Hello, one and all to my new story: Everyday Life At The Sanzenin Apartments. No on-going story here; this is just a bunch of unrelated short stories that take place in Nagi's Apartment Building. Just having a bit of fun working on character relations that are non-romantic.

Anyways, I best be bringing the first story out, so here it is. Enjoy!

"You ready?" Nagi asked Ruka.

"Far more than you'll ever be," she replied with a smirk.

"Then let's go."

Both Nagi and Ruka needed a break from their mangas. For days on end they had taken the neet life to the max, waking up and going straight to the drawing table. Half the time Nagi wouldn't accept food from Hayate, saying that any seconds eating food were seconds not spent on creating her masterpiece (Ruka on the other hand would always gladly accept). And although hours on end were poured into planning, drawing, writing, stressing their doushinji, almost nothing had come from them. The pages were largely untouched.

And so they decided that a competition was in order in something else both were exceptional in. And what was that something?

Karaoke.

"For once, Maria's unhealthy addiction is coming in handy," Nagi muttered as she booted up the maid's karaoke machine. She turned to Ruka and said, "You should go first; I need a good introductory act."

"Then don't be surprised if the audience is disappointed by the follow-up."

"Just choose your song already."

The idol looked carefully, then frowned. "Aww, none of my songs are on here."

Nagi shook her head, "I took them off; no need for you to have an unfair advantage. Although I'd still win either way."

The idol shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever," and chose her song.

Nagi had to give the idol credit, there was a reason she was the person on everyone's mind right now. Her singing voice was exceptional, seamlessly filling in the missing singer's voice. Why Ruka decided she needed to do some choreography with the song, Nagi couldn't understand. What could she really do with only a meter long cord? Nagi guessed it was just the idol mentality drilled into her.

With a final chord struck, Ruka's song finished.

Your Score: 100

Wow! Are you a professional?

She put down the mike and sat down next to Nagi. Ruka bantered, "Don't get too impressed, that was only a warm-up."

Nagi stuck up her nose. "Impressed? Is that now a synonym with bored? Let me show you how it's supposed to be done. Like choosing a better song, to start with."

Nagi spent little time choosing her song, as she had already looked at the songs beforehand. Then she was silent still.

One heartbeat. Two heartbeats.

Inhale. Exhale.

And start.

With a bang the song began, and Nagi was right on top of it, her years of classical training taking command of her vocal chords. And like Nagi was astounded by Ruka's performance before, it was Ruka's turn to be amazed by the 13 year old rocking the karaoke machine. Her form was excellent, never stretching her chords, standing straight so that her lungs could reach maximum capacity, tons of minute details shown on display, creating a magnificent performance. This was perfection in singing. Ruka would've never guessed such a powerful voice could have come from the introverted girl.

But Ruka still wasn't going to lose to that girl.

Your Score: 100

Amazing! The artist of that song would be proud!

Nagi frowned. "I did ten times better, yet we're both at max score."

"As if!" Ruka jeered. "I'm the one that did ten times better!"

"These results are inconclusive!" Nagi shouted.

"That's right!" Ruka concurred with similar enthusiasm. "We need more rounds!"

"Which means we should probably do more styles as well," Nagi noted.

Ruka smirked. "Doesn't matter what genre you do, I'll still cream you."

"Then let's get it on. Let's do slow songs now." Nagi handed the microphone to Ruka. "Since you did so poorly last round, I'll give you the benefit of being first again so that you don't have to try and match my talent."

Ruka took the mike. "Such rude words. I guess you're pretty scared of going down in a landslide victory, courtesy of me. Don't worry, I won't let anybody know," she mocked, winking at the last statement. "Now where is that song, I saw it on here last time... there it is!"

Once again, the idol locked onto the song. The slow tempo, the careening accompaniment, and, most importantly, the soft vocals with her own. Her style, now heavily toned down, was now much more appropriate, with the song brooding on.

