A/N : I'm going to split the Third year into a few parts. But then again, as I said. I need to Re-watch love live a few times to make this can be connected. Don't want to make this Fan Fiction too fiction.
Review and comment is welcome!
And, I don't own Love Live! Just a fan of NozoEri.
At the beginning of their third year in Otonokizaka High School; Many things has changed to the better, but still not enough to guarantee the school to keep running after their Graduation. Nozomi knew about this long ago, yet she kept thinking of what Opportunity they had to jump into in order to save their High-school. Ever since they dated, Eli is getting more and more open to people around her. She is no longer worried that another will take Nozomi away from her— because she knew, or they knew they are special to each other.
They didn't speak out about they are in a relationship, Eli said it might be bad to tell anyone about it, especially if anyone in school know, they could try to make a bad gossip here and there— or simply just because hearing others talking about them being in a relationship is annoying. Nozomi agreed to the idea, she thought of the same reason as her. They don't need others to know about their status.
At the student council room, they kept a distance with each other, not so far but a distance would be nice to help them focus on their work. They haven't reach a specific level of intimacy— they never kissed each other too before. Eli never bothered with such things; all in her mind right now is how to save their school from being closed down for good.
"You're over working again, Ericchi… slow down…" Nozomi said, she is also still working on some paperwork. Eli sighed, she put down her pen and rested her head on the desk.
"Why everything seems to be a lot heavier now…." She said.
"Because this is your last year here?" Nozomi guessed, Eli emphasized a sigh. Nozomi couldn't help to not giggled on her reaction. She is glad the cute Ericchi hasn't changed until now, even when she start to be more open to others, Nozomi still knew that she will never treat others like how she treat her. She would never show her emotion to anyone else— and that made Nozomi feels more special.
"I'm really worried now, what this school will do without me…?" Eli said.
"Hmm… nothing? I doubt they have any legs to walk away, or mouth to talk. They are just building…" Nozomi jokingly replied.
"Not literally the school, silly….I mean—…" Eli sighed heavily.
"You know what I mean…." She continued. Nozomi laughed,
"Need to cheer up a bit, Ericchi… especially this is your last year to be here…" Nozomi said. Eli sighed heavily again, she seems to be really tired right now. Nozomi left her to rest, she continued her own paperwork.
"Anyway, Nozomi… you told me there will be an opportunity…. Do you know when?" Eli asked, Nozomi smiled;
"I've been wondering about that too…" Nozomi said, she placed her pen on her own desk. Eli remained silent. She watched her friend– or her secret lover stood up from her seat.
"I can feel it coming soon…" she said.
A silence. Eli didn't know when is the soon she is talking about, yet she was just sure that Nozomi always know the best— one of the reason why she loved her.
"Ericchi, can we go on date tonight?" she asked.
"Of course… is something on your mind?" Eli asked, Nozomi nodded slowly.
"Then I'll come over tonight. Where do you want to go?" Eli asked,
"Akiba…" Nozomi said.
"Got it…" Eli replied immediately.
Akiba's Café. Even though they are still high-school students, a lot of people think that they are more mature than that. Despite all the crowds around them, Eli focused on what Nozomi have for her tonight. She wants to know about what exactly she wants to talk about.
"So, Nozomi has been really bad, going out at night without telling her parents…"
"Who's influence is this? The Rebellious Ericchi?"
"Well, you could say no to me… also, I'm not rebelling, my parents let me. I read from the book it's alright to travel at night in my age as long I'm not alone … Isn't that just common things in Japan?"
"Do you think I'm not on the age too then? I'm five months older than you, Ericchi.."
"Well, you told me your parents won't let you go back then, so I thought two years older won't make any difference…"
Nozomi rolled her eyes. She was then taking a spoon of her parfait and feed it to Eli.
"They let me live alone. So that means I'm on my own now…" Nozomi replied. Eli didn't respond to that, she is still a little surprised by the parfaits that just go to her mouth all so sudden. Nozomi seems to be a little annoyed by the topic.
"You're not planning to talk about our relationship, I take it…?" Eli asked.
"Of course not, Ericchi… I want to talk about the school…" Nozomi replied as she carefully took her cherry from the parfait.
"What is it?" Eli asked curiously, her eyes even more focused.
"I feel this energy as I observed a few new students…" she started,
"Energy? Good one? Are they some potential student to keep the school running?"
