Nico's eyes briefly dart back to Maki, and she frowns. She looks so impressive -- and sounds it, too, completely in her element. All right, she tells herself, fists bunched up at her sides, I'll make sure not to lose!

This time, she doesn't miss her cue, and starts singing where she's supposed to. She kicks herself internally when she hears the way her voice wavers on the first few notes, but doesn't let it hinder her, steadying and firming her sound as she goes.

Nico still remembers all the lyrics, even to the parts she didn't sing -- she always made sure to have them all down pat, just in case. She's been listening to their music a lot after graduation, too -- because she likes it, of course, and because it's theirs, but also out of some inexplicable obligation to keep it all fresh in her mind.

By the end of it, she'd say she gave a pretty solid show. She didn't fall behind Maki once, didn't let the volume of the piano drown her out. Yup, she didn't let herself lose.

Once the song is over, she turns back to Maki with a grin, hands on her hips. "Well? How was it? Don't you feel privileged to have gotten a private performance by the great Nico-nii all for yourself?"