DISCLAIMER: Watashi wa watashixx (sounds confusing?) and Sunrise own Love Live!
A/N: I decided to make their clubroom and the music room located on the 2nd floor, so…. No one would see them when their windows are both open.
It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart – Suzanne Collins
Chapter III
"Walls"
"Hurry up"
"Wait a minute"
"We're going to be late"
"I know!"
Nico finished checking everything and when she finally exits their house to lock it she saw Maki impatiently tapping her foot on the ground while giving Nico a stern face
"Whose fault do you think it is?!" Nico shot a glare to the crimson haired girl while closing the door "You're the one who don't want to stand from your chair because you kept begging for another set of the tomato soup!"
"I did that because it's not good to have a leftover" Maki retorted, her eyebrows are burrowed as she said this
Nico only hummed, not convinced with Maki's answer "Even though you're giving me right now a I-hate-you-because-you-didn't-let-me-finish-my-tomato-soup vibe" she said while walking towards the crimson haired girl
Maki just turn her head upon hearing the statement so Nico won't see the expression that she's giving right now, but unfortunately before she turn her head Nico saw everything
Her face is reddening? Is she angry now or shy?
"I'm going first, don't blame me if the wanderers come after you" Maki started to walk with a deadpan expression
Nico sighed at this and followed the other girl while keeping a distance behind the girl
When am I going to get use with this girl?
They stayed silent while walking towards their school, Nico watch Maki in front of her, she was walking elegantly and unaware of the stares of the people whom she passed by. While watching Maki's back for a while an image of Eri spreading her alluring black wings entered her mind. She remembered the time when she was on the ground watching the falling white feather.
So it's hers? Her wings are pure white? Totally opposite of her personality
The event when she woke up came into her, she saw Maki sitting on the floor, her head on her knees while sleeping. It surprised her, what she knows is that she let the girl sleeping on the sofa last night. When she got up she saw the full view of Maki, she was like hugging herself and totally unguarded, it piques her soft side, she reached for her comforter and slowly hangs it into Maki. She decided not to question her contractor about it.
For Nico there's something about the girl that piques her soft side, after cooking for her, Maki's reaction really made her happy. She wanted to talk to the other girl, or if it's possible to get to know Maki but every time she remember what the crimson haired girl had said on the clubroom she can't help to get irritated on Maki.
She made a contract with me just because she want to stay here as long as she wants. Nico snorts. What a selfish angel
Nico's thoughts continue until she saw Maki stop from walking and was looking at someone, she followed her line of sight and it fell on her neighbor, who was holding a paper bag full of vegetables. Her neighbor greeted Maki which made Maki bow and greeted back. Nico walk faster and stopped beside Maki, her neighbor noticed her.
"Good morning Yazawa-san" her neighbor smiled warmly at them "I'm glad you and your girlfriend made up already"
"G-girlfriend?!" Nico stuttered
"Am I wrong?" her neighbor eyed the two of them Maki was giving her a bored look as if she's not interested on what she just said while Nico was giving her a complicated face
"I'm sorry Yazawa-san, that's the first thought that came into my mind when I saw this pretty girl always sleeping outside your house every night" Her neighbor was giving an apologetic smile "Sometimes I saw the two of you walking together but not talking to each other and when you reach your home you'll close the door, not letting her to enter. So I thought the two of you are on fight"
Nico was flabbergasted on this information, she can't remember walking together with this girl except yesterday. The image of Maki sleeping beside her bed, head on her knees enters her mind.
So you're the creepy girl that she's talking about?!
She face Maki to see her reaction about this, the crimson haired girl was caught off guard, she was staring at her neighbor with a surprised face
"You can see me that time?" Maki let out what's on her mind
Nico's neighbor gave her at first a quizzical look and then she replied "Of course I started to notice you when Yazawa-san got home from her vacation" she smiled at Maki "To be honest I can't remember your face before but right now I can remember it now clearly, I wonder if I'm growing old"
Maki's cheeks produce a faint blush, she was embarrassed, she gave her best to hide her presence on those times but someone saw her.
