~Hane wa Shitte Shimatta no, Nazuna?~
Standing in front of Otonokizaka Academy's μ's member, Yazawa Nico was leaning against the brick wall, listening to JoyfulxBox*. She looked at the other students who were walking past her and the black haired third year sighed to herself.
"I wonder when he's going to show up…" Nico asked herself then looked up at the white clouds. She smiled then looked at her phone. The lock screen showed a picture of what looks like Nico as a first year student and another student as a second year. "It feels like yesterday when we met…"
The wind blew through Nico's hair and the sun shined in her eyes.
There was two first year students standing in front of first year Nico. They had white envelopes in their hands and they handed the said item to Nico. After that, they slowly walked away from her. Nico was staring at the two envelopes. They said "Resignation" on them. The black haired looked down and started walking back to the Idol Research Clubroom.
After school, Nico was leaving school and looked up at the sky. She sighed then started walking somewhere that was nowhere close to home. 3 minutes have passed and Nico saw a blonde haired boy, sitting alone on the bench in an empty park.
"Hmm?" Nico tilted her head then walked towards the boy. She saw that his uniform was different than the ones she normally saw when she was walking home from school. The one thing that caught her attention was the red tie. Her eyes widen and she thought that he could be a second year. The boy looked at her and Nico stepped back. "S-Sorry for staring...um...senpai…?"
"...?" The boy tilted his head and looked at Nico's ribbon. His eyes widen and he assumed that Nico could be older than him. He looked away. "..."
Nico sat next to the boy and looked at him. "Sooo um… What's your name?" She tried to make conversation to the blonde boy. He didn't reply which caused Nico to sigh a little. "Can you...talk?"
"..." The boy nodded, but he didn't say anything as usual.
For the next few hours, Nico tried to get the boy to talk to her, but the results came back negative. Nico got frustrated with the boy's attitude and she slowly got up. However, much to her surprise, the boy had his hand on Nico's blazer.
He looked up at her and Nico looked down and saw that the boy was crying a little. "...n't leave…" He muttered quietly.
"...?!" Nico's eyes widened then she slowly sat back down. She looked at the boy and hugged him, comforting and letting him cry his eyes out. "It's ok… I won't leave…"
Another hour has passed; the boy had stopped crying and the sun was close to setting. Nico looked at the orange sky then looked at the blonde.
"Well, we should probably get going." She told him. "By the way, what's your name?"
"..." The boy didn't answer, but his eyes were on Nico. "...to… ...na…" He muttered out quietly.
"What was that?" Nico asked, obviously couldn't hear him quite well. "Sorry, I couldn't hear you."
"It's Nito...Nazuna…" The boy introduced himself, a little more louder than last time. He looked at Nico's ribbon and pointed at it. "Are you...a second year?"
Nico looked down at her ribbon and she shook her head. "Oh no. I'm not a second year. I'm still a first year at Otonokizaka Academy." She pointed at Nazuna's red tie and asked, "So are you a second year or a first year like myself?"
"First year…" Nazuna replied, smiling a little at Nico.
"At least we have something in common."
"...?"
Nico looked at Nazuna and she smiled at him. "The two of us are first year students. So that means we're about the same age then."
"I guess you can call it that." Nazuna nodded then stood up. Nico stood up as well and while the black haired girl was stretching, the blonde boy looked at Nico's height and smiled. "You're pretty short for a first year."
"Same goes for you then." Nico retorted back then looked at Nazuna. "Maybe...for now."
The two laughed together and just as Nico pulled out her phone, Nazuna looked at her and asked, "Mind if I stay over at your house?"
"W-What?!" Nico's eyes widen in shock. Her face turned red after the blonde had asked her something that was bold.
"My house…" Nazuna started saying then sighed. "Is in another city."
"Then why did you come over to this one?" Nico asked as she was dialing in a number.
"I wanted to clear my head," Nazuna replied then picked up his school bag. He pulled out a pair of glasses then looked at Nico. "I joined a unit at my school and I'm not sure whether or not I feel comfortable… Right now, I don't want to go back for tomorrow's practice…"
Nico listened to Nazuna's story and when she heard someone on the other end, Nico said, "Kokoro, I'm bringing a guest over for the night. Do you mind if you can set up the spare room?"