"Not exactly, but it feels like they are the last chain to a specific energy source…" She added.
"Last chain?"
"Yup, nine people. I feel them all. It just a matter of time now… and we should jump into that opportunity when the card told us to."
Eli didn't respond. She kept thinking of what it might be.
"I'm not ready to tell anything to you yet, Ericchi. But it just so you know… the opportunity is coming soon…" Nozomi added. Eli seems a little flustered as she said it. She was then looking at the big screen on the side of the town.
"A-rise…" Nozomi said.
"What?" Eli surprised as she said it. It sounded like she is trying to tell her to get up.
"That… A-Rise, a school idol…. They are sparkling." Nozomi said. Eli curiously took a peek on the screen through the window from her side.
"Is that what Yazawa Niko did until this year?" Eli asked.
"Probably, but we have never seen that in our school, right?" Nozomi said. Eli watched the screen intently. It shows A-rise performance and Eli keep watching it, Nozomi noticed there is something that made Eli's heart moving, but it wasn't something positive. She is moving to somewhere deep— like in the past, a dark past.
Is it important to pry that out? Yes. It is. That might be related to the opportunity which will be coming to them soon.
"What do you think about them, Ericchi?" Nozomi asked; a little hint of tease to defense if that turned out to be a really bad choice to ask.
"Bunch of Imbecile..." She said coldly. She has never talked like that to her for long. Does she miss that? Not really, might be risking their relationship now— but if it is for the best.
"Oh? Is that just because they took my attention?" Nozomi tried to tease again.
"Sort of, but to be fair, they are all amateur for me…" Eli replied straightly. Well, Nozomi is already used with her straight forward reply, but knowing her, it might be just better if she could just play the teasing game to get everything she wants to hear from her without hurting their relationship.
"Then, why don't you show me something better?" she said, Eli is looking back at her in all seriousness.
"Finish your parfait, you're staying in my place tonight…"
Eli's apartment; It's been a while for Nozomi to not visit here again. She didn't expect Eli to suddenly tell her to stay in her place. She didn't know what Eli has on her mind and what kind of show Eli is talking about.
Whoa, did I upset her? Nozomi thought.
"I'm home…" Eli said.
"Welcome— Ahh..Isn't this Nozomi-chan…" Eli's mother approached them.
"Sorry for the interruption.." Nozomi bowed politely.
"Onee-san!" Arisa running out from the room and hug her.
"Ah! Nozomi Onee-san!" Arisa released Eli and she hug her too. Nozomi didn't know how to feel that time, to be greeted like that by Eli's family— she feels like she is a part of family already. The fact that she is on a relationship with Eli too made her happy.
"Arisa, please prepare some snacks for her, I'm going to give her a really good time tonight…" Eli said.
What good time?! Why did she say that in front of her family like there is nothing wrong with that sentence? I thought our relationship is supposed to be invisible too?
Nozomi flustered, even after she have built some specific level of resistance to flirt or a straight forward sweet talk from Eli, she still can't believe Eli would say anything vulgar in that manner— not that she will mind if she will be no longer a virgin tonight— maybe its common in Russia?
"Alright..." Arisa nodded cheerfully before she released her and run again to the kitchen.
Either way, how old is Arisa? Why is she so calm after hearing that from her sister? Then, why her parents just waved at them in friendly manner? Don't they think there is something wrong with the sentence that just came out from their daughter?
"Come to my room, Nozomi…" Eli said. Nozomi nodded— a little hesitating.
The room has changed a little from two years ago, but the place remained the same and the bed seems to be a little shrinking— that's not possible though, it might be them that getting bigger as they grow up.
Nozomi placed her bag on the side of the room, Eli too placed her bag on her the place where she usually place it.
"Go change to your night dress…" Eli said. Nozomi still hesitated, why does she need to change to her night dress if they are going to be naked anyway? Wait, are they going to be naked? What is this Good time Eli talking about?
"Ericchi…" Nozomi tried to call her.
"No talking, just do it. I'll be right back..." Eli left the room.
That was unexpected, but still, what is this good time that Eli talking about? Why does she walk away and being so persistence? Is that just her way to tell her that she will dominate her tonight? What is she thinking about? Why does it have to be so perverted?
