Hearts Are Broken, But Always Heal

Pairing: Nico x Nozomi

Genre: Drama/Romance

Disclaimer: I do not own Love Live or any of its characters.

Author's Note: Hello, everyone! My name is Yuri! I've decided to write a prequel to my other story, "Bed Talk" which will tell how those two got together as a couple. So, please enjoy the story~!

This is it. Nico is finally alone with Maki in the clubroom, which means she can finally confess to her after waiting so long to find the right time to do so. Fiddling with her fingers, the petite girl tries to find the words to say to Maki.

"M-Maki-chan!" Nico says. "I-I…um…"

The red-head tilts her head in confusion. "Yes? What is it, Nico-chan?"

"Um…I wanted to…tell you something…and um…it's very important!"

"Yes?" Maki urges her on, still twirling her hair.

Nico hesitates, still fiddling with her fingers. "The thing I wanted to tell you is…um…" Come on! She thinks to herself. Just say it! Say it! "I love you!"

Maki's violet eyes widen in shock from the petite girl's confession. "Wh-What did you say?"

"Idiot! Can you not hear me? I love you, Maki-chan!" Nico repeats. "I've loved you for a long time now! Please go out with me!"

Maki hesitates, glancing at the floor while twirling with her hair again. Nico waits patiently for an answer until Maki speaks up.

"Nico-chan," she says softly. "I…I appreciate the confession, I really do! But…I'm afraid I…love someone else."

"Someone else?" Nico repeats. "W-Who is it?"

"Actually…there's two that I love most," Maki says. "Nico-chan, I love Hanayo and Rin." She blushes as the names roll off her tongue. "I fell in love with them…ever since we became friends, Nico-chan. It was…it was like, love at first sight, you know? But I never got a chance to confess…until a few days ago."

Nico gasps at Maki's revelation. This three-way romance had been going on and Nico knew nothing about it? How did the red-head manage to hide it at all? And why does Maki love two people?

"S-So, that means…"

"Yes. I'm so sorry, Nico-chan." Maki says, avoiding eye contact with her senior at all costs. The petite girl clenches her fists in anger, though she does well to mask her frustration. She bites her tongue as looks up at her underclassman.

"That's fine," she says with the best smile she can muster. "I have to leave anyways. So, good-bye, Maki-chan and…good luck." With that, Nico leaves the room and shuts the door with her head hanging down and her jet-black bangs shielding her expression. "It's…too late, after all…" She mutters to herself.

Meanwhile, in the Student Council room, Nozomi has her own business to attend to. She's going to confess to her best friend, the very first friend that she made when she transferred to Otonokizaka during her period as a glorified nomad. The one young woman Nozomi has always supported and been there for. Now, Nozomi is ready to make her move and she smiles as she approaches the quarter-Russian.

"Elicchi~?" she says.

"Yes, Nozomi?" Eli questions.

"U-Um…I want to tell you something," Nozomi says. "I…Elicchi, I love you!"

"Eh?!" The mechanical pencil in the quarter-Russian blonde's hand slips right between her fingers and rolls across her desk and clatters to the ground. Needless to say, Eli is very surprised to hear this confession from her best friend.

"Yes, Elicchi! I fell in love the second you told me your name, the second you and I became friends," Nozomi explains. "When I didn't have any friends, back then, I was…really, really lonely until you came into my life. Never before had I felt…so utterly happy that I finally made a friend. But now, that friendship has turned into love. So, please, Elicchi. Please go out with me?"

Eli bites her tongue for about a full minute, thinking of a proper response for Nozomi. Eventually, the blonde hangs her head down in shame. Nozomi has a bad feeling about this, and it shows with the frown that mars her face with confusion.

"Is…is there something wrong, Eli-chi?" She asks as that sinking feeling starts to rear its ugly head.

"Nozomi," Eli says as she looks up at the violet-haired girl, small tears looming at the edges of her sky-blue eyes. Her charming, serene voice is laden with regret. "I'm afraid…I can't accept your feelings."

Nozomi's turquoise eyes widen and her upper lip trembles.

"Wh-What? Why not?" The fortune teller stutters, feeling shocked to hear her beloved friend say that. She was so sure…

"Because…I already love someone else…" Eli rests her forehead on her hands, which she had clenched before her. She hangs her head down, avoiding eye contact with Nozomi like her heart depended on it.

Nozomi crosses her arms under her bosom, hugging herself.

"Eli-chi…I need to know. I deserve to know, don't I? Who is it, Eli-chi?" Nozomi asks. "Please, who is it that you're in love with?"

"It's…it's Honoka-chan!" Eli shouts, looking up from her hands, crystalline tears flying from her eyes with the motion.

"Honoka-chan!? What?!"

"Yes! I'm so sorry, Nozomi!" Eli sobs. "I wish I could be with you! I really do! But…my heart belongs to Honoka-chan instead! She's cheerful, determined and makes everyone smile. She made me smile when I needed it the most, Nozomi! You were always there for me, yes, but…Honoka-chan…she made me smile like I had never smiled before…That's what I love about her. Honoka-chan is the only one I love, Nozomi. S-So I…I'm so sorry!" With that, Eli can't take it anymore and runs off in silent tears while Nozomi stands there, stunned and heartbroken, in front of Eli's desk in the now cold Student Council room.

Her beautiful, sorrowful eyes brim with tears that blind her vision.

"Eli-chi" She chokes a sob as the dam breaks.

A/N: I know this is short, but I want to split this into 2 parts, just because there's major Nico x Nozomi relationship there and it's a bit longer than this chapter. So, stay tuned for the next one and feel free to give out any suggestions, questions or concerns and don't forget to review! ;)