Chapter 2
Natsuki did not by any means consider herself a romantic person.
So even when she got a bit of an interest in Yuri, she tried her best not to let it interfere with their relationship. That was weird. And wrong. No doubt her dad would be pissed.
Natsuki slumped into her desk, slightly groaning as Yuri was the next to enter the clubroom. She couldn't avoid her if she tried.
And, well, truth be told, she hadn't been trying.
Yuri cleared her throat, sitting down next to Natsuki.
"Is something wrong, Natsuki?"
"Of course not." Natsuki huffed. "...did you finish the manga I gave you?"
Yuri nodded cheerfully.
"To be honest, it was more fun to read with you, manga or not."
Natsuki blushed. "Y-yeah, I guess so."
Yuri glanced away, smiling slightly.
"And... did you finish the fantasy book I gave you?"
Natsuki frowned.
"W-well... I mean... Honestly I..." Natsuki let out a huff. "I'm not as fast at reading as you. And, anyway, I sort of wanted to..."
She shifted in her seat, her entire face going red.
"...read it together?" Yuri smiled.
Natsuki gave a slight nod, standing up from her desk and sitting down on the floor. Yuri sat next to her, and they attempted to balance the book between them.
"Jeez! You're too tall." Natsuki groaned. The book was heavier than any of her manga, so it was hard to hold it up, but it was too elevated on Yuri's lap and too low on Natsuki's to make reading comfortable for either of them.
Yuri let out a soft "hmm"
Natsuki frowned. "I guess we could sit in the desks. Jeez. That would sort of be a hassle, though."
Yuri shrugged, looking away. "Or maybe..."
She patted her lap.
Natsuki raised an eyebrow.
"You... want me to sit on your lap?"
"O-only if you want to- I mean-" Yuri's face was also burning a bright red.
Natsuki sighed.
"I mean, only because it'll be easier this way. Not because I want to." she mumbled, shifting the book into her arms and sitting in Yuri's lap.
Natsuki was almost too flustered to speak. She realized how close she was to Yuri, and how soft and warm the taller girl was.
Yuri leaned her head over Natsuki's shoulder, putting her arms around the petite girl's waist.
"W-what are you doing all of a sudden?!"
Yuri seemed to realize what she'd done, and pulled her arms away.
"I-I'm sorry, Natsuki, I-I wasn't thinking- oh, God, did I really just-"
Natsuki slowly grabbed Yuri's hands from behind her and dragged them around her waist.
"I-it's fine. I was just startled." she mumbled. "Let's just read already."
Yuri smiled, pulling her Natsuki close into some sort of behind-hug. The smaller girl didn't make a sound, only flipped the book open to the first page.
After a moment of reading, Yuri's head perked up.
"Hey, Natsuki?" she whispered in her ear. Her voice was so soft and gentle. Natsuki's heart quickened.
"Y-yeah?"
"...Do you think... you could come over to my house sometime? We could do this more often."
Natsuki nodded slowly.
"Oh! Yeah! I'd like that."
Yuri hummed slightly.
"Me too."