Hey guys! Sorry for the long hiatus but I won't be back so soon... Please bear with it for a while longer! (Is it considered a hiatus if I did upload something recently?)
Nico: First, start addressing the reviews. Second, explain your change in A/Ns in your September story and your usual.
Uh okay? Actually I wanted a more... serious A/N as I'm writing a story for someone that I sort of admire? Kind of like a junior that doesn't want to mess up in front of a senior.
Tsubasa: That explains a lot. But you actually like writing those serious A/Ns right? I mean, it saves you more imagination on writing the story than the mini roleplay.
Umi: That's a really selfish reason.
Oh shut it. I'm still doing it for the light-hearted stories which is quite often.
Hanayo: Shall we start?
Rin: Nyaaaa! Rin wanna do it!
Kotori: Let's have the birthday girl to do it~
Nozomi: I agree!
Eli: (Is no one worried about Maki? She's still out cold...)
Honoka: The review replies will be at the end!
Rin: Nyahooooo! Love Live doesn't belong to anyone nya!
XXXXXX
"Hey Maki-chan, you know what today is right?" Rin asked Maki, who was flipping through a magazine with a bored expression on her face. Maki looked up from the magazine and stared into Rin's chartreuse eyes.
"No I don't. I have to open the clinic soon, have a nice day at work." Maki stood up and left, leaving a smirking Rin behind.
"Oh Maki-chan~ Rin knows that you're planning a surprise party nya! It's okay though, Rin will just play along!" Rin bounced up the stairs, starting her preparations for her tour that afternoon. However, Rin missed a small detail. She has never told Maki when was her birthday, which was why Maki was confused (and banging her head why) in her office.
"What does she mean by that?! What's so special about today?! Halloween was yesterday! Ahhh geez!" Maki slammed her head on the table, startling a blond-haired woman who just entered Maki's office.
"Uh... Are you okay Maki?" Maki suddenly looked up, staring straight at the woman in front of her. "In case you're suffering from memory loss due to you banging your head, I'm Eli Ayase."
"I know you. Okay whatever, do you know what's so special about today? Rin was looking forward to it like how I look forward to Christmas." Eli's eyes widened at Maki's words before sighing softly to herself, muttering something along the lines of 'oh boy'.
"Today is her birthday Maki. For someone who is going out for at least three months, I would have expected you to at least know her birthday..." Now it was Maki's turn to be in shock, for she never knew her own girlfriend's birthday. Which meant that she failed as a girlfriend but Maki was determined to salvage whatever she can.
"What does she want for her birthday?"
"Heh? Shouldn't you know that by now?"
"I meant should I throw her a damn party or just get her ramen." Eli facepalmed like how comedy manga characters would have done it before grabbing a chair to help Maki plan for Rin's birthday.
'I seriously doubt that they are dating...'
XXXXXX
"Nya nya nya~ This is the planetarium, where you can see stars nya! Okay, not real ones but close enough~" Rin told the group of tourists who were busy snapping away selfies with the planetarium as the background.
"Oh my gosh, my friends are gonna be so envious!" A sandy-haired woman with sunglasses gushed, updating her Instagram in the process.
"Aiyah, here so plain. Singapore way better lah!" A middle-aged man with a receding hairline grumbled, looking away crossly.
"Dearie me, it has been a long time since I have seen the stars." An old lady (who Rin presumed that she's British) commented, soon basking in the memories of her youth.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP NYAAAAA!" Rin burst out, not liking how the group was ignoring her. "Ahem! The tour agency has bought tickets for all of us, so let's go inside nya!" Rin led the group inside the planetarium, leaving them at one point to call her colleague to take over her group.
"Hey Tanuki-san, it's your turn to lead the group nya!"
"Okay give me 15 minutes. Also, it's 'Tatsuki' not 'Tanuki'."
