"Sayori isn't feeling well. We won't be able to make it to school today. Officially, Club is canceled for today, but you both can still use the classroom. Please try to be civil with each other. Love y'all."

Is what Monika's text message read.

Yuri peeked from her book to steal a glimpse of Natsuki.

Natsuki was at the back of the room, grunting in the closet. She was trying to reach a box of manga that was, once again, on the top shelf.

Yuri had been passively observing, hoping she wouldn't have to step in to assist.

It had been a few weeks since Yuri had first joined the club and subsequently met Natsuki. Things between them had gotten worse, but not horrible. As long as they weren't forced to interact with each other, they, for the most part, kept their "civility."

"Come on, you little son-of-a," Natsuki muttered.

Yuri's hand almost reached into her blazer, but she resisted; Not with Natsuki here.

With a sigh, Yuri, against her better judgment, put her book down and got up.

This is a bad idea.

She quietly made her way to the classroom closet and stood behind Natsuki.

"Goddammit, Monika. It's like I'm a broken record. How many times do I have," Natsuki stopped her muttering and slowly turned around. When she saw Yuri right behind her, silently watching, she flinched against the wall. "Shit! Yuri, you scared me. What are you doing sneaking up on me like that?"

"M-my apologies. I didn't intend to scare you." Yuri held her arm. "B-but I was wondering if you needed assistance getting your… books."

"Ah. No, I mean yeah. Yes, it's up on that shelf… again." Each time Natsuki's eyes hit Yuri's, Natsuki would suddenly look away.

"I'll get it for you." Yuri moved past her.

"Yeah, thanks." Natsuki moved to the side and started rubbing her head.

With little effort, Yuri reached and took down Natsuki's box of reading material. On the side, attached to the box, there was a sticky note reading the following:

"Sorry, Natsuki, but I told you, the teacher wants club material on the top shelf. Luckily, we're getting a step early next week. -love Mon-ika.

PS. We're out of granola. I'll be able to get more this Friday."

Granola?

"Thanks."

The box felt light to Yuri; However, when Natsuki took hold of the box, she looked like she was about to tip over. Yuri flinched, reaching her hands out, but Natsuki quickly regained her balance.

"Woah, is it too heavy?" Yuri asked.

"No. I got it." Natsuki snapped. "You just handed it off wrong or something."

Natsuki took the box and moved to the opposite side of the room. She had her back to Yuri as she shuffled through her collection. She saw the sticky note on the side and peeled it off to read it.

Most days, Natsuki would be in a cranky mood, mostly with Yuri, and be in a fighting spirit. However, there were some days where Natsuki looked like she just wasn't in the mood or maybe didn't have the energy to fight; This seemed to be one of those days.

Shrugging it off, Yuri turned back to the closet. While she was there, she might as well get her electric teapot and cup. She wasn't exactly allowed to make tea in the classroom, but the kind, permissive club president, allowed it as long as she didn't do it in front of the teachers.

"I'm going to get some water for the tea." Yuri pointed to the kettle in her hands. "I um shouldn't be too long. I-I'm not leaving. I'm just… water."

"Hm." Natsuki, not looking at Yuri, nodded.

Why do I bother?

Yuri left the classroom.

Turning the corner, she went to a nearby water fountain and filled the kettle. Yuri took a moment to look down the hallway to see if the coast was clear; It was. She then reached into her blazer and pulled out a small flask, and took a small sip.

I'm good. I'm fine.

Yuri wasn't an alcoholic, at least she didn't believe she was, but she would often drink sips of wine whenever she needed to relax; At home, it was half a glass. It was, at least to her, a better method to calm down than the alternative.

When she got back to the class door, her ears were assaulted with a metallic screech.

Yuri's eyes widened.

Did Natsuki try to get something from the closet and fall?

Yuri quickly slid open the door. She saw Natsuki leaning against a desk, holding her head. She was in the middle of a deep breath when she noticed Yuri.

"Whu-ahem-What's up?" Natsuki untangled her legs and stood up straight.

"I," Yuri hesitated. "I thought I heard you fall. I, uh know now you did not fall, and,"

"Is there a point you're trying to make?"

"N-no. I, I'm just glad you're okay." Yuri held the kettle to her chest

Natsuki seemed to be taken aback. Her cheeks her flushed.

"Oh. Yeah, I'm good… thanks."

After their brief conversation ended, they both just stood where they were, for maybe a few moments too long. Natsuki was the first to move, quickly turning, taking a few random manga out of her collection, and moving to sit on the floor against the wall.

Yuri getting herself together, moved to plug in her kettle, and turned it on.

Did she not look where she was going and bump into the desk? Something's wrong. But, that face she made. Was it something I said? I'm feeling…

Yuri was fiddling with her hands to keep them occupied.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the kettle started whistling. She grabbed her cup but then realized she didn't bring one cup but two. Yuri looked at the second cup, then glanced at Natsuki, who was nose deep in a manga with a vibrant, busy cover.

Yuri bit the bottom of her lip.

Natsuki usually accepted tea when Sayori and Monika were around, but she would often leave it unsipped the entire club time.

