First of all, thank you for the reviews, favorites and follows! It was dead for a while so I wasn't sure if I should still update, but I want to finish this story no matter what! Hope you're enjoying this trash.

On sif talk, I successfully T1'd Maki event! Woo! And after this next (predicting Honk SR) MedFes event, might be the long awaited Zurui yo Magnetic Today event song with Nico SR! I'm so hyped, but I'm sure it's probably gonna be as insane as the Maki event. Gonna T1 it anyway! I hope it's gay. Good luck to everyone playing JP sif!

Also, I added a cover photo for this story! Credit goes to zurui yo/Nicotachi-san (in tumblr) for going through the trouble of drawing such a beautiful art! Thank you so much! Go follow her guys! Great NicoMaki content for all ages! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

That all said, HERE WE GO BOYS! NEXT CHAPTER TIME! Aka Nothing Happens: The Chapter.

Enjoy!


The Science of Spectral Magnetism

Chapter Six

I took a deep breath and looked at Nico straight in the eye, preparing myself to tell her everything I know. She looked at me in kind, her eyes too focused that it felt like I was on some kind of spotlight with her ruby colored irises scrutinizing me. A stage was set, in which I'm conveniently given the chance to impart what I learned, without having to think up of ways to awkwardly insinuate it. Just the kind of setup I need, it was everything I could ask for.

At least, that's supposed to be how I should feel about all of this—yet a part of me was reluctant to go through with it. Which was weird, because at any other point in time, I would have readily and willingly gotten it over with. The idea of returning back to my peaceful and logical life once she's gone always encouraged me, but thinking about it now only made my chest tighten—to a point where it hurts. And I couldn't fathom why.

"Maki, are you okay?" Nico asked, concern inflected in her tone.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I said, trying not to choke on my spit. Nozomi was nowhere to be seen, I realised late. She was always really good at reading the mood, and it never failed to impress me. I made a mental note to thank her later. For now I had to focus on Nico, and make sure I make proper use of this opportunity to settle this once and for all.

As I returned my gaze on her, I felt my hand reach for the ends of my hair, the need to play with it overwhelming me. She looked at me in attentiveness, her eyes reflecting patience that I couldn't and wouldn't ever dare betray. Even if my mind practically screamed the opposite. Can I still back out of this?

"Maki, don't tell me...were you my killer? Is that why you have that amulet and now you're hyperventilating over the guilt?" She said, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I—what?! No! What the hell?" Whatever it was that made me anxious was gone in an instant as I focused on her random accusation. "What the hell?!"

Nico's cheeks puffed almost instantly as she held in a laugh, making me realise that she was just poking fun at me. What the hell.

"You...you should have seen the look on your face!"

"Why you little…!"

Unable to hold it in, she burst out in laughter, effectively cutting me off. I felt my face heat up, anger and embarrassment building up in me. I don't even want to imagine how I look like right now. I glared at her in irritation, it was in moments like these that I wish I could actually smack her on the head for being such a mischievous little imp.

But seeing her laugh so much that tears were forming in her eyes, it was hard not to forgive her. If this was her way of getting me to relax, it was working. It was a definite improvement from the me of twenty seconds ago, at least. I found myself smiling. It wasn't the first time she was successful in lightening up my mood in the most outrageous ways possible, but I always found it surprising how she can get to me so easily.

"Seriously though, chill. I'm gonna listen to you no matter what. Don't be nervous." Her attempt at reassurance was pretty hard to take seriously as she was still stifling laughter.

"I-I wasn't really nervous…" I tried to reason, feeling slight pain in the way I held my hair strands.

"Sure you weren't, miss I-twirl-my-hair-when-I'm-tense."

I frowned at her in reply, dropping my hand to the side in an effort to disprove her, but in the end I couldn't even argue against it. The truth was hard to debunk.

"Okay, how about this, I'll ask questions, then you can answer them one by one, just so you don't have to think of where to begin? I mean, it's also pretty late, I know you're tired." She suggested, her voice was gentle and almost pampering.

I stared at her for few seconds, admittedly surprised at how caring and compassionate she's been with me throughout this conversation. She's giving off a reliable big sister vibe, just like how her mother described her to be. I didn't really consider her as one so it was an odd feeling, even though this wasn't the first time she fussed over me. "It's fine, I'll begin from your last question." I said, finally gaining the resolve to tell her.

"Okay."

I steeled myself and began. "I probably got that amulet from your brother."