"Whatever nya! See ya!" Rin ended the call and turned to her group. "Guys, you have 30 minutes to explore this planetarium! Please, no flash photography nya!" A chorus of 'okays' rang out before the group dispersed. Rin took this opportunity to sneak out of the planetarium and back to Akihabara. Once she arrived, she visited Kotori's patisserie for a chat.
"Oh Rin-chan! You're back pretty early." Kotori commented after glancing at a nearby clock. She took out a tray of muffins and offered one to Rin. "Want a strawberry muffin?"
"Thanks nya!" Rin took the muffin and proceeded to stuff it into her mouth. At the same time, Hanayo came out of the kitchen with flour all over her face.
"Note to self, the new bags of flour explode when you open them with hands." Hanayo muttered, taking off her flour-covered glasses. Kotori chuckled to herself before going over to Hanayo's side, licking her flour-stained cheek.
"Waaaah! Rin's still here you know! Geez, Kotori-chan shouldn't do this to Kayo-chin nya!" Rin blushed, covering her eyes.
"Aw~ Hanayo-chan is just so cute that I couldn't resist!" Kotori brought Hanayo into a tight embrace, squeezing the air out of her.
"K-Kotori-chan... Anyways, Rin-chan didn't you say that you have a tour group today?" Hanayo managed to free herself from Kotori's embrace and asked Rin a question.
"Oh that... Rin ditched them nya!"
"YOU WHAT?!" The two women looked at Rin in horror, not believing that their cat-like friend is willing to ditch work just for her birthday. Rin simply tilted her head innocently after seeing their reactions.
"Nya? Rin did get Tanuki-san to cover me so it's fine!"
"Oh thank god..." Hanayo heaved a sigh of relief while Kotori took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off her forehead.
"Oh, it's getting late! Rin will head over to Nozomi-chan's place first! See you later at Maki-chan's place nya!" Rin waved farewell before leaving for the bar.
"Um... What does she mean by Maki-chan's place...? I don't remember Maki-chan inviting us over for anything..." Kotori asked, puzzled over Rin's words.
"Should we ask?" Hanayo replied, taking out her handphone just in case. Kotori shook her head before going back to her baking. Hanayo nodded and went back to her kitchen, taking a pair of scissors with her to prevent any flour explosions from happening again. It was halfway during their work that they realised something.
'Oh no, I didn't wish Rin-chan happy birthday!'
XXXXXX
"Oh Rin-chan, welcome!" Nozomi greeted Rin as she charged in, knocking Nico over in the process.
"Oof! The hell Rin?!" Nico spat out, rubbing the sore area that Rin caused. Nozomi simply gave a smile before going back to pour drinks for the customers present in the bar.
"Here you go Tatsuki-san, your Orange Blossom." Nozomi slid an orange cocktail over to a slightly chubby, brown-haired woman who was wearing the exact same uniform like the one Rin was currently wearing. Rin turned her head to the woman and got a shock.
"T-T-Tanuki-saaaaaaan?!" Rin cried out, pointing a finger at the woman. Tatsuki-san let out a 'tch' before sipping her drink.
"You know her?" Nico asked, going over to the counter to order a drink. "Gimme a DITA."
"Are you sure Nicocchi? You can't even handle your alcohol well..." Nozomi raised an eyebrow, genuinely worried for her girlfriend's liver.
"Oh shaddap! You ain't telling me what I can drink, I'm all grown up now!" Nozomi sighed before following Nico's order.
"T-Tanuki-san, what about the group Rin asked you to handle nya?"
"Oh them? They were a pain in the ass so I asked Tsubaki to cover me."
"Eeeeeeeh?! Won't Chiri-san complain to our boss nya?" Tatsuki-san shook her head before finishing her drink.
"No she won't. She's the most timid person in the whole agency. If I blackmail her she won't even think about telling her family, let alone our boss."
"You're horrible nya."
"Nicocchi, your DITA is ready..." Nozomi placed an amber yellow cocktail on to the counter, silently regretting her decision to make the cocktail. Nico took the cocktail and gulped it down, instantaneously down for the count.
