Chapter 8

Love Grows and Grows

"And then~" Sayuri says to Nayuki and Mai one day at lunch. "Sayuri was surprised that Mai was giving me the Valentine's chocolates. Sayuri didn't know that-"

"I was in love with you this whole time," Mai finishes as she eats an octopus sausage.

"Ohhhh~!" Nayuki gives an excited expression. "So you two are going out now~?"

"Precisely," Mai replies.

"Ahaha~" Sayuri giggles. "Sayuri doesn't know a thing about um…what is it called? Yuri?"

"That's what we call them nowadays, yes," Nayuki replies.

"Then yuri it is~!" Sayuri says. "Hey, Mai! Sayuri loves you~!"

"I love you, too…." Mai blushes, but keeps on eating.

"How grand~!" Nayuki clasps her hands together happily. "I finally get to see a yuri couple! Right in front of me~!"

"By the way," Sayuri says. "Did Nayuki have any luck with her…significant other?"

"No…I got interrupted," Nayuki says sadly. "I didn't have the courage to confess afterwards."

"Awww, but Sayuri is sure Nayuki can do it~!" the ash brunette says. "Sayuri believes in you!"

"What about you, Mai?" Nayuki turns to the stoic girl.

"Sure," Mai replies.

"Alright!" Nayuki pumps a fist. "I will fight on~"

"That's the spirit~!" Sayuri cheers.

Nayuki giggles. Things have gotten well since Valentine's Day came. Nayuki saw couples left and right giving their significant others chocolates and some were even giving chocolates as love confessions. Back at the Minase Household, even though the chocolates were given to Nayuki and Akiko by surprise, the cute blunette still wanted to give some chocolates to someone very special. She made them during school and gave it to Akiko when she got home. The mother was more than happy to share it with her daughter and Makoto as well.

However, there is one thing missing. She hasn't heard Kaori giving chocolate to anybody. Nor has she made anything for that specific person. In fact, the thought of love has made Kaori give everyone the cold shoulder. She won't even talk to her in the morning. What is wrong with her?

Other than that, the only way to clear her mind is spending time with Mai and Sayuri. And things have gotten well as they ate lunch together. Nayuki feels she is getting a lot closer to them than when she first interacted with them.

After lunch, Nayuki bids the two girlfriends farewell and starts to trot down the halls when she sees Kaori walking by herself. Seeing this as a chance to talk to her, she approaches her and waves.

"Kaori-chan! Kaori-chan!" Nayuki calls out.

The brunette looks up and gives a weak smile. "Oh. Nayuki."

"What's up?" Nayuki says. "It's been a few days since Valentine's day was over. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm doing fine," Kaori replies. "Just…a lot on my mind."

"Is it alright if you want to talk about it?" Nayuki asks.

"No, it's okay," Kaori says. "I…better go. See you later, Nayuki."

"Oh…okay." Nayuki lets her best friend go. She gives a worried expression as she sees Kaori's retreating back. She wishes there is something she can do to help. But if Kaori won't tell her, then what?

**Later**

"I'm home!" Nayuki enters the house and sighs while setting down her bag. "Okaa-san, you won't believe this. There are couples left and right, some aren't even in love and on top of that, Kaori-chan is-" She steps to the living room to see her mother wearing the same exact school uniform as her. Only the ribbon is green. "O-O-Okaa-san!? What in the world!?"

Akiko turns to her daughter and cups a hand to her cheek. "Welcome home, Nayuki. How do I look~?"

"Where did you get that!?" Nayuki points a finger to the uniform.

"I ordered it~" Akiko simply replies.

"Wh-wh-why!? How!?" Nayuki cannot comprehend what her mother is thinking at the moment.

"It fits, doesn't it~?" Akiko says. "Hey, maybe I can go to your school as a student for a day? Wouldn't that be fun~?"

"No, no, no, no!" Nayuki flails her arms wildly. "That would be too embarrassing! Okaa-san, why would you…mou!"

Akiko giggles and pats her daughter on the head. "I won't do anything rash, I promise. Besides, I look young enough to still attend school~"

"That's still not the issue…" Nayuki deadpans.

She decides to let things be. She's too stressed as it is, especially with the case of Kaori. On the other hand…

THUD!

"Ah!" Nayuki runs toward the stairs to see Makoto on the floor next to the stairs. "EEK! Are you alright, Makoto-chan!?"

"Auuuu…what hit me," the blonde stands up and rubs her head.

Akiko walks over and holds out her hand. "Here~"

Makoto takes the mother's hand and stands up. "Do you need an ice pack or anything?"

"No, I think I'm fine," Makoto says. "I wonder why I suddenly tripped over the stairs." She begins to walk to the living room.

