Somehow, I got Yuri to accept that answer. We ate, and then I figured out that Yuri has no idea how to do dishes. Or sweep, for that matter. Or do laundry. Basically, any chores at all, she's awful at. What, did she have slaves at her house to do it for her?

Needless to say, I ended up deciding on doing the dishes later. We have already talked and I have postponed her chores in the name of training her to do them after school from now on. Although she lacks skills in less glamorous abilities, she is at least eager to learn. How odd, though. For someone as primly as she is, her not ever having done house chores before is actually quite shocking to me. Maybe her parents didn't want her doing labor, only that high-society stuff. Didn't she say she played violin or something?


I wake up before her again (she probably needs beauty sleep or whatever) and do my best to ignore the dishes in the sink and make breakfast. In the middle of heating the stove, a knock is heard at my door. Peculiar! I don't get any visitors...

To my infinite surprise, Sayori stands outside my doorway. I glance at my watch. I rub my eyes, but she still stands there. I check my watch again and tap the face. Was it broken? The clock on the wall is right, and it matches my watch. So that means...

"Sayori? Is it really you?"

"Well of course, silly! I got up super early!"

"Yeah, I can see that. But... h-how?"

"I set an alarm on my phone and went to bed early."

The mere prospect baffled me. I've never even seen Sayori up at this ridiculous hour!

"Uh... huh. You've never been up before 8:00..."

"Yep! I came to say hello and to remind you that the club activity for today will be strenuous, so eat a good breakfast!"

"Strenuous? Are you up for it?"

"Well not strenuous for me, silly."

Before I can respond, I feel a horrible chill run down my spine. The sound of dainty shoes hitting the stair behind me shatters my composure. A soft and sweet "Who's at the door?" accompanies it.

"Wait... is that Yuri?" It's over. She's found us out. What will she say? Will she suspect something dirty? She waves at Yuri.

"Say, did you guys have a sleepover or something?"

What.

The.

You know what? I'll take it.

"Haha! Yep! I invited Yuri for a sleepover! Trying to get closer as club members, right? Hahaha!"

Yuri is frozen on the steps. I turn around and give her a subtle sign to play along.

"Oh... yes, that is the truth, indeed. What fun did we have! I wanted to invite you along, but we decided it would be better for it to be just the two of us."

"Aww, but I wanted to sleep over too!" I try and break this off. I pull Sayori to a whisper.

"Sayori, I'm going to do it with you and Natsuki, too. I just started with Yuri. You should consider doing something with them, too. To get closer, I mean." I was pulling this out of my hat. I just needed an excuse. Regardless, she's buying it so I'll take what I can get in this situation.

"Oh... hey! Can I go before Natsuki? Pleeeease? We haven't had a sleepover in years!"

"Uh... sure. That sounds like fun!" I didn't lie about that. Sayori can be pretty fun at times. I wouldn't want to live with her or anything, though...

Yuri's still in her school clothes; we haven't had time to take her shopping yet. But it turns out that was a good thing! She's fully dressed, so it makes it even less suspicious to Sayori. This is good, now I'll invite her in for breakfast to show how open I am about my life. Maybe I'm just really nervous that we were discovered because I normally wouldn't have done this...

"Hey, Sayori, I was just about to make breakfast, did you want to come in?"

"Oh, wow, would I! What are you making for us?"

"I'll decide right now."

I let her in and make it into the kitchen as she cheerfully greets Yuri, still standing on the stairs. We end up having eggs on toast. It was the first thing I thought of, and it was easy. We all eat relaxedly, except for Yuri, who has to keep up her act because Sayori hasn't ever seen her otherwise. Oh, did I mention that? She's stopped forcing that façade around me because unlike her parents, I don't make her act proper 100% of the time. Not only has it made her much more loose around me, but also in general. She sits almost normally now, and sometimes even lays back on the couch's back.

The dishes start to pile up in the sink as we finish. Although I ended cooking for three instead of two, I'm glad I'm safe from scrutiny for now.

