Summary: The Nishikinos, one of Japan's most important families, have expectations for their only daughter. Maki's not thrilled.
"Mama? Did Security change the garage code again?" Nishikino Maki, casually dressed in jeans, t-shirt, and a leather jacket, driving gloves held in one hand, echoed in the open foyer.
"No. I did. At your father's request. If you need to go anywhere, ask the staff to drive you."
Maki's eyes narrowed, anger and suspicion flaring, "What's going on?"
"It's time for you to start taking some steps toward marriage."
"No."
"Cutting off your access to the cars is just the first step."
"I will not be a negotiating chip for Nishikino Health."
Maki's mom sighed, "Are you dating anyone?"
Maki wrapped her arms around her torso. "I'm not talking about this here."
"Fine. Let's go into my office." Dr. Nishikino turned, the tap of her heels quick, the picture of professional efficiency.
Her daughter's boots dragged, reluctant to follow.
Dr. Nishikino remained standing; Maki slumped in one of the tea table's chairs.
"Are you dating anyone?" Her mother repeated.
"No." Maki spoke very slowly, "I am not currently seeing any women."
"No one cares about that. Just be discrete."
"No."
"We are being approached by very important families." Her mother walked to the desk, handing a folder to Maki, "It is…difficult to refuse even a meeting."
Maki opened the folder. Major companies in the Japanese and South Korean markets and their eligible sons.
"No."
"Next loss is access to your credit cards."
"I have my own investments."
"Fine." Dr. Nishikino grabbed the folder back, "Then, you find an apartment, pay for school, and the piano stays here."
Maki's fists clenched.
"Just meet them."
Glaring. A test of wills. Then her mother softened, "Please, Maki. Just a few meetings. It will make your father's life easier."
Maki had recognized the names. Half of the families were her father's regular golf companions.
"I won't lie."
Maki's mother shrugged.
"I pick the place. Just coffee. One day, half hour you leave me alone."
Maki didn't negotiate. That was the best deal her parents were going to get. She held out the folder.
took it back. "Agreed."
###
Slow early afternoon. Yazawa Nico burned energy cleaning while Tojo Nozomi leaned on the counter trying to steal the pencil from her girlfriend, Ayase Eli, who was studiously copying cases for her current law school homework. Eli still preferred to do all her initial drafts on paper.
The door chimed. A tall, scowling redhead, occasionally seen walking by but never entering before today, was dressed in a severe black suit, cut out of the most expensive looking fabric Nico had ever seen. It moved like athletic wear, the skirt barely brushing the knee, the heels adding to an already impressive height. The woman strode straight to the counter, Nico straightening up and hastily smoothing down her apron.
"Nico Nico Ni! What can Nico get you today?" Nico chirped in her brightest voice.
Eli glanced up from her homework, curious.
"Espresso. There will be someone joining me. Bring it then. Every time." The redhead handed over a card.
"What about the other..."
"I don't care."
"That's not…"
Nozomi had noticed, sliding next to Nico, taking the card, reading the name. "It will be our pleasure, Ms. Nishikino."
Maki nodded, moving to a seat not far from the counter and away from the window. She sat, crossed one leg over the other, and stared into her phone with a frown.
"So, dominatrix?" Nozomi whisper-asked.
"Go perv on your girlfriend, Tojo."
"Bet there's some frills underneath."
Nico turned and glared at Nozomi, "Do you only work here to ogle customers?"
"It inspires my art." Nozomi twirled back into Eli's reach.
"Her latest short got accepted at Telluride." Eli said proudly.
Nico grabbed Eli's pencil. "If you're not going to do homework, let's talk about our band."
Maki had put down her phone.
""If my grades drop, there will be no band." Eli could sound so seriously sensei.
"Your grades never drop. And you promised Nico. And…" here Nico started to sound whiny, "YOUR girlfriend wants us to be her next short's soundtrack."
"I do." Nozomi had both Eli's hands and was leaning in, poised for a kiss once she decided on a target location.
The door opened, generic tall man in suit walked in and immediately headed toward the only currently occupied table. His greeting was a curt nod.
"NIco'd better pull that espresso." Nico pushed off the counter, still staring at Eli, "but we're continuing this when Nico gets back."
Espresso in hand, Nico jumped to the delivery part of her job. The woman acknowledged her approach with a glance, Nico decided to put on the full show. "Espresso for Ms. Elegant. Your suit is the fly-est thing Nico has ever seen. Bet it's supersoft."
The man fidgeted in his chair, adjusting the torso of his merely functional suit, "We would prefer not to be interrupted. Nishikino-san's appearance is perfectly suited to a future professional in her position and should not draw comment."
Nico leaned down to whisper in Maki's ear, "Bet he can't tell cashmere from cotton."'' Nico was surprised by a flush of pink on Maki's cheek. She dared a fleeting brush of the sleeve. As soft as she imagined.
"I will have a Coffee Jelly Frappuchino."
