Chapter 3: Nico Nico Nii

“Nico nii, 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 Nico’s private theme song. Ehehe♡

Nico nii, nico nii, nico nico nii♪

It’s a rather simple, cute, and cheerful song that I like to sing. It fits Nico-nii perfectly. But in truth, I didn’t make it up myself. Back when I was just a little kid, daddy1 made it for me.

Yazawa Nico.

That’s the name my mom and dad gave me, in hopes that I would always have a smile on my face.

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.

“Okay, I’m taking it now, Ni-co ni-co nii!” And we would all smile together.

When I thought about it, I recalled 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 nii, nico nii, nico nico nii! Nico nii, Nico nii, ni-co ni-co nii! Smiling cheerfully, with a ni-co nico nii! Smiling like the sun, with a ni-co 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 hope it’s Nico’s favorite hamburger steak ♡!

When we saw our house in the distance, Daddy would let me off his shoulders, and we would walk together.

Nico nii, 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.

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!

Sometimes I would look up to the sky and ask myself, if Daddy saw Nico now, what would he think?

Even though he’s not here anymore, Nico’s family still smiles just like he did.

Giggle♡

I mean, 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.

But, you know?

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!

On the way home after μ’s practice session, I was spacing out just a little bit, thinking of that. Realizing that the sky was starting to get blurry, I rubbed my eyes.

Oh no, I’m starting to get a bit sentimental today. That’s not a Nico thing to do.

Awww. Does this mean I’ve let my guard down?

I thought that I’d been cautious at all times, though. (After all, life is war! You gotta fight to survive☆)

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 No. 1 Idol, so I should look like I’m having fun, but the nuance is a bit different, isn’t it?

I’ve definitely let down my guard a little bit, and shown an opening. That’s because those dull days, which I had gone through before I met μ’s, have passed. Now it’s a new age of nico nico nii.

♡♡♡♡♡♡

“Niiiiicoooo-chaaaan!”

Then, a wild, vibrant voice came from behind me. I turned around, and…

“Oh, Honoka-chan.”

Standing there were the three juniors, Honoka-chan, Kotori-chan, and Umi-chan.

Taken aback, I rubbed my eyes once again, and then answered back, as if nothing had happened.

“What brings you here? Did you need Nico for something?

My house is southwest from school, on the way to Akibahara station, while Honoka and Umi live in Ogawa-cho and Kanda-Suda-cho, in the opposite direction. Just for a moment, Umi-chan’s expression looked as if she’d noticed something. It felt like she have glanced into my eyes. And the next moment, that suspecting expression was wiped away by Honoka’s cheery voice.

“We were chasing after you, Nico-chan! We wanted to study outfits and dances from that mascot idol DVD you mentioned at practice today♡”

That brightened my mood a little.

“O… oh!? I knew you would like it! You’ve got a good eye for these things! The mascot idol kinda felt like a B-lister, and the casting was a bit disappointing, but the setup caught Nico’s attention! That full-body suit she was wearing is just revolutionary, and the way she came out of it right in the middle left a lasting impression! And then there was that quirk in her speaking! Kids would find it hard to forget her, don’t you think!?”

In response, Umi-chan let out a bitter laugh, Kotori had an eager smile, and Honoka went…

“You bet! That’s so cool! And we don’t have school tomorrow, so if you would lend us that mascot idol DVD, the three of us can study those outfits, and-”

Hey, wait a minute. Where is she going with this? No, don’t tell me…

“Um, sorry, but can you wait until next week? Nico-nii doesn’t have that DVD with her today.”

With that, I made my escape. I’m gonna be outta sight before they realize what I’m up to, like whoosh.

“Sorry, but I’m in a bit of a hurry, so, maybe next week-”

Before I could finish my sentence…

Honoka firmly grasped my arm, with a smile on her face.

“Don’t worry! We won’t take long ♪ We’ll come along with you, and leave as soon as we pick it up. Oh, come to think of it, we’ve never been to your place before, have we? Wooow, I can’t wait ♡ Where do you live? Aw man, and if you’d lived just a bit closer, you could have gone to Otonoki Elementary with me and Kotori! That’s too bad!”

Honoka’s practically glowing now, nico nico nii.

“Uh, um, my house is uh, kinda messy today…”

I lied to Honoka-chan with a smile.

“Aw, that doesn’t matter to me! My room’s always pretty messy too!”

I glanced over at Kotori-chan and Umi-chan, who were smiling bitterly.

“Well, I’d prefer if you were a bit more mindful about it…” said Kotori with an apologetic tone. “You always take a bunch of μ’s uniforms with you, after all…”

Then, Honoka came up with an idea.

“Oh, if you can’t let us in, we can just wait outside! Don’t worry, we’ll be off as soon as we get the DVD☆”

Nico nico nii. She smiled innocently.

Ugh, come on! I don’t even want you to come close to my house!

It would hurt their feelings if I said that out loud, wouldn’t it?

That’s why they’re so hard to handle.

Aaaagh, is Nico helpless before their innocence!?

Waaaah, Nico’s got her back to the wall!

And so…

You can read the rest online2. ♡





TL notes:

1. Nico calls her father パパ(papa) in the original text.

2. Referring to her personal blog, which she left out of her school idol diary.

Credits

Translator: Daxing (daxingdan@gmail.com)

Proofreader: Astarmist (lovelivesid@gmail.com)