Tuesday Morning

Akito Sato wakes up and just lays in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He takes a deep breath as he rubs his black eye. "Why do I do stupid things..?" He mutters to himself. He lets out a sigh before he sits up, stretching and letting out a yawn, and grabs his phone off the bedside table. He scrolls through his notifications before coming across a text from Sayori.

Hey, don't wait for me. I'm not feeling well.

-Sayori

Akito is a bit surprised by this, but decides to just do the easy thing because he just woke up.

Alright Sayori. Get some rest.

-Akito

Akito sets his phone back on the table before getting dressed for school. As he reenters his room for his phone and backpack, he looks at Natsuki's letter on the opposite bedside table. "Does she even remember giving me that?" Akito asks no one in particular. He shrugs and leaves the room.


School

Akito arrives at school and Natsuki approaches him first, but Leo grabs her by the backpack and pulls her away, stepping front of her.

"Meeting." Leo says quietly.

"Everything okay?" Akito responds, confused, as Natsuki strangles the air behind Leo.

"Nah, mate. Everything is not okay." Leo states sternly before Akito looks over his shoulder.

"Five minutes." Akito smiles at Natsuki and hopes she doesn't kill him too. Akito and Leo walk towards the soccer field, where Ikki sits on the small hill.

"Why have you brought us together?" Ikki lets out a powerful yawn.

"Are you making a loser's club to combat a psychotic clown?" Akito sarcastically asks.

"Oh hahaha wow, did ya think of that one by yourself? Wow, that was really funny, Kitty!" Leo mocks before his face turns serious. "Sayori isn't 'ere today."

"Okay..?" Akito and Ikki say simultaneously.

"In case ya didn't hear me, let me repeat myself: Sayori isn't here today." Leo repeats.

"Wow, he even pronounced the H." Ikki chuckles.

"She's sick. What's there to freak out about and risk death via Natsuki over?" Akito raises a very confused eyebrow.

"Akito. Ikki. When was the last time Sayori missed a day?" Leo asks, annoyed.

"Well that was-" Akito trails off before looking at Ikki. "When was that?"

"I have no clue." Ikki shrugs.

"Ya know, when she isn't sleepin' in math, Sayori prides herself over her near spotless record throughout school. Granted, she only acknowledges it when she isn't hungry and that is nearly never, but still." Leo rants.

"Leo, there is steam coming from your ears." Akito places his hands on his best friend's shoulders.

"Yeah, your brain isn't used to that much thinking." Ikki jokes, getting the middle finger from Leo.

"Something is wrong. I know it. Something is very wrong." Leo crosses his arms.

"Or, just maybe, Sayori is sick." Akito responds. "I know, impossible. Someone is actually sick and not just faking it so they can prank someone else."

"Man, that sounds really familiar." Leo scoffs. "Ya two gotta believe me. I 'ave a feeling in my gut that something is really wrong."

"Have you tried eating something?" Ikki asks, getting a disapproving look from Leo. "Hey, I'm asking the important questions here."

"I think Leo disagrees, big guy." Akito sits down beside Ikki and pats him on the back.

"Seriously though, she has come to school numerous times when she was sick. Why is this time different?" Leo wonders before sitting in front of his best friends.

"Maybe, I know I sound crazy, but maybe she's just really sick." Akito suggests again.

"Fifth grade." Leo states, matter-of-factly.

"Fair point. She was really sick that one time." Akito nods in agreement.

"Was that the time she ate some food she accidentally dropped on the pavement?" Ikki questions.

"No, that was sixth grade." Akito shakes his head.

"Fifth grade was when someone dared 'er to eat an old sandwich." Leo informs.

"Oh, that's right. She was really pale after that and-" Ikki remembers.

"Yeah, she got her stomach pumped." Akito finishes.

"And she still stayed at school till the end of the day!" Leo claps his hands together. "So, she is either so sick that she is unable to move or she is hidin' something."

"Well, I can't imagine either of those scenarios being very...Sayori." Akito replies with a scrunched up face. "She's usually very open, which brings me back to my original, and very crazy idea that couldn't possibly make sense...she is just really sick." Akito repeats, mocking Leo.

"I don't think so." Leo shakes his head, not convinced. "This is something serious."

"Leo," Ikki lets out a deep sigh, "Akito is right, as weird as that sounds."

"Yea- hey!" Akito cuts himself off and pushes Ikki slightly.

"Sayori may just be sick." Ikki ignores Akito's push. "If anything, you could always check in with her after school."

