A/N: This story is focused on jolks. And the setting was around the 5th live event. Even though this more focused on jolks; I'm also put other pairing like: UcchixMimo, PilexSora or other impossible pairing in this fic. Lastly...Don't forget to review and send me a message if there is anything to add (^_^) Bye2~
Five years. The difference in our age gap and also the years we have been spent in this animation project. From completely stranger both of us becoming closer and the more time I spent with her I realizing that I have been falling in love with her. My best friend… Who also my senior….
"Haah...haah...haah." A short hair woman with a loose T-shirt and black sweatpants can be seen crouching offer near the corner. A long hour dance practice isn't something she gets used to it, especially for her who having an asthmatic issue and short stamina for someone who is much older compares to her comrade. But she doesn't want all these issues became an obstacle for her; she doesn't want to disappoint everyone who trying their best for this live event and because of that reason she never showed her concerned look in front of her fans, the staff, and other members.
Without her noticing; someone come towards her way with a concerned look in her face. She been watching her senior for a while and realize something amiss within her; and decide to talk what concerned her behavior. She knows her senior never like to discuss about her private issues and that makes her feeling sad but she doesn't like to saw her like this. Kussun decide to talk to her even though she needs to force the older woman in front of her to talk. "Here," said Kussun as giving up a bottle of water towards Nanjolno. "Ah, thank you", she take the bottle given by Kussun and glance towards the rest of the groups.
From the corner of her eyes she can see the rest of the members busy taking pictures among them. Some of them were playing around in the studio as if the dances practice they are having just now not enough for them. 'Really?', Nanjolno can't believe her friend can still have an energy for some silly act considering how intense the today practice. A small smile was seen on her face. Kussun, who has been standing in front of her, notice the sadness in her smile and when she saw that smile she can feels a tinge of hurt in her heart. 'She really is stubborn. Why? Why she must keep all of it by herself? Why she can't tell this to someone else? Like Shikaco maybe? Or me...at least?', as she tighten her clutch.
"You're not joining them?", as she gulping down the water given to her."Hm?", Kussun turn her attention towards her friends."I will go there if you're coming with me", as she looking back into her senior direction. A deep sincere brown eye looked into another pair in front of her. Those black orb eyes illuminating everything, what she really feels and what concerns in her mind, something she never seen before. Embrace by those captivating eyes without realizing Kussun reaching out her hands towards Nanjolno , she doesn't know what makes the older woman in front of her can be so captivating in her eyes. Her hands reaching out into Nanjolno face, tracing down from her cheek into her collar bones, Kussun finger's keep tracing down until it stop into Nanjolno hands. Squeezing it hard as she notice how fragile her senior now. "W...what is it?", still a bit confused with Kussun behavior.
Kussun come forwards to Nanjolno until their foreheads touching each other. 'What's wrong with her?! Could be is she teasing me like she used to do in our radio program? But I don't mind it... Gwargh! W-what are you thinking!', Nanjolno can't think straight anymore as a familiar face come more closer into her face. 'Oh no... Oh no... Oh no... She's too close!', can't handle the torture made by her kouhai Nanjolno face become red from the embarrassment she got and she shielding her embarrassment face with both her hands. Afraid that her kouhai going make fun of her state now, Nanjolno just keep her eyes closed wishing that her kouhai just go from her spot towards their friends place. As if Kussun can read her mind, she continues to torture the older woman weak heart by something unexpected. Suddenly Kussun was leaning over her body towards Nanjolno and closing the gap between them; and when both of them close enough Kussun whispering something in Nanjolno ears that make Nanjolno embarrassed. After she done teasing with her senpai, Kussun pulling back from Nanjolno face and decide to join her friends before she left some message that makes her senior blushing more from the embarrassment. "Then...I'll see you later?", as she give a wink to her beloved senior. "H...hai"
A taxi stops in front of dance studio where µ's member practicing their dance routine. After a couple minute waiting, a small figure is coming out from the dance studio follow up by her friends. After she was done bidding farewell with her friends she then go inside the taxi that have been waiting for her. Inside the taxi Nanjolno still keep thinking about what her kouhai just said earlier.
