Of Love, Music And Fashion Chapter 1
A light slipped between the slats of the blinds in Nico's bedroom. The whispering sound of millions of people waking, breathing, speaking, walking and eating hovered at the door of her consciousness. The city was never really quiet, but at this early hour it was like a lamb in comparison to the lion.
She stirred from her warm nest of blankets and gingerly touched a toe to the floor. Yawning, Nico looked for her pair of bunny slipper under the bed and slipped her feet in it. Still in a daze, the black-haired woman sleepily dragged her two feet to the kitchen to cook for her long-awaited breakfast. Fried eggs and bacon were sizzling deliciously on her frying pan, while Nico started to brew her coffee, remembering to make it strong. She inhaled the bitterly sweet aroma and sighed, thank goodness her mind was clearer now.
There were many people walking along the five-foot ways on both sides of the street. It was about eight o'clock in the morning and many office-workers were out for work. As Nico leisurely sipped on her mug of hot coffee, she saw smartly dressed men and women hurrying towards the offices further down the street.
Speaking of work, I need to see if Eli have anything in store for me. Nico's thoughts were then broken, as her phone rang loudly back at the marble counter just a few steps away. The raven-haired woman sighed and placed down her mug begrudgingly. She hoped it wasn't the fashion company that she quitted a few days ago, asking for her to come back. Her former boss, Mr. Smithson, had treated all his employees like crap. The middle-aged man would constantly put on a façade of a madman and criticize just about anyone's designs, whenever he liked it or not. In a nutshell, being the CEO of a well-known clothing company throughout the whole country made him to set high standards for everyone who worked there.
About 95% of the designers there would endure Mr. Smithson's craziness for the high amount of salary, but Nico unfortunately or not, was one of the remaining 5% there. Though she had been doing well for the past years of working there, even going as far as gaining herself frame bit by bit, a misunderstanding of the man chewing Nico out for another one of her colleague's mistake was what made the raven-haired woman announce 'I quit!' crossly.
When Nico was casually packing her belongings up to leave, her colleague came up to her with an expression that looked like she might burst into tears any moment. And before the teary brunette could even utter a word, Nico had already sealed the topic by brushing her off coolly.
"B-But what w-will you do…from now on?" the younger woman asked softly. She fidgeted with her chubby fingers and looked up at Nico uneasily. "H-How about I go and talk to Mr. Smithson about letting you stay? I'm sure he'll agree; you are one of the company's most prized designers, after all…"
Nico shook her head in declination, grabbing a picture frame that was placed neatly on her work desk. Instead of stuffing it into the cardboard box she brought out from the storeroom, the other woman only stared at it in a somehow wistful manner. "It was me who decided to quit. Not Mr. Smithson. And to be honest, I don't think I can stand the way how he treats us any longer."
"There must be another way…!"
"Thanks for worrying about me, but," Nico turned to the anxious woman behind her and waved the picture frame in her hand, grinning. "I can manage."
The picture showed three people standing outside the big, grand wooden doors of a prestigious-looking university, all clad in their smartly ironed graduation outfits. And between the two heads of blond and dark purple, an obviously shorter person with dark, silky long hair was sandwiched within them, smiling the same exact bright grin.
And to much of Nico's relief, the dialer was Eli. Speaking of the devil.
"Eli?"
"Dobroye utro, Nico. It's Eli. How have you been recently?"
Nico resisted her urge to laugh. Though they have been close friends for the longest of time, the raven-haired designer still couldn't get over the fact that how funny her blond friend sounded when she was speaking in Russian and Japanese at the same time. "Not dead or starved in the very least, Eli. Well? Do you have a job for me?"
"Da, I did. The designing job offered for you this time is a bit complicated, so how about we meet up?"
"The usual place, ya ponimayu." Nico replied, her lips curled into a small grin. With the influence of her Russian friend here, learning a few simple words of her mother-tongue was an easy task for Nico, especially when you would just hear about a word or two in Russian whenever the two of them were together.
"Harasho!" she could particularly feel the smile in Eli's words. "Then I will be waiting for you around lunchtime. YA budu videt' Vas, Nico."
"Bye for now."
They both hung up. Nico stared at the phone in her hands for a few seconds and eventually broke into a bright grin that could make countless lolicons swoon. She knew she could count on Eli, who she still kept in contract with after their graduation from college. With a quick twist of her head, the fried eggs and bacon she had sizzling away was done. Nico turned off the gas range as she grabbed a plate. She then slowly placed them in an orderly manner, careful to not let the bacon and eggs collide with each other.