The look of confusion on Nico was just as I expected.

"The reason why I was out today was to track down your death records," I elaborated further, watching her reaction. "Just as I assumed, you were brought to our hospital. I was able to find out how and why you died."

"...did I die because of something stupid?" She asked, looking rather squeamish.

"It was a traffic accident, I wouldn't really call it stupid." I told her, feeling more poised as the second passed. Telling her to react only after I'm done talking seemed to have completely slipped her mind, but I didn't mind. I found her responses funny. "Anyway, by chance, I met your family there."

Nico's eyes widened but she didn't say anything, just urging me to continue.

"They're all well. Your brother—Koutarou, he's getting discharged soon. Not too long ago, a heart donor was found and a surgery was done on him, and it was successful. He's just going through therapy."

A look of relief flashed in her eyes before she scratched her head in bewilderment. "But that doesn't explain why you have the amulet."

"I know, let me get to it." I immediately replied, her response within my expectations. "When I was in high school, I helped out at the hospital. Your—

"So you actually knew me?! I don't remember all that well, but I must have been in the hospital a lot!" She interrupted, sounding oddly excited about the idea.

"If I knew you, I wouldn't need to go to all this trouble and take months to find out about you, don't you think?" I said in exasperation.

"Oh," Her animated mood deflated promptly after hearing that. "I guess that's true."

"Right, so, as I was saying, your family were among the people I encountered while I helped out. They too confirmed this when I met them today."

Understanding was apparent on her face as she asked. "You don't remember meeting them then?"

"No, that explains the 'probably'. I'm not sure how I got it, but from what you can remember, that's all I could conclude to." I explained.

"I see," She said, her voice almost a whisper. "Well, I'm glad to know Koutarou's all better. I guess he didn't really need my amulet, huh? If it was with you all this time."

Koutarou didn't need it because you gave him something else, something that guaranteed his life more than an amulet could ever provide—is what I wanted to say, but I couldn't bring myself to talk again. It made me think, if the amulet had been with her instead of being stored away and forgotten with me, would she have stayed safe? Would she still have died? Was I, in a way, responsible for her death then? Could that be the reason why she haunted me instead of her family? Even if we never really knew each other?

"Do they...miss me, you think?" Nico said, breaking the silence. Her eyes reflected a mixture of hope and doubt as she asked.

"Yes," I said, giving her a heartened smile. "Very much so."

She made a gesture of wiping off sweat from her forehead as she sighed in relief. Did she think they wouldn't? There wasn't even any sweat to wipe. For someone who's always so full of herself, she didn't really look that confident just then. I found it pretty hilarious that I couldn't help but chuckle out loud, loud enough for Nico to look my way in wonderment and shock.

"What?" I asked, feeling slightly conscious.

"I dunno, it's just surprising to see you laugh..." She admitted, looking sheepish as she absently scratched her index finger against her cheek. "I'm not sure what you're laughing about, but it feels kinda nice seeing you like that."

I tried to keep a neutral face as I felt my face catch fire from her words. I never expected anything like it coming from her and it was absolutely weird how she can say it so easily. I looked at her in hopes of scowling at her, but she only smiled at me in return, it was so annoyingly carefree and cheeky that her face pisses me off all of a sudden.

"I-I too, can laugh from time to time! What do you take me for?" I said, tearing my eyes off her else I probably would have given away the loud beating of my heart.

Nico just sniggered, wafting closer to where I could see her. "I know that, I'm just saying it's a nice thing to see. You're so stiff you know? It's like you're carrying the burden of the world sometimes."

My heartbeat gradually settled down to its normal rate as I contemplated about what she said. It's true that there was an unspoken pressure in me. From a very young age, I was told that I was to inherit the hospital papa has worked so hard to build and maintain. And at that point in time, I thought it was amazing—and I wondered if I can be good enough to be ready for it. I was provided with good education that has gotten me good grades and reasonable judgement about many things, just as it was intended to do. The path was already created for me, I just need to tread on it faithfully.

But as I grew, I began to realise that there's more to being just a great doctor or inheriting a prominent hospital. Slowly but surely, my priorities shifted and the expectations my parents had for me became an oppressive load I can barely shoulder. It's not like I've grown to hate the idea of becoming one, but it wasn't as prevalent in my mind as it used to be. However, in my inability to let them about know about this change, I let my chances slip away until it was the only future I saw myself taking. I'd be lying if I said I didn't regret it, but I had to pay the price of my indecision.

