Hunger
Chapter 12
It had been two weeks. Two long weeks since the last big fight in the Literature club. Two solid weeks of Natsuki avoiding everyone. Luckily Monika said they only needed four members to be an after school club. Eventually the time came where they could no longer wait for Natsuki to return and things got back to their normal routine of sharing poems and discussing books. Naota did his best to keep up with everything but he was sure everything felt off without Natsuki, and he was sure everyone else felt it as well.
He always kept an eye out in between classes and at lunch for his missing friend. He soon learned that when Natsuki didn't want to be found she was suddenly Houdini's apprentice. For a bit he would even change his normal walking routes around the school so he could check the vending machines for her. While it was no longer giving him insomnia he still carried a hefty amount of worry on his shoulders.
Maybe this was just the way things were supposed to be. Maybe Natsuki was just a small moment in his timeline, and he would just have to move on without her. He could see himself finishing school, going to college and working jobs. Getting his own place even. He may even end up with a wife a kids someday and Natsuki would just be a wistful memory of his first real crush.
Where did that leave Natsuki? Scraping by until the sickness caught up with her? Then having to spend a majority of her life connected to a life support machine as she waits for a cure or organ donor. As the dark tendrils of worry invaded his mind again he could almost see her. Weak and weary in a hospital bed with myriads of and tubes and lines coming out of her. Once youthful, soft skin now ashen and gray/ Her beautiful pink hair now dry and matted.
Naota had to shake the image from his mind. If he was truly meant to continue his life without her then he had to have1 faith that everything was going to turn out fine. To chase the last of the worrisome thoughts away he repeated to himself 'She'll live a normal life and I'll live a normal life.' like a mantra.
Back in the real world It was just another Friday night and he was alone in his house. His parents had gone off to see some distant family for the weekend. The quiet inside and the first snow of the year gently falling outside made a great atmosphere for thinking or even getting some reading done. Maybe he would wait until he got dinner out of the way first, there were plenty of leftovers in the fridge. He wanted just a few more moments of watching the snow fall from his living room window first, it was such a calming sight.
-Elsewhere-
"Fucking ass!" Natsuki muttered under her breath as stared at the locked door of her house. Of course on the coldest day of the year her dad would decide to hit up a bar and lock the house up. Her thin white hoodie wasn't doing much against the wind and wet snow. A violent shiver rattled her whole body and that was her sign that she needed shelter and fast. She could lay low at the grocery store for a while, but they would kick her out sooner or later for not buying anything. The school gates were surely locked by now so no going back there. She could always stay at a friends house, if she knew where any of them lived. She was kind of low on friends at the moment anyways. Try as she might there was only one solution she kept coming back to. Swallowing her pride and rubbing her arms to generate some warmth she set out for her new destination.
-Back with Naota-
With the oven running for a while Naota had a perfectly warm house to laze about in. His mother had thrown together some dishes to eat while she was gone for the weekend, all Naota had to do was follow the directions to reheat it. Much to his delight the room was now filling up with the scent of warm tomato sauce and melty cheese. He was soon taken out of his italian scented daydream when he heard a knock at the door. The sun had just began to set and he couldn't think of anyone who would pay him a visit now. Maybe Sayori could smell the food from her place and wants some? Naota chuckled at the thought.
All jokes left his mind as he saw who was at his front door. The young woman was too short to be Sayori. The figure had a familiar white hoodie on, with cat ears sewn to the hood. They stood there, arms wrapped around themselves in a bid to stay warm. Their eyes cast downwards in a refusal to meet Naota's.
"Natsuki?" Naota quietly asked in confusion. He knew it had to be her, but she was probably the last person he would expect a house visit from. A strong gust of wind blew, sending Natsuki into another fit of shivers.
"Well do you like watching your guests freeze or are you going to invite me in?" The young woman's bark was almost as cold as the weather.
"Oh yeah! Of course, come in! Make yourself at home!" Naota quickly prattled once he regained his manners. He closed the door to save them both from suffering the cold as set down her book bag, wiped her shoes off and removed them. Still without making eye contact he helped her remove the, now significantly damp, hoodie. "I can throw this in the dryer for a bit if you want. I'll get you a towel too. The kitchen is super warm right now why don't you come sit in there?"
