Summary:
Last time on Fushidarana Jo Nico:
It is established that Nico is a grateful koala. Also: Principal Minami gives Nico permission to divide her attention between school and starting to build her entertainment career. With a little help from the 2nd-year-trio, and from A-RISE and friends, Nico gets off to a good start.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kotori woke Nico up on their last day together.
They had another French-style breakfast, and Umi joined chatted pleasantly while they enjoyed their food. When they all had only coffee left - Kotori had them all get a second cup - Umi addressed Nico:
"Starting tomorrow, Nico-chan, you and I will be dating. That's as weird for me as it is for you. Also, it won't be as fun, but I promise you it will be good for you. Will you work with me? Because that's what I have planned: work."
Once again, the contrast with the "old" Nico was sharp. The new one just said, "I'll do my best."
Then Umi, also surprisingly, just nodded, and said, "But today is your day, Kotori. Have fun." And with that, she downed her coffee and left.
Kotori actually held Nico's hand in hers as they talked, after that. They indeed must have looked very couple-y. The old Nico would have been mortified. The new one wondered what they would make of the same girl, possibly, coming in with a new girlfriend tomorrow. And another one in a week. "Wow, I've changed," was the thought. She could see humor where before all she noticed was her wounded vanity.
When they got to school, Nico was still in her fired-up mode, even though she was less in need of putting Maki out of her mind. She remembered being like this when she started at Otonokizaka. This project was restoring her to where she was before her, as she now saw it, breakdown and depression from the end of her first year until the start of her third year. Which was fine, as far as that goes: she didn't want to be that person anymore. But she didn't want to forget her, either.
"I've been putting up a front so long, I've forgotten who I am," she decided.
They ate lunch while Honoka, Umi and Kotori helped Nico finalize memorizing all her Chrysanthemum lines, except for just a summary of the voiceovers, as they were already recorded and approved. Nico left Maki alone during practice, Rin partnered with her and Hanayo partnered with Nico. As was usual now, Maki dashed off. Usually, she went straight home, but she had some songs she'd agreed to work on with lyrics Umi gave her. She wasn't refusing to practice or help, but she seemed so unhappy, everyone in µ's felt bad. Nico just said, "Clearly, she wants me out of her life. Let her interact with whoever she wants. She's very busy and stressed right now."
Play practice went well, and given the fast pace, it amounted to a dress rehearsal. Nico finally performed live with all the other players. The girl playing Mary-Ann, and the one playing her eventual love interest, clicked with Nico very well. They said she was a natural actress and they'd love to have her in the club. Even the girls who were separated by the casting agreed it was a good idea, after all. The girl directing it said that as long as they didn't expect too much, they would have a hit play, by Otonokizaka standards. She said she'd emphasize that it was the Japanese premiere of the play, and that it had inspired a popular American old movie. Nico, herself, felt a certain freedom in being Chrysanthemum. After you'd lost everything, you had little to lose being brave. It was an interesting lesson to absorb, being bold and unconcerned with your status or reputation. All the µ's girls except Maki asked if they could watch the dress rehearsal, and were granted permission. They were impressed with its experimental nature, its age, and its themes, which seemed shockingly modern.
Kotori asked Nico what she wanted to do together their last night as "girlfriends." Nico wasn't used to the question, but when she pondered it, she decided she wanted to go to a nearby convenience store and get some food, then bring it back to Otonokizaka and work on costumes with Kotori. "After all, we chitchat a lot doing that, and yet we get good things done."
Kotori thought that was a great, and somewhat touching, idea.
She almost made Nico harm herself at one point in the ensuing conversation. "I think we got very used to each other in terms of love-making, surprisingly quickly, Nico." Nico flushed, cutely in Kotori's opinion. But she agreed. "Yes, and that surprises me. Some of the old feelings come back when I think of that, though. Like it's cheating, or dishonoring our memories."
Kotori put her work down, so she wouldn't risk injury.
"Don't you dare feel bad about that, Nico-chan! Don't you *dare*. Yes. We're in synch now. I know you, and you know me. We have things between us that other people don't, now. Things that are just ours. That was the point, Nico-chan. That was the whole. Point. I understand you still have these guilt attacks, but they're just Nico indulging herself, and they're hurtful. Does Nico get me?"
Nico looked at her, a bewildered expression on her suddenly tear-streaked face, but eventually, she nodded timidly.
"If Nico understands that, then I can say I think it's good we set a limit, and as short as we did. I have a lot more Nico feelings to sort out next week than I ever imagined I would. If this was the price to pay to learn something like this, it was totally worth it. Nico-chan, I am going to talk with Honoka about all this next week. Does that make you angry?"
"Umm I thought part of the whole point was not discussing that stuff?"
"There are a lot of things that will be off limits, but my feelings won't be."
Nico was puzzled. Why would she need to do that, she asked. Kotori pointed out she'd be spending most of her time with Honoka next week, and who else was she going to use as a sounding board? Put that way, Nico had to nod. After all, they'd been sharing the things that mattered to them since early primary school. "Go ahead," she said, a little wearily.
When they got to Nico's place, her mother ran interference with her little siblings. Although nothing special was planned, and there were a lot of tears, clutching each other, and whispers, it was nonetheless the best night of the seven. Somehow the fact that it was a partial farewell, to their relationship at least, made it both more meaningful and more, well, hot. Nico at one point raised an issue Kotori had to laugh at, although gently.
"When we wake up, is it over? Do I have to roll away from you or something?"
"Nico-chan we can do this however we wish, but my plan is to be as gentle as possible. I don't pretend you're all fine now. No, you will be handed over to Umi-chan, if you're still good with it. But I promised your mother something. We're going to have to get up even earlier, sorry. And when we get to the cafe, we will have you sit by yourself at a table with a notebook and pen. And I want you to think, really think, about whether you want to go forward. That's what I promised your mom, and Umi knows about it, too. No one will think less of you, or think you don't like Umi, if you change your mind. And that's even true if it came up with Honoka or whoever after that. We wouldn't let you "skip" someone, though we could discuss the "order" a little beforehand. But whenever you feel like it's time to end the project, you have the final say, Nico-chan. But that's only true if you are allowed time to think."
Kotori's final gesture was to say, "Sweet dreams, angel," as she kissed Nico good night.
Nico teared up. "Thank you, Kotori," she said. "Thank you so much. I won't ever forget this."
And then their last night was over, and they slept.
Notes:
Next on Fushidarana Jo Nico:
Seeing a sight she knew many girls at Otonokiza would kill for, Nico found herself unable to move. Umi laughed. "You're not making this any easier, are you, Nico-chan?" she asked teasingly as she led her to her bed. As Nico sat down on it, she noticed it was much firmer than Kotori's. "Well," she heard Umi say. "I bet we could both handle getting under the covers and holding hands. Are you game?"
