Maki frowned nervously at Nico, biting her lip. "I don't know if I can do this." Nico smiled at her, squeezing her hand. "You can do this. I believe it you. Besides, if something goes wrong I'll take care of you, don't worry about it, okay?" When she smiled at Maki again she lost it, feeling the tears come to her eyes. "I'm scared, what if they get angry at me?" Nico sighed. "They're bound to get angry, but let's hope for the best." Maki thought back to the months prior. She had been terrified to tell her parents that she was dating a girl, but they had been accepting of her. They told Maki that as long as she was responsible she could date whoever she wanted, to which Maki blushed and excused herself quickly.

They loved Nico, though they had only met her three times. They obviously knew of her, but after meeting the famous idol they realized how down to earth she was and how good she was for Maki. Maki blew her bangs away from her face, sighing. If only they could realize that music school would be good for her too. But it didn't matter what they wanted. What did matter was that she was supposed to be leaving for Tokyo right now for orientation, but she didn't tell her parents that she wasn't going. Instead she canceled her train and she picked up Nico, driving back to her house.

It was time to tell them what she really wanted to do. Maki turned to Nico. "I think I'm ready." Nico smiled. "You can do it." Maki slowly knocked on the door of her parents home office, hearing the sounds echo throughout the empty house. Her father's gruff voice rang out. "Enter." She slowly swung open the door, walking inside with Nico in tow. Her parents looked up from their work with identical looks of shock. Her mom frowned. "Maki, you're supposed to be on your way to Tokyo! What are you doing here?"

Her dad narrowed his eyes. "I'm asking the same question. You idiot! Did you miss your train because you were with Nico?" Maki flinched, but was encouraged to speak from Nico's gaze. "I canceled my train." She squeezed Nico's hand in fear. Her dad roared. "You did?! Why would you do that?" Maki sighed, looking down. "Look, I'm 18, it's time for me to choose what I want to do. To be frank, I don't care about all this medicine stuff at all, in fact, I find doctors to be quite boring. I'm going to be a musician w-whether you like it or not!"

Her mom frowned. "You've always acted like you've enjoyed medicine." Maki felt the tears begin spilling. "Well I don't...I thought you would never let me do anything music related if I got on your nerves. I know you hate that I like music." Her dad spoke up. "You're damn right. You aren't going into music, I forbid it."

Maki smiled bitterly. "It's a little late for that. I'm going to Julliard, my plane leaves in two hours." her dad stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. "Like hell you are! I refuse to pay for something so ridiculous!" Nico piped up from beside Maki. "If I may, it's a bit stupid for you to say that. Obviously Maki got a full scholarship, she doesn't need your stupid money. I'm going to provide for her." Maki turned in surprise to Nico, who was smiling at her like she was the best thing in the entire world.

Maki's father laughed. "You have to stay here in Japan to do that idol crap, so have fun earning anything." Nico laughed. "You really are an idiot. I'm on paid hiatus. Meaning: full pay. We'll be fine. Anyway, we didn't come for your approval, we came to let you know what to expect." Maki nodded. "It's my life, and I'm going to live it the way that I want it, whether you like that or not."

Maki's mom looked up from her desk. She had been surprisingly quiet the entire time. She looked at Maki with sad eyes. "Honey, is this really what you want to do with your life?" Her Dad turned in shock to her Mom. "There are no negotiations, she cannot do this!" Maki's mother strategically ignored him. "If this is what you want to do...you're an adult now...I don't think we have the right to stop you!" Her Dad's mouth dropped open. "How dare you oppose me? Our daughter is better than this! We can't just let her ruin the family's name with this stupid music career."

Maki flushed. "How exactly would I ruin the name of the family?" Her dad laughed. "You were okay at that idol thing but you can't compete with big time musicians. You're just going to crash and burn like all subpar musicians do." Maki opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to say. Nico, on the other hand, had plenty to make up for it. She stormed forward, pointing her finger in Maki's dad's face.

