Disclaimer: I don't own Love Live.
#1
She wakes up in the middle of the night, with her phone ringing, and her back sore.
It seems she had fallen asleep while she was finishing her assignment—what's with so many scattered papers on her desk and pencil still in her hand. She straightens up from her slumped pose, yawning. Bleary-eyed, she sees her half-completed design flooded with drool. She quickly wipes her mouth. It's wet.
She sighs, flicks her bang away from her crimson eyes, before stretches slightly, trying to relieve her stiff muscles. Her ears can still hear the loud music coming from her phone, ringing and buzzing insistently.
Resigned, she proceeds to pick up the device, answering the call.
"Hello?"
"Hi? Uhh… Nico-chan?"
She frowns, quickly turning her phone away from her ear, checking the name on screen. She blinks, almost doubting her eyes.
"…Maki-chan?"
"Yeah. I… it's me."
"…Uhh," unsure what to say, she feels herself nodding slowly without meaning. "…okay."
"…umm—" "—Ah..."
Nico bits her lip, trying to regain her composure. She opens her mouth again; plan to rid the awkwardness between them, when suddenly there's a loud noise coming from her phone. Her eyes widen, in realization.
"Maki? Are you outside?"
"…yeah."
"What are you doing?" She can't believe her. "It's late!"
"I… I know that! But—"
"Don't tell me you're alone? Where are you?" She stands up; can't sit still all of sudden.
"I—yeah... I… uh…-"
She wonders why the younger girl sounds unusually nervous. "Maki-chan?"
"Actually… I'm in front of your apartment."
Eh? She gapes.
"Can… I… come in?"
Automatically, the raven haired girl nods. As if the other person could see that. "…yeah."
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Nico eyes the suitcase in Maki's hand suspiciously.
She keeps her quiet, though, inviting the girl in without questions.
It's been two years since she last saw Maki. The read head looks exactly the same in her memory, just with some grow in here and there. Aside from that, she doesn't change much, still like the Diamond Princess she's loved so much.
Nico smiles bitterly, remembering their separation.
She shakes her head. This is not the time for reminisce.
She takes a deep breathe, focusing her attention back to making coffee. She needs it, if she wants to continue her all-nighter.
Now it's three in a row.
So much for her beauty sleep, she laughs, dejected.
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Maki peeks at the petite figure busying in the kitchen. Nico's never one to grow much. Even after these years, she still looks like a middle school student. She smiles softly at the thought. If the older girl knows what she's thinking; she'd definitely scowl at her.
It's really been two years, eh.
Just two years. And she's here now. She feels a bit dazed.
The redhead pinches her cheek gently, stopping her thought. She then moves to take a look at her surroundings, trying to forget the predicament she's in even just temporary.
It's a moderately small room, with bed in one corner, and desk in another. There's a kotatsu in the center of the room, coupling with two cushions, plus some other furniture like bookshelf, closet, and few electronic things. She notes Nico still has the tendency to collect idols merchandise.
Unsurprisingly, it's a neat room… except... she raises her eyebrows.
Maki walks slowly to the desk, seeing the scattered papers. She picks one sheet, looking at the drawing.
It's a sketch of a small chair, with messy scribbles she can't read, plus some doodling on the margin.
Her lip turned up slightly, before it reversed. They are changed. Whether it shown or not. And she doesn't sure of anything anymore.
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.
.
They take their time, observing the other silently, while drinking their coffee.
Nico doesn't know what to make of this. After two years not seeing each other, why is Maki suddenly contacted her, coming to her apartment, and, in the middle of the night? They were close before, sure, but it still doesn't make any sense to why now…
She bits her lip. Yeah. Why now.
"Maki-chan," she calls after a while of silence. It sounded foreign. Like she was trying to speak in another language she can't. Like... not normal. "What are you doing here?"
The red head doesn't answer, twirling her cup in her hand. She's looking down, avoiding her eyes.
Nico eyes Maki's suitcase again. It placed in the corner of her room, standing.
"Where are you planning to go," Nico asks again. "Bringing that around?"
She then adds after some thought. "Are you running away?"
The younger girl flinches slightly. Just slightly, but it's enough reaction for Nico to know what's going on… more or less. Not like she knows the answer of her first question though. Why here.
"Is this about your dad again?"
Maki seems hesitant before giving a small nod at her direction.
"You want to talk about it?"
There's silence.
Nico throws a frustrated sigh, looking away. She has more problems to do than playing a good consultant for her junior. She hasn't finished doing her assignment for tomorrow… or today precisely.
