Disclaimer: I do not own any character or material from the Love Live! School Idol Project. All rights and trademarks belong to their respective owner.

Chapter 3 – Maidens of Glass

What do you think of glass? Way Umi-chan saw it, glass is fragile but beautiful. A perfect material for a secret garden of lilies. That's why she used it in the song "Garden of Glass". As to why she wrote this song, well, let's go a little further back.

Ever since that day when the wall between senpai and kouhai had been abolished among the µ's, its members has grown closer than ever. But even then there were always pairs who particularly get along with each other better than with the rest. Eri-chan and Nozomi-chan being one of them. The Ex-Student Council President who used to be one of the biggest obstacles in µ's way when it just started, and the Ex-Vice President who is pretty much the "mother" of µ's itself. It's not a strange thing for the two of them to be close especially if you consider their positions. But there was much more than that between them, and they weren't very good at hiding it either. I noticed, the rest of µ's noticed the attraction between them. But they never managed to get pass the point of "best friends". All of those longing looks, all of those spur of the moment, more than just intimate skin-ship, all of these told us how much they wanted each other. That's why I and the rest of µ's came together to make a plan to help them out. We was determined to push those two together, we owed them that much for taking care of us.

And so it was decided that we would do that with a song. Just like always, Umi-chan was in charge of the lyric and Maki-chan would handle the composing. The rest were tasked with finding a place for them to sing it together. At first we thought of using the school's auditorium, but it was under repair at the time so we couldn't use it. Next we thought of having them sing on the rooftop, but after some debate, we decided against it. It was the rainy season and it wouldn't be very good if it rained right in the middle of the performance. You can never fully trust the weather forecast on TV. Not to mention how important this was, we couldn't afford to let it be screwed up. Right when we were at a dead end, Hanayo-chan came up with a brilliant idea:

"Why don't we rent a recording room?"

The others contemplated this option, I was the one who broke the silent:

"Hanayo-chan! That's a great idea!"

"What!? Don't you think that we should find a more suitable place?" Came Nico-chan's objection.

"Hm? Do you have a problem with it, Nico-chan?" I asked.

"I don't know. It's just…you know we are doing this to get those two together right? Shouldn't we find a more…eh…romantic place?"

After hearing this, the four of us turned to stare at Nico-chan which obviously didn't sit so well with her:

"Wh-what? Why are you all staring at me like that?"

Leaning her head to one side, Rin-chan said:

"A romantic place-nya?"

"Th-that's right! Is there something wrong with that?"

"Nothing-nya! I just didn't know that Nico-chan was thinking that deep into it nya!"

"What? Are you trying to say that I'm that insensitive?"

Seeing as though those two were about to fight each other (which I highly doubted), Hanayo-chan spoke up:

"C-Calm down please, Rin-chan, Nico-chan. It's okay if we don't go with my idea. Nico-chan do have a point."

I scratched my cheek at this. Hanayo-chan was still as shy as ever. If it was not idol-related things, then she would give up her opinion very easily, especially when it was met with objection. µ's and I would have to help her build her confidence more, it would seem. But this time, I did find her idea to be a good one, so I said:

"Don't worry, Hanayo-chan. And calm down, you two. Nico-chan, we just didn't think about it that deep so we were just a bit surprised when you mentioned it, that's all! Isn't that right, everyone?"

Everyone nodded in agreement so Nico-chan decided to cut Rin-chan some slack. Seeing that, I continued:

"But honestly, I do think that Hanayo-chan's idea is a good one. Just think about it, we can't just simply shove the song into their hands and tell them to sing it, they might not agree especially if they find out what kind of song this is. We all saw how…hesitant they were, right? That's exactly why we need a good reason to get them to sing it."

"Ah, I see! Then if we use the recording room, we can make them think that this song will be recorded to make a single. If it's for µ's then I'm sure they won't reject it."

It was Kotori-chan who said this. I knew that I could always count on her to support my decision.

"Hm…I guess you do have a point." Nico-chan relented.

