Summary: Nico's been busy, Maki's been posting photos that seem to be missing something, and Nico wants to know what.

Yazawa Nico needed her beauty sleep. Eight hours. Six or seven would do but she'd have to make it up soon. But no, instead of her regularly scheduled pillow time, Nico was staring at her phone. Again. Get home from rehearsal, rehydrate, grab a healthy snack, curl up in a pile of pillows, and take her phone off airplane mode. That was the new routine. That and head immediately to Nishikinoir's TWIG to see the pics she'd posted today. They were puzzles to Nico, something about them haunted her thoughts, causing her to pause in problematic moments and unfocus. Not professional behavior. And Maki wasn't even in the pics, so Nico couldn't be accused of stalkery lusting after the gorgeous, complicated, a-spec redhead. From the photos, Maki was possibly a tree-sexual, or weirdly into how metal curves. There were some lovely shots she'd taken for Eli, gems against lush fabrics in oddly angled closeups. And the snaps from the Goncharov shoots. Rin had handled the film camera, working in impressive harmony with Nozomi. Maki had been on the set, with a still camera, taking odd angles and behind the scene moments. Nico was impressed. She looked good, the set looked good, somehow Maki's found moments that really captured the internals of the characters. Nico had seen Sofia vs. Katya, not Eli vs. Nico. But now, there was something…empty about Maki's pictures, mostly taken on walks around the campus or diving through the photography section of Northwestern's library. Was Maki taking a class in photography? No, Nico thought Maki'd mentioned it was mostly pre med stuff this quarter and one music class for sanity.

But the latest shots Maki'd posted were barren. The Gonsharov set had been bustling, actors and crew grouped in busy clumps spilling out of the frame, the joint energy a cheerful draw. But since then, it was as if Maki were keeping something outside of the frame, as if the edges of each pic were fortified castle walls. And so Nico was puzzled, And missing her beauty sleep. Nico was too practical for that. She switched to messaging.

N: taking moon pics?

M: Howling.

M: Aren't you missing your beauty sleep?

N: Nico hasn't heard any complaints.

M: ಠ_ಠ

M: From?

N: Nico's mirror \(ϋ)/ \(ϋ)/

M: ha ha

N: Did Nico wake you up?

M: No.

M: Staring at piano.

N: Is it staring back?

M: Z_Z

N: Piano's smarter than both of us.

M: (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀)

Nico could hear Maki's burst of laughter in her head, a bright sound.

N: Nico is making you dinner tomorrow.

M: Okay?

N: After rehearsal. Meet Nico.

M: Where?

N: Your kitchen.

M: Nico is invading my kitchen?

N: What's the last thing you ate?

M: Soup.

N: Really?

M: Donuts dipped in hot chocolate count as soup right?

N: They don't even count as cereal.

M; Yeah.

N: Are you all right?

M: （〇_ｏ）

N: Right, tomorrow, dinner, you tell Nico what you're leaving out of your pictures.

M: What do you mean?

N: Nico notices things.

M: Okay.

N: And wants to talk to you about them.

M: ＼（〇_ｏ）／

N; Good. It's a date.

M: ˙０˙

N: Would you prefer intervention?

M: (ง'̀-'́)ง

N: aSee you tomorrow.

M: 'Night, Nico.

Nico grinned. 'Night Nico sounded like a vigilante, patrolling the starry nights, helping gorgeous genius photographer musician premeds connect with their dreams.

N: Be like the piano, sleep.

M: You too.

N: ?

M: Thanks, Nico.

N: Good night.

Nico yawned and put her phone aside. Beauty sleep. Maybe with a visit from dreamfuel amethyst eyes.

###

Maki was a little early, but Nico was already there, shuffling from foot to foot, looking cold.

"Maki!" Nico threw herself into a hug, ignoring Maki's stiffness at first contact and holding on until the taller woman let out a breath. Maki felt warm; it was nice.

"Let go. I can't open the door this way. You feel like you're freezing."

"Aw. Maki cares."

Maki turned the key in the lock, turning to look at Nico, "Of course I care. Were you waiting long?"

"Nope. Nico is always right on time. And the pizza should be here soon."

"Pizza?"

"Nico will cook next time, when she has time to shop."

"We have…" Maki wanted to rush into a list of ingredients but even though she snuck a look into the fridge and pantry this morning, she blanked on what she'd seen, stretching her hands out in front of her as a memory prompt, "bread, long bread."

