Hanayo pants as her scream successfully stopped Maki.
"Maki….chan…." Hanayo panted, the other µ's right behind her. "Is…..that….really….you?"
All their bodies shivered in the cold rain that splashed on the ground and on their body. Maki couldn't care less who was talking to her. But Nico wanted answers as much as any them and acted upon what she thought will solve it. Her action wasn't given any thought as she just made Maki face them, Nico took a step back at what she once saw as a tsundere first-year who loved tomatoes. She couldn't say the same now could she?
"Maki…" Nico pitied her underclassman but yet again, she could care less. "Where have you been?"
Her eyes.
They say that the eyes of a human being is the window to their soul. A window that shows everything that is hiding underneath. Everything that they hide secret, everything that they wish to not reveal. It shows in their eyes no matter what you do. They'll always betray you. It confused the µ's. Their tsundere composer was NEVER this emotionless. They never saw her this…sad? Her eyes are cold and show no emotion. Compare that to two years ago, her eyes were filled with joy despite being the heir of the Nishikino hospital. Being the heir to something can be pressuring but they have never seen her like this. Her purple eyes refused eye contact as it looked around every few minutes.
Maki didn't answer Nico's question nor Hanayo's question either. She didn't want to answer any question to begin with. Her answer was silence as the rain poured on all of them, now soaking wet despite the others clearly having umbrellas just a few minutes ago.
"Maki-chan!" Rin yelled, not good under pressure. "Where have you been? Why are you acting like this? Are you ignoring us? Did we do something wrong? WHY WON'T YOU AT LEAST ANSWER US?!"
Maki remained silent, she could feel her mask slowly breaking. Eli, being quite the observer at the moment, studied Maki's facial features. All of them have changed. Especially her eyes.
Their Maki wasn't like this EVER, despite pressured to be a doctor by her parents, was never this lonely, this cold, and this distant. She wondered what could have happened during her last years at Otonoki to make her change. And from what she heard, Maki didn't graduate from Otonoki and switched schools the year after she, Nozomi, and Nico graduated. Eli felt an intense sadness for Rin and Hanayo. They must have been so heartbroken when they heard that one of their peers just disappeared. That wasn't even the worst part.
She refused any contact with any of them.
Maki left without a word. She left them. They didn't leave her. She left them. For two years they tried to find her through safe means but couldn't do it. And now look who's standing in front of them.
The girl they were looking for.
Sooner or later they would need to leave, after all, Eli realized that she just abandoned Yukiho and Alisa at Otonoki. Maki shifted her gaze somewhere else every few minutes. They all expect her to say something. Anything. But not a single word would leave Maki's mouth.
"Sirens?" Umi suddenly said as ambulance sirens were heard in the distance. Maki tensed up.
"I have to go," Maki mumbled as she ran towards the direction of the sirens.
The µ's couldn't do anything but nod because maybe Maki had something to do with the ambulance sounds that happened just a few seconds prior. Although it hurt them to see that she's leaving them again and Honoka couldn't help but chase after her. Much to the dismay of her friends.
"H-Honoka-chan!" Kotori yelled, but her friend continued to run. "Please don't!"
"Oh, so now that we found Maki-chan we're just going to leave her as is?" Honoka faced her friends as she stopped running, seemingly irritated. "She's within our reach! Why won't any of you take initiative?"
"Because the circumstances prove otherwise," Nozomi answered, getting a card from her Tarot card deck. "The cards say so."
Ace of Cups Reversed1
"Ehehe…" Eli chuckled, none of them understanding what it meant but Nozomi didn't explain it despite their confusion. "But listen Honoka, if Maki doesn't want to converse then why will we make the effort to do exactly that?"
"She's heading to the hospital if I'm not mistaken?" Umi suddenly asked, they nodded. "Let's head there then. If Maki will be going there then we'll gain answers from seeing what she's doing—"
"You're a genius Umi-chan nya!" Rin said in awe. "Let's go! We have no time to lose!"
"Alisa-chan and Yukiho-chan are still at Otonoki…" Hanayo reminded all of them before they started to run. "Will they be okay?"
"They're in third year Kayo-chan," Kotori said, Hanayo nodded softly. "They'll be able to take care of themselves right Honoka-chan?"
"My sister is also there and Honoka is up front but I'll say 'yes'," Eli surprisingly answered instead of Honoka. "Let's go to the hospital then shall we?"
