omgggg i can't believe that you guys liked it ahhhhhhh

Thank you for all the reviews. I was gushing when I read them and I'm honoured that you guys took the time to tell me

I hope i can live up to your expectations.

Please enjoy

"I'm not-!... haaahh… going to lose…" Maki took a big gulp of air. It felt like her lungs burned. But it was a good kind of feeling even though she knew her legs would give up sooner or later. "to a shrimp like you-!"

She couldn't remember how she got into running a whole lap around the field but she was certain it was Rin's fault. She wanted to spend her afternoon catching up with her novel or maybe even play the piano for a while but the orange-haired girl had the grand idea to invite Nico to another rematch.

Maki hadn't seen the tiny gremlin so much after their meeting inside the Music Room. Only once after she called her shorty and the little senior gestured something with a smug face. Maki sworn she said something that insulted her very being. Turns out she was right because Eli began scolding her right after. Nozomi only smiled and pacified the two before it got out of hand.

"Nico, that's just plain rude."

"Oh, come now, Elicchi. She was just having fun."

"Nozomi! She just called her-" she was cut off with Nico's snap of fingers. The tall blonde and the tiny gremlin began exchanging hand signs before they made her apologize again.

Maki never really got what she had meant.

Not much had changed with their interactions except for their playful banter and the redhead could only see her at least once a day if not at all. It wasn't as if she's looking for her everytime. Oh no. That tiny senior could be a hundred miles away from her and she wouldn't care. She wouldn't care at all.

But that's what she had initially thought.

In the corner of her mind, she knew she needed to at least see her once a day.

Oh no, not because she liked that brat. Far from it, actually.

She just piqued her interest. After all, if it hadn't been for Rin and Hanayo, she would've been spending her whole highschool life alone. No one else would dare to come near her. No one else would try to initiate a conversation with her. No one else had the guts to befriend her.

Nico was different.

Very different.

Their first meeting was already a disaster seeing as how hostile both parties were with each other. After the whole fiasco with her notebook, she didn't ignore her like most people would. Nico would tease her at any chance she could get. And of course, Maki couldn't resist in ignoring that runt even if she wanted to.

There was something about her.

Something about her that wanted Maki to see.

Something about her that she hides from everyone.

Something about her that was revealed on that fateful day in the Music Room.

And the young pianist was interested in finding out what.

Class was the same as usual. Same boring lectures with same boring classmates inside their same boring classroom. It was the final class for the day and the redhead was itching to go home. She wasn't the only one though. Almost half of her class were close to dozing off with how boring it was.

The culprit?

The teacher.

Because matter how boring a subject may be, if someone can teach it well, it would be enjoyable.

"So when you plug in this equation for X then multiply-" When the bell rang for dismissal, Maki breathed a sigh of relief. The teacher closed his eyes. "We'll continue this tomorrow." Everyone stood and bowed to him as he left.

"Finally!" someone sighed. "I thought it wasn't going to end!" There was a small laugh from another person. Noises started to accumulate. The sound of chairs and desks moving were heard too. Everyone resumed their usual chattering and they were lively once more.

The redhead saw Rin approaching her at the corner of her eye while she was fixing her things. The rest of their classmates had already left. "Hey, Maki, wanna come with us and see me beat Nico-chan nya?" she asked enthusiastically. She linked arms with Hanayo and pushed their bodies together. "You'll totally go with us, right?"

"I'm busy." was all she replied to her. She wasn't busy. She just wanted to continue her reading in peace. Apparently, Rin didn't want to hear a 'no' for an answer.

"Ehh? But Kayo-chin's going to cheer for me," she rubbed her face to Hanayo's cheek to emphasize her claim. "but who's going to cheer for Nico-chan nya?"

There was a short pause. Maki's ear tinged in red. Rin's lips tugged in a cheshire grin. "W-who… would want to cheer for that midget?"

"Let's not disturb her, Rin-chan. She might be doing something important." Hanayo chided.

