Question 4: Your Parents?
"Okay, Maki, I'm not gonna lie, I think I'm gonna freak out here."
"Nico, it's just my parents. You've already met Mama and she likes you."
"Yes, but then we weren't dating, and I hadn't slept with you, and we were both school idols and it wasn't my career and my career didn't matter to your future financial security, and..."
"Nico!" Maki sighed, putting her hands on Nico's shoulders and staring into scarlet eyes. "Calm down. Breath."
Nico's mouth flapped for a few moments more, before she did as bade and took a deep breath. "O-okay… calm." She forced a smile, "Sorry… I just… really don't want to mess this up."
"Good." Maki smiled and patted Nico's head, "I'm sure you won't."
"But… your dad's a famous doctor and I'm an idol, I don't think he'll like me."
"Papa's not like that," Maki said, shaking her head. "He knows I love you and you love me, so I'm sure he'll be okay with you." Maki grinned, "Also, once he has tasted your cooking, I'm sure he'll love you."
The pair were in the kitchen of Nico's flat, where Nico had taken a moment to have a mild panic. Maki's parents were coming for dinner to meet their daughter's girlfriend. In order to have the maximum privacy, even from the Nishikino family staff, they had decided the meeting should be at Nico's flat, and Nico had immediately taken it upon herself to cook the best dish she could manage.
Consequently, an entire Western-style roast dinner was in the process of being made. Maki was not entirely sure when Nico learned to make one, but apparently she had. Maybe if the whole 'idol' thing did not work out Nico could retrain as a chef.
Nico did not look entirely convinced by Maki's attempts to comfort her. To Nico's mind, while Maki no doubt thought her father was a sweet, kind gentleman, who did such things as let his teenage daughter believe in Santa Claus until said daughter had the cunning plan to hide a video camera pointed at the stockings, Nico was personally fairly sure that most fathers, even the kindest ones, would become horrific monsters when faced with the impertinent fools how dared to try to take said daughters away. Nico was aware that she may be exaggerating the worst-case scenario, but having spent much of her life without a father, she was not exactly sure where the line should be drawn.
Maki was still giving Nico a worried look, so Nico smiled up at her, "Well, if Maki's sure, and is willing to get in front of Nico if your father attempts to do away with Nico, then Nico will do her best."
Maki frowned, "You're still terrified aren't you?"
"Wha…? Why do you say that?"
"Because you don't talk in third person when you're being genuine."
Nico bit her lip. Maki really did know her well. "Okay, yeah, I'm really worried, okay? Can you blame me? It's not like you and Mum, you're like, super impressive to show off. Ya know, 'here's my amazing doctor-girlfriend'. I'm not exactly all that to people who aren't into idols."
Maki sighed. She often wondered where Nico's confidence from their teenage years had disappeared to. Perhaps it was never there to begin with. "Look, Nico, you'll be fine, and if Papa were to be mean to you I'd make sure to set him straight about my cute, driven, determined idol girlfriend who always makes people smile. Okay, Nico-Nii?"
Nico glared slightly, "Don't call me that!"
"Why not?" Maki asked, slightly taken aback.
"That's what fans call me, not my girlfriend. You get permission to call me address me informally and don't take it? I'm deeply insulted." Nico stuck her nose in the air, earning a giggle from Maki.
"Alright, alright, Ni~co-cha~n," Maki responded, drawing out the syllables of Nico's name as much as possible.
Nico huffed, but smiled a little. "Okay, now I'd better get on with this. It has to be an extra-amazing dinner to convince Maki-chan's father that I'm not only the number one idol, but also the number one girlfriend for Maki!"
Maki watched as Nico began flitting around the kitchen, swiftly performing the remaining steps necessary to complete the meal. The idol looked almost as alive as she did on stage, a smile on her lips, humming a tune as she worked. Maki decided not to comment, not wanting to interrupt the view she had of her girlfriend clearly enjoying herself.