Without asking more question to herself, Nozomi changed to her night dress and waited Eli by sitting on the bed— the bed that although seems to be smaller than before, it's still big enough for two so they don't have to stick together so close like how they slept in her own apartment.
But, is that also mean that they have more action that can be done on the bed?
Wait a minute! We never kissed, although she did or I did kiss her on the cheek or forehead, still— we never kissed before! — Nozomi protested to herself.
I'm not ready for a further Intimacy like this! Besides, I was just showing her A-Rise! A school Idol! Isn't this supposed to be something more serious?! I mean, we were talking about our School!
She tried to reason to herself so that she stops thinking that she will lose her virginity tonight.
Get a grip, Nozomi, you need to stay calm.
She said to herself.
Oh,Right!
Nozomi quickly search to her bag for her tarot card. She began to focus herself, regaining her spiritual energy and shuffle the card. Panic won't make any answer for her.
Say, will I really get a good time tonight?
She asked the card— and it's a Reverse Judgment, means that she is not the one that decides it.
Uh… alright, then…. Can I get out of this situation?
She repeated the usual procedure.
Upward Death—means a big No. She can't run from Eli.
She sighed. Then its set, all she can do is just to submit herself to her, let Eli do whatever she want to do. To remember the first time they started to go out— where it supposed to be the heat of the moment, she was crying all night instead— because she is just beyond happy that day. How about now? There is no air that tells her, they also supposed to be serious too.
Eli returned to the room, already in her pajamas and Nozomi for no reason quickly hide under the blanket.
"Nozomi… why are you hiding now? I thought we are supposed to be serious…" Eli said,
"We are?" Nozomi take a peek, Eli is carrying her laptop, headphone, and a set of CDs.
"We are going to watch something tonight?" She asked.
"Yes, you're going to watch me dance…" Eli said as she headed to the bed and turning on her laptop. Nozomi went out from her hiding place and gets closer to Eli.
She can dance? Interesting… I never knew this side of her.
Nozomi thought as she waits for Eli to show her. Eli gave the headphone to Nozomi, then she played the video.
At first it was all dark until a classical music started. A figure of little girl in her ballerina dress, elegantly moves her arms— gently swinging her feet as her body was so light to her. She is too standing with only her toe. Nozomi can't imagine herself to stand in that position— yet that little girl did and she did it like it's very easy to do so.
She moves, she jumps, and she smiled. It's very beautiful. Nozomi could not speak a single word as she watched it, how could this little girl dance like that? Then, Eli said it was her who dances— how can this be possibly Eli? —Her stiff Ericchi.
Every move, every steps and every single swing she made is very precise, it's like the music and her has become one part with each other. Not only that, even though she is alone, she could see how dynamic and perfect she moves.
Without her realizing, the music ended, and the girl has finally stops dancing too. She could hear a big applause for her too. Nozomi still staring at the black screen in awe, no wonder Eli can say that the school idol A-Rise is an amateur for her— she have reason and it's a very clear reason.
"So? Having a good time?" Eli said teasingly to her, she shoved her shoulder against Nozomi gently too. She knows what Nozomi have on her mind— her expression tells everything already. Nozomi didn't realize that her jaw dropped and her eyes open so widely as she watch the video.
Nozomi took a deep breath. Then looking back at Eli with a serious face,
"That was disappointing; I didn't get to see Ericchi in a sexy dress…" she replied.
"H-Hey! That's not even the point why I show you the video!" Eli replied— her face blushed. Nozomi laughed sweetly and she took off the headphone.
"In all seriousness though, I see why you said A-Rise is an amateur for you…" Nozomi said. Eli smiled to her personal victory.
"But…" Nozomi added. Eli's face turned to her.
"Do you think technique is everything?" she continued. That was one thing that Eli was afraid of, but it came out from her Nozomi — one that she trust more than anyone else. Eli remained silent. Her face grew dark, Nozomi know it's still too fast for her to think too much about that.
"You don't need to answer that now, Ericchi…" Nozomi grabs Eli's waist, pulling herself to Eli and rested her head on Eli's stiff shoulder.
"I'm telling you that because it may be related to the opportunity I was talking about…" Nozomi continued. Eli nodded weakly. She might be still in a deep thought.
"Ericchi…." Nozomi called her lovingly, Eli is no longer choking— she is used to that as that is how Nozomi call her these days.
