Hello, everyone! This will be the first ever story that I will be posting on this site. So I would appreciate constructive criticism!
It's been one week. And Maki hasn't come to school.
"What could have happened to her?" Eri asked on a Friday after Maki's week-long absence. Rin suddenly perked up with a worried expression.
"What if Maki-chan was abducted by aliens, nya?!" Honoka seemed thoughtful for a moment before saying, "That might be possible!"
Nico then exclaimed, "There's no way that could've happened." before, also, looking thoughtful and then pounding a fist into her other hand,
"I know! Maybe she got really low grades and was too embarrassed to show up for school." Eri muttered something under her breath.
"What was that, Eri-chan?" Honoka asked. Eri then frantically waved her arms around.
"T-that w-was nothing, H-honoka, hahaha..."
Honoka narrowed her eyes at Eri before shrugging it off. Then she suddenly proposed another idiotic hypothesis,
"Maybe Maki-chan did the Sachiko Ever After charm and got whisked away to Heavenly Host Elementary!" Honoka then looked alarmed. "If that's the case, then we should do it too to save Maki-chan! I know the way out so don't worr-" She was cut off with a whack to her head.
"Enough Corpse Party for you." Umi's reprimanding voice said.
"But I was just about to play Book of Shadows!"
"Book of Shadows is just based off of a bad ending in Corpse Party."
"What?! I didn't know that!"
"Well, now you know."
Everyone else present in the room just sweat dropped.
"W-why don't we just...visit Maki-chan? I-i mean, t-to ask her w-why she isn't coming to school...?" Hanayo suggested. All the Muse members present, excluding Hanayo, looked at each other before looking back at Hanayo.
Nico was the one who broke the silence while slamming a fist into her other hand. "Of course! Why didn't I think of it before?"
'Wait, you mean she hasn't even thought of that at all?' Was everyone's thoughts.
"Well, that would be the best action plan, but didn't she send us all texts that say that she's sick and can't come?" Eri inquired.
"But, she's been sick for a week!"
"We really don't want to jump to conclusions here." Eri said softly.
"A visit wouldn't hurt now would it?" Nozomi said.
"I-i suppose not but..." Eri began.
"You're worrying too much, Ericchi."
"B-but..."
"Ericchi, we're going to check on Maki-chan. I expected no arguments from you."
Eri sighed in defeat, "Alright, practice is cancelled for today. Let's go see if Maki's alright."
She was met with a chorus of agreement.
They arrived in front of the Nishikino household panting and sweaty. Apparently, Nico had somehow persuaded them, along with Rin, to run all the way.
"I don't even want to know how you managed to convince us to run." Eri said in-between pants.
Nico smiled triumphantly albeit sweaty and tired from running, "Nobody can resist Super-Idol Yazawa Nico-nii!"
After everyone had a much deserved rest, they rang the doorbell. The door opened and a servant greeted them.
"Good afternoon," the servant said. "Are all of you looking for someone? Maki-san perhaps?"
"Woah, is Maki-chan's servant physcic?!" Honoka whispered to Kotori. Kotori just giggled at her childhood friend's thought.
"Err, yes, is she in?" Eri asked.
"Please follow me," the servant turned around to lead them to where Maki was. They did what they were told and followed the servant through the Nishikino household.
"Woah, Maki-chan's house is really big!" Rin commented.
The servant stopped right in front of a door (Maki's room, they guessed) and gestured to it.
"She is in here. Maki-san refuses to go outside and for us to come in."
Umi looked alarmed, "How is she eating then?!"
The servant replied, "We deduced that she goes out of her room to eat if missing plates and food is anything to go by."
All 8 of them looked worried, "Can we please talk to her?" Nozomi asked.
The servant bowed before leaving. Umi approached the door and knocked,
"Maki? Are you alright? Everyone's worried,"
A suspiciously high-pitched voice answered, "I told all of you that I'd be sick right? There's nothing to worry about."
Eri tried this time, "Come on, Maki, it's okay if your feeling something, just talk to us."
A muffled response. "Eri?"
"Yeah, it's me," Eri said softly. "Come on, you're going to have to tell them sooner or later."
Nozomi chipped in, "It'll be alright, Maki-chan. I already know so no point hiding it."
A disbelieving response. "...Y-you know...? Damn you, Eri..." An almost inaudible sigh. "...Fine.."
The sound of footsteps could be heard from the other side the door, followed by the rattling and turning of a door knob and finally, the door opened. Six pairs of eyes widened in genuine surprise.
"Maki...chan?"