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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.

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"... I've felt attracted to other women, yes," Akiha mumbles. "A few of my classmates. You remember Akira, the girl who introduced us? She's - very cute. Especially when she's surprised by something. She always looks so distressed."

Akiha's tastes are a little odd, she realizes.

"Do I need to keep going? I'm not sure how you prove something like that, and I'm not willing to share every one of my fantasies with you, Yazawa."

Nico's expression sours. She tries to play it off like it's in response to Akiha's snippiness rather than her giving out another girl's name without a second's hesitation.

"Geez, not like I'm willing to hear those, okay? I just wanted to know for sure. I can't give proper advice without understanding the situation, can I?"

Never mind that Akiha had only ever mentioned wanting to talk about it, nothing about asking for advice. Nico straightens her back, folds one leg over the other. "So you want to know how to hit on her, or something?"

"Hitting on Akira?" Akiha snorts at the thought - the way she brings her hand up to her mouth almost makes it seem like she's going to laugh, but she holds herself back.

"Hardly. The poor girl'd probably faint. Half the time she calls me 'mistress' or 'Lady Akiha,' like she's one of my maids - it's ridiculous," Akiha rambles on, mostly to distract herself from what she wants to say.

Nico, too. She's attracted to Nico, too.

"But I am still curious what sort of woman you're attracted to. Since I've revealed my interests, it's only fair."

"Some people are into that, you know," Nico jokes, though the humor doesn't quite show on her face.

Just like that, she's been cornered -- Akiha's right, it is only fair, and trying to laugh it off now would only earn Nico her scorn. She doesn't want this to be another fight. But what answer can she even give? Not the truth, obviously, but she doesn't want to lie either. She doesn't want to list which of her friends she thinks are pretty, blowing a casual attraction out of proportion; and she doesn't want to say nobody, become some secret stupid part of her still wants to believe that maybe Akiha could like her back.

She grumbles under her breath, fingers tweezing at the hem of her skirt. This is dumb.

"Let's see, I like..." A halfhearted attempt at sounding thoughtful, though Nico's expression remains flat. "... cute girls, I guess," she finishes lamely.

"Please tell me we didn't go through this entire convoluted back-and-forth for that," Akiha criticizes her incredulously. She isn't even crossing her arms - she's not even disapproving, she's just in disbelief.

"If that was the answer you were teasing me with earlier, I'll be the one crying. We had such a ridiculous argument over something so insignificant? I didn't know your feelings were that shallow."

Of course, she knows they aren't. She can guess that Nico is dodging the question. Which - makes her think that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason she's refusing to tell her.

It's a ridiculous notion. Akiha hasn't exactly made herself lovable. But...

"We could make a game of it. I name some trait or attribute, and you tell me if she matches the description."

Somehow, the lack of any real anger in Akiha's response only serves to fluster Nico more. "L-look, it's a complicated question, okay?!" she flares up in response, hands balling up in her lap. "In the first place, Nico's a delicate maiden, so maybe you shouldn't be acting so pushy!"

Nico's nostrils flare as she lets out a long and harsh hiss of air through her nose, and her shoulders droop as that little outburst dies down. The glance she shoots Akiha teeters dangerously close to apologetic, and she worries her lower lip in hesitation. If it's really something that concerns Akiha enough to pester her about, well... it's kind of a nice thought, isn't it? Maybe worth going along with, even.

"... do you really want to know that badly? Fine, let's do that."

"Please. If you were a delicate maiden, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Akiha huffs. If Nico were as delicate as she likes to act? They'd still be on their shopping date - and Nico probably would have never mentioned her sexuality. Being that open about it takes a mix of confidence and sheer stubbornness.

But speaking of open... of course, she'd like to ask 'is she rich and is her name Tohno Akiha,' because that's the question of the day, what Akiha is dying to know. A shame she's actually more delicate than she appears. When she thinks about just asking Nico that, she almost feels like freezing up.

Because it's a childish fantasy. A person she's never bothered trying to ingratiate herself to, falling in love with her? Unless Nico enjoys having her hobbies and passions criticized, it's impossible.

"... Is she in your group?" Akiha asks. Somehow this has gone from a vague, theoretical person to someone who actually exists. Not 'what kind of person would Nico fall in love with,' but 'who is Nico in love with?'

That shift doesn't evade Nico, and the corners of her mouth twitch as she swallows. What is this, twenty questions? That's way more getting put on the spot than she bargained for!

