"Ooh, Nico, can we take a snap here? It'll be great for promotion for the concert" Hanayo held up her phone, maneuvering so the lake view gazebo view was the backdrop. The sun settled scenically behind some fluffy clouds as the wind reddened Nico's cheeks. Twinkling lights twined through pine garland added just the right touch of a classy Christmas aesthetic.

"Nico Ni is in. Always a smile for the fans." Nico swooped in, squeezed next to Hanayo, raised both hands to her temples, and cheerily chanted, "Nico Nico Ni!" Hanayo took the snap.

Nico had a sudden inspiration. "Hey, Nozy, let's do a live!"

Nozomi whipped her phone out, quick as if she'd shared Nico's thought. "We're streaming."

Nico's smile glittered like ice in sunlight on snow. "Hey, NicoFans, Nico Ni here at Otonokizaka Falls, getting ready for a very exciting holiday, charity concert. Say hi to the fans, Hanayo!"

"Hi!" Hanayo squeaked, waving excitedly.

"This cutie is one of Nico's original fans so Nico will be making this an extra special concert, with lots of memories for all Nico's best and first fans. Keep watching Nico's TWIG channel for updates. And don't forget to check out Nico Ni's special holiday merch selection. Wrap up in a Cutie Cross Stitch Cardigan and stay cozy. And remember Nico Ni loves you."

And Nozomi's phone was back in her coat pocket.

"About 350 people hopped on."

Nico frowned. Not breaking a thousand was a fail.

"Remind Nico to film a longer one on the car ride home."

"You won't forget."

"No, Nico won't forget."

Hanayo was giving the casual business chatter between Nico and Nozomi the attention a judge at a Wimbledon final reserved.

"So Hanayo…"

Nico said her name and Hanayo squeaked and jumped.

Spending time near Nico just stirred increasingly vivid memories of their night together, curves and muscles Maki could remember desperately pushing against, a solid launch point as fireworks snapped everywhere lips and fingers claimed.

Sometimes, once or twice, Maki thought maybe Nico had glanced her way, a…look at the back of her eyes, like some memory might be breaking through…maybe perfume, an olfactory nudge, oh gods, was Maki wearing the same perfume? Had any non sweaty flavor lingered after the exertion of a concert. Or was it how Maki moved? Were Nico's eyes tracking her walk?

Maki shook herself out of a dooming slide into panic. Nico had no idea. Diamond Princess was not Maki Nishikino in any of the ways people could know Maki. Nico didn't even have a starting piece of the puzzle. However, if Maki kept getting distracted by the cutting edge of Nico's jaw contrasting with the plushy plump of her perfect lips, Nico would definitely notice Maki walking into a gazebo column.

"Maki." Rin hissed.

"What?"

"You're staring worse than Kayo-chin."

Oh hell. Maki pivoted immediately, searching desperately for something to seem competent and sound engineer-y with.

"So do you get a big crowd out here?" Nozomi asked, as she approached the Rin and Maki cluster at the electrical outlets. Hanayo was quizzing Nico about something, shoulder to shoulder, both staring at Hanayo's phone. Rin would have to go get her wife soon, Maki decided, nudging Rin to look over in that direction.

"Be right back." Rin bounced off. "Maki knows all about the ticket stuff."

"So?" Nozomi raised a skeptical eyebrow, so far not impressed by anything other than the heiress's looks. Which decreased Nozomi's tolerance for Maki's tendency to stare open mouthed at Nico.

Maki reviewed the last several minutes in her mind, "Oh, ticket sales and crowd size." Maki glanced toward Nico and the lake. "It really depends on the weather. Most of the money we raise is from advertisers and donations, anyway."

"Do you get snow much?"

Maki shrugged. "Does anyone this early anymore?"

"November was colder this year."

"True. Don't know that it'll do anything to change the hottest year on record." Maki forced herself to meet Nozomi's impatient gaze. "Once I convince my parents to let me choose the charities, we'll be doing a lot more climate consciousness raising. Supporting indigenous voices and stewardship."

"Rather than your parent's foundation?"

Maki nodded, keying in a code to open a storage locker. "Everything stocked and neatly coiled. We should have anything Nico needs for the concert. I'll email you an inventory and if there's any other instruments, equipment, or cabling you need, just let me know."

An indignant cry interrupted any further practicalities.

"It's SNOWING! Nico does not do snow!"

Both Maki and Nozomi turned Nico-ward. The Idol was holding up a mittened hand as a snowflake drifted over her palm

"The local expert here was just saying there's never snow this early anymore." Nozomi announced.

"Looks like snow to Nico." Nico stuck out her tongue, wiggling it and catching a flake. "Tastes like snow."

Watching Nico's antics, Maki went red, then spun in the opposite direction, fast walking toward where the cars were parked.

Nico hustled next to Nozomi, "What's with the runaway?"

"We were talking about charities and the hottest year on record and you said 'snow' and" Nozomi swipe clapped her hands, "vroom, away the hot redhead goes."

Rin had settled in between Nico and Nozomi, "Maki just gets shy sometimes."

Hanayo nodded, eyes serious, "She takes hosting very seriously. Maybe she was afraid Nico was upset about the snow."

"Nico won't melt."

Nozomi was used to reading groups and situations easily but this particular afternoon was making no sense. Maki was both too calm and too jittery, Hanayo was a hyper intense version of the typical Nico fan, and Rin had the aura of someone trying to predict when popcorn was going to start popping so she could slam the pot lid on. Nozomi didn't know what to think.

"Probably not a sexy serial killer cult." She muttered.

Nico stopped and stared, "What the hell did you say?"

"Nothing." Nozomi pulled Nico into a hug, "We're not stranded. And we've got each other."

"This isn't a desert island." Nico shook Nozomi off.

"Or a three hour tour." Rin giggled. Nozomi decided she liked the tiny, buzzing ginger.

"What if it were a movie?" Nozomi wondered.

"Then me and Kayo-chin would take you to the party and you'd have so much fun everyone would get a little tipsy and get along and sing karaoke and Maki's secret w…"

"RIN!" Hanayo screamed.

"Oops." Rin slapped a hand over her mouth.

Eyes narrowed, arms crossed, Nico waited for someone to speak. Nozomi couldn't decide who to watch.

Rin rambled, hands up and open. "No secret. Nothing bad anyway. Nothing creepy. Maki just doesn't tell her parents stuff."

"About investments." Hanayo added.

Maki needed better liars for friends, Nozomi realized, extremely curious about what they weren't saying.

A/N: I've been sick so I'm about a month behind. But we're doing this, darn it.