Unfortunately for Maki, her view was soon interrupted by the buzzing of the doorbell. Nico froze in place, then her head snapped round, looking in the direction of the front door. Slowly, she put down the pan she had just got out and robotically walked to the front door, picking up the intercom. "Hello, Yazawa residence," she said slowly.
Maki watched as Nico swallowed hard and replied to whatever had been said, "Yes, third floor, number eight sir. See you shortly."
Nico replaced the handset and turned to Maki. "Okay, Maki, I'm not gonna lie, I think I'm gonna freak out again here."
Maki sighed, "Calm down, it'll be fine. Once there here you can go back to cooking for a little bit, I'll look after them while you finish up, okay?" Nico nervously nodded and Maki stepped up to her and hugged the shorter girl. "It'll be fine, I promise."
It was not fine. Nico was going to have to tell Maki not to lie to her to make her feel better. This was why Nico thought she might be developing trust issues.
Maki's mother was being really nice. She had been all smiles when she came in, asking Nico how she was, how her family were doing, giving a bottle of red wine that Nico was sure cost some vast sum of money, and generally being friendly.
Nishikino-sensei, however, was a different matter. He was very curt and quiet. He shook hands with Nico and that was about it. Nico could feel his eyes, behind simple glasses, on her as though judging her from on high. The dark-haired doctor had a hard-to-read expression at all times and Nico could hardly wait to get back to the kitchen and avoid that unreadable gaze.
When she finally made it there, with Maki leading her parents into the living room, Nico set about on the final touches to the meal, trying to put her fear into the back of her mind, at least as much as she could. There was only a little left to do, so she quickly finished and served the meal onto four plates, taking them through to the dining room.
The room rarely saw use, but Nico was glad she had got a place with one. Perhaps she had been a little influenced by the, at the time distant, hope that she would have a higher calibre of company due to Maki. Regardless, it had been a decidedly fortunate choice.
She placed the plates down and quickly grabbed the last few things from the kitchen and placed them in the dining room as well, before drawing a deep breath to ready herself and stepping through to the living room. Opening the door, she caught a brief glimpse of a laughing family. Even the father of the family had a smile on his face as his wife and daughter were absorbed in small fits of giggles.
Nico coughed to announce her presence, drawing the family's attention to her. "Dinner is served."
The four made their way through to the dining room, the Nishikinos taking their seats while Nico opened and poured the wine they had given her. The parents had taken one side of the table while Maki had sat opposite her mother, leaving Nico with the place in front of Maki's father. Still nervous, Nico took her seat and the meal began.
The questions began easily enough, with Maki's mother asking about Nico's work. While not exactly something that would endear her too much, Nico knew the parents were already fully aware of her career, so it was simple matter of telling the truth. Yes she was enjoying it. Naturally it was quite tiring. No, unfortunately she did not have much free time, but she was able to make the most of it with Maki.
The last answer got the very slightest response from Maki's father. Nishikino-sensei cocked an eyebrow for the merest moment, making Nico bite her lip, wondering if she had said something out-of-line. He had said very little throughout the meal, only answering when his wife or daughter spoke directly to him. He had very clearly been taking stock of Nico's answers.
His wife seemed to notice Nico's nervousness, quickly swapping the topic to the food, complimenting the meal. "It's very good, don't you think dear?"
"Indeed. You would make a fine chef, Yazawa-san."
"Th-thank you, but I'm not that good." Normally Nico would have jumped at the praise, but remembered her manners. "I just had a lot of practice when I was younger."
"You cooked for your family?" Maki's father asked.
Nico blinked, surprised that now that he finally asked a question. Quickly recovering herself she answered, "Oh, yes. Mother was often busy at work until late, so I started cooking for us when I was thirteen."
"I see," he nodded. Nico waited for anything further, but nothing came.
More polite questions came from Maki's mother, with Maki doing her best to help Nico when she seemed stumped. Soon enough, the main course was finished and Nico stood to gather the plates.
"Oh, let me Nico-chan," Maki stood. "You've done everything else."
