With You

Chapter 6: Jealousy

"That's a great idea, Nico-chan!" Kotori squealed with delight she she held up Nico's sketch in her hands to examine it.

"Of course, its the number one super idol Nico after all." The third year beamed, her smirk growing wider at Kotori's compliment. The μ's members were gathered in the Idol Research Club room settling the administrative matters for their upcoming live. Nico and Kotori were working together on the designing of the outfits for their next live performance.

Kotori threw her arms around the petite senior, holding her in an embrace and squeezing the life out of her while thanking her profusely. Maki sat at her seat and surveyed the two from a distance, occasionally sulking to herself every now and then at how Nico and Kotori were joking and laughing around. Maki did not really know why she was upset or who she was unhappy with, she just felt bothered by something for some enigmatic reason.

"N...Nico-chan, I've d-done the research." Hanayo stuttered, interrupting Nico and Kotori, at the same time dragging the scarlet haired back from her sulking reverie. Hanayo handed her work to the senior cautiously, for fear of being rejected for the second time. Hanayo had worked closely with Nico in the research of school idols and she was often told to redo her work since Nico's expectations were always sky high and unreasonable.

"No. You need to add more details over here...and here," Nico commented as she shook her head in sheer disapproval, "...and here. Its so incomplete!" The raven haired finished her sentence, seemingly irritated. Needless to say, Hanayo's work has been dismissed once again by Nico's not-to-be-met expectations.

"Niccochi, set you expectations lower or I will give your breasts a rub you'll never forget." Nozomi who had entered the room a while ago jumped to Hanayo's defence. She raised her hands and wriggled her fingers at Nico as a sinister smile crept across her face, obviously enjoying how flustered Nico appeared. Hanayo cowered behind Nozomi, searching for solace from the violet haired as she held tightly onto her spurned piece of work. Nico was about to make a bolt for it but was a tad late when the violet haired third year caught her and began her form of punishment on the petite third year.

Maki's growing annoyance was unconsciously being fueled by the commotion the few μ's members were making, though this was unbeknownst to them. The crimson haired let out a disgruntled groan as she stood up from her seat abruptly, causing all the other members to immediately switch their attention towards her. Maki shot Nico a glower before stomping out of the room without a word, leaving all the other μ's members simply confounded.

"Maki-chan!" Nico called out after her girlfriend as she struggled to free herself from Nozomi's grasp, chasing after the angry first year and yet again leaving all the other members perplexed.

The scarlet haired made her way to the music room, though choosing to ignore the particular third year that was calling out to her. She sat down at the piano, well aware of her senior's presence as she started playing. Her fingers travelled across the keyboard swiftly, creating an upbeat tune as she went. The tune was heavy, the fast tempo creating a chaotic feel as if expressing Maki's vexation. Maki did not know what exactly infuriated her, but watching Nico being so close with the other μ's members was just exasperating. Nico's eyes remained fixated on the pianist as she watched the first year silently, patiently waiting for a chance to speak.

"Maki-chan, they don't know that we are dating." The third year spoke when Maki finally stopped playing on the piano after what seemed like a mintue or two. The red haired looked up to regard her senior, her belligerence from earlier long gone though she remained impassive. Silence took reign as they both stared at each other, amethyst eyes clashing with ruby ones.

"I know..." The first year finally sighed in defeat, her gaze softening as she stood up and approached the upperclassmen. The raven haired took a few steps back in response to Maki's advance, eyeing her junior warily as she tried to gauge what the junior was about to do. Maki placed her right hand on the third year's nape and her left hand on the third year's back, pulling her closer. Maki's arms were wrapped around the shocked Nico, successfully trapping Nico to her chest. The sable haired returned the hug as silence filled the music room once more.

"I... I just don't like it when they get all touchy-feely with you... It makes me..." Maki's voice grew softer as she searched for the appropriate words to convey how livid she felt earlier. The crimson haired continued to hold to petite third year close to her. It was her first time initiating a hug with someone and she did not wish to be letting go so soon.

"Jealous." Nico completed Maki's sentence for her as she pulled back, a ghost of a smirk forming on her lips as she hands rested on the first year's shoulders. The crimson haired averted her gaze, her arms shifting to wrap around her senior's waist though making no attempt to deny her earlier display of jealousy. The third year chuckled to herself, seemingly enjoying the fact that Maki was slightly open to her about how she had felt. Maki gave a slight pout, displeased at how the sable haired was enjoying a joke at her expense.

Deciding to take her senior by suprise once more, Maki leaned down, cupping the third year's face with both her hands and crushing her lips against her senior's. Though slightly taken aback by her junior's gesture Nico's hands abandoned their positions on Maki's shoulder and proceeded to wrap her arms around Maki's neck, pulling her downwards.

-To be continued-