*P.O.V SWITCH - NICO YAZAWA*
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
That is...
My catchphrase as Nico-nii, the best idol in the world. But, I've actually sung it ever since I was a kid.
It's my private theme song.
*Giggle*
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
It's a rather simple, cute, and cheerful song that I like to sing. It fits me perfectly. But in truth, I didn't make it up myself. Back when I was just a little kid, daddy made it for me.
Me...
Nico Yazawa.
That's the name my mom and dad gave me, in hopes that I would always have a smile on my face. 'Nico' means 'Smile' after all...
My dad would go 'Nico-Nico-Nii!' whenever he said my name. With a bright, happy smile, 'Nico-Nico-Nii!' And whenever we took pictures, too.
He'd say... "Okay, we're taking it now, Nico-Nico-Nii!" And we would all smile together.
Whenever I think about it, I recall all the times daddy would sing it to me.
Back when I was as small and cute as a doll, he would hold me with both hands and give me rides on those big shoulders of his.
As we walked down the hillside from the preschool, lit by the orange evening sun, we would sing with smiles on our faces.
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Smiling cheerfully, with a 'Nico-Nico-Nii!'
Smiling like the sun, with a 'Nico-Nico-Nii!'
And when my dad sang, 'Nico-Nico-Nii!' I would feel his large body shake.
Then, I would go "Nico-Nico-Nii!" along with him.
I didn't know why, but it made me so happy.
It must have been a mix of knowing we would go home soon, and feeling that daddy and I could go anywhere in the world.
What would we eat today?
I'd hope that it was my favorite, hamburger steak!
When we saw our house in the distance, Daddy would let me off his shoulders, and we would walk together.
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Nico-Nico-Nii!
Playing hopscotch as we sang. And if we made it into the house right on the part where you landed on both feet, that meant today would be a lucky day.
A precious memory, from the depths of my heart.
...
*P.O.V SWITCH - AKIHIKO*
*KITCHEN - YAZAWA RESIDENCE - CHIYODA - TOKYO*
AKI: "Nico..."
NICO: *Sigh* "Thinking back on it, did daddy make that song so that I would always have a smile on my face?
He never needed to worry about that.
I mean, just look at me!
Even without Daddy, I'm always going 'Nico-Nico-Nii!' with a smile on my face, just like he wanted!"
AKI: "Yeah..."
NICO: "You know... Sometimes I would look up to the sky and ask myself, if Daddy saw his little Nico now, what would he think?
Even though he's not here anymore, my family still smiles just like he did."
AKI: "He was an incredible man, with an incredible daughter. I'm sure he's still watching over you, and I bet he couldn't be more proud of you."
NICO: "Thanks... I just wish he could have been alive to see me become the super school idol I am today..."
AKI: "..."
NICO: "It's probably not my place to say it, but... I remember when you told us all about your family's situation, how you don't have the best relationship with your father. I'm really sorry about that..."
AKI: "Don't be. My dad is a crooked politician who doesn't want anything to do with me personally, he just wants to use me."
NICO: "At least he's still here..."
AKI: "Yeah... Sorry."
NICO: "Do you take your looks from your father?"
AKI: "Not really... I look a lot like my mom, though. I guess even my dad's genes wanted nothing to do with me..."
NICO: "I mean, personally, it's too bad, but, anyone can see that I don't have that tall and beautiful model's body my mom does. I take after daddy."
AKI: "Is that why you were interested in this whole spiciness stuff?"
NICO: "Kinda... But, you know what?
This daddy's girl is gonna live happily.
Because, Nico is definitely gonna spread this smile that daddy gave her across the entire world, and become the happiest idol in the world!"
AKI: "I believe in you!"
NICO: "..." *Sob*
AKI: "Nico?!"
NICO: *Sniff* "Oh no, I'm starting to get a bit sentimental today. That's not a Nico thing to do."
Feeling my instincts kick in, I got up from my seat and gave Nico a big hug.
*HUG*
NICO: "You're hugging me?"
AKI: "Yeah, I am..."
NICO: "Awww... Does this mean I've let my guard down?"
AKI: "Who's to say?
NICO: *Sigh* "But these days, I feel like... I'm loosening up.
That's what the girls in class have been telling me lately, too. They say that somehow, Nico looks like she's having fun.
Well I'm a Number. 1 Idol, so I should look like I'm having fun, but the nuance is a bit different, isn't it?"
AKI: "Who knows?
NICO: "I've definitely let down my guard a little bit, and shown an opening..."
AKI: "That's fine... It just makes you human, and all the more charming."
NICO: "That's because those dull days, which I had gone through before I met μ's...as well as the girls in Aqours and Nijigasaki...and of course, you have passed. Now it's a new age of Nico-Nico-Nii!"