Chapter 36

Sayori woke with a grunt the next morning, feeling a heavy weight against her.

"Natsukiiii, get oooff meee." she groaned, pushing against the girl who was wrapped into her lap.

Natsuki mumbled something incoherent, wrapping her arms and legs tighter around her friend.

"C'mon, Nat! We have school!" Sayori pushed rougher this time, causing the smaller girl to fall sideways onto the couch with an oof.

"Huh? What? I'm up!" Natsuki muttered groggily, rubbing her eyes.

"Then come on! We're gonna be late!" Sayori tugged Natsuki to her feet against the girl's protests.

"Okay okay! Stop yanking me!" Natsuki pulled her arm out of Sayori's grasp with a huff.

"Sorry! But we have to hurry!" Sayori insisted, grabbing her bag.

She snaked her fingers through her short hair, fixing the red bow to sit properly.

"What about breakfast?" Natsuki whined as she was once again seized by the arm.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise!" Sayori said, sloppily sliding on her shoes.

"You better, Sayori Easton!" Natsuki cried angrily.

As the two began sprinting oit the door, they were startled by the sound of a car horn.

"Where do you two think you're going?" Monika smirked from the curb.

"Moni!" Sayori ran towards the car, Natsuki on her heels.

"H-Hey, N-Natsuki..." Yuri mumbled shyly from the passenger's seat.

"H-Hi.." Natsuki nodded in greeting.

"You two just gonna stand there or are you getting in?" Monika joked.

"Thanks, Moni!" Sayori kissed her cheek before opening the door and sliding into the backseat.

Natsuki hesitantly joined, sitting directly behind Yuri.

~~~

"Thanks for the ride, Nik." Natsuki said, gazing at the ground to stop her eyes from wandering to Yuri.

"No problem, Ski." Monika ruffled her hair, earning a smack from the pinkette.

"See ya, Sayo!" Monika gave Sayori a quick kiss on the lips.

"Bye!" Sayori waved cheerfully.

"When did you and Monika get so close?" Sayori smirked, nudging her friend in the shoulder.

"Hey! I don't have to tell you everything." Natsuki blushed.

"Awe~! My bestie and my sweetie getting along~, sooo cuuute!" Sayori sang, skipping down the hall with Natsuki reluctantly at her side.

"Shut the hell up!" Natsuki growled, blushing deeper.

"Okay okay." Sayori rolled her eyes with a grin.

"Speaking of which, didn't you and Yuri used to be really close?" Sayori asked, tilting her head in thought.

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about." Natsuki crossed her arms.

"Yeah! I think I remember! She used to call you that super cute nickname! What was it again... Naki?" Sayori smirked, watching the shiver that ran down Natsuki's spine.

"One more word and I'll beat you to a pulp!" Natsuki snapped, her face flushing bright red from the base of her neck to the tips of her ears.

"Eek!" Sayori began jogging down the hall, squealing and howling with laughter as Natsuki chased her.

~~~

"I didn't realise you and Natsuki were friends." Yuri stated as they walked the junior hall.

"Yeah. I mean, we've hung out a few times." Monika shrugged.

An idea hit her.

"Wait a minute... Are you jealous?" Monika gasped, a wide grin spreading on her face.

"J-Jealous? O-Of what?" Yuri stuttered, looking away.

Some students snickered around them, pointing at Yuri before running off with a glare from Monika.

"You're jealous that I hang out with Natsuki." Monika smirked.

"W-Why would that... Why would I be jealous by that?" Yuri denied, crossing her arms.

"Because..." Monika leaned closer, "You want to be alone with Natsuki."

Yuri tensed, a whine escaping her throat as a heavy, deep blush engulfed her entire face and fingertips.

"I-I never... I didn't say that!" Yuri's eyes widened, her heart thrumming wildly.

"But you thought it." Monika corrected.

Yuri stayed silent, turning her head to the side as she bit her lip.

"You're not denying it~" Monika purred.

"I-I don't have to! B-Because I know it isn't true." Yuri defended.

"Sure, cous." Monika chuckled.

"Later!" Monika waved, turning down an opposite hallway.