"Unfair. Is that what you thinking right now?", Nanjolno surprised hearing her kouhai words, "I remember a certain senpai who inspiring me. She has a same figure like me. When I said same figure, it doesn't mean she have a same description as me. We just in the same length but she have those cool and cute in the same time that makes me like her so much. When she started her career nobody knows her. But...she never giving up not matter how hard the obstacles is and always keep strong to become much better than before. That's the reason why she can keep on forward until she shines so brightly just like now". Kussun give her brightest smile towards her precious senior as she backing away from Nanjolno.
Remembering those kind words by her kouhai makes Nanjolno smile tenderly. A sweet smile and in the same time full of tenderness; that she never shown to anyone else beside someone who she consider special to her. A sweet smile that came naturally with tenderness on it, not a fake smile or a force smile she always showing it in front of those magazines. "Inspiring...really?", she chuckle hearing her own word."I...I don't deserve it...I...sob...sob...I...just...", as she can't hold it her feelings anymore tears streaming down from her eyes. She always seen strong, not just by her friends, fans or her family, so when she look fragile like this she realize how much the impact of Kussun words to her.
Next day, as usual after finishing their dance rehearsal each of the members is busy with their own activities especially after they have a long hour practice. Some of them taking a selfies.. Or have a chit chats with each other. And some of them even playing card with each other just filling up their spare time. "Yoshinon~," Shikaco called the small senpai who busied talking with Rippi. "Hm? What is it?", as she glanced towards her best friend. As Nanjolno mention before in the live streaming New Year Special, when Shikaco joining into this project she remember she is always sitting in back focusing in her script and how shy she is when they started their first conversation. Feeling uncomfortable in new environment where she never been before with a nine stranger she barely knew.
It's not just her who feeling anxious, worried and the same time nervous when they just starting their career as voice actress; everyone in groups feeling the same experience like her in that time. Even Nanjolno, Soramaru, or Mimorin, who having more experience comparing other members, having those anxiety when they starting their career. But after several years they can through those anxieties and become close like now. Nanjolno never expected that she can become friend with Shikaco; considering how awkward they are several years ago and suddenly in just several years they become very close like now. Although Nanjolno knew she isn't the only person she became close with; because in these past five years she has found a place. A place where she doesn't feel empty anymore as her eyes trails towards her precious friends. Friends; who always support her whenever she feelings down and lost in her way; these friends who became a part of her family now.
Family. Yes. That was they are now. They use to be a stranger, nine of them. But now they are not strangers anymore, each one of them is become close like a big family after five years in this project. Because of Love Live project can make it into this point, the point where they been recognized by their loving fans. Every tears, laugh, and struggle they been through all this five years what makes the bonds between nine of them is very deep. By leaning on in each other's they can through all these hardship. The hardship they have been through for five years, from nothing into something like now. A hardship where everyone dream and hope became reality. Cause what they wishing for isn't just a mere wishes but also a dream and hope who always supporting them for this five years.
Without her realizing her eyes traced towards her kouhai, with short brown hair and have small figure like her, who becomes her partner since they had been put together for doing NozoeEri Radio. She mesmerizing her kouhai from the corner of the room, watching at her small figure remembering every struggle she is having when she just started this project until she is been recognized like now. She used to be in her position before. Have some struggle with her seiyuu career when she just starting her own career. She even think to give up halfway because she doesn't know where she going to do in the next day. But this is her dream... to becoming a seiyuu and so she decide to keep moving on until she can fulfill her own dream doesn't matter how hard the obstacle is she will go through it until she can achieve what she dreaming on.
And her hard work is really pay off, she now became part of the famous trance pop duo "fripside" and her beautiful voices is been used in many opening and ending for different anime project. She even voicing several anime projects and games including Love Live franchise; this show how her hard work in this voicing industry didn't go waste as her schedule become busier than before with several animation project in the future. The popularity of Love Live bring a great effect towards these nine members, after five years hard work on this franchise people's know the struggle they have been through until this point. Kussun is one of them, Love Live is her debut in her seiyuu career and like other senior members she still facing a struggle when she starting her seiyuu career until Love Live become popular just like now.
"And then….Hey! Yoshinon, did you hear me?!", Shikaco then come to Nanjono and noticed that her best friends didn't pay attention to her.