"You know, I can't understand a thing if you don't talk."
She feels her emotions rising seeing Maki still keeps her quiet.
"If you don't want to talk to me, why are you coming here? Why not to Eli? To Nozomi? To Honoka? To Rin and Hanayo? You are closer to them than me, aren't you? You-"
The red head hugs her instantly, rendering her speechless. It's just like… old times.
"…I don't like seeing you angry, Nico-chan," Maki whispers near her ear, tickling it a bit, making her squirming in the taller girl's hold. "Never like it."
Nico stops moving, her body limp, letting Maki continues silently.
"I'm sorry, Nico-chan," she apologizes. "Sorry."
The older girl doesn't say anything for a moment. But the sob Maki lets out; and the dampness on her shoulder making her nods slowly. She buries her face on the other girl's red hair, feeling its softness she's familiar with.
"It's… fine," Maki hugs her tighter. "It's fine."
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.
"Are you alright?" Nico asks, gives her tissue.
Maki nods. Embarrassed, she's brushing her tears away quickly—almost roughly. The older girl grabs her wrist, stopping her.
"Don't do that," she proceeds to wipe the red head's cheek gently with her thumb. "We don't want you to ruin your pretty face, right?"
Maki knows her face is turning the same color as her hair after hearing that statement. "Y-yeah. Uhhm."
Nico laughs at the red face she's seeing. "Glad to see Nico nico nii-'s charm still works."
The red head mumbles under her breath, trying to look grumpy, though she's actually glad to see the familiar Nico nico nii-personality she has known and loves.
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.
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"You know, Nico-chan," she mutters softly, suddenly, making the senior perks up. "You are right."
"About?" Nico pulls away slightly.
"My feeling," the red head answers, letting soft smile grace her face. "I… don't want to be a doctor anymore. Never want it."
Nico stares at her junior silently before glances away. "Your dad… what did he says?"
"He wants me to follow their footsteps," Maki says. "He said he wouldn't pay my tuition if I didn't enter medical school."
"I see," replies the older girl quietly. "What do you want to do now?"
"I…," Maki pauses. "What do you think I should do?"
"It's not my place to say that, Maki-chan," Nico smiles, looking at the red head. "I wouldn't force my opinion on you… again."
Maki narrows her eyes, noting the pained look on her senior face, feeling guilty. "It's not… You were not… like that."
Nico hums, still averting her eyes.
"Do you still mad, after all?" she asks, uncertain, her voice soft, tinged with worry.
"…no, of course not," the older girl sighs, running her hand through her hair. "I'm not. I just… don't… you know."
She waits.
Nico hesitates. "Well… you still have to decide yourself, Maki-chan."
The younger girl nods slowly. "I know. Sorry for imposing it to you, Nico-chan."
Nico scratches her cheek nervously, feeling the tension between them flies back. She knows she didn't have to say it like that, but her mouth had already blurted it out before she could process any of it.
She has to divert this uneasy situation somehow. Maybe they can talk about something else. Like…
"By the way, Maki-chan." Nico half-stands up, shuffles to her desk awkwardly. She grabs several papers and returns. "Which one did you like the best?"
Maki stares at the various design Nico shows her, notices the sudden change of topic she attempted forcefully.
She doesn't want to talk about it, then… Maki looks down. She can't complain, it was her fault, after all.
"W-well?" Nico asks again, with strained grins.
Maki swallows her sigh. Taking a closer look, she doesn't really know what to see in the product… or furniture design. She didn't even think Nico has interest in something like that until she graduated and chose design as her major. "The left… maybe…"
"Is that so?" Nico raises her eyebrows, examines the one Maki chose closely. It looks ordinary. Though her lecturer had told her to use more common sense when design. So maybe it's the key?
She grimaces, remembering her assignment now is actually re-assignment. Her previous design was rejected mercilessly by that same person.
Well. Maybe if she changes this or that part, it could look awesome enough. No. She needs to focus in the practical aspect, and functionality. What could a chair do besides being a chair?
"Ne, Maki-chan, it's late… do you want to sleep now?" Nico asks, distracted, grabbing more papers from her desk. "You can take my bed if you want. I just…"
"Is that your assignment?" Maki wonders.
"Hm? Yeah, yeah it is," she takes another look at the other sketch she has done, entirely forgotten her surroundings and the circumstance they've been. She doesn't even remember her original intention for bringing that topic. "What to do…"
The red head sits still, watching the older girl. Nico looks exhausted yet happy. There's excitement written all over her face while she mutters something to herself, thinking out loud. It makes her recall the time of their school idol days.