It seems Eri is right, my abilities are weakening. Maki thought, she just avert her gaze and turn her face to the side where the two person won't see her expression.
"I-im not her lover" Maki almost stuttered and Nico noticed it "I'm her cousin" she finished still avoiding Nico's neighbor's stare
Nico heard Maki's excuse about their relationship and she ride on it "Y-yeah! We're cousins! We've met when I was on vacation and our parents decided that we should live together from now on!"
Well, half of it we're true
"It's so nice to be young, a forbidden love has its own charm"
"No it's not like that!" Nico immediately retorted, this made her neighbor giggle
"I'm just joking" she said between her giggles "I'm sorry but I think I need to go now, sorry for holding you up" she smile at them "Nice meeting you Ms.." she questioned Maki who was averting her eyes since she confessed about seeing her every night
"Maki, Nishikino Maki" Maki finally regathered her composure and face Nico's neighbor
"Nice to meet you Nishikino-san, hope to see you around" She bowed to both of them and then walk away leaving the two girls.
Nico waited for her neighbor to walk away in a distance where she can't hear them and then she questioned the crimson haired girl
"Stalker-san, what does my neighbor mean that she saw you walking together with me since I got home from the hospital?" Nico said monotonously while eyeing Maki
Maki started to walk towards the school, she replied "I don't know" with a bored expression not wanting to answer any questions of the raven haired girl
"Hey I'm talking to you! Don't turn your back and just walk off!" she shouted
This girl really has an attitude
She followed Maki and wait for her reply, when Maki didn't answer her she tried to press the crimson haired girl again for an explanation
"I'm the person whom you stalk so at least give me a reason why you did all those things!"
Maki continue to walk, not minding the girl who's throwing a tantrum behind her, Nico grinded her teeth because of this
"Hey!"
"So what's with your early grumpiness Nicocchi?"
Back to back, the purple haired girl bowed with her friend on her back, she locked her elbows into Nico's to stabilize the petite girl and concentrate on Nico's weight while stretching. It's their physical education subject and their teacher instructed them to stretch in pair before their activity, judging the atmosphere between Maki and Nico, Nozomi decided to pair up with her raven haired friend while her contractor paired up with Maki
"That girl knows how to get in my nerves" Nico replied, Nozomi can hear the irritation on Nico's voice
The purple head girl bowed down further so Nico could reach her limit in her flexibility, the further she bowed down, the more Nico's groan became loud.
"How is it? Living with Maki-chan?" Nozomi questioned her and glance at the crimson haired girl, Eri and Maki was doing the same thing.
"Worst" Nico manage to reply, she could feel that her body cannot stand it anymore "I give up! I give up!" she made a small movement above Nozomi, and Nozomi finally stood straight
"Why?" Nozomi proceed with her questions while mentally preparing herself to be stretch by the girl behind her
Nico spread her feet apart to maximize the base of her support to start stretching Nozomi, she mentally prepared herself and feel the weight of her friend behind her as she slowly bow down.
"She-"Nico paused when she finally bowed and bear Nozomi's weight over her "always-"she tried to finish what she's about to say but she concentrate more on stretching Nozomi, she's groaning while trying to lift her partners body up using her back.
Nozomi caught the glance that Maki gave to the struggling raven haired girl. It was a mere short glance before exchangin with Eri, Nozomi giggled at the introverted crimson haired girl and the unbeknownst raven haired girl. She could imagine the two last night.
"Nicocchi" Nozomi asked but what she received was the groan of Nico while struggling on stretching her, Nico couldn't even lift Nozomi's foot off the ground. "How mean, you couldn't lift me up, are you saying that I'm fat enough that why-"
Nico finally gave up and stood straight, she let go of Nozomi's wrist and look at her with a strained face
"You're too tall for me!"
