Archive of Our Own ^beta

Nico Yazawa was a lot of different things; a phenomenal cook, an idol fanatic, short, but there was one thing that Maki had never expected her to be, a cat person.

Maki didn't think Nico was the kind of person who would have any pets. Something about them being too messy, or she'd complain about how, "they take all the attention away from poor Nico".

That was why Maki was so surpsied when Nico called everyone into the clubroom on the first day back after golden week to deliver some "huge news".

"Guys, I want you all to meet the newest member of the Yazawa family!" Nico was practically vibrating with excitement as she put down her bag and started rifling through it, looking for her phone.

The eight other members of μ's gave each other confused looks, they all knew Nico's family situation, and Nico surely would've said something months ago if her mom was pregnant.

Their confusion was shortly dispelled as Nico finally found her phone and cleared her throat, demanding attention.

"As I was saying, here she is, the newest member of the Yazawa family."

Nico proudly held up her phone to show them all a photo; Nico holding a fluffy white kitten.

The clubroom was immediately filled with Rin's screeching.

"she's so precious nya!!" Rin seemed almost as excited as Nico looked in the photo.

The other members of μ's all clearly agreed with the sentiment, Kotori and Honoka immediately fawning over the small thing in Nico's arms.

Nico puffed out her chest like a proud mother, "We got her over golden week, Nico has wanted a cat for ages, and mamma finally agreed."

"Does she have a name yet, Nicocchi?"

Upon hearing Nozomi's question, Nico's eyes lit up mischievously.

"Well for the first few days she was just called 'the cat' while I searched for a name that fit, but as I got to know her more, her huffy and aloof attitude reminded me of a certain someone." She paused for effect, "So, of course, I named her Maki."

Seven heads turned, seven sets of eyes shifted, crossing the room from Nico, to where Maki sat at the other end of the table.

"Wah- Nico-chan I am not huffy! And I'm certainly not aloof, either." Maki protested, huffing and turning away from the rest of the group aloofly.

"Oooh yeah exactly like that! Thanks for demonstrating Maki-chan."

The shit eating grin on Nico's face was impossibly wide, her tone letting Maki know that she had done exactly what Nico wanted her to do.

***

Over the rest of the week, Maki only grew more annoyed every time Nico mentioned her stupid cat. She was sure Nico was giving everyone updates at practice just to get under her skin.

"Maki-chan was so cranky this morning, she tried to bite poor Nico when she fed her breakfast."

"Maki-chan has been shedding so much, Nico has gone through so many lint rollers trying to keep her wardrobe presentable."

"Maki-chan threw up a hairball this morning and Cocoa stepped in it, Nico was almost late to school because she had to clean it up, and help Cocoa wash herself."

Needless to say, by the end of the week, Maki was entirley fed up with Nico and her new cat. Sure the thing was cute, but Nico brought it up every. single. day. Not a meeting or practice went by where Nico didn't talk about her cat.

It wasn't even Nico talking about the cat that annoyed Maki. It was its stupid name, and the way the rest of μ's reacted; by making painfully obvious jokes about it. Nozomi, while far from the only one, was definitely the worst offender. She took every opportunity to turn to Maki (the human one), and ask her what she was doing at Nico's house so early in the morning, or something along those lines.

Maki's flustered reactions only envigorated the purple haired monster.

Nico of course noticed this, and cackled with delight whenever the same tired joke was repeated.

So when Nico approached Maki after practice on Friday, Maki readied herself for more teasing. Wondering what excuse she could cook up to get out of there. Maki was pleasantly surprised when Nico opened her mouth and said something earnest.

"Maki-chan, Maki-chan! Mamma and the kids are out of the house this weekend, and Nico was wondering if you wanted to come over and meet my Maki-chan. I mean, you are her namesake after all."

Nico had a genuine smile on her face, and her tone didn't seem to be laced with any malintnent. Plus, Maki would be lying if she said that she didn't genuinely enjoy spending one-on-one time with her senior. When it was just the two of them, Nico was, on occasion, an enitrely different person that Maki found almost charming. Factor in the fact that Maki did find the cat undeniably cute, and there was really no reason for her to refuse the invitation.

"I have piano lessons on Saturday morning, but those end around 15:00. I'll ask mamma and papa if I can go once lessons are over." Maki pulled out her phone as she said this, sending off a quick text to her parents.

"Oh you're so proper Maki-chan. Whatever. Let me know what they say, I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, Nico walked off.

***

Maki's parents had no problem with her visiting Nico, so on Saturday afternoon, instead of heading straight home after piano lessons like she normally would, Maki walked the other direction towards Nico's house.

She had been there a few times since μ's first followed Nico home. Now that the secret was out, Nico seemed almost excited to have people over so she could play the role of host.

Shortly after knocking on the door, Maki was welcomed into the house by Nico, her hair down from its usual twintails.

"Maki-chan!" Nico exclaimed as she pulled the taller girl into a hug, "You go wait in the other room, I'll go get my Maki-chan and then I can introduce you two."

Doing as she was told, Maki went over and sat down on the well used couch. Nico's calls for the cat were audible throughout the apartment.

A minute later, Maki's view shifted to the doorway where Nico was standing triumphantly, cat in hand.

Closing the distance, Nico sat on the couch beside Maki and held the cat up between them, bringing it face to face with Maki.

"Cat Maki-chan, I'd like you to meet human Maki-chan." Nico said, propping up the cat's left paw to mimic a handshake.

Maki and the cat stared at each other.

"Mrrow." Said cat Maki.

After a few seconds without a response from human Maki, Nico flipped the cat around so that it was facing her instead. "Maki's not responding to you, how rude. She's a lady of high society you know, you'd never be able to guess with how awkward she can be sometimes."

"I'm right here Nico-chan, and what do you mean rude?!"

"Well human Maki-chan, if you were being polite you would've responded when cat Maki-chan said something nice to you."

"Stop calling me human Maki-chan! I was Maki-chan first!"

"I can't show favouritism human Maki-chan."

As the two squabbled, cat Maki squirmed her way out of Nico's arms and left the room, completely uninterested in the conversation taking place.

The argument died out quickly, as most between them do, and Nico insisted they watch the latest midnight cats live that she had gotten on DVD.

It was only about 15 minutes later when an alarm on Nico's phone went off.

"Oh, it's time for Maki-chan's supper." Nico declared, pausing the recording, "I'll be back soon, don't watch any further when I'm gone human Maki-chan."

"Wha- she's not even cat Maki-chan anymore but I'm still human Maki-chan?! What happened to not showing favouritism?!"

Maki's complaints fell on deaf ears as Nico exited the room without further comment.

Maki continued to grumble about how unfair it was that she was being ranked under a cat, but her words died in her throat as she heard Nico talking to cat Maki in the other room.

"Oh there you are Maki-chan, it's time for your supper."

"Mrrow."

"Yes yes, you're very cute Maki-chan, now let's get you fed."

Maki froze.

"You're very cute Maki-chan." Those words repeated in Maki's brain, impacting her deep in her core.

Maki could feel herself blushing furiously as Nico continued, completley unaware of the effect it was having on Maki.

"I really am glad I have you Maki-chan." Nico cooed, puncuating her affection with an audible kiss to the top of cat Maki's head.

It was in that moment Maki decided that, maybe Nico naming a cat after her wasn't that bad after all.