"Hey, why don't we all walk to school together?" I suggest.

Yuri doesn't respond, as she usually doesn't in the company of the other two girls. Sayori shatters my eardrum with a "Sure!" right next to my face. Still, we do all get up and they wait for me at the door while I quickly do the dishes. Sayori opens the door for us all.

At first, not much is said on the short walk to school. Sayori did make Yuri and I a little awkward, as we couldn't talk about anything too personal around her, for Yuri's sake. I wouldn't embarrass her like that. Yuri has an image she presents to others. It's a calm, cool and always poised, regardless of her true shyness and unsociable self. Even in spite of it, she doesn't open up to others very often, and just because she might slip around me somewhat often doesn't mean she's going to start doing it outside of the house. At least, that's how it looks for now.

Sayori doesn't seem bothered by our silence. Nonetheless, I try and appear natural.

"So, today's Friday! Any weekend activities or special Friday-esque things planned, President?"

"Ehehe! Not at first, but since this morning, I think a sleepover with you and the girls sounds like an amazing time! See, I know what you said about doing it on a personal scale, but I think all of us together would be just as effective, maybe even more so!"

I cringe on the inside, and I'm sure Yuri is doing the same, cursing Sayori's new early-bird attitude. We might be able to hide it if nobody goes upstairs and sees her room, but I don't want to seem unfriendly or suspicious when I do it... I guess we will just have to lock it and hope Sayori and Natsuki aren't the curious types. Speaking of Natsuki, I wonder what happened to her after she went home yesterday? Will she maintain her good attitude?

I guess after today, I'll find out.


Today was a slow day. Mostly review stuff. I don't have the same lunch as any other of the girls, so I eat alone as usual. I end up walking around bored and find myself at the library. I was subtly browsing manga when I noticed Yuri fumbling in one of the closets in the back. I slip around some bookcases to stand by and let her notice me. Pulling her head out of a box of textbooks, I startle her without trying but she immediately recovers when she sees me. She starts relaxing, even.

"What do you feel about this club sleepover? I need this to be at Natsuki's or Sayori's house, for we can't have it at mine or yours. I'm banished from mine and if they see my room, they'll suspect something of you."

"I thought about that, too. It didn't occur to me that we could have it at another's house instead. Maybe we can convince Natsuki to let us go to hers? Sayori's house works too, but it's such a mess... Oh, by the way. You have to act a little estranged at Sayori for having to have two sleepovers in a row, got it?"

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me. Anyway, you better get to class. I need to sort these boxes." I guess she was a library aide this period? Either way, I pat her shoulder and take my leave at her request.

The day finishes out after that and I take my usual walk back up to the third floor. I open the door to find Sayori typing away on the empty desk. Not like usually, though, as she seems very relaxed, even smiling to herself.

"Say, what are you always typing on that for? The computer's not even on."

"Oh! I just... need the practice, is all. Dexterity in the fingers and stuff."

"Right..." I let it go. Maybe she doesn't have permission to use the teacher's computer or something. I sit in wait for the others, particularly Yuri so that we might be able to plan somehow that we can have the sleepover at Natsuki's house. I hope she's still in a good mood...

Much to my relief, Yuri does appear first. She immediately greets Sayori so she can hurry over to the desk next to mine. We go over a light plan because time is short and she agrees to back me up when I suggest it. If we had Sayori on our side...

My train of thought is interrupted by the petite otaku herself coming in.

We only look to be talking, so nothing suspicious about the way we look could set her off... I swipe a glance to find her face the usual grumpy half-lidded expression. She greets none of us and sits straight down at the first available desk without even going to the closet for her manga. What bad luck! Why does she have to be so moody, anyway?

"What're we doing today." She speaks with an even worse tone, almost like a demand more than a question. Sayori, however, doesn't even seem to notice.

"Hello, Natsuki! I didn't prepare anything for today, but... I did think about a way for us to get closer as a club!"

