Ch 2 – Saving Christmas

Later that day, everyone naturally parted ways and returned home for the night. Maki was no exception. Upon the doorstep to her mansion, the wealthy girl hesitated for a while before turning the house key.

Opening the mahogany door, her mother was already on the other side. Facing her mother, Maki knew what to be asked:

"Okaa-san, Santa-san isn't real, is he?"

Ever since that day in the clubroom, things had simply quieted down among the members of µ's. Too quiet in fact, in Nico's perspective.

In her bedroom at night, Nico lied restless on her bed. She was rolling and tossing about, troubled with a crisis underway. She peeped into her handphone, as she had done for the past few days.

On her phone, the most recent text message was to Maki:

Maki-chan

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

The same thing she typed for the past few days, some multiple times per day. There were also missed phone calls to her, almost as much as her text messages. All were futile; no reply was given at all.

Realising that nothing came out of her attempt for reconciliation, Nico retreated to the pile of idol paraphernalia she collected for some form of comfort in this time of need.

"Oh God, Maki-chan will never forgive Nico!" she cried, "Everyone's treating Nico like a criminal! This is not fair!"

Suddenly, the message tone for Nico's phone rang. The petite girl practically teleported to her phone in the split second, awakened by some measure of hope. It was not what she expected though…

Nozomi

Hey, Nico-chi. Are you in trouble?

"What is she? A psychic?" Nico thought, sweat dropping at Nozomi's apparent clairvoyance.

Before she could even think of a suitable reply to shoo away the impish girl, Nico's phone received another text message – from Nozomi again.

Nozomi

Hey, Nico-chi. Are you in trouble?

Whenever one is in trouble, one ought to offer their prayers to the gods. The gods always answer those desperate enough

"She wants me to go to her shrine…" Nico thought, "But Nozomi's knowledge and foresight may be what I need to brighten up Maki-chan…"

"And she's right! I am desperate enough!" she exclaimed.

With that outcry, Nico quickly sent her reply – the only possible reply at such desperate times. More of a formality, Nico knew the mischievous former Vice-President knew her reply from the start.

Nozomi

Hey, Nico-chi. Are you in trouble?

Whenever one is in trouble, one ought to offer their prayers to the gods. The gods always answer those desperate enough

I will see you at the shrine tomorrow noon.

The Kanda Myojin shrine was the principle shrine in the region. Typical of Shinto shrines, it was a centre for many Japanese for important seasons and occasions. Christmas may be a Christian's holiday, but secular-minded Japanese won't mind celebrating it at all.

Though not as crowded as New Year, some worshippers still come to Kanda Myojin for prayers. Nico joined these worshippers before the altar of the gods, offering a prayer to them.

"Maki-chan…" she thought.

Suddenly, the solemn religious prayer ended abruptly when a pair of hands groped her chest. Nico knew only one pair of hands would be so unruly, so she declared the name of her assaulter.

"Nozomi!" she cried.

True to her claim, it was definitely Nozomi behind and groping her. She was attired in her Miko outfit that was practically her second uniform. The busty shrine maiden smiled at her petite friend.

"Nico-chi, you came as I predicted," Nozomi giggled, "Did you offer your prayer to the gods?"

"How are the gods going to help me?" Nico protested, "Maki has been ignoring me!"

"Maki-chan is always the troublesome one, and she called me troublesome for that love song incident," Nozomi said, smiling gently, "But the gods do not help those who don't help themselves."

"What are you getting at?" questioned Nico, who was already suspicious of Nozomi's designs on her.

"Let's take a walk as we continue," Nozomi said, "Other people are waiting in line for prayers too."

The two walked away from the altar and strolled around the shrine, where their conversation continued.

"Nico-chi, have you heard of Saint Nicholas?" asked the shrine maiden.

"He sounds like a Christian," Nico replied, "But other than that, nothing else."

"The inspiration for Santa-san, he was known for acts of generosity towards others," Nozomi explained, "Once, he even saved three young women from prostitution by offering them gold coins anonymously."

"Nozomi, I'm here for you to tell me how to win back Maki, not hear some Christian story!" exclaimed Nico, wanting to get to the point.

"Win back Maki-chan?" laughed Nozomi.

"No, that was not what I meant… I mean…" Nico exclaimed, having made a Freudian slip.

"It's okay. I have a plan in fact," Nozomi continued, "But you must follow exactly as I say."

As Nozomi said that, she took out a slip of paper from her sleeves. She handed it to Nico. Curiosity got the better of her, so Nico quickly unfolded the paper... only for her face to glow bright red at whatever she saw.

"What's the matter, Nico-chi?" asked Nozomi mischievously, "Am I a horrid designer?"

"This… this…" That was all Nico could utter at the frightening image her eyes laid upon.

"With Nico-chi's fashion knowledge, it will look better," Nozomi added, "You need not worry about the material. I have bought them beforehand; they're in my bag right now."

"You… you…" Nico was still too stunned to even retort, still shocked by whatever scandalous material she was forced to gaze upon.

"You can thank me later, Nico-chi," Nozomi said, "Now go make it and put it on for Christmas Eve ya~"

That night, Nico gathered her knitting kit and began assembling Nozomi's strange plan. Even then, she was still taken aback and quietly sewed the parts together.

"Nozomi… this is too shameless!" she groaned, "Is she planning to destroy Nico-nii's pure idol image?"

Suddenly, the door to her room opened up. Shocked, Nico quickly turned and used her arms to cover her secret project. Near the door, her two sisters, Kokoro and Kokoa, were there.

"Onee-chan, dinner is ready," Kokoro said, "Mama wants you to come out now."

"Okay Kokoro, I will be packing my stuff first," Nico said, wanting to end the conversation without complications.

"Onee-chan, what is that behind you?" asked Kokoa.

"Uh…" Nico was speechless, hoping to dig some good excuse before her sisters' curiosity got the better of them.

Of course, Nico was far more used to giving excuses to her own siblings than the inquisitive friends she met through µ's. After all, they did buy her story of the 8 backup dancers.

With that in mind, Nico explained herself in her usual fashion:

"This is Universe Number 1 Idol Nico-niii's Love Live strategy! Please leave; I would rather it be a top secret. The media might leak it."

"Wow onee-chan, you're too cool!" Kokoro exclaimed.

"The media! Understood, top secret." Kokoa, like her sister, accepted Nico's explanation quite well.

The two sisters gently closed the door, looking around to ensure no one peeping at their actions. Nico was finally left alone in the privacy of her room again, packing up the… the thing she was supposed to make.

"This better work…" she thought, as she threw the scandalous article into the plastic bag Nozomi provided.

Meanwhile, in Nozomi's residence, the spiritual girl was eating some cup noodles for her dinner. A simple fare for someone living alone (common for many young Japanese), she silently looked at the three cards laid down.

She knew that the Tower corresponded to an event already occurred; the disaster already began, but salvation was still possible. The High Priestess – i.e. her – already intervened, but it will be Nico who will ultimately get things done.

Only the third card remained a mystery. To see if her plan succeed or not, Nozomi flipped it open. Her eyes widened slightly to see that new card, Major Arcana XVIII: The Moon.

"My, this is interesting… No, this changes everything…" she thought.

Chapter 2 is up. This is quite clear-cut how things will go on from now, but there is the execution of things will really turn out in the end.

I originally wanted to use Align Right for Nico's (aka the user's) text messages, inspired by iPhones and the like. But since does not allow that, I will leave them bold to distinguish them.

Now sit tight for the finale of this three-part fanfic. Coming soon~