"Well, maybe Nico can make some quick garlic bread, clear out all the vampires in the room."

Maki laughed, "If I don't invite you in and you combust on the stoop, that'll prove you're a vampire."

Nico flashed her phone at Maki's face, "You invited me last night."

"Nope."

"You said okay. Twice."

"They were very open ended, non specific okays…"

"And Nico appreciates that freedom." Nico threw a flamboyant wink at her sparring partner, scoring a blush.

The pizza driver pulled up as they were shutting the door, so Nico grabbed both boxes. "One of these is pesto so that should be enough garlic for a vampire test."

"It's actually really silly that people grump about garlic breath so much. And onions. They're great flavors. Smell that aroma, it's better than perfume." Maki sighed, "It's all a plot to sell mouthwash so everything tastes like fake mint."

"I don't think it's better than perfume, but it's definitely more enticing than mouthwash."

Maki nodded, leading Nico through the labyrinth of mansion corridors, "You don't mind if we hang out in the media room again, do you?"

"Nope. Nico had a lot of fun in there on New Year's."

"Me too."

Maki opened the door, "I'll be right back with plates and stuff."

"Okay, Nico will queue up a playlist, what's your mood?"

Maki shrugged, "Your call. I could use a musical palate cleanse."

"Too much blues."

"Too much Debluessy." Maki giggled.

Nico knew something sounded off. "That's a joke right."

"You're paying attention. Be right back."

Nico put the pizza down, collapsed on the sectional, and considered the best music for super casual information gathering about your super casual maybe dating new prickly jumpy hot friend. Taylor Swift? They'd had the noir conversation. K-pop? Probably too peppy. Hmmmmm. Something lower key than diva-ish. Maybe a soundtrack? Nico pulled up her music apps and considered.

Maki entered to Best New Artist Grammy winner, rare for a jazz artist, Samara Joy's smooth mastery, wrapped around Johhny Burke and Jimmy Van Huesen's lyrics. Seemed a surprising choice for Nico.

Who can say what love is
Does it start, in the mind, or the heart?
When I hear discussions on what love is
Everybody speaks a different part

Love is funny, or it's sad
Love is quiet, or it's mad
It's a good thing, or it's bad
But beautiful

Beautiful to take a chance
And if you fall, you fall
And I'm thinking
I wouldn't mind at all

Love is tearful, or it's gay
It's a problem, or it's play
It's a heartache either way
But beautiful…

"Becoming a jazz fan?"

"Jazz like this, one hundo. That voice" Nico half swooned back into the cushions, "Don't worry though, this playlist is pure Nico, fave K-pop songs roll next. Nico always mixes it up." Nico flipped open the pizza box, as Maki slid a bottle of sparkling water in reach.

"Cool." Maki grabbed a slice.

Nico let munching happen for two slices and three songs.

I'm in love with this comfy mood
Nege ppajyeodeureo
And let it go, let go
Jakkuman saenggangna
All day for you (All day, for you)
To me and you (To me, and you)
Nothing but you except
Neo hanappuniya

As Purple Kiss wrapped up "2 am", Nico took a swig of water, leaned forward, and reached to touch Maki's knee. Maki jumped, Nico smiled apologetically.

"Nico didn't mean to crash the comfy mood."

"'S okay. I was just startled."

"Hey, where's your camera?"

"I've got my phone."

"No pizza pics for TWIG?"

Maki raised an eyebrow, "Why this sudden interest in my photography."

"Nico checks out your snaps when rehearsal is slow." And all last night, Nico didn't add.

"Oh."

"You don't talk much."

"I do."

Nico held out a hand, "Nico hasn't seen you all week and you're not a video call person."

"I text." Maki pulled back into the corner of the sectional, sulking. This wasn't going well.

"Nico loved the Goncharov photos. They were so full of details."

"And Nico…" Maki grumped.

Nico did not respond.

"And now the frames seem empty."

Frances Forever's "Space Girl" started playing, Maki grabbed the remote, silencing the sound system, tossing it further down the sofa, stretching out to hang her head off the end of the chaise leg, bopping a beat, ignoring everything else.

After five minutes of that, Nico bounced up, "I'm going to put away the pizza. And find some of those donuts."

Maki grunted.

