Friday, July? 22?, 2011
Happy Birthday to Nico (I guess)
Every day Nico wakes up, it's like everything that happened the day before must have been a dream. Nikki-chan, if you see among the presents Maki-chan left Nico, that there is Nico's long lost diary, Nikki-san, don't worry. You have been the only audience for Nico more times than she cares to remember. No matter what Nico reads there - and so far, it is only about the three birthdays Nico missed - you will always be Nico's dearest possession. Despite the fantastic story everyone had to tell Nico - and frightening, so frightening - as promised earlier, Nico had her birthday party today. This year, Nico's birthday comes twice. Nico's thoughts are still too muddled to remember what day it "really" is, but she thinks it's "really" near the end of May. So in a couple months, I get a second birthday. Mama says it's fine - it will make up for one of the birthdays I missed.
The rule for most people is going to be that Nico is as old as she feels. Nico being an ichi-nensei at Otonokiza will be weird enough, I guess, without dragging her "real" age into it. Two of those birthdays, Nikki-chan, if we read between the lines, were kind of sad. Nico was very lonely and friendless. The third one was quite different. You can read the love shining out for those girls in the idol club, and especially for Maki-sempai. Even if we become girlfriends even - dare I write - lovers - are you old enough to hear that, Nikki-chan? - as my tutor has plainly said she wants, I am used to calling her Maki-sempai, so that is how it will continue. After Nico read about that party, she cried. You are very used to Nico being a crybaby, I guess. And Nico let Maki kiss her. Seemingly, it was somewhere out of the way, but somehow Cocoro found us and told everyone. It was so embarrassing, but everyone just cheered us on.
It is not everyone, faced with their grumpy, poor, handicapped former girlfriend who doesn't even know who they are, who would set out to win their heart again. Maki-chan is no ordinary girl, and you would have to be much dumber than Nico not to see that.
My presents were very good this year. It's a combination of money coming in, everyone chipping in to get things for Nico to do while she is still not very mobile, and, probably, making Nico feel better about being in a fool's paradise for months. One of the best presents was what Cocoro said. She showed off her real school uniform, and told Nico that, when Nico is a third-year, Cocoro will be a first-year. Apparently, Otonokizaka National Girls Academy became a big deal in the press, and its future is at least secure for that long. It will be strange, but much-missed, to be in the same school as Cocoro, which hasn't been since primary school.
So. Nico has the truth at last. She has most of her mysteries solved, but still enough left to keep her stimulated. She has a real future - Maki-sempai is such a good tutor Nico will have no problem finishing this first year with good grades. She has a new set of friends who are dear and helpful. And above all, she has Maki-chan. Just thinking about how good she is to Nico is making me cry again, Nikki-chan, sorry.
But Nikki-chan, I couldn't have made it this far without you.