Summary:
After a whirlwind of events and drama the past few days, it's time to sit back and take
stock of where everyone is and where they're going. And tend to some wounded friends.
"Maki is sad. Tell Nico."
That's what anyone in Mu's would have said in the past, but what now?
Eli was used to overthinking everything, and she knew Umi and Maki shared that trait. She decided that even if she was going to help put a halt to the project eventually, she could still help the others now.
She started to text Nico, but hesitated, then called her.
"Nico, hi, this is Eli."
"Good evening, Eli. If this is a short call, Nico can take it, but if not, can Eli please call Nico in ten minutes? I am putting the youngest ones to bed."
She'd forgotten, as they all did quite often, that Nico was a half-time single parent
Probably, Cocoro didn't need much help, and if she remembered correctly, was doing a lot of the housework already.
The twins would probably soon be more independent, but would need someone in the house to watch them, just in case.
While pondering this, Eli managed to say "It might be a long call, how about fifteen minutes from now?"
"Okay - in Nico's room, since it might be sensitive. Eli-san is on the list of contacts for Maki after all."
Nico was perceptive and when it came to Maki, psychic. Was this all going to be one long education about things they'd forgotten about Nico? Well, Nico herself could be pretty callous and clueless, after all
Suddenly, she could see Maki's perspective again. Nico was such a cute, tiny thing. So seemingly helpless, and clearly in real anguish, it would be hard for people not to want to comfort her and side with her. In a lot of ways, she was like a little kid.
But she wasn't. She was a mostly grown woman, more than two years older than Maki, who really was the youngest person in their group.
But the other stuff - how giving Nico was, how competent she was when not crippled by depression - should be borne in mind, too.
Maki probably knew most of that. She was Nico's confidant, and had chosen her for a girlfriend, after all.
They had a good conversation, eventually. Eli conveyed that Maki had been falling apart and that she thought their conversation and the agreement to meet up every week was helping a lot. She didn't betray any specifics, and Nico didn't ask.
After they ended the call, Nico pondered it for a few minutes, then texted Maki.
know you dont want contact with me and my extended crowd maki but i was talking with eli about you and i found out you are still feeling sad
nico still loves maki and she's the biggest part of the world after her family that doesnt change you know
and thsee things nico is doing they really are the only way nico knows how to do what maki said she should do
even if maki is still too mad at kotori or even honoka she should still socialize you know
speaking of that nico doesnt remmember maki telling her about piano recitals but if maki does one now that shes not actively practicing with mus could she tell us when and where
it is very wrong that nico only thought to ask maki that now
you are loved and admired makichan no one in the whole school doestn feel that way. a-rise raves about you tooi
please please donet be offended but if you are nico is sorry
Maki looked at all the incorrect kanji and they somehow reminded her of something. It was when Nico's mother had been glanced by a car and was in the hospital. Nico was shaking and crying, and she had to text Cocoro to say she would meet her and take the train near to the hospital she'd been taken to.
This text reminded her of that - which meant Nico was crying when she sent it. You wouldn't know from the content, she decided.
Why did we ever get together in the first place if we're only going to hurt each other? she thought, but then changed her mind. Love was the problem, really, and now she thought all the love songs were idiotic. Ironically, the only one she could think of that wasn't misleading was the one Nico had written — including the lyrics — for her old group. Love was a sure route to having all the sweetness of the world leave you. Well. Nico was in pain and soldiering on, and could Maki do any less?