She could protest aloud, of course. Or argue that having a type doesn't mean she likes somebody right now, and that she was pretty sure this was supposed to be about the former rather than the latter. There's nothing stopping her from doing that, and yet, somehow, she can't summon the words. She can't bring herself to back out. Like they passed the point of no return sometime when she wasn't looking.

And, Nico realizes, she feels surprisingly okay with that.

"Nope."

"Surprising. I would have thought idols were your type," Akiha audibly smirks as she says that, mostly to cover her - relief. That's relief she's feeling.

The more questions Nico says 'no' to, the more broad Akiha has to get. The more broad Akiha has to get, the more likely Nico is to say 'yes'. And one she does, she can start... narrowing.

Is it a crush, or someone you actually know? Is she rich? Is she in this room? Silly things like that.

She feels like she's ten, again, whispering to Hisui and Kohaku beneath the blankets about some silly fantasy. Kohaku carrying the conversation, Hisui anxious but hanging on her sister's every word, and Akiha just as enamored with whatever story they're going along with.

Only now, it isn't - fake. At least not wholly. Akiha knows her feelings for Nico are real, and last she checked Nico actually existed.

"Does she go to your school?" Akiha asks, desperate to sound disinterested.

Subconsciously, Nico's lower lip twitches just a bit. This might be a risky one-- it'd be eliminating a whole lot of options, after all.

But she decided to bite the bullet, and she's not going back on it now.

"Nope."

Despite herself, Akiha feels her heart skipping a beat. Who does Nico even know that doesn't go to her school? It might be someone she's never met before, which would make eliminating them hard.

"Is she older or younger than you?" Akiha decides to ask. Of course, Akiha and Nico are the same age. That answer might make Akiha faint.

Nico's own heart beats a little faster, too. Part of it is nerves -- the fear of Akiha's inevitable realization -- while part is anticipation for the very same thing.

She swallows inaudibly, folds her arms over her chest. "Same age."

Akiha isn't stupid. The exact same age, doesn't go to her school, isn't in her group. Even Akira's younger than Nico. Unless Nico has a vibrant social life she isn't aware of, she's the only one who can fit the bill.

She shifts on the bed, a half-inch that feels like a hundred miles.

"... Yazawa, close your eyes."

Well. Nico's definitely feeling the metaphorical butterfly horde in her stomach. Her cheeks suddenly feel a good deal hotter, too. Is Akiha going to... she is, right? You don't tell people to close their eyes so you can slap them. And Akiha's been weird all day, and getting way too worked up over the matter of who Nico likes... so it has to be that. Definitely. Probably. Right?

There's only one way to know for sure, and that's doing as she's told.

"Wh-what's with that," Nico finds herself grumbling instead, leaning backward out of instinct.

Great.

It's good Nico has her eyes closed, because Akiha feels very frustrated with herself, in a way that makes her frown. She wishes she could have said 'I feel the same way about you.' Something romantic. Something to ease Nico into this. Because - she loves her. And when she loves somebody, Akiha finds herself wanting to make sure they never want for anything, never have to struggle.

She's sure it's a struggle for Nico to keep herself still, considering what she's just implied - her feelings, and what she's about to do.

The bed rocks beneath them as Akiha moves. Her skirt is long enough to make a distinct rustling sound. Her hand reaches for Nico's shoulder, squeezes it gently, and she leans in.

Her lips press to Nico's. Akiha has no idea what she's doing, but she isn't fumbling. If you pretend you know what you're doing, eventually it'll be true.

Nico's lips are so soft, though. Their noses brush together, and Akiha tilts her head to make it easier. Her other hand goes up to Nico's hair, stroking it.

She realizes it's their first kiss. That she should pull away after a moment to make sure Nico's alright. She doesn't want to, though, and so she just keeps kissing her.

Nico's shoulders twitch at the rustle of fabric, the shifting weight on the mattress beside her -- oh god, she's moving closer, isn't she -- and her heart promptly lodges itself in her throat when she can feel Akiha's breath on her face, followed the next second by her lips on hers.

Oh god oh god oh god. This is really happening. The realization that it was almost definitely about to happen did next to nothing to prepare Nico for it actually happening. For a second she's frozen in place, only able to register how nice Akiha's lips feel, and how horrifically sweaty the inside of her own clenched hands is. Then Akiha's hand slides into her hair, and the gesture is so gentle, so soothing, that it thaws her back out into motion. She has no idea what she's doing, either, but as far as nuzzling your mouth to someone else's goes, she figures there's only so many ways you can screw up.