And like all the others, the song faded out, leaving only the score.

Your Score: 100

I'm crying and I don't even have tear ducts!

Nagi grabbed the mike forcefully. "Hmmph! Amateur!"

"That word, I don't think it means what you think it means."

"It means what I want it to mean. Now be quiet, and be in awe of my sadness!"

Nagi put in the song, and indeed, the average listener would have been in awe of Nagi's sadness. Her voice in a mourning tone, her body language, somehow showing signs of sadness and longing, the song, providing a beautiful backdrop onto a gloomy life. For the average listener, this would've been overwhelming, they would've been brought to their knees, tears streaming down their faces. But the average listener could also identify that Ruka was far from one.

Once again, the ballad closed. Nagi took a bow, and once again looked to the machine for her score.

Your Score: 100

Unbelievably good! You have the voice of an angel!

Ruka noted, "It seems once again we have both maxed out our scores."

"Then we must continue once again. Let's make it tricky this time: no Japanese songs! Only songs sung in foreign languages."

And so they dueled once again.

Your Score: 100

Are you sure that's not your native language?

"Now only songs that were #1 for five weeks or more!"

Your Score: 100

Amazing talent!

"Songs that use an accordion and a bagpipe!"

Your Score: 100

All our song are belong to you!

"Children's songs!"

Your Score: 100

Perfection!

The girls had spent hours on end on song after song, both maxing out the score each time they sung into the mike. Eventually they ran out of categories and just did whatever song they wanted.

Ruka yelled, "Hey, that's no fair! You're using your character song!"

"Well you used one of your songs a while back."

"It's your fault for forgetting to delete it!"

"Whatever." Nagi stuck out her tongue in emphasis.

"And is that even a real song?" Ruka asked as Nagi started up her next piece.

Nagi paused the music and looked at the idol in shock. "Is that even a real song? Is that even a real song?! Don't you dare question the validity of Ke*ma and the 2D Girls!"

Ruka hadn't seen Nagi this worked up in a while. She held up her hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"You damn well better be! Now let me finish my song, and hear the beauty of their music!" Nagi said with great fervor as she restarted the song to give it another shot.

Your Score: 100

Can you not be perfect?!

Nagi beamed. "So?"

Ruka sweatdropped. "I guess it was okay."

"I guess?! Okay?! That song was miles ahead of your "Forever Star"!"

"Nuh-uh!" Ruka defended. ""Forever Star" is a star forever hanging above the rest of the music industry! That was decent, I'll admit it. But it's still stuck on the ground!"

"That's a complete lie!..."

The two quickly descended into heated debate about the songs, their voices reaching far out in the moonlit night. Maria came into their room, saying, "Can you two please be quiet? The other tenants are trying to slee- hey, is that my karaoke machine?"

The maid quickly snuck into the room and played her favorite song. Ruka and Nagi were silenced immediately by Maria's voice singing with the song. Her stylistic cuteness overloaded their senses as they watched with glazed faces. Granted, Maria may not have had the formal training of Nagi, nor the years of idol training of Ruka, but she had practiced innumerable of times with the karaoke machine. And it showed.

Your Score: 105

Impossibly amazing!

"Kya~! That was so fun!" The maid squealed as she jumped for joy. The other two girls just watched in awe, brains short-circuited for a short time.

"...This isn't over," Nagi muttered to Ruka.

"Not by a long shot," Ruka nodded in reply.

You know, after Nagi's karaoke battle with Nishisawa a while back, Nagi hadn't used her singing voice, so I thought I'd revive it. And who better to battle with than an idol!

Also, if it's painfully obvious I have no idea how a karaoke machine works, just do what I do: they took it from the mansion, so it's just one of those fancy, upper-class ones with all the gadgets.

Anyways, that's all for today! Will this have an update schedule like my other fic? Yup. The schedule is whenever I finish the next chapter, it will come out. So see you when I finish the next story and have a great day! ^^