"After all these years, and this is what I'm greeted with?"
Nico looked down. "I…"
"Don't even apologise! I know you won't mean it!"
Ouch. Nico almost winced. Almost. "Maki…"
"No," Maki growled, raising a shaky arm to point a finger at the older woman, "don't call me that. You don't have the right to call me that."
Nico watched as the woman with fiery hair walked away. She watched as the sun set below the horizon. She watched as raindrops fell from the dark sky.
And she wondered why all she had ever done was watch.
"Oh. It's you."
Nico smiled wryly. "Really, now? No welcome back, no 'long time no see'? What happened, Nozomi?"
"Don't give me that, Nico." Her expression was hard. Hard as a stone, Nico thought. "You. You happened."
The black haired woman narrowed her eyes. "What–"
"I didn't invite you to my house!" Nozomi snapped, eyes wide with rage. "I never wanted you to come back! We never wanted you to come back!"
"Is that so," Nico muttered, voice low, fist clenched. "Is that how you treat a friend that you haven't seen for four years?"
"No," Nozomi answered without missing a beat. "You are not a friend. I don't know who you are or what you've become anymore, Nico."
Had she lost everyone, Nico wondered. Was everyone in µ's like that, now? The bright Honoka? The energetic Rin? The soft-hearted Hanayo?
"Did everyone leave me, too?" Nico whispered. "Did everyone leave me behind?"
"No." Nozomi's answer was spontaneous. "It was you who left."
Honestly, Nico had thought her friends would be happy for her. After all, she became the idol she had always wanted to be, by going to a performing arts university in Australia. Admittedly it had been somewhat sudden and Nico had been unable to contact any of the µ's members for the past four years she was overseas – but she though they would have been happy. For her. For them.
Happiness. Nico wondered what the word meant – without µ's, she had no idea. She thought she would have been happy – for herself and everyone else – now that she's back in Japan. After so long.
Her phone in her pocket buzzed – it was her old one, the one that she used back in high school. Sighing, Nico read the message.
"nico-chan, nozomi told me you came back from australia," Nico read, "do u want to come to my house? we can have dinner and catch up and stuff. –kotori"
"id love to," Nico typed back, smiling. Of course, how could she have forgotten? Out of all the members, Kotori had always been the most caring and understanding one. It shouldn't be all that surprising that she still was that way.
Her phone buzzed again – it was Kotori's address. "Got it," Nico mumbled, threw on her coat and left her rented apartment.
It was still raining, Nico realised, but the heavy rainfall had reduced to a light drizzle. She could walk, it would be fine.
Unwanted thoughts infiltrated her head as she walked. Even if Kotori was fine with her, was everyone else? Did they hate her too? Could she try to patch things up between her and the rest of µ's? It was worth a shot, Nico decided.
Just watch me.
Hey there, you guys.
It's been a while since my last fic was up, and now I'm going to try (again) to do a multichapter. I suck at those, I know, and we've seen that before with 'Miss Me' which I only managed two chapters before I gave up and will probably never continue.
This time, though, it's an angst NicoMaki and who doesn't love angst NicoMaki? I will try my best, please be patient.
Other than that, I hope you enjoyed this short prologue and will please do look out for later chapters.