It seemed that Natsuki and Yuri had both run to separate bathrooms. Natalie fortunately didn't have to go far, only along the hall, to find Natsuki leaning back against the sink alone with her head resting against her knees.

Natalie slowly sat down beside her, leaving a few inches of space but still mirroring the position she was sat in. She said nothing for a while as Natsuki continued to sniffle and sob. There was no doubt that she was already aware she was there.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice at you, Natsuki," Natalie apologised.

Natsuki gulped. "Why?"

"Why what?" she asked.

"Why are you apologising to me?" Natsuki clarified as she rubbed her nose against her sleeve before being handed a tissue. "Like, I know why, I'm not an idiot, but . . . I've never been, you know . . . that mean to someone. In my life. And especially not to one of the other girls. You're still new here though, so I don't expect you to understand . . ."

"Natsuki . . . it's okay to mess up. You lost your temper, and that's fine," Natalie reassured her. "It happens to the best of us. If it's any consolation, Yuri is downstairs puking as we speak."

"No, that's not of any consolation," Natsuki snapped, "because that means I went so far that I made her sick!"

Natalie sighed. "You like Yuri, don't you? Platonically, I mean–but maybe not in that way, no judgement. The point is you care about her, at least somewhat, right?"

Natsuki ran her finger along the sole of her shoe. "I guess . . ."

"And she cares about you too, correct?"

"I'm not so sure now," Natsuki muttered. "I properly fucked that up. Contrary to what people believe, I . . . I do kinda want to be friends, a bit, with Yuri . . . I suppose. I didn't mean to say what I did. It just . . . slipped out . . . But anyway, I don't know why I'm telling you that."

"Look, Natsuki," Natalie sighed, "I know you didn't mean what you said, and I barely know you, so surely that just further proves that Yuri knows that too. Maybe just–well, dry yourself off first, of course–but then talk to her. It'll suck, admitting you were wrong, but I'm 90% sure she'll feel the same."

"And the other 10%?" She raised an eyebrow at her.

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Ignore the other 10%. Just ignore the percentage analogy, that was dumb. Just go and try to talk to Yuri. I know you don't do apologies, but at least try somewhat fixing things," she advised. "Oh, and one last thing." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her protein bar from earlier to give it to Natsuki. "Thought you might want this-"

"Monika set you up, didn't she?" Natsuki accused. "Fucking Monika-"

"No," Natalie cut in quickly, "she gave me this earlier but I didn't eat it. Food just takes the edge off things, I find, so I thought you'd like it."

Extending a hand warily, she accepted the bar and slowly peeled off the wrapper. "Thanks, Natalie . . ." she muttered under her breath.

Natalie cocked her head to the side. "What was that?"

Natsuki sneered at her. "Shut up, I didn't say anything."

Walking home with Sayori after the fiasco was, needless to say, awkward. Natalie already felt a feeling of awkwardness around her, especially since Sayori was the one she was supposed to be the most familiar with, but this just amplified the feeling tenfold.

"About today . . ." Sayori trailed off.

Natalie nodded absently as they strolled at a deliberately slow pace. "Yeah . . . that got silly."

"But it doesn't happen often!" Sayori quickly interjected. "That's really the first time I've seen them fight like that. I promise they're both wonderful people. You don't . . . you don't hate them, do you?"

"Sayori, need I remind you that I literally went out of my way to check on Natsuki?" Natalie answered. "I don't dislike, forget about hate, either of them. And Yuri's apparently doing better too, though she left before I had the chance to say much to her. I'm just hoping that you're doing okay after all that."

"Well yeah," Sayori agreed after a moment. "Why wouldn't I?"

Natalie shrugged. "It's just that things got heated, that's all. I mean, it even almost scared the crap out of me, and I was the one who diffused it."

"I still can't believe you splashed them both," she giggled. "But you know, Natalie, it's nice that I get to spend time with you in the club, but I think seeing you get along with everyone is what makes me the happiest. And I think everyone really likes you too! Every day is going to be so much fun!"

Natalie rolled her eyes light-heartedly. "I see you still have an entire chocolate bar's worth of sugar coursing through your veins," she remarked as Sayori skipped ahead.

"Hey, don't be mean." She turned around and pouted before taking her hand and yanking her along like some dog on a leash. "Come on, let's go, slow-poke!"

"So, how did things go with Natsuki?" Natalie asked, laying back across her bed with her phone to her ear. "Is she still bummed out or doing any better?"

"She's okay," Monika responded. "I think your advice of speaking to Yuri really helped her out. She seems to be a lot less uneasy than she usually is after any argument. Maybe you should consider a career as a therapist."