No response from her. She does, though, shoot me and Yuri a killer glare with her eyes. She mumbles something under her breath. It reminds me that she saw us that one day when Yuri came to my house. Could she be thinking of that?

"Well, anyway! We're having a big sleepover! As a club! This will be great for us becau-"

"What? Why? We don't know each other that well."

"Y-Yes, that's the point! We can become closer this way."

"Well, I don't see the point. Besides, I have a curfew. I can't be outside for too late, let alone sleep somewhere unapproved."

"So, just ask! I'm sure a one-time night won't hurt, right?"

Natsuki looks down and puffs a sharp breath. "Yeah, right..."

That looks like the end of Sayori's effort. Natsuki really doesn't want to be bothered right now, huh? I wonder what happened. Sayori walks over to us and speaks to me.

"Well, where can we have it? I'm thinking your place."

"Oh, uh, yeah... That doesn't work for me. Even about yesterday, I have to... renovate today." What? That's what I came up with?

"Oh... Weird, but okay! Yuri?" Yuri tenses up and straightens her back even further, bending it backward a bit.

"Oh, why no, it won't work there. I don't have any guest rooms!" I bump her with my elbow, not realizing that she doesn't know what goes on at a sleepover.

"Well, how about Na- I mean, how about my place? I can do some cleaning, heh..." she says guiltily at me. I nod, more in relief than agreement. At least it was her that suggested it. Not at Natsuki's house, sure, but it's better than at one of ours. Sayori hands me a slip of paper.

"What's this?" The paper has all of our phone numbers on it. I glance back at Sayori.

"Just in case we need to get in touch with each other."

How did she get- never mind, I forget that we're friends and asking for numbers isn't too strange, so I let it go.

I put all the numbers into my phone and text everyone something small to make sure it worked. Sayori's number I already had. Yuri checks her phone and replies with a courteous thanks, while Natsuki checks her phone and doesn't even respond. I don't mind, but I know she got it.

"Everyone knows how to get to my house?" Sayori addresses us. I nod and Yuri does too. Natsuki barely gives a "Yeah..." to suffice, followed by an even quieter "like I'll need it..."

"Okay, then! Let's cut the club short and give ourselves time to prepare! Come to my house by 7:00 or before! I'll be cleaning..."

I need to think of a plan for Yuri. If she walks home with us, Sayori will be suspicious. Of course. Since Sayori is already bugging me to get up and walk home with her. Yuri stands up, but I'm already formulating things in my mind. I motion as unnoticeable as possible to sit her back down. She complies. I leave with Sayori, but in the halls, I stop myself and tell her to wait.

I slip back to the classroom and Yuri wonders what I did.

"I told her I forgot my backpack," I say as I pick up my backpack from the chair. I bring my voice to a hopefully inaudible-to-Natsuki volume. "Anyway, wait a bit before you come to my house. Sayori and I have to walk home."

She nods. "I'll try to keep Natsuki company for a bit." We both look over and see her unimproved. I leave; it's up to Yuri to decide when to leave for herself.

I meet Sayori back in the halls. We begin our short trek in general silence.

All the way back home, I don't feel too much worry for Yuri, as she has walked to my house before. As long as nothing bad happens, this will appear totally normal to everyone and nothing will be suspected about us two. As we reach the stretch separating our houses, I part with her and leave a fond farewell before unceremoniously throwing my backpack onto my floor as I enter my own home. She lives just right next to me, so I don't have to make a ton of preparation.

I become horrified to realize that Yuri doesn't have a change of clothes here at the house. She's been in her school clothes for about 2 and a half days now, so I'm sure she's aching for something new to wear. She doesn't have a house key either, so I can't leave until she gets here! What a predicament I've been put into... and I doubt she wants to wear anything in my mother's closet.

I try thinking of anything I can do to help her out here, but my mind comes up blank.

Maybe the other two won't notice?