The weather was warm and clear.

Maki looked out her window and took a deep breath.

"Yosh! I can do this!" She gazed at the blue sky with a confident smile.

Downstairs, Maki's mother awaited her.

"Maki, are you really sure about this?"

"Yes, mama. This is the path I choose for myself."

"Won't you at least bid your father farewell?"

Maki's eyes saddened. But she wouldn't let something as that shake her resolve.

"He's the one who doesn't want to see me off..."

Nishikino Maki gently embraced her mother before she picked up her luggage.

"Call me if something happens, if you need anything at all, okay?" Her mother offered.

"Hai, mama. Arigatou. But I'm going to be fine. Starting today, I'm going to live together with my precious friends, after all." The girl smiled and turned around.

In just a few moments, her figure disappeared and the Nishikino's household became quiet.

"Ah, Honoka! Where do you think you're going?! We still have a lot to do!" Umi shouted.

"But I'm hungryyyy! And Maki-chan hasn't arrived yet!" Honoka contested.

"No excuses! Come back here!"

"I'm getting a bit hungry too, nyaa.~" Rin revealed.

"Shall we have a small break then?" Eli suggested.

"Ah, Eli-chan! Those words are music to my ears!" Honoka hugged her friend, grinning from ear to ear.

All the other members sided with Eli, so Umi could not oppose.

And so, Hanayo opened her biggest bag.

"I was wondering what you had there, Kayo-chin. It's such a huge bag!"

"Mufufu, I thought this would happen so I prepared these." As she exposed the contents of her sack, big onigiri could be seen.

"Whoa! They look delicious!" Honoka was already drooling.

Hanayo started handing the food out to everyone except Nico who was distracted looking at her phone.

"Looking at your cell won't make Maki come faster, you know~?" Nozomi teased.

"Waaaa! Don't scare me like that Nozomi! And it's not like I'm thinking about Maki!"

Nozomi just hummed a little 'I see', though she wasn't convinced.

Not long after the group started eating, Kotori spoke.

"Is that Maki-chan over there?" She pointed at the end of the road.

The Muse girls were dumbfounded.

"What is she doing coming here on foot, I wonder." Umi said.

"Yeah, I just assumed she'd come by car." Kotori added.

When Maki-chan got closer, Rin dashed to her, calling out her name. Then she helped the red-head with her things.

"Maki, did you walk all the way here?" Eli asked.

The girl simply nodded. She was exhausted.

"Mama doesn't have a driver's license and papa... Well, never mind."

"You could have said something. I would have gone to pick you up. Your house is on the opposite side of town." Eli voiced.

Then, Honoka approached her with a loving smile.

"Okaeri, Maki-chan. Welcome to our home!"

Everyone hugged Maki except, once again, Nico.

"Ararara... Don't tell me those two fought again." Nozomi instantly thought.

It was already past 20h when they finished unpacking their luggage.

The house was pretty big. Probably as big as Maki's summer house near the sea. As expected of a multi-millionaire agency: Sunshine Records Entertainment (S:RE).

After the older members of Muse graduated, the group was disbanded.

For the last 2 years, Eli, Nozomi and Nico, went to college and worked here and there to support their studies. The other six members finished their high school and decided on a college as well.

Surprisingly enough, their schools weren't that far from each other, so they could meet sometimes.

Then, a couple of months ago, S:RE contacted them, saying they wanted Muse to come back and sign a contract with them.

Needless to say, the girls were radiant with the news and agreed.

A-Rise was also signed to the company and lived in a house further down the street.

"We sure got lucky, nyaa.~ Getting into a company which takes care of our living and educational expenses." Rin stated.

"Right. But don't forget that it is just until we graduate from college. After that, we'll have to find a place to live ourselves, with our pay checks." Eli reminded them. "The situation repeats itself. Nozomi, Nico and me are third years next month and so forth."

"I have a question. The fridge is still empty. The company said there was a delay and they'll only deliver food tomorrow morning. I'm tired and want to rest as soon as I can. What do we do concerning dinner?" Maki expressed.

As if it was some kind of sign, the doorbell rang. Who could it be? They didn't know any of the neighbours yet.

Kotori went to the door and opened it.

"Welcome, Muse!"

"Ahhh! A-Rise!" Kotori was surprised.

"We heard you girls moved in today." Toudou Erena said.

"And we decided to pay your first visit." Yuki Anjuu continued.

"And bring you dinner." Kira Tsubasa smilled.

"Tsubasa! You girls are our saviours!" Honoka cried in happiness.

" 'Tsubasa'? When did Honoka become so close to her?" Nozomi whispered.

Nico, who was standing beside her, answered in a low voice.

"They've been meeting once a week in that famous bakery. I know since I work in the convenience store across the street."

"Waaa! Does Umi or Kotori know?"

Nico ended the conversation with a dry 'Saa'.

A-Rise joined them for the dinner.

When the 3 members of the other idol group left, it was already midnight.

Honoka insisted in them staying the night with them, since it was so late. But they politely refused.

"Saa, minna. We should take Maki as an exemple and go to sleep now." Umi advised.

"Eeeeh?! But the night is still a child!" Honoka retorted.

"Yes! And Maki-chan went to sleep earlier because she was tired." Rin backed her up.

"Rin, when did you become a Honoka defender?" Umi sighed. "We have a reunion at 7 o'clock in the morning with the S:RE President. If you don't rest enough, most of you won't even be able to get out of bed."

"Umi, you oni!" Honoka yelled.

"Maa, maa. Calm down, Honoka-chan. We'll have plenty of time to play. Let's do good for tomorrow, okay?" Kotori tried to convince her friend.

In the end, they agreed with Umi.

The rooms were all situated on the second floor of the manner.

Nico went up the stairs and walked through the long corridor. Then, she stopped in front of Maki's room, feeling uneasy.

"Nico-chan.~" It was Nozomi again.

"What? Are you following me, now?" Nico answered with a sour tone.

"No. My room is next to Maki's." She walked a few more steps. "She's resting now so there's no point in standing there. Just try talking to her tomorrow. Whatever happened, you two can make peace again."

Before entering her own room, Nozomi added, whispering in Nico's ear: "You love her after all.~"

Nico's eyes widened. She didn't say anything back, though. Instead, she continued onwards to her room.

Obs: Waaaaa! I did it. xD I didn't really want to start this fic yet, since I'm writing two other fics at the same time. But I had so many ideas that I couldn't help it. xD

Sunshine Records Entertainment is, obviously, a fictional company I created just for this story.

9 girls living under the same roof, though. I wonder what kind of troubles and situations will happen because of that. Specially when there is another group of 3 not far from them.

If you're wondering the same, stick around for the next chapter!

I hope you enjoyed! ^^