"Maybe once I don't have a career as a cross-universe traveller, then yes, maybe I should consider it," Natalie humoured. There was no reply. "Hey Monika . . . are you still there?"

The phone rustled slightly. "Oh? Oh yes, sorry. I was just distracted by something."

"Is something on your mind?" she asked.

Monika sighed. "Nothing too severe."

"Regardless of severity, you can tell me, you know," Natalie replied reassuringly. "I'm here for the other girls just as much as I am for you at this point."

"Well . . ." Monika paused. "I was just, sort of, thinking that, you know, you're probably not going to be here forever, you know? Even if your character, of sorts, existed beforehand, you yourself will probably go back to where you belong sooner or later. You have a life of your own already, after all . . ."

"Monika," Natalie began, "I may have a life of my own, sure, but that doesn't mean that I'll simply forget everything that happened here. I've only been around this place for two days so far, and it's already been easily the most memorable two days of my life. I won't just go home and forget all of this, nor you. Okay?"

Monika sounded as though she sniffled. "Th-thanks, Natalie. You know, you never did really tell me much about yourself, yet you seem to know more about the girls and me than I do," she laughed.

"I guess so," Natalie agreed. "Anything you want to know about me?"

"I suppose . . . just anything about yourself or your life?" Monika suggested.

"Oh, well . . ." Natalie hesitated. "In my world–I'll just call it that for the simplicity of things–I'm actually 20, not 18. I didn't bother to go to university, I'm not academic enough for that, but I did get an apprenticeship with a photography studio, so I guess I have that going for me. I, um, I'm lactose intolerant so it's good that you like to buy vegan ice-cream."

"A lactose intolerant 20 year old photography apprentice," Monika remarked. "You definitely didn't strike me as that type."

Confusion was written all over Natalie's face. "What type did I strike you as?"

"The brainier type, like head of the Student Council, or you seem like you'd maybe be more of a sporty type like a basketball player," Monika suggested in amusement. "I think really just one of those stereotypical smart pretty girls who go on to major in Philosophy despite there being almost no career paths down that route."

"That felt like a self callout," Natalie retorted.

"I was actually planning on applying for a degree in Sociology, not Philosophy—but now I see that that's really not helping my case," she responded with a laugh. "But either way, it must really suck, having to repeat school all over again."

"Well, kinda," Natalie agreed, causing Monika to laugh. "But I didn't really learn much before, so I suppose this gives me a chance to catch up on classes I failed last time. It's just calculus now that kills me."

Monika hummed in return. "Maybe I should consider tutoring you," she joked. "We'll see just how close we can get you to that pass in calculus."

"I'd consider it, but people have already tried in the past, and you can see how that turned out," Natalie remarked.

"Well, I have a way of being very persuasive," Monika murmured . . . was that seductively? "Oh jeez, I realise that sounded sexual. It wasn't meant to be."

"O-oh yeah, of course, I mean, not of course, but, like, yeah, no," Natalie stammered before clearing her throat unnecessarily. "I, er, have a ton of homework to do thanks to all these new classes, including some calculus I plan to set aside and never get to, so I'd, um, best do that . . ."

"Yeah, okay, well . . . good luck with that," Monika responded. "Goodnight, Natalie."

"Night Monika."

And just like that, that call became the most abrupt phone call Natalie had ever been on. She tossed her phone onto her desk and placed a pillow over her head.

Why?!

Natalie reached the clubroom on Wednesday after school, though this time she hadn't managed to scramble out of class as early as she had the previous day. By the time she was inside, both Sayori and Yuri were already there, Sayori patiently waiting for her while sitting on a table as Yuri continued to read her book with extreme interest.

"Hi Natalie!" Sayori greeted brightly.

"Hey," Natalie responded as she placed her bag down under the table. "Sayori, have you seen Monika around? I haven't spotted her even once today."

She glanced up at the ceiling in thought. "Er, I don't know. But anyway, while we're waiting for her, will you come with me to buy a snack?"

Natalie fought down a laugh and glanced up at the clock on the wall. "Sayori, are you trying to tell me you've just been sitting here for the last 10 minutes just to get me to come with you for a snack?" she questioned.

Sayori laughed sheepishly. "Maybe . . .?"

With a roll of her eyes, Natalie reached for her wallet. She was already aware of Sayori's financial situation due to the game, and she certainly didn't consider herself the type to publicly humiliate her for not being able to afford snacks–tease, maybe. Especially with what she was going through already, it just . . . wouldn't have been right to make her feel too awful.

"Here." Natalie handed her 1000 yen. That was probably enough, not that she really understood how Japanese currency worked. "Bring back the change."

"Eh? How did you know I was going to take money from you?!" she complained. "Don't make me feel guilty!"