"Nico is sorry but we're out."
He glared. Nico smiled. Maki downed her espresso, a smirk on her lips.
"Sakura…"
"Only in Spring."
"What do you have available?"
"Oh, Nico has a sweet tooth too…"
"I don't have a sweet tooth."
Maki had put down her espresso cup and was watching the conversation with the most interest she'd shown in anything yet.
"Would you like an espresso, like your…date?"
Maki slumped back. "It's not a date."
Business dude opened his mouth, but a gesture from Maki silenced him.
Nico was also a professional. "Our best selling seasonal drink is the Chocolate Pretzel Mocha Frappucino," Nico winked at Maki, "salty and sweet."
"Fine. Just hurry." He waved Nico away, "Good afternoon, Nishikino-san. Thank you for agreeing to meet me. How is your father? We haven't run into each other in a while."
"He spends most of his time on the golf course. And boasts of how much he has won in bets from your father, Sasaki-san."
A sly grin, "So coffee's on your card?"
That attempt at flirting went so flat Nozomi winced and the conversation had ended by the time the pretzels arrived to be crunched. Which they were. Loudly.
When Sasaki-san rose to leave, Nico returned Maki's card, but Maki refused to take it, "I'm not done yet. Please bring me another espresso. And a slice of Houjicha & Caramel Mousse Cake."
"You do have a sweet tooth."
Another slight blush, but no response. Nico shrugged and returned to the counter, shaking her head at Nozomi's leer.
Eli was packing up. "Nico, I have to leave. You said we were going to talk music."
The door open. This young man was wearing a Tokyo University hoodie and track pants.
"Give Nico a minute."
"I'm leaving in ten minutes, Nico. I have class."
"And I need five of them." Nozomi was sitting next to Eli, hand on Eli's thigh.
"Nico will be right back." She pointed, "You're in public."
An espresso and cake delivery, with Nico walking up just as the new guy was finishing a sentence, "...next time we meet to play tennis together. I need a decent mixed doubles partner."
"I don't play tennis, Shima-san."
Hoodie dude pushed away from the table, rolling his eyes at Nico, "This is a waste of time. I'll have an iced coffee, 4 pumps vanilla syrup."
"Nico's on it."
"How many do you think she has coming?" Eli wondered as Nico returned.
"The Nishikinos are one of Japan's richest families. They must be marriage meetings." Nozomi had been looking things up on the phone. "She's a grad student, like Eli."
"She seems young for that." Nico prepped the iced coffee.
"Prodigy."
"Be right back. Then we talk band."
"Good. I'm going to be late." Eli was now putting on a coat.
Nico sprinted back.
"We need a third person, Nico. Me on guitar and you singing isn't enough."
"Nico is a star."
Eli sighed. "Even stars need percussion sections."
"Maybe Nico can tap dance instead." Nozomi had her arms wrapped around Eli, "That's noisy."
"Not funny." Nico glanced back to the table. Hoodie dude was perpendicular to Maki, who startled and looked away as Nico turned. "We'll put up ads or something. Reach out on social. Nico's got fans."
"We don't need Nico's fans. We need a musician, a good one."
"Yeah," Nozomi was pushing Eli out the door, "can't have someone who's just looking at Nico and trying hard not to scream."
"Nozomi, be nice." Eli stepped out of the hug.
"I am nice. I'm going to put your band in my award winning movie and save you from a law degree."
"I'm still getting a law degree, Nozomi." Eli kissed Nozomi soundly and ran off down the street with a wave. "Love you."
"How did you find her?" Nico asked.
"I've always been lucky. You know that, Nico-chi." Nozomi stepped aside so Hoodie Guy could flee.
"Rub some off on Nico."
Nozomi reached out for Nico, who bolted back behind the counter.
"Not like that."
###
Next in was a fedora wearer. With a very flashy waistcoat offsetting his tweed suit. Matcha latte. Maki back to just an espresso, but Nico noticed today's top customer seemed to be getting increasingly fidgety. Fedora got a half smile with a joke, but when Nico returned with his drink, they seemed to be discussing Tokyo's theatre scene. Maki did take a moment to nod in Nico's direction as Fedora draw an air picture of a set.
"What's the topic?"
"Set design."
Nozomi looked blank.
"They both know a lot about Tokyo theatres."
"Oh."
Nozomi and Nico shared a glance. Maki kept fidgeting. Fedora left, but with a peppy step.
"Zero for 3…is she winning?" Nozomi asked.
Maki looked tired, her phone had buzzed, and she was listening to the other person, grunting occasionally.
"That doesn't look like winning." Nico decided.
"Two more or four more?" Nozomi tried to get excited at a wager, but the late afternoon wall was hitting all of them.
"Don't know. Nico just hopes it's over soon." Nico smiled at a regular, taking their time at the menu. "It's painful to watch."
"You should slip her a chicken teriyaki sandwich."
"Yeah. She looks wiped."