"Eeehhh? Don't be so shy, Maki-chan nya." Rin hugged Maki. Tight. "You haven't seen Nico-chan for a while now nya. Me and Kayo-chin know that you've been reaaaally lonely without Nico-cha- aaaooouuuuch!" The redhead pinched her cheeks. Hard.

"That's not true and you know it!" Maki's cheeks were pink.

"Hayoo-hiiin!" Rin pleaded for help. Hanayo just stood there helplessly. "Mahiii-sjaaaan!"

"Somebody save us!"

There were loud knocks on the door and the three of them momentarily halted their actions. It was Nico. Of course. It had to be her. With her usual expression plastered on her face. The dark-haired senior pointed to the two with her eyes saying let-her-go and Maki begrudgingly released Rin. The orange-haired girl quickly ran towards her and hid behind.

She took her notebook and wrote in big bold letters, What were you doing to her?

Maki clucked her tongue. That Rin. She'll get back to her later.

"None of your business." The tiny senior raised her chin and scribbled some more.

I'd appreciate if you'd stop hurting my opponent before my match. I'd like her to be in top shape so I can defeat her fair and square.

"Nico-chan, hey Nico-chan nya." Rin rubbed her cheek to her small knight and shining armour. "You see, I invited Maki-chan to watch but she refused. I was being a good friend and all, isn't she mean?" Nico nodded. Maki bit her lip.

She's a nerd so it's only natural for her to decline. I'm guessing that she's gonna read some dumbass book when she gets home.

Maki's eyes glowered.

Nico snapped her fingers.

I'm right, aren't I?

"It's not a dumb. It's literature. Far more sophisticated to understand by brats like you." Maki hissed.

She copied the action of snapping her fingers.

Nico was seething.

"I guess you of all people can't appreciate it because you barely open a book that isn't a magazine."

And with those words that left her mouth, Rin and Hanayo knew that Maki had crossed a line.

Nico rolled up the sleeves of her favourite pink cardigan and Rin had to pull her away. "Nico-chan nya! Let's go, let's go! Don't worry about little miss grumpy over there." She looked at the redhead and Maki only shrugged her shoulders. "Maki-chan nyaaa!" Nico was fighting her hold. The two of them had burning gazes at each other. She made eye contact with Hanayo and the brunette held the tiny senior's hand as a precaution.

"N-nico-senpai, she's just having a rough day." She tugged her hand. "Right?" There was a slight pause. Nico sighed deeply. Rin relaxed. She scribbled in her notebook and showed it to the pianist.

You're lucky I'm an awesome senior and a great role model to your friends or else I'd break you in half, you noodle.

"What's with that?! Who're you calling a noodle, you shrimp!" Nico smirked. Maki stomped her foot. "Just go already." She sighed. So much for worrying about her for the past couple weeks.

Oh, Maki-chan, why can't you just come along and cheer for the Number One Idol in the Universe?

The redhead blushed. "I don't have to see it to know Rin can win."

Is that a bet?

Nico stepped closer and with a smug look on her face she booped her nose. "W-wha-!" She backpedalled and bumped to a desk. She went a few shades darker. "What was that for?!" Nico wrote some more.

If Rin wins, I treat you all to ramen but if I win, you have to show me your best Nico Nico Nii. How does that sound?

Maki choked. Rin and Hanayo 'oooo'-ed in the background. The redhead knew there was a possibility of this all going down and humiliating herself but she had faith in her friend to not let her dignity waste away. It was only a slight chance. A slight twenty percent chance that Nico might win and possibly ruin her image for all eternity.

"Why should I be involved in this? I'm not the one you're up against." Nice one, Maki. She mentally gave herself a pat on the back for avoiding the bet.

You're just scared that you might lose if you compete against the Number One Idol, you know. That's why Rin is doing it for you.

Maki clenched her bag.

Rin gave a subtle nudge to Nico.

Hanayo glanced back and forth at the two.

And, of course, the tiny gremlin snickered because that redhead was so easy fool.

"That's it!" She took her bag and power walked towards the door. "I'm going to wipe the floor with you!"

"M-maki-chan, where are you going?" Hanayo followed her. "Maki-chan, wait up!"

