Who am I kidding? Maybe I can run off and- no, wait! I just got her number in the club today! I can hide a key and give her the spot to find it. Sufficiently sneaky! Whew, good thing I remembered that! Okay, now to get going...
I place a key behind the foot of the gate in the grass, covering it over while still making it just barely visible to the naked eye. I send Yuri directions for locating it and set off with a hundred dollars in my pocket so I can go... ugh, I never thought I'd say this of my own free will... clothes shopping. For a girl, no less! I don't really know what she likes to wear... Uu, what do rich people like to wear? Suits and ties? No, that's only on business, right? I think I've seen them wearing sweaters, or were those hipsters? Eh, whatever! I'll just see what's decent and-
Right. I can just text and ask her. I face palm unironically. I check my phone to see that she has texted back "Okay, thanks." I reply back with a "Say, I need to pick you up some pajamas for tonight. Can't go in your school uniform, right? What do you want?" I keep my stroll to whatever department store is closest (it's called, like, Jade Idols or something equally as edgy), and halfway through I'm getting my response.
"Good thinking. Anything works as long as I can sleep in it. If you're debating on a size, go one higher."
I chuckle to myself. Her bust must give her a lot of trouble. She said something about back pain, right? I can't imagine... Anyway, I'm almost there and I glance around. I almost feel my face grow hot, as it just occurred to me what I'm doing. I'm going to a store to buy... girly clothes. And underwear! I have a feeling this won't go over well...
No matter, I can do it! It's for Yuri! No problem... I can totally handle this. No problem.
Who am I kidding?
No, I got this. It happens all the time. It's not weird or anything. Boyfriends and fathers do it normally, I'm sure! I just have to act natural... You know what? Forget the underwear. Maybe I'll pull some lame excuse like "I totally forgot!" or something. Geez, I don't want to just ask her about something like that... But maybe it's for the best. I begin my next text...
"Yuri, what bra size? Also, I suck at shopping. Walk me through your measurements or whatever it is you use."
"I'm 5 feet and 5 inches or 155 cm. DD cups, but D also works: 80 cm. Hips are 55.5 cm. Don't worry, I have some weird proportions."
"Okay, thanks. Sorry." I text back. Yeah, right. 'Proportions', she says. I try and stifle my blush as I step into the heavy air-conditioning.
I try not to go directly into the girl's department. I wander around for a bit first. To be honest, I'm dreading doing this. It's so weird! I force my mind to think of Yuri for a moment. It relaxes me. I think of what she must feel right now, in her unwashed uniform for about three days straight, especially after coming from a family that probably prided itself on cleanliness! I shudder to myself, but my courage bolsters itself. This isn't for me, it's for Yuri! What kind of friend would I be if I let my own pride come in the way of her social standing? I steel myself and turn around, marching with newfound determination towards a much brighter-colored wall in the store.
With only a ten-dollar bill left in my pocket, I pick up a large bag of soft and casual things to wear and finally step out of the store feeling a bit too proud of myself. I check the time. It's almost six-thirty, so I hurry on home. I spent a little longer than intended in there... I don't know what color or material she wanted, so I just chose what felt good on my fingers. I hope she likes it. I also hope nobody from school saw me today...
I eventually make it home with no trouble. The door is unlocked (I'll have to talk to her about that) so I let myself in, calling Yuri's name. No answer. I guess she's not one for shouting. I place the bag on the couch and run up the stairs to try her room. After two knocks, Yuri appears once again in the doorway. My thoughts from earlier come flooding back. I just noticed how shabby and wrinkled her uniform is looking. Clean, sure, but clearly worn. She must be suffering in that thing... even without the jacket and sweater on. I gesture downstairs, realizing that putting the bag on the couch before I ran up was a dumb idea. I run back down. And back up.
"Okay, here! Hope you like them!" I say, slightly out of breath. Yuri might have been expecting this, but she looks pleasantly surprised anyway.
"Wow, you didn't have to get so much! Really sorry about this..." she blushes and shrinks behind her hair. It was only two basic sets and one more set of pajamas.
"Yuri, come on. I'm sorry about not having done this sooner. I wasn't too considerate..." and I shrink just a bit, too.
She takes the clothes and pulls them out. The first, a long blue skirt and button-up shirt. The second, half-tight slacks of a deep red variety and loose-fit blouse to match. The pajamas were plain black and felt a bit like felt, but softer (man, what do they make girl clothes out of?). I hoped it was good because I had no sense of style whatsoever. All my clothes are gray and half a size too big. She lets them fall back in before I grab her attention again.
"Shower is in the bathroom, you kno-" I get tackled standing with a sudden hug. Her neck feels hot against my face. She breaks it off, blushing like mad.
"S-Sorry! I haven't showered in days..." And with that, she slips by me and hurries into the bathroom. She smelled a bit, but I really didn't mind. I go into my room, changing into my own pajamas. Sayori's house is right next to mine, so a short walk won't hurt them.
I chill on the couch to wait for Yuri. I wonder if she's embarrassed to be showering in my house? Will she think about me? I wonder if she thinks I'm peeking in on her? Hahaha, as if!
I mean...
...
Wait, why am I thinking about that? Yuri isn't ready for... a boyfriend, right? Regardless, why pick me, of all people?