Nozomi snickered at Nico then she gestured in a split position "Then help me stretch in this position" the purple haired girl brought her arm above her head and lean forward, trying to touch the ground with her chest
"Fine" Nico walk behind Nozomi then push Nozomi to the ground, she held that position then she heard Nozomi questioning her
"What are you saying Nicocchi about Maki"
"She always turn from hot to cold in seconds, I can't understand her, this morning my neighbor told me that she always see me walking together with her but I never remember walking with her except yesterday and my neighbor also mentions that she sleeps outside of my house every night and when I asked her she won't tell me and just give me a cold shoulders"
Nozomi who was under Nico was surpised as she heard this, she sighed mentally
So we're right, that's how she manage to be with Nico
"Nicocchi" Nozomi started as she leaned back "I think Maki-chan did that because she's aware of the consequences" she pulled back her legs and face Nico who was staring at her waiting to continue "I'm talking about the distance, since the wanderers will come after you if you were gone too far from her, she can't help to separate herself from you, I think she also wanted you to continue your typical days before you died that's why she decided to hide her presence."
Nozomi was staring at the raven haired girl, observing her expression, it seem that Nico was suddenly lost on her thoughts regarding what Nozomi had just said.
"This is also Ericchi and Umi's hunch and they don't really know the reason behind Maki-chan's actions, but we still decided to make Maki meet you, Ericchi and Umi knows the change on their capacities after forming a contract with someone, and it seems that we've made the right decision when you mention that someone saw her even though she's hiding her presence"
Nozomi glanced at Nico's contractor, she's helping Eri to stretch in a split position
"She won't keep it up, years will pass by and her abilities will weaken gradually"
Then she notice Nico staring at her contractor, Nozomi could see the guilt on Nico's face. Nozomi finished explaining she gave Nico a worried smile
"Nicocchi, you will never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view"
Upon hearing these words Nico gaze fell down on the ground
"Didn't I say it already?" Nozomi stated as a matter of fact and it made Nico look at her "Maki-chan is a good person, it's just that she hardly open up to others" Nozomi finally gave Nico her reassuring smile, this somehow remove all the worry and doubts about her contractor.
There was a moment of silence after Nozomi had finish speaking, and it was broken when they heard their name being announced by their teacher
"-next pair will be Nishikino and Yazawa and the last will be Ayase and Toujou"
Nozomi stood to remove the dirt on her pants and look at Nico who's still sitting "Well Nicocchi, I'll go to Ericchi now"
Nozomi noticed that Nico was now staring into their classmates, all of them were whispering while looking at the crimson haired girl who's giving a bored look while twirling the ends of her hair. She's not bothered on the actions of their classmates
"That's Nishikino"
"The first years said that she didn't even go to her classes yet she's still here with us"
"But they said that she's a genius like Ayase and Sonoda of second year"
"I thought she paid the school so she can graduate early"
"Well she's one of the sponsor of our school"
"And the richest student in our school!"
"EH? I thought it's because her mother and principal Minami have some kind of relationship?"
Impressing, that's a well-made story, Ericchi and others don't have mothers though. Nozomi inwardly laugh when she overheard some of her classmates, some of the rumors about Maki were true. Upon noticing the sudden atmosphere among their classmates Eri walked towards Nico and stated
"About that, it seems that they don't like the fact that a first year suddenly became a third year" Eri gave a strained smile "But I'm glad Maki isn't really affected on her surroundings"
Nico suddenly remembered their conversation at the supermarket, that time she could feel Maki's strong dislike on humans.
"More like, she didn't care because she hate Humans" Nico bluntly stated while standing up and pat the dust away on her pants, it gained a questioning look from the other girls
She made her way towards her contractor who was busy twirling her hair "Hey, the whole class are whispering about you, how can you stay so unminded on it?"
"Humans merely know what they are doing" Maki retorted in a deadpanned voice, too quickly as if she anticipated what Nico would say
Nico was calmer than before because of what Nozomi had said. Knowing Nozomi for many years she can't do anything but to cling on her friends words, she trusted the purple haired girl more than anyone.
"Don't generalize us humans"
"But that doesn't change the fact that all of you were mere humans, all of you always get tempted easily and always got lost on your tracks"
Nico didn't reply, she wanted to take the advice of her friend, she wanted to study the crimson haired girl as can as she could, and she didn't pursue the topic.
