The Right Balance

Me: Thanks for the wonderful reviews! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Doki Doki Literature Club.

Chapter 3: Yuri

It was raining. Yuri nibbled on her bottom lip worriedly. She huddled underneath the awning on her front porch, gazing depressingly at the endless rainfall. She had searched relentlessly throughout her household for an umbrella only to come up empty. Vaguely, she remembered loaning her one good umbrella to Natsuki several months ago, but the purple-haired young woman had held out hope at least one would be found throughout the myriad of closets which littered her house. Sadly, there were none, and she faced the undesirable prospect of shielding herself from the harsh weather with only her book bag.

She groaned. Her hair reacted awful to water. It always got frizzy and curled at the ends, ruining its normally perfect straight appearance only achieved after many laborious minutes of brushing. 'You can do this, Yuri,' she mentally prepared herself. She puffed up her chest. 'It's just rain. You have a spare brush in your bag. Once you get to school, just go to the bathroom and fix your hair. Plain and simple.'

The sudden loud 'BOOM!' of thunder far above frightened her greatly, threatening to destroy her recent bout of courage. She hugged her chest, shaking as her childhood fear of thunder froze her to her spot. No! She couldn't cower here forever. She needed to get to school. Classes would start in twenty minutes! She had never been late once in her entire high school career! She couldn't break her attendance record because of a little rain and thunder.

She prepared to thrust herself into the storm, book bag held protectively over her head to shield her from the rain, when a deep voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Need some help?"

Yuri blinked. She smiled widely.

"Anon…"

Standing at the gate, umbrella clutched in one hand and a smile on his face, Anon held out his hand to her. "Shall we, milady?"

Nodding, she gratefully took his hand, blushing at the contact and sliding underneath the protectiveness of the umbrella. "How did you…?"

"Call it a gut feeling." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Plus, maybe I saw Natsuki walking to school with your umbrella and put two and two together. Who knows?"

Giggling, her pale cheeks were tinted with red, touched by his gesture and the softness of his lips brushing against her skin. "You have the best timing," she commented, leaning against his chest. The two set off at a moderate pace through the rain-soaked streets. "Thank you, Anon. Truly."

"Don't mention it."

It was hard to describe the positive impact Anon had on her life. Yuri was a quiet and shy person, preferring to use written words and carefully-constructed sentences to adequately describe her emotions. With her poems and short stories, there were no instances of stuttering or nervousness. She felt at peace with a pen in her dainty hand, masterfully darting across a blank page and crafting a noteworthy creation.

The club room was always lively, but Anon brought a whole new level of festivity and brightness to their little club of five. Although only six months had passed since he joined the club, it was hard to imagine one without him. He was not the best at poetry or literature in general, but he brought something very much appreciated to the table. His jokes, goofy attitude, loving gestures, unsurpassed patience, unwavering loyalty (she had witnessed several other clubs, mostly filled with female students, attempt to convince him to join their clubs instead, but he never gave them the time of day), and superb kindness made him an invaluable member of the club.

And his good looks. She blushed at the thought. Anon was a good person, but it helped that he was very easy on the eyes. Often, she had a hard time focusing on her reading, eyes always drifting toward his soft lips and intense, honey-colored eyes…

But her attraction and love for him went far beyond simple looks. There were plenty of handsome male students at the high school, but none could ever hope to earn even a glance from the studious beauty. None were even one-tenth of the man Anon was. While they saw her as a pretty face with big breasts, Anon saw her for more than that. He read books she recommended, asked her how her day went routinely, went out of his way to make sure she was happy, and beamed whenever she presented a new poem for him to read.

Within his first days of joining the club, he had successfully wormed his way into her closed off and reserved heart. She admitted to falling for him very quickly. He was handsome, kind, and charming. How could she not be moved? She tried to keep her distance, worried he would be turned away by her more...peculiar habits. When he came to her house for the first time, she was a bundle of nerves and worry. What would he think, a woman having such a detailed knife collection? What would he think when, eventually, she slipped up and revealed one of the deliberate scars on her arms?

Instead of these details pushing him away, he seemed to shoulder the burden of her quirks without question. He was fascinated by her knife collection, often commenting on her attentive cleaning and sharpening of the blades, but frowned upon her outlet of stress. He did not like that she felt the need to cut herself. Numerous times, he tried to convince her otherwise, stating that her friends were there to listen to her problems and address them in a safe, loving matter. She didn't need the blade for that.

But too often, she relapsed, returning to the stinging sensation of the blade to release her stress. Anon, worried deeply, made her a promise: every time he saw a fresh cut on her arms, he would give himself one in return.

She did not believe him. She was angry at the time, if anything. Who was he to try and make her feel guilty? She was only hurting herself. No one else suffered when she took the blade to her skin. Why would he deliberately hurt himself when it served no purpose?

Perhaps defiantly, three cuts adorned her arms the next day. To her horror, he solemnly nodded, reached into his back pocket for a hidden knife, and proceeded to cut himself.