"…..", no response from Nanjolno.
"Y-yoshinon?", asked Shikaco a little bit worried.
"….", still no response from Nanjolno.
"Ne, Rippi. Look at her…", whisper Shikaco.
"How long has she been like this?", said Rippi as she begin to look towards Nanjolno direction.
"Don't know. But … This looks amusing. Let's record it!", said Shikaco as she pulled out her phone from her jersey.
"Shika-chan.", said Rippi as she showing her angelic smile to Shikaco without her usual calm aura around.
"G-got it", Shikaco who feeling terrified quickly put her phone back into her jersey.
"Well, well… What is this? Our sweet and innocent Rippi can be aggressive too. It seems you already understand what I have been teaching to you all this time. Hahahaha", said Soramaru.
"Seriously, Sora-chan. How can you teach her to be aggressive? When you're the one who so possessive with me? Like that time; when you called me again just to make sure I didn't bring Mimo-chan with me or sending me those silly message while pretending you're bored well actually you are lonely without me", Pile who just came from bathroom interrupting Soramaru with her embarrassing fact.
"PAI-CHAN!", yelled Soramaru as she cover up Pile mouth with her hands.
"Aaaa….", both of Shikaco and Rippi shocked after hearing Pile revelation about Soramaru.
"What? I'm just telling the truth," answer Pile nonchalantly.
"I-I know …. But, you don't …Need to tell them…Mou, baka Pile" small whisper coming from Soramaru mouth as she leaning her flushed face into Pile's shoulder.
"A-ah. Gomen…"
"Both of you get a room already! We have enough with those two and now you!", blurt Shikaco interrupting Pile and Soramaru.
"Those two? Who are you talking about?" asked Pile and Soramaru.
"Them"
All of them looking towards where Rippi finger pointing; they can see Nanjolno who can't stop looking at Kussun direction who busied talking with Ucchi and Emitsun that time. Even though their eyes didn't meet somehow Kussun can feel Nanjolno warm and caring gaze at her that makes her can't stop to taking glances at her lovely senpai who was standing several meter from her with her usual smile. 'It seems she looks much better than before. Haah, I'm so glad'. Seeing Nanjolno that looks much better than before makes Kussun feel relieved and a little bit sad in the same time because she can't help with anything when she feeling down even though thanks to Kussun's word she can come back to her usual self again. 'I guess I'm not important for her….' Kussun then held up her face before tears can falling up to her cheek and shows her sweet and innocent smile to Nanjolno before she turn away her back to her and ran out from the dance studio.
"Wha… what's happen?", asked Emitsun to Ucchi.
"I don't know either. She just left us without saying anything.", said Ucchi.
"Hey, Yoshi-"
"I'm going to find her", Nanjolno then leaving her friends as she following Kussun trail.
"Should we help her?"
"Nah. Just leave them alone. Our presence just only interrupting them. Shall we continue our practice?", said Soramaru.
" O…okay"
Nanjolno then rushing her way towards the hallway. She feeling a tinge of pain in her leg but she ignored it because there is something she needs to do. And that is; chasing Kussun and finds the reason why she cries. Because she is too busy with her own thought she even didn't realized it there is a certain women with long black hair who just exit from the changing room. Both of them bump each other and fall into the floor. Nanjolno can feel tinge of pain in her forehead and she quite sure the person in front of her feel the same way like her because she have been messaging her head for awhile after she bump her.
"Owww. Ah…Mimorin", said Nanjolno as she caressing her forehead.
"Ah! Nanjo-san! Sorry I didn't see you. A-are you okay? Did you hurt some-"
"Mimo-chan! …Do you see Kussun?"
"Kussun? Maybe~ Do you need something from her? I can send your message to her. If I see her", as she keep glancing through the changing room as she try to gain someone intention.
"Actually… I want to… Never mind. Bye"
"Bye. So… What's going on between you and Nanjo-san?", asked Mimorin.
"…"
"I see. You prefer to keep in on yourself. If it's what you want then I can't help you. But… Let me warn you. You… you should act fast before... you lost it and can only regret it…later", Mimorin then leave Kussun alone.
"You think I don't know that. Of course I knew it but… Will we be the same after I saying those words to her?", asked Kussun to her own.