Akiko gives a concerned expression and then turns to Nayuki. "Dear…can you do one big favor for me?"

"Anything, Okaa-san," Nayuki says.

"Please…give as much time as you can to Makoto-chan," Akiko says. "I'm leaving the responsibility to you."

"S-sure but…wasn't it my responsibility since the beginning?" Nayuki questions.

Akiko gives a sad smile. "Just trust me. Give her as much time as she needs. If she wants something, give it to her. Anything…to make her smile."

"What are you going on about, Okaa-san? You're starting to scare me," Nayuki says.

Akiko shakes her head. "Do this for me, please."

Nayuki feels she cannot argue with her kind mother. Something is up, but the cute bluenette knows that if she pushes it further, it will get worse.

"Alright," Nayuki says. "I'll keep watch over Makoto-chan. However long it takes."

"That's my girl~" Akiko says, petting her daughter.

Nayuki gives a weak smile. Is something wrong with Makoto that Nayuki doesn't know about?

**Next Day**

Nayuki gives a soft sigh, head on the desk as Kaori takes a seat.

"Nayuki?" Kaori calls.

"Oh," the bluenette lifts her head up to see the brunette. "Kaori-chan, looks like you're feeling better."

"Sort of," Kaori says. "Anyways, what's up with you? Why are you so down in the dumps?"

"Something's wrong with Makoto-chan, but nobody will tell me," Nayuki says. "She tripped over the stairs last night. Maybe she's just clumsy. I cannot think of anything else that's wrong with her."

Kaori rubs her chin in thought. "Hmmm…sorry. I cannot help you on that one. Makoto is probably your responsibility, so you should figure it out on your own. Maybe there's something that can help her heal."

"Heal, you say…" Nayuki's eyes shoot open as a memory flashes in her head. A faint image of a fox in her arms, injured. Then another image appears of Young Nayuki treating that fox's wounds. The memories disappear.

"Are you okay?" Kaori asks.

"I…I'm fine…" Nayuki says. What…was that? A fox? But…

"If you say so," Kaori says as she takes her seat and gets out her materials.

Nayuki is lost in thought for the rest of the class.

**Later**

Nayuki walks down the empty halls, trying to figure out what those images in her head means. Did she really keep a pet fox at her household? If so, then when did she let it go? Why did she let it go at such a young age?

Just then, she looks up to see a girl with curly brown hair that reaches her shoulders and violet eyes. She seems as stoic as Mai is. The girl looks up and notices Nayuki.

"Something you need?" the stoic girl says.

"N-nothing, really!" Nayuki waves her arms back and forth. "Sorry if I was interrupting anything!"

She fast walks past the stoic girl, but stops in her tracks when she hears the girl say,

"Time is running out."

Nayuki gasps and turns around to see the stoic girl leave. "W-wait a minute!? What do you mean my time is running out!? Oh, gosh! Who are these people!?" She throws her arms down in anger.

She doesn't have time for explanations right now. She has to take care of Makoto right away when she gets home. Surely, Akiko is doing most of the responsibility, right? So, it'll be like taking turns.

Finally, classes end and Nayuki hurries out of the classroom without a second thought. She runs and runs until she gets to her home. She opens and closes the front door, kicking off her shoes and the first thing she sees is Makoto up and about. She runs toward the blonde, putting her hands on her shoulders.

"Makoto-chan! Are you okay?" the cute bluenette says.

"Y-yeah, I'm perfectly fine," Makoto replies. "Why do you ask?"

"I was um…worried about you, that's all," Nayuki says.

"Well…I'm okay, see~?" Makoto pulls away and spreads out her arms, twirling around. "Happy as a clam! Oh, oh, oh! I want to ask if we can go somewhere today!"

"Alright, where shall we go?" Nayuki asks.

"I want more pork buns~!" Makoto answers. She leans forward, hands behind her back and gives a toothy grin. "They're really yummy~"

"Okay, give me a few minutes to get dressed," Nayuki says. She starts to head upstairs when she notices her mother walking out of the kitchen.

Akiko just smiles and nods. Nayuki gives a nod in return and rushes upstairs to change in to her casual clothing. In a few minutes, Nayuki runs back down and joins Makoto. Both bid Akiko farewell and will be back in a while. Akiko waves to them and the front door closes.

The mother's smile fades as she lowers her arm. "Nayuki…you may not know it now. But…when the time comes…you need to figure it out on your own. Because…Makoto-chan isn't…what you think she is…"

**Later**

"Mmmm~! Mm-mmm, good~!" Makoto munches on a pork bun that Nayuki bought for her and for herself.

