"Maki?" Eli asked, the comment that Maki said left her confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what I said," Maki said, her eyes becoming emotionless. "I don't think a person like you needs explaining right?"
"Hold up," Eli said, she looked at Maki with slight irritation. "It is smart of you to think of me as someone who is smart. But it is foolish of you to refuse to open up when someone just wants to help you. Nozomi, Nico, and I can see through your façade despite saying that we didn't when Kaz-san brought it up. Nico is perceptive, Nozomi has her intuition, while I, as you said, am smart or clever. Since Nozomi and Nico have seen through you, I pieced it all together."
"What did you get?" Maki asked, her tone stiff.
"When you stood beside our table when your dad said that we couldn't talk unless if the circumstance were like this, that was a sign. Your eyes showed it all even though being so emotionless. The rest might not have seen it. Kaz himself might not have seen it, but we third years have seen enough to know what you're going through—"
"You DON'T know what I'm going through!"
"What makes you think that?"
"You think learning how to become a successor to a hospital that is highly respected is easy?! For two years I followed my mother and father's teaching, I left Otonoki abruptly but I couldn't do anything! My mother and I aren't on good terms after her saying that she doesn't care about me anymore but papa says that she was just pressured so it slipped. I don't what to do! My life is a mess can't you see that?!"
"As expected of Nico….she still is very good after a few years."
"Huh?"
"You spilled the beans. Haven't you noticed that?"
"I…oh…"
"You may look tough to Ikku and Heiji, but to the rest, at least to me that is, you are a vulnerable girl who doesn't want her friends to leave her."
"…"
"Maki, for two long years we haven't heard from you, we were worried. Some of us even went so far that they searched for you although knowing that they might as well not do it for they somewhat knew that you weren't capable of being found at that point."
Maki continues to stay silent.
"Did you know…..how excited we were when we saw you at the gates of Otonoki? We ran desperately as you ran away from us. All of us were wondering why you would ran away. After all, you would've liked to see us….right? Only to find out you were being chased and when you were caught, we stood near you. We tried to get your attention but you wouldn't look at us. Once you realized you weren't being held back, you ran again."
"You know Maki, if it weren't for Hanayo, we wouldn't be together again—"
"Oh, so you just wanted us to be together?! Is that what you all wanted?!"
"We just wanted to see you again Maki…"
"Eli…"
"When Rin and Hanayo announced to us that you left, Rin was devastated when she said it."
Maki was about to protest when Eli interrupted her again.
"I'm not trying to inflict guilt on you. But please, I may have digressed, but accept the fact that all we want to do is see you again. Accept the fact that we want to help you, to make you pass through this tough patch in your life. We mean no harm. All you need to do is to trust us."
"H-How? I can't simply trust anyone. You know that right?"
"What is that so?"
"That's confidential—"
"The mood is already set. Just let it out Maki."
"Ugh."
"I may be unable to move around but I do NOT want you to leave my question unanswered."
"Eli."
"What?"
"Why are you desperate to know?"
"You're my friend. I don't want you to be left alone. That's what friends are for…right?"
Silence.
Maki doesn't respond but Eli knows that Maki is about to. Or at least, that's what her gut is telling her.
"Right…"
"I don't know what you've been through. I don't care what you've been through. What I care about is that you're here."
"…"
"You're obviously being pressured by your parents to be a doctor. Honestly, I was surprised when your mother was the one who was more assertive than your dad."
"Funny."
"Sorry."
"About your question Eli."
"What about it?"
"About why I can't trust anyone."
"Continue please."
Maki looked up to Eli and Eli gulped since Maki was on the verge of tears, "She broke my trust."
"Who's she?"
"Mom."
"Can you explain?"
"She promised me that I would start learning to become a full-fledged doctor around this age. She promised me that once it started, she wouldn't pressure me. She promised me that she wouldn't be harsh. She promised me that I won't feel pressured. She promised that I will have a good time learning to become a doctor. I think it's self-explanatory to why I ran when you all saw me again right?"
"You ran away from home?"
"I told you it's self—"
"Please cooperate Maki."
"Sorry…" Maki looked down again, refusing eye contact.
"Did you know, I haven't heard from my mom in a few weeks. Weird."
"Am I supposed to pity you?"
"React however you want."
"Well then, I pity you."
"Eh?"
"You heard me."
"I know I did."
"Eli…"
"Sorry sorry."
The two talked for a while but Maki had to leave but once she left, Eli had a plan.
—
"I wonder if Eli-cchi made Maki-chan spill the beans yet.." Nozomi said, the volume of her voice low enough so that only the person sitting beside her—who was Nico—can hear her. "Because if all the effort we did becomes a waste I think I will lose it."