"N-Nozomi-chan, what is DITA anyway nya?" Rin asked, stunned from Nico's instant death.
"Death in the Afternoon, a very very strong drink. Ironically, it's already evening so it should be Death in the Evening..." Nozomi picked up Nico's petite body and placed her on a nearby couch.
"Heh, that's a good pun. Welp, time for me to get going. I'm going back to sleep. See you around." Tatsuki-san got up and left the bar, leaving Rin with Nozomi and a sleeping Nico.
"Nya... No one really remembered what today is..." Rin muttered, starting to get upset that no one has even wished her a 'happy birthday'.
"Remember what? Oh right, I kinda have to close up early as my mom's coming over." Nozomi pushed Rin out of the bar before going over to drape a blanket over Nico. "Have a good evening Rin-chan!"
"Yeah... Bye..." Rin trod away from the bar, a depressed look etched on her face. As soon as she was out of sight, Nozomi nudged Nico who soon opened her eyes.
"Damn that drink was strong. What the hell did you even put in there?" Nico sat up, still woozy from her drink.
"Eh, just 60 percent gin and remaining percent champagne. Why?"
"Cause that nearly knocked the shit outta me."
"The real DITA uses absinthe instead of gin you know."
"That disgusting fluid?! Ew, who would even drink that?!"
"You apparently. Come on, let's help Maki-chan and Elichi prepare for the party." Nico got off the couch and started packing bottles of alcohol into a cooler.
"Man, you're bringing out the big guns aren't you?" Nico noted as she packed the bottles Nozomi handed to her.
"Well, it's more fun with a sedated kitty yeah?"
"Haha, not after we got beaten by Umi. Plus we partied damn hard yesterday."
"Then today's will be even harder. You done packing?" Nozomi picked up her hand bag and waited for Nico to reply.
"Yeah, I'm done. Shit, this is one heavy box." Nico muttered as she attempted to lug the cooler.
"Don't give up! You have to make it to Maki-chan's house~"
"FML Nozomi."
"I'll do it later Nicocchi, don't be so impatient!" Nico's face heated up as she resisted the urge to hurl a bottle at Nozomi.
"T-That's not what I meant you horny boob demon!"
XXXXXX
"Umi-chaaaaan! Comfort me nya!" Rin whined to a flustered Umi.
"N-No I can't! You should only do that with Maki!"
"But Maki-chan is the cause of this! Umi-chan just comfort me already nya!" Rin whined even further, causing much distress to the one-arm police lieutenant.
"I can only do this with Eli! You must remain faithful to Maki!" Rin looked at Umi with confused eyes, then realisation dawned on her.
"Not that nya! Console me, not have sex with me nya!" Umi paled at her blunder, taking out a knife in the process. "Uh Umi-chan...? What are you gonna do with that nya?"
"Commit seppuku." Umi replied as she unbuttoned her shirt and positioned the knife on her abdomen, alarming Rin.
"Nyaaaaa! Stop it Umi-chan, you didn't do anything wrong!"
"Please let me die! I've embarrassed myself and I can't live!"
"Think about Eli-chan nya! Think about that guy who you didn't save! They want you to live nya!"
"Rin..." Umi dropped the knife, slumping to the floor. "I've let my pride blind me from what's truly important..."
"It's okay nya. As long as you-" Rin didn't finish her sentence which was interrupted by Umi.
"I'll commit suicide with my beloved Eli!" Rin's eyes bulged at Umi's statement, horrified that not only did Umi not value her life but was also considering to take Eli's along with her own.
"Someone help me nyaaaaa!" Thankfully, two women entered the church at that very moment.
"Rin, is there something wrong?" Tsubasa asked, concern in her emerald eyes.
"Yes! Umi-chan is trying to kill herself nya! And she wants to drag Eli-chan into it!"