Would she accept it if it was just the two of them?

Natsuki, meanwhile, wasn't actually reading. She was trying to, but she was focused more on staying awake than on what was in front of her. Nodding in and out, she saw Yuri walking toward her, holding something.

"Ex-excuse me, Natsuki?"

"Yeah?" She was too tired to act mad.

"I was wondering if you would like some tea. I-I know you like sweet things, though I prefer the more bitter taste of black tea, but um, this cup is peppermint tea; It has a sweeter taste. Drinking something while reading, especially tea, should help enhance concentration and, in turn, enhance your reading enjoyment. Eh. If… If you would like some." Yuri's voice slowly diminished.

Natsuki, however, could barely hear what Yuri was saying. At the angle she was sitting, she was getting a more than revealing view of Yuri. Natsuki wasn't a pervert by nature, but her fuzzy brain was making it hard to snap out of it. She started feeling strange.

"I- I um, will leave this here then."

"Huh?"

Yuri took Natsuki's blank yet kind of intimidating stare as discontent.

She gently put the peppermint tea on the desk closest to Natsuki and silently walked away. She saw Natsuki break out of her trance, shake her head, and quickly put her face back in her manga.

Weird. No, I have no right thinking that.

Yuri pinched her palm with her nails.

Yuri went back to her desk at the opposite side of the room. As she sat down, she let out a low sigh.

Why did she bother? Natsuki and her at been like oil and water since they first met. But Monika and, by extension, Sayori, for some reason, kept trying to mix them together.

So why am I still trying?

It was probably not worth it to worry about.

Yuri opened her book and started reading. Occasionally she would take a sip of her Darjeeling tea.

After some time of reading, Yuri's neck started to ache. She rubbed her neck as she stretched her back.

The downsides of reading at a desk.

Maybe Natsuki was onto something reading on the floor, though she was most likely doing it for different reasons.

"Gah!"

Yuri's eyes darted toward Natsuki. She got up to get a better look.

"Natsuki?"

Yuri saw Natsuki's cup in a puddle on the floor; From the size of it, it looked like she didn't drink a drop. Some of it had splashed on Natsuki's skirt.

"Natsuki, are you okay?"

"No," Natsuki was pressing the palm of her hand to her head. "You, Your cup. You fu-, you put the stupid tea at the edge of the stupid desk." Natsuki had to take a breath.

"I-I'm terribly sorry." Yuri quickly moved to the closet to get a paper towel roll. She quickly got back and started cleaning the mess on the floor. "I hope it doesn't stain."

Yuri moved to dry Natsuki's skirt, only for her hand to be swiftly slapped away.

"Hey! I can do that myself." Natsuki aggressively took the paper towel out of Yuri's hand. Her face was flushed as she dabbed her skirt.

"I'm sorry, I was only trying to," Yuri clamed up. She felt jittery.

Yuri silently got another strip of paper towel and started cleaning the floor.

"You helped enough. Jeez. Did you do that just so you could clean my skirt? What are you some kind of lesb-," Natsuki cut herself off before she could finish.

Yuri stopped where she was cleaning and stayed still, staring at the floor.

"Am I a what?" Yuri's tone was cold.

"I- I didn't. Hrgg. mean."

"And is there something wrong if I am?"

"I um."

"That narrow-minded thinking is only a detriment to us progressing as a civilization. Immature people who create fear and hate are only a drain on this world. Do you feel pride for voicing such ignorant thoughts? Do you have no… A-are you okay?"

Yuri stopped her diatribe because Natsuki looked like she was about to have an attack.

"No! I mean, hurk, yeah. Gack, I cough. I'm good, but. Ah! Cough. My manga!"

Natsuki quickly scooped up the manga she had piled in a small tower. She put the manga on a nearby desk as she tried to stifle her coughing fit.

"I-I see."

Yuri took a breath and, for the sake of not escalating things further, decided to drop it.

Yuri continued to cleanup while Natsuki silently shuffled around the manga in her collection, pretending to organize it.

Throughout the rest of the day, Yuri could occasionally hear a low grumbling noise. Maybe it was Natsuki mumbling to herself?

Is it about me? Why did I say that to her? Don't think about it.

When sunset came around, painting the room a golden red, the two clubmates silently agreed that it was the end of the club day.

"Well." Yuri held her book against her chest. "I will be going now."

" 'Kay, uh be safe, walking back."

"Thank you." Yuri considered asking Natsuki if she needed someone to walk home with, but quickly decided against it. "You too."

"Thanks."

Yuri gave a quick bow and swiftly exited the room.

Ah, why did I do that? That exit was too sudden.

Yuri hung her head as she walked through the hallways.

Moving out the front doors of the school, Yuri realized she forgot something. Her tea kettle! In her hurry, she forgot to put it away.

If the teacher found the kettle, Monika could get in trouble. And by extension, they might be mad at Yuri.

Yuri did a quick 180 and started back toward the clubroom.

Halfway there, she heard a bang.

Natsuki?

Yuri followed the sound. Along the way, she heard two more bangs.

She got closer to the noise.

Peaking around the corner, she saw a vending machine. But below that was Natsuki.