Hand washing dishes, drying them, doing quick choreography around a kitchen bigger than her apartment, Nico wondered if she should just drag Maki grocery shopping sometime as a kind of a life education event. But with a personal chef and a piano, Nico doubted Maki would be moving out on her own anytime soon. Different lives. Although Maki didn't seem happy with hers right now. It had been completely different during the Goncharov shoot, Maki lively and mischievous, always ready to talk, always there to run for whatever was needed, happy just being there. But now the dial had shifted to moody and reticent. And while Nico guessed that wasn't Maki's default, they hadn't know each other for long enough to be sure.

"I added some songs, Jane Monheit, Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderly. And this amazing Halestorm ballad." Maki leaned in the kitchen doorframe.

"Nico looks forward to listening."

"You're lucky. Your classes are doing things. I only get that in music classes."

"Transfer to the musical theatre department. Rehearsal pianists are gods."

Maki laughed, a low rumble, "You just drive right over obstacles, don't you."

"There's a lot I want to do, Maki, so many goals I intend to accomplish. I can't afford not to push with everything I have."

"Then why are you here now?"

Nico fidgeted with the dish towel, before pulling Maki to sit next to her in the nook, "Pretty early, Nico made some mistakes and learned how hard it is to succeed alone. And how much it hurts to lose people." Big inhale, Maki watching closely, "So while Nico doesn't click with many people, when Nico finds someone…"

Nico had her fingers threaded through Maki's and squeezed, "Nico doesn't want to let go."

Maki was staring at their hands, her voice a moving monotone as if Nico had forced an explanation from her. "I'm just studying, memorizing, taking tests, all for premed stuff. It's not even like when I was a lifeguard and could actually do something useful, this is just jamming information in my head. And I'm good at it. But..I'm starting to wonder why anymore."

Maki was holding Nico's hand so tight, Nico's fingers were about to go numb from pressure. Nico put her other hand on top of Maki's, hoping to guide to more relaxed grasp as Maki continued.

"Those photos, there's something just out of frame, I focused on, but just one edge of the frame. Kinda lonely. Left out."

"Nico noticed."

"I guess I missed hanging out with everybody, you're all so busy with rehearsals and projects."

"You can hang out anytime. Nico wouldn't mind."

"But you're actually getting credit for your time and I'd just be…wasting mine."

"Art is never a waste, Maki. Those snaps you took on the Goncharov set were offbeat…and intriguing. You caught these odd moments of truth, whether Nico truth or Eli truth or Katya truth. You had that same individualism with the scoring. Your command of music, photography, that's so impressive."

"I've worked on it. I like experimenting, building a theme, discovering new things." Maki's eyes, shadowed, pulled Nico in, "It's tiring when I'm working through an idea, but I'm not exhausted. And then to get up and go sit in class..."

"That's a lot."

"Yeah."

"Have you talked to your parents?"

"No. They and the whole hospital are waiting for me to be a prodigy."

Maki released Nico's hand. "I need to cool off."

Two right turns and they were in the backyard, Maki staring up at the stars.

"I'm afraid I'll get trapped inside the hospital and never see this again, especially after the Covid shutdowns." She waved an arm above her, where the stars, somehow managed distant and beckoning. "Every class is more time in a book, more time in a room, more time…" A sigh, "in my head."

"Find places without walls."

Maki sounded sniffly, "Fighting diseases, saving people is more important every day."

"Saving people has always been important. And there have always been more ways to do that than putting on a stethoscope. Music got Nico through some of her darkest times."

Nico could tell Maki's attention was on her, not the stars.

"When my dad died, and my first music group broke up, there was a songwriter who…" now Nico was sniffling, "Nico just knew she'd lost people too. And she was always so nice to her fans, always there to tell us to keep going, even on the really tough days. She shared her strength. That's what Nico wants to do, share strengths, help people smile."

Maki leaned into Nico, "That's pretty cool, Nico. You've got it all figured out."

"I know what matters to me." Nico bumped Maki back, "You just have to figure out what matters most to you. It's like those snaps of yours, there's something right outside the frame and you know it's important but you don't know where to put the focal point yet."

"Yeah." Maki had climbed onto a tire swing, letting it swing gently. Nico was hopping up and down, to keep off shivers.

"If Nico makes you hot chocolate to dip donuts in, can we go back inside?"

"Sure. I'll be right there."

Then there was a soft, shy question.

"What do I do until I figure out what I need to do?"

"Take Nico's new headshots." Nico pushed the swing with a giggle and ran for the house. Always go for the win win.

A/N:

Happy birthday, Nishikino Maki, may your adventures continue. And thanks Love Live.

I'm still working on my multi-chapter fics. I hope this finds you well.