Hi i have another chapter done and I wanted to upload it as soon as I can, since my area is currently under typhoon watch. I haven't really experienced any typhoon since I moved, so I'm not sure what to expect. From what I'm told though the last time a strong typhoon like this hit, it caused a lot of damage and power was out for almost a month. I hope it doesn't end like that but just in case I wanted to let you guys know, in case I can't update. Anyways hope you all enjoy this one.

I don't own Love Live

Chapter 11

A week after Maki returned, the soothing melody of the piano along with harmonious voices returned to the music room, inside the nine members of U's sang to the melody of their new song. With Maki playing the piano, she carefully listened to each voice making sure they were all at the same range. The song came to an end and the members looked at Maki for feed back.

"It sounds okay… we're still sounding a little flat" Maki informed her bandmates "We might have to do a few vocal exercise to work on it, but it can wait tomorrow" the group agreed and everyone slowly gathered their things.

Though practice had ended everyone seemed to had stuck around the music room, it had been another month since Maki's return to practice. Her relationship with Nozomi and Eri was slowly mending and little by little she felt her feelings for Nozomi falter, despite that something didn't seem right. Nozomi and Eri there was something about the two that just striked something odd. The more she observed the two the more she noticed that they acted like usual. Just the usual… and that was the problem, she was sure that Nozomi and Eri would have gotten together after all that mishap. At first she thought that it was just them trying to consider her feelings, so she understood if they didn't really act all lovey around her. But that very longing Maki used to see on Nozomi was back, as if Eri was again unattainable.

"Maki-chan" Hanayo called "Rin and I are going to get Ramen, do you want to come?"

"uh… I actually have somewhere to go" Maki said, pulling out her phone to see if she had any messages from Anju

"Eh? What are you doing nya?" Rin bounced to her, curious of what she had planned

"N-Nothing" Maki blushed and covered her phone from Rin's view who was attempting to peek at it.

"Maki-chan is blushing nya!" Rin pointed out just loud enough for everyone to her and join their conversation.

"Eh? What's going on?" Honoka joined pulling Nico with her

"I said it was nothing mou…."

"Maki-chan has secret plans with someone nya!" Rin informed Honoka who was now intrigued.

"Ohhhh! Who is it Maki-chan?" Honoka asked getting way too close for Maki's liking

"I-I" Maki pushed Honoka's face away from her

"Ah… Honoka-chan you're teasing her too much" Kotori slightly lectured

"Oh! Does someone want a little washi-washi" Nozomi mischievously grinned at Honoka, who immediately covered her chest and hid behing Nico.

"Eh! don't hide behind me! I'm no match for Nozomi" Nico complained

Maki was thankful for the little diversion, and she smiled at the scene playing in front of her. She had missed this when we was spent her time apart from everyone. Maki caught sight of Eri and frowned she again saw the same longing only this time it was on Eri for Nozomi. What the hell is going on? Maki wanted to know what was happening between the two. They were suppose to be happy together, that was part of the reason why she worked so hard to move on.

"Eri" Maki called as soon as she got close to the girl "What's going on between you and Nozomi"

"Eh?" Eri gave her a questioning look "I don't know what you mean?"

"Don't play dumb about this…" Maki stated playing with a strand of her hair "You and Nozomi, there's something odd"

"Maki…" Eri looked away with hesitation clearly evident on her face "it's just complicated"

"What do you mean by that? Aren't you two dating?" Maki asked she wanted more explanation, she didn't go through all that just so Eri and Nozomi can just dance around their feelings again.

"Maki it's—" Their conversation was cut off by a shriek from Nico. Eri who clearly didn't want to talk, used this as excuse to get herself away from Maki

Maki sighed as frustrating as it was, she wasn't going to get answers today. So she excused herself from the rest of the U's and made her way out, maybe Anju can help her.

Anju glanced at her phone to check the time since Maki started going to practice again, the young red head was usually late. Which how it should have been since the beginning UTX was just a couple of blocks away from the café. The only reason there was barely any costumers from her school was because the café's palate was a bit mature for the student's taste, plus it was fairly secluded.

"Anju!" Maki jogged to the older girl "Sorry to keep you waiting" out of habit Maki unconsciously wrapped Abju in a quick embrace

Anju blushed from the gesture and her heart raced unsure if she should curse or praise herself for getting Maki so physical with her "I-I didn't wait too long, let's head in" Anju quickly walked in as an attempt to hide her flushed face from Maki. Over the month her feelings did nothing but grow, Anju had dreaded the day she admitted to herself that she was in fact falling for Nishikino Maki. She question if she was ready for this again, when it came down to it will she have the strength to confess to Maki or was she going to lose again.

"Anju? ANJU!" Maki called louder and lightly shook the older girls shoulder. Anju turned to Maki questioningly.

"Mou… you've been standing there" Maki pointed out, she had followed Anju into the café and when they reached their usual table Anju just stood there without a word. "are you feeling okay?"

"Y-yeah, I just…" Anju stuttered and quickly took a seat "I'm okay"

"If you say so" Maki was unconvinced but let it pass Anju will talk to her when she's ready or at least that was what she hoped for. Still she wanted to reassure Anju "You know I'm here if you need anything" Maki blushed and twirled her hair.

"Thank you Maki" Anju smiled

"but honestly everyone's just acting strange today" Maki sighed and leaned back on her chair

"Hm? Did something happen at school?" Anju asked intrigued

"Not exactly" Maki answered "but Nozomi and Eri are acting quiet strange"

"how so?" Anju and Maki paused as they were approached by the café worker, who placed their regular drinks on the table. Maki and Anju had frequent the café enough that the workers knew their regular orders, they even managed to get to know the owner of the café who was now serving them. Anju was about to pull out her money when she was stopped by the woman

"You can pay on your way out" the woman explained with a smile

"Ah… thank you/thanks Youko-san" Anju and Maki thanked the woman and gave her a slight bow.