"Ouch! Shit. Goddammit." Natsuki was reaching under the vending machine. "Come on, almost got it."

What is she doing?

"Almost."

Getting a closer look, Yuri leaned forward. However, her blazer's button clipped the wall's corner and made a small clacking noise.

"Huh?"

Natsuki turned toward the sound right as Yuri hid behind the corner.

Oh God.

Yuri's heart was beating so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest. She clutched her chest with one hand and covered her mouth with the other. Sweat had started running down her forehead.

Natsuki, like Yuri, was holding her breath. She was still, looking at the empty corner where Yuri had been previously spying on her.

"Heh. S-stupid vending machine." Natsuki said out loud. "D-dang thing ate my quarter. Oh, well, I guess it d-doesn't matter." Natsuki lightly hit the glass that was separating her from the rows of salty snacks.

Yuri wasn't watching anymore; She could only listen. She heard the cracks in Natsuki's voice. The suppression of what sounded like sobs. And finally, the steps of Natsuki running away.

Natsuki was gone, and Yuri was alone.

Yuri was still covering her mouth, frozen. It started coming together.

Her weakness

Her headaches.

Her rumbling stomach.

Why didn't she say something? Why didn't I say something?

Yuri's eyes were locked with the wall across from her. She closed her eyes as tears threatened to overwhelm her. She slowly slid down to the floor and covered her face.

The next day, Sayori and Monika were back at school.

It went without saying, but both Yuri and Natsuki were glad that they didn't need to spend another club day alone together. However, that isn't to say Yuri didn't want to see Natsuki today. She had something for her.

"Yuri."

Yuri jolted. She turned and was immediately assaulted with a hug and the smiling face of her club vice president.

"S-Sayori. It's good to see you. How are you feeling?"

"Good." Sayori let Yuri go. "I feel a lot better now."

"Did you have a restful day?"

"Yeah. Moni, she was there with me, so I wasn't lonely. But, I am kind of sad she missed a day at school because of me." Sayori's glow dimmed with the last part.

"I-I'm sure Monika doesn't feel that way." Yuri quickly said. "I'm sure she would much rather spend time with you than have to deal with the stress of work and people here. N-not to say that school is bad, it's just, she likes you, and that she wants to spend time with you even if you may think she… doesn't."

Despite Yuri's poor attempt at consoling, some of Sayori's smile seemed to come back.

"Thanks, Yuri. But, one good thing about school is being able to see you and Natsuki again."

Yuri was jolted once more.

"Natsuki? D-did you see her today."

"Huh, no, not yet. But I will during club today."

"Ah, yes. Of course."

"Yuri," Sayori got closer. "Moni told me you and Natsuki went to club yesterday, together."

"Sh-she did?"

Sayori nodded. "Yuri, I know you and Natsuki don't get along the best, but I want you to know, it makes me really happy that you two did your best and still tried to spend time together despite that."

If only she knew what actually happened yesterday.

"Yes, it was no problem."

Sayori gave a small smile. "Great. I'll see you later then, Yuri."

Sayori said her goodbyes as she walked in the opposite direction.

The school bell rang.

It was time.

Yuri went to her locker and took out a small box. She walked the hallways until she found who she was looking for.

"Um. Ex-excuse me, Natsuki."

"Huh." When Natsuki saw Yuri, her expression changed. "Oh. Hey, Yuri."

"Hello," Yuri felt just as timid as Natsuki looked.

"Well… see, you later."

"Wait!" Yuri took a step before Natsuki could escape.

"What?" Natsuki asked, not turning around.

"Well, I figured, for no particular reason, that you may like a change in your nutritional diet. It is found that a balanced diet is good for your mental and physical health. N-not that I'm saying your fat or… something. I just figured you might like something new and,"

"Cut to the chase." Natsuki turned and crossed her arms.

Cutting to the chase, Yuri outstretched her arms and presented Natsuki with a wrapped bento box.

"What's that?"

"It- It's a bento box. You looked, I thought you… I started making my own lunches recently." Yuri lied; She had been making her own lunches for two years at that point. "And I made a bit too much. So, I wanted to give some to you. Even though you probably have your own lunch already. I,"

"Has anyone told you that you talk too much?" Natsuki interrupted.

A lump formed in Yuri's throat.

"Yes. I've been told that before."

This was a mistake.

Yuri started walking away, but Natsuki grabbed her sleeve.

"But since I forgot my lunch today. I'll let it slide if you give me that box." Natsuki tried to keep her composure.

"…"

"Please."

Yuri silently handed over the box, and Natsuki grabbed it, maybe a bit too hastily. Not wanting to dawdle any longer, Yuri gave a small bow and started walking away.

"Yuri."

Yuri stopped walking.

"I'm sorr- Don't let anyone tell you that you talk too much; You don't. And you have a… you have a nice voice, so it doesn't matter even you do."

"Th-thank you."

In silence, they stood, exchanging an unspoken understanding.

In the following weeks, Yuri and Natsuki started having lunch with each other. Yuri continued to make "too much" lunch while Natsuki continued to "forget" to bring her's.