"Again Umi-chan?! Geez, you need to toughen up..." Honoka sighed, scratching her head.
"My pride is at stake!" Umi countered. Within seconds, Honoka and Umi were in a heated argument while Rin and Tsubasa helplessly looked on.
"Oh that reminds me, I'm on my way to look for Maki. Shall we go together?" Tsubasa turned to Rin, whisking her away from the church. However, this went unnoticed by the remaining two.
"Like I said, You shouldn't go around committing suicide just for your pride!"
"How am I supposed to live it down?! You tell me!"
"I burnt down your house and I still haven't committed suicide! Same goes to the fact that I gave Tsu-chan's boss second-degree burns and that I danced naked with Nico-chan on the day that Rin-chan got sick!"
"That's because you're an idiot!"
"No, you're the idiot! A prideful, selfish idiot! Right Tsu-chan?!" Honoka whipped her head to where Tsubasa was standing before she had left. "OH COME ON! YOU DITCHED US BUT DRAGGED RIN-CHAN WITH YOU?!"
"Well, at least that would mean that the party has started." Umi took hold of Honoka's hand and dragged her to Maki's house.
"Race you there!" Honoka pulled her hand out of Umi's grip and started sprinting off, leaving Umi behind.
"You- Ah whatever, I can't lose to her!" Umi sighed before chasing after Honoka at a frightening speed.
XXXXXX
"Eli, are you done with the preparations?" Maki asked Eli, who was holding a mini jack-o-lantern. Eli gave her a thumbs up before placing it on the table. Not far out in the distance, a cry of terror can be heard outside Maki's house which was soon followed by the doorbell.
"Yes? Ah Honoka-chan, Umi-chan!" Kotori opened the door to reveal Umi and a heavily panting Honoka. Umi pushed Honoka inside while signalling to Nozomi to make a drink for Honoka.
"Hm? Okay let's see... A little bit of this... and a little of that... Shake it all up... Done!" Nozomi shook her cocktail strainer (which she had also brought along for cases like these) and poured out a ghastly purple liquid into a nearby cup. Onlookers shivered at the ghost floating out of the drink, worrying for Honoka's safety. Well, all but Umi and Honoka herself that is.
"Bottoms up!" Umi forced the drink into Honoka's mouth, forcing the firefighter to consume all its contents.
"Bleagh! What IS this?!" Honoka gagged as soon she was consuming the drink.
"Well... There's a little blackcurrant juice, 80 percent rice, 10 percent green tea and..." Nozomi trailed off, not wanting to continue.
"A-And what?! Honoka-chan may be dying here!" Hanayo spoke up, worried for her friend's health.
"Salt...?"
"Nozomi! What kind of a drink is THAT?!" Eli pounded her fist on the table, sending the lantern into a fit of wobbles.
"It was just a joke drink! It's not even alcoholic!"
"Yeah whatever, Rin's coming soon. I have to throw the best party ever for her..." Maki stood up and went to the door, waiting for Tsubasa and Rin to arrive. As if on cue, the doorbell rang once more.
"Hey, I brought her over." Tsubasa thrust Rin into Maki's arms right after Maki had opened the door for them.
"Maki-chaaaaaan... Do you know what day today is nyaaaaa?" Rin sobbed into Maki's arms after hearing Tsubasa's explanation that Maki actually didn't know when was Rin's birthday. Maki sighed and petted Rin's head, calming her cat-like girlfriend slightly.
"Today is your birthday. Next time, we better tell each other our personal information so we can avoid such situations."
"Maki-chan knows nya! Rin's so happy nya!" The onlookers smiled, relieved to know that everything was fine now.
"Hey, shall we give the birthday cat a toast?" Nozomi suggested, placing ten glasses of alcohol on the table. Everyone but Tsubasa and Rin looked at the liquids in horror, unwilling to consume the liquid.
"Why is the liquid blue now...?" Nico asked, staring suspiciously at the liquid. Rin spun towards Nico's direction and pointed a finger at the smaller woman.
