Chapter 9

"Hey!" Natsuki sounded pissed.

Monika and Sayori jumped away from each other, both sets of eyes fixated on the short baker standing in the doorway.

"What the fuck?! Didn't I warn you not to make my friend cry?!" Natsuki yelled, cracking her knuckles as she took a few steps closer.

"Nat! It's not like that!" Sayori defended, standing to block Natsuki's path.

"Then what the fuck is this?" Natsuki gestured to Sayori's wild hair and puffy, wet eyes.

"Rainclouds." Sayori muttered.

Natsuki froze, completely understanding the term.

"Could you give us a minute?" Natsuki asked Monika, who still sat confused on the bed.

"I was just leaving." Monika excused herself, making a beeline for the stairs to leave.

"So... What happened?" Natsuki said in a soft, conceded voice as she took a seat on the bed.

Sayori sighed, sitting beside her.

~~~

"I see.." Natsuki said, nodding in understanding after Sayori explained the situation.

"So you wigged out, Monika found you, and she basically 'bibbity-boppity-booped' those rainclouds away?" Natsuki said, using terms Sayori would understand with ease.

"Yeah..." Sayori admitted, embarrassed.

Natsuki sighed, laying back on the bed with a plop.

"Looks like we're both in over our heads with these sophomores, huh?" Sayori said, laying beside her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Natsuki blushed, crossing her arms.

"Yuri Owens~?" Sayori whispered in her ear, watching Natsuki squeak and turn to hide her face.

"I-I do not like her!" Natsuki said defensively.

"Nat, don't lie to me." Sayori said, poking her arm as she puffed out her cheeks.

"I-I don't! I just... I-I mean, she's so smart, and cool, and mysterious... and pretty..." Natsuki trailed off, a bright smile on her face as she stared off into nothing.

"I get cha. I've got Monika on the brain too." Sayori admitted with a sigh.

"Not to be rude but I think I've seen more personality in a rock. What makes her so special?" Natsuki asked, cocking her head.

"Hey! She's got loads of personality! She's sweet, and smart... caring, funny... patient, beautiful, wonderful... kind..." Sayori droned on in a cheerful tone, counting on her fingers.

"She's talented, resourceful, reliable..." Sayori continued.

"Alright I get it you're in love with 'er." Natsuki said jokingly, dismissing her with a wave.

"I-I think I am." Sayori said for the first time aloud, sitting up.

"No way! Since when?" Natsuki asked, copying her action and sitting upright.

"Frth grd." Sayori mumbled, turning her head away.

"What?" Natsuki asked, not hearing a word of that.

"Fourth grade!" Sayori groaned, hiding her embarrassed face in her hands.

"Holy shit, Sayo. That's like... Next level stalker shit." Natsuki teased, nudging her shoulder.

"Shut up!" Sayori whined.

"Kidding, kidding!" Natsuki held up her hands in defense, snickering at her friend.

"Why don't you tell her?" she asked next.

"What if she's straight? Or just sees me as a friend?" Sayori said, lifting her head to stare at Natsuki with fearful eyes.

"First off, I can assure you she's not straight cuz in gym class-" Sayori cut her off.

"You have gym with Monika?!" Sayori said, imagining Monika in the navy blue short shorts part of their uniform.

"Yes. Can I continue?" Natsuki asked, slightly irritated.

Sayori nodded, eager to hear what Natsuki was trying to say.

"Anyway. If you could see what a useless lesbian she was in gym around all those girls in shorts and really tight shirts, anyone could tell immediately she wasn't hetero." Natsuki chuckled, remembering a time when Monika fainted in the girls locker room.

Sayori felt a pang of jealousy at the yearn for Monika to swoon like that over her.

"And I think maybe she likes you, too." Natsuki stated.

"What? How?" Sayori said, blushing a bit as her heart fluttered at the idea.

Natsuki gave her an incredulous look as if to say 'what the actual fuck you useless gay'.

"Sayo, the girl's got it bad." Natsuki said, her face unchanging.

"What do you mean?" Sayori tilted her head in confusion.

"I mean, how often do you see two 'friends' cuddling each other to sleep?" Natsuki smirked as Sayori's entire face went red.

"Y-Y-You saw that?!" Sayori squeaked.

"Yup. And I saw how flustered Monika looked when you got caught." Natsuki smirked wider, chuckling a bit.

Sayori whined, burying her face once again in her palms.

"But hey, I think she might really like you. Give it a shot!" Natsuki patted her back.

"And what if you're wrong? What if she rejects me and doesn't wanna be my friend anymore cuz she'll know I love her." Sayori said.

She paused, realizing that she finally said it.

"I love her..." Sayori repeated, more to herself than to the girl beside her.

"I know. Which is why you should tell her, man!" Natsuki shook her shoulder.

Sayori bit her lip, deep in thought as she tossed around different scenarios of what could happen, not liking a single outcome.

"I can't think of a single outcome where she doesn't hate my guts." Sayori deadpanned.

"Cuz you're being negative!" Natsuki smacked her lightly on the back of the head.

"Owww!" Sayori yelped, rubbing her head while Natsuki rolled her eyes.

"Okay. I'll tell Monika if you..." Sayori said, leaning closer.

"Flirt with Yuri~." she whispered mischievously in her ear.

Natsuki tensed, a bright pink blush enveloping her face.

"Sayo! You know I can't do that!" Natsuki whined.

"And you know I can't ask out a hot girl!" Sayori slapped her arm.

They giggled, sighing as they fell back against the mattress in sync.

"You know what I think?" Sayori said.

"What?" Natsuki asked.

"You and Yuri are gonna get married someday. And I'm gonna be the maid of honor." Sayori said matter-of-factly.

Natsuki punched her roughly on the shoulder with a growl.

"No way! Plus, she has a girlfriend!" Natsuki stated.

"Since when?" Sayori asked, not having heard this piece of information.

"Since last week. Some junior girl asked her out." Natsuki sulked, pouting a bit without realising.

Sayori turned on her side, crushing Natsuki in a hug.

"Ugh! Sayo! Lay off!" Natsuki struggled to push the bigger girl off of her.

"Nope. You're upset. So I'm gonna cuddle you until you feel better." Sayori said, squeezing her tighter.

"Sayoriiii! C'mon, I can't breathe! I'm losing oxygen here!" Natsuki complained, yet couldn't fight the smile that crept onto her face.

"Feel better yet?" Sayori asked after a few minutes.

"Kinda. Thanks." Natsuki said, patting Sayori's head with the arm that wasn't being laid on.

They stayed like that a while longer as both girls drifted off with their crushes on their minds.

(Did I mention that platonic Saysuki is one of my OTPs? XD)