"Flirting with a cute girl is one thing; rich people heteronormative marriage meat market is another." Nozomi was doing a deep dive into the Nishikino rumor mill, "She was sometimes seen at the Symphony in the company of various performing artists."
"Stop cyber stalking customers."
"Researching potential funding. Deciding whether she's into blondes or brunettes."
Nico moved away from Nozomi, grabbing a sandwich from the fridge, warming it. Maki had her phone down and her eyes closed. Then she stretched.
"Here you go, kid." Nico dropped the sandwich and a glass of water in front of Maki, "You need some food."
"Maki. And I know what I need."
"You should listen to Nico."
The door opened. Maki glanced up, a clump of customers rushing in, but no one screaming "Rich Parent Approved" so Maki took a tentative bite of the sandwich.
"Still want espresso." Maki muttered.
"Yeah, yeah, Nico knows." And Nico backed into a tall Korean with a suit the match of Maki's for elegance. Maki took another bite of sandwich.
"Please get my companion the espresso she requested." New guy's voice was smooth. "And another for me. Are you enjoying the sandwich, Nishikino-san?"
"'S all right." Maki muttered through a hasty third bite.
"And one of those as well." He bowed toward Maki, "I am Gu Si Wong. It is an honor to meet you. Please accept this small gift." He placed an Hermes bag on the table.
Nico headed for the counter. Nozomi had managed to surf the customer wave while still eavesdropping.
"They match. I like that. She's ignoring the bag though."
Nico glanced back. The bag had moved closer to Maki. "This isn't a sport, Nozy. Or a play."
"I'm enjoying it, Nico-chi."
Maki still obviously wasn't, although Gu-san had kept the conversation going.
Nico brought the order. Gu-san smiled, "Thank you, miss. Perhaps, as a local, you could recommend an evening activity. Someplace your boyfriend would take you.
"I'm a local." Maki stated, pushing her plate aside.
"Boyfriends aren't Nico's style. Enjoy your sandwich. Nico Ni!" WIth a cherry bounce, Nico returned to the counter, where Nozomi was recruiting a pair of pink haired twins for her newest film.
Nico ignored that scene. Time to brew the evening's coffee. They must be getting low.
###
"Zero for four" Nozomi announced.
Nico turned around to see a slumped Maki, yawning, ignoring her buzzing phone.
"I went on four dates in two days once." Nozomi leaned forward, "I looked that tired after date three. But at least I enjoyed it."
"Nico can't watch this anymore. Cover the rest of my shift."
"I have a date with Eli after her class." Nozomi pouted, green eyes merry.
"I'll open."
"You're so soft, Nico-chi."
"Shut up."
Another gentleman in a smart suit opened the door. Nico said, "Bye, Nozomi" and rushed in front of him, "You look good, buddy, but your date's cancelled, go home."
"What?"
Nico heard an echoing "what" behind her as a chair pushed back. Nico half turned, "Hi, Maki. Want to go for a walk with Nico?"
"Nishikino-san?" Smart Suit ignored Nico.
"Greetings, Taira-san." Standing next to Nico, Maki bowed her head, "I have had a tiring day and find myself suddenly fatigued. Please accept my apology but I must reschedule."
Smart Suit seemed flustered but matched Maki's bow, "Of course, Nishikino-san. It is a pleasure to meet you. Of course, we can reschedule at your convenience."
"Thank you."
And then Nico found herself being pulled back to Maki's table, "Why did you do that?" Maki leaned forward, perplexed.
"Do you want Nico to go get him back?" Nico half rose.
Maki laughed, "No. But my mother is going to ask so many questions."
"Nico can write you a note."
Maki ran her fingers through her hair, "I write my own notes."
Nico sneaked a glance at the counter. Nozomi was totally ignoring customers to stare. "Nico really needs that walk. Outside. Away from…"
"She's not subtle. Tojo Nozomi, right? The filmmaker."
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"I might have eavesdropped, briefly." Maki looked shy, twirling a curl around her finger, "So I hear you're in a band."
"Almost a band." More Nozomi staring, maybe a giggle. "C'mon, Maki." Nico stood, "You're a local, take Nico someplace interesting."
Maki slid an arm through Nico's, a little giddy. Probably an after effect of all the espressos. That and the tremor in her voice as she asked. "Want to hear me play the piano? It's not drums, but…"
That was a surprise. Maybe a good one. Definitely one Nico was going to think about. Later. But right now, Tokyo had a lovely afternoon and Nico had a date. "Nico would love to."
A shy smile, the most relaxed of the day.
Point, Nico.
A/N:
Working on a more Femslash Friday fics goal. Kind of a loose riff off the arranged marriage bits of the Korean drama Business Proposal and Dove Cameron's catchy new single, which people keep bringing to my attention.
Enjoy.
P.S. Yes, I am working on my multi-chapters. And more Star Trek with vnvdarkangel. But Spring and my sinuses have collided to slow things down.