The whole room was soaked in a heedful tension. There were only two small table lamps - one near the door atop a wicker table that clashed with the rest of the room's executive motif, and another on the cherry wood desk with a long brass pull-cord. The light-colored curtains were drawn to one side, allowing the light from outside the second story window to paint the eastern wall.
Nishikino Maki, who was clad in an elegant light blue blouse paired with a matching mini-skirt, had her bland amethyst gaze focused on the older blonde girl before her. In contrary of the sophisticatedly polished aura to which Maki glowed with, Eli Ayase who was clothed in a dark casual suit jacket and a pair of tight dark blue jeans, instead showed off a more companionable and sociable impression.
"Let's introduce ourselves first, shall we?" A standing male spoke in gleefulness. He was a short burly man with curly black hair, which was now tucked in neatly by a red cap. "My name is Ebisawa Daisuke, the main director for the latest film you two are going to act for. And wow, it's really a great pleasure for the two hottest model and singer of this season to join me in producing my newest drama! I feel so loved!"
"…" Nishikino Maki stayed silent, still keeping on her cold poker face.
Eli Ayase only continued to attain her well-mannered smile, as she intentionally ignored the gleeful man's last sentence. "The same goes to me, Ebisawa-san. It really is a pleasure to be invited to play as one of the main roles in your newest act. All your productions tend to be well-known internationally, after all." She continued politely, once again crossing gazes with the broad-shouldered man.
"Ah, it's not that of a big deal, really!" The director replied, shades of red painting his chubby cheeks while he waved his hands at the blonde.
"Voobshche ne, you are too modest, Ebisawa-san."
…Cut the small talk and get on the topic already. Maki thought irritably as she twirled with a strand of fiery red hair. When she first received word of being chosen as one of the actors for the famous director, Ebisawa Daisuke's newest play, she showed little enthusiasm towards the 'good' news. Even her manager, Chiyoko Kaminaga, was elated. Truth to be told, Maki's schedule had been booked solid since the very day she debuted, and this was just actually another troublesome job added to all of her remaining concerts, commercials debuting and television program appearances. The redhead sighed. She only agreed debuting at first under the condition of getting to sing, then how on earth did acting ever get involved?
"This is your chance, Maki-san. The director, Ebisawa Daisuke's films are famous internationally and if you would participle in his newest production, I have no doubt that your name will be spreading throughout the nation like a wildfire. You'll also prove to your parents about your passion, no?"
Typical Chiyoko Kaminaga. She knew exactly how to make Maki give in; her parents were her weakness.
"Ahem, and so let's get into our main topic, shall we?"
Daisuke coughed. He reached for a few paper booklets on top of his darkish brown table and handed two of them to the waiting women. Still wearing her polite smile, Eli took the two booklets and nodded to him in appreciation, handling one to the mute singer. Maki received the semi-thick booklet unresponsively.
"There's no title decided yet, but my new production for this time is a story that involves two female detectives, that is you two, Ayase-san and Nishikino-san, solving impossible cases of murders and so on." He flipped to the first page and continued on, "It may sounds cliché, but what I am focusing on is the development of the characters' background and personalities. The first page contains the full details of the characters you two are going to be in role for, but you don't have to follow the respective trails completely. The most important fact of this drama, is that I want you two to create your own characters."
Maki remained unimpressed. She thumbed through the full booklet and skimmed through the whole plotline lightly, finding it a bore and somehow, repetitive. So the director was really focusing wholeheartedly on the characters, after all? "How thoughtful." She remarked with sarcasm dripping from her monotone. The other two turned to her and stared. It was the first time Maki had spoken ever since coming in.
"Haha! It isn't that much, Nishikino-san!"
The redhead looked away and resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the grinning director. So he can't even detect the sarcasm in my words. How pathetic.
"Well, what do we ought to do now, director?" Eli asked, conscientiously skipping over the mockery in Maki's words. Although the Russian have not met the songstress in person until just a few moments ago, she had a vague idea on how the red-haired woman would be. The whole night of researching yesterday did not prove any waste.
Maki Nishikino, a songstress and actress who made her debut a while ago, or specifically speaking, a year before, was now a total sensation in the entertainment world. Not only was she specialized in both singing and composing, the uncommon color of her fiery hair and pair of captivating lavender eyes was what made her near to perfection. Since her first public debut, the younger girl's popularity skyrocketed, without any signs of stopping.
"Ah yes, yes. Our first-script reading will be within held 2 weeks from now, so please try and blend with your characters until then. I will also introduce you girls to the staffs for this production when the time comes…Ah, that's reminds me, Ayase-san! How's the fashion designer that you introduced me to? She's got time to spare, right?"