"Yeah." Leo sighs. "Is this the bullshit ya feel all the time with that lil witch, Kitty?"

"Oh hahahaha." Akito deadpans before the three hear the school bell ring. "Time for class."

"Yay..." Leo says in a high pitched voice.

"Joy." Ikki groans as he gets up. The three walk up the hill and towards the school. As they enter the school's main doors, Akito is pulled out of the group by Natsuki and they walk down the hall together.

"What's the plan for after school?" Natsuki asks calmly.

"Well, first, you and I are going to the book store to get the new Parfait Girls book. Then, we are gonna go get something to eat." Akito informs.

"Sounds cool." Natsuki nods.

"Anything else you wanna do?" Akito questions.

"I don't know. Want to walk around the mall or something like that? I just have to be home before 6:00." Natsuki shrugs.

"That's fine. Whatever you wanna do." Akito calmly responds. "This is our most passive conversation."

"..." Natsuki stays quiet for a moment. "Fuck you."

"Ah, there we go." Akito chuckles as Natsuki smiles.

"Get to class, stupid. I'll see you at lunch." Natsuki punches his chest in the same fashion as normal.

"Of course. Smooches." Akito jokes as he walks away.

"Gross." Natsuki scoffs and walks the opposite way.


Lunch

The Literature Club sit around their table, ignoring the occasional insult from Daisuke and his goons. Well, mostly ignoring. Natsuki and Leo are as hot-headed as always, having a comeback for everything.

"I have a feeling this will end badly." Akito sighs.

"Most definitely." Yuri nods calmly.

"You are paranoid." Leo responds.

"Yeah..." Akito looks Leo dead in the eyes and rubs his black eye, "just paranoid. It's not like my bad feelings have been proven to be correct before."

"I'll fight them all." Natsuki shrugs. "I'll give them all a black eye."

"My knight in shining armor." Akito shakes his head, "Do you two know the definition of pacifist?"

"I believe it's a synonym of chicken." Leo responds with his normal dash of sarcasm.

"Wow, synonym. That's a big word, Leo." Natsuki mocks.

"Natsuki, every word is big compared to you." Leo scoffs.

"Respect your Queen of Insults." Natsuki smirks proudly.

"Slay Queen..." Akito jokes.

"If ya say that again, I will end this friendship." Leo groans.

"I will throw you off a cliff." Natsuki adds.

"Point taken." Akito shrugs. "At least you aren't trying to start a fight anymore."

"I'll still fight Daisuke." Natsuki proudly states.

"He has at least a foot on you." Akito raises his eyebrows.

"A foot is a massive amount to Nattie... That's around a mountain to her." Leo jokes, getting a sharp glare from Natsuki. "Alright, calm down, why don't ya?"

"You are a lot less interesting without Sayori." Natsuki responds.

"I'm still figuring that situation out, Nattie." Leo replies, pulling out his phone and typing something on it.

"He's a nervous wreck." Ikki states, getting a mocking laugh from Leo as he continues to type.

"Why?" Monika scrunches her face up, confused.

"He thinks Sayori is hiding something." Akito informs.

"Why would Sayori hide something?" Tamiko raises a questioning eyebrow.

"She wouldn't usually. It's out of character for her." Yuri mutters.

"Exactly." Akito claps his hands together. "Sayori wouldn't just hide something. She's probably just really sick."

"Likely, but not guaranteed." Yuri responds calmly.

"Wait, you are considering his crackpot theory?" Ikki questions, confused.

"It is a possibility, though it may not be considerably likely." Yuri nods once.

"It's the only thing I can imagine." Leo leans forward in his chair as he sets his phone down.

"Have you asked her?" Tamiko asks sincerely.

"No, I thought that would be the stupidest thing to do." Leo sarcastically responds.

"Okay, jeez." Tamiko sits back.

"He's a bit perturbed, Tam." Yuri sighs, resting her head in her open hand.

"I'm fine, in both ways." Leo proudly defends himself.

"You are a zero in every way." Natsuki responds in a heartbeat before the bell rings.


After School

Akito enters the club room to see Leo texting on his phone while Monika and Ikki are going through social media while lying on the floor. Elsewhere, Yuri and Tamiko are talking- Well, Yuri is telling Tamiko about a book she really enjoys and Tamiko is listening and being a supportive girlfriend. Finally, Natsuki is sitting under the windowsill like normal, scrolling through her phone. Akito tries to approach Natsuki, but Leo grabs him by the collar without looking up.

