This update took a while... sorry about that, but I'm starting to have a little writer's block... Might take a break and write a few shorts just to freshen up my head. Don't worry though I'll make sure to finish this story.

jeanette12 animmd kotorii202 Thanks for the reviews and Don't worry I'll do my best to finish the story. I'm just having a hard time tying it together, but it's coming along.

I don't own LoveLive


Chapter 8

After Anju and Maki's first meeting at the café it quickly became an almost daily routine for the two girls, usually they planed it every other day. Maki followed Anju's advice and focused on the things she liked to do before U's, which was mostly playing the piano and studying. It was a good thing Anju was as studious as Maki, Anju would occasionally tutor her on English the only subject Maki wasn't very good at. She even got to know a lot of about Anju, like how she became interested in being a school idol, Tsubasa seemed to have rope her and Erena into joining during their first year. Erena was in the same class as Tsubasa and she was looking for members to start the school idol club, knowing that Anju had a passion for designing clothes Erena had recommended her to Tsubasa. After meeting each other for the first time Tsubasa had wanted her and Erena to join A-rise, Anju thought that it would be fun so she decided to join along with Erena. Sometimes when Anju talked about practice, Maki would remember U's, the energy she always felt whenever the 9 of them danced together it was something she truly missed. It's been a month and a half since she went, she only saw Rin and Hanayo, sometimes Umi when they discussed new songs. Honoka sometimes joined Rin and Hanayo on teaching her the new dance and she would often visit Maki in the music room with an annoyed nico in tow. Eri and Nozomi were really the only ones she doesn't see, and to be honest she missed that two.

Maki sighed so much had happen, she never really imagine that she could be in this kind of situation. A love triangle was something out of a drama, heck she didn't guessed that she would be close friend with a member of a rival group. speaking of Anju she was late again, so Maki was again left standing outside the familiar café.

"MAKI!" Anju jogged to the girl and gave her a tight embrace as soon as Maki was within her reach "sorry to keep you waiting"

Maki blushed but returned the embrace "You're always late"

"Maki is just always early" Anju rebutted

They walked in the café together Maki settled her things down and turned to Anju "do you want your usual?"

Anju nodded and watched Maki make her way to the counter, Anju smiled Maki had been so open to her lately she never thought she be this close to a member of U's. If she had been asked which member of U's she could be friends with she would have thought that Minami Kotori might be the best suited, considering they both had a passion for clothing. Maki was the last she would have thought of honestly, but here she was regularly meeting the red head, they got so close Anju would even dare say that Nishikino Maki was one of her best friends. there was something about Maki and her that just instantly connects.

Maki returned to the table with a tray of beverage "So how was practice today?" Maki asked as she took a seat and place Anju's cup in front of her.

"It was great we're finally getting the new choreography down" Anju answered "How's the writing going?"

"Umi and I are working on the new song, but we still haven't settled on how the genre should be" Maki leaned on her chair and closed her eyes "Honestly I'm having a hard time coming up with an idea"

"You still haven't attended practice"

Maki shook her head to the question "No" but I miss it "Honoka and Rin takes the time to teach me the choreography, I'm just glad I managed to write a few songs before I ran out of ideas. At least Umi had something to work with for one new song"

As much as I love spending time with Maki, I know she probably miss it. Anju looked at the girl preparing to dive into the topic she usually avoid, well until Maki decide to talk about it. "Maki it's been a month, how are you feeling?"

"I… I think I'm getting better" Maki gave Anju a small smile "I don't think about them as often"

Anju nodded "do you think you're ready to try?"

"Try what?" Maki tilted her head playing innocent but knowing exactly what Anju meant.

"To go to practice and see them" Anju explained, she saw the conflicted look on Maki's face "Maki" Anju reached for Maki's hand and held them, it was a gesture that seemed to always calm the red head whenever they dove in this conversation. "You have to face them"

"I know" Maki nodded and bowed her head "I just don't know if I'm ready"

"You won't know if you don't try" Anju only heard a weak 'mhm' from Maki I know she's scared, but she needs this push to go further Anju gently squeezed Maki's hands to get her attention, when Maki looked up she continued to talk "I know you're still scared, but you need to take this step"

"But… what if I just run away again, then I end up on the same spot as before" Maki wondered if she could really do it, was she really ready to go and see the girls again.

Showing as much sincerity as she could Anju spoke once more "If you try and realized you aren't ready then you can always come to me. If you end up on the same spot then I'll just pick you back up" Anju held Maki's hands tighter "You can call me and I promise I'll come"

"I…" Maki wasn't sure why she trusted the older girl so much, she only knew Anju for about a month and they just started to build a solid friendship. But every time Anju spoke to encourage Maki just believe everything she said, she couldn't help but feel empowered and trust the her words. "I'll try" Knowing that Anju would be there for her, it was more than Maki needed.