"Glad to see that you understand, Nico-chan! What about you, Rin-chan? Do you have any objection?"

"Nope! Rin also agree with Kayo-chin's idea, nya!" At this, Rin-chan hugged Hanayo-chan and rubbed their cheeks together. I smiled at this cute sight then declared:

"It's decided then! Let's go look for a recording room tomorrow!"

Luckily the next day was Sunday, so we would have the entire day to look for a suitable place. We didn't need that much time though, because we managed to find one right away in the morning. Internet sure is convenience. Umi-chan and Maki-chan also finished their appointed task just a few days after we have found the place, their wish to help the two senpai who had helped us so much must have driven them to work very hard on this song.

And when all the preparations were done, we chose Sunday as the day to carry out our plan. All of this was well and all, alright, but I had to make sure that things would go well. Not because we had poured so much effort into it but because it was for them, our senpai, this must not fail! That's why on Saturday, the day before the chosen day, I asked Eri-chan to come to my house to talk. She was confused, of course, but still agreed to come. After school, Eri-chan walked home with us 2nd years (Kotori-chan and Umi-chan were confused too, but I told them that I had something to talk with Eri-chan so they just left it at that). Soon it was just me and Eri-chan walking toward my house, along the way, she asked:

"Ne, Hanoka, what is it that you want to talk about?"

"Something important." I replied.

"Important enough that you need to talk about it in private?"

"Un, it is."

"Well, if you say so…"

Obviously she was still confused, so I said:

"Don't worry, Eri-chan. And be patient, we are almost there already!"

"Hai, hai…" With a sigh, she simply shrugged and took my words for it.

A bit later, we reached my house. After greeting my family, I sent her to my room while I prepared tea and snack. She said that she should help too, but I told her there was no need, just help me by bringing my bag to my room instead. She gave up and did as I told her to. When I reached my room with a tray that had 2 mugs of tea and some Japanese sweet on it, I called out to her and asked her to open the door for me. It took her just a few seconds to do just that. I said:

"Ehehe…Sorry for making you open the door for me."

"It's fine, Honoka."

And then we got settled into the little table at the middle of my room. She asked right away:

"So, can you tell me what is it that you want to talk about?"

"Straight to the point, as expected of you, Eri-chan. Well, I will not beat around the bushes then. I want you to tell me what you think of Nozomi-chan."

"E-Eh? What? What do mean by that?"

She was visibly caught off guard by my question, so I simply replied:

"I meant exactly what I just ask, Eri-chan. I want to know how you feel about Nozomi-chan."

"H-How I feel about her? Well, she is my best friend and I treasure her, just like I do to you and the rest of µ's. But why do you ask about this?"

I sighed and deliberately letting my shoulders drop to show my disappointment, she noticed this and asked:

"Are you okay, Honoka? Did I say something wrong?"

"Eri-chan. Drink some tea and calm down a bit." It wasn't a request, but a command. She knew this and did as I told her to, obviously she was confused by my action.

"How is the tea?" I asked.

"It's good, but why?"

"Has it calmed you down yet?" My mom told me that this herbal tea has the effect of calming one down, I hope it did that to her.

I also made sure that she understood I wasn't just playing around. She did, and so she closed her eyes and took some deep breaths to finally calm herself down. When she opened her eyes, she asked me:

"Tell me, Honoka. Why is it that you want to talk about this?" The look in her eyes told me that she finally took this seriously, so I replied honestly:

"That's because I want to help you express your feeling to the one you love."

Lowering her face, she looked at the tea mug that was still being held in her hands and said:

"I see. So…you noticed, huh?"

"Not just me, Eri-chan. The rest of µ's did too. Except Nozomi-chan, that is."

With a sigh, she asked:

"But how did you find out?"

"As mature as you are, you are not very good at hiding your true feelings. All those longing gazes that you used to look at her when she isn't looking at you were all we needed to figure it out."

With a bitter chuckle, she said:

"I see. Heh, how embarrassing, I was so lost during those moments that I forgot everyone was there too."