She shook her head. "It's not like I needed it, you dummy. You need it more, so go and buy yourself a snack if you're hungry. Unless you don't want the money, of course, but I'm not entirely sure how else you're going to get anything out of the vending machine otherwise."

Yuri suddenly laughed. She glanced up alertly and closed her book, motioning abstractly with her hand as if to deter the attention from herself. "I-I wasn't listening or anything-"

"Yuri, it's fine," Natalie assured her. "I was just giving Sayori some money," she told her as Sayori stared happily at the note in her hands.

Yuri seemed amused. "Oh, Sayori. You should only buy what you can responsibly afford," she advised.

"U-huh, yeah, great," Sayori answered dismissively, "so what snacks should I get? I know I usually go just for chocolate, but maybe I should splurge on, like, a muffin or something! Or there are these really nice, like, gummy sweets I saw, and they're shaped like teddy bears, but they're not those normal gummy bears, they're-"

"You're deciding whether or not to splurge using the money someone else gave you?" Natalie asked, an eyebrow raised.

"You can have some too if you want!" Sayori suggested.

"Ah, so now you're offering for me to buy myself snacks . . . with my money?" she teased.

Sayori sighed. "Fine, don't have the gummy teddy bears. You'll miss out too, because they're strawberry flavour, and-"

"Are you sure you should give her that?" Yuri commented. "Surely, after pulling such a mischievous stunt like that, Sayori, your suffering is fair enough retribution." She suddenly gasped. "Did I just . . . I-I didn't mean that! I got too absorbed into my book . . ."

Natalie laughed. "It's okay, Yuri. It's not like I disagree with you," she reassured her. "I'm just a spineless doormat when it comes to this one."

Sayori nodded. "You were right, though. I did something bad, and now I have to accept the revolution."

"Retribution," Yuri corrected. "Still, coming from you, Sayori, I guess there's a little devil inside all of us, isn't there?"

"A greedy little devil, and maybe little is an overstatement," Natalie remarked.

"I'm not greedy!" Sayori insisted. "I'm just-" With perfect timing, her stomach began to growl. ". . . hungry—OOF!"

Something knocked Sayori's head so far back that she would've tumbled straight off the table if Natalie hadn't caught her by her forearms. She knelt down and picked up the cookie to hand it to her. "I guess here's your complimentary cookie?" she said warily.

Sayori stared at it, enraptured by the sight of the size and the amount of strawberry pieces baked inside. "Is this a miracle?" she whispered at the ceiling in wonder. Natalie saw Yuri pinch the bridge of her nose exasperatedly. "It's because I paid my restitution!"

"Your restitution?" Natalie queried.

Yuri laughed. "Actually, that one almost worked."

Natsuki then entered, giggling to herself, a tupperware container full of identical cookies held between her arms. Surprisingly enough, Monika walked in behind her, carrying her sports kit due to the fact that the smaller girl's hands were completely full.

"Wow, I see you two were busy yesterday," Natalie remarked. "But I thought you were making cupcakes."

"We were, but somebody," Natsuki glared at Monika, "forgot to buy frosting, and her car wouldn't start so we couldn't go out and buy any. I can't make cupcakes without frosting. That's just dumb."

"Are you sure we shouldn't have brought the rest?" Monika asked Natsuki.

Sayori's eyebrows rose up to her hairline. "The rest?! You mean there's more?!"

Monika hummed a laugh as she nodded. "This is only half of what we made," she explained as Natsuki placed the container down on the teacher's desk at the front. "Somehow my kitchen was transformed into a professional bakery."

"Ugh, so good!" Sayori groaned with her mouth full, her eyes rolling up into their sockets. Natsuki glanced at her in disgust and sat down in her usual seat. "Oh, I bit my tongue!"

Natalie shook her head and pulled an unopened water bottle out from her back. "It's like taking care of a toddler," she commented as she unscrewed the cap and handed it to her. "Here."

"You're going through a lot over just one cookie," Natsuki noted.

"Yours looks really good too, Natsuki," Sayori said, handing the water bottle back over to Natalie. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Can I try it?"

"Sayori, you shouldn't ask to try someone else's food like that," Natalie humoured.

"But look, Natalie!" She pointed at the cookie in Natsuki's hand. "Hers is chocolate!"

"Yeah, and why do you think I gave you that one?" Natsuki retorted.

Sayori sighed. "Fine. Still, I'm really happy that you shared this one with me."

With that, she slid off the table and wrapped her arms around Natsuki, stooping down so low to reach that she was practically sitting on her lap. Natsuki winced and attempted to shove her off.

Monika shook her head. "Maybe that's enough for now, Sayori?" she asked.