After their practice, Nico always had that same expression on her face.
Maki closes her eyes slowly, wanting to just sink in her memory, embracing the warmth it gives wholeheartedly.
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"Maki-chan? Maki-chan?"
She wrinkles her face, feeling someone shaking her body lightly. Mumbles something unintelligible, she's trying to distance her body away from the intruder's hands, burying her face deeper in the bed she's laying on.
It feels strange.
"Wakey, wakey, Maki-chan."
Maki stirs. She opens her eyes slowly, looking at the unfamiliar ceiling with hazy thoughts. Her eyes then turned to the side, seeing her senior staring back at her.
"Still not a morning person, I see," she comments.
Ah. So it is not a dream.
"Low-blood pressure," Maki reasons, disentangles her limbs from the blanket while getting up. "Nico-chan? What time is it?"
"Eight," she answers without looking at the clock. "I have class at nine. What are you planning today, Maki-chan?"
The red head bows her head, unsure. Not again.
"Well, I have promise to eat with Eli and Nozomi for lunch," Nico continues after a while. "Want to join us, Maki-chan? I can pick you up after class. Meanwhile, you can… stay here, wait, makes yourself at home… Ah, I have made breakfast. So eat it if you feel hungry."
She adds helpfully.
"I… is it fine?"
"Yeah. And they'll be happy to meet you."
"..Did you, Nico-chan?"
Nico raises her eyebrows, confused.
"Did you happy… seeing me again?"
Maki looks up, meeting Nico's crimson eyes with her lavender ones. The older girl blinks.
"I—uh, yeah," she coughs, shifts her eyes, before smirking mischievously. "But really, Maki-chan? Did Nico nico nii's charm is too strong for you after two years? Is the little princess missed Nico too much?"
The red head blushes immediately. "I—not, I'm…," she frantically says before falls silence. "I… yeah… I missed you, Nico-chan," she continues more quietly, looking down at her lap.
Nico's grin faltered. She can feel blood rushes into her head more rapidly than before. "I… oh.. Hohoho, I need to leave now. I can't be late after all."
She stands up, grabs her bag and coat, and bolts out from the room before the other can replies. "I'm going!"
Maki looks dumbfounded, eyeing Nico's spot before the older girl went hurriedly. "…Have a safe trip," she mutters after a moment.
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Nico takes a deep breath. The distance between her apartment and campus isn't far. Just fifteen minutes walks. However, it was still a bad idea running from there to here, especially if you don't have enough stamina.
She's not an athlete. It helps warming her body, though.
She's passing her hand through her lock, straightening her clothes, trying to make herself more presentable after that energy-consuming activity. It's still a while before class started…
"Nico-chan!"
She turns automatically, looking at the smiling girl with unique hairstyles waving at her. She waves back, walking nearer. "Kotori. Do you have class now?"
"U-un," the girl shakes her head. "There's club meeting this morning. You know, for Freshman Entrance."
"Ahh… Drama Club?" Nico asks curiously. "What will they do?"
"Play, of course," Kotori chuckles. "Hmm… I'm not sure. We're still in the middle of discussion. The senior wanted to do traditional story, while the junior thought it's best to do some west fairy tale."
"I see. And you? Which side are you in?"
"Hmm… both, maybe. Japanese clothes are beautiful. But I love western clothes too," the grey-ash haired girl smiles unaffectedly. "What do you think, Nico-chan?"
"I don't know," Nico shrugs her shoulder. "But last year, it was 'Romeo and Cinderella', right? And when festival you chose original fantasy-like story. Maybe traditional tale is better for variation."
"Last year, I wasn't club member, though…" Kotori mutters. "But it was so funny; it made me join the club."
"Yes. Though actually, it was tragedy," the shorter girl chuckles.
"Hm?" Kotori tilts her head to the side. "Tragedy?"
"I mean… the scenario is originally tragedy. But because of some miscasting, the play was more like comedy-tragedy," Nico explains. "Last year, the casts were decided by lottery."
"Ah yeah, I heard about it," Kotori nods her head, chuckling. "It was interesting."
"Hm.. it was," Nico agrees. She looks at her watch distractedly. "Ah… I need to go now. I have class soon."
"Okay. See you later, Nico-chan," the girl smiles. "Ah. Will you help us again? For the props?"