Of all the people to see through me, it had to be a ghost. She seemed to have grasped the picture pretty easily with just the random and brief tidbits of my life that I have shared with her. Was she just that observant or have I just grown comfortable around her that I became careless with my actions? I have always been referred to as calm, cool and level headed, and I'd like to believe I actually live up to that image by acting accordingly. I'm not sure what to think of it now that Nico just effortlessly calls me out for the opposite.

"I must have gotten too far with that. Nico will shut up now."

Hearing her voice again made me realise I had been silent for a while. It wasn't my intention to do so, but I somehow always run away with my musings whenever I'm with her. She makes me think too much about things I shouldn't even be thinking about, always challenging me and getting me out of my comfort zone. It's a pain in the ass, but I'd be fooling myself if I said I hated being subjected to it. I've been stable and complacent all my life, experiencing these new things are something I don't mind going through.

"No, it's not like that," She hasn't said anything else just like she said she would, giving me the cue to clarify my silence. "You're right, it does feel that way when your parents expects too much from you."

I'm not sure why I was telling her about it when this talk was supposed to be about her, but I felt like I could. It wasn't very usual, but there'd be times that I would go home from class very frustrated, with a strong urge to vent out or talk about it. Prior to Nico showing up, I just either played loud jazz music on my stereo or sleep because there wasn't anyone I know available to talk to. But when she came, she would be there to listen, giving me her undivided attention regardless of how tedious it was. It was comforting, if only she didn't tease me right after.

"Ah, so it really was like that. I kinda had a feeling." She said, looking enlightened.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"'Nishikino Maki, the beautiful daughter of the Nishikino clan of doctors, the one and only heir to the Nishikino General Hospital, is expected to be a great practitioner. Just like her parents!'" She dramatically narrated, complete with hand gestures. "...or something like that?"

I'm not sure how to react to the sensationalizing of my situation, but she was pretty much on point otherwise. "I guess. But I'm used to it, I just have to deal with it."

"By looking like you wanna strangle someone all the time? Is that a really good way to deal with it?" She asked, making grouchy expressions at me mockingly.

"I wanna strangle you all the time." I stated, grimacing at her.

"You're so violent! Didn't your parents teach how to be graceful or something? Good thing I'm dead then, else you'd be a murderer!"

She made really exaggerated faces of fear as she said this, her absurd gestures adding more to the hilarity of her crude joke. She was so silly, it's somewhat unreal. She'd even go as far as joking about her own death just to make a punchline—it was like those comedians I see on TV, who would drop any sense of dignity to deliver a joke. I wasn't sure if I should be impressed or worried that she can do it so naturally. What I knew for sure though was that I was grinning and holding in another bout of laughter.

"See, it's not so hard, is it?" Nico said, watching me with a grin of her own. "You should laugh and smile more. It suits you."

As if it was timed, the temperature around my face went up just like that. In a span of hours, she had successfully elicited a barrage of varying emotions in me that I'd never think I'd feel considering the nature of our relationship. Without a doubt, this ghost is a riot to my psyche. Dangerously so.

"W-what's with that? I don't get it." I found myself saying, the only response that made sense in my mind.

"I've giving you a compliment Mackey! You should be grateful that the great Nico has approved of you!"

"I feel disgusted to be honest."

"Whaaaat?"

Neither of us have explicitly said it, nor would we openly admit, but from an antagonizing start, we've grown completely comfortable with each other—snarky and playful, but still agreeable. For the longest time, I was convinced that we'll never get along. But as she gave me hearty beam, I knew we were past that. Strange as it sounds, it felt gratifying to be proven wrong. It was surreal, despite the spectral aspect of Nico, I felt warmth all throughout my body as I heard the two of us giggle in unison. She just had that kind of effect on me for some reason.

"Hey Maki?" She spoke up, after calming down from her laughing fit.

"Hm?" I only managed to reply, as my own mirth died down.

"What should we do now?" She said, a tinge of hesitance coated her tone.

I looked at her in bafflement, not really sure what she was talking about. She seemed to have picked it up and opened her mouth to speak again.

"You know, since we found out the reason why I'm stuck here...and that you've met my family…" She muttered dubiously, nervously twiddling on her fingers.

It took a moment for me to digest what she was implying. When it did, it felt like a brick was dropped on my head. Things were happening too fast for my liking.

"...will you take me to them?"

