A/N: Here is the fourth chapter! I apologize in advance- updates will be slow. Please don't be upset with me ,_, I just spend forever editing and making sure it's good enough! This chapter is kinda a filler? Honestly, I was having a bit of trouble with this one. But the next will be even better, I promise! One last thing: sorry for any OOC-ness! I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it! Talk to you soon xx
Sunlight was seeping into Nozomi's room, creating a dim atmosphere around her. She reached for her cell phone within the heap of blankets to unlock it and scroll through countless text messages and notifications. Nico had asked her about going out for coffee, and Rin sent her a bunch of silly pictures of herself and Hanayo. Weather and traffic updates from her local news station, comments on her post from Facebook friends, and a load of junk emails from subscriptions she doesn't even remember giving her email address to.
She rubbed her eye with the back of her hand as a yawn forced its way through her. Instinctively raising her thumbs, she felt the urge to send a text to Eli, but caught herself. "Ah, I can't be doing that," she thought, mentally scolding herself. Nozomi used the bed frame to help her get to her feet. She stretched her arms up over her head, and dialed Nico's phone number.
"Well, look who finally decided to answer me," a sarcastic voice on the other end greeted Nozomi. "Cocoa! Stop pulling Cocoro's hair!" Nozomi laughed, genuinely delighted by Nico and her little siblings. She raised her shoulder to press the cell phone against her ear as she rummaged through her packed closet.
"So what time were you thinking about going?" A sigh. "As soon as the babysitter gets here. You know I can't leave these reckless children by themselves." Nozomi took a pink crew neck sweater off of its hanger and draped it over her forearm, along with a pair of brown shorts and her daily thigh-high black socks. After dressing, she put on some matching suspenders to her shorts and secured the straps on her shoulders.
"You still there, Nozomi? I see Tsukimi pulling up." Nozomi paused from brushing through her hair. "Oh, okay. I'll be on my way, then."
She hung up and headed downstairs, sliding her feet into a pair of flats. She grabbed her coat and keys from the hook on the wall and was out the door. Nozomi crossed her arms against her chest as a gust of wind breezed by her, causing goosebumps to pop up on the sliver of skin between the shorts and socks. The interior of her car felt frozen down to the faux leather seats.
It took about 15 minutes for Nozomi to arrive at the nearest cafe and she pulled into a spot next to Nico's unmistakable pink convertible; the one Maki had given her as a birthday present. She made her way inside and Nico spotted her immediately, flagging her down with a wave of her arms.
"You were able to leave the house today, huh?" Nozomi said with a smile as she sat down down neatly in the chair across from Nico. The smaller girl flipped one of her pigtails. "You know, hiring a babysitter was probably the best decision I've ever made. Watching Cocoro, Cocoa, and Cotaro everyday gets really exhausting."
A plump waitress walked over to their table, grinning brightly at them. "Good morning!" She beamed. "What can I get you two ladies?" Nico tapped her fingers. "Hmm, I could go for a s'mores hot chocolate right about now." The waitress gave a quick nod and turned expectantly towards Nozomi. "I'll have a white chocolate mocha latte, please." The waitress took their menus from the table. "Alrighty! I'll be back in a jiffy!"
Nico rested her head in the palm of her hand, elbow supporting her weight. "So I've gotta stay home for another year or so to take care of the kids. With my parents being too busy with work, and our family being too poor to hire a full-time nanny, I'm stuck being the "responsible older sister." I don't know if I'm ever gonna be able to go to college." Nozomi pressed her lips together to form a straight line, taking pity on the girl in front of her; she knew firsthand what that was like.
As if her mind had been read, Nico asked her, "Aren't you gonna go to college?" Nozomi looked down at her hands folded in her lap.
"I believe we're in the same boat, Nico-chan. Our shrine is losing money, and I have to live with my mom again just to try and save it." Nozomi took a deep breath. "She really thinks that we can get it going again, but I highly doubt it. The whole thing is just old-fashioned."
"Why don't you just go and get a part-time job or something?"
Nozomi shook her head. "She considers that to be my job. It really frustrates me."
The cheerful waitress was back with the drinks. She set them down in front of the appropriate person, Nico taking a sip straight away as Nozomi nodded her thanks. Nico lowered the mug, licking some whipped cream off of her lips. "Speaking of college, Eli's going to America, right?" At the mention of Eli, Nozomi's heart sprouted wings. "Yes, her flight should be landing by 4 p.m. today."
Nico nodded. "Wow.. impressive. What's she studying?"
"Law."
The small girl almost choked on her hot chocolate. "Law?! Eli's gonna be a lawyer?!" Nozomi giggled at Nico's pure shock. "Yes, Nico-chan. She's becoming a lawyer." Nico opened her mouth to reply, but closed it. Nozomi looked... hurt.
"Nozomi? Are.. you okay?" she asked, leaning towards her. The taller girl picked at the sleeve of her sweater.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just going to miss her, that's all." Nico raised an eyebrow. "I'm not that dense, you know. I can tell it bothers you a whole lot more than that." Nozomi looked at Nico, who was looking at her, waiting silently for an explanation.
Nozomi wrapped both hands around the warm mug in front of her. She could hear her own heart pulsing.
"Nico-chan... are you in love?"
Nico widened her eyes, cheeks flaring. "Well I don't know if I'd call it love, you know?" She cleared her throat. "W-why do you ask?" Nozomi gazed down at the melting whipped cream seeping into her latte.
"... let's just say that the way you feel about Maki, is the equivalent to how I feel about Eli."
Nico slumped back in her chair. She understood now. "Nozomi... does she know?" Nozomi shook her head. "No, she doesn't."
The two sat in an awkward silence, a tense aura surrounding them. Nozomi tugged her sleeves past her hands. "I was going to confess to her, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." Nico put her feet up on the chair, hugging her knees to her chest.
"Did you tell anybody else?" she asked. Nozomi shook her head. "No, I've kept it hidden away for a while." She let out a pained sigh, running a hand through her hair. "I guess it only took her leaving for another country for me to really understand." Nico shook her head.
"I mean, the girl's not dead. You don't have to act like she's never coming back." She planted her feet back on the floor. "Acting all depressed about it isn't gonna make her come back any sooner, either." She took a swig of her hot chocolate.
Nozomi was taken aback by her sharp comments. She was about to protest, but slouched her posture. Nico was right. As strange as it was to admit it, well, what she was saying was true. She buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, Nico-chan, you're right. I just hate not having her by my side all the time, like it used to be." She heard the scrape of Nico's chair on the tile floor and sensed the small girl approach her. She gently pried Nozomi's hands away and had her stand up, hugging her firmly. "I'm no Eli, but you can always count on me. After all, I am everyone's favorite idol, Nico Yazawa!"
Nozomi returned the hug, thankful for a friend like Nico. The two eventually had to go their separate ways and said their goodbyes. While in her car, Nozomi sat back in the driver's seat. She liked being isolated in the vehicle; it was the closest thing she had to living independently. It gave her the gift of leaving the house whenever she wanted to, and it was often a good place to think. She took a deep breath. "Okay," she said out loud to herself. "It's only the first day. Time to pick yourself up, and just… keep moving forward." With an assertive nod, she was on the road again.