"Yes, I will," she smiles back, waving good bye.
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Maki decides she's better try study for exam rather than sitting alone doing nothing. Fortunately, she brought her textbooks; and some exam-oriented books with her. Although, she still doesn't know what university or department she will take. Better safe than sorry.
Though, maybe she's better go to school if she really wanted to get some study done.
However, the third years don't have to go to school every day in the third term, and she choose to take that opportunity to not go after two years always went diligently. It feels like playing truant… with permission.
Ah.
But, she has promises to help Rin with English today.
Hanayo could fill that role instead of her.
Maki frowns; she doodles at her book, unable to concentrate.
Her fight with her dad last night is still on her mind. And though, she has called her mom about her where-about, she wonders if she should call her dad too. No. Mom definitely would tell dad. So it's fine.
Or maybe not.
Maki grumbles, feeling distressed.
If only Nico was here, she would make her forget about it, whether consciously, or not. Her presence is enough distraction as it is.
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"Waa… you're really an honor student, aren't you?"
The first thing Nico says when she enters, and sees what Maki's doing. The red head looks up from her workbook, eyeing the older girl; she seems very pleased with herself.
"Did something happen?"
"Huh? You can tell?" Nico asks, grin wider. She puts her bag on the floor before rummaging inside. A few seconds, she then thrusts a paper in front of the younger girl. "I got A mark for that assignment!"
"…Is that so," she says unenthusiastically, pretends to be indifferent. "Congratulation…"
"Maki-chan is a party pooper muuu…," Nico pouts slightly, but she lets the matter go without further ado. It seems she just wanted to show off a bit. "Are you ready to go?"
"Ah, yes."
The red head puts back her books, and follows the older girl out. They pause for a while before the front door, donning their coats, and scarfs.
"Where are we going?"
"Family restaurant near campus," Nico answers, while locks the door. "It's close to the bakery where Honoka works part-time."
"Honoka?" Maki repeats.
"Yeah," she nods, continues her walk. She gestures Maki to follow with her hand. "It seems she was serious when she said she wanted to be a baker."
Maki raises her eyebrows. That Honoka, who always says, "Ah! Today's bread, yummy as usual!" wants to be a baker is no surprise for everyone. But what will happen with her family's traditional sweet store if she's going to work in the bakery?
Well, there's her little sister…
"Hey," calls the older girl, scattering her thought. "Don't think too much. If you want, we could drop by, and ask her yourself."
"Huh? Ask what?" Maki blinks.
"I know what's on your mind," Nico shrugs. "You thought about the similarity between your situation and Honoka's."
Nico's words are spot on as always. Maki hangs her head. She doesn't know she's that easy to read.
"So, do you want to or do you not want to?"
"I'm not—"
"Maki-chan?"
"…yeah, I guess," she bows in surrender.
"That's good girl," Nico snickers. She takes her junior's arm in her hand, pulls her along while quicken her pace. "It's cold! Let's hurry, Maki-chan!"
"A-ah… waits! H-hold on, Nico-chan!"
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"Welcome~!" A sing-song voice greets them as soon as they pass the doorway. "Ah! Nico-chan! Long time no see!"
It's warm in the bakery. The fragrant of baked breads flies around the air. With the sight of sweets and breads lined up in the counter, luring and attracting the customers inside, it's just a matter of time before they would go to the cashier and went with paper bag in hand.
Nico loosen her scarf around her neck, while she replies. "Hey, Honoka. I brought you special customer."
"What? Who?" Honoka looks around curiously before her sight fallen on the girl behind her senior. Her eyes widen in exaggerated surprise before she leaps at the girl. "Eh? Maki-chan?! Woow, its Maki-chan! Welcome!"
"…You don't have to be that loud," the red head murmurs. "Honoka."
"Don't be so cold, Maki-chan," Honoka grins at her. "It's already one year since we last saw each other, you know."
"…I know."
"Because Maki-chan never wanted to meet us after we graduated," the ginger haired girl continues. "I was hurt."
"W-wha? What are you saying? I… I had never said something like that!"
"And you never said the opposite either, right?" Honoka pokes at her junior teasingly.
"Th-that's because…," Maki rambles. She takes a glance at the raven haired girl who chose to look around the store while they're talking. That's because she couldn't…
"I understand, Maki-chan," Honoka cuts in softly. "I'm glad I could see both of you again."
There's an undertone in her statement.
She smiles slightly. Honoka really is incredible if she wanted to. "Yeah. Thanks."
