A/N: I was just re-watching some of the episodes of Love Live! the other day and had this urge to write something about the series. Perhaps this story is out of impulse, perhaps it's already harbouring somewhere deep in my mind. Anyways, this is a Eri X Nozomi or Nozomi X Eri (whichever way you prefer it to be) fan fic. This is also my first fan fic here so I apologise if there's any mistakes or whatnot that I've made.
Just as much as I wish I own Love Live!, I don't. :D
Prologue
These feelings of mine…are they wrong? Is it wrong to feel…something like that for a friend? I thought I could hide it from her but as each day passed, these feelings threatened to overflow in several occasions. Every day, I thought, "What if she found out? What would happen to our relationship? Would she feel disgusted?" How do I make this unrequited feelings go away?"
Every day I struggle. Every day I fall deeper into despair. Every day I wish I would stop feeling this way.
It's getting harder and harder each day since I'm always with her. In the Student Council Room, at the rooftop with the rest of the μ's… How long can I keep this up?
Just a look from her eyes, just a single touch from her hands make me go nuts.
All I can do is hope that she'll never find out. Just several more months. Just a few more months before we graduate. That's what my cards said as well.
1 - Nozomi
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!" Umi counted as she clapped to the rhythm as the rest of μ's danced to the set rhythm. All 8 of them (excluding Umi who was the coach for the afternoon) were all perfectly in sync with the exception of one particular member.
"Nozomi...you're lacking the enthusiasm. Please make your moves more elaborate." Umi instructed the third-year purple-haired girl.
"Right..." Nozomi answered distractedly. To be honest, the third-year, Student Council Vice President of the school and a valuable member of μ's was very distracted. A certain someone was occupying her mind at the moment and her body was on automatic mode. Thank god this isn't a new set of dance. Nozomi thought as her eyes drifted to a certain blonde.
The blonde was Ayase Eri, the Student Council President of the school and Nozomi's best friend. Eri-chi looked like she's having fun... Nozomi thought quietly to herself, fully absorbed in the blonde's graceful movements. She'd never thought she'd see such happy expressions on her friend. Guess joining μ's really made a difference.
The purple head continued watching her best friend quietly while half-listening and following Umi's lead.
As expected of Eri-chi, she indeed was a ballerina. Nozomi marvelled inwardly. The way she manoeuvre her fair arms to the left and sliding it down from her head to the waist in one smooth movement was perfect. With a shake of her hips and a wide movement of her hands over her head in a huge circle, her smile still intact, she ended the last set of moves with a graceful jump, her hands pumping into the air. Somehow, Nozomi's gaze drifted to the blonde's lips. She couldn't stop staring. I wonder how it feels to press my lips against that soft enticing lips of hers...
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when Umi clapped her hands again, concluding today's practice. "That's all for today. Eri sen– I mean, Eri, is there anything you want to add?"
The blonde shook her head, looking contented, "Nope. We've almost perfected the dance movements for this song. All that's left is to perfect the singing and vocals. Maki...?" Eri turned to look at the red-head.
Maki took the cue and nodded, "We'll deal with that...tomorrow..."
"Then that's all for today." Umi decided as the rest of μ's dispersed, some staying back talking to their school idol-mates, some already preparing to head home. Nozomi sighed uncharacteristically.
"What's wrong, Nozomi?" Umi walked up to the older girl with worry, "You seemed out of it during practice. Did something happen?"
"Nothing's wrong..." The older girl reassured the younger girl with a smile. What's wrong? Eri-chi's what's wrong. Nozomi thought inwardly.
"Well...if you say so..." Umi still looked a little worried but seemed to accept Nozomi's assurance.
"Heading off to Kyudo?" The older girl asked.
"Yep," Umi smiled.
"Well then, see ya!" Nozomi waved as the younger girl grabbed her school bag and head towards to door of the roof along with her two childhood friends, Honoka and Kotori.
"Nozomi," A melodic voice called out. The purple head took a deep breath and turned around to meet her object of affection.
"Eri-chi..."
"Let's go," a warm smile was plastered on her face.
Nozomi nodded and both of them headed for the student council room.
"Looks like work has been piling up..." Eri grimaced as she saw the stack of papers on both sides of her table.
"I'll help you," Nozomi volunteered, immediately taking the stack of papers and sat at her desk, working quietly.