"Ehehe! I have to admit, those are pretty good~" Nayuki takes a bite of her own.

Both of the girls are walking on the sidewalk, enjoying their little snack until Makoto stops to notice a photo booth in the middle of the street. She just stands there, eating her pork bun while staring at it, almost as if she's longing for it. Nayuki stops and turns around to notice the blonde standing and staring at the photo booth. And she already finished her pork bun. The cute bluenette approaches the blonde and gently puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you want to go in there?" she asks.

Makoto snaps out of it and turns her head away. "N-no, I don't! These things are boring anyways!"

"Have you been to one of those?" Nayuki giggles.

"N-no…but they still look boring!" Makoto closes her eyes and starts marching along. "Next!"

"If you say so," Nayuki shrugs. Maybe the photo booth will be for something super special.

She follows Makoto a few more blocks until the blonde approaches a small shop. Something catches her eye. She quickly approaches a small item, staring longingly at it. Nayuki takes notice and giggles, approaching the blonde.

"You want these bells?" Nayuki asks.

Makoto gives her a pleading look. Nayuki giggles and pets the blonde.

"Ehehe! Okay, then~" The bluenette picks up the wristband with two bells attached and buys it. She then hands the wristband over to Makoto. "Here you go~"

"Yay~!" Makoto puts on the wristband and jingles the bells. "Ehehe! What a sweet sound~" She jingles them again and turns to the bluenette. "See? Look how cute they are~!"

"Very cute~" Nayuki replies. "Are you happy with them~?"

"Very happy~!" Makoto says. "I'm leaving now!" She jingles the bells as she turns to leave the shop.

Nayuki just smiles at the blonde. She is glad to see Makoto being all happy, getting everything she wants. But…why though? There must be a catch to what Akiko was trying to tell her. She still cannot figure it out. All she knows is that she must keep trying to take good care of Makoto the best she can.

**Later**

"We're back!" Nayuki calls as soon as she and Makoto get home.

"Welcome back~" Akiko says. "Right on time too."

"Look, look at what Nayuki bought me!" Makoto holds up the bells on her wrist.

Akiko gasps softly. She sees those bells as if she is remembering something. Then she just smiles and pets the blonde.

"That was very nice of Nayuki~" Akiko says. "Why don't you go ahead to your room while I talk to Nayuki, okay~?"

"Sure thing!" Makoto rushes to her room and shuts the door.

Akiko turns to her daughter and smiles. "You're doing a very good job, Nayuki. Keep up the good work."

"I have to ask," Nayuki says. "Is there something happening to Makoto that I don't know about?"

"I'm afraid…I cannot tell you yet," Akiko says. "Just keep taking care of her. Help her feel that she's really part of the family. Will you do that?"

"Y-yes, Okaa-san," Nayuki says.

"Goodie," Akiko smiles and pets her daughter. "Now, go see if Makoto-chan needs anything."

"Sure," Nayuki says and she dashes off to Makoto's room.

Akiko can hear them from downstairs as she just stands there, staring at the door above.

"Read me a story, Nayuki!"

"A manga? Oh, sure what is it?" She reads, 'Love always strikes when you least expect it.' "It's a love story huh? Sure, I'll give it a go."

"Yaaaaay!"

Akiko smiles softly and returns to her house chores.

**Meanwhile**

After reading the story, Nayuki closes the book to see the blonde fast asleep. She strokes the lovely blonde hair as she starts to go down memory lane again.

Now that I think about it, she thinks. The name Makoto Sawatari is the girl that I admired the most. This whole yuri thing started because of her. She comforted me when I was being bullied. I started liking girls ever since. But…this Makoto in front of me…is not the Makoto I knew from back then. Then….what does all of that mean…?

**Next Day**

Nayuki catches sight of the stoic girl again, standing alone in the halls. She was the one who told her time was running out. She needs some answers. She approaches the stoic girl.

"It's me again," Nayuki says. "And I believe we talked earlier about me running out of time. What exactly do you mean by that? What do you know that I don't?"

The stoic girl sighs. "I've been watching you. And ever since you took that girl in, I know that there's only a matter of time before…it happens."

"What's going to happen?" Nayuki steps forward, a fist on her chest. "What's going to happen to Makoto-chan!?"

The stoic girl looks up at her. "Her life…will end soon…"

A/N: Makoto's arc involves the Minase family, so it plays a very big part, which I like. I kinda decided to do this just because…I needed to end her arc somehow. Then onto Mai's arc since I do have Mai x Sayuri as a pair too.

I'm not sure if I can do all of the arcs, honestly, since the main focus is Nayuki x Akiko. I cannot stray from the path, so I'll do what I can.

Have a nice day.