Chapter 4

"Welcome!" Sayori threw open her door, which had been left unlocked all day.

"Ah geez, Sayo! You gotta start locking your door!" Natsuki complained as she rolled her eyes.

"Why? I don't have anything worth stealing anyways." Sayori shrugged with a giggle.

Monika hesitantly stepped inside, glancing around the fairly bare living room.

There was a couch big enough for two people, a TV on a small endtable against the wall, and a coffee table between them.

"Still, Sayori, leaving your house unlocked is dangerous! What if a murderer was waiting in your house when you came home one day?" Monika questioned.

"I guess... But what are the odds of that?" Sayori laughed.

Natsuki sighed as she crossed her arms.

"Don't mind her, Monika. She's just dumb when it comes to common sense... Or anything, really." Natsuki muttered the last part.

"Hey! I heard that!" Sayori blushed from the kitchen.

Monika giggled and blushed softly as Sayori grumbled incoherently, her eyebrows furrowed together angrily.

"Just- Help me make some cookies, already!" Sayori said, flustered by Monika's laughter.

"Yeah yeah." Natsuki smirked, rolling her eyes as she followed Sayori into the kitchen with Monika at her heels.

"Okay, Sayo. You know the drill. Go to your room." Natsuki said sternly as she washed her hands.

Sayori nodded, walking past Monika towards the stairs.

"Why does she have to go upstairs?" Monika asked, puzzled.

"Last time I let that airhead help me she nearly burned down the whole kitchen!" Natsuki said, irritated as she recalled the rather scary event.

"That wasn't my fault! You told me they would take 20 minutes! They weren't in for five before they caught fire!" Sayori puffed her cheeks out angrily.

"Room!" Natsuki pointed up the stairs.

Sayori huffed, stomping into her room and slamming the door behind her, muttering bitterly.

Monika stood, shifting her weight between her legs as she waited quietly.

"You can go hang out with her, if you don't wanna just stand there like a mannequin." Natsuki suggested, mixing some batter into a bowl by hand.

Monika nodded, slowly climbing up the stairs towards Sayori's room.

"S-Sayori?" Monika knocked on the door, hearing a loud crash on the other side.

Sayori stood, rubbing her head as she picked up her desk chair that had fallen with her.

"C-Come in!" she squeaked.

Monika opened the door, stepping in with her hands clasped behind her back.

"H-Hey." Sayori greeted with a lopsided smile and timid wave.

"Hi." Monika nodded in greeting, blushing softly.

Sayori sat on her bed, patting the area next to her as she bit her lip.

Monika sat down beside her, leaving a bit of space between them.

"So... you play piano?" Sayori asked, trying to break the ice.

"Kind of... I-I'm not that good yet, though." Monika said, glancing down at her lap.

"B-But you sounded so nice!" Sayori blurted.

Monika blushed deeply, a small smile creeping onto her face.

"T-Thank you..." Monika said softly.

"N-No problem." Sayori pressed her fingertips together, staring at them to avoid looking at the hot girl at her side.

"T-T-Tell me about yourself!" Monika said cheerily, smiling awkwardly at the younger girl.

"O-Oh! Um-!" Sayori laughed nervously.

"W-Well, I'm fifteen, my favourite colour is blue, I like sweets... I can count to twenty in French so far, and I can ride a bike with no hands!" Sayori smiled at Monika nervously.

Monika felt her heart race, enjoying that Sayori was telling her very cute details about herself.

"Done!" Natsuki poked her head into the room.

Sayori jumped up, racing down the stairs to get some delicious cookies.

~~~

"You know what? I'm bored. Can I crash here tonight?" Natsuki asked, coming back into the room after hanging up her phone.

Sayori nodded, knowing the real reason was Natsuki's dad had kicked her out for the night.

"You know it!" Sayori nudged her shoulder against Natsuki's with a grin.

"You should stay, too, Monika." Natsuki said, staring Sayori in the eyes with a knowing smirk.

"I-I wouldn't want to intrude..." Monika held up her hands in defence, laughing shyly.

"I-It wouldn't be a problem, really!" Sayori insisted.

"O-Okay..." Monika agreed.

