PART I: Encounters

"It's been 3 days now isn't it"

"Eeh…"

"You know, since Yazawa-san been to school…"

"You care for other people too much, Nozomi"

"Really, huh…"

That morning started a bit melancholic for first year Toujou Nozomi, her classmate Yazawa Nico hasn't been to school since after the day she performed a live concert in the school auditorium. She's not really a fan of this school idol thing but after being invited by the smiling Yazawa-san handing flyers in front of the school gate, she made a promise to come and support her classmate's performance with other girls of the same grade.

The live started but only Yazawa Nico was there when the curtain was raised, Nozomi figured that it may be some sort of a gimmick and the other two will join her on stage later. However, that is not what happen, Nico Nii Nico-chan performed on her own, she sang with all her heart putting up the best smile she could muster. It was a good performance, not much of the students went to see it but still, she gave it her all and the audience are charmed by her performance. Even so, behind that facade of a smile, Nozomi can still see the sadness in her eyes that she's trying to hide. Nozomi wondered, she knew that the three is an idol unit that has been performing together trice now. "Maybe Yazawa-san split from the group?" she first thought then she realized… "No, she was left behind.".

Yazawa Nico hasn't been coming to school since. This bothered Nozomi very much, being the person that she is, she wanted to help her classmate if possible, if only she could reach her.

Lunch time came and her best friend, Ayase Eli stood in front of her blank face.

"Nozomi!" she called out staring at her surprised friend's face as if trying to make out what she has in in mind

"Eeh… right lunch, let's go Eli-chi" she said to her smiling

They went to the rooftop where the two usually have their lunch.

"Eating lunch brought from the convenience store again? don't you get used to the taste?" Eli said as she was starting to unwrap her bentou.

"It can't be helped, I live alone and I don't have the time to… Waa, is that yakiniku?" She exclaimed upon seeing the contents of the lunch box. she stared at it intensely as if making them float telepathically into space and into her mouth. Eli on the other hand upon seeing her reaction felt obliged to feed this yakiniku deprived person. She picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and shove it into Nozomi's mouth.

"Nozomi power worked" she said smiling while chewing

"You smiled at last..." Eli responded in a serious tone. "...does it really bother you that much"

"Well, I know it shouldn't be but I really want to help her somehow" Nozomi answered

"It can't be helped, you really are troublesome"

The two continued with their lunch, the two just started in the student council and both became really busy with their work. Their day at school ended and they went on their separate ways home. While on her way, Eli's mind wandered into things that happened earlier that day, trying to recall if she has forgotten anything important then it came to her...

"I even fed her my lunch" she thought to herself blushing unknowingly. "What's happening to me, smiling like an idiot just because I shared my food with her. "Maybe I'll try having her feed me some of her's next time" and with that thought she walked merrily home, in her bag a pair of chopsticks she thought of never washing again.

The next morning started out with sweeping the shrine grounds for Nozomi. On her miko outfit and broomstick in hand she helps cleaning out on Saturdays. While minutes passed by without anything unusual, a familiar face caught her attention as it appears climbing up the stairs approaching the shrine, it was her classmate Yazawa Nico. Her classmate went on her way to the shrine and started to pray while Nozomi remained hidden at the side of the building. She just watched her from afar wondering what she is praying for. When Nico was about to go on her way, the miko called out to her and was surprised to find classmate Tojou Nozomi standing there when she turned around.

"Do you need anything from Nico?" She answered to her with a big smile on her face

"Good morning Yazawa-san, I'm surprised to see you here" Nozomi greeted

"Ehh… Nico too, I see that you work here" Nico answered still with her smile trying to keep it together

"When I have free time I do… It was an impressive performance by the way"

"Oh, you were watching that…" Nico paused, her smile fade for a second as she stared at the ground "... thank you very much, teehee" and with that the smile resumed on her cute face.

"You don't really have to smile like that in front of me you know" Nozomi said being rather serious.

Nico was surprised, she's not very honest about it but she hasn't conversed much with other people beside the members of the club she formed and with them she always put on a serious face, always fired up, she doesn't have any friends either and always put up a big smile when talking to strangers. That's how idols should act she reasoned.

"eeeh, etto… What do you mean?" Her smile starting to seem unsure

"I meant it's okay to relax when talking with me, it's tiring smiling like that all the time right?" Nozomi explained, her face expression reassuring and kind.

"I guess it's obvious I'm not actually like this huh? So, what do you want?" Nico sighed

The shrine maiden let out a small laugh after hearing this. "It's not that I want anything in particular…"

"Is that so? Then if you have nothing else to say I'll be going now" She said with harshness Nozomi isn't familiar to

"Wait… why won't you stay for tea. If you're not busy that is"

"Why do I have to?"

Nozomi does not have an answer to this question, she spoke without even thinking. She's curious about this person and in anyway wants to help her that she didn't realize that they're not even close yet.

"It can't be helped, I'll take that request since you're a fan" Nico said, cutting the silence

"Fan...?"

"You watched my performance right? and once again Nico showed her smile, this time a genuine one.