Meetings. Even Godzilla movies had meetings. Now, Shin Godzilla had made them fascinating. But still no one's favorite part was ever the meetings. So the room suddenly restless, filled with whispers, legs moving, quick kisses, and the buzz of Nico's phone.

Unknown number. Weird. But Nico had been giving her number out recently. Did someone finally have information?

UN: Hi!

Another text.

UN: I'm having trouble writing a song.

Nico sat up, tensed, muttering. Nozomi glanced her way.

"Nico-chi?"

Nico waved her hand, directing Nozomi back to the movie.

Could this be?

N: What's the song about?

UN: Wanting something that's too far away.

N: SomeTHING or someONE?

Long pause. Fighting noises. Nico looked back at the movie. Humans, not Godzilla.

UN: I'm only really good with touch range.

UN: But you figured that out super fast (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Diamond Princess confirmed. And flirty. Godzilla could have stomped through the mansion and Nico wouldn't have noticed. She did shimmy back into the corner of the couch, slumping so as not to redraw Nozomi's attention. Eli was pointing to something on the screen, causing Nozomi to turn her head away. Nico typed a response.

N: Nico missed you, pretty girl. Text Nico sooner.

UN: (^^;)

N: Nico wanted to…

What did Nico want? What would be the best thing for Nico to say she wanted. Texting was fine. For a start. A big improvement from ghosting Nico. But as Diamond Princess had sent, touch would be better. So much better. Memories surged and Nico was suddenly wanting her fingers pressing urgent messages into something softer than a glass screen.

N: Hey Princess, can Nico take you out to dinner? Brunch, lunch or breakfast?

DP: Midnight snack?

N: You were tasty (๑ ∂๑)

Maki dropped her hand to the bed, letting the phone bounce. A case much blingier than her personal Razr absorbed the hit. How could Nico say such things easily? And how was Maki supposed to reply? Texting had been a bad idea. Why had she ducked up here, pulled out her phone, and imagined anything that happened after would be smooth. But Nico had seemed so easy to spend casual time with while they were all waiting for pizza, talking about movie music, monster versus horror movies, favorite franchises, family Christmas presents, and movie nights. A family movie night with Nico…Maki flipped, screaming into her pillow. She couldn't handle a sexy text, how could she handle a date? And you needed dates before anything close to a family movie night. Nico had always talked about her siblings, even had the older one help out during a few lives. What was the Yazawa home life like? Loud? Musical? Silly?

Maki reached for her phone. One more text. Then she had to go back downstairs before anyone noticed she'd drifted away somewhere.

DP: ᕕ(╯°□°)ᕗ

Oh yeah, that would help. Maki kicked her feet together, waiting for a response.

N: :: ˓(ᑊᘩᑊ⁎) ::

DP: ('-'*)

N: (ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

N: Don't worry. Nico will still be here when you're ready for a date. Nico really really missed you. Nico's best night ever; no one's as pretty as you.

Nico was a liar, Maki thought, but charming.

N:Thanks for texting ⊂（ ⌂ ）⊃ Nico was worried you didn't want to see Nico again.

Maki felt tension unwrap from her lungs, loosen its lockdown on her chest. Nico was waiting. Nico had been worried. Nico didn't sound mad.

DP: (^^;)b

N: (ɔˆ ³(ˆ⌣ˆc)

N: Watching Godzilla Minus One, gotta start paying attention again so I can cheer for the big guy. Even though (spoiler), it doesn't end well. But like Nico, Godzilla always bounces back.

DP: ƪ(`▿▿▿▿´ƪ)

N: ✧(σ๑˃̶̀ꇴ˂̶́)σ Nico wouldn't mind Godzilla's career.

N: You better take care of yourself, Ms. Diamond Princess. No taking the entire world on /(ò.ó)┛彡┻━┻

N: And Nico is sure you'll figure out that song.

Maki stared at the wall, blushing. Nico paid attention. So many compliments. And that Nico Ni 100%, no speed limit, all in magnetism. Song or text or touch, Maki couldn't shake thoughts of Nico away.

Did she have to?

###

End credits rolling, Umi turned up the lights.

"What'd you think, what'd you think." Rin bounce crawled down the sectional toward where Nozomi was snuggling near Eli.

Nozomi blinked a little sleepily, "Cozy."

"Cozy?!"

Nozomi leaned forward and patted Rin on the head, "It was a very enjoyable movie watching experience. Thank you, new friend."

Nico snorted.

Purring, Rin rubbed against Nozomi like a cat; Hanayo giggled.

"Now we do karaoke!" Honoka announced.

Nico stood up, stretching. "Nico has an early appointment tomorrow. Time to head back home."

Maki had ended up in an armchair in the far corner, opposite the tree. "You and Nozomi are welcome to stay. We have a wing of spare rooms."

Eli cleared her throat, then glanced to Nozomi, who leaned into her. "Actually, Nozomi agreed to go have a late dinner with me."

"Ooh, sounds like fun. Let's all go." Honoka paused from the karaoke set up.

"No." Umi left no margin for negotiations.

"How nice for Nozomi." After all the years they'd known each other, Nico should have expected that, "Maybe we can just have a quick chat before you ditch Nico."

"Oh, Nico-chi, don't be dull. Everyone's so…" Nozomi winked, "friendly. Just stay. I bet the beds are even comfier than this couch."

Maki had started back to the group, but banged into a library table, sending snow globes, candles, and candy to the floor.