Hearing that question alarmed me more than it should have. It wasn't like I didn't know it was coming, of course I knew. That's right, the whole purpose of this talk was for her to get reunited with her family so she could hopefully remember her past. For a while there, it completely slipped my mind. Being reminded of it now didn't help the feeling of unpreparedness that surged within me as her words registered in my head.

Nico will be gone soon.

This was it, she was leaving. She was finally leaving. No more unscientific shenanigans, soon it would be just be me and a quiet, normal apartment. Just like how it should be. I should be celebrating, I should rejoice. But for some reason, I feel unhappy at the very thought of it. This wasn't how I imagined it to be. Something wasn't right.

"O-of course, that was the plan from the beginning." I struggled to say, hoping she didn't notice.

Nico smiled at me, the most tender and warmest smile she ever gave me since we met.

"Thank you, Maki."

I felt my heart twist in a way I couldn't comprehend. It felt as if I was drowning and my lungs were giving out. I envisioned our parting without that much fanfare or complications, why would it when we were just strangers stuck in this bizarre situation? There wasn't any reason for us—or for me to feel this horrible, but somehow here I am, dreading the way she thanked me. It felt final, as if this was gonna be the last time we'll talk, and it scared me. The heavy feeling from earlier was gradually coming back to me and I didn't like it.

My mind desperately scrambled for more things to say, anything at all to keep our conversation going.

"I-I learned a few things about you!" I blurted out, shocking Nico and even myself at the outburst. But this was good, this was fine. "...your mother told me. I saw your apartment too."

It took a bit for her to reply. "What did you think of me?"

Good, she took the bait. This won't end until I feel satisfied. Who needs sleep anyway?

"There was hardly any change from the current you."

"Er, is that a good thing or a bad thing?" She asked regretting it the moment it got out.

I smirked at her, she was making it easier for me to keep talking. "I wonder...you still looked like a child, so I guess it's a good thing?"

"I shouldn't have asked." She puffed her cheeks in indignation and turned her back on me.

Feeling rather triumphant after teasing her, I decided to be a bit more lenient. While choosing what to tell her next, I looked at her form that was still turned back at me. I assumed she was just fuming from our last exchange, but I noticed her head shake from left to right and around the room as if she was looking for something.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Oh, I never realised Nozomi was gone until just now. No wonder she didn't talk at all while we did." She said, facing me again.

"She just met you, it'd be rude to listen on your story as if it was nothing. She was being considerate." I said, feeling irritated all of a sudden.

"She helped us a lot though! I don't mind letting her know." She said, her voice eager, her eyes sparkling in a way it never did even for me. I felt my mood dampen further, no longer feeling the need or urge to continue the conversation.

"Go tell her yourself then. I'm going to bed." I end up saying.

"Why do you sound so angry all of a sudden?" Nico inquired, a puzzled look on her face.

"I don't. I'm not." I said, trying to look and sound indifferent as possible. Why was she so observant when I don't need her to be? Am I just that obvious? I can't help but feel annoyed at the prospect.

She stared at me with an unconvinced look, but shrugged after a while.

"If you say so. I'll let you sleep now, goodnight Maki." She said as she left the room, going through the wall like she always did.

"You're an idiot, Nico." I mumbled, glaring at the walls she just passed through. After a while, I stood up to turn off the lights and immediately buried my head on a pillow face first. I'm an idiot.


Nico scrunched up her eyebrows in aggravation. Understanding Maki was akin to playing a crane game at the arcade; just when you thought you got to them, the moment you pull up, it gives you nothing but disappointment and utter confusion. Not that she necessarily treated Maki like some kind of prize—she didn't. But dealing with her sometimes felt like a game of luck where her odds were spread across randomly depending on the day. Here she was, assuming that they've finally gotten friendly after months of nonstop arguing and bad blood, but Maki was still as unreadable and closed as ever.

It doesn't matter anymore though, with the recent developments, she would be out of the redhead's hair soon. She just needs to figure out what to do with the amulet that's binding her to this place.

"Oh, Nicocchi. You're done talking?" Nozomi said, startling Nico off her reverie.

"Y-yeah, Maki had to rest. She had a long day," She said, assessing the situation before her. Nozomi was just seated on the couch, her deck of cards still spread across the table in front of her. "You're still awake though? Aren't you tired?"