"I have a few requests…" Nozomi said.
"What is it?" Eli asked.
"First, I'll be wandering around school to work on something, are you going to trust me for that?" Nozomi asked, her hand reaching to Eli's other shoulder.
"Yes…" She said stiffly.
"Second, I might be hanging out with a few other student, you're not going to be jealous, right?"
"As long you tell me what you are going to do with them…" Eli replied, she seems to be a little cold as she said it.
"You're not okay with that…" Nozomi replied,
"Fine, don't tell me…" Eli pouted. Nozomi couldn't help to not laugh on her pouting face. Eli is getting more annoyed, yet she just looks away with a hint of blush on her face.
"Ericchi is so jealous! Ericchi so cuteeee!"
Nozomi pinch her cheeks.
"I'wm nwot jweawous…." (I'm not jealous!) Eli tried to reply.
"Don't you worry, Ericchi, You'll be part of it in the right time! So just focus on your student council and your own study from now on, ok?"
"Iws twat ywouw twid weqwuest?" (Is that your third request?) Eli asked.
"Not really, my third request is, don't cheat while I'm away…" Nozomi said. Eli frowned; she pinched Nozomi's cheeks too.
"Ywou Awsked Mwe Two Lwet ywou Cwheat anwmd Nwow Ywou jwust Awsk Mwe Two Nwot chweat! Nwocwomi iwsh mwean!" (You asked me to let you cheat and now you just ask me to not cheat! Nozomi is mean!) Eli replied as she pulls her cheek wider
"Nwo onwe swayd Iwm gwoing two chweat" (No one said I'm going to cheat!) Nozomi pulls Eli's cheek too.
"Nyuuwww… Nwochomi…!" She is glaring to Nozomi.
"Ewiccwiiii…..!" Nozomi is glaring back at her.
The door opened, Arisa brought their snack.
"Here is your sn—…" Arisa paused as she saw what she can't unseen. The two Onee-san is pulling each other cheek. Nozomi and Eli quickly released it and back to their position, then composing a good and polite manner.
"So, Toujou-san… you have done a great job on student council lately." Eli said, politely.
"Thank you, Ericchi— I mean, Ayase-san. Is that mean the request is accepted…?" Nozomi replied.
"Yes, please don't let me lose my faith on you, Toujou-san…" Eli replied, still in a polite manner.
"I'll do my best, Ayase-san…" Nozomi replied. They began to pretend to work on something on the laptop. They are doing nothing there, just clicking and opening random things.
Arisa staring at them— confused. She was then just put down the snack and leaves the room awkwardly.
"Spa-see-ba Arisa!" Eli said loudly.
"Yup-yup, Thank you Arisa! Harasho!" Nozomi said loudly too. Arisa giggled as she heard it outside the room. She may not have any idea about what just happened inside there but she is happy that they are getting along with each other that well.
Are they really just that well? Let's just say they are. They don't want Arisa to know about their relationship, could be bad for her education— and could be bad for them too. What if their parents know and began to ask about it? They can't simply just try to slip away from that. They also don't know what they will say about that. Either way, they are trying to ignore that problem for now.
"Anyway, Ericchi… I have one more request…" Nozomi said.
"What is it?" Eli asked.
"Can you still dance?" Nozomi asked.
"Of course, you want to see me dancing?" Eli asked.
"Yes…"
"Then you have to wake up really early tomorrow. Let's go to the shrine and I'll show you there…"
Early morning at the Shrine, Eli, Nozomi and Arisa went to a particular spot in the shrine. It was away from the public view, Nozomi is the only Shrine Maiden who show up at this time of hour too. Eli knew this since she always go here before school to accompany Nozomi. That's why she thinks the Shrine is a perfect place to show off her skill to a special person.
Nozomi already in her Shrine Maiden dress; sitting next to Arisa who is also happy to see her sister dance again, even if she is in her school uniform instead of her ballet dress. Nozomi received the previous video that she watched last night on her phone now,
"I'm going to show you only once, Nozomi. When you start playing that song, tell me…" Eli said. Nozomi nodded. Counting from three to one, Nozomi signaled Eli that the song is starting.
From the dark screen, and to when the spotlight placed on her. The time when she began to move— it just the same with what she is looking right now, the music keep playing, so is Eli. She moves, she jump, she dance, and she swing, just the same like in the video. More importantly, she actually stands on the tip of the toe. Nozomi doubt if she can do the same like that.
