Disaster. Or sort of. The next day, Niko became frantic to see school again, for some reason, and the idol club. Nozomi stopped lying about the power being out, and she went over to Niko's house early, helped her into the chair, carried her crutches, and followed her to the station. They left early so Niko wouldn't have to go fast over bumps or curbs. Boarding the train turned out to be safe and easy, and so was getting off. Nozomi went over the classes she would probably need. They saw Minami-sensei, who has decided in one month Niko can be a regular student. That worried Niko, because to her that would be two months into the year. But Minami-sensei and Nozomi assured her with the right help she could keep up and be integrated.
Disaster. Okay. I couldn't say hi to her. Everyone else did - Eli is back at college but Nozomi was there, and everyone was cheery to Niko - Hanayo, Rin, Umi, Honoka, Kotori. So who was the weird girl hanging back, trembling, unwilling to look at Niko, or say anything? That would be me.
Nozomi saved the day again. "That girl writes our music, Niko-chan. She is also the girl Minami has assigned as your tutor. Say hi to Niko-chan, Maki-san."
"I am Nishikino Maki, Yazawa-san. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"I am in your care, Nishikino-san."
Niko clearly wondered why I was fighting tears. It was seeing my baby in that chair. So brave, so hurt.
"Nishikino-san had some distressing news about her family, just today, Niko-san, but things will probably be fine. She is not upset about meeting you, though she is very shy. Please take care of her, as well." Nozomi again.
I think Niko was amazed at how much the Idol Club was the way she left it, yet expanded. And everything obviously organized and handled with loving care. Hanayo and Honoka assured her that she had a place with them, and they already considered her a member, not just after a month when she could put her name on the form.
Niko asked, suspiciously, why Honoka was always speaking for the club if Hanayo was president (but not that bluntly and rudely, she spoke around it). They explained that while Hanayo was the president of the club, Honoka led the practices, only not really, because Rin led the practices, too. And so did Umi.
"Yazawa-san, after your awful injuries, it was Honoka who organized keeping the Idol Club going. We have always kept you in mind. She created our first routines, too. I was the one who knew the most about idols, so I became the president." that was Hanayo, who can always calm anyone.
"Yazawa-san, is it true you made your own outfits?" that was sweet and gentle Kotori. Now I saw their strategy. Rin and Umi didn't speak much, even Honoka didn't. Let the two least threatening girls handle it. And of course, the scariest girl of all, the weird girl, the tutor, didn't say much of anything after "hajimemashite."
Niko told them she did, and Kotori said she'd look forward to planning outfits with Niko, and sewing them until Niko could help. Nozomi took Niko home early, then went to a convenience store and got some supplies, then went home and cooked dinner for Niko and her family. Niko was so touched she cried, Nozomi said. Until then, she didn't think of even Nozomi as being a friend who liked her. I want her real life, not her painful lonely life, to start now. I want it to start yesterday!