Hanayo vibrated, seeming on the verge of tears, clutching Rin's arm. Uncertain what to do next, Nozomi turned to Nico, who was staring after Maki, frowning. But not for long. A quick shake, a brushing of snowflakes off her coat, patting her torse for warmth and Nico was back on.

"So, is she coming back?"

Ruby eyes demanded an answer from…the buzzy ginger, who seemed to translate for the irritable redheaded heiress.

"We came in separate cars…"

"Rin, Hanayo!" A confident, booming voice caught everyone's attention, "Is everything all right? I saw Maki driving off."

"ELI!" Hanayo squeaked, relieved.

A tall ponytailed blonde, dressed too sparsely for the temperature, a simple puffy vest and knitted scarf over her jeans and turtleneck, strode rapidly up to the group, "I was picking up drinks when I saw all your cars." She turned to Nozomi, grinning broadly, "Hi, I'm Eli Ayase, friend of Maki, and about to make your acquaintance, if you were on your way to the tree trimming party."

"I was." Nozomi's eyes flickered over Eli's outfit, "Nozomi Tojo, nice to meet you."

Nico shoved Nozomi aside, "Nico Yazawa."

"Oh, Nico Ni!" Eli giggled, "No wonder Maki's acting like a nervous filly. Her parents surprised her. She doesn't like surprises."
Nico stomped. "Nico is a good thing."

"Nico is the best." Hanayo agreed.

"And always modest." Nozomi drawled.

"Nico is cold now. Let's move this party to the actual party. There is still an actual party, right?"

Rin had her phone out and was texting, "Yeah. Maki just went ahead to make sure Umi had everything set up properly."

"Oh Rin." Hanayo blurted.

Eli laughed.

"What's all that mean?" Nico grumbled.

Eli smiled, "You'll get it when you meet Umi."

"I'd like to get to know you better." Nozomi slid her arm through Eli's, then tossed jingling keys at Nico with her free hand, "You can take the car, Nico."

"You can bite my…"

"Fans." Nozomi snapped.

Nico broke into her standard dance. "Nico Nico Ni."

Hanayo had her hand over her mouth, eyes bright with amusement.

"LET'S PARTY!" And Rin took off for the cars at a run.

/

"Rin won't let me cancel the party." Maki remembered she was carrying Christmas ornaments and restrained her impulse to throw them on the floor. She threw her phone into the couch instead.

Honoka Kosaka had filled a table full of seasonally decorated pastries. "Why would you cancel? You love decorating trees. Me and Kotori brought the best desserts. And you've been a big Nico Ni fan forever. Hanayo must be so happy. And screaming."
"She is."

"So what's wrong?"

"It's one thing to be a fan, and have her albums, or go to a concert and it's another thing to…" Maki stopped herself before she verbalized any of the possibilities that had lined themselves up in her head, anything like in my house, one floor under my bedroom, where she's going to be so close, and cute, and leaning in, and lips covered in chocolate, and maybe talking to me, piercing through pretense with those eyes and Rin's probably going to say something and…

"Maki." Umi's voice was cool and calming, Umi's golden eyes full of concern as she untangled lights in front of a fifteen foot tall tree. "Breathe."

"And tell me what she was wearing." Kotori tilted her head, much like an inquisitive bird, a gesture familiar to everyone in the room. Kotori planned to pick up as many fashion notes and hints from Nico as she could. Monopolize the conversation. Maybe, Maki thought, that was something she should encourage.

"I couldn't see. Big, puffy coat. looked very recently off the runway."

Kotori shook her head, "No, Maki, that's not what's hot anymore. Vintage is. Repurposed, Recycled. Slow fashion."

"I know." Maki snapped. She had Diamond Princess fans bring t-shirts they already owned that the tour logo could be screen printed on.

Honoka and Umi exchanged a glance, Umi putting the lights down and approaching Kotori, "Let's sort the ornaments. I am certain everyone will appreciate it if we present them with a theme."

"Hey, Maki," Honoka grabbed Maki's arm, dragging her toward the kitchen, "We'd better get some warm drinks ready if Rin and Hanayo are bringing people off the lake."

"You know where everything is."

Honoka pouted, "Don't make me work all lonely in the kitchen, Maki. That's cruel. It's a party."

Kotori giggled.

"Fine, I'll help. Umi?"

"Yes?"

"Can you get the fire started?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." Maki removed Honoka's arm, "We're making hot cider first though."

"But Maki, everyone I know wants hot chocolate."

"I don't…"

"And it's my party." Her three friends chanted in unison as group laughter dispelled Maki's nervous mood.