When the two were out of sight, the orange-haired girl jumped on the tiny senior's back. Luckily, Nico caught her before they fell. She faced her before she spoke. "Geez, Nico-chan. If you wanted to run with Maki-chan so bad, you should've told me so."

Nico made a chopping motion towards her junior while mouthing the words 'Sorry'.

Rin tapped her chin three times with her pinky and laughed. "It's fine nya! It's totally fine! We can have our match next time!" She took the tiny senior's arm and dragged her outside.

.

..

…

"Ah." Maki slowed down after she remembered at how stupid she was to be easily manipulated by that midget. How she was able to do it, the redhead wouldn't know. Maybe it's second-nature for her to make everyone do her bidding. The charm of the Number One Idol in the Universe, as she always said.

By now, they were almost at the finish line and they were neck-in-neck. She heard Rin and Hanayo's cheer and it gave her a sense of achievement knowing that they're about to witness their beloved senior lose.

"Go Nico-chan! Go go Maki-chan!"

"Maki-chan, Nico-senpai, just a few more!"

She wondered who they really wanted to win.

Her legs ached. Her lungs burned. Her entire body screamed from the torture. But, for the first time, it didn't matter. The homework she's supposed to do, the feeling of loneliness when her parents aren't home, the frustration of mundane life and all the fear and anxiety that gripped her heart and mind didn't matter.

Because she felt so free.

She side-glanced at her opponent and she saw her crimson eyes gleam. She wore a carefree smile, sweat trickling down her forehead and her raven hair flowing smoothly against the wind. Their eyes meet again and with her right hand, she did her signature sign. Nico Nico nii.

Oh, God. That adorable smile.

Maki couldn't help but smile too.

But then she lost her footing.

And she tripped at the last second.

Running and not paying attention to where you're going is not a very good combination especially if you're so focused with the tiny gremlin that started this pointless race in the first place.

She planted face first and used her hands to cushion her fall. Nico continued to run and didn't notice the redhead wasn't beside her anymore. "Ouch ouch. Ugh." She felt a stinging sensation. She heard Rin and Hanayo rush over to her. "I am never doing this again."

Nico looked back at her as she crossed the finish line. She won. Maki lost. The redhead expected her to gloat and maybe dance around a bit with her victory but she did none of that.

She didn't jump for joy.

She didn't stick out her tongue and rub it in her face.

She didn't even smile.

Nico immediately went over to where she was instead. With a pout and a slight crease of brow, the dark-haired senior bit her lip and casted a worried glance at the pianist. Gently, she reached out for Maki's hands and she saw small scratches and tiny blotches of red. It wasn't bad but it hurt. Quite a bit. It was her first time to see Nico with a forlorn expression on her face and she wasn't sure what else to do.

"N-nico-chan?"

"Maki-chan nyaaa!" Rin and Hanayo were at her side and fussed over her. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

"M-maki-chan! You're bleeding!" Hanayo squeaked.

"Oh." She looked at her hands that were still held by Nico's soft hands. She winced when she felt it sting again. "Nothing too serious. Just a few scratches." She reassured.

The dark-haired senior momentarily let go of the pianist's injured hands and quickly wrote on her notebook, showing it to the two. As usual, the redhead had no clue what was written. "Aye aye!" said Rin with a mock salute. Hanayo nodded and the both of them stood up and went inside the building.

"Take care of Maki-chan for us!"

When the two were out of sight, Nico helped Maki stand up and took her hands again as she led her to the Infirmary. She was a daughter from a family of doctors, this wound was nothing compared to others who need surgery. It just needs to be washed, disinfected, and covered with a few patches of gauze or maybe band aids.

Nico opened the door and let her wash her hands to remove the dirt while she looked for the necessary supplies to dress her wound. The pianist plunged her injured hands to the cold water of the sink and bit her lip because it hurt. A lot.

When she was finished, the tiny senior beckoned for her to sit on the bed. There were words on her notebook that said, It will sting so bear with it for a while. Maki mentally prepared herself. Even if she saw this a million times with other patients, she didn't like being on the receiving end. She sucked in a breath and Nico's lips tugged a bit.