"Yazawa and Nishikino" Their teacher called them and their classmates became silent as they walk towards the starting line of the track field, today's activity was to record everyone's speed while performing a 100m dash
"Are you guys ready?" they were questioned and Nico could see that their classmates were watching them intently, well she can't do anything about it, she's partnered with the rumored girl in the whole campus.
Maki and Nico nod in affirmation, gestured themselves into a running position as they waited for the signal to start
"Go!"
Both of them take off when they heard the signal, Nico left Maki behind her as she tried to run as fast as she could, she's not really an athlete but she still had the stamina that she build back when she's still an Idol. After a couple of seconds of running, Nico felt nostalgic, the feeling of how the cold air collides with her checks and on her body was exactly the same feeling when she also desperately running for her life back then but she remember that she was faster that day compared today
After that accident, Nico knows to herself that she's traumatize, she always remember and got anxious easily to those things that reminds her death.
The murderous intent on the eyes of her murderer filled her thoughts, this made her close her eyes tight and ran a little faster. Maki, Nozomi and Eri saw the sudden change on Nico.
The raven haired girl wanted look behind her, to confirm if that man was still following her but her fear took over her emotion, she's too afraid that she'll see the exact scene again. She run desperately just like before, got lost her sense of balance and fell on the ground
Isn't this the exact thing that happened that day?
Nico tried to get up, she was now on all fours, she stared at the ground and her breathing got heavy
If I remembered no one tried to help me that day
Nico inwardly laugh and leaned back to a sitting position, she slowly raised her head and nervously turn behind her, expecting a creepy man walking towards her but she didn't anticipate what she saw
There's no creepy man who was running to end her life but a crimson haired girl who was running to aid her. If her memory serves Nico right, Maki didn't even show any motivation at the start of the race and only run half-heartedly, but right now she was running with all of her might , she was dumbstruck and forgot the people around her, Nico didn't even tried to remove her eye at the figure of the worried crimson haired girl. She had learned another expression of Maki.
Maki slowly kneeled beside Nico, still running out of breath she asked "Are you okay?"
Nico didn't reply and just watch the crimson haired girl who was checking her body for some scrapes. Nico twitch when she suddenly felt pain on her knee and she heard again Maki "Did it hurt?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Nico quickly retorted she stated as a matter of fact. At first she's confused at the sudden change of Maki's behavior but happy and relieved upon seeing Maki's unguarded expression, the truth is she wanted to tease the other girl but she instead give her a sly smile.
Maki saw Nico's smile and knows the meaning behind that smile, she quickly return from worried to deadpanned expression. Though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
"Can you stand?" Maki asked, she avert her eyes from Nico to Eri, Nozomi and their teacher who was running towards them
Here she is again
"I think, I'm fine I didn't bump my head" Nico gave a painful look and manage to stand.
"Nicocchi are you okay?"
"Nico can you walk?"
"Yazawa-san, I need you to go to the clinic, Nishikino-san will help you"
Maki close the door that Nico had opened and eyed the raven haired girl quietly, Nico was gesturing herself naturally to the table near the windows of their clubroom.
"Why are we here? You're scratches needs to be tend"
"We can go to the clinic later" Nico said nonchalantly, she slide the windows open, the cold wind of winter entered their clubroom, and she shivered from this "I need to be here or I might lose my sanity"
Nico bit her lower lip and leans on the table, her back were facing the open windows. She was giving a stoic expression while looking at the cloudy sky.
She need to hear the keys of the grand piano, she need those gentle music that uplift her spirit during the times that she felt life is unfair, she wants the pianist to play, she needs the pianist who always knows how and when to cheer her up.
Nico noticed that this certain unknown pianist would always play this original cheerful song for her, she wondered one day if this was her pianist's favorite and made up her own lyrics for it. She would always sing it whenever this pianist play it, during those times she felt that they are on their own worlds nothing is needed, except their presence. And that's what she need right now, those silent and gentle interaction with the pianist. Although she knows that moments like that will lessen now because of her prideful contractor, she still hope for that moments, she still hope that she will hear her pianist once again.