"You sound pumped," Nico and Nozomi teased. Eli became embarrassed.
"Nico! Nozomi!" Eli said in response, blushing. "S-Stop that…"
—
"Maki-chan!" her mother cried out angrily. "You ran away as soon as an emergency happened! That's why we sent an ambulance to where you are because there is someone in trouble! You were lucky it was just filed recently!"
"My apologies mother," Maki said, emotionless. "I will not do that again."
"The patient is doing well," her father suddenly joined in. "I suppose that you'll be handling him Maki-chan?"
"Yes father," Maki nodded, her father gave a subtle nod. "Should I attend to him now?"
"No need to be so formal," Mr. Nishikino joked, getting a smile from only his wife while Maki gave a soft 'hmm'. "We're your parents so don't be too formal okay?"
"Sorry," was all Maki could mutter. Her father gave her a pitying look. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Her father didn't respond and instead gave her a pat on the shoulder and walked away to attend to the other patients.
"I guess my father still cares…" Maki thought, looking back before facing her mother again. "Excuse me, I will attend to that patient."
"Be careful," Mrs. Nishikino said before Maki walked away in a hurry.
"Be careful? Yeah right. You and your fake concern," Maki thought angrily. "Now where is that patient's room…?"
"Nishikino-san?" a nurse called Maki, she looked at the nurse. The nurse got intimidated by the young heir's cold, distant, eyes. "T-The room is h-here…"
"Could you tell me what's the name of the patient?" Maki asked, trying to tone down her voice due to seeing the intimidated nurse's face.
"Oh..yeah," the nurse nervously answered, she looked through her files in a rush. "I-It's…uhh…."
"Yukiho!" a familiar voice cried. Maki turned around and saw…..Honoka? "E-Excuse me!"
A nurse who was with Maki earlier diverted her attention to Honoka who apparently looked like she was just crying. Maki noticed that the other µ's followed behind her. Something tugged at her in the back of her chest. She felt her chest hurt.
"I'm feeling an emotion….?" Maki thought, slightly surprised. "So, it's Yukiho I'm in charge of…. I wonder what happened to her. Maybe she—"
"Ma'am?" the nurse shook Maki out of her trance. Maki looked at her with her cold eyes yet again. "T-The patient's f-f-friends are h-here…"
"Understood," Maki replied, she faced the µ's and met their gaze. They looked at her intently, as if they were trying to predict her next move. Maki coughed and said a statement laced with irritation. "Ahem, can you please?"
"Maki-chan please! S-Something h-happened to her and I-I—" Honoka sobbed, Kotori comforted her while Umi kept close watch. "C-Can you d-do a-a-anything?"
"What is she diagnosed with?" Maki asked, opening the door then walking in along with the rest in the room of the patient (lucky for her) that was near. Plus, she ignored Honoka's question in the process. "Honoka."
"Y-Y-Yes?" Honoka answered swiftly. "What is wrong Maki-chan—"
"Stop addressing me like that! Just 'Maki' will do," Maki said, irritated. Honoka nodded nervously. "Does Yukiho have any recent visits to the hospital?"
"Uhhh….." Honoka felt her mind run blank for answers. She turned to Umi or Kotori for help.
"She went here before to buy some medicine…" Umi answered, Maki nodded and requested for the nurse to take down notes. "Mrs. Kousaka then reported to us recently that Yukiho was just admitted to the hospital because she was throwing up."
"Maybe it's medicine induced?" the nurse assumed, Maki shook her head. "Do you have an assumption—"
"No," Maki shot her down immediately, much to her friends' and the nurse's dismay. "Did she have diarrhea or was she dehydrated?"
"We don't know about that," Kotori answered this time. Maki sighed disappointedly, saying, "If your friend is admitted to the hospital then please be informed of the situation FULLY. Now excuse me, I'll have another doctor take care of this."
"Nishikino-san!" the nurse ran after the red-headed doctor after she exit. "You're in charge of her!"
"Well then, do you mind if you go to my mother and talk to her about my change of patient?" Maki asked, using a threatening tone. "She's assuming that I'm finished so she's giving me a much higher priority patient. Get Dr. Endo-san to take of that."
"W-W-Will do…" the nurse said, intimidated. She walked back into the room. "Please w-wait for a while, I'll j-just call the o-other doctor—"
"Nishikino-sama told me to go here after my other patient?" Dr. Endo's head appeared in the room. "My name is Endo Heiji. Pleasure to meet you."
