Everyone sat in the living room, reminiscing over old times. The days of school idols were far from over, but the years these girls spent as idols were definitely the peak of popularity. Erena, Anju, Honoka, and Tsubasa sat on one couch. Eli, Nozomi, Umi, and Kotori sat on the other. Rin and Hanayo occupied the arm chairs while Maki took the love seat on the other side. She couldn't help but notice that there was still room for one more in this room, and she knew everyone else did too. But they pretended not to notice as they overenthusiastically talked about the past.
Erena snorted as she told a funny story about Tsubasa. "You should have seen her when she saw Honoka perform for the first time. Her face turned bright red and she couldn't look away. And when she saw you guys downstairs at UTX, she practically flew down there to get you." Everyone laughed. Anju smirked, continuing the story. "There was one thing she always said about Honoka." Anju took on a flirty high voice. "Oh my gosh Kousaka Honoka is soooo-"
Tsubasa lunged across the couch, putting a hand over Anju's mouth. Anju's story was immediately halted as she tried to pry Tsubasa's hand off of her face. Maki laughed along with everyone, crossing her legs. This was actually fun, and it was helping her get her mind off of everything. Nozomi raised her hand. "I have a story." She sat up, moving away from Eli's embrace. "One day when we were off of practice I was hanging out with Eli in the student council room." Maki snorted. "I don't think hanging out is the right word but carry on." Nozomi smiled and continued her story.
"I had to leave early, I had a lot of homework that night. So I left early and was walking through the music wing. I heard piano music and just knew that our little Maki was playing. So I walked over to listen, I knew if she knew I was there she would stop playing, so I was planning on hiding by the door. Little did I know someone was already there."
Eli leaned in to Nozomi, speaking with clenched teeth. "Are you sure talking about this is the best idea?" Nozomi ignored her and kept talking. "When I rounded the corner I saw little Nicochii crouched on the floor in front of the door, I could tell she was listening. She had her eyes closed and was smiling. So I left, not wanting to disturb her, she looked so happy."
Maki bit her lip as she listened to the story. Nico listened to her play? That was…interesting information. Maki got to thinking. How many times had Nico sat there listening? How many times had Maki heard a noise outside and written it off as a passing student or her imagination, when it was Nico the whole time. Nozomi chuckled as she saw Maki's frustration. "Didn't expect that did you?" Maki turned bright red and shook her head as she looked down.
Honoka threw a cookie across the table, hitting Nozomi in the forehead. "Nozomi that was not nice, don't embarrass Maki like that." Nozomi chuckled. "Touchy, touchy. You'll see soon enough." Honoka frowned and Tsubasa smirked. "Honoka it's fine, Maki's perfectly oka-" Before she could finish her sentence a song filled the room. "Dancing, dancing, non-stop my dancing! Dancing, dancing, non-stop my dancing!" Tsubasa reached into her small purse and grabbed her phone. "One second." She answered the phone and immediately the room could hear a frenzied yelling, though they couldn't tell who it was.
Tsubasa smiled to herself, murmuring affirmatory responses at the person. "Yes." More yelling. "Pretty bad." Tsubasa. More yelling. "Alright then. Bye" The other person hung up the phone. They all looked expectantly at Tsubasa, wondering what that was all about. Even Erena and Anju looked puzzled. Erena leaned over Honoka to speak to Tsubasa. "Was that our manager? Is something wrong?" Tsubasa smiled, looking like the cat that ate the canary. "No of course not. It was just a friend, everything is fine." Maki narrowed her eyes, not believing that at all. She was acting too suspicious. Maki widened her eyes as she saw Tsubasa give Nozomi an affirmatory wink. After seeing that, she was sure of it. They were up to something. From the looks of it, Eli had figured it out as well. She narrowed her own eyes at Nozomi, who was smiling at everyone like nothing had happened.
Umi spoke up from the couch. "Are you two up to something? You aren't being very subtle." Tsubasa chuckled. "You'll see soon. I promise we aren't doing anything bad, it will all come to the surface soon enough." Maki narrowed her eyes. "I don't trust you, but okay, whatever" Nozomi smiled sweetly. "Don't worry about it, anyways, let's get back to the stories, shall we?" Honoka spoke up, smiling. "I have a story, its super-duper funny." Everyone giggled at seeing Honoka's old happy-go-lucky attitude.
Honoka giggled along. "Well, I know Hanayo knows this story. One day I was downstairs working and Umi was up in my room. Hanayo was looking for my room and she walked in on Umi practicing her idol poses. Umi caught her and it was hilarious watching her get embarrassed. Who knew Umi wanted to be a cute idol?" Umi flushed. "It's not funny! I just wanted to be ready for our next show!" Kotori giggled. "It's fine Umi, no one is making fun of you." Umi grumbled. "Well, okay then."
Maki stood up. 'I'm going to the bathroom. Feel free to continue the stories while I'm gone." Maki stood up, walking to the bathroom, while the other continued excitedly talking. She didn't catch the glance that Tsubasa and Nozomi shared.
(five minutes later)
Suddenly as Maki was washing her hands the doorbell rang, then it rang again, and again. She frowned. Her family was wealthy and known, so reporters often tried to get into the house. If it was one of them she was going to flip out. Maki quickly dried her hands and heard the door open. She couldn't make out the voices from upstairs but she heard yelling. Her stomach dropped, what if something bad was happening, and her friends were getting hurt because of it?
Maki raced down the stairs and quietly slid by the foyer, being careful not to be seen. When she heard the voice her heart stopped. "Maki?! Where is she? What happened to her?! Spit it out Tsubasa!" Maki would recognize that voice anywhere. "Nico…" She murmured. What was she doing here after all this time? And what was she talking about? Nothing happened to her, she was perfectly fine. Suddenly it all clicked. The mysterious phone call, the glances, the cards. Nozomi and Tsubasa were plotting to get them together. Of course. Nico kept yelling at everyone until suddenly Maki got the courage to shakily walk around the corner.
Nico's eyes widened when she saw Maki was safe and sound. Maki turned to Nozomi. "What the hell is going on?" Nozomi chuckled. "Well we may have told Nicochii that something happened to you to get her over here, given that we haven't been able to get you two into the same room in two years." Maki took Nico in. Her hair was a little longer, but still in twin-tails. She wore an expression of anger and fear. She wasn't in her normal idol attire, but instead wore a simple pair of black shorts and a red shirt to match her bows. She looked like she had run here.
Maki and Nico stared at each other, each unable to talk. Everyone watched from the sidelines, unable to break the silence. Nico spoke. "Maki…" Maki couldn't take it, she didn't want to talk to someone who stole her first kiss and then abandoned her. She looked around, noticing an exit in between Honoka and Kotori, and she ran. A chorus of "Maki!" was heard but she paid no attention. Maki ran and ran and ran just like Nico had all those years ago, and didn't stop until she reached her music room.