Nico was lost on her own thought while the crimson haired girl made her way towards the first aid kit on the book shelves, Nico raised an eyebrow when she noticed Maki's familiarity on the clubroom
"Aren't you too familiar with the clubroom?" Nico asked it made Maki look at her "Do you come here often?" Maki return from checking the medical kit
"Sometimes Rin drag me and sometimes Umi and Eri called me here" Maki finally look and made her way towards the raven haired girl "It's a coincidence that you aren't here when I came here"
Nico just hummed at the thought and saw Maki kneeled infront of her as she prepared the things for her wound " I can do it on my own" Nico call back the attention of the crimson haired girl and stands but she was stopped by the seriousness in her contractors voice
"Please let me do it" Maki pleaded, her mind were too focused on Nico's wounds, but somehow Nico could see some worries on her contractors face
Silence fall into them as Nico let Maki treat her wound, Nico could feel the gentleness on Maki's touch, as if the raven haired girl was very fragile, the way Maki treat her wound, as if she's afraid to let Nico feel more pain, the way Maki give that worried expression that pulled her heartstrings.
I think this girl is just shy to open up
Unbeknownst to both of them, Nico were giving the crimson haired a warm smile, she didn't leave her gaze from Maki, and a thought entered her.
If you want a person to open up with you, you need to build her trust on you first.
"Hey" Nico called the busy crimson haired girl, she was waiting Maki to meet her gaze but she didn't
"What?" Maki replied without looking at Nico, still doing her job
"You're a student here before I met you right? Do you know one of the seven mystery on this school? The pianist at the music room?" Nico continued still watching the crimson haired girl
"That's stupid"
"I know right?" Nico give a small laugh "But have you heard her songs? This pianist only plays her original songs, I haven't heard her-"
"Why are you saying all of these to me?"
Nico was cutted by Maki's words, she noticed that the worried face of Maki was gone now and was replaced by her usual deadpan expression, though they were something added on it. Nico could see a slight blush on the crimson haired girl's cheek.
Whoa, she turned from hot to cold again
Nico was starting to get amused on her contractor personality, Maki is somehow starting to get irritated on her blabberings and Nico wanted to further annoy her, so she decided to ignore Maki.
I wonder if those blush on her cheeks will deepen if I made her loathe me.
"And I haven't heard her play other songs of different artist, it really amazed me when I realized that" Nico observe Maki, her faint blush seems improved a little
"Other students were afraid whenever they heard this pianist on the school ground, and others are really happy to hear this mysterious melody" Nico continued "And you know, I felt happy when those student ran from fear and felt jealous when others are enthusiastic on hearing this pianist's song" it seems Nico's plan was going smoothly, Maki suddenly stopped for a while yet she return treating Nico's wound again with a full blush on her cheeks. Nico smiled inwardly.
"I don't want to brag this to you but, this mysterious pianist only plays for me, and whenever I think of it, I feel that I'm very special. I think that's why there this kind of possessiveness whenever I heard other students talking about this pianist" Nico unconsciously gave a warm smile while she said all of these, and Maki noticed it, Maki was currently entranced because of the smile that Nico gave her when the raven haired girl decided to continue
"But I am afraid those time when I can hear her again playing will lessen now" the warm smile became a strained smile "I wish I could meet her" she voiced out her own thoughts to nobody, she almost forgot what she wants to accomplish and got emotional. Until Maki slap her wound and groaned in pain.
"I'm done" Maki manage to say nonchalantly with her face fully reddened
"What was that for?!" Nico shouted while caressing her wound with a bandage, trying to alleviate the pain.
While Maki didn't reply and just avert her eyes for some reasons, and when they heard Maki's phone ring, Nico noticed that the crimson haired girl somewhat look relieved.
"I-I need to answer this outside" Maki excuse herself then walk too quickly out of the room. That leaves the raven haired girl alone on the room, her mouth left agape for a while then she sighed.
"I think I'll never get used to that girl" The raven haired girl said exasperatedly
While waiting for the crimson haired girl, Nico leisurely travels her eyes on the clubroom and her eyes landed on the first aid kit that Maki used, it made her took a glance at her wound. It was well treated. Nico thought and decided to put everything again on the kit then place it on the bookshelves.
