PART IV: Pair's Prologue

"Do you know what day it is Saturday next week?"

"It's the ninth right, ninth of June?"

"You really are hopeless, you don't even know when your friends' birthdays are?"

"Ehh… What are you saying? Of course Nico knows it's Nozomi's birthday, it just didn't occur to me that you meant that when you asked"

"I see, sorry… Well, that being said, let's meet after school, we need to talk"

Nico and Eli after being able to meet up after school in a cafe without Nozomi knowing are thinking really hard as to what present they should give their friend, a present that would make her most happy. The three has been friends since May and the two owe it to Nozomi that they both found and befriend each other. That fact aside, Toujou Nozomi is a very important first friend to both of them.

"She's not really the materialistic type don't you think?" Nico said sulking

"You're right, I don't think she would be happy if we get her anything too expensive but I still want to get her something special" Eli replied after sipping from her cup of coffee.

"Maybe I should just give her one of my idol CD collection" Nico said musing the idea.

"She's not interested in dancing and singing girls acting cute on stage, maybe an organizer or something she can use would be better" Eli rebutted

"Huh? who would want a boring gift like that? And excuse me, idols don't just act cute, they are cute" Nico pointed out.

"It's natural you'll say that since you used to be one yourself. Boring huh… Well, we need to think of something." Eli said flatly

"I'm running out of ideas! We've been here for two hours thinking of this same thing and it's getting late. Can't we just talk about it at school tomorrow?" Nico complained.

"We can't do that, Nozomi will surely find it suspicious if she catch us talking behind her back we better not risk it. What about we just go around the shops this Saturday and pick up something she'll like." said Eli

"I am free this weekend... okay. It's a great plan." Nico agreed. and after Eli came up with the solution, the two went on their way home.

Nico did not expect to make another friend other than Nozomi, especially someone as serious and as mature as Eli; She always thought she was boring back when they were just ordinary classmates. It is fun eating lunch with friends, it's fun having someone to talk to, it's fun having someone who understands you; these things she never knew before.

The next day, it was time for lunch but the group wasn't able to do their daily routine since it was pouring hard outside so, they just joined Nozomi's desk together with Eli's that is in front it and ate there.

"This season is just making me gloomy…" Nico said as she was having her yakitori

"Don't you think there's something about the rain that is so relaxing?" answered Nozomi.

"I don't know about that, I just don't like the rain that much" said Nico

"Those people who don't like rain are only those unprepared for it, you did bring an umbrella right? The rain was on the forecast this morning." Said Eli, also eating.

"O-of course I did… What else would you expect of me? E-even if the forecast also said that the weather will clear up in the afternoon, I can't be too sure right?" Nico replied nervously as she had indeed forgotten to bring an umbrella. Eli thrown her a suspicious look "Oh well, I guess I'll go home with her after my student council work" she thought to herself.

"You'll be staying at the Idol Research clubroom until six right?" Nozomi asked having the same idea as Eli.

"As I always do. Why? Have you changed your mind about having a "Legend of Legendary Idols" DVD marathon with me?" Nico exclaimed hopefully.

"Ehh… Maybe next time, we have a lot to do at the student council today" Nozomi politely excused.

"Whaaat… I was hoping we all could watch it together" Nico said with her puffy eyes.

"But haven't you seen that a thousand times already? I don't get you at all" Eli commented as she was looking as lightning crack outside the classroom window.

When lunch was over, Nico returned to her seat at the far corner of the classroom. The day went on and she went straight to the clubroom while the other two, to the student council room. It was only for about an hour when she received a mail from her sister asking what time she'll come home. "The thunder is scaring them again huh? I guess I could go home early for today" she thought as she stood up "It's still raining hard, but I gotta get home now, my sisters need me" and after that she dashed through the rain to get to her sisters right away. Just as she was about to reach their apartment building, the rain suddenly stopped but then cooler winds blew. "I really hate rainy days" she murmured as she enter the building soaking wet.

After organizing papers for about an hour and a half, Nozomi and Eli decided to call it a day and to get Nico at the Idol Research clubroom so that they could all go home together. The rain already stopped so they really have no real reason to but they automatically went on their way there after Eli piled up the last of the documents. However, the room was locked when they get there.

"Could she have went home by herself?" Eli said with her voice obviously upset.

"Maybe she does have an umbrella after all, let's go home too" Answered Nozomi.

"You're right, it's not like we can do anything about it..." said Eli as she was turning away from the door her face gloomy.

"Are you worried Nico-chi might have go home by herself in the middle of the rain?" Nozomi asked, with her piercing eyes unreadable.

"She's my friend, of course I'm worried about her!" Eli exclaimed

"So much that you didn't even realize that she might have left after the rain let up just a few minutes ago?" Nozomi said coldly.

Eli did not reply and instead kept on walking, "She really can read me like a book, I was being stupid." She thought to herself. Nozomi followed and the two walked out the school in silence.

Nico did found her two sisters in the corner of their room, both are very young and their parents are not usually home so she always ends up taking care of them, she has forgotten how wet she is from the rain and hugged them both. Her little sister's also forgot about the scary sounds of thunder and their face lighten up at the sight of their sister's face.

"Didn't you have your umbrella with you Onee-sama?" asked Kokoro, the older of the two

"I forgot it when I left this morning, I didn't expect this much rain too" Nico said smiling at her two sisters

"Won't you get sick again?" asked the younger one Cocoa with a worried face.

"Don't worry, It's just rain, besides, I can't get sick now, I'm going out with a friend tomorrow" Nico said convincing them.

"That's right Cocoa-chan, Onee-sama is amazing, you don't have to worry" Cocoa said in full confidence.

And sure enough, Yazawa Nico wasn't able to get out of bed the next day.