/

Eli's car was a sleek silver electric vehicle, glass roof catching the last of the light. Nozomi didn't recognize the brand.

"Glad to see it's not a Tesla."

Eli snorted, "No money to Nazis or transphobes. One of the many things my friend group agrees on."

"And no fossil fuels."

Eli leaned over to open the door for Nozomi, "And just like that, you're in."

"The car or the friend group?"

"Both." Eli grinned.

It took Eli no time to jog around the front of the car and slide into the driver's seat, her moves quick and confident.

"Haven't seen this brand."

"Lucid. Just started up recently. Maki prefers old style luxury but I like supporting new endeavours." Eli tapped the ignition, "Plus, I don't have Porsche money. Friend of mine from school opened a Lucid dealership and I did some modelling work for a discount on last year's floor model." Eli pulled out of the parking spot. "Got to spend a week at a professional test track. Had a great time."

"Aiming for the F 1 circuit?"

Eli laughed. "Oh no. Just some fantasy fun. I'm actually starting law school."

"Fantasies can be a lot of fun." Nozomi leaned back, eyes closed, "Right now, I'm picturing you in one of those form fitting racing suits."

"Nah. I prefer a tutu."

Nozomi opened her eyes. "To drive in? Very high femme. Impressive. But would it be safe?"

Eli giggled. "Probably not. But, in my fantasies, I'm centerstage at the American Ballet Theatre."

"Why them?"

"Instead of something more modern?" Eli glanced briefly to Nozomi, encouraged by the curiosity she read in her expression. "My grandmother was a ballerina in Russia so I was raised with very traditional dance training. I love modern dance. I learn so much from Bill T. Jones's works and I always catch the Alvin Ailey company whenever they tour, but when I dance, for me, it's to connect with my family and culture. And the history of ballet. So a more traditional company would be a dream."

"That sounds like such a solid foundation for your art."

"I'm an incredibly over educated audience member."

Nozomi didn't like how self cutting that sounded. "I'd love to see you perform."

"I don't anymore. I'll leave stretching the art of dance into its future form to more adventurous souls than me."

"I'm sure with that much love anything you performed would be beautiful."

"I'm out of form. Too many failed auditions. Staying performance ready took too much time. So dance is my part time workout buddy now."

"And law?"

"Artists need lawyers. I can stay connected to that creative world and not fail to utilize my skills to their full potential."

Eli sounded like a brochure. But before Nozomi could think about that for too long, Eli changed the subject.

"How about you? What's your fantasy?"

"Can I trust you?"

Eli seemed surprised at the question.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Do I have to pay you to get that famed lawyer-client confidentiality?"

"I'm not even an intern yet." Eli reached out a hand, "You can trust me though."

"It's just you can't tell Nico-chi."

"Nico-chi?"

"Nico. Nico Ni. Just a nickname. We've known each other since high school."

"Ah, you friendship claused your way to a job."

"Maybe." Nozomi stared out the window, remembering a desperate Nico, needing to juggle open mic afternoons, live streams, and child care for her younger siblings.

"So this super secret fantasy is?"

"Sometimes, I picture a tea shop or a bookstore, some cozy spot, with regulars, where I could spread my Tarot cards out and just be comfy, maybe with someone to share dinner with, cuddle upstairs on the couch, somewhere that's a home."

"Sounds nice. I guess touring's not your dream."
"No."

"That must be tough."

Nozomi shrugged, "I love Nico. It's never boring. I keep her out of trouble; she keeps me in food. Where she goes, I go."

"Oh."

Nozomi laughed, "No, not like that. Nico and her siblings are like my family. Actually, they are my family. My parents were…never around. They move a lot for work."

"Oh."

Eli made a right turn, then lowered the window to punch in a security code at a large gate. "Welcome to the Nishikino Lakefront Manor."

Nozomi took in the curving drive, the columned mansion, the manicured acres, the outbuildings. "Maki really is an heiress."

"Yes. You wouldn't know it if you didn't recognize designers without labels though."

"She doesn't flaunt it?"

"Doesn't really notice it, Maki's just…she's not modest…naive, I guess, is the best word…she never really understood how different it is for the rest of us."

"Raised in a bubble."

"I guess." Eli parked. "But if you can ride out the grumpy, she's a good friend."

Nozomi didn't really have a Maki opinion yet. So far there was supermodel hot, loaded, easily distracted, knew a crazy lot about electrical cords and musical instruments, had cute, weird friends, and was prone to stare at Nico. When she could be staring at someone like Eli, all curves and a friendly glow.

"C'mon, I'll reintroduce you. Maki's always better at home." Eli held the door open, her smile a warm welcome on a winter night.

A/N: Stay safe