The first cut caught her off guard. By the second, she clutched his arm desperately and begged him to stop hurting himself. The third cut he brought to himself made her cry. As the blood trailed down his arms, wounds cut deeper than intended due to his inexperience with the matter, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. When he looked ready to faint, she hurriedly grabbed towels, rubbing alcohol, and bandages, tearfully treating his injuries and screaming at him to never do it again.

"It's painful, isn't it, watching someone you care about inflict pain on themselves?" He had asked her groggily. "This is what you do to me when you hurt yourself, Yuri. It breaks my heart."

At that moment, she finally understood everything. On that day, when she cradled his head in her lap as he recovered from his injuries, she vowed to never hurt herself again. Four months later, her promise had not been broken. Anon, so loving and stubborn, had saved her from herself.

Was it any wonder why she loved him?

While her spoken words routinely failed her, she trusted her written words to do the trick. As the club room settled into the pleasant silence of reading, she quietly gestured Anon to make his way over to her. The young man dutifully placed his book down and sat beside her, there legs brushing as he scooted his chair closer to hers.

Her heartbeat quickened from their close proximity. Blushing, she shyly slid him a piece of notebook paper, tapping on the surface to get his attention. Anon smiled knowingly, placing a delicate kiss on her temple which made her swoon, and cast his eyes upon the sheet.

Life compares to the Sea,

Dark and lonely,

Often left to treacherous Waters,

When I'm adrift,

Alone in the dark and drowning,

I spot the Lighthouse ashore,

Bright and Warm,

Guiding me back to Life.

Obviously, you are the lighthouse, Anon. You give me hope and warmth. You are the beacon which guides me home.

Is it wrong for me to love you? You deserve so much better. A normal girl with no problems. I'm far from perfect. You spoil us girls, always seeing past our flaws. While the club wouldn't be the same without you, I wouldn't be whole without you.

I love you so very much. Do you love me, Anon?

She watched his expression, so mesmerizing and beautiful, radiate happiness and acceptance as he read. When he turned his gaze to her, she was nervous. Her face was aflame with a dark blush. What if...What if he didn't feel the same? She had long accepted the other girls would always hold a place in his heart, be receptive and willing to his touch and gestures, but could he love her? She was a book nerd. She was painfully shy when speaking. She stuttered often. A blush was always present on her cheeks. Why would he be interested in her?

Monika was confident and charismatic. Sayori was cheerful and bubbly. Natsuki was assertive and downright adorable. Her? She was smart and loved knives. What could she possibly-

He kissed her. It was wonderful. They had never kissed before. She knew...She knew the other girls had done more with him, but she was far too shy and reserved to be so bold. She blushed deeply, stiffening as she shared her first kiss with her beloved, but eventually relaxed and gripped his shoulders.

Was this kissing? Why hadn't anyone told her how wonderful it felt to have Anon's soft lips against hers? She would have kissed him months ago if she had known, pushing past her shyness and kissing him until she passed out from lack of oxygen.

His hand touched her cheek. She leaned into his touch. Their lips hadn't separated since initial contact. Her normally analytical mind was brought to a standstill. A foggy haze of desire crept over her senses. She dared to open her eyes, blushing intensely when she locked gazes with his golden eyes.

And then he pulled away. She must have looked ridiculous, still moving her lips even as the kiss ended, but she was intoxicated by his touch.

"Of course I love you, Yuri," he whispered, grabbing her hands and interlocking their fingers. "And it was a very beautiful poem. One of your best, if I'm honest."

She choked back tears. Before she could think, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. He held her lovingly. "I love you...I love you…" She muttered, snuggling into his warmth. "I love you so much, Anon. I love you…"

Smiling, Anon hugged her close, resting his chin on the top of her head and allowing the purple-haired beauty to seek comfort in his embrace for as long as she wanted.

"Is she okay?" Sayori asked Monika quietly.

"Don't worry. Lover boy has it under control," Natsuki responded casually, turning a page in her manga. "He's got the magic touch."

Sayori giggled, thinking rather fondly of his soft lips.

"That he does~! Hehe…"

Smiling, Monika nodded.

"Yuri will be fine, Sayori. She's just finally coming to terms with her feelings." Her green eyes softened at the heartwarming sight of the two embracing. "Just give them some time, okay?"

"Okay!" Sayori returned to her bag of chips. Tossing one in her mouth, she moaned. Nothing was better than potato chips! "Want a chip, Natsuki?"

"Sure. Wait." Natsuki frowned. "Are those my chips?"

"Um...no?" Chuckling, Sayori averted her gaze. "I found them."

"Where? In my bag?" Natsuki lunged for the chips. "Give them back! Barbecue-flavored are my favorite!"

"Help! Monika!" Sayori pleaded, tackled to the ground by a vengeful Natsuki.

Shaking her head, Monika smiled sweetly.

"Ara...Perhaps this will teach you a lesson, Sayori? I seem to recall a few of my Oreos going missing yesterday. Know anything about that?" The brunette nodded at Natsuki. "As you were, Natsuki."