"Aren't you supposed to be out of it nyaaaaa?!" It was true, Rin had saw Nico 'fall' after drinking Nozomi's 'DITA'. So naturally she'll be surprised to see Nico up and barking out questions so early into the night.
"That wasn't as alcoholic as the real DITA so Nicocchi survived. Anyways Nicocchi, this is simply just a harmless glass of Blue Lagoon." Nozomi replied, holding up her own glass of Blue Lagoon.
"O-Oh. For a second there, I thought it was that weird drink that Honoka consumed..." Nico picked up her glass and immediately spat the contents out. "The hell?! It tastes like shit! And why the hell is there rice inside this drink?! Hanayo, you can have it." Nico handed the drink over to Hanayo, who accepted it with shaky hands.
'Somehow... I don't think I should drink this... Even if there is rice in here...' Hanayo thought to herself but gulped the contents down anyways. The nine looked at her with anticipation, waiting to hear Hanayo's reaction to the drink.
Seconds later, Hanayo was out cold with foam frothing at the mouth.
XXXXXX
"Oh thank god Kayo-chin's awake nya!" Rin shouted to Maki, who was preparing some medicine for Hanayo.
"I-I think I saw the afterlife... I saw my dead grandfather..." Hanayo stood up groggily, still suffering the after effects of the drink. Kotori went over and supported Hanayo should she collapse again.
"Now the party can start~" Nozomi commented, taking out her cocktail shaker to mix some drinks.
"You still dare to say that after causing someone to faint?!" Nico cried out, slamming her fist on the table.
"... You're right. I should take a break from mixing drinks. Elichi, take over for me." Nozomi grabbed Nico's hand and started to drag her up the stairs.
"Sure? Where are you going with Nico?" Eli asked, noticing the duo going upstairs.
"Nicocchi wanted me to do her just now, so I'm simply agreeing to her~"
"NO! FML DOESN'T MEAN THAT LITERALLY! HELP MEEEEE!" Nico begged before she disappeared with Nozomi. The remaining eight cringed before going back to the party.
"Say Rin, do you want to eat your cake? Kotori and Hanayo put a lot of effort into it." Maki tugged at Rin's sleeve, pulling her towards a white cake on the table.
"Nya? What kind of cake is this nya~?" Umi handed Rin a knife (which was actually the one she wanted to do seppuku with) and Rin cut the cake neatly into ten pieces.
"Let's eat! I wanna get this taste out of my mouth!" Honoka picked up a slice and popped it into her mouth. "... Why does this cake taste like chicken...?"
"It's a ramen cake! Thanks guys!" Rin cheered as she tasted the cake. Honoka paled slightly before resuming her eating.
"So it's a chicken-flavoured ramen cake... Is this egg...?" Tsubasa peered into the cross-section of her slice, noting a yellow solid in between the cake layers along with a few strands of ramen.
"Mmhm! We decided to go with the original ramen ingredients!" Kotori happily bit into her cake. feeding a little of her own to Hanayo.
"You two really outdone yourself..." Umi sighed as she used her fork to cut a small piece of cake.
"Yeah. Okay, who wants what? All of us must drink!" Eli ordered, placing the cocktail shaker on the table.
"Give me a Singapore Sling then."
"Tsu-chan, that's quite strong y'know... Ah well, I wanna Blue Lagoon. A normal one please."
"Honoka, Eli won't play around like Nozomi. May I have a Long Island Iced Tea?"
"Umi, you are aware that Long Island Iced Tea is not a tea right?"
"Yes I do, why do you ask Maki?"
"Just checking. Give me neat brandy then."
"Maki-chan, that's bad nyaaa! You have work tomorrow!"
"It's fine Rin, I'm off work tomorrow."
"O-Okay nya... Rin wants a Zombie nya!"
"Rin-chan, that's worse!"
"Kayo-chin, Rin can always get Tanuki-san or Chiri-san to take over for me nya!"