"That's all I ask Maki" Anju smiled and released Maki's hands, the feeling was quickly missed by both girls. "Make sure to let me know when you are going to try"

"Yeah" Maki agreed, and they resumed to their usual conversation


A few days after Maki sat alone in the empty music room, she was slowly Maki progress on the song Umi and her agreed on. Maki caught a short glimpse of golden tresses outside of the small window of the door before it opened. Surprisingly Maki didn't have the urge to run away, she continued to play the rest of the song she managed to arranged, while the girl made her way to a desk to sit and watch her play.

Maki's playing came into an abrupt stop since the song still unfinished, but it was coming along nicely. It looks like I'm going to have to finish this late. Maki turned to the blond and her heart clenched, but this time it wasn't just from pain there was a sense of nostalgia Nozomi and Eri used to come by and watch her play before everything turned into a mess. Eri and Nozomi always had some good insight for her, something that kept her songs fresh and lively.

Not being able to stand the silence any longer Eri spoke "It's coming along nicely"

"Thanks" was Maki's short answer At least I'm not getting up and running "Was there something you need?"

"I-I no-nothing really" Silence, the air within the usually peaceful room was filled with tension "M-Maki… I-"

"If you're going to tell me to go to practice you don't have to" Maki cut off Eri's stuttering, usually she would be the one stuttering.

"That's not it, I wouldn't force you to go to practice if you're not ready" Eri continued "I wanted to say I'm sorry"

Tears were forming on Eri's eyes "I know what I did was terrible and I don't deserve to ask for your forgiveness" Eri pushed the tears back willing herself not to cry until she said what she needed to say to her friend "Y-you trusted me and I betrayed you, I know you still can't forgive me but I wanted you to know"

Maki stay quiet as she listen to Eri, Eri had sent her countless apologizes, apologizes she ignored but this time it was different. Maki was different, she wasn't ready to completely forgive, but she was ready to confront her friend "You're right, I can't forgive you" Maki got up from the bench and walk up to Eri.

Eri shot her eyes close preparing for another blow on her cheek or a shout of insults, but when nothing came she opened her eyes and saw a handkerchief being offered to her. Eri accepted the offered item and wiped the tears that managed to escape

"You hurt me, it hurt me a lot. We promised each other but you went behind my back" Maki stated "But deep down I knew… I... it was wrong to have you promise and I knew it was only going to get hurt" few tears dropped from Maki's face, she took a deep breath to steady herself. "I knew Nozomi loved you, a-anyone with eyes can see that... but I had to try..." Maki admitted she had told herself this countless of times before.

"Maki, what I did was still unacceptable we made a promise, regardless of how Nozo—"Eri tried to argue, but was cut off by Maki

"That promise was selfish, it was a stupid attempt to stop the unstoppable" The month long break she took and the conversations she had with Anju helped her understand. Yes Eri hurt her when she kissed Nozomi, but agreeing to hold Eri and herself back when she knew there was mutual feelings between Nozomi and Eri that was a mistake, she knowingly stood between her friends happiness. Maki had been selfish and she could see that now, she was hurting but so were Nozomi and Eri. She wasn't the only one and what made it worse was knowing she was the one who caused Nozomi and Eri pain first. "I'm not saying I forgive you for what happened, you did broke my trust, but in a way I did too and I do understand now, I just need more time" Maki finished as she wipe the few tears that manage to escape.

"Maki" Eri looked at Maki with disbelieve, she came into the music room ready to face Maki anger, but instead she had a Maki who was calmly communicating with her "Maki did something else happen?"

"W-what?" Maki was taken aback "W-what are you talking about? I don't understand" Maki twirled a lock of her hair and scoffed

"You just seem different" Eri observed Maki closer

"You're imagining it" Maki caught Eri staring and she blushed "Mou! S-stop staring at me like that" she glared at the blond and turn away

"Sorry" Eri smiled "but you really seem different"

"I do not!" Maki glared at Eri

"haha… yea okay I'm sorry" Raising her hands as a sign of surrender

"Mou…" Maki huffed

"Maki thank you for hearing me out" Eri softly spoke, she finally gave in and engulfed Maki in a tight embrace "It means a lot to me that you're talking to me now, I really missed you"

"I missed you too" Maki shyly admitted with a blushed and returned the embrace "It'll take me sometime… but I hope we'll be okay again"

Eri noddedand pulled away "I want that too Maki, so I'll wait until you can forgive me" After a few minutes of silence spoke again "Well I'll go ahead and leave now" Eri announced "I told Arisa I'll make us Borscht dinner for us tonight"

Maki nodded and watched Eri make her way through the door Ah… Somehow I feel a lot better, I guess that only leaves Nozomi Maki glanced at the time on her phone I wonder if it's too late to ask Anju to meet… I'll just wait until tomorrow 'you just seem different' Eri's words rang into Maki's thoughts Eri's just imagining it Maki sat back down on the bench and continued to write the unfinished music. Tomorrow she'll ask Anju to meet up and tell her of her progress, somehow she couldn't help but feel excited for what the older girl might say.


Well that's chapter 8 XD ah... that took long, I'm sorry about that. anyways since I'm in a slump I gonna do a one-shot I was thinking of making a KanaMari or another NozoEli not sure, well we'll see. Until then I hope this chapter is good enoughXD