Chapter Text
Ch 4 - The Ride Natsuki
I’m glad the nurse was someone I could trust. She wondered why I always had so many bruises more than just the one on my head from the box that fell. I kinda had to tell her… It was either that or feel like I’ve wronged the only adult I still like in this world…
Either way it was going to happen eventually…
“Natsuki, dear, you really need to get away from that man. Or at least let the police know about it.” I flinched when the peroxide coated cloth hit one of the cuts on my thigh. “I know it hurts, but please try to stay still for me, ok?” I could only nod then ‘cus if I tried to talk I’d only start crying.
“Alright, there. That should do it for now.” She looked up at me from her crouching position. “If you need someone to talk to about anything, give me a call. I’m always willing to help~”
I could only look down in shame… There was something I needed to get off my chest, but I couldn’t form it into words… I instead just thanked her and left for the club room.
Little did I realize that Yuri had actually come back to get me.
“Y-Yuri, what are you-”
“Club’s almost over and you were taking longer than expected to return…”
Yet again I couldn’t face her directly. “S-Sorry… T-The nurse and I got a little chatty about things…” I walked past her a bit. “W-We should get back…”
Yuri wordlessly followed behind me. Something about her very presence made it seem like the world around me was slowing down to a crawl… Everything was calm. Maybe it was just the fact that the hallway was empty and the orange/yellow color of the sun coming through the windows doing that… I don’t know anymore…
…
The walk wasn’t long. I had certainly wished it was a bit longer, but that would have to suffice…
“The others want to go out for ice cream and want us to come with…” Certainly Yuri wasn’t gonna- “I did agree to go with, but only because Monika’s buying for all of us…” Well… That actually doesn’t sound too bad, but… Wait, no Papa’s at work right now… I think he is anyway… Well, hope should be a better word for that but whatever…
“Are you coming, Natsuki?” Ah crap, looks like I froze for a sec…
“Y-Yeah, sorry… I guess I can go…”
Yuri slid the door open only for the two of us to be greeted by a smiling Sayori. She gave me the biggest bear hug I had ever seen her give anyone before… Not that I didn’t like it though, her hugs are so warm.
“Ah, welcome back you two~ Natsuki, I gathered your things for you. Everything should be ready to go.”
“Oh, thanks Moni…” Sayori lets me go after a few seconds and I walk over to check though and sure as shit, it’s all here. Why must I doubt people?
“So, I’m gonna go ahead and assume Yuri told you about our plans, right?”
“She did, yeah.”
“Well…? You coming with us? It’ll be fun~”
“Well, since you put it that way, I guess I can’t say no… Especially to that damn puppy dog face of yours Sayo…” She smiled in a sort of sly way she like to when she teases me. It’s not often, but I think she enjoys it a little too much…
“Alright then, let’s head out. How about we meet up at Sayori’s house in a half hour?”
“I don’t mind that… M-Maybe I could drive us if the shop is still then…”
“Ok, cool~ I don’t mind my place being the meet up.”
I would likely need a ride home so I could quick drop my crap off and leave. Yuri does have a licence though so… Maybe this could work…
I pull her aside for a second and ask if I could get a ride to my place and if she could wait outside for me. “I-I wouldn’t mind at all… I’ll wait outside for you too.”
…
“S-So, uh… Nice weather today huh… “ Oh god what am I doing…?
“It’s very nice I suppose… I prefer the world at night as opposed to now but at least the sky looks nice with how the sun’s rays are hitting our eyes.” Jesus, that was long… I almost forgot she likes to talk like this...
“Y-Yeah… The night sky really is the best… It’s like I’m looking at thousands of fireflies flying over us…”
This car ride really is awkward…
“Say, c-can I change over at your house instead? I really just wanna get my things in my room and leave…”
“Do you not like being at home…?”
It always hurts to hear that but… Why does it have to be true…?
“Y-Yeah, actually… I-I don’t wanna go into it further though…”
A sigh escapes Yuri’s lips. “That’s fine then, I won’t push further unless you’re ready for it…”
“Thanks for understanding…” And with that, I look out the window for the remainder of the trip. I only pipe up when an interesting song come on the radio every now and again.
…
Thank god Papa was gone. Maybe he found a new lady friend to occupy his time… God, just thinking that make me wanna gag… I’ll just grab my things and go… I shouldn’t keep her waiting for too long…
My room is always a mess… I don’t dare clean it and Papa’s just a dick head so he never does anything around the house… Maybe that’s why this place is a complete dump.
And of course papa left a note… “Gone to the bar, won’t be home tonight. Have fun ya runt.” H-He won’t be home? W-What the… Actually no, never mind. I’m happy. I should be. I have to be…
I should go before Yuri leaves…
...
“Everything ok?” She asked me as I entered back into her car. Guess I took too long huh… Gotta think quick.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just glad he’s not home yet…” I sunk into the seat, choosing to look outside instead of conversing with anyone. I was probably internally smiling at the fact he wouldn’t be home tonight. I could finally stay over at someone’s house tonight if I wanted to… Probably Sayori’s… Maybe Monika, but she’d have to ask her mom first…
Yuri…? Well, maybe… It’s a possibility for sure… Not even I know what the future of our “friendship” holds…
Either way, I’m just glad she’s understanding about everything…
…
The trip to Yuri’s house was brief. The two of us don’t live that far apart from each other otherwise it’d take forever to get to school. I thank her again as we make our way inside her home. It’s much larger than you’d think.
Then again, most of the rooms were barely populated with any household items anyway… There didn’t seem to be any adults home either...
“I-If you’re wondering, my parents are at work… M-Mother works with the government and uh… father left years ago…”
“O-Oh…” How the hell am I supposed to respond to that?
She silently leads me to her room, reading the look on my face must’ve told her that was probably a touchy subject. It was almost exactly how I had expected it to be.
The dark carpet beneath us was fluffy. Nothing like the hard floors at home… I kinda liked it in here… The colors didn’t try to blind you like the bright neon pink on my walls and the windows were actually in tact still. Well, that’s beside the point…
Her walk in closet was huge. You wouldn’t think it just by looking at her, but she had quite the array of outfits she rarely ever wears… Looks like it’s mostly long sleeved shirts though which kind of concerns me…
… I could understand why she would wear long sleeves… I wouldn’t want people to see the scars either… I-If I even had any on my arms, which I don’t… yet…
She still hasn’t told anyone about it yet… Ya know the… cutting… I-I’m a little worried, but she promised Monika she’d tell someone about it if it ever got too much for her. Even still…
It sucks when you can’t do shit to help a friend...