~~~

Sayori glanced above her at the couch, noticing Natsuki had already fallen asleep.

"She shouldn't pick the movie if she's gonna fall asleep halfway through!" Sayori whispered, rolling her eyes.

Monika chuckled quietly, placing a hand over her mouth to further muffle the sound.

"You can, um... S-Sleep in my bed, if you like..." Sayori offered, rising from the floor to nervously press her fingertips together.

"I-I couldn't..." Monika said.

"I-I insist!" Sayori said quickly.

Monika cautiously followed Sayori up the stairs to her room.

"Um, yeah... I-I'll just... sleep on the couch with Nat!" Sayori said as Monika sat on the bed.

Monika's eyes widened, her stomach clenching in jealousy as she grabbed Sayori by the wrist.

Sayori blushed as she turned to face Monika, who was biting her lip with a deep blush of her own.

"I-It's your bed. Why don't we just... share..?" Monika said hesitantly, wishing for a sinkhole to swallow her up and take her to the Earth's core.

"S-Sure...." Sayori stuttered quietly as Monika released her.

She crawled in beside Monika, turning on her side to face the wall.

Monika turned the same direction, blushing as she stared at the back of Sayori's head.

Her hair looks so soft...

Monika resisted the urge to reach out and tangle her fingers into the pinkish pile of hair before her.

~~~

Monika continued to glance at Sayori as she waited in vain for sleep to overtake her.

She could hear Sayori's soft, slow breathing, and knew that she was asleep.

Monika couldn't resist anymore and reached out, kneading her fingers into Sayori's pinkish blondeish hair.

Sayori hummed softly, squirming a bit in her sleep as Monika smiled at the sight.

Sayori suddenly turned over, laying atop Monika's arm as their faces became inches apart.

Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod!!!

Monika blushed deeply, feeling Sayori's hot breath ghost over her lips.

"Mmngdrm..." Sayori mumbled, nuzzling against Monika's arm as her face twitched slightly.

Monika's breath hitched in her throat as she swallowed dryly, licking her lips.

Sayori's eyes began watering as she whimpered, her breathing becoming ragged.

"N-No... Don't go.... Mom...." Sayori muttered, her face changing into one of pain.

Monika's eyes widened as she quickly wrapped Sayori in her arms, holding her close.

"Sayori, it's okay." Monika said softly, stroking Sayori's hair as the young girl clutched her shirt in her sleep.

Sayori's eyes slowly fluttered open, falling on Monika's neck as she realized she was being held.

"M-Monika..?" Sayori asked quietly.

"I-I'm sorry, y-you just looked so... scared.." Monika said, retracting her arms and shuffling farther away from Sayori.

Sayori felt her heart clench with the sudden loss of warmth but nodded slowly.

"T-Thanks..." Sayori blushed.

"Um-" Sayori bit her lip, pressing her fingers together anxiously.

"Yes?" Monika asked.

"Could you, uh... Maybe... I dunno..." Sayori lowered her head to hide her face.

"What is it?" Monika asked, her heart fluttering.

"Can you keep... h-holding me, please?" Sayori blurted suddenly.

Monika's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed bright pink.

"I-I'm sorry! That sounded weird! N-Nevermind!" Sayori quickly apologized, turning over to face away from the brunette.

"U-Um okay!" Monika agreed almost instantly, stopping Sayori halfway through turning.

"R-Really?" Sayori stuttered, surprised.

"Y-Yeah! I-I don't mind..." Monika smiled awkwardly, her heart hammering in her chest and making her head spin.

Sayori hesitantly turned back over as Monika returned her arms to their place around her, hugging Sayori close against her chest.

Sayori hummed, nuzzling into Monika's chest as she dozed off yet again.

Monika drifted off as well, smiling as she clutched Sayori close.