Another for RST.

"Blah" — Speech

'Blah' — Thoughts

[ Blah ] — Text

*Blah* — Sound effects in speech

(Blah) — Author's notes

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of Love Live! School Idol Project. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Chocolatey Gratitude

A peaceful day as Nico and company enjoy their break at the house. Nico and Nozomi are watching the TV while Eli is taking a quick shower. On the screen there is a baker showing how to back a cake.

"That would be nice to have on Eli's birthday." Nozomi murmured.

"Yeah—" Nico snaps her head to Nozomi. "Wait what?"

"Oops," Nozomi puts her fingers over her mouth.

Nico paused at this new information. 'I could do something for her.' "...When is her birthday?"

Nico saw something gleams in the guard's eye but she ignores it for the date. Nozomi shrugs her shoulders, "If you insist. Her birthday is on the 21st."

Nico stands up and walks over to a calendar hanging on a wall. Her eyes widened and she looks back at Nozomi. "Holy crap! That's in a week. Does she celebrate?"

"Eli isn't much for celebrations. We have to remind her and even then she would just drink with a few of us."

"What about her family?"

"...All of her family lives in Russia."

'Not on my watch.' Nico walks back to the couch. "I'm going to need your help in throwing a party for her."

Nozomi smiles, "Of course."

They went silent as the water stops and they hear the door opens. After a while they see Eli walking downstairs with a simple shirt and shorts. Eli notices Nico and Nozomi starting at her, "What's up?"

"Nothing much." They return their attention back to the TV.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

A week later...

"Alright time for get some food. Let's go to the grocery store." Nico grabs a jacket.

"What's the special occasion?" Nozomi 'asked.'

"I just want to eat some meat." Nico makes her way to the garage.

At the mere mention of meat, Nozomi jumps up and follows Nico. But before she leaves the living room, she faces Eli. "Can you get the keys?"

With the both of them alone in the garage, Nico leans in to whisper to Nozomi. "Is everyone good?"

"Yes. What about the house key?"

"I left it behind the plant."

"Alright."

They separated in time as Eli just came of the door and hands the keys to Nozomi. "Let's go."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Store

At the front door Nico went into action. "Nozomi go get the package." She looks at Eli. "We're going to get the meat."

Nozomi did a two-finger salute. "You got it Nicocchi." And off she went.

Nico grabbed a cart with Eli following beside her. "What's this package?"

Nico waves her hand as they make over to the meat section. "Just some food I ordered online. I figured it would be faster if we split up." They have arrived in front of the meat aisle. "Hmmm." Nico looks through the assortments of meats. She picks up a styrofoam-plate of Korean barbecue short ribs. "These seem good."

"An excellent choice." They both turn to see Nozomi staring at the meat. "But we should get more."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Home

With the garage door open they drove in and parked inside. Nozomi is the first one out and went for the package. "I'll just get these inside."

Eli raises her eyebrow at Nozomi but Nico calls out to her. "Eli can you help me with the meat?"

Eli walks to the trunk and looks at the stacks of meat. "Why did you buy so many?"

Nico chuckles, "I just thought to go all out." She looks at the plates. "Hmmm. Do you think you can carry all of it at once?"

"...I can try."

Nico piles the plates into empty cardboard boxes and places them on Eli's hands. The problem is that the boxes reach over Eli's head. "Nico, I can't see."

"Don't worry, I can guide you inside." Nico was about to place her hands on the boxes when she saw Eli's hands. Nico swallows air and she places her hands on Eli's hands. "L-Let's go."

Nico guides Eli as they slowly made their way inside. 'Her hands are really soft.' She is so lucky that the box blocks Eli's view otherwise the guard would see her blush. They make their way up the mini-stairs and are near the kitchen. "Alright, I'll take a box."

When she takes a box off, streamers flew at Eli. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Eli flinches and almost drops the box. She looks around to see everyone at the company here. "What the..."

Nico gives the box to Umi and gives Eli's box to Rin. "Happy Birthday Eli."

Eli shifts under their gaze. "I- You didn't have to do this for me."

Nico smiles, "But I wanted to. C'mon, let's go outside." Everyone inside made their way to the backyard where Nozomi is setting up the grill. There is a table where there are food and snacks. Under the warm sun and cool breeze they enjoyed the party as they wait for the barbecue to finish.

It was until the sun was going down that Nozomi brought out the package that was a chocolate cake. "We saved the best for last." Eli's eyes try to absorb all the glory that is called chocolate. Nozomi hands her a kitchen knife, "You get the honors."

Eli takes the knife and everyone has gathered around the cake. Nico took place the farthest from the birthday girl and she would take glances at the cake and Eli's hand. She finally looks up at Eli and smiles, "C'mon I don't want to wait for tomorrow to eat the cake."

Eli begins cutting the cake. "No need to rush." Nozomi puts the slices on the plates and give them to the group.

After Eli was done, Nico sneaks behind Eli, "You think you're sneaky huh?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Your slice is bigger than ours." Eli didn't answer and continues to eat her chocolate cake. Nico giggles, "Should I pay you in chocolates?"

"That wouldn't be so bad." Eli murmured.

Nico threw her head back and laughed. "HAHAHA! That's rich."

"Not as rich as that cake." Nozomi interjected

Eli blushes but ignores them in favor of enjoying the cake and the company present. After finishing her slice, she faces Nico and Nozomi, "Thank you for doing this."

They both smile back at Eli. "It's no problem Elichi."

Nico coughed into her hand, "From now on, I'm not letting anyone's birthday pass by me."

Eli chuckles, "Fine by me."

.

And Fin.

Happy Birthday Eli so bathe in chocolate!

Now with this posted, I will go on hiatus for this story until I finish my term paper.

Be on the lookout for my final story for October.

Thanks for reading

Constructive criticisms are appreciated

Bravo Tango out.