Maki's Dad bared his teeth. "Listen here you half-witted idol you can't just be so disrespectful to me like this!" Nico shoved him backwards. "No, you can't be that disrespectful to Maki! She's an amazing musician but you don't care enough to listen to her sing or play or anything! You're never around when she needs you and frankly you've never even listened to what she wants to do! You're both awful parents! Maki is going to live her dream...with me! And whether you accept it or not doesn't really matter."

Maki's eyes widened in shock. Nico was...standing up for her like no one had ever done before. She was even too scared to strand up to her parents. She would never have talked to them like that. Maki's Dad was fuming. "I swear if you ever say something like that to me again." Nico took a step back. She flashed a smug look. "Touch me and I'll sue. My team and I could buy and sell you."

Maki's dad spoke up. "Just go. Get out of this house, and don't think about ever coming back until you want stop this silly music nonsense." Maki's face hardened. "I'm not going to be pushed around by you anymore, guess I'll see you never." Nico laughed. "yeah maybe she'll send you tickets to her first concert." Maki grabbed Nico's hand. "Come on let's go. I have all my stuff already. Bye." Without giving her parents another glance she walked out of the room.

As the doors shut Nico's cocky glare softened. "Are you okay?" There were tears in maki's eyes but she wiped them away. "I expected that. I need to grow up anyway. Come on, we have a plane to catch soon." Nico smiled at her. "I'm so excited for us to start our lives together, who knows what will happen to us." Maki smiled at the small girl next to her and kissed her quickly. "Yeah...who knows..."

Four Years Later

Maki turned to Honoka who was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. "Honoka, relax! we need to make this special for Nico!" She sighed and stopped running. "I know, but I'm nervous." Kotori smiled nervously next to her. "Me too." maki laughed. "I should be nervous, I'm the one who has to go up there first. They're going to eat me alive out there, you know how they love Nico." Nozomi laughed. "But they ship you with her even more, it's like a dream come true for the fans."

They were all backstage at the Tokyo Dome. Nico and Maki had gotten back from Julliard a few weeks ago, Maki graduated of course. She was going to be the composer for Nico and many other artists at her company, as well as a part time idol and performer. Today they were holding her first concert since they had returned, which featured a comeback performance from Muse. Everyone was super nervous about it. maki, on the other hand, had written a duet with Nico that they were going to perform.

It wasn't some lovey dovey ballad, it was the opposite. It was the tsundere song of the century. They were going to knock them dead. Right now Nico was perfoming her own songs, which Maki could hear from backstage, and the crowd was going wild. She was wearing a pink getup and when Maki walked out she would shed her garment for her old Otinokizaka uniform, which Maki was also wearing.

She turned to all of her old friends, watching them interact. Honoka had grown up a little more but was still the same as always. Kotori had come out of her shell, and was a fashion icon. Umi was more confident than ever. Hanayo and Rin were as lively as they had ever been. Eli was smiling as she looked over them with Nozomi. Maki felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to see that Nozomi had appeared there. "We really grew up didn't we..." Maki smiled at her. "yeah we really did." She giggled, a small laugh.

"Back then you would have blushed and thrown me away from you, you're the one who has grown up Maki." She smiled. "Thanks, now, let's give this concert everything we've got." A stagehand appeared. "Maki, you're on." She smiled at everyone. "Wish me luck." Maki flounced onto the stage, acting as tsundere as she used to. The crowd roared. Maki frowned at Nico. "It's not like I wanted to do this concert with you anyway, I just wasn't busy." The crowd cheered.

Nico played again. "Of course you wanted to do a concert with super idol Nico Yazawa! Now.." She turned to the audience. "Maki and I wrote a song together, we hope you love it!" Maki and Nico flew across the stage from each other, glaring at each other with fake annoyance.

Are you looking at me? Don't look at me!
Wanna wanna wanna, it's a trap!
Are you an ally? Or are you an enemy?
Wanna wanna wanna, it's a trap!

Nico flew past Maki, waving and winking at her. Maki smirked as she sang. Nico was still the cute idol she used to be, even in her early twenties. She was rocking the stage, hyping up the audience as she sung about her unspoken love for Maki.

(Why are you always looking at me?)
(You're always looking at me too aren't you!)
(I'm only looking at you because you looked at me first!)
(See! So you WERE looking!)