"Eeeeeeh... Still... Okay then. Eli-chan, may I have beer please?"
"Sure. What about you Kotori?"
"Um... Beer too I guess?"
"Got it!" Eli scribbled down all the orders and served the ones that are by itself first.
"Thanks Eli." Maki picked up her drink and drank half of its contents before placing it back on to the table.
"Oh by the way Maki-chan, did you call us just now for the party?" Kotori asked, sipping her beer.
"Yeah, I wanted to throw a party for Rin." Maki downed the remaining contents before sliding it back to Eli. "Another one."
"Got it! Honestly though, you had me worried. You didn't even know when was Rin's birthday!" Hanayo spat out her beer, drenching Eli in the process.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry!" Hanayo apologised as she took out some tissues to dry off Eli.
"Seriously...? You don't have to do that you know..."
"B-But Maki-chan, you're dating Rin-chan for more than three months! You should know this by now!"
"Eh, she doesn't know mine either. Ah right, Eli I've some spare clothes upstairs. I'll bring you there." Maki stood up and escorted Eli upstairs, covering her ears as soon as they passed the room where Nozomi and Nico were in.
"Eli-chan's gone? Well, time for Honoka the bartender to help!" Honoka announced, sending the remaining into shock.
By the time Maki and Eli came down, five of them were frothing at the mouth while Honoka gave a thumbs up at her 'awesome' mixing skills. Honoka herself was knocked out after the legally certified bartender came back from her love-making session, serving her a lethal version of the purple drink.
XXXXXX
Eli: ... Just what did Honoka serve...?
Uh... Some stuff...?
Nozomi: The rest are really knocked out...
Nico: Okay really, what the hell is the weird purple drink?!
Oh that? It's a drink I tasted two years ago for my Home Economics exam! The group opposite mine made that disgusting drink, I'm aware there's a tea bag involved and some nata de coco. The rest... well trust me, it tastes both bitter and salty at the same time.
Eli: Maki is still not awake.
Maki: I am now... That neat brandy woke the heck out of me...
Oh good, you're awake. Now I can finally address the reviews! (Which are a lot, I'm supposed to be overjoyed but I'm still lazy... T_T)
S3C0NDG0D: Thanks for liking the story! Ah but there's no need to give me such a grand title, I don't deserve it. There's actually still a lot I could improve on! I hope that you will enjoy my stories in the future!
rizkakarima: I'm glad that you love this! But really, such a title is really not befitting of me. I don't deserve such a grand title, though I hope that you will still enjoy my stories in the future!
Revengermajestyliberator: Nozomi is a stalker. Well, Nico does deserve to be pitied... I mean, I imitate her on every single chapter you post... Oh right, regarding the part where Nozomi has evidence of Rin and Maki doing that... Let's just say, think out of the box? What you see may not be the truth after all~
Chillin' Dude: No they probably don't broadcast Christmas anime that early... Hey it's just a story so I can make things up right?
IluvEliUmi: Sorry but I'll put the radio section for another time. All I can say is that Honoka and Kotori are involved (like duh) and she had embarrassed herself badly on that day. I'll leave it up to your imagination. Oh right, as a reply to your review on the September story yeah you're right about the fourth wall part. I'm really bad at geography so I couldn't understand it when I googled it. You get a cookie for actually finding that part!
Candygirl44: Well, since you give off the impression that you're quite smart... I'll say the same thing as what I've replied Revengermajestyliberator! What you see may not be the truth... (I think you may have an idea with who not to believe...)
Actually there is one more reviewer but he/she replied in the fifth chapter so... Uh...
Eli: Basically that person is praising me and Umi.
Nozomi: Ah~ That really is a fun party! Let's do this again!
Nico: Oh god no.
Maki: Please review and criticise how terrible this chapter is.
Hey! It's not that bad! (Right guys?)
Nozomi: Welp, see ya next time!
All: Bye!