Kazuki's POV.


By the time I gather the courage to ask them about...that, the sun has already set.

"So, me and Monika discussed some things today and we'd like to hear your opinion." - I say.

"Um, sure?" - Natsuki says, but Yuri remains silent. She still hasn't said anything in my presence. Where did Natsuki's new clothes come from anyway? They look too big on her. I wouldn't say she's drowning in her sweater or skirt, but it's still noticeable.

"The thing is that neither of us really wants to keep you in what might as well be a cage, away from others. She suggested you go to school as if nothing is wrong. For now, everyone thinks you're ill, so, you have some time to think about it." - I explain to them. I'm still not sure about this. Why does Monika even want them to go there in such state?

"Aren't you forgetting something?" - Natsuki asks, waving her extra appendages around for emphasis.

"No, but...well, I didn't abandon you, did I? Maybe others wouldn't immediately grab pitchforks either." - I reply.

"...Monika certainly wasn't pleased to see us. I've seen her try to drag you away. I've heard her call us monsters." - Yuri decides to speak up and...she is right.

"I don't remember that..." - Natsuki says, clearly confused.

"Yes, she did and that was wrong, but it didn't take me long to convince her that you're still you and there's nothing to worry about." - I say. For some reasons, Yuri flinches when I say it.

"...Eh, what the hell. It won't hurt to try it at least once. If something goes wrong, we can just leave. Somehow, I'm sure nobody could stop us if we tried to leave. There's one little problem though. My school uniform is ruined and I can't get my spare one since, you know, I can't just go back home like this." - Natsuki says. I swear I saw her eyes flicker for a moment.

"I could lend you mine." - Yuri tells Natsuki. I think it's safe to assume that she has something to do with Natsuki's new outfit.

"Wouldn't it be too big?" - Natsuki asks.

"Y-Yes, but I could make some adjustments." - Yuri replies.

"But what are you going to do about your uniform? You're, um, pretty big." - I ask. Last time she wore it, it was really short and...um...

"A-Ah, well, I'll have to...improvise." - Yuri replies. I don't doubt she can come up with something.

"By the way, why do you want to go there anyway?" - I ask, genuinely curious about it. I mean, I was the one who suggested that, but it seems like they agreed to it too easily.

"Honestly, I have no idea. It just...feels like I must do it. " - Natsuki replies.

"I have the same feeling. I don't have anyone I would truly miss aside from the literature club, but I simply can't think of a life without school." - Yuri says with a puzzled expression on her face.

That's...not exactly what I expected to hear. With that said, there's something else that must be addressed.

"Also, Yuri...if you really need blood, you can just...ask me for it." - I say with absolute confidence. Of course, it must be done in moderation.

"W-W-WHAT?!" - she shouts in response, gaining a pinkish hue.

"Do you even hear yourself?!" - Natsuki yells at me. I admit, it does sound weird, but what is normal now?

"Well, you were on the verge of falling asleep a few hours ago, but now you're fine. If it makes you feel better, I wouldn't mind giving you some. Just...don't get so grumpy if someone interrupts you." - I say. I don't want to see that look on her face ever again.

"I...I'm afraid I must decline this offer...It...It felt degrading. I don't want to do it even if it's necessary." - she replies, but she doesn't sound confident. Like she wants to say yes, but simply doesn't.

"Alright. Now then, I think we should figure out who is sleeping where. I sort of forgot about that last time, so..."


I'm woken up in the middle of the night by an obnoxiously loud scream. It takes me a few seconds to register it as Natsuki's and, after everything that happened recently, I run towards the living room where she was supposed to be sleeping. When I walk into the room, I'm greeted by the sight of Natsuki...dancing in the middle of it?

"GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME!" - she starts screaming when she sees me. Oh, so that's not a dance. That does explain the wildly flailing spider limbs.

"Get off what?" - I ask as I try to look for whatever is bothering her.

"THE SPIDER! JUST SQUISH IT OR SOMETHING!" - she replies. I smack her head as she asked me to.

"Ow! What the hell?" - she yells at me, forgetting about the spider for a second.

"I did exactly what you asked me to do. That aside, can you calm down for a bit?" - I ask her and she complies.

"Okay...Huh. I don't feel it crawling all over me anymore." - she says, but I don't pay much attention to her. My eyes are fixed on the little pink creature on her shoulder. I grab it before it can run away. She yelps when she sees it in my hand.

As I observe the wiggling mass in my hand, I notice a few things. It does look like a spider, but it's obviously not. It's armored, has only six legs and its head is completely different from any spider I've seen. Its mouth is made of five parts, with one forming the top jaw, two forming the bottom jaw and two on the sides. It's very similar to how Natsuki's mouth is structured. It also has antennae...Wait...the crest on its abdomen looks a lot like...I burst out laughing.

"Hey, what's so funny?" - she asks, obviously confused and a little bit upset.

"Natsuki, I think this one is yours. Take a look at this." - I say as I point at its abdomen.

"...Is that...No way...It's exactly like my hairpin!" - she says after poking the little critter. The spider stops struggling as soon as she touches it.

"I think you should hold it." - I say before putting the pink creature into her hand. I expected her to drop it, but she doesn't.

She seems to think about something for a minute before raising her other hand in front of the spider. It backs up a bit and stops when it gets too close to falling off. For some reasons, she decides to make a V-sign with her hand and the spider actually raises its front legs in response. When she curls up her middle finger, it lowers its right front leg. She proceeds to make several other hand gestures and the spider tries its best to mimic everything. When she moves her antennae, it does the same thing.

"You're actually...pretty cute...let's see...Crawl up to my shoulder!" - she commands and...it actually obeys her. This is the kind of stuff that gets million of views on the internet...hm...that's not a bad id-

Before I can think about all the money we could earn, more pink spiders crawl up Natsuki's shoulder. This time, she doesn't freak out, but she is confused. I think I know where they are coming from.

"Um...Natsuki? Could you turn around?" - I ask.

"Huh? Okay?" - she complies and I lift her sweater as much as I can without taking it off. Just as I thought, she is the source of these critters. They are coming out of small holes located on her back where ribs are connected to her spine. Looks like her body is much more different from before than I thought.

"W-What the fuck are you doing, you pervert?!" - she shouts before knocking me away with her extra appendages.

"I...I was curious, that's all. Turns out those spiders are coming out of you." - I say and she's not exactly happy to hear that.

"Oh for fuck's sake..." - she mutters as she burrows her face in her hands.

"Hey, that doesn't sound too bad." - I say and regret it when I see her smirk.

"Ho? Looks like we've got someone asking for trouble. Guys, you know what that means...Show no mercy." - she says with her arms crossed. Within seconds, my brain is overloaded as dozens of pink spiders start tickling me and there's nothing I can do about it. Where is Yuri anyway?

Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Looks like this is the definitive end of my incredibly tragic and surprisingly dull tale.

I don't even have anyone to continue my royal bloodline.

What a cruel world...