"Maki-chan will spill the beans," Nico said, Nozomi looked at her. "Trust me."
"I don't know if I really want to trust your judgement Nico-cchi," Nozomi said, giggling.
"You're such a bully Nozomi…" Nico said, crossing her arms.
"I don't wanna hear that from you Nico-cchi," Nozomi smirked. "Ha…..the food here though tastes good don' you think?"
"Y-Yeah," Nico said, nodding slightly. "But my cooking is better!"
"Ara…Nico-chan nya!" Rin heard the weird proclamation that came from Nico. "We were just talking about you!"
"Eh?" Nico titled her head. "Were you talking about how I am the best idol?—"
"Yeah yeah, have it your way," Heiji said, Nico glared at him.
"She's your senior Heiji-san," Ikku said, hitting him on the head as his punishment. "Plus, you're making a fool of yourself in front of Kotori-senpai."
Heiji immediately stiffened and glared at Ikku, "T-T-T-That's none of your business!"
"We're friends though…." Ikku said, a dejected look on his face. "Aww…"
"It's your fault," Heiji crossed his arms, scowling. "You get sad over many things easily."
"Hehe!"
"What is wrong with both of you?" Kaz asked, looking at his two male friends like they were aliens. "You're acting like—"
"An old married couple," Umi and Kaz said, both faces adorning a stern expression.
"We aren't married!"
"I don't want to get married to Ikku!"
"Eli-chan?!" Honoka's voice snapped the rest out of whatever they were doing. "How are you…. What are you…"
"Maki said I can be released earlier.." Eli shrugged but she seemed happy. "Nico, Nozomi, can I talk to you for a bit?"
"Uhh….sure," Nico said in response. Eli went towards somewhere while Nozomi and Nico followed suit. "Maki…"
"Did she spill the beans?!"
"She did she did," Eli said, the two peers looked relieved. "Your hard work wasn't wasted. Isn't that good?"
"Why did you call us?" Nozomi asked, ignoring what Eli said.
"I have a plan."
"This won't end well…" Nico sighed. Eli glared at her. "Fine, I'll give it a chance."
"I knew you'll see it my way," Eli smirked. Faint rings can be heard. "Now, the plan is that we constantly—"
"Wait, we're going to pressure her?" Nozomi looked unamused. "I may not look like it, but if we're going to resort to pressuring Maki-chan in order to open up, that would only worsen the situation."
"Your accent disappeared?!" Nico and Eli said in unison, Nozomi sighed. "Sorry.."
"My plan isn't like that!" Eli said, the sudden proclamation took the two females by surprise. "I meant to say that we will constantly help her. Like, every time she will fall down, literal or nonliteral—although I hope it's more based on nonliteral falls than literal—we will help her. We will show her that even though that she left us, we will always have her back. After all, we are µ's. We are a miracle in itself— Why are you two crying?!"
"What a speech…"
"So inspirational.."
"H-Hey!" Eli snapped the two back to reality. "We need to talk to the others about this."
"How do we phrase it though?" Nozomi asked, the two looked at her oddly, still fazed by her not talking without an accent. "So…you want da accent?"
"It sounds weird with you without it," Nico said.
"I'll keep da accent then. Anyways, we gotta say something along the lines of 'we'll show Maki-chan that we always have her back'."
"Can we just say that?" Nico frowned, not liking the idea of having to prepare a 'speech'. "Let's get a move on and say what Nozomi said because creating a speech is—"
"We are going to make a speech," Eli said, Nico looked at her like she was crazy. Nico pulled her towards the rest. "H-Hey! T-That hurts! Let go!"
The seniors returned to the table to find out that it wasn't lunch anymore. Why didn't the bell ring? Maybe they were so into that plan that the sound didn't even register in their minds. But, how can they be that into it? It is just a simple plan after all.
"Yazawa-san, Ayase-san, Tojo-san, what are you three doing? Lingering around in the halls while class is going on?" a teacher saw them. "Go to your classes now!'
"Yes sensei!" the trio chorused.
—
"You have to be joking?" Nico sighed as she slumped on the couch in her house. "We all assembled in my house? We can't even fit—"
"The boys aren't comin'," Nozomi said, patting Nico's back as a sign of assurance. "We informed 'em—"
"You already informed them?!"
"Yes?" Nozomi said, it was more of question than a statement though, for odd reasons. "Is there somethin' wrong with informing 'em early?"
"N-Nothing," Nico said, she turned away. "A-Anyways! Eli, the plan."
"Yosh!" Eli said, the rest chuckled at the blonde's enthusiasm. "So! We are going to show Maki that we'll always have her back! No matter what happens!"