When she was about to walk again towards the windows that she left open, a strong wind entered and her body reacted from the cold, she shivered and hugged her own body, She reached the window to slide it close but something made her stop from doing it.
She stopped at the midway of closing the window when she heard the familiar melody resounding from the music room beside their clubroom
It tugged her lips into a big smile as she lean on the windows again and start singing.
"Aishiteru banzai!
Koko de yokatta watashitachi no ima ga koko ni aru
Aishiteru banzai!
Hajimatta bakari ashita mo yoroshiku ne mada gooru janai"
[Cheers for the love!
I'm glad to be here, Our present exists right here
Cheers for the love!
It's only just begun, I'm counting on you again tomorrow, We've yet to reach our goal]
She misses this. It was the lyrics that she made for the song, it was the lyrics that came from what she always felt when hearing this melody. And she knows that this is what the pianist wants to tell her by playing this cheerful melody
"Waratte yo kanashinara fuki to basou yo
Waraetara kawaru keshiki harema ga nozoku
Fuan demo shiawase e to tsunagaru michi ga
Miete kita yo na aozora"
[Smile, When you're sad let's blow it all away
If you can laugh the scenery will change peeking through the clearing weather
Even when you're unsure the road leading to happiness
Comes into view under the blue sky]
It's already been 2 years when she made these lyrics and it's already been 3 years when she first encounter this pianist and heard this melody. And ever since that day her everyday life slowly started be colorful again from the darkness of her siblings death.
"Tokidoki ame ga furu kedo mizu ga nakucha taihen
Kawaicha dameda yo minna no yume no ki yo sodate"
[Rain falls from time to time but it's harsh without water
Don't wither, Nurture everyone's tree of dreams]
At first she thought that the pianist's piece are random, though she always enjoy it, but as time goes by, she knows that they're dedicated for her. This pianist will always plays melody that will lift her mood when she's in her lowest state, will play a relaxing melody when she's nervous or uncertain with everything, and will play a melody that conveys 'Im happy that your fine right now' when everything is fine. That person never failed to cheer up the raven haired girl. How come this pianist know what she always felt?
"Saa!
Daisuki da banzai!
Makenai yuuki watashitachi wa ima o tanoshimou
Daisuki da banzai!
Ganbarerukara kinou ni te o futte hora mae muite"
[Now!
Cheers for loving you!
With the courage to never give up let's enjoy the present
Cheers for loving you!
We can do our best so wave goodbye to yesterday and look forward]
This certain pianist never played a super fast one that indicated irritation, or to say it exactly she never heard the pianist play a songs that arent dedicated for her. The raven haired girl was actually surprised when she heard the pianist that day play a melody that conveys her irritation, is the pianist opening up on her? If she's right, Nico wanted to reciprocate all the pianist have done to her.
"Susunde yo kurushikute mo tonari ni iteyo
Susundara moeru taiyou higashi o terasu
Mayotteta kotae ga nai saki e no michi wa
Daremo shiranai ienai"
[Push forward, Even if it's difficult I'm by your side
when we push forward the burning sun will illuminate the east
the confusing, answerless road to the future
is something we can't say no one knows]
Who's this mysterious pianist? that what she always ask to herself but never had a chance to found out, and since the show of pianist's irritation she became more eager to find out the person on the music room, but then her contractor came, her time with the pianist will lessen now, the same with the chance to know the pianist.
"Totsuzen arashi no naka e ochiru gin no hikari
Obiec-"
[The silver light falls into the sudden storm
Don't pan-]
She stop singing when the music that came from the piano keys stopped, she knows what it means, someone's coming.
"Yazawa Nico and Nishikino Maki of class 3A, please proceed to the student council room. Im repeating.."
Nico jerks when she heard her name being announce in the school's PA and process what she just heard, they were called. She leans away and face the open window, she shouted her goodbye.
"Thank you pianist-san!"
She smiled even the pianist wont see it and it was full of happiness. Again this anonymous person completed her day.