"Hmm, I am but, I think I have a case of jet lag? I just came back from India, you see. It doesn't really have that large of a time difference from Japan but I was always awake around this hour when I was there." The purple haired girl explained, shifting slightly in place.

"Whoa, India? That sounds cool! What did you do there?" Nico asked, genuinely curious. She floated beside Nozomi so they could talk better.

"Meditate." She stated simply.

"Meditate?" Nico repeated.

"Yeah," The purple haired girl paused, playing with the hem of her sweater. "I have this...unusual affinity to spiritual things. And I was led there by the cards."

Nico could only nod. She didn't really understand, but that sounded pretty cool. "I guess that explains why you could tell right away what was wrong with me!"

"There wasn't anything wrong with you though." Nozomi smilingly affirmed.

"You know what I mean. Dead person wandering around, unable to leave this place?" Nico pointed at herself for emphasis.

"You mean the cute and lively girl I'm talking to right now?" Nozomi winked. "The cards didn't tell me about it you know, but I'm glad fate has led me to meet you."

If Nico could actually blush in embarrassment, this felt like a good time to do so. Nozomi was an odd girl, it felt as if she was talking to a sage half the time, but her playfulness was comparable to that of a middle schooler. Her mysterious aura was still there, but it didn't feel threatening, she was quick to get rid of the barrier between them too even though they've just met.

Somehow, Nico felt like she could trust her. "C-cut it out, that's cheesy as hell."

"Aww, is Nicocchi embarrassed?" Nozomi teased, feeling the spontaneous development of her bond with the petite girl increase. It was no surprise that the urge to befriend her grew more as they conversed.

"No, you just say weird things to people you've just met!" Nico retaliated, flailing her arms.

"But we're friends now, aren't we?" Nozomi asked, tilting her head slightly and grinning cutely at the raven haired ghost.

Nico halted her thrashing and stayed silent for a few seconds, taking in the other girl's words. Friends. It had such a nice ring to it. She doesn't remember anything about her friends when she was alive, and she wondered if she had any in the first place. Nozomi made no distinction between them and brought it up as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It made Nico feel appreciated, and it was a nice feeling. It's funny to think about it now, but she's made more progress getting close to Nozomi than she ever did with Maki.

"I-if you're alright with me, I guess?" Nico said awkwardly, unable to hide her excitement about it.

"Great!" Nozomi smiled widely in satisfaction. "So it wouldn't be weird to ask you to tell me more about yourself, right?"

"Eh...well, you know there's not much to tell. I don't remember much about myself." Nico said, sounding regretful.

"Then...how did your talk with Maki-chan go?" Nozomi hummed while tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear

"Oh, she explained to me how she might have gotten hold of the amulet."

Nozomi tried to piece things together from what she had gathered so far, Nico and Maki only worked together solely for the purpose of helping the former pass on. According to Maki, they did not know or remember each other, so it was safe to assume they weren't friends—even if their interaction suggested otherwise.

"She got it from your family at some point?" She tried confirming, since it had the highest chance of being correct from all the scenarios she had in mind. She couldn't help but think how provident their connection would be if it were true.

"Yeah. She said she didn't remember getting it, but she was helping their hospital back then. Apparently she met my family today and they remember her, but she doesn't, so she just concluded it had to be something like that." Nico elaborated, looking somehow downcast as she did.

"Hm, I guess that's the most logical assumption," Nozomi said, raising a thoughtful finger to her chin. "And you really haven't met each other during all that?"

"I don't know, I guess not if she doesn't remember me at all. I mean, who doesn't remember someone as awesome as me? That's preposterous!" She exclaimed, huffing in disbelief.

Nozomi let out a gleeful snicker in reply. "It sure is."

A bit taken aback by the lack of a snide rebuttal or a loud objection, Nico's eyes widened.

"D-don't just agree with it, idiot…"

"There's no way I could disagree though~."

Nico pouted and shyly looked away, embarrassment overwhelming her again. She always tried to make it so that her self boasting was taken with a grain of salt, but now that there was no Maki to sass her, she was unsure of what to do. Although it felt good to be praised, it just didn't seem right.

"You're such an interesting girl, Nicocchi. I'd pat your head if I could." Nozomi commented, reenacting exactly what she said on empty air.

"No treating me like a kid please!" Nico said, forming an x mark with her arms.