Her elegancy, her precise steps, her perfect timing, everything is just the same. For some reason though, the current Eli— who dance right in front of her right now, she misses something. Something that existed in the previous Eli and gone in the current one.
Cuteness? Well, Nozomi still think that Eli is still cute. Innocent face? Maybe, but she won't mind with such a beautiful face like her. Sexiness? Well that is surely lacking since Nozomi do want to watch Eli dancing naked, but in all seriousness, what is it that missing from her?
"She didn't smile…" Arisa whispered.
Right, she didn't. Nozomi thought.
"Did she hate dancing now?" Arisa whispered again. Nozomi shook her head.
"I doubt that is the case… Ericchi will say it to me if she did… or at least, the card will…." Nozomi replied her in a whisper too. Arisa turned to her,
"Nozomi-Onee-san know?"
"I know her…" Nozomi replied.
But what is it that made her not smiling while dancing? Is there any bad memory behind it? Perhaps she doesn't really know that much about her, perhaps Arisa know better and Nozomi is being over confident about her power. She didn't know everything— she just depends on her Tarot cards and her own feeling. What does she feel about Eli now though? Love? Of course, she loves Eli a lot, she is her girlfriend anyway. Sadness? No, she doesn't feel sad at all. She looks more like angry than sad.
The music ended, Eli has done the dance and Nozomi was sure that everything is perfectly sync. Does it satisfy her though? Somehow, yes. She feels like watching a private show. Wait, a private show? Why does it sound vulgar all so sudden? Even when there is nothing happen around to trigger it— maybe it was just her head that is perverted.
"Like the show?" Eli asked.
"Yes, Onee-san, Harasho!" Arisa said happily.
"Harasho…" Nozomi said calmly.
"You didn't really enjoy it, didn't you?" Eli said. Nozomi chuckled,
Of course she will know. She is just like me after all.
"It because you didn't smile…" Arisa beat her to say it, although Nozomi wanted to crack a joke first.
"Oh…." Eli's face grew dark again.
"It's alright, Ericchi, your dancing is perfect… but, perhaps what you're lacking is also related to the question that I ask you yesterday?" Nozomi said. Eli didn't respond. Arisa looking at them confused.
"I'll go send Arisa to her school, we shouldn't bother you with your work longer. I'll meet you at school today, Nozomi…" Eli said as she holds Arisa's hand and walk away with her.
"Eh? It's still too early, Onee-san!" Arisa retorted,
"We will walk slow, don't worry. I want to spend my time with you…" Eli said as she left. Eli is clearly trying to hide something from her. Should she pry? Maybe she must try to ask to her cards again this time. She took out her cards from her bag,
One time shuffle, channel the energy and take. The Devil— Upward, a sign of trickery.
'Still too early', huh?
She thought.
Then I shall wait for the time to come.
Lunch Break, the hall way was crowded by some people who start to get panic because a second year student collapsed.
"Honoka! Honoka! Hang in there!" shouted a girl with gray hair— a familiar face for Nozomi,
"Honoka!" shouted another girl with long dark blue hair.
They brought one girl with ginger hair laying down on the portable bed— guessing that she must be Honoka.
Nozomi stopped to watch the very moment. She noticed an energy link from the three girls that just passing by. As what she has discussed with Eli before, she is going to roam around the school to do something— and that something is finding those links.
Three links… sweet…
Nozomi thought. She continued to roam. She noticed two girls playing around the Llama cage, both of them have short hair, one is orange colored, one is light brown colored,
Are those the two other links?
She wondered, perhaps she should take a closer look. She ran down to the first floor to check it out.
"Kayo-chin! They are so cute, Nya!" the orange haired girl said.
"I know! This is one of the reasons why I want this school!" The light brown haired girl said as she gently strokes the white Llama.
Nozomi approach them very carefully, unheard too.
"Uuuuuhhh! I want to pet them forever!" the light brown haired girl said.
"Then why don't you register as their caretaker?" Nozomi suggested, the two girls surprised by her approach.
"A-a…you are…." The light brown haired girl start to be scared,
"Rice-President-senpai, Nya!" the orange haired pointed to her.
"Rice President?" Nozomi replied in amused voice.