As the pink-haired bundle of strength attempted to pry the chips from her hands, Sayori gave her a pitiful stare of big, watery blue eyes.

"Senpai! Why have you forsaken me?!"

"You don't even know what that means! You heard that phrase from a movie we watched last week!" Natsuki growled.

"Tehe…" Sayori, releasing her hold on the chips, giggled and bonked herself lightly on the head cutely. "Guilty~!"

The sharp crackle of a toasty flame dancing across charring wood in the fireplace. A coffee table littered with Chinese takeout containers and empty cans of soda. A mass of blankets and pillows occupying the space surrounding the fireplace, maintaining a safe distance to avoid the stray embers. Two young adults, flushed with shared love and affection, snuggled together amidst the warm blankets and basking under the orange glow of the fire.

'-Gandalf!' said Frodo. 'I thought it was he. Gandalf the Grey, dearest of counsellors. Leader of our Company. He was lost in Moria.'

"I never knew you liked The Lord of the Rings," whispered Anon, winking up at Yuri. His head laid in her lap, listening to the gentle beauty recite chapter after chapter of the famous epic. "I always see you reading more...Gothic and dark material. Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft…"

Placing the thick book on a gathering of pillows next to them, Yuri smiled at the dark-haired young man. Blushing, she gently ran her fingers through his darkened locks, desire coursing through her body as she studied his handsome features. Golden eyes, radiant from the violent hues of the fire. The cutest nose ever, in her opinion. A strong jawline, one she could trace for hours. Lips, begging to be kissed, quirked into a wonderful smile. "All diligent readers must broaden their horizons, Anon," she told him, tapping his nose playfully.

"Then why not try one of Natsuki's favorite manga?" He suggested.

"Um…" The pale beauty laughed nervously. "Too...cute, for my tastes. But let's not tell Natsuki, okay?" The cute bundle of pink hair would defend her beloved manga to the very end. "Are you sure this isn't boring for you, Anon?" She asked self-consciously, brushing a strand of purple hair behind her ear.

"Hmmm? Boring?"

"You know...Me reading to you…"

"Not at all." Grabbing the hand gently caressing his face, he kissed her palm tenderly. She blushed from the intimate gesture. "You have the voice of an angel, Yuri. I could listen to you speak for an eternity and never get bored."

Only with him could she speak without stuttering. When she was in his presence with no one else around, she felt confident. This did not mean expressing her deep love for him was easy. She still struggled to overcome emotional roadblocks. She blamed her consistently absent parents for leaving her so emotionally stunted. However, when her speaking to him involved her poetry or a nice book, she could talk without fear of stuttering or doubt. The way he looked at her, so enraptured by her words and passion, made her feel invincible.

"You're too nice to me," she murmured. "I'm sure you have more fun with the other girls."

"Hey, I happen to very much enjoy our weekly readings," he defended, melting her heart with a caring smile. "So peaceful and relaxing…" His head nuzzled her stomach, making her blush profusely. "I need this, Yuri."

Why did she decide to wear such a tight, white t-shirt? Oh, yeah. She wanted...She wanted to draw his attention. With him around, she didn't care if the scars on her arms were on full display. He understood and accepted her past behavior. None of the scars were fresh; she had kept her vow to him and always would. Normally, she chose thick sweaters with long sleeves when not wearing her school uniform, to hide her curves and cover up her scars. But when it was just her and Anon…

Perhaps she felt more daring? Loving when she noticed his attention focus on her curves? The look he gave her when she deliberately performed an action to draw his gaze? Here, in her house, all of his attention was on her. It was...amazing. She was on cloud nine.

But now...with his face nuzzling her stomach, partially obscured by her larger-than-average breasts...Her breathing hitched. One move, one upward shift of his head, and he would…

Oh, was it wrong of her to think such thoughts? His head was already in her lap, for goodness sake! Why was she getting all hot and bothered over something as trivial as his face touching her chest?

"Yuri? Are you okay?" He asked, concern touching his voice.

His words jarred her from her impure thoughts. How long had she mused over her deep attraction to him? The fire appeared weak. Another log would have to be applied, and the flames needed to be stoked.

Her fingers continued to play with his hair. "I'm fine, Anon." She smiled at him, pushing as much charm and beauty into the gesture as she could muster. When she noticed a blush color his cheeks, she swooned. "Hey...Anon?"

"Yes, Yuri?"

He truly looked perfect, nestled so comfortably in her lap. How could she resist?

"Would you please close your eyes for a moment?" She requested.

"Sure. Whatever you want." Dutifully, he closed them, hiding those golden, honey-colored orbs from the world.

Cradling his face, she leaned downward until their faces were mere centimeters apart. "Open them, please."

When he opened his eyes, gold and amethyst met.

"I love you," Yuri said, eyes shining with affection, no longer crippled by overwhelming shyness to tell him. She kissed him.

"I love you, too," he murmured against her lips, reciprocating the kiss wholeheartedly.

And the night was perfect. Everything was perfect.

Me: Hope you enjoyed! Next up is Monika!