fukase stammered. Should he tell him? Could he tell him?

"Plus, I always thought the rule was stupid."

"What rule?"

"The 'no dating until you graduate high school' rule? The incredibly dumb one?"

Their parents had a rule like that? So that was the reason Oliver didn't want his family to know they were dating. Fukase had never thought about it much. Oliver spoke briefly of it once, then never mentioned it again. Fukase felt he didn't have to worry because Oliver had brought it up so nonchalantly.

"Of course Oliver wouldn't have told you if you guys really are an item, so you obviously are."

"Hey, wait—"