Chapter 18

(You can thank ReaperSCP for this small bit of angst XD jkjk and also perspective change time!!!)

Yuri sighed deeply as she entered the club room.

Noting she was the only one there she checked herself for any marks her girlfriend may have given her.

"Hey, Yuri." Natsuki entered the room.

Yuri quickly pulled her skirt back down, wincing as she accidentally pressed a shapely bruise on her thigh.

"You okay..?" Natsuki asked, instantly sensing something was wrong.

"I-I'm fine." Yuri lied.

But in truth, she wasn't fine at all.

She had only started dating Zienna to make the very girl before her jealous. Though it seemed it wasn't working since Natsuki didn't seem to notice at all.

"Yuri..." Natsuki reached towards her just as Yuri moved away.

"N-Nevermind..." Natsuki said, crossing her arms as she glanced down at the floor.

Yuri nodded, hugging herself aroind her chest as she dreadfully thought of the girl she agreed to meet after club.

"Hey, Owens." said dreaded voice called, making Yuri's entire body tense.

"H-Hello, Zienna." Yuri said softly as the athletic girl entered the room.

Without a word she seized Yuri by the wrist, making Yuri cry out in pain as her fresh cuts had yet to heal from lunch.

"Hey, lay off!" Natsuki growled as she watched the scene before her.

"Or what, Fields?" Zienna teased, tugging Yuri forcefully as she held the violet haired girl to her chest.

Just then Monika and Sayori walked in, the smiles vanishing from their faces as they dawned looks of confusion.

"What's going on in here?" Monika asked, taking a step closer while Sayori went to stand at Natsuki's side.

"I just came to pick up my girl," Zienna said, glaring at Natsuki, "But someone apparently wants to start trouble."

"I'm not starting trouble! She came in and tried to man-handle Yuri. That's uncool." Natsuki defended herself, looking at Monika who was acting as mediator.

"Says the girl who beat up the girls basketball team in middle school!" the junior hissed.

"How'd you even know that?" Natsuki asked, more angry than confused.

"Retard, I'm on the basketball team!" Zienna said, gripping Yuri tighter as Yuri hissed in pain.

"Just let her go, bitch!" Natsuki said, taking a step closer.

"Yeah, Zienna. Please let her go. It looks like you're hurting her." Sayori commented.

Zienna took a disinterested glance towards Yuri before shifting her focus back to the three before her.

"She's fine! You like it rough, don't you?" Zienna grabbed Yuri's chin, forcing her to look into those sickening grey eyes.

Yuri only whimpered as the hand tightened on her jaw, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she began to feel humiliated.

"It doesn't look like she does, asshole!" Natsuki stepped forward, roughly shoving the girl back as she released Yuri to protect herself.

Yuri seized the opportunity and hid behind her cousin, who gave her hand a supportive squeeze.

"Fine! I'll go! And you can consider us through, ya hear me, skank?!" Zienna said, making Yuri flinch as her eyes welled with tears.

The older girl stomped angrily out of the room as Yuri lost her composure.

She buried her head against Monika's back as her friend turned around to wrap her in an embrace.

Sayori joined the hug, too, gesturing Natsuki to do the same.

Natsuki shook her head, not seeing it as her place to comfort others.

"I think... We should all head home early today, alright?" Monika suggested as Sayori agreed instantly.

Yuri nodded weakly as the couple left the room, leaving just Yuri and Natsuki.

"I, uh... I-I'll walk you home. I-In case that jerk tries to mess with you again." Natsuki offered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Yuri nodded, feeling a ball of nerves swell in her stomach as she gathered her things.

"T-Thank you..." Yuri said softly on the walk.

"For what?" Natsuki asked.

"F-For... T-Telling her off... I-I couldn't b-bring myself to d-do it..." Yuri explained quietly.

"Oh, no problem. And you know you don't have to be so formal with me, right? Kinda makes a girl feel... plain, ya know?" Natsuki shrugged, scratching the back of her neck.

"W-What do you suggest?" Yuri tilted her head in thought.

"I dunno." Natsuki shrugged yet again, blushing softly as she realized this was the longest conversation they had ever shared.

"I-I could... G-Give you a name?" Yuri suggested, gripping her hair in her fingers.

"Like..?" Natsuki began.

"W-What about Naki? I-It's the first and l-last sound of your n-name." Yuri said extra quietly.

Natsuki suppressed a laugh, nodding softly.

"Sure. Whatever floats your boat." Natsuki said, hiding the grin that appeared on her face by turning her head.

Yuri nodded weakly as they rounded the corner.

"U-Um... T-This is my street." Yuri informed her as Natsuki came to a stop.

"Alright. I-I'll be off, then." Natsuki waved, not waiting for a reaction as she speed walked towards her own home.

~~~

Monika sighed, stressed by the event that just took place in her club room.

"You okay, Moni?" Sayori asked, tilting her head to see Monika's face better as they approached the car.

"Yeah... That was just..." Monika trailed off.

"Something?" Sayori finished with a grin.

"Exactly." Monika agreed, returning the smile in full.

"There's uh.. Something else I should probably tell you.." Monika said as she pulled onto the road.

"Yeah?" Sayori asked, looking in Monika's direction.

"I'm... Not going to... Be here this summer.." Monika bit her lip.

"W-Which sucks because I was looking forward to spending time with you! L-Like maybe going on some dates, or I-I could've taken us to the beach or..." Monika rambled on, gripping the steering wheel.

Sayori smiled softly, placing a hand on Monika's upper arm.

"We can do that stuff when you get back, silly! Or before you leave. It's okay." Sayori assured her.

Monika sighed, relaxing her body a bit.

"Y-You're right. I don't know why I panicked just now. Sorry." Monika apologized, giggling a bit at her own actions.

"It's fine. I'm gonna miss you, though..." Sayori admitted, smiling down at her index fingers which were being pressed together gently.

"I'll miss you, too." Monika agreed as she pulled into Sayori's drive way.

"Well, since I have a phone now we can text or call whenever you want during your trip, okay?" Sayori said as she exited the vehicle.

"Yeah! Of course!" Monika said happily, walking Sayori to the door.

"It's going to be a boring summer without you." Monika said, wrapping her arms around Sayori's waist.

"We have a bit before then... You haven't left yet." Sayori pointed out, resting her hands against the back of Monika's neck.

"That's true." Monika said, leaning a bit closer.

"When do you leave?" Sayori asked quietly.

"Next week." Monika informed her, her breath ghosting over Sayori's lips.

"And when will you be back?" Sayori questioned even softer.

"Not until a few days before school starts again." Monika said in an unhappy tone.

"That's kind of a long time..." Sayori said, licking her lips.

"I know. And I'm going to miss you so much." Monika finally closed the gap, planting a tender kiss to Sayori's waiting lips.

"I'll miss you even more." Sayori said, resting her forehead against Monika's.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." Monika promised.

"Okay..." Sayori said, leaning in for another kiss.

Monika eagerly obliged, wrapping her arms tighter around her girlfriend's waist as Sayori hummed into the kiss.

Sayori pulled away, smiling brightly.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Sayori said, taking a step backwards towards her door.

"Yeah. I'll pick you up." Monika said with a nod as she turned to walk to her car.

Sayori waved as Monika drove off.

This is going to be the longest summer of my life...