Chapter Text
Yuri set the teacup down in front of the girl. “I-I…hope you like…d-darjeeling.” She muttered shyly as she retreated to a chair.
Kyouko took a sip of the tea. “It’s good, thank you. I’m surprised a teacher lets you keep a tea set in here.”
“Mr. Kayama said it was fine as long as he gets to use the kettle when he grades.” Monika smiled gently. “But we’re here to talk about you. Sayori told us you have a problem?”
Kyouko was halfway through another sip of tea. “Mm, yes. I was really surprised when Sayori said you guys were a…detective club?”
“Sayori you id-”
Monika cut Natsuki off with a sharp ‘shoosh’. “We don’t publicize it much, but that’s more my fault. Now, why don’t you tell us what’s happening?”
Kyouko let out a slow breath as she set down her cup, not letting it go. She glanced at each of the girls in turn, clearly nervous. “You guys promise to keep this all a secret?”
“Of course.” Monika patted her hand. “Nothing you say leaves this room.”
Kyouko nodded. “Good.” Her hands tensed on the delicate china. “I guess to start…I…like someone. An upperclassman. Nendo-senpai. We were in photography club before it disbanded. He was just…so nice.” She smiled into her cup. “He told me he liked my work, and I’ve been smitten ever since. It’s- It’s stupid, I know-”
“No!” Sayori interrupted. “The reason for liking someone is never stupid! Hearts react to funny things sometimes, but that’s just…being human.” Sayori had her fists bunched in front of her, eyes shining. The rest of the club smiled fondly. Sayori was definitely a hopeless romantic.
Kyouko blinked, but copied their smiles. “You’re right. Thank you.” She took another sip of tea. “I decided that, since he just started third year, I should confess. Before he graduates. I wrote a letter and left it in his shoe locker. It said to meet at the big tree behind the school after last period. I waited, but he never showed up. I was…crushed. I couldn’t understand. He was so nice to me, how could that same person person just stand someone up?
I asked Ritsu - my best friend - if she’d heard anything. She’s on the girls basketball team. They often share the gym with the boys, and she’s friends with one of Nendo-senpai’s friends, Tobi-senpai. She asked Tobi-senpai about it and he said he hadn’t heard anything.”
Natsuki was visibly doing mental gymnastics to keep all these dramatis personae straight. “Ok, so what does all this mean?”
“I think…someone’s been stealing my letters.”
“Wait, letters? With an S?” Natsuki leaned forward, nearly unbalancing the desk she was sitting on.
“Well, I wasn’t about to give up! I don’t have forever. But the third one just went missing. I have an idea of who could be doing it, but I…don’t have evidence.”
“Who do you think it is, Kyouko?” Monika said calmly, knitting her brows. This was more complex than she thought it’d be.
“I think…it’s Hanabi. She’s been picking on me since middle school. Just normal teasing, targeting me in dodgeball…I’m used to it. I have friends who love me and stand up for me when they catch her, so…it’s not bad. But if she found out about senpai…she’s going to make me miss my chance, and I can’t let her do that. Even if senpai rejects me, he has to know how…confident he made me feel. I’m doing photography more seriously now and I want to thank him for his part in that…and tell him how much he means to me.”
Sayori sniffed loudly before rushing forward to hug Kyouko. “Don’t worry” - sniff - “Kyouko! We’ll” - hic - “make sure senpai knows your feelings!”
Monika wiped a single tear from her eye. “Yes, we’ll get to the bottom of this. Right, girls?…Are you okay, Natsuki?”
Natsuki was turned away, dabbing at her face with her sleeve. “Yeah just…stupid allergies.”