Natsuki : "Listen, about earlier..."

Natsuki : "You don't have to do that."

Natsuki : "I've always made it on my own..."

Natsuki : "So nothing is really changing anyway."

Natsuki : "And I don't really think it would be... right..."

MC : "Natsuki, please. You're being ridiculous."

MC : "Just let me help you get your feet on the ground, at the very least."

MC : "It's not a big deal."

MC : "...I'm sure S̷ayo̵ri would help too, if you don't want to stay with me."

MC : "But please, you can't live on the streets, even if you think you can."

Natsuki looks angrily toward the floor

I can imagine it's really hard for a girl like her to accept any kind of help.

Natsuki : "You don't know that!"

Natsuki : "Who's to say I haven't done it before anyway?"

Natsuki : "I'm tougher than you think, you know."

MC : "Fine, fine, you're tough."
MC : "Look, Natsuki, you're not a burden to me or whatever you may be thinking."

MC : "I honestly just wanted to help you."

MC : "And so does Sayori."

MC : "We all really care about you, Natsuki. We can't let you be on the street like this."

Natsuki's eyes well up, and she furrows her eyebrows and turns away.

Natsuki : "..."

Natsuki : "...Fine!"

She gets in the car and slams the door.

The bruises weren't the worst part.

Neither were all the chores.

The worst part was the constant, crippling fear and anticipation.

All the joy had been sucked out of life a long time ago, and now it was just about surviving anyway.

Life was nothing but waiting for the next beating, the next grounding, the next meal taken away.

The worst part was how her heart began to race when she heard the key turning in the door.

And how she spent all her time cleaning the house thinking that it would make him proud.

But she was a terrible daughter.

And she deserved every punishment.

"Just don't make it weird, okay?"

Natsuki finishes making her bed out of my couch after being convinced to stay the night.

MC : "Jeez, what do you mean?"

MC : "We won't even be in the same room..."

Once things are set up, and I've shown her around, I head upstairs to put away my school stuff.

I have a little bit of homework, but I toss it to the side.

I lay out some papers on my desk.

My mind wanders a little...

It was really nice sharing poems today, even if Yuri was the only real participant.

The fact that she would do that for me...

Well, it was really sweet.

It's like meeting her again for the first time, but this time it feels like a fresh opportunity.

The same goes for the other girls.

But Yuri's intellectulism and well, her figure...

My heart flutters a bit when I think of her.

The truth is, I've really liked her since I first met her and she was always so welcoming to me too.

And I don't think that her cutting thing is really that bad...

She even gave me a book!

...

I shouldn't really have thoughts like that, though...

I kind of wanted to contact her, but I realized I didn't have her number.

Maybe having someone over would help Natsuki feel a little less awkward.

Exiting my bedroom, I head back on down the stairs.

Natsuki : "Ugh, what is this thing?"

Natsuki is investigating a small wooden carved figure in a small cabinet.

MC : "Could you be nosier?"

The figure is something I've had since I was a kid, a carved man apparently made by my grandfather.

MC : "All you've done so far is judge my decor."

MC : "Sorry if my feng shui isn't to your liking." I use air quotes as I say.

Natsuki : "It looks like an old man's place."

How could anyone be so ungrateful?

Natsuki's eye catches an old folder of my drawings.

It's brightly decorated on the outside with doodles, some of them of recurring characters that I made, some attempts at drawing manga, and some just rude or vulgar drawings.

Natsuki : "You draw?"

MC : "Well... I used to."

MC : "That stuff is kind of embarassing, it's not really worth looking at."

Natsuki puts it back where she found it.

I ponder on what she said for a moment and realize that she probably asked me that because she has an interest in art.

MC : "So.. You like to draw?"

Natsuki : "...Well, yeah."

Natsuki : "I'm pretty great. I'm surprised you didn't know that already."

MC : "Somehow, it slipped past me..."

Natsuki glares at me.

Natsuki : "Not that you would care, but I won awards at school for my art."

Natsuki : "I would prove it to you, but I..."

Natsuki : "...Don't have any drawings with me."

The mood sort of shifts as she says that last part.

MC : "It's alright. I believe you."

Natsuki : "..."

Natsuki : "You have art supplies, right?"

Natsuki : "Maybe I can... M-m..."

She's choking up a little and struggling to get her words out.

MC : "Natsuki... Are you alright?"

Natsuki : "Y-yes!" She looks at me angrily with tears in her eyes. "Shut up!"

I probably shouldn't force her to say anything she doesn't want to.

MC : "Okay, I'm sorry.. Yeah, I have some stuff for you to draw with."

Natsuki is quiet, looking away.

We're just standing there in the closet now.

How did this turn so awkward already?

Natsuki wipes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

She suddenly comes forth.

Natsuki : "... I'm sorry for being so immature."

Natsuki : "I don't deserve this kindness..."

I want to hug her... But I'm still not sure if that's outside of her comfort zone.