Eli nodded. "She has. The fashion designer is a close friend of mine; we have been friends since first-years in university. Due to some reasons, she recently just quit the fashion company she worked for 2 years, and is now a freelance. Have you seen the papers I gave you?"
"Close friend, huh?" the man nodded in understandment. He grabbed his leather bag that was rested besides the round glass table in front of them and fished out a stack of papers from it. "I have seen her information already. Nico Yazawa, a graduate from XXXX University and is now a qualified designer. Worked for Truly True Fashion Company…Oh, so she used to work under this company? Ahahahaha!" Daisuke roared with laughter, "I couldn't even describe the CEO of this company when I personally met him for some designs! Ayase-san, it was no wonder that your friend would want to quit working there and be a freelancer!"
Eli laughed along, her soft laughter resembling the bells hung on Christmas trees. When Nico just stopped working a few days ago, she had called Eli and her other friend, Nozomi out for a so-called 'celebration' at their usual Grill and Bar.
At first, Eli was perplexed on why Nico seemed so delighted about losing a job, but gradually understood as the raven-haired woman explained everything while she continued to chew onto a lamb stick. Nozomi, who was drinking her brew, nodded along with the latter, even going as far to pat Nico's shoulder and tell her what she did was the right choice. The blonde could only shake her head and smile at her two closest friends.
"So, have you explained the details to her already?"
Eli shook her head, remembering the previous phone call they had. "No, but we promised to meet up this afternoon. I'll explain the details to her then." The blonde explained briefly, a smile creping its way up to her pink lips. Nico speaking in Russian was indeed a rare occurrence to her.
"Very well, then! I have seen a few of this Yazawa Nico's designs, and I have to say, bravo! Her own styles are very distinguishing! If your friend does not have any other plans for now, I hope she can provide us some fashion advices and designs for this upcoming film. Who knows, she might even hit it off with our current fashion designer, Minami Kotori!"
"Very well, Ebisawa-san."
Can't we dismiss already…And who were they talking about? Yazawa…Nico? Maki sighed uninterestedly and crossed her smoothing pale legs together. Well, whoever she is, I don't really care. It's probably just another good designer who works for money. The entertainment industry's plenty of them.
Eli, being the observant older woman she is, noticed the sigh and reaction Maki gave out. Somehow, the red-haired songstress here reminded her very much of how Nico used to be when they were still 'freshies' in college. Aloof, stubborn and prone to bite onto criticism. With a 360 degree spin of her quick-thinking mind, Eli came in thought of seemingly good idea.
"Nishikino-san, are you possibly free after this meeting? If you are, why don't you come with me to meet with my friend?"
The mentioned woman lifted her bland face up after hearing Eli's unexpected invitation, eyes now tinted with suspicion and slight disbelief. "…Excuse me?"
"That's a great idea!" the noisy direction chimed in. "Although Yazawa Nico will only be in charge of you two's clothing, she'll still be needed around the filming scenes when we work. Wouldn't it be better for you two to know each other earlier, so you could forge a more stable relationship later? I strongly recommend you to go, Nishikino-san."
I'd rather not. Maki was about to say, but then stopped. She didn't know why, but there was a side to her, a small side, that strongly wished to meet this fashion designer that the two talked so highly of. "…I supposed it can't be helped. I will come with you. However, I must inform my manager of it first."
Eli widened her eyes in pure surprise. Never have she thought of the younger girl accepting her sudden invitation so quickly. Maybe she was actually more sociable in the insides? "Ah, very well, I will also need to inform my manager too."
"…Yazawa Nico, huh…" Maki whispered to herself, as Eli and Daisuke both said their regards to each other. The way her name rolled off so natural on her tongue made Maki think as if it was meant for her to say the fashion designer's name. W-What on earth am I thinking?! The red-haired songstress shook her head in realization and felt her cheeks heat up, an unusual reaction coming from her prideful self. W-Why did I just blush? Mou, snap out of it, Nishikino Maki! This Yazawa Nico is just another ordinary person, I'm sure of it! Meeting her in person isn't much of a big deal!
Back then, never have Maki thought of that meeting this ordinary person would have her whole life be turned upside down.
-End of Chapter 1-
Note: Hello! Kuroix here, did you enjoyed my story? This is my first fic about Love Live! School Idol Project. And I may have some grammar mistakes because English is not my main language, so please bear with me if I have some typos or errors! Have been meaning to write a plot-line like this for a while now, and I finally found the courage and time to. Main pairing: NicoMaki. As for the others, I'll leave that up to your imaginations. ;)
The followings words are in Russian:
Dobroye utro - Good morning.
Da - Yes.
Harasho - Alright.
Voobshche ne - No
YA budu videt' Vas - I'll be seeing you.
ya ponimayu - I understand.