"Riko-chan!" Chika called out as she entered the café.

"Hi, Chika-chan." Riko stood up from her seat and hugged her orange-haired friend. They both took a seat and Chika ordered her coffee while Riko was tending to her own. "How have you been? School's not killing you?"

Chika puffed her cheeks. "Hey! I'm much smarter than before. It's tough, but I'm doing okay. That doesn't matter right now! You're dating someone!"

Riko blushed from Chika's statement, not used to the fact that she is actually in a relationship. "Yeah…"

"Be happier, Riko-chan! She must be great!"

Riko giggled softly. "I…I think you know who it is."

"Let me see her!" Chika said in excitement.

"Alright, just…don't freak out."

Chika watched as Riko got her phone out. "What's there to freak out about? I'm excited that your dating someone…but…she must…be…is that…?"

"Yes, it is Maki Nishikino. From Muse." Riko had her phone held up and was showing Chika a picture of the two of them on their second date. Maki asked her to take a picture, and as Riko took it, Maki surprised her with a kiss on her cheek.

"E-Excuse me for a sec." Chika stood up and walked out of the café. Riko, very confused as to what her friend was doing, sat in silence as she sipped her coffee and scrolled through her pictures with Maki.

'It's only been a week since we've been dating. But, it feels like we've been together for such a long time. I really love her.'

Chika came back into the café, heavily panting and sweating profusely.

"Chika-chan?"

"Sorry, Riko-chan." Chika took a deep breath before she continued. "You said not to freak out…when I saw who you were dating…I almost did…so, I ran around the block," Chika said in-between breaths.

"You could have just reacted…calmly," Riko deadpanned.

"How could I? You're dating Maki Nishikino!" Chika said excitedly, albeit in a hushed tone. "She's was a part of the best idol group, and you were too!"

"You have a lot of confidence in us."

"Of course I do! If you aren't confident, how can you do things that you want to do? Whatever, how is Maki-senpai?" Chika asked with pleading eyes.

Riko blushed, ready to sing the praises of her girlfriend. "She's really nice. She's not always around, but I guess I'm not either. So, being together makes me treasure it more. She and I love to play the piano together. She also helps with my homework if she's able to, since she's really smart."

"You sound head over heels for her. I'm happy for you, Riko-chan!" Chika said.

"Thanks…she's actually coming to see my recital this week," Riko sheepishly added.

"Awesome! You must be so excited!" Chika said.

Riko started to blush. "I am. She was judging the last recital I was in, so it's going to be different. She's going to watch me play, and I want to have it…dedicated…to her, I guess."

"Aww, that sounds sweet." Chika said. "Well, I don't want you to stay here for so long. You should be practicing so that it sounds amazing for Maki-senpai!"

"Yes."

…

Maki was on break, and she was pretty tired. She had a lot of patients to tend to today, but it seemed to have slowed down. The other doctors let her take a break as they had everything under control. Thankfully, there was no emergencies as she felt like she couldn't take care of it right now.

RING!

Her ringtone went off, but it surprised her. That ringtone was for her overseas friends. She put in her earphones and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Maki-chan!" Kotori gleefully greeted the red-head.

"Kotori! And I assume Hanayo is there too."

"I am! Hi, Maki-chan!" Hanayo said.

"Hello. You caught me at the right time, I'm on break."

"Good, we didn't want to call when you were with a patient." Kotori said.

"Why'd you call me? Not to be rude or anything, but it's weird that you two would be calling me."

"Well, we heard from Eli-chan and Nozomi-chan. You're dating someone!" Hanayo said.

'God, it's already being tossed around.' Maki sighed. "Of course those two would tell you."

"Well, everyone knows. Nozomi-chan called everyone to tell them."

'Why wouldn't she? How did she even find out…Our date…and probably those stupid cards.' Maki pinched the bridge of her nose. "Well, no need to cover it up now. Yeah, I am seeing someone."

"You have to send us a picture of you two together!" Kotori said.

"Is she nice?" Hanayo asked.

Maki smiled. "Yeah, she's pretty great. She's a pianist, and she was in another idol group. Aqours."

"A-Aqours?!" Hanayo suddenly said. "I know them! Let me see if I can figure out your girl."

"Hanayo-chan. You…" Kotori sighed. "Sorry about her, Maki-chan. You know how she is."

"Of course I do, I've dealt with her for 3 years."

"And I've dealt with her for 9." Both Kotori and Maki laughed.

"What's so funny?" Hanayo asked innocently. "You two are making fun of me!"

