It wasn't as if Maki didn't miss her friends.

Maki did, but considering the fact that she sorta left like a jerk and cut off contact with her friends, they would probably give her a 100+ hour long lecture about friendship, love and cute shoujo things.

Just because.

Besides, Maki isn't a jerk. She's a tsundere (formerly). Maki only left like that because she didn't want to make the parting overly long and dramatic. She also didn't answer her friend's letters and emails because she didn't want to be homesick. And being a medical student was not easy.

Maki curled up in her bed and sighed. I should just face them and get it over with.

Maki got off her bed and started her usual morning routine. Shower, brush teeth, change, the usual things. Maki put on a white shirt, a brown sweater, and a long pair of jeans. She put her hair into a long ponytail and took a deep breath. "This is it."

Maki picked up her phone and dialed Honoka's number.

"Hello?"

Didn't she have my number-oh right I changed it. "Hello?"

"Um, who is this?"

Maki took a long deep breath. "It's Maki."

"WHAT? KOTORI! IT'S MAKI!" Maki gritted her teeth. "WHAT DID YOU SAY? THERE ARE MANY MAKIS IN JAPAN? Oh yeah. Excuse me, is your last name Nishikino?"

"Yes."

"KOTORI! IT'S OUR MAKI!" Maki heard screams and the sound of crashing. "Yes, it's Maki! Here, speak to her!" There was shuffling and the phone seemed to be passed to another person.

"Maki?"

"Hello, Kotori."

"Maki! I miss you so much! Nozomi said she saw you yesterday! Why didn't you answer our emails?"

"Uh..."

"Actually, nevermind! You can tell us later. Let's meet up somewhere!"

"Okay."

"How about the cafe near my shop?"

"What shop?"

"I'm working as a fashion designer, I have my own clothing line now."

"That's nice, what's the name?

"Pastel Daffodils."

Maki widened her eyes. I shopped there yesterday... "Oh, I see."

"It's close to the shrine we used to go to a lot."

"Thanks, I'll be there in 30 minutes."

"Ok! I miss you so much! Oh, and I'll our other friends to come too."

"Okay."

"Bye!"

Kotori hung up, and Maki lowered the arm holding the phone. "Well, I guess that wasn't so bad..."

Maki arrived at the cafe, to find that nobody was there yet. She sighed and took a seat at a table that seated 6 people. Well, I'm sure that not all of our friends will come...

"Maki!" Honoka rushed to Maki's table, Kotori, Hanayo, and Rin right behind her.

"You came!" Rin exclaimed.

Maki smiled thinly. "Of course."

Honoka pounced on Maki and pulled her into a tight squeeze. "Geez, we missed you so much! Why didn't you answer our emails and letters?"

Maki smiled apologetically. "I was really busy..."

Kotori gave Maki a big hug after Honoka, and then Rin, and then Hanayo.

Kotori sat down on the chair opposite Maki. "We were really worried! Umi thought that you got murdered in your dorm!"

Maki cringed inwardly. "Oh... I see."

Hanayo nodded. "I was so scared until Maki's mom told us you were alive and well."

Maki raised an eyebrow. "My mother?"

"We've been in contact with her ever since you left," Honoka stated.

"I see."

Once everyone was seated, a waitress came by. "May I get your orders?"

"Yes! I want a caramel milkshake! Extra large please!" Rin cried.

"I would like a small green tea latte," Hanayo said shyly.

The waitress wrote down the orders and looked at Maki, Kotori, and Honoka. "And...would you like anything?"

"I'll have a small latte," Kotori told her.

"Same as her," Honoka said.

Maki sighed. "I'll have a medium cappuccino."

The waitress finished writing her orders and nodded. "Your orders will be ready soon!"

Everyone had a nice chat, and Maki learned about the occupations of her former peers. Honoka was working in her family shop, Rin and Hanayo had a restaurant together, Kotori was a fashion designer. She also learned that Eli, Nozomi, and Umi were business women. However, when the subject of Nico's job came up, there was no answer, except for a youtube link the Honoka sent to Maki's phone.

"You'll see," she had said.

Maki, now safely at in her bedroom, opened the youtube link.

...Only to find Nico cutesy dancing to a girly song. Her youtube channel had over 3 million subscribers and had over 80 million views. "Thanks for watching Nico Nico Nii today!"

"WHAT THE HECK NICO?"

I tried making this chapter a little longer. Hope you enjoyed!