"Thanks," Nito thanked Nico and after she hung up, he asked, "What's your name?"
"Yazawa Nico."
"Nico-chi, nice to meet you." Nito patted the black haired girl's hair and she smiled.
"Likewise."
After introductions were over with, the two were talking, getting to know each other, overall telling each other what they like and don't like. Days have passed since that day and somewhere along the way, Nito and Nico started going out.
A year later, second year Nico was leaving Otonokizaka Academy. She had a big smile on her face. Nito had asked her if she wanted to see him practice for his unit's upcoming performance. Nico had obviously said yes and was walking to Yumenosaki Academy.
About a half hour later, Nico arrived at Yumenosaki Academy. She went through a long security process before she went inside the school.
"Let's see…" Nico looked around with her phone in her hand. She was looking for the Handicraft Club room. "I think it's here- Hmm?" Nico said then heard voices in the other room. She pressed her ear against the door and listened to the conversation. All she heard was muffling, but the one thing she can figure out is that these men in Nazuna's unit were treating him as a slave than a person. This enraged Nico and she moved away from the door.
She was pacing back and forth, thinking of a way to defend her boyfriend. She felt like it's the right thing to do. After a minute pondering about it, Nico opened the door and the three men looked at her in shock.
"Nazu, sorry I'm late." Nico apologized to Nazuna then walked over to him. Her eyes looked over at the two other members, Itsuki Shu and Kagehira Mika. "Okay tell me what you're doing to Nazu!"
"Who are you? And how do you know Nazuna-nii?!" Mika asked Nico and she didn't say anything. "Answer me-"
"That's enough Kagehira." Shu told his fellow member then looked at Nico. "So how do you know Nazuna?"
"She's my...girlfriend." Nazuna replied to Shu's question for Nico.
Much to their surprise, Shu and Mika looked at each other then at Nico. She was glaring at them then walked towards the door.
"Sorry Nazu, but I can't being here…"
"Nico-chi, why are you leaving?"
Nico stopped walking then turned to Shu and Mika. "I don't like how you two are treating Nazu! You guys treat him like a puppet than an actual human! What kind of group does that?!"
"What gives you the rights to talk to us like that, you first year?!" Shu retorted back at Nico and she stuck her tongue out.
"I'm the same age as you!" Nico argued back at Shu then sighed. "Ah forget it!"
Nico walked towards the door and opened it. She stood in the doorway then turned around and looked Nazuna. Then she walked away.
Nazuna extended his hand out, trying to reach out to Nico, but he stopped and looked down. Out alone in the fields, Nico was standing there, crying a little then ran towards the school gate.
The next day, it was the day of the unit, Valkyrie's performance. Nico was in the crowd of people. She was only here to cheer Nazuna on; and to see what Valkyrie is like.
Nazu… Please do your best… Nico prayed as she watched the performance. Overtime, her eyes widen in awe. Valkyrie's performance was...beautiful, even though some of their movements looked scary. I… I don't know what to say… Nico thought to herself.
Shu felt something on his shoulders and he turned and looked at Mika. He looked in the direction Nico was at and Shu smirked.
"Nico!"
Nico flinched after name was called out. She noticed that their eyes were on her and she frowned. Either way, she stomped her way towards the stage and looked at the three boys.
"Nico-chi…" Nazuna muttered softly then looked away.
"What do you want?"
"Sing." Shu ordered the black haired girl and she raised an eyebrow.
"Hmph! Since you said so," Nico crossed her arms then walked forward. She took a deep breath then looked at the audience. It's been a very long time since she's been on stage. It made her nervous but she slowly smiled.
Music started playing as Nico slowly closed her red eyes. The sound of the violin and piano soothed her and when it was time, she started singing.
I see the ends of the sky
And also the distant world that nobody knows about
The small stars shine
Surely in the same night sky
So don't forget
In just a short amount of time
Miracles are engraved by the heart
Gently waiting for tomorrow
A few seconds later, Nico started dancing and her clothes slowly and magically transformed into a cute angel-like outfit.