She slided the window close and felt the warm that envelops their clubroom. She walk towards the door and walks out, there she saw the crimson haired girl who was about to open the door.
"How long have you been standing there?"
Did she hear us? did she hear me singing? No way cause pianist-san knows how to make everything unsuspicious
"Seconds ago?" Maki looked confused with the actions of Nico, for the raven haired girl looks likes she's hiding something
"Did you hear something? where did you go?"
"What's with you? Spamming me with questions. I answered the call there" Maki pointed at the empty space of corridors, opposite of the direction of the music room and Nico became nervous when she saw the distance, no way that she got separated with her contractor on that amount of distance without her knowledge. Maki saw this she continue with her usual deadpan expression
"It's within your 100 ft radius so dont make that kind of face and I didnt hear anything, did you just watch some pornography so you-"
"Huh?! Ofcourse No!" She said defensively. Nico's staring to get irritated again
"Sounds guilty to me" Maki made a fake sigh while twirling the end of her hair "Human's libido are really something"
"Didnt I say no?! Im not that kind of person"
"Who cares"
Nico groans in frustration.
"Hey"
Nico called Maki, they were walking towards the student council room, and Maki as always walks behind Nico, sometimes infront of Nico, and thats the raven haired girl always noticed.
"What?"
"Why wont you walk beside me?"
"Why would I?"
The raven haired girl got lost on what she wanted to achieve earlier, she need to build a friendship and build her trust so her prideful contractor can open up with her.
"Just do it" Nico reach for Maki's wrist and hold it, she felt that Maki jolted from her actions, she struggled at first when Nico pulled Maki besides her but gave up for Maki is afraid to hurt Nico
"Fine, let go of my hand"
"No"
Nico insisted, she was succesful on making Maki walk beside her for a minute but after, Maki gently with enough force remove her wrist under Nico and walks again behind her. Maki need to show that she's not just someone and it made Nico sigh.
"Here we are"
Without their knowledge they are already infront of the student council. Maki open the door and saw two figures. A blue haired girl was sleeping on the table with a grayish haired girl beside her she was holding the other hand of the blue haired girl while running her other hand on the sleeping girl's tresses.
Kotori stopped from caressing Umi's hair and raise her index finger on her lip indicating to keep their voice low. They walk near Kotori.
"Sorry for calling you but Umi heard the rumors on the whole school, it seems that everyone isnt happy with Maki's sudden shifting years" She speak in her usual chirpy voice and pause. Kotori return on caressing the relaxed blue haired girl. Maki never saw Umi as relax as this, not when she's not with Kotori.
"So she decided to make Maki-chan take an exam for formality and so no one will question you about this matter"
The pair stayed silent for awhile then Maki replied
"Fine with me, are those the exams?"
The crimson haired girl pointed the set of papers prepared on the table near them, Kotori nods.
"Nico-chan sorry but I need you to wait outside while Maki-chan is taking the exams, you could take one of the chairs here"
Mako gestured herself to the table and starts answering the papers with a bored expression while Nico cant help herself to drag a chair and wait outside
Minutes passed and Nico decided to stand up, she starting to get uncomfortable from sitting on the chair outside the classroom, she peek at her cellphone and noticed that its already been 30 minutes since her contractor started the exams. She was bored, if she could, she wants to go on their clubroom and take the opportunity that her contractor isnt with her, but she cant that too far from here.
"Oh. Look what we have here"
Playful flirty voice different from her friend Nozomi made her head turn to the source and saw 2 students with different uniform towering on her
"Someone's lost? where's your contractor?"
Nico couldnt see the concern on the speaking girl but a playful atempt. She immedietely became nervous, the aura around them and those eyes that holds murderous intent isnt a funny thing. They know about the contractors but Nico could tell thay they are totally different from Eri and others. What are they?
Are they wanderers? b-but Nishikino is just on the room
"W-who are you?"
Nico manage to question the girl, she wanted to run towards Maki on the room but her legs wont do what she wanted. Her nervousness is quite visible on her face. It made the girl laugh and turn to face the girl with a deadpan expression behind her.