"You were saying Maki"

"It's just Nozomi and Eri are acting strange around each other" Maki carefully took a sip of her coffee "I thought they would be dating but it doesn't seem like it"

"And that troubles you?" if it didn't bother Maki, it certainly bothered Anju. Were Nozomi and Eri already falling apart? Did Maki still had a chance with Nozomi "are you perhaps hoping to have another chance?" Anju carefully asked dreading the answers, she figured it probably wasn't the case, but she was scared that she again wouldn't stand a chance at this love

"W-what no! it's just I thought they would be happy together" Maki quickly explained, she wasn't sure why she desperately wanted Anju to know that she no longer harbored romantic feelings for Nozomi "I wanted to see them happy together, but right now they're just awkward, like… like they're pushing each other away"

"I see" relieved to hear Maki's answer "Maybe they're trying not to be so couple-y around you"

"No… if it was that then there wouldn't be so much tension"

"You seem to be paying a lot of attention to them" Anju jealously said without thinking, OH MY GOD YOU SOUND SO JEALOUS! Anju scolded herself.

Anju sounded... jealous? Maki thought No… why would she be Maki quickly deducted the thought, it was impossible Anju had no reason to be jealous "Well I still do watch Nozomi from time to time…" Maki admitted

Maki's confession left a sharp pain in Anju's chest, a pain that she was too familiar with.

"So I see it" when Anju didn't say anything Maki continued, somehow she felt Anju's mood change and the look on her eyes seemed defeated "I want to know what's happening with them, not because I was in love with Nozomi" Maki felt like she had to reach out to Anju and make Anju understood that her intention was platonic. Something inside her was just telling her to do it. Maybe she just wanted to reassure Anju that she was not helplessly falling in love with Nozomi again. "But because they're my closest friends. I don't want them hurting each other" Maki already had her hand gently caressing Anju's

Anju could only nod at the girl "Have you tried talking to them?"

"I tried to talk to Eri earlier but she dodged me"

"I think you'll just have to get the answer from them Maki" Anju concluded

"yeah" Anju was right there was really no point speculating what was happening, she needed to confront Nozomi and Eri about this. Somehow she felt like it had something to do with her.

"You'll figure it out" Anju encouraged

"Maki-chan, Anju-chan" Youko called as she approach the girl's table. "We were thinking of serving this in the future as a small snack from time to time" Youko presented the girls a plate "It's grilled sliced tomatoes with cheese stuffed inside, topped with chopped pepper and toasted almonds. Would you mind giving it a taste for us, let me know how you feel about it" Youko left the girls after setting two plates and utensils down.

Anju glanced at Maki and she couldn't help but chuckled at the excited look on Maki's face "You really love tomatoes"

Maki blushed at the comment but nodded "I've always like them"

"Well let's not wait any longer and try it" Anju picked up a sliced and served it to Maki after that she grabbed one for herself. Anju took a moment to watch Maki take a bite of her tomato, the blissful look Maki had on her face, just left a permanent smile on Anju Maki is so cute, I just want to— no! do not go there Anju… Anju abruptly stopped her thoughts, she quickly focused on the dish in front of her, she took one bite and she completely fell in love with the dish.

"What do you girls think?" Youko walked back to them, eager to get their feedback

"It's delicious!" Anju exclaimed Maki only nodded her agreement while she helped herself with another slice

"haha I can see you like it Maki-chan" Youko happily replied "Then we'll be sure to serve these soon"

"Will it be a permanent addition?" Maki curiously asked.

"If it's a request from my favorite couple, I'll make it permanent" Youko exclaimed then she walked away, happy with the respond she had from her favorite regular customers. Youko was however oblivious to the state she had left the girls in

Anju had a bright blush on her face thatt rivaled Maki's hair, Maki had stopped eating and did everything she could to avoid looking at Anju. Their table was completely silent, neither of them was willing to break it. A couple… me and Anju? Maki thought to herself, she didn't even consider falling in love again. She had just started to fully recover from what happened, but then again falling in love was something she couldn't control. Anju is a great person, she's pretty amazing Maki sneaked a glance at Anju who was still blushing plus she's really beautiful Maki blushed even more at her thought but she allowed her eyes to linger longer on Anju's face, studying every section of the older girl's face.

"Uhm…" Anju feeling the intense stare on her face finally had enough and attempted to break the tension by saying the first thing she had thought of "I-I don't know how we look like a couple"

Maki only agreed finally taking her eyes off Anju

"S-should we go?" Anju suggested, she couldn't handle being alone with Maki right not,not when her emotions are screaming for her to confess.

"Uh yeah" Maki stood up and walked to the counter to pay for their bill. Then she joined Anju who was standing outside the cafe.

"I'll see you next time Maki…" Anju begun to walk away as soon as Maki said her goodbye, Anju cursed herself for being so obvious with her feelings today. Holding her feelings back was starting to get tougher, she was just glad Maki seemed oblivious of Anju's growing affection for her. For now this was for the best, Maki had just started to feel better Anju would only confuse Maki if she confessed. It's for the best Anju tried to convinced herself

Maki was indeed confuse but she was confused why Anju and her had parted in such an awkward manner. There was never any tension between them before, so what was this now. Anju… Maki worriedly watched the older girl's retreating back, she hoped Anju wasn't bother by the prospect of them as a couple. Maki blushed A-Anju and I? Maki shook her and to rid herself of the thought, she didn't want to think about this now.