"Will it work?" Hanayo asked, Eli gave her a look. "Uwehh~ You look scary Eli-chan…"
"Don't scare Kayo-chin Eli-chan nya!" Rin went in front of Hanayo to 'protect' her friend. "You'll pay!"
"Ehehehe~ Don't fight you guys…" Kotori said, uncomfortable at the scene unfolding before her eyes. "Umi-chan? Help.."
"That's enough!" Umi hit her right hand on the lower section of her left hand, making a sound that was loud enough to make the people around her slightly wince at the sound.
"Onee-chan? You okay?" a voice asked, Nico glared at Umi but the bluenette only glared back. "I'm okay Cocoro!"
"Come on Cocoro! Onee-chan is busy!" another female voice said. "Play with me for a while!"
"Your sisters are really like you Nico-chan!" Honoka giggled, Nico huffed. "Anyways, I have a question."
"Honoka-chan's serious?" Nozomi smirked.
Honoka coughed to get back Nozomi's attention, "How will we execute this plan exactly?"
"Umi what have you done to her?" Eli asked, Umi had a grin on her face.
"Nothing happened between us two!" Honoka shoved Umi away, much to the girl's surprise. "R-R-Right Umi-chan?"
"C-C-Correct!" Umi said, she became flustered when the topic of 'romance' was indirectly brought up. Courtesy of Honoka and Eli. "I j-j-j-just taught her that she s-s-s-s-should be more formal!"
"ANYWAYS!" Nico clapped, they flinched. "We are going to hunt for Maki-chan tomorrow and help her when she needs help. First ones who will be deployed are Kayo-chin and Rin since you two are the nearest to her classroom. The childhood trio next then the awesome third years next. I'll be leading my squad of course."
"If you could even lead one Nico-cchi," Nozomi rolled her eyes playfully, earning a scowl from the 'Number 1 Idol'. "Honoka-chan will be in charge of her squad."
"How about those two?" Eli asked, pointing to the two first years. Nico and Nozomi shrugged, leaving it up to Eli to decide. "Rin will be the leader."
"Alright nya!" Rin jumped with joy.
"We are done for the day. Meeting adjourned," Eli said, walking to the exit of Nico's fancy room. "Please be cooperative because if you don't.."
Nozomi raised her hands in a way her friends know too well, "There will be punishments."
"There was no need for the formal talk but sure," Umi shrugged and left along with Kotori and Honoka.
"See you!" Hanayo said, waving her hand as her and Rin exit the room.
Nozomi left along with them, leaving Nico alone in her room.
Nico sighed once her friends have left. She looked around her pink room and remembered the times when she replaced the centers with her face. Nico chuckled. The memories…
—
"Maki-chan!" Rin rushed towards the redhead the next day. "You need help?"
"Uhh…..no?"
"Oh come on! You need help at something at least!" Rin said, Maki looked surprised.
"Rin-chan!" Hanayo called.
The brunette dragged the ginger away from the red head who took this as the chance to escape.
"She escaped!" Rin pointed at Maki who was going anywhere but towards them. "Why?"
"You're scaring her!"
"Isn't that—"
"You two…" Umi sighed, they too have been released from classes. It is lunch time after all. "You chased Maki away…"
"It was her fault!" Hanayo said, pointing at her friend. "She kept on pestering—"
"Stop arguing," Umi said, the two shut up.
It was mostly directed to Hanayo since she was the one talking.
"We didn't really tell you how to do it huh…" Eli said, she sighed. "Sorry there Rin."
"No problem!" Rin said, she looked at Hanayo to see a smile. "Hehe!"
The two first-years then sat down on nearby chairs (that had accompanying tables of course) and ate their packed lunch.
"Their bond isn't so shallow. They forgive each other without even talking. That's amazing…" Eli said, Umi giggled. "Huh? What's wrong?"
Umi gave a smile and said, "Nothing's wrong."
Eli shrugged and said, "Oh look! They're here!"
"Aren't we in the same class as them?" Umi asked, Eli shifted uncomfortably. "Ah! Don't worry. I think we left the classroom earlier than them.."
"Really? You think?" Eli asked, raising her eyebrow. "You sure?"
"L-Let's not mind about it."
"Agreed."
Honoka hugged Umi, nearly crushing the poor archer due to her humanly normal (but heavy in this instance) weight. "UUUMMMIIIII-CCCHHHHAAAAANNNN!"
"Shhhhhhh!" Umi said, hitting her friend softly so that she can breathe again. "I c-c-can't…..breathe.."