"I-I'm sorry, Hanayo-chan! I'll make it up to you!"

"You better." Maki felt the pout on Hanayo's face, making her feel slightly guilty. She knew it was a façade, but Hanayo was so cute that she could believe anything she did. "Anyways, I think I figured out who it is!"

"That fast?" Maki asked.

"Yup! I think it's Kanan, Mari, and Dia together. And I've seen Hanamaru and Ruby together, so I think they're dating. Yoshiko, Chika, and You are all single, as is Riko. But, because of the red hair, Riko is the one you're dating!"

"That reasoning is so stupid. It's surprising that you actually knew who it was." Maki sighed with how Hanayo deducted her girlfriend out of the nine potential girls. 'I mean, she got it because of red hair? What the hell?'

"How is Riko? Is she nice?" Kotori asked.

"She is. She, like me, was the composer for Aqours and also plays piano. She's a bit like Umi; shy, but cares a lot about her friends. She's only in her second year of college, and she's doing music, art, and cooking."

"Wow, she seems amazing!" Hanayo gleefully said.

"Yeah…We've been only dating for just over a week, but I think she's something special." Maki said dreamily.

"I hope you two will be happy." Kotori said.

"I hope so as well." Hanayo added.

Maki smiled at her two friends' encouragement. "Thanks. I have to run; my break is ending soon. But…I want to talk with you guys again soon."

"We promise!" The couple said at the same time. "Bye bye, Maki-chan!"

"Goodbye, you two."

She hung up, and her screen shifted back to her home screen. She and Riko sharing their first kiss. She reminisced about that date, where they were at a karaoke bar. After Riko sang "Yume No Tobira," her favourite Muse song, Maki couldn't stop herself and kissed her. Riko was surprised, but she reciprocated it soon after the shock went away. Maki asked if she could do it again, but get a picture of it. Surprisingly, Riko agreed. And now, Maki's phone background was her and Riko sharing a kiss.

'God, I love her.'

It was only one day before Riko's recital. She wasn't too worried about how she would place in the competition. If she placed first or last, it didn't matter enough for her. She was more afraid of messing up when Maki was watching.

She was lying in her bed, trying to fall asleep. However, she couldn't with all of her nerves making her stay awake. She could only think of one way to calm herself.

Riko:
Are you still awake?

"Huh?" Maki was starting to doze off. 'Who would want to be texting me right now?' Looking at her phone, she saw Riko's question. She wanted to sleep, but there would be a reason why Riko would be texting. So, she couldn't turn her girlfriend down.

Maki:
I was going to sleep
But, then you texted me

Riko:
You can sleep!

Maki giggled at how flustered Riko sounded just from seeing her words.

Maki:
Don't be silly!
You seem nervous
We can talk, if you want

Riko:
If it's okay
I'm feeling nervous for tomorrow

Maki:
Well, it is a competition

Riko:
Not for that, although it doesn't help
I'm nervous that I'm playing for you

Maki smiled, but she had to let Riko down gently.

Maki:
Hopefully, I'll be able to hear you play
What if I can't make it?

Riko saw the text and thought about it. 'It's okay if she misses it. Maki-senpai is a doctor. She might have emergencies to tend to.'

Riko:
It's okay
Sick people are more important

Maki:
Thanks for understanding
I'll try my best to go to the recital
I want to hear you play
And not have to judge you

Riko:
lol
Good night, Maki-senpai

Maki:
You don't have to call me senpai
We've been dating for nearly two weeks

Riko:
Okay
Maki-chan, good night

Maki:
Good night, Riko-chan

Waiting for her performance was making Riko nervous. She was trying anything she could to calm herself down; listen to some classical music, read one of her fan fictions, look at her pictures. It was the latter that made her feel a bit calmer.

'Maki-chan is going to be watching me. As long as she likes it, I'll be happy.'

"Ms. Sakurauchi, you are up next. Please get ready."

Standing up when hearing her name called, she started to walk to the door.

'It's going to be perfect. For Maki-chan.'

…

Riko, with her two first place wins, was slightly disappointed when she got third place. However, she wasn't too concerned about that. For school, being in the top three is very helpful for her. Once the awards ceremony was finished, she ran out of the venue and looked for her loving girlfriend.

But as she kept running around, she was realizing that Maki wasn't there.

Looking at her phone, she saw that she got a text from Maki right before she performed. She didn't check it after her performance as she was conversing with some of the other competitors and was watching the other performances.

Going into her texts, she felt her heart break slightly from seeing the few words on the screen.