"So tell me, Eri-chan. Why haven't you confessed to her yet?" Now that she was finally honest with me, it was time to find out what I wanted to know.

"It's…not that easy, Honoka."

"Why? You two have always been close, it's not so strange that you developed special feeling for her, you know?"

"That's where the problem is! All this time we have been best friends and just that! She told me how she treasure me as her best friend, and that she wishes for our relationship to never fade! How can I bring myself to confess after hearing that!?"

Realizing that she was shouting, she immediately covered her mouth and apologized:

"I'm sorry, Honoka. I didn't mean to shout it out like that."

Sipping my tea, I simply answered:

"Nah, it's okay, Eri-chan. You must have bottled it all in for too long, letting it out like that is good, actually."

She lifted her face to look at me, and I offered her a smile as bright as I could and pushed some snack toward her:

"Here, have some of my family's sweet. They may help you feel better."

"…Thank you, Honoka."

Picking up a Daifuku, she took a bite. The sweet seemed to be able to have the desired effect as her expression slowly changed from ashamed and pained to a relaxed one. The power of sweet is amazing!

"Honoka! This is so good!"

"Ehehe. Thanks, I glad you like them, I just made them this morning."

"You made these? Amazing!"

"You're making me blush, Eri-chan. Here, feel free to have some more."

Watching her happily eating my hand-made daifuku all the while trying to keep her composure brought a smile to my face. I also took a daifuku and started eating it. I was glad that I used crushed melon paste for the filling. As much as I love sweet, eating anko ever since I was small had made me grow tired of it. Pros and cons of being born in a family that make traditional Japanese sweet, I guess. After a short leisure time of enjoying sweet and tea, it was Eri-chan who spoke up first:

"It's not just because Nozomi said that, you know..."

"I'm listening."

Smiling bitterly, she continued:

"It's also because I'm afraid. This love of mine, it's unusual, loving my best friend even though we are both girls. That just make me even more ill at ease. I fear that she would reject me right way. Worse still, she may even become disgusted of me and don't want to stay friends anymore! I…just don't dare to take the risk…I'm pathetic, aren't I?"

Amazing how a few daifuku could make her open up to me so much. Perhaps she could sense some familiarities between us so she was able to confess to me her deepest fears. Whatever it was, I was glad that she told me about it instead of keeping it all bottled up inside. As gentle as I could, I placed a hand on top of hers which was on the table and said:

"It's not pathetic, Eri-chan."

She looked at me and I looked back, straight into her eyes to let her know that I was being sincere. I continued:

"It's only natural that you have such fears, Eri-chan. Two girls loving each other, as much as I hate this fact, is still considered unusual by most in our society. Hanayo-chan felt the same way, you know? But if you ask me, I find nothing to be wrong with that. You love someone for who she is, why should things like gender matter?"

She seemed surprised to hear me saying all that, I simply smiled and continued:

"And you are not pathetic. It's also normal for us girls to fear rejection. It must hurt a lot, I'm sure of it. Not being able to stay friends anymore, I can see how terrifying that is to you. But tell me honestly, Eri-chan. Is things staying this way really what you want?"

Taking a moment to think, she answered:

"No, it isn't. This is not what I want."

Her voice was low, almost a whisper, it showed that she was still hesitant and also sad over how things were. I had to interfere. I had to drag her out of this slump and push her forward. I was determined to do so. And so I grabbed her hand with both of mine, I said:

"Eri-chan, look at me!"

She did as she was told, and I looked straight into her eyes once more to make her believe what I was going to say:

"I understand that you are still fearful of the possible consequences, but I need you to trust me in this. You still have a chance, Eri-chan! You must not waste it! Don't let your fears drag you down. Don't let them stop you from expressing your love. And also, trust in Nozomi-chan. Do you really believe that she could ever be disgusted of you, that she would never want to be friend with you anymore? Do you think that she lied about wanting your friendship to last forever?"

