Maki was never the sincere type. Rarely people caught her being honest with her feelings in any occasion, for her it is way better to just stay quiet and keep out of other peoples' business. Even her parent had suffer a great amount of pain dealing with their one and only daughter.
However as cold as she can be there is one person who always become the witness to the side of the mysterious maki that not many are accustomed to and that is yazawa nico.
"nico-nico-nii"
Maki favourite catchphrase. Ever. Nico is not really that special compared to others but what make her so unique in maki's eye is the passion that she reserved in the world of idol and also her nature of being very honest with her feelings. Although at times, maki thought nico is such an annoying brat (which herself is) with such a non-idealistic dream of becoming the universe no.1 super idol, she never gets bored with that unique side of the older girl.
As time progressed, she find herself drifting nearer and nearer to nico's adorable side until... She is the one who confessed her feelings first.
"Gah!! " shouted the red head
"I cant take this anymore! What does she want?! I cant understand body language thank you very much nico-senpai!! "
Now most of you might be wondering what happened to the all mighty nishikino maki. Here's one word to explain, nico. It was just few more days left till nico's birthday and maki... She havent decide what to give her girlfriend as her birthday present. Yet. Okay we all know maki is the succesor of the nishikino hospital which means she is a perfictionist complex kind of person.
So a special present for a special person that is the issue we are witnessing now. Live.
"Maki-chan..Have you be-"
"NICO-CHAN! I-I... Uh... Was t-trying... To.. Fix this little thing. " maki was suprised by nico, she cant let nico know about this event that she had planned over a month.
"What's wrong maki-chan? "Nico look at the redhead with a pair of confusing red eyes
"N-Nothing! I was trying to... Umm.. Fix my music sheet and practise it before my next recital!" maki put up a forced smile that obviously cannot deceived nico
"Hmmm... I see.. "Maki wasn't expecting nico to look so sad from her little silly respond
"Umm.. Nico-cha-"
"Oh okay then! I was just checking up on you! I wouldn't want to become a bad senpai for not taking care her of kouhai! Hehe" It stung her heart to say all of that but It is true that these past few days Maki had been avoiding her senpai for the sake of keeping secret about the birthday suprise.
Now the redhead think that she had went overboard with her senpai.
"Nico-chan I jus-"
"Nico-nico-nii! " that just really suprised Maki
"See i knew that the super 'nico-nico-nii' would cheer maki-chan up! "Nico's expression seems like she was carrying a heavy burden, alone.
"You know Maki-chan, we are lovers now and if you have problem you can just tell me... I will definitely try and help you.. Well that's what i hope" Okay that last sentences has every wrong sign in it. Maki starled at the older girl's remarks about her.
'Is she really worried about me?' Maki thought to herself
"Nico-chan i have something to-"
"It's okay i get it everyone need sometimes alone.. Today i'll be going home early.. My mom is not at home and i need to take care of my siblings" Nico hurried to the table beaside the window and grab her bag.
She took a glance at Maki and gave a faint smile toward the redhead.
'Was it my imagination? Her face looks kinda red and pale... '
"bye Maki-chan... See you tommorow"
Nico's farewell interrupted Maki-chan's thought and before she could reply the ravenhead leave the younger girl all alone inside the music room.
'There is definitely something wrong with
Nico-chan. She doesn't smile like often. Something is bothering her... Is it me? ' Maki was loss at thought. Nico was never the type to be affected by her surrounding. The only thing that could affect her mood easily are idol and her..
'Crap.. It is my fault.. I avoided her too much.. I seriously need to make-up with her..tommorow" Without wasting any time Maki decide on the best gift she could ever give to her one and only girlfriend.
'she would be suprise' Maki thought
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"What she didn't come to school today?! "
Just when she thought she would give her girlfriend the best present ever... Something came up
"Yes... Yesterday Nicocchi was also not feeling well. In fact she had been like that for these past 3 days.. " said Nozomi, who was exchanging looks with Eli while crossing her arms.
Neither one of them expect that Nico's birthday would turn out like this and they had spend so much time preparing it especially a certain redhead.
"3 DAYS?! Then why doesn't she rest at home? We could have celebrate her birthday today! " exclaimed Maki towards both of her senior who are standing right infront of her.
"We did told her that but Nico-chan said her birthday is not that important... " there was a long pause in Eli's sentence...