"Oh, Nico will help." Nico turned the corner of the sofa, the redhead kneeling in front of her, frantically gathering scattered chocolates.

"I'm fine."

"Did anything break, Maki?" Hanayo squeaked, leaning over the couch.

"No. I said it's all fine."

"Electric candles were the smart choice." Umi had helped Kotori to her feet. "Kotori and I will clean up the pizza while Rin and Honoka finish the karoake set up. Does anyone want coffee or tea?"

"Nico will take some to go, especially if you've got something sweet and flavored."

"I can make you a latte. Maki has the best espresso machine." Kotori smiled, "What kind of syrups do you like?"

"Strawberry. Nico loves strawberry. And minimum double espresso. I have to stay awake. And a travel mug Nico could borrow."

"Take anything you like." Candy returned to its cut crystal bowl, Maki shifted a snowglobe to center it on a doily.

Amused, Nico grabbed some of the rescued candy. Maki's tone was so matter of fact and kind while her attention stayed totally focused on holiday decoration repositioning. Genuine generosity. Nico might have been needing a car and she bet Maki would have replied the same. She wondered what the parental Nishikinos were like. A question for her manager when Nozomi wasn't making bedroom eyes at a blonde.

"Nozomi." Nico stomped down the hall, Nozomi reluctantly detaching from Eli to follow.

"C'mon, Nico, just stay. I'll cancel your meeting. Eli's adorable and did you see those…" Nozomi started to gesture. Nico shoved her into the nearest room and slammed the door behind them.

"Don't get drool on Nico's sweater. You can postpone that meeting since I doubt you'll get back to Chicago in time tomorrow.

Nozomi fluttered her eyelashes, punctuating her tease with a devilish grin Nico had seen too often. "Wouldn't you cancel if your hotter than Nico hottie wanted to buy you dinner?"

"Yes. And Nico buys dinner." Nico impulsively hugged Nozomi.

Surprised at Nico's mood, Nozomi pushed back. "Did something happen?"

"Nico is not being ghosted anymore."

There it was, the rarest of Nico's smiles. An excited, energized Nico Yazawa celebrating a success while not under the scrutiny of any member of the public.

"The hottie called?"

"Texted."

"Is that why you're hurrying back? You have a date? I'm happy for you, Nico-chi."

"No, no date for Nico. Not yet. But Nico wants to get some more texting time in."

"Ooh, sexy texting…" Nozomi wiggled seductively.

Nico closed her eyes, exasperated.

"Not everything is sexy."

"Every…" A smirk, "thing I do is. I recommend it."

Nico knew better than to reply to that.

"Anyway, Nozy, reschedule the meeting, and call Nico if Blondie turns out to be a baddie…"

"That would be exciting. But I'm not sharing her."

"No one asked."

"Show and tell can be…"

"Nico is leaving." And Nico was out the door and down the hall, in search of her coat and bag. Almost immediately she ran into Maki, who seemed surprised to be presented with actual Nico, when with a travel mug in hand, she was presumably searching for Nico.

"Hi!"

"Espresso. With strawberry. And Kotori might have made it mocha."

"Nico approves." The smell had some additional hints of seasonal sweets.

"Kotori works as a barista so it's professional quality."

"You have interesting friends."

Maki kicked the side of her foot. "If you need anything else for the concert, email me." A long pause, while Maki flushed, "Or text me." Another pause, then a frown, "Oh, let me give you my number."

Nico handed Maki her phone. "Put your contact name in as PizzaZilla."

Maki snorted and typed quickly, then handed the phone back to Nico.

A new contact. Maki Nishikino, Pizza Queen. Pizza Queen. Nico had entered her meet the royals phase.

Nico could hear Ava Max's voice in her head.

"Nico's on a royalty high."

"huh?"

Nico sang, "If all of the kings had their queens on the throne
We would pop champagne and raise a toast."

Maki grinned. "Champagne yes, kings no."

"Definitely no kings but non alcoholic sparkles for Nico. No time for nonsense."

Maki wondered what Nico would stop and make time for as she watched the Idol zoom into a room at top speed, grab her coat, and head for the front door. Was there really a chance for dinner? Or dating? Or…

"Let me walk you to your car."

"You have guests. Nico is fine."

Maki shrugged and continued heading Nico-ward.

"It's easier for me when Rin and Honoka wear themselves out some."

"Introvert."

Maki nodded.

They were outside. Nico turned and looked over the house again, garlands of green pine and golden lights. "Your family takes Christmas seriously."

Amethyst eyes stared into Nico's, with the seriousness of the surgeon Maki was on track to becoming, "Santa appreciates the welcome."

Maki certainly took the holiday seriously.

"Do you want Nico to sing all Christmas themed songs?"

Maki's smile had a softness Nico found attractive, "I'm sure you'd never disappoint a concert audience."

Nico couldn't help it. She bounced into her signature gesture, "Nico Nico Ni. Nico will put on the best, brightest Christmas lakeside concert ever. Chicago will dim in Nico's shadow."

Now the amethyst sparkled like the fizzing of expensive champagne, "I'll look forward to it. Drive carefully."

"Thanks for the stellar party, Pizza Queen." Hand sweeping out, Nico bowed with a fantastical, old world flourish, "Nico shall return anon to brighten your shores."

Maki giggled.

A/N: Hi! Theatre is hectic. Hope you are all staying safe and well.