She seemed to be taken aback by this, but this wasn't the end, I must push further! Tightening my grip on her hand, I drove the last nail:

"Trust me, Eri-chan. And trust Nozomi-chan. Have faith in yourself and do what you really want to do!"

Lowering her face, she took a long moment to contemplate what I just said. Then she raised her head, looking straight at me, she said:

"You're right, Honoka. I can't let this drag me down! I don't want to regret never telling her how truly feel!"

Her eyes had changed. No longer were they filled with sadness and uncertainty. They had been replaced by determination. Nodding, I smiled at her:

"I'm glad that you have made up your mind, Eri-chan. Keep this up and you will do just fine tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

She seemed confused. But it didn't last long as just a few seconds later, she said:

"The recording tomorrow is you girls' plan, right?"

Grinning sheepishly, I admitted:

"Hai hai. You're so smart, Eri-chan. We worked hard to prepare this chance for you. Do your best, okay?"

"You girls are so meddlesome."

Despite saying that, she was still smiling. With a smile full of gratitude, she said:

"Thank you, Honoka. And everyone too."

"You're welcome. We only wish to see you being happy, Eri-chan."

At this, we heard my mom called:

"Honoka! Dinner is ready. Ask Eri-chan if she would like join us too!"

Checking my clock, I was surprised to see that it had gotten that late already. Scratching my cheek and smiling sheepishly, I said:

"Ehehe…Gomen ne, Eri-chan. I didn't think it would take this long."

Smiling, she replied:

"It's fine, Honoka. It was time well spent."

"Well, would you like to join us for dinner?" I repeated what my mom said earlier.

"I'm afraid that I can't, Honoka. At this hour, Arisa is most likely to have already prepared dinner and is waiting for me, I texted her earlier to inform her of me coming to your house."

"Oh, I see. Arisa-chan sure is reliable. It's no wonder though, consider how dependable her sister is!"

"Mou…Honoka, stop teasing me."

She faked a pout, but soon we both were laughing. Then I said:

"Ya, let me wrap all this daifuku for you then. Share them with Arisa-chan when you get home, okay?"

"Eh? Is it really ok?"

"Un! So that Eri-chan will have daifuku tomorrow!"

"Heh, thank you, Honoka."

"You're most welcome!"

And so I sent her off and joined my family for dinner. Eri-chan didn't think that she had a chance and I managed to convince her to believe otherwise. If my hunch is right, then the reason why Nozomi-chan was hesitant is also familiar to that of Eri-chan's. But the task of making Nozomi-chan realize the truth was not mine but Eri-chan's. I have finished my job already. All that left was to wait and see how it would turn out in the next day.

If you have a chance, you must not waste it.

With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep.

Sunday came, just as we had planned, all members of µ's gathered at the recording studio that we had chosen. Maki-chan was in charge of all technical stuffs and we didn't hire any help from the staffs of the studio. As we all entered the room that we rented, Eri-chan ask:

"So, what kind of songs are we recording?"

Maki-chan handed to them a small MP3 player that contained the melody and Umi-chan gave them the music sheets:

"It's is a duet for you two." Umi-chan simply said.

"A duet for us?" Pointing at herself and Eri-chan, Nozomi-chan asked.

The rest of us simply nodded. Putting on a megawatt smile, I said:

"It's okay, Nozomi-chan. I'm sure you two are gonna do just fine!"

"W-wait a minute! I didn't hear about this at all. I thought we all were going to sing it?"

"That's not gonna do. This song is meant to be a duet, not a group song." Maki-chan replied.

"I-It's okay, Nozomi-chan! Give it a try, it's really good!" Urged Hanayo-chan.

