Summary: Nico gets a hot tip about something mysterious and Maki and Dia follow her into Tokyo
Dia, green eyes serious, stared at the chessboard. Her hand hovered over the knight. Maki smiled. Dia, now nine, had been playing chess for a year now. She struggled with the L movement of the knight, preferring the pieces that swept the board. So Dia had recently been reading through piles of chess books, forcing herself to use knight openers.
"Maki-chan!"
"In here, Nico-chan."
Nico popped her head into the entertainment room of the Nishikino manor, "Just got a hot tip. I'm heading to Shibuya-ku. Do you and Dia want to come? Your mom took Ruby to get pastries for dessert and snacking."
"Dia?" Maki raised an eyebrow at her daughter.
"What are we going to Shibuya-ku for, Mom?"
"Fashion." Nico had a sparkle in her eye.
"Ooohh." Dia had been to several runway fashion shows with Nico and she loved sitting in the front rows, watching the tall models come down the runway in their pretty clothes.
"We can finish the game later."
"Okay, Mama."
"Just let me get my coat, Nico-chan."
"Already grabbed it." Nico handed Dia her puffer jacket and then helped Maki into her cashmere coat. "Let's go, Nico's best girls."
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Dia was now nervous on the Tokyo trains, since Umi had lost her for a few minutes a couple of years ago, but other than sticking close to Nico, hand held very tightly, Dia seemed mostly curious. Nico of course had her trenchcoat collar up, a scarf covering half her face, and mirrored sunglasses. Maki could see her own reflection smiling in them.
"Here we are." Nico was on her feet and out the door as soon as it opened, sweeping Dia along with her.
"Mom?" Dia sounded confused. This wasn't what she was expecting.
They reached a pedestrian steet. People who dressed like models were coming out of izakayas, calling out to each other, checking their phones to catch up to friends, the glare of neon and the noise of pachinko parlors were everywhere as crowds rushed forward in wide clumps. Dia was used to the kawaii cosy scale of Harajuka, this was so much grander. Nico's pace picked up and Maki had a sudden flash of Yazawa Nico, Otonikazaka third year on the hunt for exclusive Idol merchandise.
"Here we are." Nico stopped at a dark wall covered in graffiti, stairs leading down, calling out. "Hey, Ikeda Tamiko-san, Nico Ni has arrived.
A tall woman, tattoo sleeves, long, blingy nails, purple mohawk, screamed and skittered toward Nico as they entered the shop jammed with mannequins, clothes, and color.
"Tami-chin!" Nico had her arms open for a hug, and the woman slammed into her.
"Wait 'til you see it, Nico-sama."
Maki and Dia both looked at each other. They'd never known Nico to accept the sama honorific from anyone. Tamiko-san noticed them standing there awkwardly, "Oh, Nico, is this Maki-chan and Dia-chan? They're so cute I could crush-hug 'em."
"Yep, two of my best girls." Nico slipped an arm around Maki's waist and kissed her on the cheek, her other hand on Dia's shoulder. Dia had just noticed a mannequin with a pink retro spacesuit dress covered in sakura blossoms and rhinestone stars.
"Mom, is that..." Dia pointed, twisting to look up at Nico.
"Yep. They make their own versions of the coolest, trendiest stage costumes here. Nico, Gaga, Madonna."
Maki giggled. Of course, Nico listed herself first. Dia was now standing in front of the costume, staring up at it.
"Here it is!" The sales clerk-store owner-smuggler? Maki wasn't sure which, pulled out a pink check short jacket, open front, raw unfinished edges. Nico leaned forward on the counter while Tami-chin rambled, "Yohji Yamamoto, practically unworn, I spotted it screaming "Nico Ni in a dusty warehouse." Tami-chin did the full treatment, both hands at her temple.
"Nico is flattered but…"
"For you, 300,000 yen. You won't find one anywhere else. At any price."
"You won't find Nico wearing it for even half that." Nico sighed, arms crossed, shaking her head.
"Mama?" Dia pulled on Maki's hand, whispering.
"What is it, bun?"
"Can't we afford full price? And new?" Dia was half watching Nico, gesturing wildly, body language reading "you are trying to take money from empty pockets."
"Of course, we can afford it, bun."
"Then why is Mom..."
Nico had superhearing for daughters, siblings, and wife. She held up a hand to stop Tami-chin's new plea and waved to Dia to come.
"C'mere, bun, you're old enough to learn how to never pay full price."
Dia glanced at Maki, who nodded. Dia walked warily toward Nico, while Tami-chin wailed, "Nico-sama, you'll break me with cuteness."
Nico winked at Maki, "Nico knows."
"Vintage Nico," Maki chuckled to herself, and leaving Nico to indoctrinate Dia into the ways of the haggle, started to look for something Ruby might like. Although she might just pay full price for the spacesuit herself, when Nico was out of earshot. Maki'd always liked that costume.
A/N: The Idol Fanfic Heaven server is having Promptober, which is fun. Today's was "vintage." This is a little long, but I'm leaving it that way. Dia and Nico insist ; )