"Erena look, she's freaking out!" she said between her laugh, it actually irritates Nico but she cant do anything
"What a pitiful human, you were used by your contractor so they could remain in this world but was thrown after for the wanderers" she said in a serious voice "After all they are selfish like us and selfish like humans"
What is she saying?
"Anju we dont have time for this" Nico finally heard the girl behind her speaks but she was ignored, the girl called Anju leans a little towards Nico's ear and runs her hand intimately fom her cheeks down to her shoulder
"I could kill you graciously so you wont suffer because of the wand-"
"Back off"
Nico was pulled, Nico was forcefully turned and was hugged. Her face was now resting on someone's chest and someone's hands were reassuringly wrapped on her waist and on her head.
"Isnt it Nishikino?"
Nico noticed that Anju's voice return to playful and flirty one. Nico was surprise, she tilted her head a little and saw the crimson haired girl, she's also giving a murderoua aura, an aura more frightening than Anju's.
"You're trespassing"
Maki snarled at them and tightened her hold on Nico. Nico was currently mesmerized on the glaring amenthyst eyes of Maki, was she getting possessive? trespassing on where? on their school? The way Maki is acting right now, there's no way that she'll be just thrown off for the wanderers right? Maki was different from the contractors that they are saying right?
"Dont tell me Nishikino was your contractor little kitten" Nico heard Anju gave a heartful laugh "The Nishikino who loves Human, who really 'loves' humans" she said sarcastically
"What are you doing here? what do you want"
Nico felt that Maki's arms around her were trembling, was it because of fear or anger? Anju ignored Maki's question and suddenly glowed from joy of finding out why Maki was acting like this. she finally said words that Nico never expected
"I see she's a Yazawa"
Maki's heavy breathing hitched
"Now I now why you died little kitten"
and Nico realized that Maki is trembling out of fear
What's going on?
Anju's sly smile widen when Maki didnt retort, her silence tells that Anju is right.
"S-she's not..." Maki trailed off, she tried to reject the idea but the fear took over her body.
"What's happening here?"
A sleepy voice cutted the heavy atmosphere, Umi walked towards them with Kotori besides her, hands interlocked.
"Maki-chan is still here?" Kotori chirped, she eyed everyone and landed her gaze into Maki who was huggging Nico like her life was depended on it, she noted this and decided to ask them later.
"Kotori-chan!" Anju suddenly became gleeful and tried to pounce Kotori but Umi stepped infront and put her hand on Anju's face, her sleepy demeanor was gone now
"Yuuki just let me remind you-"
"Erena, Sonoda is scary~" Anju was now hiding behind Erena, the taller girl bowed
"I apologize for Anju's behavior"
Kotori gave a strained smiled on the commotion, she clapped her hands once to gather everyones attention
"Welcome to our school Toudou-san and Yuuki-san, we could go inside the student council room now if you want"
The two were welcomed for these two were invited
"Ah Kotori's voice really a music for my ears"
Umi's eyebrows twitched, she's too irritated on Anju to notice Maki and Nico
"Anju stop it already"
Kotori tried to make Umi calm down while making their way inside the room and before Erena started to drag Anju. Anju said words that are directed for Nico
"Yazawa be prepared" Nico tried to face the girl but the tightness of Maki's hug prevented her
"For someone will come after your life for the second time"
The door shut and Maki's embrace tightened again, she couldnt breathe now, it made Nico look at the crimson haired to tell this to her. What she saw broke her heart.
Maki was staring into nowhere while biting her lower lips and fear was visible on her face.
She never thought that she'll saw Maki in her vulnerable state.
Oyeah! I've overcome my slump! Ohohoho I'm too happy, though this chapter took a month, seriously *sighs
I'll be honest that I'm not confident with this chapter, so any criticism (I hope there's none) or comment about this chapter will be gladly welcome
By the way you could post those criticism, comments or questions about my works on my tumblr 'reticentpasserby'
Last thing, Thank you for those who reviewed, fav'ed, followed and read this story. I'm really grateful that someone appreciate my works.
So I guess that it? See you again on my next update, Ciao~
*chirp-chirp