"Ah! Sorry!" Honoka said, releasing her friend from 'captivity'. "Anyways! Both of you just rushed out of the classroom? What was that for?"
"Ehehehehe…." Umi and Eli rubbed the back of their heads. "Sorry…"
"Where's Maki-chan?" Kaz asked, appearing behind Honoka which caused Umi and Eli to jump in surprise. "Sorry Umi-senpai and Eli-senpai…"
Rin and Hanayo, who unintentionally tuned themselves out of the conversation, added themselves right in. Rin said, "I might have shooed Maki-chan away nya…"
"Don't beat yourself over it then..?" came the voice of Heiji. With him was a smirking and near to laughing Ikku. "Ikku-san! Stop that!"
"Yeah yeah I will, right Nico-senpai?" Ikku asked, looking to the senior beside him. He winked at her. "Right?"
"He'll stop," Nico said, winking at Heiji.
"What is wrong with both of you…" Heiji said, sighing. "Ugh, can I change my friend group?"
"Not happening," Kotori said, sending a chop to Heiji's head. "You're already part of us."
"Anyways," Nozomi said, frowning. "We have to find Maki-chan. AND we have ta teach ourselves how ta approach da gurl so that we don' shoo her."
"Don't want that to happen again.." Eli said, chuckling. "Right Rin?"
"It wasn't my fault!" Rin said, crossing her arms. Hanayo giggled and said, "You sound like Maki-chan."
—
"Why was she asking if I need help?" Maki said, successfully walking away from the odd Rin. She found a vacant seat and sat down. "Not like I need help in the first place. My grades are perfectly fine thank you very much."
"I know that thank you very much," a familiar female voice said, a smirk on her face. "Say Maki-chan, you need some emotional support?"
"What are you talking about?" Maki asked, now officially creeped out at her friends' antics. "I told you, I am very much fine and in no need of emotional support or ANY kind of support in general."
"C'mon, there should be at least—"
"I'll be taking my leave, bye," Maki said, taking her bag and stood up to leave. "She's just like Rin."
"Wait! Maki-chan!" Nico said, grabbing Maki's wrist much to the girl's displeasure. Maki ended up sitting down again. "I…want to talk to you."
"For what?" Maki asked, not even trying to get away from her 'captor'. "I swear, if you bring up that 'help' thing again just like what Rin did I. Am. Leaving."
"You judge too quick," Nico said, crossing her arms. "I never said that I'll be bringing it up."
Maki sighed, "Sorry?"
"Okay…" Nico nodded slowly. "Meet up at my house after you go to the hospital. Deal?"
"It'll be past curfew if I do that.." Maki shook her head. "Can you….."
"Go to your home instead?" Nico asked, Maki nodded slowly. "Sure. My parents wouldn't mind."
Maki nodded and stood up to leave, leaving a happy Nico.
"I did it!" Nico said once Maki was out of sight and of earshot. "You guys can come out now."
"How…" Honoka said, Nico smirked. "You're so good at this right Nico-chan?"
"Yes I am! Nico Nico—"
"No."
"Heiji-san!" Ikku said, smacking the back of his friend. "Bad."
"I'm not your personal pet!" Heiji said, crossing his arms. "I am an independent human who deserves to be treated like one and not some dog who you just adopted from the junkyard!"
"Are there even dogs in junkyards?" Nozomi asked, laughing shortly afterwards. "I never knew dogs can be found at them junkyards."
"T-There are dogs everywhere!" Heiji said, defending his statement. "I assure you!"
"Liar!" said an exhausted Rin. "I…..visited….the…*pant*...*pant*…nearby junkyard…"
"You did?!" Eli said, taking a step back. "But you were just…..Hanayo?!"
And indeed it was Hanayo. Said girl was panting just like Rin but it seemed like she was having more difficulty breathing that the athlete.
"There…are…no..dogs…in…*pant*…*pant*…the…*pant*…*pant*…junkyard.." Hanayo said, nearly stumbling if it weren't for Honoka who assisted the brunette back to her feet. "Thanks…*pant*…*pant*…*pant….Honoka-chan."
"I don't believe that this is just a 'nearby' junkyard," Umi said, glaring at Rin. "Rin is tired. And you're not one to pant like this. How far did both of you go?"
"Is…..around the…*pant*…*pant*…world….enough?" Hanayo saw the vacant seat that Maki previously sat on. She sat there and released a sigh of relief when she did. She made Rin sit as well. "Remind me….*pant*….*pant*…not to..*pant*…do that again…"
"Agreed," Rin said, sighing. "That was….*pant*…tiring…*pant*…to say the…*pant*…least."
"Did you seriously go around the world?" Umi asked, stepping one step forward towards Rin. "Did you?"