She lifts up a hand, too, before realizing she doesn't know where to put it. It ends up draped over Akiha's shoulder, a little useless, but a sincere attempt all the same. They keep up the kiss for a few good moments like that -- awkward and careful, breathy and tingling, and when they pull back at last, Nico's pink to the tips of her ears.

She sucks in a breath, tries to find the words.

"C... c... couldn't you at least confess properly first, idiot?!"

For a moment, Akiha wants to cut Nico's yelling off with another kiss. It had felt wonderful, a sincere moment of connection, the kind of intimacy Akiha's been denying herself her whole life.

But she's nervous. Akiha's flushed, too. Her hands are still on Nico, and the hand in her hair begins to curl some of it around a finger, trying to find some way of working out the anxiety.

"Please. We both know neither of us were going to," Akiha huffs. insulting her own cowardice as much as Nico's. She doesn't turn her eyes away from Nico's, there's still a sincere love in them. Now that Nico's eyes are open, she can see that clearly. Akiha manages to sound annoyed anyway though. "It's cleared the air, hasn't it? We both know where we're coming from."

Edited 2016-04-05 22:10 (UTC)

"Well-- yeah, but..."

The urge to argue kicks in the way it always does, but the look on Akiha's face singlehandedly wrings out any bit of protest in her. The strength out of her knees, too. Nico swallows again, a fruitless attempt at quieting the frantic fluttering in her chest.

She really doesn't feel like squabbling over this anymore.

It does, however, leave her with the question of what now.

"Uh..."

"How eloquent," Akiha murmurs, then bites her lip. No, she doesn't want to start this all off with another petty insult, does she?

Things have changed, now. That kiss changed things. Nico isn't a sort of friend she banters with, she's...

"Would you like to - date?"

Akiha doesn't know if she can be open about it. Definitely not now, maybe not ever. Her maids are trustworthy. Her brother is trustworthy. Outside of that, she has no idea what she can and can't get away with.

As for long-term plans? She'll be going to whatever college impresses her family the most, then inheriting the family business. Things like moving in together - well, Nico would have to move into the mansion.

When she looks at the longterm, she realizes how impossible this all might be.

But she wants it. Badly.

She watches Nico, obviously hanging on her response.

"Um," Nico says equally as eloquently, the heat in her face climbing up high enough to force her gaze down. Of course she'd like to, she's only been thinking about it for the past two or three months, but in light of everything Akiha's told her today... she can't quite leap up at the offer the way she would've before.

"Do you want to? I mean, you're worried about this stuff, right? There's your company, and everything..."

"I'm a Tohno. If I want something, I'll figure out a way to get it," Akiha huffs, trying to convince herself more than Nico. The thought of someone finding out is terrifying. But the thought of letting Nico slip through her fingers, now that she knows how she feels - now that she's kissed her - is even worse.

"I promise. I can deal with my own problems. I won't be a burden on you, or a cause for concern. So... just...

Tell me if it's something you'd want, as well."

Nico can't help but grin, at that. It's that approach that drew her to Akiha to begin with, that planted the first seeds of begrudging respect. Setting your sights on something, and never giving up until it's yours: that's how Nico's lived her whole life up til now.

"Good," she says, finding her confidence again. "Because I won't date someone with a wishy-washy attitude."

Her smile slants a little shy as she reaches for Akiha's hand, and squeezes.

When Akiha feels Nico's hand on hers, she leans back in, brushes Nico's hair for a moment and presses her lips to Nico's again.

The kiss is less deep this time, lighter. Akiha's touch is gentle. It's more about affirming that yes, they're a couple than it is about actually kissing. Akiha pulls away before too long.

"Of course you won't. I'm happy I meet your standards," Akiha says, sincerely, then pauses. Her eyes duck away from Nico's.

"... Dinner won't be ready for quite a while. Kohaku takes her time."

She isn't implying anything other than kissing, but it's clear that Akiha wants quite a bit more of it.

"Ah," Nico answers, instantly divining the intent from the Akiha's downcast stare. Clunky with embarrassment, she goes on to say, "Okay."

Her lips already tingle with the kiss's aftereffect, as if to draw her back in-- and she does lean forward, by half an inch or so, before stopping herself and pulling back.

"Wait, wait." She clears her throat, smooths her hands down the front of her blouse. "We both still need to say it, right?"

"... Say what?" Akiha asks, sincerely. No one has ever accused her of emotional intelligence.