Maki:
I have a lot to do at the hospital
I'm not sure if I can make it
I'm sorry, please forgive me
We'll go out later and talk about it

Finding some steps, she took a seat. She kept scanning the text messages sent to her from Maki.

'I shouldn't be surprised. She's a head doctor, so of course she's going to have a lot of work. I'm proud that she's able to balance being a doctor and us being in a relationship. And…we'll be able to talk about my recital later today. It's all okay…

'But that doesn't explain why it hurts so much…'

"Riko-chan?"

"You-chan? Chika-chan?" Riko looked up and said when she saw her friends from her tear-filled eyes. "What…What are you doing here?" She asked as she tried to subtly wipe her tears.

"Well, You-chan was free today. I told her that you had a recital, and she wanted to watch. And, here we are!" Chika excitedly said.

Riko smiled a bit. "Thanks Chika-chan. You-chan."

"It's alright. I missed hearing your piano playing." You said as she and Chika both knelt down so they were at Riko's level. "But, why were you crying?"

"Yeah, you don't have to feel so bad, Riko-chan! You did your best, and you were still at the top!" Chika said, trying to cheer up her friend.

Riko saw the smiles plastered on her two best friends. She loved them for making her feel a bit of joy. But, it wasn't enough to make her truly happy. She wanted to see that heart-warming smile, but from her loving girlfriend. But, she couldn't feel that sense of comfort.

"Riko-chan? Oof!" Chika said along with You when they were suddenly brought into an embrace, Riko hooking her arms around her two friend's necks.

They both felt Riko's tears on their shoulders and how much Riko was shivering.

"Hey. Riko-chan." You stood up, but was holding Riko's hand. "We should go somewhere else. And talk."

…

The best place they found: Riko's apartment. Thankfully, it was close by. You drove them over since she had her car with her.

Entering the apartment, Riko asked them to sit in the living room while she prepared them tea. They insisted on doing it since Riko just finished up a competition, but the red-head didn't cave and told them to sit.

After handing out the tea, Riko brought a dining room chair and sat in front of her two best friends, who were sharing a seat on the couch.

"So, were you really that sad about getting third place?" Chika asked.

Riko faintly smiled at her friend's innocent question. "No, I wasn't that upset on getting third. For school, getting in the top three is always welcome for my piano class." Riko sighed. "I was upset that Maki-chan didn't come."

"Maki-chan?" You asked.

"Ah! I forgot to tell you, You-chan! Riko-chan is dating Maki-senpai. From Muse!" Chika said with excitement.

"That's really cool!" You nodded. She wasn't big on the whole idol world, other than Hanamaru. She knew Chika liked Muse, so it must be neat that Riko is dating a person from there. You was just happy that Riko found someone to love. "Why wasn't she able to come to the recital?"

"Well, she's the head doctor of her hospital. So, she had a lot to do. And she had to miss my recital." Riko said dejectedly.

"That sucks," Chika said.

"But, it makes sense." You argued. "If she's the head doctor, it's natural that she would have a lot to do. It's unfortunate, but there are a lot of times when you have to be put beside her line of work."

"I know that…" Riko started to stare at her window, just wanting to think about her and Maki. "It's just…it's me being selfish, I guess. I want her to be around for everything I do. I can't be with her at her work, since she has to be focused on treating others. It would just be nice if she could be with me."

Riko felt arms wrap around her, and looked over to see Chika right beside her. "I understand that. We understand that, Riko-chan. You've only been dating for two weeks."

"So, of course you want her to be around." You continued. "It's nice to have your girlfriend around to be able to comfort you. But, it can't always work like that."

Riko sighed. "I told you guys, I already know that. She has to put me aside and focus on her work."

"But, it's only the first time." Chika said. "You have other times you can perform. She can be with you when she has free time. It sucks that she couldn't be here today to see you perform, but there are other chances. When she has free time, I know she would want to be with you."

"I…I guess your right…" Riko said, her confidence wavering.

"Chika-chan is right! You need confidence in yourself, Riko-chan!" You said. "She misses you so much, and she hates that she missed your recital."

"Well, she does want to meet up later and talk." Riko stated.

"Perfect! You'll see how much she hated missing your recital!" Chika said. "And you just have to tell her to come to the other ones you go to. Because she wants to support you in anyway possible!"

Riko smiled. She felt the positivity of her two friends flow through her, and felt a bit more confident. "You two are right. I just need to talk with her. And…we'll work things out."

Both Chika and You put their thumbs up. "Right!"