Chapter Text
Why did she have to go and say that? ‘You’re too loose’. Pah. I’m just enjoying myself… no one gets hurt and everyone is the up and up. I’m not exclusive to her…
She opened a door to a somewhat shoddy looking place and stepped inside. The strong smell of coffee immediately hit her, feeling warm and cozy. She’d never been here when it wasn’t club night, so this was a bit of a new experience. No muffled music, no hot atmosphere. Just a side-street café, though admittedly with a slightly different vibe with all the colourful flags and streaks everywhere. She approached the counter, looking at the wares on offer.
“Hey Ai. Unusual to see you here during the day.”
“Ai got to do what Ai got to do. I was in the neighbourhood and wanted something sweet. Ai cannot resist.” She giggled.
The clerk inwardly groaned at the bad puns.
“How about the Red Velvet cake? You won’t regret it.”
“Good idea, and some sweet coffee thing. You know how I like them.”
“I know how you like your drinks at the club but coffee?”
“Just load it up with bitterness and sweetness.”
“OK, I’ll see what I can do.”
Ai looked around for a place to sit.
Hey, her I’ve never seen before… short, not that much in the chest department it seems… and who has pigtails anymore? Kinda cute though. Hmm, she’s just poking at that cake…
“Hey Shizuku?” Ai hushed. “Who’s that?” She body pointed at the black-haired girl in pigtails sitting alone in a booth.
“Oh her. That’s Nico, a regular. She comes in about once a week and just sits there. Boss okayed her and gave her special discounts. Something about her family situation. Rumour has it she’s… well… into girls but very closed off about it. Wicked mouth though. Oh and most important to know for you…”
“Mhm?”
“She’s friends with Eli. You hurt Nico, she’ll get angry.”
Eli had mellowed, but she’d probably get a good talking to. The tall blonde did scare Ai occasionally.
“Ai’ll be careful” Ai said, flashing a big smile, “I won’t invade bear country, don’t worry. Just some mutual Ainderstanding, right?” she smiled.
All payed she promptly walked over to the booth where this Nico was sitting and sat down opposite her.
“Hi, have Ai been waiting a long for you or what? Hihi.”
Nico looked up from her cake. Her eyes dark.
“Beat it. Not in the mood.” Nico continued poking at her cake.
That’s… an opener.
“Ai is here to brighten your mood then.”
“Not interested.”
“But you are, girl-on-girl scare you?”
Nico blushed and fired back.
“Ha. The mighty Nico-Nii knows all.”
“Nico-Nii?”
“The super idol Nico-Nii, whose presence you can count yourself lucky to be in.”
Ai looked at her, the grinned even more.
“Ohh I get it. Cool! So~~~~has the idol Nico-Nii a fan she wants to… get closer to?”
“Ehh…” this seemed to derail the super idol train, “Nico-Nii belongs to all… ehh… Nico… “ her voice dropped to barely audible, “has a future fan she wants to be her number one fan.”
Ohh… now what is this….
“Let me guess… never kissed anyone one… or gone deeper with anyone… right?”
“No” all of Nico’s pomp was deflated.
“Can’t tell her?”
“She’s a first year.”
“So, aren’t you?” she looked Nico up and down.
“I’m a third year!”
“Ohh. I see.”
If they get caught, it’d be bad.
“Besides, she doesn’t know of Nico yet.”
How sweet, a hallway crush. Precious. Hey, I got an idea…
“You know, if you want, I can tell you things. You can ask me anything. Ai can be your Ai no sensei.”
“You high? I don’t know you.”
“Ai know you want to now. Hihi”
A server came to the table.
“Here you go Ai.” and placed a slice of cake and a very large coffee drink in front of her, “You ok Nico? Should I call the owner to have a chat with Ai?”
“What? No. Wait.” Nico looked at Ai. “Your name is Ai?”
“Yepp”
“Those puns are garbage.”
Ouch! That’s so not true, my puns are great! Class Ai!
“Hey, a girl has her pride.”
“At least you didn’t say prAIde.” and to the server, “Nico is fine. No need to get the owner.”
The server left. Nico poked at her cake.
“Say, Ai? Did you mean that?”
“What?”
“That… I can ask you anything?”
“Sure, I live to spread the knowledge of love to all.”
“With your name I kinda get it.” Nico chuckled.
“Hey, no fair. Treat me right and Ai-san can show you things.”
“Oh really? Like what?”
Ai leaned closer.
“How a kiss from another girl feels like.”
Nico said nothing, but the colour of her face indicated that she’d heard and understood.
"Ohh, you're curious." Ai smiled.
"Y--yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Nico mumbled, “I never did that before.”
"You want to do it now?" Ai's voice was alluring.
Nico jolted back.
"Now? Are you insane? What if somebody sees us?"
"Let them."
"Please leave."
"What? You're tossing little Ai-sensei away?"
"Of course I am. I know nothing about you. And now you want to kiss me?"
"Just getting friendly."
"You're certifiable. No way."
"And if I tell you I kiss everyone I like?"
"That makes it even worse... you could have god knows what..."
"I'm clean."
"But you just said…"
"And I test regularly. Comes with the territory."
"If you're not leaving... I am."
Nico stood up. Ai caught her arm.
"Let me go." Nico pulled at her arm.
"No. Look. I know I'm forward and I don't know what Eli said about me, but please, just talk to me for a bit ok? Please?"
Nico relented. A source of info was a source of info after all.
"Ok, fine." she snatched back her arm and sat down, "But no jumps on Nico, ok? And what about Eli?"
"Sure."
They both settled down and talked. Ai told Nico about herself, when she discovered what she liked, her first, her second and so forth and that she'd made a pass on Nozomi which maybe had gotten her on Eli's bad side. Before Nico could ask anything, Ai said:
"I have two rules: don't fall in love and be honest with your feelings. If you can handle that, we're good. Applies to you and me both."
"But you sound like you just pick girls up at random?"
"I don't."
"And exactly how do you get that?"
"Ai picks you!" she dramatically pointed at Nico.
"Ehh?" Nico shrugged.
"Someone has to interest me, either physically or mentally. And it's me that decides in the end. No one else."
Nico thought a moment.
"Ok. I get it. So, when you came to me..."
"It was because you caught my interest. And the offer still stands..."
"Ehh... let me think about it, ok?"
Ai laughed.
"Sure thing. Let me give you my details so you can invite me next time you're here."
Nico held out her phone. A chime confirmed the transfer.