#everyone play idoly pride

[becomingpotatoes]

MY GIRLS CAME TO WISH ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY I LOVE THIS GAME

[ryqoshay]

How to Handle a Nico: Idle Idol

Primary Pairing: NicoMaki Mentioned Pairings: RinPana, NozoEli Words: ~1.5k Rating: K Time Frame: Some time while Maki is still in college but after Nico has graduated. Story Arc: Stand Alone

List of all HtHaN scenes

Author’s Note: Just a bit of Latin used in this scene. I am not enclosing it in brackets as I would in other scenes, as I believe “pro bono” is common enough in English usage - though that could just be a personal bias caused by having lawyers in the family. Also, the other words are close enough to their English equivalents that I figure most readers should be able to get the gist of it.

Nico sighed as she stared at yet another listing for renting office space. Bored. Who knew setting up a business would be so boring? Apply for a license, then wait for its approval. Fill out a form online, then wait for the email reply. Wait for this. Wait for that. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

At least things seemed to be running smoothly. Or at least as smooth as Nico would assume, as she had little personal experience to which she could compare. But Nozomi and Eli reminded her regularly that she was having a much easier time than they had with their restaurant. Though they never mentioned it directly, they occasionally implied that finances were playing a fairly significant part. Paying up front greased a lot of gears.

And as for the finance depart, Maki had been nothing short of a godsend. Tsubasa had invested an impressive amount, but even that was dwarfed by the trust fund. The doctors Nishikino had, with no shortage of convincing, granted their daughter full control of one of her funds and Maki had immediately set about jumping through the necessary hoops to grant access to the fledgling Egao Jōshō.

Nico smiled as she thought about the company’s name. While everyone involved had their ideas, ultimately it had been Tsubasa’s suggestion that won out. It was a name that gave a direct nod to the founding idols; Nico and the members of A-RISE.

But now they were waiting on something else. Yet another approval or whatever. So Nico was biding her time continuing her search for the perfect location for her new company to call home. But honestly, it was boring.

Obviously, Nico missed the stage and lights and the cheering crowds that accompanied being an idol, both in school and going professional, but she also found she was missing the practice. Sure, she may have occasionally dodged idol practice back in high school, and in college she had to divide her time with studying. But during her brief stint as a full-time professional, she had gone all out. And now she found missed the routine physical exercise.

While her energy levels were nowhere near that of some of her close friends, sitting around setting up a business was leaving her with too much to spare. Lately, Nico was finding herself tapping a foot anxiously, fidgeting unconsciously or just generally feeling restless. Daily walks helped a little, and Maki was more than willing to exhaust her in the evening, but part of her wondered if she would ever be able to get back into a practice routine once Egao was up and running; to say nothing of getting back on stage.

Nico jumped at her phone’s incoming message tone. She reached over to the device and unlocked the screen to see the sender. Hanayo. Perfect timing. Nico smiled. What wonderful idol news would they talk about today? What glorious idol related topic could she use as a distraction to take her mind off things for a few moments?

RiceQueen: Nico-chan

NicoNii: What’s up, Hanayo?

RiceQueen: Would you be willing to help me with something?

NicoNii: Of course

NicoNii: Nico always stands ready to help her friends!

RiceQueen: Thanks Nico-chan

RiceQueen: It’s about Rin-chan

NicoNii: Oh?

RiceQueen: You know about her internship, right?

NicoNii: I remember you two talking about it

NicoNii: But I don’t remember the details

NicoNii: Something about assisting the PE department of a local high school?

RiceQueen: That’s right

Nico furrowed her brow. What the heck was Hanayo going to ask of her? Nico knew next to nothing about being a teacher.

RiceQueen: A few of the students recognized Rin-chan as a former member of µ’s

RiceQueen: So they asked her advice on starting their own school idol group

Ah, so it was idol related after all. Nico smirked and decided to tease.

NicoNii: What, and Rin doesn’t think she can handle it?

NicoNii: I thought she did just fine as the leader of the group when Honoka stepped down

Though she was using it to joke on Rin’s behalf, Nico was being honest about her assessment of the younger girl’s capabilities.

RiceQueen: No that’s not quite it

NicoNii: Oh?

RiceQueen: I think she’s doing fine

RiceQueen: The group is already prepping for their first live

NicoNii: So what’s the problem?

RiceQueen: She’s overextending herself

RiceQueen: Between her normal classes and the internship, her schedule was already busy

NicoNii: And she’s too prideful to ask for help?

RiceQueen: I don’t think that’s quite it either

RiceQueen: I think she’s having too much fun to realize how much she is overworking herself

Nico laughed out loud. Apparently, she must have forgotten for a moment that they weren’t talking about Maki. Or Umi. Or Eli. Those three were often stubborn about doing things themselves.

NicoNii: I suppose that does sound like something Rin would do

NicoNii: So you want me to lend a hand?

NicoNii: Ease her load a bit?

RiceQueen: If you would be so kind, yes

RiceQueen: But only if you have the time yourself

RiceQueen: I know how busy you must be setting up your company

RiceQueen: I only wish I could help more

NicoNii: You’ve helped plenty so far

NicoNii: More than you probably realize

NicoNii: And I know you’ll be helping even more in the future

NicoNii: Just concentrate on your studies for now

RiceQueen: Thanks Nico-chan

RiceQueen: So do you think you can help Rin-chan and the new school idol group?

