Summary: Dia's grumpy and worrying her You attempts to come to the rescue.

Kurosawa Dia was fatigued, her head ached, and two of her three suitemates were in a gigglefest. She wanted to throw so many razor sharp, jet speed pillows at them. Tomorrow, she had two test, one quiz, and an internship interview. Right now, she desperately need sleep. So her phone went crazy. Three simultaneous texts.

Ruby: Mom's so happy. She's all over the internet. And you're coming home tomorrow. She's been baking all day.

Mari: LOL. Your mom is an influencer. A toddler influencer.

You: Hey, Slugger! Your mom still giving me a ride? Camp's over and they're letting me out.

Dia suspected the Japanese National Diving Team Training Camp had actually let You out yesterday. She also suspected You would be first in line for cookies as Nico always made extra for the athlete.

Dia: Don't call me Slugger. Yes. we will return you to Numazu.

You: You make me sound like a misdelivered package.

Dia: (ò╭╮Ó,)

You: o7

Dia flipped open her laptop to TWIG search Nico Ni. Her mom had come up to Tokyo early and hit Harajuka in a quilted jacket, the cutest pink polka dot pajama pants, a rabbit eared hoodie, and pink bunny rabbit slippers. Her hair was done up in twintails again, with matching pink ribbons. Nico had been caught in snaps with all the current style influencers. Her own selfie had the caption, "Nico Nico Ni's The Newest.

Phone. Not a text. Mom.

Nico's voice chirped good mood, "Hey, Bun. Can't wait to see you tomorrow. I'll be on campus around six."

Dia grumped. Her head hurt. "Why aren't you going to stop by earlier and see if you can get mistaken for a co-ed?"

"Wasn't Nico's outfit the cutest?" Nico was used to tsunderes. You ignored the first strike.

"For Christmas morning." Dia snapped.

"Your Mama would love that."

"Mari thinks you're a kid."

Nico was silent.

"Mom?"

"How is Mari?"

"Partying through Milan." Dia could feel the headache increasing. Mari would have started the gigglefest.

"Are you all right, Dia?"

Dia inhaled, "Yeah. Sorry, Mom. My roommates are making a lot of noise. And I have tests tomorrow. And they don't have any classes in cute."

"Nico knows you like your excessive study time but you've got this, Dia. You take after your Mama."

Dia almost facedesked. She could hear the worry in Nico's voice, but there were so many frustrations building inside, she just couldn't control her criticism. Dia took after Dia; she'd worked so hard to claim her own identity.

"I better get some rest."

Nico sounded disappointed. "Drink some water. Get some sleep. I love you, Dia."

Dia watched the clock. Five minutes later, her phone buzzed again. They always talked to each other about anything concerning her or Ruby, as soon as possible, even when they were in separate cities. And then pretended they didn't.

Maki: How are you?

Dia: Tired.

Maki: There's a flu going around. Be careful.

Dia: You can't catch germs from books, Mama. I've been studying.

Maki: (^‿^)d Okay, bun. Get some sleep. I wrote a new piece for us to play.

Maki handled missing people by composing music, sometimes in the classic style for koto and shakuhachi for the two of them.

Dia: (^‿^) I've missed playing.

Maki: Yeah, no time for music is tough.

Mama got it. Dia was glad for her next step, the challenges of college and adulthood. But music had brought Dia friends and comrades, the joy of shared experience she had with Aqours. That camaraderie was a warm comfort Dia missed, especially on tough days. Dia knew her Mama meant that, even if all she said "no time for music is tough."

Dia: I love you, Mama.

Maki: Love you too, Dia. Get some sleep. Things'll be better tomorrow.

###

Mama had lied. Everything wasn't better. Dia had dragged herself through the day, eyes blurry as she took her last test. She'd come home, collapsed on the couch, and groaned, rubbing her forehead 'til her skin was sore. Pain throbbed there, her throat felt dry, and she could barely stay awake. She felt terrible. Where was her mom?

A knock on the door. Dia opened it. No Nico. A grinning, bouncing You.

"Hey, Slugger. Nico gave me the keys to the Nicomobile." You leaned in the doorframe, dangling Nico's giant pink keychain. Then she glanced at Dia, "You look awful."

Dia swatted at air, frowning. "You're not my mom."

"No. I'm a little taller." You's pretty, light blue, pleated, tennis skirt bobbed with every movement.

"What did you do with her?" Dia stepped forward aggressively, then doubled over into a cough.

Dia suddenly felt You's arms supporting her, "Whoa, Dia, are you okay?"

"No. Where's my mom?" DIa didn't want to sound whiny. Now she was the toddler. Mari would have been rude.

You rested her hand on Dia's forehead. "You're feverish. Your mom's at her mom's. She had some more business stuff in Tokyo. She sent the cookies though." A pause, then defensive. "They're in the car. I didn't eat them all."