"M-Monika! I-I don't like her!" Yuri called after her, though Monika pretended not to hear.

~~~

"How long has it been since we've just relaxed together like this?" Sayori hummed, resting her head in Monika's lap.

They were currently sitting on Sayori's couch, having just finished helping Sayori with her homework for the day.

"Well it has been a rough few days." Monika chuckled nervously.

"Feels more like weeks." Sayori muttered.

"I'm sorry. It has been kinda stressful, so I totally get it." Monika stroked the girl's hair, smiling down at her.

"I've missed being with you like this..." Sayori admitted softly, turning so Monika couldn't see the blush of her face.

"Me too... I feel like we don't get to relax like this outside of school much these days..." Monika sighed.

Sayori breathed deeply, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent of Monika's rose lotion.

"How'd everything go with your parents?" Sayori asked hesitantly.

"I... I don't know.. I haven't heard back from them yet..." Monika bit her lip, rubbing her fingers through Sayori's hair to comfort herself.

As if on cue, her phone rang from the coffee table.

Monika gently sat Sayori up, standing to answer the call.

"Hello?" Monika asked the unknown caller.

"Yo, Dyke Queen." a familiar voice snickered.

"Monty?!" Monika squealed.

"I heard you gave mom and dad a run for their money. Great job." her brother praised.

"You heard, huh?" Monika chuckled anxiously.

"Yup. Also heard you're in denial of being straight." Monty said sarcastically.

"You know that's not true." Monika rolled her eyes.

"Well anyway. I just called to say good job kicking their asses and that mom said they're cutting you off. Don't worry, though, big bro's got your back, sis." Monty said confidently, and Monika could feel his determination through the speaker.

"Thanks, chick magnet." Monika said.

"No prob, lesbo." Monty laughed.

"Gotta go, I'll talk to you later." Monika said, noticing Sayori was starting to doze off.

"Ciao, bella." Monty said, hanging up.

"Who was that, baby?" Sayori yawned.

"My brother." Monika answered, sitting down again as Sayori leaned against her.

"Oh yeah... What was his name? Monty?" Sayori asked groggily.

"Yep." Monika giggled.

"Oh. Why was he calling?" Sayori asked with a yawn.

"I was getting to that..." Monika said hesitantly.

"Is it... Something bad?" Sayori sat up, gazing fearfully into Monika's eyes.

"Sort of..." Monika nodded.

"Well, what is it?" Sayori rested her hand atop her girlfriend's.

"My parents.... Are cutting me off." Monika said, releasing a shaky breath.

"Moni, I'm sorry..." Sayori said, shifting her gaze downward.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for?" Monika said questioningly, tilting her head at her lover's actions.

"It is. If... If you hadn't met me... If you hadn't then your parents wouldn't hate you now..." Sayori said, a tear escaping her eye.

Monika lifted her head, gasping as she wiped it from her face.

"Sayo, Sayo, you did nothing wrong. Baby, do you hear me? This was my choice. I did this for myself. And none of this is your fault in any way." Monika said sternly.

"But..." Sayori began.

Monika silenced her with a kiss, wiping another tear with her thumb.

"Sayori.. Sayo I love you. I would never blame you for something like this!" Monika promised.

"Okay..." Sayori said slowly, as if not truly meaning it.

"Are you tired?" Monika asked after a few seconds.

Sayori nodded slowly, her gaze cast downward.

"Let's get you to bed, then." Monika brushed back Sayori's bangs as the girl's eyes slowly fluttered closed.

"Okay..." Sayori nodded weakly.

Monika gently grabbed the girl in her arms, resting Sayori's head against her shoulder as she carried her up the stairs.

"Goodnight, Sayo." Monika whispered, pulling the blanket over her girlfriend.

"Love you, Moni..." Sayori muttered.

"Love you, too." Monika said sweetly, turning and leaving the room.

Monika climbed into her car, sighing as she hesitantly pulled on her seatbelt.

"Goodnight, my princess." Monika said, glancing towards Sayori's bedroom window.

She then drove off, sighing deeply and clenching the steering wheel.

I love you, Sayori. More than anything, I do.