Nico glanced at the opposite side of the table, then back at Maki. "Sure, thank you." She took her seat again as Maki began clearing the table.
"Oh let me help dear," Maki's mother offered.
"I couldn't… you're a guest here Mama."
"As are you."
Maki frowned but allowed her mother to help. The two Nishikino women stepped out of the room, leaving Nico with Maki's father. Nico desperately tried not to fidget as he turned to look at her, but she could not help it.
"Yazawa-san."
"Yes sir?"
"You don't have to worry. I happen to rather like you."
"Eh?" Nico blinked. Was she dreaming. Or maybe this was some cruel joke before he murdered her. Maybe his wife had gone with Maki to ensure she stayed out of the room while he did the deed and cleaned up.
"You are a lot better for Maki than most of the reprobates we call 'young men' these days. I will admit I had my doubts at first, but Maki has been a lot happier since your idol group started, and these past six months she has been especially happy." He took a small sip of his wine before continuing, "I am guessing I have you to thank for that."
"I don't know what to say sir… I don't think I'm all that. Honestly, Maki's been a lot better to me than I think I've been to her. Especially putting up with my… complicated schedule."
He nodded, "I could say the same of my wife. She has always been very supportive, even when I have been virtually absent for weeks on end. But when you are there, you shower her with love, correct?"
"Eh? I.. uh..."
The man smiled, "You don't need to answer that. Maki's smiles when she mentions you tell me enough." He placed his hands on his knees and, to Nico's shock, bowed low over the table. "Please continue to make my daughter happy, Yazawa-san."
Nico stared at the renowned doctor, the man she had been terrified of, bowing to her. Quietly, she placed her own hands on her knees. "Sir, it is my job to make everyone smile, and my privilege to make Maki-chan smile." She bowed low herself, "Thank you for allowing me to take care of Maki, and please allow me to continue to do so."
She stayed there for a few moments, not willing to break her bow, when a squeak of the door and starling noise made her slowly look up. Opposite her, Maki's father was looking round at the door.
"Uh… we aren't interrupting anything are we?" Maki asked from the door. She was carrying the cake Nico had made for dessert, her mother right behind her holding fresh plates.
Nico and Nishikino-sensei turned to look at each other, surprise in both sets of eyes. Then both of them smiles and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny? Maki asked, looking bemusedly between her father and girlfriend.
Nico smiled, "You are, Maki darling."
"Oh thanks," Maki replied sarcastically. She placed the cake in the centre of the table, "Good to see you two getting along though.
Nico grinned, "You were right, after all."
Maki raised an eyebrow, before a look of understanding fell across her face. "Of course I was."
Nico nodded, "Of course." She then turned to the other two occupants of the table, "Now, I understand from my dear Maki that you both like chocolate cake..."
"I think he was worried about me being ensnared by some gold digger or something. Well, that and Nico-chan's cooking convinced him," Nishikino-san explains.
I ask if there were any such gold diggers who ever approached her.
"No, I don't think so. There were a few boys who asked me out, but I think their motives were better than that." She laughs, "Though I think they might not always have been the most pure of motives."
I ask what she means. She looks at Nico-Nii, who nods before Nishikino-san continues. "Well, there were a few times..."
A/N: And I get this out about an hour before I need to go to bed on the day I wanted it done. I am, like, the best at time management.
As you may have gathered, I am trying to get these done once a week as far as possible (with allowance for weekends when I am busy). I seem to be doing all right at it for the moment (prepares to crash and burn shortly).
But yes, another chapter done and dusted. Thank you for all the reviews, favourites and follows. It is nice to know my random creation is appreciated. Especially this early on in a thing: normally I find earlier chapters (after the first) don't garner much attention, then the later ones get a lot more, but four reviews off last chapter, that's not bad for a chapter three. Well, please continue to shower me with ego-boosts. I promise it might possibly make me work harder, maybe.
'Til Eternity Ends
E.D.