NozoMaki

NozoMaki is the femslash ship between Maki Nishikino and Nozomi Tojo from the Love Live! fandom.

Canon
Nozomi and Maki first meet in episode 2. Maki visits the shrine to secretly watch Honoka, Kotori, and Umi practice. She is caught by surprise when Nozomi, who volunteers at the shrine, grabs her chest from behind. Maki is obviously embarrassed by it, and asks what Nozomi is doing. In a cryptic way, Nozomi tells Maki that she knows Maki wants to help Honoka. Nozomi tells Maki that she still has some growing to do, but she hasn't given up on her desires which is good. She suggests anonymity if Maki is too embarrassed about something, referring to her writing a song for μ's. Maki is confused, but Nozomi walks away, saying "you know what I mean".

In Episode 10, μ's goes to Maki's vacation home for a training camp. Nozomi offers to go with Maki to the supermarket to shop for groceries. Maki protests at first, but Nozomi says that hanging out with different people from time to time is always nice. On their walk, Maki asks what's on Nozomi's mind, and she says she was just thinking that Maki is a troublesome type. That she actually wants to get along with everyone, but can't bring herself to express that. Maki says she's just being herself, but Nozomi counters that if she keeps doing that she'll never be able to tell everyone how she feels. Maki gets a little irritated and asks why Nozomi even cares. Nozomi says it's because she just can't leave her alone, because she knows someone else just like Maki. Nozomi summarizes that she thinks it would be a good idea to come out of her comfort zone,and the two keep walking.

Later that night, the group ends up having a pillow fight. This is started by Nozomi throwing a pillow at Nico and claiming that Maki did it, later pretending she has no idea what Maki is talking about. She does this in an attempt to get Maki to open up to the others. Maki gets hit with a pillow by Honoka, and Nozomi teases her if she's going to throw one back. During the pillow fight, Maki and Nozomi team up to dual bean Umi with their pillows to stop her from taking out her interrupted-sleep-rage on Hanayo and Rin. Then, Nozomi beans Maki. Maki gets upset and shouts at Nozomi, referring to her non-formally. Nozomi points this out to her, and Maki gets embarrassed.

The next morning, Maki wakes up early and heads to the beach and sees Nozomi there. Nozomi smiles upon seeing her. She ends up telling Maki that since she's been watching and giving advice to the second years even before they formed the idol group, she has an emotional stake in μ's. Then she wonders if she said too much, asks Maki not to tell anyone. Maki blushes a little and says Nozomi's a troublesome one, and Nozomi playfully responds that now she's the one calling her that.

In episode 8 of season 2, Nozomi suggests that μ's write a love song. Due to Eli being as excited about it as Nozomi, Maki gets suspicious and follows the two. Eventually she shows herself and confronts them. Nozomi invites Maki into her house. Maki learns that Nozomi lives on her own, and about Nozomi's early life and years at Otonokizaka, something that no one but herself and Eli knows. Nozomi tells Maki that when she first saw her, she felt a very strong connection to her.

In the School Idol Movie, Maki and Nozomi ride in the same taxi to their hotel after arriving in New York. Later in the evening, Nozomi tells Maki, who is in the shower that she bought some drinks. As she puts them away, she notices Maki's music notebook. She takes a look inside and is caught by Maki. Maki asks what she's doing, and if she saw anything. Nozomi said she did, and she thinks it's a good song so far. Maki tells her not to think about it as it is just her own personal thing. After their flight home, Nozomi gets close to Maki's ear. She quietly asks if Maki had finished her song yet. Maki gets flustered and reiterates that it's nothing. Nozomi says again that she thinks it's a lovely song.

Moments

 * S1E10: Maki holds hands with Nozomi when everyone stands in a line and looks at the sea.

Fanon
Due to Nozomi's efforts to get Maki to come out of her shell, and her seeming to be able to understand Maki unlike the others, the ship sailed. As Maki is usually hanging out with the third years, that helped the ship. However, it is not as popular a ship for Maki, being beaten out by ships like even MakiPana and HonoMaki, as well as others. It's only Nozomi's 4th most popular ship on AO3, rivalling NozoNico and HonoNozo.

Fandom
FANFICTION
 * NozoMaki stories on FanFiction.net
 * NozoMaki comics on Dynasty Reader
 * NozoMaki stories on FanFiction.net
 * NozoMaki comics on Dynasty Reader
 * NozoMaki comics on Dynasty Reader

TUMBLR

'DEVIANTART

INSTAGRAM

PIXIV
 * のぞまき tag on Pixiv

Trivia

 * Maki is two centimeters taller than Nozomi.
 * Their image colours, red and purple, are analogous.
 * Maki and Nozomi's astrological signs, Aries and Gemini respectively, are generally viewed as a highly compatible couple.
 * Both of their "Aggressiveness" statistics are rated ★★★.

Variations

 * μ's refers to the ship between the two and Honoka Kosaka, Kotori Minami, Umi Sonoda, Hanayo Koizumi, Rin Hoshizora, Nico Yazawa, and Eli Ayase.