"It's Vice-President, Rin-chan!" the light brown haired girl replied— a little frightened.
"Oh…" the orange haired girl replied. Nozomi just chuckled to that, they replied with a shy smile and a little bit scared face.
"So, why don't you register as their caretaker? I can help you with that…" Nozomi said,
"Eh? I can?" the light brown haired girl asked.
"Of course, what's your name?"
"Koizumi Hanayo!" The light brown haired girl replied.
"And Hoshizora Rin!" The orange haired girl said. Nozomi nodded as she writes that in her note.
"Alright, so you two are the caretaker now, just report to the office at the practice building's first floor, tell them the student council has given you the permission…" Nozomi said.
"T-thank you Senpai!" Hanayo replied before she bow and run to the practice building.
"Kayo-chin! Wait!" Rin said before she chased after her.
That would keep that two links around here.
Nozomi said to her mind as she went back to the classroom building.
She decided to walk back to class and continue her exploration after school, though before that, she wonders how Ericchi doing without her. She stopped by the Student Council room— Eli is staring at a piece of paper and her face looks really bad, she looks stressed.
She decided to come in.
"Eri—…"
"Nozomi!" Eli suddenly stands up from her seat, rushing to her, her face is pale and her eyes seem to be out. She is scary. She is like she is going to die soon.
"Where were you going?! Why did you leave me?!" She looked angry and uncontrollable.
"Ericchi, I was—…"
"I can't without you! Everything is bad without you!" Eli grabs her arm so tightly.
"Ericchi, calm down! You're hurting me!"
And with just those words, Eli stopped. She released her grabs from her. Eli rubs her own face, trying to calm herself down. She couldn't help to not cry. She was then going back to her seat.
"What's wrong, Ericchi?" Nozomi tried to approach her carefully.
"The School is going to be closed…" she said. Nozomi know that the reason of Eli being here is to prevent that from happening, but this is her last year, she can't be like before; simply show up in a Bazaar and impress a lot of people. Once she graduates, she cannot impress anyone as student of Otonokizaka and the school will be closed for its own good.
"You need to stay calm, Ericchi… you're not going to solve anything if you are angry…" Nozomi said, she took off Eli's pony tail, it was gone to a mess from the rage act that she did before. She carefully strokes her hair, tidying it up back to how it was supposed to be.
"Everything will be alright, Ericchi… you believe me, don't you?"
No response, Eli kept a blank stare.
"Stay calm, it's not over yet… I know something good will happens…. You just need to keep your ground."
Nozomi said before she kissed her cheek.
Late night, Nozomi's bedroom; she is all alone now. When she saw Eli out of control today, she realized that she hasn't seen all part of her beloved one. She didn't expect her to act in such a brute way, in other meaning, Nozomi have to keep a step open for Eli, so that she could remain sturdy.
She knows that she just have to keep on trying to find the links, but what possibly can be done to unite them all? She doesn't know anything good to do.
To remember about Eli's unexpected specialty— such as ballet dancing, she felt that it could be one strong relation to the thing that she needs to unite them. She began to look for inspiration by searching through her book collection.
What is her lead though? She doesn't have any lead about what to make to unite them. But either way, she took one book— a random one. It turned out to be a Greek Mythology. There are a lot of things to be learned here, and a lot of things can be used as inspiration.
She knows that she may have to return here once or twice to re-learn its content, but she won't mind. She feels like she really needs to save the school— for Eli's Happiness, and if she is happy, she is too.
A phone call,
"Ericchi ❤" it says. With a picture of Eli, sitting on the student council room calmly.
I thought I'm not getting a phone call tonight…
She thought before she accepted it.
"Evening, Ericchi!" Nozomi greeted first.
"Nozomi…" her voice cold,
"What is it Ericchi?" Nozomi pretend to not notice it.
"I'm sorry…." Replied still with cold voice,
"For what?" she innocently asked.
"For being out of control today…. I'm scared…" Eli replied, her voice getting colder.
"I know…" Nozomi replied. Eli is quiet after that.
"You have done your best, Ericchi… and if it's not enough then all you need is patience." Nozomi continued, she could hear Eli sighed.
"What am I waiting for? Why you keep telling me to wait?" Eli asked.
"I'm doing my job, Ericchi…"
"What is it? Tell me. I'll help you out…" Eli said.