Natalie stepped forward and tugged Sayori back up, sitting her down in a chair beside her. "Let's not harass Natsuki—Sayori!"

Sayori had bent her head down at the last moment and swiped a clean bite out of Natsuki's cookie. A few crumbs scattered across Natsuki's lap and onto the floor in the process.

Natsuki grimaced and stood up to dust herself off. "Jeez, you're such a kid sometimes!" she grumbled. "Monika, can you tell Sayori to stop taking my food?!"

Sayori leapt up onto the chair and then onto a separate desk. "Never!" she exclaimed childishly. "Anyway, we thought you had a boyfriend-"

"You," Yuri corrected confusedly.

Sayori nodded her head. "I thought you had a boyfriend or something, and that's why you were late earlier, Monika. I didn't realise you were just helping Natsuki. Did your boyfriend help too?"

Monika glanced down nervously and laughed. "I don't have a boyfriend," she told her.

Natsuki rolled her eyes. "Monika's a lesbian," she stated matter-of-factly. Everyone stared at her. "What? She's obviously a cottagecore lesbian."

"Natsuki, I don't think that's an appropriate comment to make about someone," Yuri reasoned.

Natalie glanced behind her at Monika. "But regardless, that still wasn't a firm yes or no on that topic," she said half-jokingly.

Monika sighed light-heartedly. "Labels get confusing," she replied. "I try not to think about them at all. Anyway, everyone, let's get back to reading," she suggested awkwardly. "Um, Natalie, may I have a word outside?" she asked.

Natalie briefly caught Natsuki wiggling her eyebrows mischievously. "Of course," she responded before immediately being tugged outside by her sleeve. "I'll be back!"

Once they were out of the room, Monika closed the door and closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Sorry, I just . . . don't like it when topics so personal to me get brought up," she excused as she turned to stare out of the window.

Natalie moved to stand beside her. "I don't blame you. You know better than I do that Natsuki's just very forward sometimes."

"She is," Monika agreed. Her eyes followed the students mingling around in the courtyard outside, most already on their way home. "I'm sorry if I made things weird in our call last night. I know I shouldn't bring it up again, I should just leave it alone, but I didn't want things to keep being weird between us."

"Things aren't weird," Natalie reassured her. "I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Monika hesitated for a moment. "No, I know. I just . . ." She sighed. "I want us to at least be friends. I don't know if you know this, but I don't have as many friends as people seem to think. The last thing I want is for us to not get along."

"And that won't happen," Natalie responded. "I currently have less friends here than you do, trust me. Even outside of here, I don't have many friends. Anyway, I thought we were already friends. Should I be offended?" she asked teasingly.

Monika laughed. "I don't know, I just didn't want to declare us as friends after only knowing each other for a few days, especially if you didn't like me."

"Demanding and insecure, I'm learning a lot about you," Natalie remarked playfully. Monika nudged her shoulder. "So, how exactly is Natsuki? I didn't get much of a chance to ask."

Monika held up a hand and teetered it back and forth with a wince. "She's brilliant company, especially when with her alone, don't get me wrong, but I walked her home at around 7, right? She lives in my neighborhood, so it wasn't very far. Anyway, it was once I got there that she rang the doorbell and her dad, or should I say father, answered."

Natalie took a sharp breath through her teeth. "That bad?"

"He was clearly somewhat drunk," she explained, "only half dressed and holding a beer bottle in his hand. He proceeded to make a certainly inappropriate comment about me before ushering Natsuki inside and shutting the door."

"And Natsuki's mother?" Natalie asked.

Monika shrugged. "Nowhere to be seen. I'd presume she's either lost custody or deceased, more likely the latter from the lack of mention of her by Natsuki. I want to help her, I do, but I don't know how. I don't think she wants help, or she changes the subject every time it's remotely mentioned, anyway."

"Did you offer for her to stay around at least?"

"I did," Monika replied, "and I even offered her to sleep on the futon in my room, but she was quick to decline."

"Well, maybe she just needs more time," Natalie suggested with a smile. "For now, let's just go back inside and see what else we can do."

Monika nodded, a smile slowly returning to her face. "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds okay."

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Author's note: Heheh, watch me slowly but surely dial up the gayness in this fic. To be perfectly honest, Monika was one of my first ever female crushes, so this fic is lowkey just me writing as a release for how much I simp for her. But, besides that, something about DDLC always felt incomplete to me, so I guess that's why I'm writing this haha.

Also, thank you so much for the few reviews/comments I've received so far! I really do appreciate it, and having such wonderful feedback from readers undoubtedly does help to keep my motivation for a story going, so again, thank you!

Anyway, thank you so much for reading, stay safe, and ily lots!