They kept talking at that manzai-like pace for a while, just exchanging jabs at each other but at the same time getting to know more about the other. Nozomi was definitely easier to talk to than Maki, Nico thought—then again, them not being friends was probably the reason for it. Was it naive of her think they could? But there was no point in thinking about it now, pretty soon she won't be seeing her anymore anyway. Perhaps they just weren't meant to be anything else but just strangers to each other.

"Oh yeah, I was wondering...since we found the reason why I was bound to this place, if Maki throws the amulet out or something, does it mean I won't be stuck in this apartment anymore?" She brought up, getting herself to business.

"Throwing it out is bad luck. Don't do that." Nozomi warned. "But theoretically, yes, you should be able to go anywhere once the amulet is cleansed. I'd suggest to give it to a shrine so they can handle that."

"Oooh!" Nico snapped her fingers. "And after that, I'll just need to see my family and see how it goes!" She added in afterthought. So far, that's all she can see herself doing at the moment. There was no guarantee that her family was the answer to why she hasn't transitioned to the afterlife, but it was a good lead. What worried her was what she'll do if this wasn't the finish line. She didn't want to haunt people forever—or rather, she didn't to stay being a ghost and see people live their lives while she was stuck in this indescribable limbo.

"Anything on your mind?" Nozomi asked, noticing her in deep thought.

"Oh, uh, well, I was just wondering what I should do next if that doesn't get me to pass on…" Nico said, crossing her arms. "Maki's done her part, so I don't really want to impose on her more than I already have, I'm not sure if I can stick close to my family yet, but if for some reason I can't, I don't know where I'll go. It'll suck just wandering aimlessly." She said, her eyebrows furrowing as she thought further.

"Want to live with me then?" Nozomi gave her an inviting motion, pointing to herself.

Nico's eyes twinkled in anticipation. "C-can I really?!"

"Of cour—

"Nozomi."

Not minding that the discussion was abruptly clipped, Nozomi and Nico looked worriedly at the direction of the groggy voice, a girl with messy scarlet hair and droopy eyes was walking towards them, holding up her phone.

"Maki-chan?" Nozomi called out, a muddled look on her face seeing the state of the younger girl.

Maki only shoved the phone closer to her. "It's Eli," She grunted. "She called in this ungodly hour to ask about my missed call from earlier. I told her you were here, please talk to her and calm her down."

Trying to hide her eagerness over the the request, she wordlessly, Nozomi took the phone from the Maki's hand and placed it on her ear. "Elicchi?"

"Oh my god, it really is you Nozomi!" A panicked voice came out of the receiver.

"Yes, I'm back." She closed her eyes and pressed the screen closer to her ear, a smile of fulfillment plastered on her face as she did so.

"I'm sorry I couldn't answer you earlier! It was an unknown number and I was talking with a friend...and then I saw Maki called as well so I tried reaching her right after—

"It's five in the damn morning, couldn't it have waited?" Maki said, clearly livid. Despite the phone set only for her to hear, the speakers were loud enough that the caller on the other line could be heard throughout the living room and she couldn't help but make her complaint be known.

"I said I'm sorry okay? You haven't called in forever, then all of a sudden, I get a call from you in the middle of the night. I was worried!" By now, Nozomi had placed the phone on loudspeaker.

"What were you even doing, talking to your friend that late?" Maki said, feeling the slight hypocrisy of her retort as she looked at the dumbfounded Nico hovering between her and Nozomi.

"C'mon guys, let's all calm down," Nozomi interjected. "Elicchi, I'm sure you're tired too, let's all rest for now and meet up later this afternoon?" She suggested.

"Okay." Was Eli's immediate response.

Maki gave in after being subjected to the purple haired girl's pleading look. "...fine."

"Great! I'll see you in a bit then, Elicchi. Sleep well!" Nozomi jovially voiced through the line before ending the call. She handed the phone back to owner who took it quietly. "Sorry for the restless day, Maki-chan."

Maki rolled her eyes and gave Nico a fleeting look. "Worst things have happened."

Not missing the gesture, Nozomi only simpered in intrigue. She wasn't sure what to make of this messy development, but Maki's aura had definitely changed since her talk with Nico. It made her want to put it on the forefront and see things unfold.

"Nicocchi, about what we were talking about earlier…" She began.

After a while of just being in the background, watching and trying to make sense of the things that just happened, it took a while for Nico to remember what they were even discussing. Once she recalled the details, her eyes momentarily landed at the grumpy redhead, only to see her glowering in her direction for some inexplicable reason. She tried to shrug it off and faced Nozomi.

