Nico stared at the keys as the elevator went down, lost in thought. She doubted that she knew exactly what she just signed herself up for, but she couldn't find it in herself to care. Putting the keys in her purse, she took out her phone, dialing a number.
"Nico Nico Nii~" Cocoa greeted, "What's up, big sis?"
"Hey, Cocoa, I wish I had more time to talk, but could you put mom on the line?"
"Of course~ Mama!"
"Ah, Nico, I haven't heard from you in so long! How is work going?"
"It's going great, mom, I actually called to tell you that I'm being paid enough to cover rent, so you don't have to worry about that now."
"You must be getting paid quite a bit, sweetie. Oh well, you are an adult now. Just take care of the bill changes, okay?"
"Yeah, of course, mom."
"And Nico?"
"Yes, mom?"
"Come visit sometime, yes? We all miss you!"
Nico giggled, "Of course, mama."
Bidding farewell and hanging up, Nico headed to set L-1. She was greeted with the everlasting energy of Rin, who was bouncing around half naked. She was wearing a yellow midriff camisole that fit tightly, the shape of a cat cut out in the middle, along with a matching yellow thong.
"Nico! C'mon, c'mon!"
Nico giggled, "Coming, coming."
She went over to the changing area, slipping all of her clothes off for the third time that day. Her lingerie was very similar to Rin's, only bubblegum pink and the cat shape replaced with the shape of a bunny. After that, the hairdresser took her pigtails out, brushing her hair smooth.
She joined Rin on set, which was a circular mattress covered in pastel colors. Baby pink, lime green, yellow like morning sunshine, sherbet orange, a soft purple, all with additions of white, entrapped in the comforter. There were bear, bunny, and kitten plushies, as well as little bird plushies. All in all, it was adorable, and very comfortable.
"Ready girls?"
Nico sat on the bed, Rin grabbing a pillow and laying on it, giving a perfect view of the hole in her bralette and the thong. They both smiled, posing very close to each other, and several pictures were taken. Next, Rin sat up, and they both grabbed plushies, Rin taking a bunny and Nico taking a kitty. Nico laid her head on Rin's shoulder, and they smiled softly. Many more pictures were taken, Rin and Nico feeling successful.
"Hm… Could both of you perhaps lay down?"
"Sure!" They said, in unison.
Nico laid down, resting her head in her left hand, her right hand resting by her hip. Rin started to get in position, crawling over to Nico on her hands and knees, her butt facing the camera. Suddenly, sounds of the camera snapping started up, startling both of them. Rin looked back at the camera innocently, slightly startled, while Nico tried to keep her cool and smile sweetly.
"Okay, time to change!"
The pair went back to the changing area, Nico finding a pink bra with white polka dots, Rin finding a yellow bra with white stars, and socks of matching pinks and yellows. Neither of them found panties, Nico wondering if every lingerie shoot was missing some type of clothing. Using her shirt to cover herself up, Nico came out of the changing area, Rin doing the same.
Thank god I shaved, Nico thought.
They both nervously wandered out, Rin receiving cat ears and Nico receiving bunny ears. They laid down on the bed again, creating a v-shape with their butts facing the camera, hiding their embarrassment. An assistant came onto the set, the pair thankful it was a woman, and sticking a poofy white ball on Nico's butt, putting a cat tail on Rin. They held each other's hands for confidence and stared back at the camera with innocent eyes and devilish smiles. The camera went wild, a big smile on the photographer's face. Afterwards, they sat up quickly, their animal tails miraculously not falling off, and posed facing each other, their sides facing the camera. They shared a bear plushie, Nico also holding up one of the small bird plushies, and the camera went wild again.
"Perfect! Thank you!"
Rin and Nico quickly grabbed their shirts and ran to the changing area, getting out of their socks and bras, replacing them with their own clothes and lingerie. Nico straightened out her black pleated skirt as she slipped her satin white heels on, snuggling down into her coat, which she still thought was way too expensive. Rin came out of the changing area wearing a black beanie with cat ears, a black shirt, a yellow jacket lined with black fur, brown shorts, and black socks with yellow converses. They started chatting when the photographer came up to them, handing them a business card.
"Call me if you ever want… attention, okay?"
"Excuse me?" Nico said, baffled.
"What are you implying?" Rin asked.
"You're fired."
The man's eyes widened, and he turned around, meeting unamused purple eyes. Displeased, unamused, annoyed, pissed off... there were many words that could be used to describe Maki in that moment.
"Y-You can't do that!"
"Eh? I can't? A CEO can't fire someone? Clearly, you don't know your place in this building and don't read your contracts, while others read them quite thoroughly," Maki scolded, glancing over at Rin and Nico.
"W-What was I doing wrong, Miss Nishikino?"
"Ladies, do you feel harassed by this man?" Maki asked Rin and Nico.
"Of course we do, considering what he's implying!" Nico said.
"Maki, I don't like this man..." Rin mumbled.
