I don't own LoveLive

Chapter 10

Anju stood outside the familiar café Maki and her frequent, for the first time since the two became friends Maki was the one late. When Anju caught a glimpse of red, she quickly walked to her "Ara, you're the one late today" when her teasing didn't receive any respond Anju grabbed a hold of the girl's hand to guide her inside. Maki however didn't budge from where she stood.

"Maki?" Anju was getting worried, what happed at their practice. It was like Maki had reverted to how she was when they first met. I swear that tojo-san and Ayase-san! What have they done to my Maki now!? Anju had bald her free hand into a fist, livid as she let her imagination roam free on what the two older girls' could have done to her Maki Wait? What? Did I just… Anju blushed realizing that she had just claimed Maki as hers.

"Anju" Maki was now looking at her

"Eh?" Anju shook her head to rid herself of the previous thoughts "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I asked if we could go somewhere more private" Maki almost sound like she was pleading and Anju felt complied to agree to whatever Maki wanted

"Uhm… yes, where would you like to go?"

Maki thought for a second and weakly asked with a blush "I-if you don't mind can we go to your house"

"O-okay" Anju cursed at herself for stuttering For god sake! What is wrong with you Anju lead the way with Maki behind her, but she paused seeing how Maki was lagging. Anju decided to hold the girl's hand and keep her close.

"A-Anju?" Maki stuttered Blushing

"I don't want to leave you behind" Anju reasoned her cheeks had a small tint of pink "Besides it's crowded today" with that Anju pulled Maki along.

Anju unlocked the door to her house and allowed Maki to enter first "You remember where my room is?" Anju asked

Maki only nodded, which bother Anju even more. The walk to her house was really quiet, and Maki had kept her head low. It was painful to see Maki like this again, maybe she shouldn't have encourage her to go maybe Maki wasn't ready yet.

Anju turned to make sure she locked the door while she spoke "Then please go ahead I'll bring us something to dri-" Anju was caught off guard by the body suddenly attached to her back "M-Maki?" she heard a few sobs from the girl, all Anju could do was caress the hands wrapped around her waist.

After a couple of minutes Maki's sobs finally died down and Anju pulled herself away from the girl. She turned and wiped the few tears on Maki's face. Without saying anything Anju grab Maki by the hand and led them to her room. Anju sat the girl on her bed and sat next to her, she held Maki's hand gently caressing it, as she waited patiently for Maki tell her what happened.

After a while Maki took her hand away from Anju to wipe the tears that still remained on her face. When she was done she took a deep breath and gave Anju a serene smile that made Anju's heart skip a beat "I-I talked to Nozomi today"

Anju only nodded waiting for the younger girl to keep talking

"I confessed to her again" Maki took another deep breath "She rejected me of course, but I knew I needed to hear it"

"Maki" Anju pulled Maki in a hug "How are you feeling?"

"I-I'm hurting, but it feels like a lot had been lifted from me" Maki gave a smile, she honestly did feel better it's just there was still remaining pain. "I just needed to let the last of my tears out"

"I think… I'll be okay now, well not now... but eventually I just need a little more time" Maki admitted to Anju and this time she believed her own words. Maki had done all she could so that her feelings would reach Nozomi and now she can continue moving on without anything to hold her back. "You were right"

"Hmm?"

"It was better that, she knew." Maki explained "knowing that I did all that I can, I don't have any regrets. All of it led to this and I'm glad you found me"

Anju blushed from the sudden confession from Maki, who was usually shy and dishonest with her feelings. It would seem Maki had changed a lot in the past month. "I… Uhm… you're welcome"

Maki pulled away from Anju's hold to look at the stuttering girl, she smirked "How unusual for you to be stuttering"

Anju blushed even more she did her best to hide it from Maki but failed "I-I was just taken by surprise"

Maki chuckled it felt good to be the one doing the teasing sometimes, though she knew Anju will probably get her back later.

"I guess that leaves Ayase-san?" Anju questioned

"Oh… actually I talked to Eri yesterday"

"Eh? and you didn't tell me about it." Anju pretended to be hurt

"Well it was late and I didn't want to bother you all the time" Maki explained

"I'm kidding Maki, I'm glad you talked to the two them" Anju smile and placed a hand on Maki's "How did that talk go?"

Maki blushed from the contact but enjoyed the feeling of Anju's hand on hers "It was better than I expected… before I had so much anger for Eri that I just always thought that I would lash out on her" Maki smiled "But thanks to you I was able to understand her as well, I'm still hurt but I know in time Eri and I will be good again"

Maki she really learned a lot from this Anju let out a short giggle

"What?" Maki asked slightly annoyed

"Oh nothing I was just thinking that you've grown up so fast~" Anju teased causing Maki to blush

"What? I'm not a child!" Maki pulled her hand away from beneath Anju's she crossed her arms and pouted.

"Ara… I'm sorry Maki-cha~n" Anju pleaded giving Maki an innocent puppy look, when Maki saw Anju's face she blushed even more.

"I-It's fine…" When Anju gave her a bright smile, Maki looked away. Thanks to Anju's support Maki was able to face Nozomi and Eri, now Maki knew she was going to be okay. Would she still want to meet… Maki frowned, Anju had stayed with her because she empathized with her at least that what she believed "A-anju" Maki slowly faced Anju again

Anju stared into Maki's eyes, who was suddenly stuttering. She saw the worried look on the red head's face "What is it Maki?"

"I… We can still meet right?"

Anju tilted her head at the question, she was quite confused with the question "Of course, why wouldn't we?"

"B-because I might be doing okay now" Maki explained, when Anju continued to give her a puzzled look she continued "I thought you just wanted to make sure I was okay"

"Eh? of course I wanted to make sure you were okay" Did Maki really thought she was around her just for that "I wanted to help you, but I also thought we were friends... Aren't we?" Anju uncharacteristically muttered and gave Maki a hopeful and questioning look.

Maki's heart skipped at beat when Anju looked at her, T-that's way too cute! Maki looked away and stuttered again feeling her heart pound from her chest"Y-yeah I a-also thought we were friends"

Anju let out a breath she unintentionally held but smiled at how Maki can go from confident to a stuttering mess, it was just beyond adorable. Maki spend a few more hours chatting with Anju, until she decided it was late and she should go. Anju walked the younger girl out, when she was back in her house she could feel her heart racing, something was happening to her and she knew what it was, it was the very feeling she used to have for Erena.

Anju walked back to her room and Anju looked at her flushed face on the mirror Maki… just the thought of her name, it made her heart beat faster. Anju cupped her face feeling the warmth of her cheeks from the intense blush. Tears rolled down Anju's face, remembering the pain of losing someone she loved. Anju was determined not to let it happen again, the problem was Maki had just gone through a heartbreak. How could she proclaim her feelings for the girl? was Maki even ready to find love again? Part of Anju knew she should wait until the girl was ready, but what would she do if during that wait Maki fell in love with someone else. Nozomi and Eri were spoken for, but what about the rest of U's or anyone in general. Maki was a catch she was beautiful and talented Anju didn't want to lose another love before she could even express it. What am I going to do?

And that's chapter 10 hope you all enjoy the two chapters I just posted. Again thanks for supporting my story!