NicoNii: It would be my honor

NicoNii: You know it’s funny, I was just thinking about how I was missing my practice routine

NicoNii: Then you messaged me

NicoNii: It’s like the contrived setup in a sitcom or something

RiceQueen: That is an interesting coincidence

RiceQueen: But a good one

RiceQueen: Thanks Nico-chan

RiceQueen: I know Rin-chan would love to work with you on this

RiceQueen: And for the girls to have not just one but two famous school idols help them

RiceQueen: And one of them being the No. 1 Idol in the Universe

Nico grinned. Now Hanayo was just stroking Nico’s ego unnecessarily. Not that she had any intention of stopping the younger girl, of course.

RiceQueen: I think they’ll love it as well

RiceQueen: No, I know they’ll love it

NicoNii: It sounds like it will be fun

NicoNii: I’m looking forward to it

RiceQueen: I’ll tell Rin-chan right away

RiceQueen: She’ll be thrilled

RiceQueen: Thanks again Nico-chan

NicoNii: I should thank you for thinking about giving me such an opportunity

NicoNii: You know

NicoNii: Depending on how it goes, maybe we can make it a regular thing

NicoNii: Helping new school idol groups

NicoNii: It can be something special that Egao does for the next generation of idols

RiceQueen: That sounds like a really good idea

RiceQueen: But you wouldn’t charge for it would you?

NicoNii: Of course not

NicoNii: It would be pro bono

NicoNii: Pro bono publico

NicoNii: Pro bono idoli?

RiceQueen: Pro bono schola idoli!

NicoNii: Yes!

NicoNii: That’s it exactly!

NicoNii: If big name law firms require, or at least strongly encourage their lawyers to do a certain amount of pro bono work, I don’t see why we can’t do the same

NicoNii: Everyone that works for Egao will need to put in some hours helping some school idols

NicoNii: Well, I guess I’m not sure if we’ll make it mandatory or not, but I think we should at least offer some rewards and incentives to those who do

RiceQueen: Would that still be considered pro bono if they’re being rewarded?

NicoNii: Well the students wouldn’t be the ones paying for the services rendered and the rewards would not be in the form of regular pay…

NicoNii: Or maybe it will be paid?

NicoNii: I don’t know

NicoNii: So… maybe?

NicoNii: I’ll ask Maki-chan about it

NicoNii: Surly she has a lawyer or two in her family

NicoNii: They can’t all be doctors

RiceQueen: Maybe

RiceQueen: But if I’m going to be working for Egao soon

RiceQueen: Perhaps I can get an early start on my quota?

RiceQueen: The more we talk about it, the more I want to help you and Rin-chan with her group

NicoNii: I think that would be great

NicoNii: Get the Navigators back together

NicoNii: But like I tell Maki-chan all the time

NicoNii: Don’t let it take precedence over your studies

RiceQueen: Understood

RiceQueen: Maybe just on nights I don’t have early classes the next day?

NicoNii: Whatever works best for you

NicoNii: But Egao is going to need the power of the knowledge and skills you’re acquiring with your degree

RiceQueen: I’ll do my best

NicoNii: I know you will

NicoNii: You always do

NicoNii: Anyway, Maki-chan is going to be home soon, so I will need to get started on making dinner soon

NicoNii: I can keep talking but there may be delays in my responses as I prepare stuff

RiceQueen: Alright

NicoNii: And I suppose I should make something for Nozomi and Eli as well

NicoNii: Have Rin send me the details when she can

RiceQueen: Will do

NicoNii: So did you catch the latest PV for that new group we were talking about last week?

Rice Queen: Yes!

RiceQueen: It was awesome!

NicoNii: I know, right?

And just like that, the two-idol obsessed girls fell into their happy routine of chatting about their favorite topic.

Author’s Note Continued: This scene serves as the in-universe beginning of an idea I had for Egao Jōshō way back when I “first” introduced it back in HtHaN 6; the company dedicates a portion of its resources to helping school idol groups, free of charge. Pro bono schola idoli, for the good of the school idol.

And sure, the students benefit from the program, but its not completely selfless on Nico’s behalf. It’s a win-win situation. More successful idols out there means more songs for her to listen to, more concerts and lives for her to attend, more PVs for her to watch, more merchandise for her to collect, etc. And it’s good publicity. If the school idols Egao has helped decide to go pro, the company that helped them get to where they are is going to, at the very least, cross their mind when they start looking to sign with someone.

Lastly, while I was tempted to throw this scene into the “A Career Change” story arc, I think I’d rather write a new arc that follows the adventures of the former After School Navigators/µ’s Public Relations subgroup as they start helping a fledgling school idol group. Which of course means more notes for the collection and more scenes added to my “To Write” list... Que zura, zura... ╮(︶▽︶)╭

Edit: Also, I used a bit of Google-fu to look up pro bono law services in Japan. Apparently, while they don’t use the same terminology as the States, the core values are essentially the same; encouraging services to be provided to those who otherwise cannot afford it. I didn’t read into extreme depth on the topic, however, as I figured that any inaccuracies in the scene can be dismissed as ignorance on the part of the characters. Of course, I would hope that nobody is seeking hard facts about how the world works in a fluffy fanfic.