Chapter 21

Sayori averted her eyes as Monika undressed to get into the tub.

Don't stare don't stare don't stare don't stare....

"I'm in now..." Monika informed her, sinking into the water so she was covered by the bubbles.

Sayori opened her eyes, glancing at Monika as the brunette solemnly hugged her knees to her chest with a frown.

"You know..." Sayori began, "I make a bubble bath every time my mom visits."

"Why?" Monika asks, tilting her head a bit.

"I said they help when I'm having a bad day, right?" Sayori said to which Monika nodded in remembrance.

"Well, when my mom's around... I always have bad days.." Sayori shrugged, keeping her smile in place.

"She doesn't come home very often. And when she does she looks worse every time. Like it's never the same woman." Sayori continued before Monika could reply.

"She's constantly away. Getting trashed, I assume. She's like a kid anytime I see her. You have to constantly watch her or she'll hurt herself doing something stupid." Sayori chuckled.

"But it's always been like that, I guess. She's never been a mom to me. She's just some woman who happens to look kinda like me and pushed me outta her." Sayori pressed her index fingers together.

"I mean, I used to think she cared about me. I really tried to believe it as long as I could... But then I realized she only comes to see me when she doesn't have drug lords or the police on her tail. This is like her hideout for when she screws people over, I suppose." Sayori explained.

"Sayori..." Monika said softly, lowering her knees a bit to view the brave girl before her a bit better.

"Anyway... That's why I started liking bubble baths. Dev, that lady who I said was like my second best friend? Yeah... The first time my mom left, I was eight. Dev came over that night and ran me a bath. She broke the news after I got in, but the bath felt so good and the soap smelled like bubble gum, so it didn't seem to affect me at all until I got out." Sayori finished, smiling at Monika as if she didn't just spill her rather sad past to her.

"Sayori... I'm so sorry..." was all Monika could think to say after that.

"It's okay, don't be. I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me as much anymore." Sayori shrugged with a giggle.

"Why..? Why did you tell me all that..?" Monika asked.

"If I had something sad on my mind, I know I'd like a story to distract me." Sayori said with a grin.

"How do you do that?" Monika inquired.

"Do what?" Sayori said, her turn to be confused.

"Smile like nothing bothers you... No matter how sad you are inside?" Monika asked, marveling in Sayori's ability to stay positive after a story like that.

"It's all I can do, I guess." Sayori said, "If I don't smile, people would know when something's wrong."

"Well... What if I want to know when something's wrong?" Monika asked.

Sayori stayed quiet. No one had asked her that before.

"Sayori. Don't suffer in silence. I'm here to help you carry that weight. You just have to let me." Monika said softly, reaching a wet hand towards Sayori's bare leg.

Sayori placed her hand atop Monika's, smiling down at them.

"Thank you, Monika..." Sayori said.

"I think I'm ready for bed, if you don't mind." Monika said after a moment.

"Yeah, I'll go get you something to change into." Sayori nodded, leaving the bathroom so Monika could dry off.

She grabbed a random pair of sweat pants and one of her hoodies, holding them in her arms as she knocked on the bathroom door.

"I have your clothes." Sayori said.

"D-Did you, um... N-Need underwear...?" Sayori asked hesitantly, a blush spreading over her entire face.

"I-I'm alright, t-thanks!" Monika poked her head from behind the door, blushing as well, as she quickly grabbed the clothes from Sayori's hold.

Sayori walked into the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar to snack on while she waited.

"Ahh! Dammit, cat!" Sayori held a hand to her heart, startled when Ludwig had unexpectedly jumped onto the counter behind her and meowed.

"Oh, you're hungry." Sayori said as if she understood what he said.

She grabbed a bowl, pouring him some milk and setting down a plate of the leftover ham from her sandwich she ate for dinner.

"Sayori?" she heard Monika from down the hall.

"I'm coming!" Sayori said, rushing to find her.

Sayori grabbed Monika's hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Where did you want to sleep? I can take the couch, if you want." Sayori offered.

"No, could I just... Maybe... Sleep with you? In your bed?" Monika blushed, licking her air-dried lips.

Sayori nodded as they made their way upstairs to Sayori's room.

Monika clicked the door shut as Sayori sat hesitantly on the edge of the bed.

Monika climbed into the bed, nuzzling against Sayori's pillows as she was instantly warmed.

It's still warm... I must've woken her when I arrived...

"Sorry I came at such a late time..." Monika said in company of her thought.

"It's okay. I had just woken up when I heard you knock." Sayori shrugged, still sitting at the edge.

"Why did you wake up?" Monika questioned.

"I was getting up to use the bathroom, actually." Sayori said.

Monika hummed in understanding as Sayori fidgeted in place.

"Sayori?" Monika asked.

"Y-Yeah?" Sayori asked, laying back on a propped elbow to face her better.

"Do you not wanna lay with me..?" Monika asked, biting her lip.

"W-What? No! I mean- Yes, I want to, but no, I- Ugh-!" Sayori squeaked in embarrassment.

"Then what's wrong?" Monika asked, tilting her head a bit.

"I-I just... D-Doesn't it feel kinda... intimate?" Sayori said quietly, turning her face as it filled with a burning hot blush.

"I-I mean-! Like- I-It was a bit different w-when we were just friends, b-but now... W-We're... Dating.." Sayori explained, pressing her fingertips together anxiously.

"O-Oh..." Monika said, blushing as well.

"W-Well, we are dating, right? I-It isn't that bad for us to be in the same bed..." Monika reasoned.

"Y-Yeah, I-I guess you're right." Sayori agreed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.

"S-So are you going to lay down?" Monika asked with a smile.

"Yeah." Sayori smiled back, climbing in under the blanket as well, her back to Monika.

Monika wrapped an arm around Sayori's waist, just above her hip, as she buried her face between Sayori's back and the pillow beneath her.

"M-Monika!" Sayori gasped at Monika's frigid arm touching her warm abdomen, shivering at the cold.

Monika was already fast asleep, Sayori turning over to gaze at her sleeping features.

She smiled as she watched Monika's nostrils flare with every breath, the way her eyes would occasionally squint at whatever was happening in her dream, and her irresistible parted lips.

Sayori gave into the temptation, leaning forward to plant a gentle kiss to Monika's sleeping lips.

Then, like the fairytale she was, Monika's eyes fluttered open to rest upon her.

"Sayo, I was sleeping." Monika teased.

"I-I know!" Sayori said, her blush returning.

"So why'd you kiss me?" Monika mused with a giggle.

"B-Because you looked so cute!" Sayori defended herself.

Monika blushed, smiling wider as her arm tightened it's hold of Sayori's waist.

"If you wanted a kiss, you should've just asked." Monika informed her.

"But you were asleep!" Sayori countered, feeling embarrassed about being caught in the first place.

"If it means I get a kiss from you, I don't mind being woken up. No matter what time it is." Monika said softly, inching her face ever so closer to Sayori's.

Sayori placed a hand on Monika's cheek, leaning in as well.

Their lips met, a mix of passion and love laced into the kiss.

They eventually pulled apart, resting their foreheads together.

Monika wrapped both arms around Sayori's waist while Sayori's slung around her neck.

Monika drew her in, draping a leg over her to get as close as she could without being directly on top of her.

Sayori nestled into her hold, her breathing slowing until both girls fell into a deep sleep together.