They walked around each other, accusing and glaring, just like the old days. The old Maki and Nico would have blushed and refused to sing this song at all, but they were different people now. They didn't have to worry about other people opinions, or about if the other liked them or not. The new Nico and Maki had spent four years together, just spent getting used to each other. While they had clashing personalities, making it hard to be together all the time, they really did fit together perfectly.

No way, you ran into me again today? Are you telling me it's a coincidence?
Or is it all part of your plan? How suspicious!
(Idiot!) You're overthinking this too much (But you know!) How can I not?
Are you looking at me? Don't look at me!
Yeah... I knew it...

Maki really wasn't paying attention to the song, she had heard it thousands of times. After all, she was the one that had spent weeks composing it. What she was watching was the way Nico looked onstage. She smiled and laughed as she played with the audience's feelings, and it wasn't fake. She clearly enjoyed all of this, and was living her dream. Maki smiled as she watched the joy vibrate off of Nico.

I should try and talk to her; At this rate,
I'm going to keep worrying whether she's an ally or an enemy

Nico walked up to Maki, poking her in the stomach as she fake frowned. Maki saw the love in her eyes and played along, twirling her air and turning away like an annoyed parent during her part. Nico huffed as the chorus began and they got into the intense choreography.

It's not fair, it's not fair, you're hiding your true intentions
See! Our eyes just met again!
It's not fair, it's not fair, you're hiding your true intentions and it's captivating me
Ahh, your magnetism just isn't fair! (Are you looking at me?) (Don't look at me!)

They danced their hearts out as they sung about unsaid love. Maki was a bit out of breath but she was still fit enough to do this. Their voices rang out throughout the concert as the audience screamed proclamations at them. Maki turned to Nico, pointing suspiciously at her as they danced away.

Aren't you coming here? Come here!
Doki Doki Doki, your motives are dishonest!
Are you hoping to be good friends? Or do you wish to be rivals?
Doki Doki Doki, your motives are dishonest!

They flew to each other again, striking the ending pose. Maki and Nico's intertwined hands sent the audience into a frenzy. The two girls panted and laughed, embracing each other. The audience screamed louder. Nico whispered in Maki's ear. "I knew you could do it!" The audience took that as some sort of love confession, and they went insane. This was more applause then Maki had ever gotten in her entire life.

Nico spoke into her mic. "Thank you very much everybody. Now, Maki and I have a special surprise for all of you next!" They ran backstage, quickly stopping behind the curtain. Nico's smile dropped as she frowned a bit at Maki. "That was awesome but...are you sure you're okay that the world can't know we're actually together?" Maki smiled, Nico had brought this up a dozen times, worried that Maki's feelings would be hurt. Maki smiled. "Of course it's okay. I was a school idol for a year after all, I get that you can't damage your image. The more the fans want to date you, the more merch. The idol industry is cutthroat." Nico sighed. "I know it's just...I don't want to have to pretend you don't exist."

Maki laughed. "As long as we can hang out and be alone together you can do whatever you want. I think we're fine just the way we are, we've lasted this long haven't we?" Nico finally smiled. "I guess we have." Maki smiled again, winking. "Now you understand why I have to do this." She pulled Nico in for a kiss, the smaller girl's eyes widened in surprise but she eventually melted into Maki.

A call was heard. "So bold Maki! You wouldn't happen to have one of those for me would you?" The two girls broke apart to see Nozomi calling them, with the other members of Muse smiling. Maki laughed. "You know, back in high school that would have scared me, but I know now that Nozomi is just a big softie." The girls all laughed, remembering the old days.

Maki smiled and held out her hand. "Okay everyone, let's do this. Let's make this the best performance we've ever had!" Honoka frowned. "That's my line!" She put her hand in anyway. Nico followed along with everyone else as they did their signature hand motion. "Muse...Music...START!" Finally, they rushed out onto the stage, embracing the future.

(The song is ZURUI NO MAGNETIC TODAY and it's over! thank you so much for reading! I might do a NozoEli story but I haven't decided yet. I hope you loved it)