"Ah yeah, stayi—

"No." Maki urgently intervened, her voice firm and stern.

Nozomi's lips shaped into a smirk, wholly appeased with the outcome. It was just as she expected, and Maki delivered in spades. She sure has a knack for cutting people off though.

Nico just eyed her incredulously. "Sorry Maki, but I don't think you even know what we—

"I do know. I'm saying it's a no." Maki interrupted her again, her tone just as serious.

Nico's expression changed from offended to annoyed in a span of seconds, not really liking or comprehending how Maki was acting the way she did. It was always like that, and she hated trying to understand her mood every time. Not to mention the fact that she eavesdropped on a conversation she was never meant to hear. Trying to figure out this girl was infuriating.

"What do you mean no? I thought you wanted me out of here?" Nico asked, her voice mildly raising from the building vexation.

"After I went through all the trouble helping you, you leave just like that? How ungrateful!" Maki spat, her own voice raising.

"Wha—I thought the deal was for you to help me so I could leave? You're already getting your part of the bargain if I do that!"

"Just who decided that?!"

"You did!"

"No, you did!"

"What? You lost me, Maki. I don't even know what you're on about anymore."

Maki raised a hand to her face in frustration and roughly stroked it with her palm. "You're deciding things on your own. We haven't talked about what we'll do next after I take you to your family, not even what we'll do with the amulet."

"I asked Nozomi what we can do with the amulet, if we give it to a shrine to be cleansed, you'll be free of me. You don't even have to think about what to do after you've taken me to my family. You've done your part and you could go back to your normal life, isn't that what you wanted?" Nico said, still not seeing why this was a big deal all of a sudden.

"I don't want that anymore!" Maki declared. "Stop deciding these things by yourself!"

Nozomi watched their back and forth in awe. It was the first time she's seen Maki so frantic and open about her feelings. But it didn't seem to reach Nico at all, she just stared at the other girl in ambivalence throughout their skirmish. She pondered if she should interfere, but decided against it when she saw Nico about to speak again. They'll be fine. Things will only be a lot more interesting from now on.

"How the hell do I know that if you never tell me?! All this time, I've been trying to understand what runs in that stupid head of yours! You're always so irate when I'm around, am I supposed to interpret that as you enjoying my company? You're confusing!" Nico dissented, pulling at her hair in equal exasperation.

Maki's demeanor mellowed down, unable to say anything against the ruby eyed girl's outburst. She balled her hands into fists, feeling astonishment in the commotion and misunderstanding she had caused. Her whole being coursed through immense remorse over how Nico must have felt all this time. She knew she was awkward and had trouble being honest, but she never had anyone calling her out on it. It was helpful that her friends, like Nozomi and Eli understood how she was, she never had to think about it.

But Nico was different. They weren't friends. Maki didn't even have a single term that could describe what they were to each other. But somehow, she expected her to nonchalantly accept everything about her. Why did she? What made her comfortable enough to be this pompous towards her? The more Maki thought about it, the more she felt like cursing herself.

"I'm sorry." With her cumbersome side at work, it was all she could say. In turn, she looked at Nico intensely, trying to communicate her sincerest apology that way, hoping her eyes were enough to convey her guilt and promise to be better.

Nico sighed and gave her an empathetic smile. She somehow felt nostalgic over how the amethyst eyed girl expressed herself—as if it was something she would have done herself in such a situation. Which was peculiar, since that meant they were more similar than she initially thought. Whichever the case, even if Maki occasionally goes through these moments, there was no way she'd hate her so easily just for being a difficult brat. "If you wanted me to stay, you could have just said so."

Not expecting this kind of reply, Maki took some time to react, struggling to make sense of what she had just heard. Were they okay now? Nico wasn't mad at her?

"Y-you wish." She ended up saying, her face as red as her hair after finally realising what the other girl just implied.

"Aw Maki, you're so cute, still playing the tough guy after spilling spaghetti like that. Just admit you wanna be Nico's friend~. I'm feeling generous today so I might accept!"

"S-spilling spaghet—what?! What kind of phrase is that?!"

"You're more concerned about that?!"

A dynamic like theirs was not something anyone can just easily decide like that, but to Nozomi, this was progress. She smiled at the bickering pair with tremendous amusement. Pulling up The Lovers on them made more sense now than ever, and she just knew she had to see this through the end. She reached for the deck of cards on the table, collecting them all and rearranging them back on the card holder—for now, all's well and ends well.