Eri felt weird. She felt something was off. Not her but her best friend. Nozomi was out of it during practice as well... The blonde didn't know what was bothering her friend and she couldn't bring herself to ask. If the purple head wanted to talk, she would talk. But... Eri frowned, it's like something is disturbing or is on Nozomi's mind. Usually she'll say something and would take her precious cards out and do a reading but Nozomi's now working quietly on the reports… Simply put, Eri didn't know how to deal with an uncharacteristically quiet Nozomi.
No longer being able to withstand the deafening silence, Eri finally turned to Nozomi, "Nozomi...is there...anything that's bothering you now?"
When Nozomi heard Eri's voice she snapped around, surprised, before forcing a smile, "There's nothing, Eri-chi."
Not convinced, Eri frowned but didn't say anything further. Usually, it's the other way round. Nozomi would be able to decipher what's on the blonde's mind; she would know what is troubling her and would always give good advices and a little push. But now that Nozomi seems...out of sorts...I don't know what she's really thinking about.
Nozomi sighed inwardly. She seemed to be doing this more often now. Eri-chi seemed to know something is on my mind... she sighed inwardly again. I have to focus. I can't let her know of my feelings. Not even a hint of it. She decided firmly as she continued her work.
An hour later, when Eri finally looked up from her laptop, she saw her friend's head resting on the table, sleeping soundly.
Nozomi... Eri stared at the older girl smiling to herself. It was not often that you get to see Nozomi's sleeping face.
"She looks kinda cute like this..." She muttered unconsciously. The blonde immediately blushed when she realized what she'd just said.
Eri finally tore her gaze off her friend to look the time. It was already late and the sun could set anytime soon. She looked over at the sleeping purple head but for some reason she couldn't bear to wake the beautiful girl up.
Wait. Didn't she have to help out at the shrine today?
Eri immediately stood up and walked over to her best friend. Slowly and gently, the blonde shook the purple haired girl, trying to wake her up as she called softly, "Nozomi…wake up."
The older girl didn't respond. Eri shook Nozomi harder and she could barely make out the Vice-President's murmurs, "Mmmm…Eri-chi…."
Eri blinked and flushed red when she realised that Nozomi was calling her name during her sleep.
"Nozomi…wake up, you have to help out at the shrine today, don't you? You're already late." Eri tried again.
Nozomi lifted her head sleepily and yawned. When she looked up, she almost yelped. Eri's face was directly planted right in front of hers and Nozomi blushed slightly, her heart hammering against her chest.
Why is Eri-chi's face…?
"Ah – I'm sorry, Nozomi. I was trying to wake you up just now…" Eri explained. Did…Nozomi just blushed? That was pretty cute – wait, what am I thinking?! It was Eri's turn to blush.
Ah. I fell asleep. That's right. Nozomi's eyes widened with realisation. I hope I didn't say anything weird when I'm sleeping.
"Eri-chi…Did I…say anything weird when I was sleeping?" Nozomi dared the question.
Eri froze as she contemplated on whether she should tell her best friend that she called her name. Probably doesn't matter though. Since we're friends after all. It's normal to dream of your friends…right?
Seeing Eri hesitate, Nozomi's heart sank. I probably said something embarrassing that Eri-chi can't say it. She thought dejectedly.
"Well, you didn't say anything weird," Eri said, "You…just called my name."
It felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped onto Nozomi's head.
Crap. That was Nozomi's first thought.
Seeing Nozomi's panicked look, Eri tried to assure her, "You didn't say anything else. You just called my name…that's all. Probably because I was trying to wake you up…"
Inwardly, Nozomi heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God I didn't say anything else. That was embarrassing.
"I – I don't have to go help out at the shrine today," Nozomi changed the subject.
"Ah…is that so…then we just have to wrap up and head home. The sun's setting soon."
Nozomi nodded and the two friends quickly and quietly cleared their desks before heading home together.
Nozomi
Tojo Nozomi sighed for the umpteenth time today. She couldn't stop thinking about her blonde friend. About how incredibly beautiful she is, how curvy her hips and curves are, how smooth her legs are. If only she could kiss that goddess like lips and trail them down her neck and her brea–. Nozomi slapped herself inwardly. I am not going there.
I have to stop thinking of Eri-chi like that. Nozomi sighed, putting her palm against her forehead. When she recalled Eri's face when she woke up in the Student Council Room, her face burned again. Just by staring into those exotic azure eyes would make her drown into the depths of blue.
The purple-haired went to her study table and took out her cards. Taking a deep breath, she took a card from the deck and stared at the picture. She sighed. The ambiguity of the card is not something she was used to. Hugging her knees, Nozomi rested her head on her knee caps fervently hoping that she could hold her feelings in again tomorrow.