"And there's your verdict," Maki stated, "Why don't you head up to the 13th floor? I know two people who would just love to know what the hell you're doing."
The photographer hissed and stormed off, right past Maki, the woman wearing a black button-up shirt tucked into a high-waisted, frilly red skirt, a red tie, black tights, and red heels. She opened her mouth to say something, but turned around and walked away instead, her shoes clacking against the hard floor, grumbling as the followed the photographer.
Rin's phone chimed, breaking the silence, "Oh! Kayo-chin is waiting for me outside, so I'll see you later, Nico! Here, this is my number, that way we can text!"
"Thanks, I'll try it later. See ya later, Rin!"
The two parted ways, and Nico skipped along to greet Nozomi, to tell her the news. Finally arriving at Nozomi's car, she slipped in the passenger's seat, Nozomi turning her head dramatically.
"I hear you have some moving to do, Nicocchi," she said, even more dramatically.
Nico giggled, "Yeah, I signed the contracts, they want me to get my stuff packed within a few days."
"Contracts?"
"Contracts. Plural. I read them carefully, it didn't seem so bad."
"It's not so bad at all, as long as you're strategic about it. If they lose interest in you, though, you're done. That's the rule. At least you're located in a convenient location, Nicocchi~"
"You're such a pervert, Nozomi!"
"Heehee~ You want some help packing?"
"I think I need some help with everything."
"Now I can go through your underwear~"
"Perv!"
Once Nozomi parked into the lot, her and Nico headed up to Nico's small apartment. They'd gone to the store and grabbed several boxes, and so, once they got up to Nico's apartment, they ordered some Chinese food and started packing.
They started with the living room, packing up the TV and all of its cords and wires, as well as Nico's music dock, speakers, and DVD player. They took down her magenta curtains and rolled up her black shaggy rug, then sorted through all of the junk in her set of drawers next to the door, packing all of the drawers up. She grabbed idol merchandise and movies by the bunches, as well as some of the manga she'd collected over the years, putting all of it in one box. Then Nico stopped.
"What am I supposed to do with the table and the couch?"
Nozomi laid on the floor, yawning as she looked over at the two pieces of furniture, "Uhhh… hmm… get them in the moving truck somehow? We're probably not strong enough, but mover guys are."
"True… And some of these boxes are pretty heavy, too… Well, we'll work it out, right, Nozomi?"
"Yeah! Now let's go dig around in your closet!"
Nico rolled her eyes, "Let's finish the kitchen and the bathroom first."
"Hmm…maybe just part of the kitchen?"
"Nope, take a box and go pack up what's in my cabinets, I'll take the bathroom."
Nozomi sullenly took a box, looking like a rejected puppy, exaggerating her expression. Nico smiled softly, picking up her own box and heading to the bathroom. She packed up all of her towels, throwing her laundry out into the hallway, then shook out her bathroom rug and put it in with the towels. Going out and grabbing a couple spare boxes, she packed up all of her makeup, soap, lotion, and then packed up all of the cleaning supplies in a separate box, slowly shoving the three out of the bathroom and into the living room.
She strode into the kitchen and grabbed a garbage bag, watching Nozomi carefully pack all of the silverware, cups, plates, and bowls into boxes. She hadn't gotten to the appliances or food yet, Nico settling on the idea to help her as she went back out to the hallway, throwing all of her laundry into the bag.
"Hey, Nozomi, is there a washer and dryer in those condos?"
"Sorta, it depends on the condo. I'm sure if you don't have one, you'll get one."
"Oh, okay..."
Nico sincerely hoped to have a washer and dryer, thinking about all of her long trips to the laundromat in the past month. Sighing, she threw the bag onto the pile of boxes, then went back into the kitchen and unplugged the toaster, setting it into a box, then moved onto the microwave. Soon enough, everything was packed, Nico even remembering to throw the caramel coffee into a box. Her phone lit up; a new email.
Nico,
Will you come to dinner with me tomorrow? It's your day off, and we have some things to discuss about the contract you signed earlier today. I can have you picked up at 6, if you'd like.
Eli
Nozomi glanced over Nico's shoulder, reading the email with Nico. Suddenly, she grabbed Nico from behind, squeezing her small chest, tackling her to the floor.
Nico giggled, then became very solemn, "Nozomi… am I in good hands?"
"Yes, yes you are, Nicocchi."
Nico exhaled with Nozomi's response, then hit REPLY on her phone.
Eli,
I accept your invitation, and thank you.
Nico.
"Now can we move onto your closet?" Nozomi asked, a slight whine to her voice.
Nico sighed, "Fine, perv."
Sexual harassment is unacceptable, it always should be. But what do I know? I'm SmutMaker.
Here's a tip: When you don't know who to pair one character with in a lingerie shoot, ask your boyfriend to roll his D&D die. It works.
This chapter was very hard, as I am suffering through writer's block and a lot of stress.
Apologies for the shortness, but thank you for reading Promise!