Tender wishes (from kindness)
Wavering thoughts… That's right…
It's not only gently being by your side
Change is beginning. Do you understand?
She placed one hand on her chest and slowly raised the other. The expression on her face shows sympathy and happiness. Though underneath that face, Nico is showing concern and feels like she'll cry any minute.
Fragments of a dream shake the wings
Once again becoming a lovely song
They want to shine within that light
Spread your wings and heat up this evening
Because I always want to rescue you
Because I want to support you, let's give it my all
If I think "I am able to do anything"
I will become strong
With her hand still placed upon her chest, Nico looks down then she smiled a little, sweeping her feet then looked at the ceiling.
Gentle and yet (kind)
Delicate… That's right…
Let's go towards the important things sooner
Little by little when I get closer
Drops of a dream soak the wings
Just tightly embrace this moment
If this light doesn't go out
Spread your wings and let's protect this evening
She extended her arms out, looking as if she was waiting for someone to hug her. Tears were slowly streaming down from her eyes as she smiled away her sorrow.
That's right, the power of hope will surely transmit through our overlapping hands
Now, within the quiet slumber
Tomorrow will be reborn, ah surely…
As Nico kneeled down, the secrecy magically changed to a beautiful heaven-like area filled with happiness and eight other angel-like girls. Two of them looked like Nico's age, three looked a year younger, and the last three were looking at Nico with bows and arrows in their hands. All eight of them smiled at Nico, loving to what she has become. One after another, the angels shot their arrows upwards and the arrows burst, causing sparkles to fall gently down onto the audience.
Fragments of a dream shake the wings
Once again becoming a lovely song
They want to shine within that light
Spread your wings and heat up this evening
What rose from those pair of trembling wings?
Spread your wings and let's protect this evening
Slowly, the magic of Nico's song slowly disappeared as the song ended. Nico was standing at the center of the stage, clothed in her regular outfit and she looked at the crowd. They looked pleased with her performance and they all left the performance hall, leaving only Nico and the three members of Valkyrie.
Nico had her eyes staring at her shoes then she lifted her head and looked at Nazuna, Mika, and Shu. They all still looked surprised at Nico's performance.
"You told me to sing and I did," Nico said to Shu then smiled a little. "Strange… This feeling… It feels strange to have it back after what happened…"
"What happened?" Mika asked the girl and she looked down.
"As of next week, I'll be a third year at Otonokizaka Academy," Nico started telling her story then looked up. "During my first year, I formed a school idol group. But all of my members slowly left one by one… I was depressed by this… But I saw Nazu and...I felt something that I never did before…"
Mika and Shu looked at each other then stepped off the stage, leaving only Nico and Nazuna standing. Nico looked at Nazuna and she started crying.
Nazuna looked surprised then hugged Nico to calm her down. "Nico-chi, are you okay?"
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Nico apologized then looked up at her boyfriend's face. She started blushing and so did Nazuna. After a few seconds of staring at each other, Nico closed the gap by kissing Nazuna. The said boy was taken aback, but he returned the kiss. A few seconds later, Nazuna held Nico closer and the girl said, "I promise that I won't leave you…"
Back to the present, the song that Nico was listening to was close to being over and the girl was just standing there, tears coming down her eyes as she remembered those days.
Now a third year himself, Nazuna ran up to Nico, out of breath and saw that his girlfriend was crying. It shocked him so he hugged the girl and asked, "Nico-chi, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Nazu." Nico shook her head as she slowly wiped her tears away. "Just happy that you're here."
"You know I'm always here for you." Nazuna smiled at Nico and she nodded.
"I know," Nico smiled back at Nazuna. She saw that her friends, Nishikino Maki, Hoshizora Rin, Koizumi Hanayo, Minami Kotori, Kousaka Honoka, Sonoda Umi, Ayase Eli, and Tojo Nozomi were walking in their direction. "Nazu, let's go have fun!"
Nico pulled on Nazuna's hand and he smiled. The two spent the rest of the afternoon, smiling like lovesick lovebirds and holding hands. At the same park they first met, Nazuna and Nico were sitting at the same bench, sleeping on each other's shoulders with their hands still together.