Chapter Text
I know going anywhere to do anything when you’re not feeling good is a bad idea, I know, but what else was I supposed to do? Monika had already called in to tell me I’d have to be leading the club today - she has a job interview! I’m super excited for her! - and I can’t just call her back and be like, “Hey, so, I kind of got way sick and we need to cancel today’s meeting!” I’m not gonna do that to her!
But apparently I should have, because the second I walked into the clubroom and said hi to everyone, both Natsuki and Yuri said something along the lines of, “You shouldn’t be here today.”
“Monika? Yes, hello, it’s Yuri… Ah, I forgot. Um… We - Natsuki and I - are aware that we don’t have any kind of ruling over our beloved club, but we request a cancellation of today’s meeting.”
“Yuri! I told you, I’m okay! I promise!”
“You look like you’re gonna fall over! What made you even think you could leave your house this morning, dumbass?”
…this is not how today was supposed to go.
♡
The next thing I know, I’m back in bed - how did I get here? - and I’m staring at the ceiling. I can hear… someone, I don’t know who, down the hall in the kitchen. They’re talking, but I’m too tired to listen in. Everything feels all buzzy, like I just woke up from a coma or something. My vision is blurry, and there’s a slight underwater feeling to each sound I can (try to) make out.
“Do you think she’s just… struggling?”
All the noise clears up at once, and Yuri’s voice rings through my ears, as clear as day.
“I- …yes? I brought her home, and I sent Natsuki to- …no.”
She must still be on the phone…
♡
“Yuri? Wha-”
She jumps with a slight yelp. I don’t think she expected me to come out of my room, which is… strange. In my defense, though, I got bored in bed and curious as to-
“Sorry! Why are you in my kitchen? Weren’t we just at our meeting?”
“...um… Monika, I’m gonna have to call you back-”
Monika? So that’s who she’s been talki-
“You passed out during our meeting. I took it upon myself to bring you home, and I’ve sent Natsuki to the store for a small grocery run. How long have you gone with barren cabinets, Sayori?”
“Oh! I just haven’t gone shopping since last night! I keep putting it off, and realized last night I ran out of milk and eggs.”
I don’t need her worrying about me any more than she clearly already is.
“...I see.”
She’s got that usual ‘I can see through you like you’re made out of glass, but sure, I’ll play along’ look that they all give me when I try to brush things off. Great.
“Could you return to your bedroom? It can’t be healthy for you to be up and wandering about when you look… well.. On the brink of death?”
“Do I really look that bad?”
“In the most polite way possible?”
She hesitates. Why does she feel like she needs to walk on eggsh-
“Yes.”
♡
I’m back in my bedroom, against my better judgement but according to hers. But I guess hers knows me better than my own does, because the second I lay back in bed, I feel like I’ve just climbed six mountains and then one of my lungs popped. It shouldn’t feel this hard to just get up.
And everything is cold. Even under my blankets, I’m shaking, shivering. It’s like I’m somehow on fire while also being stuck in a block of ice. Yuri’s already been upstairs to “check on me” a good few times, which is… nice. I think. It kind of makes me feel like I’m a little kid, in a bad way, but… You know. Natsuki came back a few minutes ago, and she very loudly barged into my bedroom. I threw a pillow at her.
♡
“Sayoriii, you gotta wake up.”
“Wha’th’fuck?”
“Dude, get the fuck up. You gotta eat.”
“How long has she been asleep?”
“Roughly an hour? I’m not quite sure.”
Wait, when did Monika get here?
“Why are you all at my house?”
“Sayori, you’re sick. Like, clearly. Yu-”
“Yuri brought me home, blah blah blah, when did you show up?”
I think I said that ruder than I meant to, because Monika kind of sunk into herself a bit afterwards. It wasn’t a lot, and it wasn’t too noticeable, but she spoke up again.
“About ten minutes ago.”
It was about then that Yuri came back, holding a bowl, a sleeve of saltine crackers, and a bottle of Sprite. Monika and Natsuki turned in her general direction, nodded… some kind of silent conversation, and then left the two of us alone in my room.
“What was that about?”
“I asked them for space.”
“Oh.”
It’s quiet. Like, I get that Yuri is usually quiet, but this is… awkward. I’m sitting in my bed, looking (and probably acting like) some kind of sick child, being tended to by a friend of mine because I can’t even do it myself. It’s pathetic. I knew I shouldn’t have gone to sch-
“Sayori, I’ve made you soup. I know the idea of consuming anything in your current state most likely sounds unappetizing, but… You do truly need to eat something. I don’t know your preferences, but I sent Natsuki to the store to get the ingredients needed for chicken noodle soup, as opposed to the canned kind. I figured you deserved something more flavorful and metaphorically warm.”
“...you made me soup?”
“Oh- Sayori, it’s not a problem- Please don’t cry-”
Cry? I wasn’t-
Oh. Suddenly there was a warmth on my cheek that was not there before, and the sight of Yuri slowly blurred into a blob of mostly deep purple. The warmth, I expected it to be wet. Yet this felt like skin; skin that was not my own. A hand, larger than mine.
“Yuri?”
“You don’t have to speak. You don’t have to apologize. Just… help me help you. Please.”
And I believe it was that moment that I fell in love just a little.
♡
“This isn’t poisoned or cursed or something, right? Like, I’m not gonna turn into Sleeping Beauty?”
“Ah?”
“I mean-! You read all these books about spells and stuff! It’s only reasonable to be worried I’m gonna turn into a toad!”
“I…”
Yuri laughs. Not her usual, soft laugh, but… It’s like she’s glowing.
“Oh, my goodness- No, I’m not going to turn you into a toad, Sayori!”
The next thing I know, I’m laughing, too.
“Okay, good!”
♡
“How long have they been like that?”
“Hey man, the last I knew, Yuri brought her food. I don’t know when they ended up asleep together.”
“...twenty bucks says they end up dating.”
“Sayori and Yuri? Be serious, Prez.”
“I am! Look at them! Yuri literally has a hand cradling Sayori’s head against her and the other like she’d be ready to fight demons for her!”
“...fine. Twenty?”
“Twenty.”