"L-Likewise," Eli spoke for the rest. "So you'll be taking care of Yukiho?"
"Well," Endo chuckled. "Nishikino-sama assigned me here. Yeah, I'll be in charge."
—
Maki lied. She lied. Her plan was to actually go home after reassigning the patient to her colleague. She lied.
And she didn't care.
"Maki-chan nya!" Rin hugged her friend as Maki tried her best to suddenly not snap.
"Get off me," Maki said, upset. "Aren't you supposed to be taking care of someone in particular?"
"Jeez Maki-chan, no need to be so upset," Maki turned around and saw that everyone but the childhood trio were not there. Most likely at the room still since it IS Honoka's sister after all. Oh, she also realized that it was Nico talking to her.
"You left for two years, what's up-yan?" Nozomi greeted, Maki scowled.
Maki just looked away and exit the hospital.
"Maki!" her mother called, her mother gave a stern look. "Why did you reassign the doctor in charge?!"
The µ's there flinched at the tone of voice.
"Sorry!" Maki said, bowing. "Please don't yell at me…"
"You'll be handling most of the patients tomorrow because of this," Maki's mother said with a much stern tone. "Get inside."
"Understood…" Maki stood upright and entered the car that her mom owned. The mother started the engine and drove off, most probably heading home.
"Maki…." Hanayo's soft voice entered their ears.
"What happened?" Honoka's cheery voice suddenly was heard. "Why was Kayo-chan saying Maki-chan's name like that?"
"Did you leave Yukiho?" Eli asked, concerned. "Because Umi and Kotori are right behind you…"
"Mom is there! Don't worry!" Honoka assured while Eli raised an eyebrow. "Ask Umi-chan!"
"She is there, don't fret," Umi reassured, Eli nodded. "So, second day of school tomorrow…"
"You didn't have to remind me nya…" Rin sighed, leaning on Hanayo. "Kayo-chin please pinch me!"
"Ehh?" Hanayo looked surprised. "I don't want you to get hurt Rin-chan…"
"That's my sweet Kayo-chin!" Rin teased, Hanayo blushed. "I have a question!"
"Shoot," Nico answered, Rin coughed to clear her throat. "Don't have to make it dramatic..."
"That aside nya," Rin ignored Nico's last comment which made her huff. "Will Maki-chan enroll in the school we are in?"
"Most probably not," Nico thought, pessimistic. "You'd think that even after seeing us she'll be keen on seeing us even more. If that even makes sense…"
"Don't be too pessimistic Nico-cchi," Nozomi said, holding up another card. "Plus it's an Upright Fool2, we'll be fine-yan."
"How can you be so sure?" Nico asked, Nozomi responded something along the lines of 'spiritual ya ne~'. "Nozomi…"
"You and your hopeless—" Eli was about to add before Nozomi cut her off.
"They're accurate mind you," Nozomi said, slightly offended.
"To be frank, I hope she will enroll," Umi shyly added her thoughts. "We haven't come in contact with her for two years if I'm not mistaken."
"Either way, I personally hope she'll come and enroll," Kotori chirped, her voice bringing back a happy atmosphere.
"But wouldn't she just take medicine?" Hanayo thought out loud. "But I wish she has time for us too…"
"There is a high chance of her going there you know nya," Rin said, cheering up Hanayo. "The school we're all in has a good acceptance rate."
"No Rin," Eli paused. "Hanayo meant that Maki will just take a medicine course which will just reduce her time with us if we ever want to communicate with her. Yes the school has a good acceptance rate but their teaching is very good."
"But it's never bad to hope right?" Rin's sad tone caused Eli to feel guilty. "Maki-chan has been gone for two years. You'd think that WE, HER OWN PEERS, will be able to cope as well as all of you!"
"Rin-chan…" Hanayo hugged her friend so that she doesn't explode into tears. "We know… Please don't shout…"
"Honoka will do her best to bring us back together!" Honoka promised, determination shining in her eyes. "Maki-chan will be with us again!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself Kousaka-san," a male voice said, they turned around and saw Maki's father. "Maki's schedule is a tad too full."
"Good day Nishikino-sensei!" Umi bowed, waiting a few seconds before standing upright. "Will Maki-chan still be studying?"