I can hear the pain in her voice. She's been treated so bad that she thinks she doesn't deserve any kind of love...

MC : "Don't say that..."

MC : "I'm just doing what anyone would do for someone who needs help."

MC : "No... You deserve better help than me, anyway.."

MC : "And you're not a burden, because I value you."

MC : "So does everyone else, because you're wonderful!"

Natsuki looks like she wants to protest at that last comment.

Natsuki : "I'm such an idiot..."

Natsuki : "I could have avoided all of this."

MC : "Natsuki, it's not your fault... You're the victim."

MC : "But all of that stops now."

MC : "So there's no need for that negative talk anymore."

She begins sobbing heavily, and covering her face.

Her hoarse cries sound deep and visceral coming from her...

She comes toward me and embraces me, her head resting in the middle of my chest.

It's quiet for a little bit, with Natsuki sobbing intermittently.

Natsuki : "MC, you're nicer to me than anyone else I've ever met..."

Natsuki looks up into my eyes.

Natsuki : "I... Don't know how to thank you."

For a moment, our eyes meet, and I can see her usual angry expression melt away under her blushing smile.

MC : "U...Um... you don't have to thank me."

I don't know what to do... But my heart is pounding as her grip around me tightens.

Her smile grows as tears flow down her face.

She finally lets go of me and backs away.

She looks away from me, blushing, still smiling and with tears in her eyes.

That moment is gone just as quick as it started.

She's so cute, and small, that I feel even worse for her seeing her like this.

I never would have thought Natsuki could act so... vulnerable.

I guess it must mean she trusts me enough to open up like that.

MC : "Come on, let's go watch TV or something in the living room."

I lead her out to the couch and she takes a seat.

In the meantime I go into the kitchen to grab a few snacks and set them out on the table in the living room.

Turning on the something nice on the TV, we sit and watch and talk idly for a bit.

Natsuki seems to begin to feel better.

It's not quite time for dinner, but I'm thinking about starting it soon.

I'm thinking about night time arrangements, and I realize that Natsuki's still wearing her school uniform.

I think to myself how tough it must be to start over like that..

She probably doesn't have any posessions she can call hers except those in her backpack and the clothes she wears.

It's hard to give her gifts, though, and I don't have any girl's clothing.

An idea crosses me mind, that perhaps I could enlist Sayori's help.

Some of Sayori's clothes might fit her.

I don't know if I should bother her though.

I'm sure she's okay.

I remember the last time I saw her, she said she loved me, and that she would see me today.

Well, now I'm convinced, I should go check on her and tell her about Natsuki staying with me.

It suddenly occurs to me that Sayori might misinterpret the situation of me having Natsuki stay at my house entirely.

Surely I could just explain it to her, right? I mean...

At least in my head... We're still like, a couple... Sort of..

And she would understand.

Sayori's the only person who I can tell anything to.

MC : "Hey Natsuki, I'll be right back."

MC : "Don't go anywhere, alright?" I smile at her.

Natsuki : "Wait, what? You're leaving me here?"

Natsuki : "Already?"

MC : "Just for a moment, alright?"

Natsuki looks a little concerned.

I head for the door, and begin to exit.

She shifts from concern to deep worry that I can hear in her voice.

Natsuki : "Wait.."

Natsuki : "Is it Sayori?"

But I've already closed the door behind me.

I'm sure Sayori will have something that she can give, I've seen her closet.

And she only wears a few of her favorite shirts anyway.

I've seen her wear the same outfit three days in a row.

She probably thinks she can get away with it, but people definitely notice.

They probably just feel bad about telling her.

That's why she needs someone like me, anyway.

I keep her grounded in reality.

The freezing cold shocks me as I exit, even though I should be used to it by now.

It's dry and cold. It's totally silent except for the blowing of the wind, shaking the fences in the neighborhood.

I make my way over to Sayori's place, and knock on her door.

While I wait, I go ahead and send her a text.

MC : "Hey, let me in :)"

I wait for a little bit longer before deciding to just try to doorknob.

To my surprise, it opens once again.

Seems typical of her to forget to lock it, but maybe she actually anticipated me coming over.

In any case, I'm used to barging in, ever since we were kids.

The living room is empty and the lights are mostly off except for a dim nightlight coming from a bedroom.

MC : "Hey Sayori!"

I start heading up the stairs, and all the hair on my body stands on edge as the only sound in the house is my foostep creaking.

I can't believe Sayori didn't answer my text or let me in.

She's probably just sleeping, which would be just like her.

I can't imagine she's doing homework or anything.

In fact, I'm still kind of unsure about her, and how she is doing.

It's just really hard to tell. I never know if what I'm doing is good or not.

She did seem really happy at times when we were together those nights we spent all alone...

But she also used to seem happy all the time, and was really masking something terrible.

I should be a better boyfriend to Sayori, or just a better friend in general.

I make my way to her bedroom, still deep in thought.

Making my way to the door, my heart begins to pound.

I gently open the door.

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