Title: Alternative Shipping Arrangements
Rated: G
Words: 1490
Summary: In which things get pretty meta. Or, Nico is introduced to the concept of rarepairs.
Comment: I thought of going for a more comedic ending, but decided to address the prompt some more. This might be disjointed, but I hope it’s a small ode to everyone in this Idol Hell.
Nico sits in the dark clubroom, the computer in front of her the only light source as she giggles and admires the images that she scrolls through on the screen. For lack of better words, it’s a little bit creepy.
This routine repeats for 15 minutes, until the lights to the clubroom are switched on, bathing the room with artificial light. Nico squints and turns to the intruder. ‘Nozomi.’
‘Nicocchi.’ Nozomi gives a small wave. ‘What are you doing?’
Nico gestures at the computer, and Nozomi hums.
‘Why was it dark before, Nicocchi?’
‘I was replicating that scene.’
Nozomi nods. ‘Did something happen, Nicocchi? It's unusual for you to still be here.’ Nozomi had been held up with Student Council work, so she had a valid excuse at least.
‘Well…’ Nico scratches the back of her neck. ‘It’s more like it’s always been there and I just found it.’
‘Let me see…’ Nozomi walks across the room, looking over Nico’s shoulder to observe the computer monitor. She smiles to herself. ‘So you've discovered NicoMaki.’ A question hits Nozomi's mind after saying that. ‘I thought you researched idols all the time, though?’
‘Yeah, actual idols. Not the fan made stuff.’
‘Ah.’ That made sense at least. Nozomi understands why Nico would be searching for works putting herself and Maki together, and smiles softly at the thought. ‘You’re still planning on asking Maki-chan out, right?’
‘O-Of course.’ Nico’s still understandably nervous just thinking about it. That said, it’s still unusual for Nico - she's always full of confidence, or bravado at least. But really, who could be confident when it comes to that? And would you want to be with someone who was?
Nico clears her throat before continuing, ‘So seeing all these pictures of Maki-chan and I makes me really happy right now. And the cute stories as well.’
Nozomi grins again. It was pretty adorable of Nico to do, after all.
That grin then fades into something pensive. Nozomi debates internally whether to bring her thought up at all. She eventually figures that it’s better for Nico to learn it now rather than afterwards. ‘Nicocchi, you know that there’s more than NicoMaki out there, right?’
Nico makes a questioning look. ‘What do you mean?’
Nozomi rubs the back of her neck, and chooses not to be subtle. ‘Maki-chan is really popular to be shipped with the rest of μ’s.’
‘Impossible,’ says Nico. ‘Doesn’t everyone know that Maki-chan should be grateful the Number One Idol in the Universe likes her?’
‘Nicocchi.’
Nico crosses her arms. ‘Isn't it slightly true at least?’ Nozomi sighs before forming her hands into a claw shape. Nico gives a panicked yelp, and instantly gives in. ‘Fine, fine! I still don’t get it though. How could Maki-chan be shipped with Eli, for starters?’ Nico decides to begin with what she considers the strongest competition.
‘The BiBi connection, of course.’
‘Ah.’ It was kinda obvious. ‘Then how about Umi?’
‘Soldier Game, although that goes for Elicchi as well. Also, they spend a lot of time together writing music and lyrics.’
Nico rubs her forehead, a headache setting in. ‘And you, Nozomi?’
‘The beach episode.’ A pause, before Nozomi breaks into a smile. ‘Does Nicocchi rank me that highly? I’m flattered!’
Nico makes a dismissive wave of her hand. ‘Forget it. Hanayo?’
‘Maki helped her join μ’s in the first place, remember?’
‘Rin?’
‘She’s probably your strongest opponent, Nicocchi. Beat in Angel, and they swapped outfits in that other episode. The first years also have an OT3.’
‘Seriously?!’ That’s kinda wild. Being put against two suitors at once might be too much to overcome, even for Nico. ‘Honoka, then?’
‘Actually, a surprising amount of stuff is out there. So is the content.’
Nico shakes her head. ‘There can’t be any connection between Maki-chan and Kotori.’
‘It’s rare, but it exists, Nicocchi.’
Nozomi notices the uneasy look now etched on Nico’s face. It’s a shock for her to learn, and Nico can’t help but question herself knowing that there might be seven strong competitors so close to hand.