"She will…" her father showed signs that they didn't even think about it yet. "Although she'll be put in a grade higher than her supposed level…"
"We can't do that," a female voice answered, Mrs. Nishikino. "She has to take the full four years. Do you want her missing out on the other lessons?"
"No," he answered, stern. He looked behind his wife but didn't see who he was looking for. "Where's Maki?"
"At home," she replied, he nodded. "Excuse me, I have patients to attend to."
They all nodded as she walked away.
"Uhh….Dr…Nishikino-sensei.." Eli called his attention with nervousness in her voice. "If ever Maki will….uh…go to school….. Can she…go to..uh..Greenhill University?"
"S-Sure, we'll think about it," he answered, surprised at the blonde's nervousness. "I bet Maki will be happy to see you again."
"I beg to say otherwise," Rin mumbled as he also walked away.
"A pessimistic Rin, how odd," Umi silently noted.
—
"Is there anything else to do in life other than medicine?" Maki asked herself, laying on her bed while looking up to the ceiling. "Something fun, something….not medicine?"
BEEP!
"Huh? Who texted me?" Maki wondered, getting her phone then reading the text out loud. "You'll be going to Greenhill University tomorrow for school. After that, you change clothes then head to the hospital. Your other friends will be there at said school, strictly no communication. Wait until you graduate. Sent by Mom…"
"I didn't sign up for this…"
—
Next Day
"Nishikino-san! Right on time!" the teacher said as Maki was nearly late. "Please introduce yourself."
"Nishikino Maki, nice to meet you," Maki quickly said before heading the seat that her teacher assigned her to.
"She's pretty…" Murmurs and whispers came left and right and it didn't do good to Maki when she indirectly eavesdropped on most of it. "Isn't she the heir to the Nishikino hospital that's nearby?"
"You don't know her?!" a friend nearly yelled but kept it to a whisper to not be scolded. "She's Nishikino Maki! Yes! The heir to the hospital that keeps us alive!"
"You're exaggerating…" Maki whispered to herself. Looking around to see girls and boys alike. "A co-ed school? I didn't notice that…"
"Hi there! What's your name?" Maki's seatmate asked, Maki turned around to see a girl who was smiling widely at her. After registering where the voice came from, Maki got surprised. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"D-Didn't you at least hear me introduce myself when I entered the room?" Maki asked, her cold demeanor coming back. It was the girl's turn to get creeped out. "Ignorant brat."
"Sorry for d-d-disturbing you…N-N-Nishikino-san!" the girl said, now minding her own business. "What a pain. We'll have to deal with that attitude the whole year?"
"Oh great, now she hates me," Maki assumed, knowing that she responded to the girl pretty badly. "At least Rin and Hanayo aren't in my class. I wonder where they are— No! Stop it! You're supposed to be studying medicine in a…..high school like university!"
"Since Nishikino-san has already introduced herself," the teacher paused, Maki diverted her attention to said teacher. "I would like to introduce myself. I am Amano Fukumi. I will be your homeroom teacher."
"Amano-sensei! Can I ask a question?" a boy stood up. "When is lunch?"
"Now now Chinen-san, it may be only the second day of school but don't get too ahead of yourself young man," Amano responded, the boy nodded. "But to answer your question, it's going to be 3-4 hours from now."
"Great!" Chinen cheered, he looked to another boy across from where he is sitting. "Ikku-san! I'll show you something cool!"
"Oh yeah?" Ikku smirked, Maki could only sigh inwardly at their high-school like behavior. Is she even in a college? "Fine then, what I'll be showing you is going to be cooler!"
"Bring it on you two!" another boy joined in, Maki cringed. "The name is Endo Heiji."
"Chinen Kaz."
"Date Ikku."
"This is going to be quite the year…"
—
A/N
So, you may be wondering (unless this is your first time reading this), why did I remove the story and reupload it? Well, after 20/21 weird chapters, I realized that it had no plot (and if it did, I didn't like it) and I decided to revamp the whole story. I actually will try to put a plot here because the other one strayed away from what I originally planned. Ideas can backfire sometimes… So, hope you'll enjoy!
I didn't put any disclaimer but I don't own Love Live nor do I own any of the characters.
Q: Will there be shippings?
A: If you didn't read my profile yet (most likely you haven't, props to you if you did), I don't write slash fics (BUT I AM NO HOMOPHOBE!).
Review if you want and follow and favorite and what not. I'll be seeing you guys next chapter!