"You'll be part of it soon. Just believe me for now… You know what Principal Minami tells you today— all you need is to raise the quality of current students. You don't need to worry about the school being closed down before graduation."
"Will it be really ok?" Eli asked again.
"Ericchi….do you really trust me?"
"I do…."
"Then stop worrying. Just do your job…" Nozomi replied. Eli didn't respond to that. It's an awkward silence after. No one knows what to say to each other. Nozomi kept reading her book as the time passes,
"Nozomi…." finally a voice coming out, though the tone seems to be a lot colder now. Did she lose all of her hope already? Didn't she said that she believe her? Or perhaps she is just stressed out?
"What is it, Ericchi?"
"I love you…." Eli said, her voice getting lighter. Nozomi paused for a bit, then she smiled.
"You don't need to tell me a thousand times… I already know that if you have to say how much you love me, it would be over a billion times…"
A soft giggles.
"Tease…" Eli said, which Nozomi respond with just a small laugh.
After School, Student council room; A few days has passed since Kousaka Honoka and Two other students which appear to be Sonoda Umi, a member of Archery club, and Minami Kotori, the Chairwoman daughter came to the room to ask for permission to make an Idol club. Nozomi knows that the path they are trying to make is related to what she is been trying to tie.
She found another two links, one is the red haired girl who plays piano every after school, then the other one is Yazawa Niko, yet she still couldn't find the last two links. She was sure that it supposed to be nine links tied, but who knows what might be appearing later? All she have to do now is giving a little push to each of them— also keeping Eli calm and collected because she just know that Eli is connected to them.
Just today too in the morning, The Trio asked for a permission to use auditorium. Thanks to Nozomi, they got what they get and Eli is left pouting on how she was forced to let them. After a few minutes of awkward silence,
"Why are you so sure to let them do it…?" Eli said, breaking the quietness.
"Why don't you try browse further about this school idol thing?" Nozomi replied, she tidy up the paperwork she just finished and placed it on the side of the table.
"What? Why?"
"Do you remember my question?" Nozomi asked, she is putting back all of her belonging.
"About what?" Eli asked again.
"Is technique everything?" Nozomi reminded her. Eli went all quiet.
"I'm not going to make you answer in this very second." Nozomi added.
Eli didn't respond. She just sighed.
"I'm going to help out at shrine, need more spiritual energy to do some more readings… Good Luck, Ericchi…" Nozomi left the room. As she passes by the hallway, she saw a poster of the three previous girls. They are trying to come up with a name for their idol group. Nozomi stopped by for a bit to check out what's more in it.
The box still empty, no one has put anything inside it.
A name for the group….?
She thought.
They are trying to find people to join them…
She paused for a bit. Then as she remember, about what she have seen through her spiritual experiences, she thought, perhaps this is what can unite them all together and save the school?
Nine people…..
She thought again.
Idol group…. Hmmm…
She is still thinking about it.
I'll save that for tonight, see what Ericchi have for me.
She continued her walk and leaves the box empty for now.
Night time, Nozomi's bedroom; Nozomi still browsing through her Greek mythology books while waiting for a phone call that she expect to come anytime soon. Knowing Eli, she would do anything that she told her to do. Even though she knows; Eli most probably will also so something more than what she expect. She is a brilliant person too after all.
Phone call; it has finally come to her.
"Evening, Ericchi!" she said immediately after she accepted it.
"Hnn... you're always beating me to that lately…" Eli replied.
"Wheel of life, Ericchi, I should be on top sometime…" Nozomi said. Eli choked as she heard it. Nozomi could hear her trying to compose herself. Did she just trigger something?
"You're always on top for me, Nozomi, it's not that you ever be under me." Eli said,
"Now that you mention it, I see now why you never kiss me on my lips…" Nozomi said. She swears she could hear Eli choked again. This is really amusing.
"What are you saying… it's not like I don't want to do it, I'm just still thinking how we should do it. I can't do that all so sudden, you know." Eli retorted. Nozomi giggled,
"Oh? So it's not because you're too chicken to do that? You know you can just, push me to the wall, grab my arms, and then press your lips to mine?" Another tease, she could hear Eli choked again.
