"I'm so glad that the two of you made up." The blonde manager said with a grin.

"Yup and now it's your job to clear the press." Nico huffed with her arms crossed over her chest, seated on the bed in the room.

Rin and Hanayo stood at the side giggling to themselves.

"And what are the two of you giggling about?"

"The press was cleared long ago, nya~!" 

Nico shot a glare at Rin whose hair stood on ends and wished she never blurted it out. The idol quickly shifted her gaze to her two managers.

"What's the meaning of this?!" 

The two managers exchanged looks, trying to come up with some sort of excuse.

"Well.....you see..." Eli tried to start but was terribly lost for words.

"My,  my it doesn't matter anyway." Nozomi quickly interrupted and added in with a grin alongside with her signature hand gesture. 

This made Nico grimace and crawl back further up in the bed "Alright, I get it. Thanks anyway."

"So, how is she?" Umi asked coming forth with a plate of skinned and cut apples.

"She is fine." A smile bubbled in the pits of her stomach and burst through to show on her face. "In fac, we are going on a date this weekend."

"That's great, Nico-chan." Kotori cheered as she and the rest ate the apples.

"Where are you going?" Hanayo asked.

Nico shrugged with an apple in her mouth.

"Anyway, does this means I can get out of here already?"

"Well, yeah. I guess that won't be a problem." Eli started.

"But we thought you want to stay here since-" Nozomi was cut short by Nico herself.

"No it's alright. We just got back together, I don't want to get in her way."

Everyone nodded, chewing on their share of apples. 

"I guess that is for the best." Umi said calmly.

"Eh..what is everyone doing here?" 

Everyone turned and gasped.

"Honoka??!!" Everyone exclaimed at the same time.

She chuckled and held a 'peace' sign "Hello."

"Don't just randomly come in and say 'Hello'" Umi scolded, standing up from her chair, walking towards her childhood friends.

"U-umi-chan.." Kotori tried to pull her partner back from doing any harm.

"My, what are you doing her, Honoka-chi?"

"Well, I got a call from Maki-chan, saying Nico was ill so I came to visit." She scratched her cheek "I didn't everyone to be here."

"We didn't expect you to be here either." Umi mentioned, turning away and returning to her seat. "You could have at least called first, you know."

"Sorry, Umi-chan." She giggled playing with her hair slightly. 

"It's good to see you, Honoka-chan." Hanayo greeted.

"Hello, Han-" She was of course stopped by once again a orange haired female who jumped on her.

"Honoka-chann!!"

"Rin-chan. Get off me." The two were on the floor laughing.

"Man, you guys sure know how to make a fuss." This time it was the doctor who entered.

"Ah Honoka I see you came. How have you been?"

"Maki-chan." She smiled widely and turned under the weight of the other to face the redhead "Ah I'm fine, how about you?"

"As per usual." She shrugged and leaned against the door.

"Eh? Have you been in touch with Honoka-chan all these time?" Kotori questioned her friend she has been so close to all these time.

"Not really, we do chat occasionally." Maki said it as if she was hiding something she rather not mention.

Rin has finally gotten off Honoka who looks embarrassed.

"Well, I might have asked her to compose some songs for me." She admitted.

"EHH!?!?!?" 

This, of course, was a big shock to everyone since Maki has always shown her obvious rejection to anything idol related.

"You been writing songs for Honoka?" Umi exclaimed.

"Only because she begged me." Maki glared at her.

"Heh heh. That's because I can't do it myself."

Umi sighed and shaked her head, this is how she has always been it doesn't look like she changed at all.

"Looks like you didn't change at all." Kotori chuckled.

"My, this kinda reminds me of high school." Nozomi commented.

The rest fell in silence remembering the times when the nine of them performed together as a group. Back then everything was so easy with nothing much to worry about and having all the fun a teenage should have. 

"I have an idea!" Honoka shouted, all excited like she always did when she was super happy.

"Why don't we all perform together again?" 

The rest turned with their mouth agape at the sudden suggestion.

"What are you saying? That's impossible." Maki quickly rejected.

"Eh? Rin thinks it's a good idea, nya~!"

Everyone else nodded.

"I object! There are just too many things we have to think about." She tried to come with a many valid excuses as she could to get out of this.

"If it's about the stage and stuff. Nozomi and I can get it done in no time."

"Well, we don't have any song do we."

"I can always whip up something. I think I still have some unused lyrics from back then." Maki was shocked to hear Umi was on board with this as well.

"We don't have enough time to make costumes."

"That's no problem. They can be quickly made at my  company."

"Erm..well..we still have work on dance."

"No problem." Nozomi helped Eli answer.

"Well..we all still have work." She bit on her lower lip, she was running out of ideas.

"My schedule is flexible." Kotori said cautiously.

"I just finished my tour so I'm free.' Honoka said.

"So, is Nico-chan." Hanayo said which covers for about half of them there. 

"Whatever it is, I'm not joining you guys can go ahead if you want." She glanced at her watch. "My break's over. I'm getting back to work." Maki got up and left without another word. 

"Doctor Nishikino, how nice to see you again." A men about her age showed up as she was about to leave the elevator. 

"What is it? I have things to do." She moved out of the shaft and walked around him. He grabbed her wrist before she got too far ahead.

"What's the rush? Come on why don't I go with you on your rounds?" 

She sighed "It's not my problem what you do." She threw his hold on her and walked ahead. 

He grinned and followed behind. He was always wearing the same coat as Maki. He had a name tag clipped to his pocket with the name 'Ganshi Takuro' written across it.

"How about after your shift we go for dinner together?"

Maki returned the board back and nodded in defeat.

"Sure, I have nothing else to do anyway."

"Alright then, I guess I have to head to do my job as well." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before he went off.

"Doctor, a patient has requested for you." Nurse Miyuki popped her head in to pass the message.

"Oh. Thanks, Miyuki. Let's go."

"Hey, Doctor was that Mr Ganshi just now?"

Maki nodded, not really interested in the topic.

Miyuki seemed like she wanted to ask more but they have reached the said room and the two split ways.