Curiosity then gets the better of Nico. It’s a slightly self-absorbed question to want to ask. But, of course, Nico is Nico. She’s vain enough to ask anyway. ‘Who do I get shipped with? Apart from Maki-chan?’
The answer isn’t as obvious to her. So just to be sure, Nozomi pulls out her phone and begins checking the usual sites.
‘Okay, so you and I are pretty much the second most popular pair involving you, Nicocchi.’
Nico doesn't hide an annoyed ‘Tch!’
Nozomi hums to herself at the thought. ‘I do think we could make a good pair, though.’
Nico agrees, though she’d rather bite off her own tongue than say as much.
‘There’s OT3s of us third-years as well.’
Nico places a hand to her chin. ‘That’s understandable, I guess…’
‘You get shipped with Umi sometimes.’
‘Well, she is cute. And we have that Milky Holmes thing too.’
‘Honoka too. Although…’ Nozomi makes a small frown and whispers the rest into Nico’s ear.
‘Yeah. It’s still a shock though.’ It seems Nico is surprisingly pure.
A realisation strikes Nozomi. ‘Oh. There’s also a few where Maki has a-‘
Nico clutches her hands to her face. ‘Stop.’
‘And Umi as well.’
‘Nozomi, please.’
‘And sometimes even Nicocchi!’
‘That’s a joke, right?’ Nozomi hands over her phone. Nico groans. It’s no(t) joke.
Seeing the haunted look on Nico’s face, Nozomi retrieves her phone and changes the topic. ‘Really, people will ship any two or more of us together, for any reason, and that’s perfectly fine.’
Nico nods. ‘Of course. They’re the fans, after all. And an idol has to please her fans.’
‘You’re still in character?’ Nozomi makes a surprised expression, before returning to the subject by gently resting a hand on Nico’s shoulder. ‘So you shouldn’t worry so much about Maki-chan, Nicocchi.’
Nico is less convinced as she has a second thought. ‘There’s so much angst as well…’
‘Nicocchi. Have some confidence in yourself.’
If Nico was unconvinced before, she’s even less so after she delves deeper following the discussion.
So many things that she didn’t notice before have been picked up on. And even the completely made up stuff makes sense as well. Nico thinks that all those people are amazing for what they’ve done, but she can’t shake an uneasy feeling which enters her heart after seeing and reading their works.
Of course everyone could like Maki.
Of course Maki might like them back.
Why did Nico ever think she might’ve been special? Why would Maki like her more than the others in the first place?
Asking her might even ruin what they already have, for her and everyone else.
She loses the courage she had when she learns that.
A depressed look doesn’t suit anybody, but it looks especially out of place on Nico as Maki finds her slumped over her usual place at the clubroom desk. It was the pleasant afternoon of the next day, but there didn't seem to be anything happy on Nico’s mind.
Nico raises her hand briefly to acknowledge the question without looking up. ‘It's nothing,’ she says, voice muffled against the table.
It's very clearly not “nothing”, but that’s all Nico is willing to offer for the moment. Maki bites her lip, wondering what best to say. She decides upon, ‘Nozomi told me what happened yesterday.’
‘Oh.’
There is no further reaction from Nico.
Maki decides to go with the softest approach she can. The only thing which can get Nico to be this docile is something that she wouldn’t like anyway. She places a reassuring hand on Nico’s shoulder, and Nico lets it out after a few minutes.
‘Maki-chan gets shipped with everybody, and it makes sense.’ She sniffles. ‘Maki-chan really is amazing.’ She whispers into the table again so that Maki can't hear her next words.
‘Nico-Nii doesn’t deserve her.’
Even if she couldn’t hear it, Maki sees tears forming in Nico’s eyes, and her heart drops. She gives a sympathetic sigh, before using her other hand to gently brush at the smaller girl’s eyes.
‘Come on, Nico-chan. You were right from the start, and I’m pretty sure everyone already knows it in their heart anyway.’
Nico looks up with a quizzical expression. ‘Everyone knows what?’
‘That NicoMaki is the best ship.’
That was both a surprise and downright embarrassing to say out loud, and Maki blushes. She doesn’t see Nico doing the same, pressing her head against the table again.
The room goes still until Maki smiles, finding the courage to say something she normally wouldn't. Nico could do with some cheering up.