"D-Do you think it's that simple?! I mean, if I will ever do that to you, I'll make sure it's on the heat of the moment so you will never forget it…" Eli yelled,
"Ohhhh! So Ericchi do have some plan for me, interesting…" Nozomi couldn't help it, she found this very amusing and she would like to go on with her teases.
"A-Anyway! That's not why I called you. I researched about the Idol Group…"
"Ah, so what Ericchi have for me?"
"Well…. It just a group of peoples, dancing and singing to music, could be male or female, but mostly, females. They also have some kind of competition and rankings. Seems like it's very popular in Japan…"
"You think you can be part of them soon? I mean, you're good at dancing… you can help them by showing how dance supposed to be." Nozomi asked, Eli didn't respond to that. A few seconds of silence after Nozomi decide to bring back up a topic.
"They might be what can save the school, you know. Remember what Honoka say? She want to save the school too, they have the same—…"
"I know!" Eli cuts in. Nozomi stopped. She knows there is something bad in that topic.
"I already gave up on dancing…" Eli continued. Nozomi couldn't say a thing except to say her name in pity. She didn't know that, if only Eli told her before.
"Ericchi…."
"Look, I showed you how I dance right? You do think it's good, right? But I tell you what? I lost. There are better person than me. I barely can pass the audition! I'm a piece of crap…" Eli said, she seems to be trying to not cry.
"When I see this Idol group, I feel so frustrated, how could an amateur like them be so popular? What makes them favored by people? Why do they even exist?" she continued. Nozomi smiled, that is exactly what she wants Eli to think about.
"So I talked to Yazawa Niko today. I asked her further about idol group." Eli's voice getting a little throaty, Nozomi couldn't hear her properly.
"So you cheated today?" Nozomi said jokingly.
"How could you cracks a joke in a time like this?!" Eli snapped.
"Cheer up, Ericchi. I don't like an intense angst talks like this… Especially when I couldn't hug you..." Nozomi said, she could hear Eli sighed,
"A-Anyway, she didn't give me a clear explanation. Everything she was saying is just feels like delusion, all the talks about A-Rise, the most popular group, it made me sick. It made me want to throw up. So I decide to leave her alone…"
"You're not getting anything from her then?"
"Not exactly, she made me realize, if we ever have an idol group and we failed, it's going to be a shame to all of us, hurting our popularity, just like this Yazawa Niko…" Eli replied, she seems to be already calmed down.
"How can you jump into that conclusion?"
"Well… she shows me her dance… and her…uhm….most powerful technique…."
"Did she dance on your lap? I'm going to give her a punishment for hitting on my Ericchi…"
"That's not it, silly! Lap dance is not even a technique!"
"Huh? But it's one way to turn someone on... hmm, maybe I should do that to you so you are willing to kiss me already…"
"B-Back to topic, Nozomi!"
"Alright, so you're saying that Idol could be a shame on our school…?" Nozomi asked, she closed her book and walk to take her Tarot cards.
"Exactly…"
"Hmmm…." Nozomi shuffled her card. She made sure that she is really channeling her energy, to prevent any mistake happen. Not that she ever made one, she believe she never did so far.
The Sun, Upward— it's a bright future for them. She did this reading too before, even the wind shows her an answer. Every time she tried to read their future, it's always the same.
"Nope, don't worry about it Ericchi. Those three people will somehow make it… they just need more support."
"Did you just ask your card again?"
"Yep, they need our support as well…." Nozomi said, that reminded her something about coming up with a group name. She is sure that it will be filled with nine members in their group. What they should name it though?
"Anyway, Ericchi, I'm trying to come up with a name for them…"
"You read the poster too?"
"Yep…"
"Well… I'm not very good at naming, you know. But I think I can insert one thing for you…"
"Oh….? So you are going to penetrate something to me…." Nozomi said with a sly grin.
"T-That's some way to say it! But anyway, I heard this Idol group make their own music, dance and lyrics. I wonder if there is anything that can describe them as that…"
Music, dance and lyric…. Nine peoples.
Nozomi thought.
Of course there is! That's what I've been thinking too!
"Ericchi!" Nozomi said in serious tone.
"What?" Eli replied, also in serious tone.
"We are going to have a lot of kids!" Nozomi said, still in a serious tone.
"WHAT?!"
A/N : I hope you're not getting bored with this chapter since I added a few serious talk and lesser romance. Next chapter coming up later. Need to watch Love Live again to roll some ideas.