With our combined effort, Nozomi-chan reluctantly put an earphone into her right ear, the other one was in Eri-chan left ear. Eri-chan pushed the start button and they both listened to the melody while reading the lyric in the music sheets. Soon enough, we saw the reactions that we expected. Eri-chan, despite being told earlier about this by me the previous day, was still as red as a potato. She looked at me and I simply winked. Nozomi-chan was taking it much worse though, her face was even redder than Eri-chan, I could even see steams rising above her head. Hehe, it's fun to see her like this even though she always "motivated" us by groping our chests. Not being able to bear with it anymore, Nozomi-chan exploded:

"H-Hey! Wait a minute, why is this song so…so…"

Rin-chan leaned her head to one side and asked.

"Is there something wrong with it, nya?"

"W-Why is it a love song!?"

Putting both of her hands on her waist, Nico-chan countered:

"So what if it's a love song? Were you the one who suggested us singing a love song for the preliminary?"

"But this and that are different!"

And so it went on, µ's was trying their best to convince Nozomi-chan into singing this song but Nozomi-chan keep trying to refuse. It would seem that I was right, she was flustered because of the song, but in her demeanor, I could see fear. The same fear I saw in Eri-chan yesterday. Just us alone wouldn't be enough, she had to help too. I looked at Eri-chan and she noticed this. I winked to her and it seemed that she understood what I meant. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she turned to Nozomi-chan and called out:

"Nozomi!"

Nozomi-chan who was still trying to fight back the combined force that was the rest of µ's was startled by Eri-chan's sudden call. She shuttered:

"E-Ericchi? Oh right, help me out here! They are not listening to me at all!"

Pointing at the rest of µ's, Nozomi-chan asked her best friend for help. Oh dear me, wasn't she in for a surprise, fufufu. Without delay, Eri-chan said:

"Nozomi, I think this duet is a good idea."

"Wh-What!? What are you saying? Haven't you read the lyric yet?"

"I already did that, Nozomi."

"Then why?"

"Because I want to sing it with you." Eri-chan, face still quite red, declared this with determination in her eyes. This obviously caught Nozomi-chan off guard:

"Wh-what are you s-saying, Ericchi?"

"Nozomi!" Taking one of Nozomi-chan's hand in her owns, Eri-chan continued: "Don't you want to sing it with me?"

"I-it's not that. I-…" Nozomi-chan's voice grew weaker and more uncertain. Placing Nozomi-chan hand on top of her heart, Eri-chan pressed the attack:

"Nozomi! Won't you sing it with me?"

Under Eri-chan's fierce stare and unrelenting attack, finally Nozomi-chan was defeated:

"O-Okay, if that is what you want, Ericchi…"

Needless to say, both of their faces were incredibly red. But Eri-chan's expression was filled with joy.

And then the recording began. But this song would not be made into a single, but remain between us alone. Such a beautifully sung and performed song, a fitting memento about the union between our beloved senpai.

Thinking back on it now, I was glad that I talked to Eri-chan on that Saturday. A maiden's heart is truly fragile, but also beautiful, especially one that belongs to a maiden in love. But sometime, even these hearts have to toughen up and push forward, otherwise the chances that are in front of them will be lost and this will bring about regrets and pain. I understood this truth way too well. I was glad that Eri-chan dared to push forward and took her chance, I was glad that Nozomi-chan managed to overcome her fears and accepted the truth. Indeed, I was happy for both of them.

The more I thought about it, the more I understood how unique µ's really was. But talk about being unique. I guess I couldn't leave them out, those two who attracted each other like magnets.

Author note:

*bow deeply*

I'm so sorry if failed to keep my words about trying to update faster. Turns out it took even longer for me to get this chapter out than the 2nd chapter. I sincere hope that you will forgive me for this.

*bow again*

I hate myself for being so lazy…

Anyway. Once again I want to ask you a question: Would you mind me using short Japanese word like "hai", "un", "gomen",etc here and there? Sometime I feel that in some cases it sounds better with these words in places instead of English words. Please let me know!

Also, a little note in case you need it: "Daifuku" in Japanese means "great luck" and it is also the name of a Japanese traditional sweet. If you are interested, you can look it up on Wikipedia, they have it covered up there.

Okay, that's all from me this time. Once again I'm sorry and I hope to see you all again in the next chapter!