"So? What the two of you need from our bakery?" She purposely raises her voice, calling Nico back. "My recommendation for today is this… moon-croissant! Although it looked no different from normal croissant, the taste is surprisingly more… moreee delicious!"
Honoka says excitedly, which Nico turns down in a heartbeat.
"Unfortunately, we're only passing by, before going lunch at the restaurant near here," the older girl moves her hand right-and-left a few times in front of her face, signaling they would not buy anything at all. "That girl over there just missed you so much; she couldn't wait to meet you."
"Wha-?"
"Is that so, Maki-chan? Why didn't you say that earlier?!" Honoka's enthusiasm flares up again. She moves closer to the red head, eyes sparkling. "Don't be shy, Maki-chan~"
The red head takes a step back, a bit scared.
"N-no! I just wanted to ask you something, that's all!" Maki, in order to avoid hyper-Honoka, rushes to speak.
Honoka pauses. "What's you wanted to ask?" she tilts her head.
"…errr, is… Nico-chan said… I heard you want to be a baker," the red head says, uncertainly. "Why?"
"Huh? Why? Well... the first thing that comes to mind… because I like bread, of course. Ah! And when I know there's many variation of bread we, human, could make, it quickly took my interest over the top!" Honoka answers exaggeratedly. She raises both of her hand, and spreads them, as if expressing the emotion she's felt.
"Then… But then… what will happen with your family store?" Maki blurts out before she could stop herself.
"Family store…? Ahh… I see, I see," Honoka nods her head, seems to grasp Maki's objective. "That's what you wanted to ask, huh?"
"I… yeah…," Maki looks at floor. Her shoes suddenly seem very interesting.
The ginger haired girl takes time composing her reply. She observes her junior silently, before smiling her smile. She just has to say what she has to say, right?
"Well… I want to help you, Maki-chan," Honoka says slowly. "But our situation is a bit different from you think. Err… in the first place; my parents never pressure me to follow their footsteps. Umm… I think they wish one of their children would take over the store, of course. But it's not an obligation or duty… like that. They gave us choice to do what we wanted to."
Ah. So… it's like that. She bows her head.
"Sorry, Maki-chan," the ginger haired girl touches her arm lightly. "But you know, Maki-chan, I think you should do what you wanted to do too! And if you ran into problem somewhere, you can contact me, and the others, and we can eat bread together—Not, I mean… "
She looks at the younger girl with determination. "I'm… we are here for you, and we'll help you. So you don't have to hold back, you can ask us anything. We're friends, after all."
Maki bits back her smile. She nods her head slowly. Although, it doesn't solve her problem, it's lessening her burden a bit. "Mm. I understand."
It's nice to see Honoka is still Honoka she has known, even after one year.
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"Nice weather, it is," Nico comments without looking at the grey sky over her head. Hands inside her pocket coat, she walks leisurely with normal pace. "Next, it'd be spring before we realize it."
"It's still January, Nico-chan," Maki says like a straight-man. Though, there's a hint of confusion in her voice. "And I don't think this is what you'd call nice weather."
"Really? Your face looks a bit livelier though," she replies nonchalantly, eyes still looking forward.
"M-my face?"
"Yep!" Nico nods, and turns her head, grinning at the girl. "Looks the clouds will dissipate soon."
"W-what are you talking about? I don't understand," Maki puffs out in embarrassment. She averts her eyes quickly.
The raven haired girl laughs fondly at her reaction. "What will you do when you meet Nozomi later, Maki-chan?"
"Why would I need to do anything?" she asks back, perplexed.
"She will definitely tease you, you know," Nico points out rather cruelly. She then laughs again, when seeing the blatant displeasure on Maki's face. "Don't make scary face like that, Maki-chan. Nico's scared~"
"…whatever," the junior sighs, already submitted herself to the fate.
"…happens will happen?" she asks so innocently it doesn't need an attentive person to tell that it's fake.
"Whatever will make you happy," the red head retaliates unexpectedly, surprising both herself and the older girl. She quickly walks ahead after spouted out that cheesy line. Hiding her blushing face from her stunned companion, she's consequently missing the same red, dusted on her senior cheek.
"Ah… geez," Nico raises her hand in front of her mouth. Looking to the side, she mutters softly. "No fair."
A/N: ...I remember originally I just wanted to write a scene with Nico woke up in the middle of the night because of Maki's call. When, why, and how the story became like this, I wonder...?
Review would be really welcomed.