A MUSEBOX WOW

When Nico goes on stage to perform, she has two goals in mind: to shine as bright as she can, and to bring the biggest smiles to people's faces. It's been that way since she was a kid, when her only stage was the living room floor and the audience consisted of no one but her mother, and it hasn't changed one bit.

Until she met Akiha, anyway.

To Nico, the mere fact anyone could look down on idols is unthinkable -- and worse yet, even as she got to know Akiha, that opinion of hers has barely budged. If she could, at least, just write her off as some ignorant moron spewing pointless nonsense, that would've been one thing. But something about that girl caught her interest, and she found herself running into her again and again, until they've come to form an off sort of friendship. Until Nico's come to respect-- even like her.

Akiha's not stupid. She's capable, mature, and effortlessly elegant, a lot of things Nico would like for herself. Not that she'd admit it, because god knows she's bigheaded enough as it is -- but she can't just write Akiha off. She can't ignore it. The thought is a tireless drill at the back of her head, even when they're talking about anything but.

To have her insistently cling on to that baseless disapproval feels, by this point, like a personal insult.

So today, Nico's decided to prove herself. Her school's holding a fair, open to all, and u's will be performing. It took every form of badgering Nico has in her arsenal, from aggressive demands to guilt trips to puppydog eyes, but she successfully convinced Akiha to come. This time, beyond a doubt, she'll make her understand.

The school auditorium might not hold the flare of some of their previous venues in Akiba, but it does offer one significant privilege: peace of mind. They don't have to go up against other groups, they don't have to worry about the weather, and they've been allotted an entire half-hour, making this their longest concert to date. This gives them the chance to perform in their units of three on top of their usual group songs, and Nico's even the center in one.

And she's going to show Akiha exactly what she's worth.

"Nicocchi, you're spacing out." Backstage, Nozomi flicks her forehead, causing her shoulders to twitch. "Don't tell me Super Idol Nico-chan's getting nervous now, of all times?"

"Don't be stupid," she snipes back, flipping a twintail before reaching for her water bottle and gulping down a mouthful. It's cool, and helps sharpen her focus. She grins up at Nozomi. "What's a show like this compared to Love Live?"

"Heh, that's what I like to hear!"

--

Nico doesn't let herself fixate on Akiha. Her eyes skim the crowd for her between songs, and once she's found her, she shoots her the occasional glance from the corner of her eye. But she doesn't let it serve as a distraction, and she definitely doesn't let it hinder her from putting on the best show she can. She sings and dances her heart out -- all nine of them do, just like always -- and the audience cheers and yells and squeals, calling out their names.

It's only after the last song is over and the crowd's begun to disperse that she marches over to Akiha, grabbing hold of her wrist and tugging her towards the backstage with only "come with" to serve as greeting.

Nico loves a lot of things about Makoto. It took her a bit, admittedly, to see past her exterior -- Nico has a very set definition of cute, and bulky girls two heads taller than her who give off a distinct delinquent vibe don't tend to fall under it. But upon getting to know her better, it wasn't long before she had reluctantly admitted to herself her definition could use some expanding.

Makoto turned out to be unexpectedly girly -- from her keen eye for fashion to the elaborate lunch boxes that could even give Nico's a run for their money. She was warm and friendly without it ever coming off as forced, and was always properly appreciative of Nico's cute charm, a crucial trait many of her friends tragically lack. As intimidating she had appeared at first, she was remarkably easy to get along with. So easy, in fact, that Nico was barely surprised to realize her feelings had shifted into something else over time.

And Makoto returned them. Well, of course she would. No one in their right mind could possibly turn down a girl as cherubically adorable, talented and sweet -- or so she says aloud, but in truth, Nico feels incredibly fortunate. Too fortunate, even. Makoto's such a thoughtful and caring girlfriend that it's almost a little upsetting. She always figured she'd be the one to make her partner swoon and think, 'oh, she'd make perfect wife material'. How in the world did she end up on the other end of it?!

It's all right, though. It makes her want to try even harder. And Makoto always seems so grateful when she does, it's enough to stomp down any budding signs of insecurity.

They bicker and quarrel, and maybe Nico can tease her a bit too much at time. The occasional stranger may give them a weird look. But all in all, as far as Nico's dream highschool romance is concerned? This hits surprisingly close to the mark.

It's just... well. This one small issue. That she's going to take care of tonight, if she has it her way.

It's Saturday, which means Mom's at home and Nico doesn't have to watch her siblings, and so she's invited herself to Makoto's for the night. They make dinner together, cry in front of a sappy rom-com (this stuff gets her every time), and when Nico says that they should go to bed, her coy tone and the less-than-subtle batting of her eyelashes leave little room for interpretation. Not twenty minutes later and she's straddling Makoto's lap atop the mattress, stripped down to her bra and skirt, with Makoto's ever-gentle hands at her waist.

"Mako-chan," she coos, the uncharacteristic use of her nickname probably enough to raise a few flags already. Nico's bottom lip sticks out slightly, hands stroking idle circles over her collarbone and shoulders. "You know, lately, Nico's been thinking..."

She trails off, tilting her head down and to the side so that her bangs fall over her eyes. A maidenly blush rushes to her cheeks on perfect cue -- a skill that's taken months of work to master, by the way. "Oh no, it's too embarrassing to say...!"

Though Nico doesn't like admitting it aloud -- she'd rather make claims of a slew of nameless, mysterious exes who had dated her in some undisclosed point in the past -- Akiha is her first. First everything, really. First hand-hold, first kiss, first hands under shirt, first -- everything. Every step they take into their relationship is brand new to her. And along the way, Nico's learned a lot if things about herself she doesn't think she would've found out otherwise.

Like just how much she likes having control over Akiha.

It kind of crept up on her; Akiha is so stoic and stuffy so much of the time, it was only natural for Nico to try and poke holes in her composure. It was like a game, and the prize was the cute flustered faces Akiha would make.

But over time, bit by bit, she came to realize the delight she takes in it extends much further and deeper than simple lighthearted teasing. She wanted more. To strip Akiha of her armor completely, and take over her. Ever since the thought occurred to her, she couldn't get it off her mind.

It's probably a little weird.

Still, bringing it up, Nico tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, like it's no big deal at all, like she's not scared of being pegged as some creepy pervert. By some manner of miracle, it worked, and Akiha agreed to try it once.

"Okay, cool," Nico had said, swallowing subtly to try and force her heart back down her throat.

That was last week. They said they'll do it next time they're alone. And they are alone, right now, in Akiha's bedroom that Nico always secretly found far bigger than should ever be necessary. Yet somehow it feels cramped now, like there's not enough air to breathe. They're both thinking about it, she's sure -- at the very least, she knows she's thinking about it. Yet they've barely even kissed today, only awkwardly exchanged various happenings from the past week, the distance between them as stiff as an actual, tangible wall.

Asking about it was one thing, but how the heck does she go about initiating something like this?!

The room falls into a tense silence, and Nico decides this is her chance. She clears her throat. "So, uh... do you want to do it? Like we talked about?" Her eyes can't stay on Akiha beyond the first three words, and her face grows a very telling, splotchy pink. Uuugh, this is off to a terrible start already...