"It was probably just an exaggeration Umi-chan…" Kotori said, placing her hand on Umi's shoulder. "The nearest junkyard though is just around here but far so going around the whole world as a comparison was an obvious exaggeration."
"I'll let both of you off the hook this time," Umi said, her tone getting softer each word. "And just this time."
"Yay Umi-chan!" Kotori and Honoka said, tackling their dear bluenette friend into a hug. Which caused major displeasure to the archer, but she gave in anyways as she found the warmth emanating from her two friends pleasing. "Ne~ Umi-chan, are you enjoying this hug?"
Umi didn't respond and instead gave a slight nod. Honoka and Kotori's eyes looked at each other and had a silent conversation. They ended up hugging for five more minutes until…
"Hmph, I can't believe the three of you are displaying affection that publicly," Nico said as the trio released themselves from the hug. An audible *thud* can be heard after the comment was stated. "And Umi, you're overreacting again."
"I….am….not," Umi said, Kotori looked at her friend, her eyes glossy.
"Please don't die Umi-chan!"
Honoka got on her knees and held Umi's hand tightly. "We'll continue your legacy Umi-chan!"
Apparently, the two second-years were overreacting as well. Umi still was sensitive to topics like romance. It was odd to the rest especially to the three boys who just stood and watched the spectacle happen.
"Look….at…me…Kotori…Honoka," Umi said, holding her two friends hands gently. "I….signed….a….will…. It…will…go…to…both…of…you.."
"Okay Umi-chan!" they both said. The others can only do a physical face-palm (sans Hanayo and Ikku who decided to be considerate and did a mental facepalm) at what was happening.
"What kind of nonsense is this?" Heiji asked, sighing. "Why are you two acting like Umi-senpai's dying? She's not. It's just a mere over exaggeration."
"It wouldn't hurt to play along right?" Umi asked, standing up after her not-so-convincing act of her dying at the mere, indirect mention of romance. "Right?"
"That's Umi-chan right nya? Not some other person who acting like her right nya?" Rin asked, tilting her head slightly. Cue Rin shivering in fear while Umi glares at her. "Rin's just j-j-joking about t-t-that n-n-n-nya!"
"I don't think Rin-chan was jokin' to be honest…" Nozomi said, Rin looked at her with a hint of betrayal in her eyes. Nozomi smirked. "I mean, she looked genuinely confused."
Umi was unfazed by Nozomi's words and continued to glare at the cat-like female, who ended up hiding behind the nervous girl also known as Hanayo.
"Such kids…" Nico said, sighing at the sight of the two.
"You're one to talk Nico-senpai," Ikku said, giggling. Nico glared at him while Honoka, Rin, and Nozomi (mainly Nozomi though) burst out laughing. Their laughs were contagious that the others laughed as well. They weren't laughing at Nico however, which gave relief to Nico, who obviously didn't want people laughing at her. She was THE Nico-nii. How could they laugh about her? That would be a heinous crime! Maybe that was an exaggeration… Nico took methodical steps towards Ikku who decided to hide behind Heiji who couldn't care less since he just stood out of his senior's way (mainly because he didn't want to be victim to his senior's wrath) and let Nico do her 'punishment' with Ikku. It included kicks and punches which Ikku was surprised at how much it hurt. After all she was just a small—
"STOP TALKING AS IF I'M SMALL! YOU'RE NOT EVEN TALLER THAN ME!" Nico said, punching the air like there was a phantom person standing right there. The rest looked at her and looked confused. "What? Didn't you guys hear that?"
"All we heard was you screaming," Hanayo said in her usual low toned voice. "What are you talking about?"
"Someone was talking bad about me," Nico said, glaring at….uhh….me? WHY ARE YOU GLARING AT ME?! "YEAH I AM GLARING AT YOU!"
"Nico-cchi is broken. To da mental hospital we gu!" Nozomi said, thrusting her fist in the air. "I can't believe yu're broken Nico-cchi."
"I AM NOT BROKEN!" Nico said, hands on her hips. "IT'S ALL OF YOU THAT IS SO IGNORANT!"
I mean, yes, true, they all are unaware of my invisible teasing to the small, cute, idol called—
"STOP TALKING TO ME LIKE THAT!" Nico said, about to punch the air again. "Oh wait, cute? Yay!"
—
I kid you not, Nico is like 152cm (IIRC) I think which is like 5ft something IIRC. I am 150 cm which makes me technically shorter than Nico.
I have no regrets, besides, I'm still going to grow taller so not that I mind. Although I bet if you put us two together, I'll look just as tall.
Hehehe….
Sorry for the terribly delayed update!
