Colleagues

#3 - Rooms

Please be careful on your way out.

As the robotic voice chimed its repetitive warnings, Megurine Luka stepped out of the elevator not looking as good as she usually was. Her hair was slightly a mess and her usually neat formal clothing- being clad in a white, loose button-up shirt tucked in a black, pencil skirt- were disheveled. She was barely able to put on her makeup as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She just decided to settle with her usual soft pink lipstick and light powder.

I can't believe I couldn't sleep last night...

The pinkette was never good with mornings; it's even worse if she didn't get a wink of sleep. Though, anyone who didn't sleep for a night would probably be extremely tired. Luka wasn't an exception. She made sure to reply to Miku as soon as 6 AM hit the clock. Luka didn't want her to think she was ignoring the diva.

Yawning is her worst enemy today. Ever since she entered the office, she did her best to not yawn at all. She knew the consequences on her body would be drastic if she did.

She shut her eyes tightly for a second to regain her focus. As she opened them, she was once again greeted by the cream-coloured hallway that was wide enough for 3 people to walk through side by side. The atmosphere in the office felt busy with everyone walking back and forth while others go through one door to another. Some were wearing obnoxiously huge headphones over their heads.

Studio staff maybe?

Some were wearing the same business attire as she was- though a lot neater than hers. The idol industry was far different than she thought it would be. It's also been a while since she actually visited an office as big as Crypton's. Her previous job only involved a small shop and little to several coworkers running around to get things done.

As if feeling gazes on her, the Luka looked around her more carefully as she walks through the same hallway. She noticed that some turn their heads to her direction, as if seeing something odd and something that isn't common. Often times, she can see them whispering over something, equipped with a smile on their faces while their eyes inspected her whole body for reasons she didn't know.

It's probably because of how I dress...

"Oh oh, look it's Megurine Luka!" She heard one exclaimed, "Seriously? THE Megurine Luka?"

"Yeah, she's finally here!"

"Hm?" The pinkette raised her eyebrow at what she just heard.

So it wasn't because I look horrible...?

There were no eyes spotting her when she walked through the same hallway yesterday. Definitely no murmuring either. Nobody knew who she was, but as if a miracle happened over night, everyone she passes by knew her name and would sometimes whisper awes under their breath. Not that it bothers her, but a vague memory crawled into her mind; A memory she buried in her heart- People staring at her in disgust.

"Ah"

Before her mind took a trip down nightmare lane, a familiar masculine voice snapped her out of her trance. From the distance, she saw the familiar capped man giving her small wave as if asking her to come over.

"Producer!"

She chanted his pseudonym as if it was the only thing that could save her from the incoming darkness. She shook head for a bit and she started walking to his direction with a smile on her face.

As she got closer and closer, she noticed an old man with already-gray hair talking to the said producer. The man was wearing a formal, black suit and wore a tall build. He looked more like a foreigner than a normal Japanese man. Maybe a half? But for sure though, the man's sideburns made her think of a certain Hollywood star.