DIa rolled her eyes. You had eaten at least half. And more importantly, Yazawa Nico did not have "more business stuff in Tokyo." Yazawa Nico, after a few early year glitches, never let anything interfere with her time with her daughters. Yazawa Nico was ditching.

"C'mon, sit down, you look shaky." You guided Dia to the couch, "Did something happen?"

"I'm sick."

"Duh. But did something happen with your mom? There were more cookies than usual."

"Mari called her a toddler."

"To her face?!"

"No, I mean…" Dia groaned, "I was grumpy."

You said nothing. Grumpy Dia was not a mood anyone officially noticed.

""Ugh." Dia threw herself forward, head in hands.

You patted her on the back, carefully once. Dia's reply cough sounded suspiciously like a crying one. You pushed up the sleeves of her sweatshirt nervously.

"I can make you soup. Maybe we don't drive home tonight."

"I want my mom."

"Okay, I'll call Nico-san."

"No." Dia raised her head, glaring at You, "Take me home."

"To Numazu?" You was getting confused; Dia wasn't making sense.

"To my mom!"

"On it." You helped Dia, running on anger and adrenaline, to her feet. "I'll grab your bag. Lean on me."

DIa didn't say thanks, but her glare softened. You still had no useful defenses against Dia softness. Dia leaned into her and You didn't hurry them.

###

Dia, like all the Yazawas, had a key to the small home Nico had bought her mother when her dominance of the Idol scene translated into financial success. She opened the door, but it was too quiet. The Yazawa homestead was never this still.

"Mom? Mom!"

"Dia?" Nico came out of the media room, pulling down her headphones, green goop covering her face, dressed in red and white striped pajama pants and a red tank top.

"I'm sorry, so so sorry, Mom…didn't mean it…You're the cutest ever, the best style idol, biggest influencer, Mari's an idiot, I love you." Dia hit Nico with a tacklehug Rin Hoshizora would have rated top grade rib breaker.

Nico looked to You while stroking Dia's hair and making comforting noises.

"She has a fever."

Nico nodded, shifting so she could better guide Dia into one of the bedrooms. "C'mon, bun. Nico's going to make you the best soup in the universe, And you're going to sleep."

Dia let out a long breath, "You're not mad, right, Mom?"

"No, Dia. I just want you to get better. You need food and sleep. If you don't feel better in the morning, we'll call your mama."

"Okay."

You watched as Nico tucked in her oldest daughter, curious about the half grin on Nico's face, as Nico, having a memory of eight year old Dia sneaking off with her friends, leaned down to whisper in her daughter's ear, "No sneaking out now, Dia. Mom will take care of everything."

"Okay." Dia murmured sleepily, pulling in a plushie, "Love you, Mom."

"Love you most." Nico kissed Dia's forehead gently, as her tall, very nearly grown up, extremely serious firstborn cuddled with Nico's oldest, most beloved bunny plushie. Nico snuck a quick pic for Maki. This was priceless, Dia curled up, sweet and sleeping, stress left outside the comforting walls of home.

###

Nico had cooked soup, made sure Dia ate some, settled You in one of her sisters' rooms, and returned to the couch for some cozy time of her own, a nightly ritual, talking to her best girl. She sent the Dia snap to Maki.

N: Dia grumpy = Dia sick = look at this adorableness.

Maki's reply was instant.

M: We're coming to Tokyo tomorrow. Watanabe texted Ruby about Dia so our bags got packed.

N: Yeah, Dia's going to sleeping for most of the day. She was really out of it. She hugged me.

M: She'll be fine.

N: Nico made soup. Of course, she'll be fine.

M: Did you save some (ȍ_ȍ)

N: Are you sick?

M: (ȍ_ȍ)

N: 」(๑•̀ᗝ•́)｣

M: I loved your pajama pants. You sparkle (つ✧.✧)つ-✧҉*

N: Nico knows. Nico is irresistible (๑ ‿ )ᕗ

M: Dia keeps interrupting our dates. I had other plans for tonight.

N: Another thing she'll never grow out of.

M: We did good, Nico-chan.

N: Yes, we did, Maki-chan.

M: Love you ( ღ'ᴗ')৴ Get some sleep (ᴗ˳ᴗ✽)

N: Date tomorrow?

M: Depends on our daughters ≺(-_^)≻

N: Nico is sneaky

M: (!ﾟﾛﾟ)!

M: ( '‿｀)ﾉ⌒

N: Nico loves you. Get some sleep (ɔ³(ˆ⌣ˆc)

M: (っ˘з(˘⌣˘ )

Whether it came via text, voice, or touch, that was what got Nico through everything. Being the person Maki-chan kissed goodnight.

A/N: Happy Birthday to the Number One Idol In the Universe, Yazawa Nico. Your love of family and refusal to give up on your dreams inspires me.