She decided to text Umi. She knew the girl turned off her phone to sleep, so she made a very long message.
good morning umi i was upset when i talked with nico and said only eli rin and hanayo should contact me directly
at any rate nico has been honoring that but heard through eli that i wasnt doing well so she texted me and i decided we should probably talk over the phone but then i thought i should ask your permission because nico is this extremely sincere about the week date thing and you are for all purposes her girlfriend this week and i am still amazed you went along but i accept it
anyway, i remember texting you before in response to your questions and i realize you were very fair and honest and the first person who didnt make me feel like i was a villain
so i would like you to say what time and day would be a good one for me to call nico and talk for no more than a half hour
in case youre worried we dont get into screaming arguments and other than the very first time we dont even fight
eli is my sounding board and counselor nowadays it seems but i think nico and i still need to mend a few more fences and connect a little
i realize this completely contradicts everything i have been saying but in a funny way i think doing this will enable me to have my alone time from her with a clear mind so i am not thinking about her or our relationship but rather the things i want to be thinking about which are very big
It turned out Umi had stayed up late doing homework and Nico was already asleep Umi was a little proud that she could make Nico happily sleepy so well and sh was in a good mood so she replied:
hi maki still up tho nico is sleeping
tomorrow is fine to call
nico will be cramming like crazy since shes neglected her classes a little and after six she will be free
we didnt know so cocoro was told nico would be home by seven and nico already prepared dinner except putting everything in the oven or on the stove so the kids are fine
as you probably guessed these emotional things and you respecting them is the number one thing for me though i wont deny the other things are more wonderful than i had imagined
nico asked about how the school admired you before she texted so i imagine she mentioned that
eli isnt telling people what youve said but she did mention shed talk to you once a week which made us all relieved
i agree with nico-sempai we are already grateful to you for all youve done already and she also mentioned you might be doing piano recitals and might not but if you are i second her request that you give us plenty of warning so we can go and cheer you on and i can promise you i will sit on honoka if needed or rin to keep them from being boisterous
we all love you maki dont ever forget that
Maki had a brief thought: while she's telling me this she's sleeping with my girlfriend, then decided that was unworthy of her. And a short while later, both Maki and Umi went to sleep feeling satisfied. Umi had put off her homework because she realized, when Nico complained a bit about the number of training hours that they'd scheduled, that Nico was overcommitted. She could cut back a little, but it was a good time to get Nico to prioritize instead of saying yes to absolutely everything. Tomorrow, she, Honoka and Kotori had scheduled their first meeting to talk about the Nico project. She decided that Nico and her should spend the night at the Yazawas and actually discuss Nico's plans with them. With that settled, her homework went very quickly and easily.
Meanwhile, Honoka wasn't looking forward to the meeting tomorrow at all. She'd agreed to meet with Tsubasa early in the morning and it would probably be tense. The whole legitimacy of what they were trying to do was at stake. It was similar to the qualms Nico had after she had contact with Maki, she decided. If she and Tsubasa were going to become a real, full-time couple, she'd have to withdraw her offer to be part of the project. She knew Nico would understand completely. The real problem was, Honoka's tummy, which was very wise about telling her when good things to eat were at hand, also gave her reliable feelings about things. She'd often had a gut reaction before something going wrong with Mu's became obvious, for instance. And she had a bad gut feeling about the project without her. For one thing, having really watched several videos of Nico's group, she realized why Nico had been so cranky and what her problem was. What if Mu's failed? What if I was a failure? What if some student transferred in next year and created their own group and won Love Live!? How would I feel? Not good, she thought. It was nice to think her gratitude would overcome her wounded pride, if they managed to save the school, but it probably wouldn't. And Nico had a different cause, but just as dear to her heart — making people smile by singing and dancing, which was, basically, her dear father's last request.
There was buried animosity there, and it was a shame.
Honoka and Rin were the only two people who saw a certain side of Nico-chan. Utterly without any pretension. Laid-back. Fun-loving. Light. Giggling. Even Maki, she was pretty sure, hadn't seen it. Nico was too intimidated by her, too desperate for her approval. For her family, she had to be responsible at all times. For most people, she had to put on her facade. If people were shocked Nico was such a good actress, they shouldn't be: she was on stage every day, all day, and in character.
Honoka had pulled back a little, afraid, after seeing Nico break down over Maki. Now, Tsubasa might do the same even over the idea of her being with Nico before they got together. She decided if worst came to worst she could still be a caring friend and help out whoever was next in line — probably Hanayo, given her close affinity with Nico already.