"She wanted to find out why you keep avoiding her..and she was worried that you might have problems that you dont want to share, Maki.." Eli look at Maki straight in the eyes "plus she had been so busy with her siblings and... I think she overexert herself to the point she got ill.. "
"This is all my fault... "Maki bit the bottom of her lips
"Its okay Maki-chan.. We all know that you were trying to suprise Nicocchi, that's all. That's why she still doesn't know about your suprise, we also tried our best to keep your secret even though Nicocchi keeps on insisting us to tell her what is wrong with you." Nozomi reasurred Maki.
"She still doesn't know?! "
Maki's eyes widened in disbelief
"Nope. So go and visit her today. I think she is all alone right now since her mother going to take her siblings somewhere else for the whole day. She might be lonely there all alone. Just for you to know Nico-chan doesn't really like being lonely" Eli gave a soft smile to Maki enough to make her blush.
"What about you guys? " asked Maki
"Don't worry about it. We can celebrate Nicocchi's birthday tommorow...after you nursing her back to health" that final statement once again set maki's face all red till the tip of her ears.
She was blushing and Nozomi was smiling plus grinning along with Eli.
'Ah, youth! It's refreshing! ' Nozomi thought
'They just know what to say.' Maki pouted
"Now go along. Don't keep her waiting"
Maki bowed to them as a thanks, gave them a wave of goodbye and started to sprint as fast as she could to yazawa nico's house. She hoped everything would be alright.
'why am I so blind?! Of course anyone would be hurt and worried if somebody that you love keep on ignoring you! Even I would be sad.. No wonder yesterday her face was so plushed.. I bet I dissapointed nico-chan. She came in to check on me with her unstable condition only to be push out by me.. " the redhead speed got even faster as she think of her senpai
"I'm sorry nico-chan... "
"I'm sorry.. "
She repeatedly say it, hoping that it would reach Nico-chan by the time she arrive there.
'I am very sorry... '
And finally tears streamed down her cheek.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
What she hoped to be a miracle turns out to be a disaster. When she arrived at nico's house the door was not locked at all. She knock few times but no one answer so she took the option to just enter.
Maki had been to nico's house quite few times and although it's painful for her to admit she is like one of nico's family now. Even the older girl mother is very kind,caring and treated her equally as her own daughter. So maki is quite accustomed to the place.
Her steps were halted when she entered the kitchen. Maki's eyes widened and her whole hand shake in anguish, what she saw on the floor was..
"Nico-chan!!! "
The ravenhead was lying on the floor with a broken glass on her left hand and a packets of medicine on her right hand. The floor was wet with some kind of colourless liquid and near the ravenhead were some equipment for cooking. It seems like the older girl suddenly fainted while trying to take her medicine and try to hold on to the the table but was slipped because the floor is wet.
Her left hand was bleeding from the shard of glass that cut it and her head had a big bump on it. Her right hand was fine but there was a slight bruise due to her trying to hold on to the table. Maki ran to the small figure that was lying on the floor.
"Nico-chan!!!!"
"Nico-chan!!!!"
The redhead countlessly called out to her name but it seems like there was no respond at all. She stand up and carry the older girl in a bridal style towads the nearest couch in the living room then she ran to nico's room to find some first aid kit and fortunately she did find some.
'Okay Maki please calm yourself down... Your senpai is hurt and she need you right now.. Take a deep breath and calm down... You are nishikino's daughter. You can do this'
She returned to face her senpai who is lying on the couch. Her face was really pale and it seems like her fever is getting worse.
'I need cold towel, medicine, bandage, antiseptic... '
Maki listed down all the necessary things to treat nico's injury and if she doesn't do this properly the older girl might be infected with bacteria and that could lead to fatality which can be a huge problem
"N-nghh... " Nico groan after a while
"Nico-chan! Are you alright?! "Maki respond
"M-Maki.. Chan..? What-.. Ugh! " she tried to look at maki but suddenly her head spin in agony, before Nico knew it she was writhing in pain.
It felt so utterly painful with every second that pass by. When? How? Why? She doesn't know what happened nor remember anymore. But one thing for sure, Maki is there with her. That alone is enough to reasurred her that everything is going to be fine although the ravenhead felt a bit guilty for worrying her kouhai especially on her birthday.
'Sorry maki-chan, I will leave evrything in your hand.'