"Hey, are you ready?" I flinch hard at the voice. Clutching my heart, I turn around to see Yuri in her new PJs. Staring stunned, I review Yuri in a light that a school uniform just doesn't show. The sleek, shiny black of her loose bottoms swaying around, teasing at the shape of her legs left more to the imagination. Her chests, though, when unconstricted and let free, seemed somehow even more... voluptuous. The pajama top was marked as unmeasured, so I went with gut instinct. The heavy contrast between where they stop and where the shirt clings back to her abdomen like a sharp cliff engrosses my unwilling attention.
A single cough interrupts my ogling. I shake my head hard and stand up.
"Right! I'll get us some sleeping bags..."
"... Sleeping bags?"
"Yeah, sleeping bags."
"What...?"
"Don't you-" I stop myself. Remembering for a second the kind of family she comes from, it makes sense she wouldn't have ever had a sleepover before in her life.
"Say, Yuri. Do you know what a sleepover entails?" She shamefully shakes her head slowly. "Okay. I don't blame you. Don't feel bad! I'll go over it quickly with you. We've got fifteen minutes until 7:00, so I'll give you a quick rundown."
Like I said before, Yuri, while totally void of any and all experience living in a normal kid's world, was at least eager to learn. We go over simple things like sleeping in the same room as other people, dealing with the drama or stress of others, and games and pillow fights. She seemed baffled at the concept of it all but accepted what I said with a whole heart and a rare enthusiasm.
"But do we really have to sleep on the floors?"
"Well, not exactly, but it's not uncommon to end up like that. Maybe I can convince her to let you sleep on the couch, but if not, please don't be too addled for it. Okay?"
She nods once, contemplating the many ways this night could go. "It seems," she reasons, "tonight should be a night of fellowship and growing closer. Will silly activities and sleeping together really bring us that much closer?" I cringe a little at the way that was worded. I nod back to her.
"Yep. It's almost guaranteed! Don't worry, girls like Natsuki and Sayori love things like this! We'll both be much closer to them after this."
I finally begin my way to the closet to find the bags. I take my old one, sleek blue and padded insides. She has the one I haven't used yet, a dark green and silky.
"Let's-a go!" I spout, swinging open the door for us both. I ignore the awkward giggle behind me as I turn to close it when we're both outside. I almost have to go back in, but Yuri pulls out the spare key from before. Clever girl.
The day is almost finished, and the sun is setting. I glance over at it. Normally, I don't care much for sunsets. To no surprise, Yuri has stopped right next to me, admiring the same setting. We stare for no apparent reason, but I feel nice. Maybe having someone with you really does change the way you see the world.
A callout from our rights snaps us both back to reality. Sayori is calling us from the front door of her house. We exchange a quick glance and hurry over. We're let in with gladness, but our joyful expressions sure didn't last. Sayori didn't have any lights on, nor a TV blaring. The quietness of the house didn't usually seem this foreboding. I noticed Yuri had her hand on my shoulder, crushing it slightly in a grip.
"Oh, sorry! Hehe... I forgot. We're not going to sleep just yet, are we?" Her giggling is quite putting, and when she turns on the lights, I gasp in absolute shock.
It was clean! The living room was almost spotless! Nothing out of place, no weird stains or smells... Was this even the same house?
"How do you like it? I had to do it alone... ehehe." I snap my head over.
"Sayori, what did you do? This place doesn't even look like it has ever been dirtied before! How'd you do all this in just a half hour?"
"I've been... experimenting! With some... new toys."
"Well, whatever it is, I'm proud! This looks amazing!" I turn to Yuri, also inspecting the room. She's never been inside of Sayori's house, so she probably doesn't know what we're talking about. Nonetheless, I'm glad this is her first impression. I glance at my bare feet and my reflection in the wooden floors smiles back at me.
I notice Yuri again. She's back into her social mode. Stiff as a board and being as polite as humanly possible. She stands idly by the lamp, smiling with an all-too-familiar smile. Her front is impenetrable, but I can see how her eyes tell a different story. Nervous, if nothing else, is what I'd say. Sayori goes into the kitchen to search for snacks for the night, and I pop over to Yuri to relax her.
"Come on." I coax, lightly as ever, "Let's sit down. I'll have your back the whole time. If you don't know something or get nervous, I'll make sure it's okay for you. Nothing is wrong. Lean on me if you need it." While I say this, I guide her over to the sofa, placing her still-stiff body on the left cushion. I continue my assault of kindness and comfort while I sit next to her and begin to rub her shoulders. They're hard as a rock, but I don't relent my message. How odd... I wonder if this was the same feeling she had the first time she came to my house?
A sharp "Eeek!" swipes both of our attention. Sayori stands in the doorway.
"You guys are..."
"Sayuri- Sayio- ugh. Sayori! Don't get any weird ideas! It just seemed like a good idea, you know! She has just never been to your house and, uh..." I look around to Yuri's face, boiling with red embarrassment. She must have forgotten about Sayori coming back, too.
"Don't worry, silly! I know! Everyone needs a good back rub now and then." She turns her attention. "Yuri, if you need anything, just ask! I know where everything is." Yuri doesn't relax, but I see she's put at ease because of Sayori's friendly words.
"So! I was thinking about a movie to watch. What do you guys want to see?"
Before either of us could respond, a knock was heard at the door.