They both sat there in relative silence. Maki, sitting still while Nico dressed her injure hands. She felt her cheeks heat up when she remembered they were alone inside the room. Nico's hands were small. Smaller than hers. But it was very soft and she was gentle with her injury. She didn't press to hard. She didn't wrap up her wound in haste. She did it steadily. Carefully. And properly. Maki thought that maybe she did this a lot because she didn't feel any pain.

When she was finished, she still held on to her hands and squeezed it a bit. Not too hard. Just to say that it's done. Maki knew there was something that she needs to tell her. So she waited. She didn't say a word. Not just yet. And watched that tiny gremlin look at her hands with a melancholic face.

Nico squeezed it again and looked at her in the eye. "What is it?" Maki tilted her head. Why was she acting so strange? It was just a small wound. It'll get better. It won't scar. Nico grabbed her notebook and scribbled.

I'm sorry. I just wanted to distract you.

They've been telling me that you've been out of yourself so I wondered that maybe you need to take some time off and have fun.

Nico pinched her thumb and index fingers of her right hand and placed it infront the bridge of her nose. Then she made a chopping motion towards her. Maki deciphered 'I'm sorry'. She felt butterflies in her stomach. It made her nauseous. She felt bad. It wasn't her fault. It wasn't anybody's fault. Yet she blamed herself.

I didn't mean for you to get hurt.

Your hands are special.

You make music with it.

You make people happy when you play.

She tenderly placed a light kiss on the back of her hand and sighed. Maki's heart rate sped up and she was sure her face is the same shade of her hair at the moment. "Ni-ni-ni-nico-chan?! What was that for?!"

A special Nico Nico Nii kiss to fly your pain away~!

Be grateful!

"You're unbelievable!" Maki screeched. She was embarrassed. Nico laughed at her face. Just when she thought that maybe the tiny senior was being tolerable, she reverts back to her idol persona in a blink of an eye. She's too much. She's too much for her heart to handle. The midget sneered and flipped a page on her notebook, showing off a tally score.

Maki – 4

Nico – 21

"What?" Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a shots fired tally and Nico was in the lead. "When did yo-? Don't tell me you've been keeping track of our petty arguments?" There was a nod. Then a sound of absolute pain and confusion.

"I don't understand. Why would you do this?"

Just for fun. Also, I'd like to see who'll win first place. She clapped her hands. Which reminds me….

She added another point to herself and snickered. Maki's face paled. Of course she remembered. That little brat won't let her live it down!

I still won and you owe me your best Nico Nico Nii~

"We're back!" Rin slammed the door open and the redhead jumped from the loud bang. "We brought snacks to celebrate!" Nico slyly winked at her and proceeded to help Hanayo and Rin. Maki just wanted her heart to stop pounding loudly in her chest.

"You look a little pale, Maki-chan." Hanayo said as she handed her the milk carton Nico always carried. "Want to lie down for a while?"

Maki ripped the straw and gulped it in one go, surprising the timid brunette with her unusual reaction. Her hands started to sting with the sudden movement but she couldn't help it.

It was Nico-chan's fault for making her feel this way.

That kiss was a bit sudden but I'd like to think that Nico values people and their talents because she's not like them. She's just average. She's normal. She's not talented. And in this case, she can't hear. So she feels that she's taking away a part of Maki when she hurt her hands. Her hands that she uses to play the piano.

Besides, Nico is a sweet child. She's devious but she's still got that big sister nature inside of her.

To those that said Nico carries shitload of milk cartons because she wants to be taller is ❤. I actually drew that in my tumblr. you can check it out if you want. it's under Nico the milkman AU. Tumblr info is in my bio but i'll delete it right after. Im too shy pssshhhhhhbfff

To the guest who almost cried, it's alright. I cried a little bit inside too.

To madokakanames, yessss take the lessons! It'll be fun :D maybe you can even teach me a thing or two if i make mistakes in the future.

And to those that who wrote those lovely reviews, I thank you.

As always, reviews are always appreciated. Have a wonderful day~