"Yes, honey?" Akito jokes.

"I think Sayori is lyin' to me." Leo sighs.

"What'd she say?" Akito furrows his eyebrows.

"She said she was just sick." Leo responds.

"Wow, that's a very convoluted lie, Leo. You've got her there. No one has ever been sick before." Akito sarcastically states.

"Leave the sarcasm to the pro's, Kitty." Leo immediately replies. "I just don't think she's sick. Remember when I told ya yesterday that I think she is hidin' something?"

"Yes." Akito says with a heavy sigh.

"I'm not bein' paranoid." Leo quickly defends himself.

"Maybe just a little bit." Akito scrunches his face up.

"When it's revealed that I was righ' this entire time, I am gonna be more cocky than ever." Leo informs.

"When it's revealed that you were being overdramatic this entire time, I'm going to laugh." Akito responds.

"Didn't ya say that Nattie was hiding something too?" Leo raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, but I have evidence backing my suspicion." Akito says.

"Yeah, uh huh." Leo off-handedly remarks. "Bit paranoid, are we, Kitty?"

"We meaning you? Yes. We meaning us? No, only you." Akito calmly replies.

"I expect your paranoia to be nothin' and mine to be everythin'." Leo smirks.

"I bet it'll be the opposite way around." Akito smiles.

"Can't wait for the thrillin' conclusion of this dramatic storyline!" Leo mocks, getting a laugh from Akito.

"Next time on Dragon Ball Z." Akito jokes before walking over to Natsuki and sitting beside her.

"How was the conversation?" Natsuki asks as she looks up from her phone.

"Dramatic." Akito exhales.

"Ah, that's adorable." Natsuki mocks.

"In an alternate timeline, you and Leo are dating." Akito chuckles.

"Thanks for that image, I hate it. I'll probably never sleep again." Natsuki rubs her temples. "He still thinks Sayori isn't just sick?"

"Yup."

"Still overlooking the overwhelming logic?"

"Yup."

"What an idiot." Natsuki sighs. "Now I see why you are best friends."

"I can feel this powerful feeling radiating from you. Is it love or hatred? I hope I find out before I'm brutally murdered." Akito says.

"I hope so too." Natsuki jokes, getting a snort from Akito. "I know, I'm hilarious."

"You excited for our date?" Akito asks sincerely.

"..." Natsuki remains quiet for a moment, "Yeah. Should be fun."

"I hope so." Akito smiles. "What do you wanna do till then?"

"I don't know. Random questions?" Natsuki suggests.

"Yeah, why not." Akito shrugs. "Favorite food?"

"Uhh..." Natsuki thinks. "I'd say..." Natsuki trails off again, trying to decide. "Maybe... chicken tenders? I don't know. What about you?"

"I'd say Spaghetti Naporitan." Akito responds.

"Favorite..." Natsuki rubs her eye and let's out a sigh, "anime?"

"I enjoyed Soul Eater." Akito calmly informs.

"Soul Eater is pretty good. Have you read the manga?" Natsuki questions.

"No, haven't had the chance."

"It's good. It's pretty different from the anime." Natsuki states. She goes quiet for a moment. "This is the most boring conversation we've ever had."

"Sayori is the glue to our relationship." Akito jokes.

"Nah, that's me. I put the most effort in." Natsuki responds with a smirk.

"You put the most effort in?!" Akito screeches, causing Natsuki to get an even more confident look on her face.

"Absolutely! I come up with all the pet names!" Natsuki proudly states.

"Like..?" Akito scrunches up his face.

"Dummy. Dum-dum. Dumbass. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." Natsuki waves her hand with each 'et cetera'.

"Man, if I got a nickel for every time you call me one of those-" Akito starts out.

"I wouldn't give you a nickel even if you asked." Natsuki interrupts.

"What if I begged?" Akito jokes.

"I'd give you a penny for your thoughts, than take my penny back." Natsuki scoffs, causing Akito to laugh. "Look, if we wanna make this work, you gotta remember that the woman always gets the money."

"You'd spend it on manga!" Akito manages to get out in between laughs.

"Better than you spending it on taking random girls to book stores." Natsuki responds, trying not to laugh.

"I'm taking you to the bookstore!" Akito laughs harder.

"Exactly. Just taking some random girl to the bookstore. I smell an affair." Natsuki boldly states before she finally laughs.

"You are wild." Akito slowly stops laughing.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed! Just know that I have several chapters lined up, so I'll be posting the next one in a couple days time! We are back BAAAAAABYY!