Natsuki only nodded. She was still unsure if she even wanted to talk to... could she still call him a friend? Do friends hide from each other for weeks on end?
The need for warmth was quickly outweighing her questions about her relationship status. It may have been nearly a month since they baked together but Natsuki still remembered his house and found the kitchen quickly. Naota was right the kitchen was delightfully warm and something smelled delicious! Rather than take a seat she huddled close to the oven like it was an open fire. The scent of Italian food only cause her empty stomach to groan and whine. She did her best to ignore it.
Naota couldn't help but silently grin as he took in the sight in his kitchen. The weather must of really done a number on his former friend? Schoolmate?He too was clueless on where the two currently stood. It really didn't matter at the moment. He had to help get her warm and dry. A lingering growl came from the girl's stomach and Naota decided he should offer to feed her as well.
"Some night to take a walk huh?" Naota asked as he offered the damp girl a towel, doing his best to keep things light and jovial.
"Yeah." Natsuki chirped sarcastically. "I just love staying outside until I'm soaked and frozen to the bone! I'm just a genius like that aren't I?" She snatched the towel away. After quickly undoing her ribbons and tossing them on the kitchen table she started drying off her hair.
Naota couldn't help but to roll his eyes at her familiar attitude. "Well if you want to take a seat at the table we can get you warm and fed if you're hungry."
With a soft "Hmpf!" Natsuki took a seat. "You're not going to ask your parents if you can have a dinner guest?" She asked.
"Don't need to, they're gone for the weekend." Naota explained.
"No way, does that mean YOU cooked whatever smells so good?" Natsuki asked incredulously.
"Nope, mom threw it together. I'm just heating it up. I don't have any cooking skills to speak of." Naota admitted with a sheepish grin.
The conversation died down for a moment as Natsuki continued to dry her hair and Naota stood to man the oven.
"So aren't you gonna ask me why I'm here?" Natsuki's demeanor had soften the slightest bit.
Naota thought her question over for a bit. "Do you forgive me for sharing personal details about you at the club?"
"I don't know..."
"Well then don't tell me anything else. You're here for a good reason I bet and if you let me I'm here to help."
Natsuki was struck silent by Naota's sudden maturity. There was a lot she could stay angry about, but she could sense the sincerity in his words. He was willing to help her without judgment or explanation and maybe that was worth more then she once thought.
"I'll tell you on one condition; NOTHING that I tell you leaves this house alright?" Natsuki gave him a hard stare to convey her seriousness.
Naota smiled. He secretly hoped this bit of trust meant they could start to mend things between them. "Sure thing, cross my heart and hope to die." He promised, drawing an invisible X across his chest.
Satisfied with his answer Natsuki took a deep breath to calm herself. She was just praising him for not judging her a moment ago but opening her and her dad to scrutiny was never easy. "He promised. There's nothing to be worried about" she reminded herself.
"So my dad has the only set of house keys. He thinks if I have a copy I'll throw some crazy, boy-filled party while he's gone or something. And tonight it looks like he decided to hit the bar so I'm locked out until he gets home. Problem is he always stays until closing time." Natsuki kept her eyes down, slightly embarrassed by her situation.
"When do the bars close?" Naota asked.
"3 A.M." Natsuki cradled her head in her hands in annoyance.
"That is a problem..." Naota took a few moments to think. "Well there are spare places to sleep if you want to crash here tonight. Or if that's too weird for you Sayori's right next door, could could probably spend the night there. After we eat of course."
Sayori was his next door neighbor wasn't she? Natsuki mulled over her options. Fatigue was setting in fast for the girl. Maybe this was a decision best made after she had some food energy in her. "What's for dinner anyways?"
Naota checked the time. After donning kitchen mitts he retrieved a casserole dish from the oven's warm interior. With a bit of flourish he peeled back the aluminum covering the dish. "My mom's signature baked ziti!" He announced.
Natsuki couldn't help but deadpan. "Seriously?" she asked.
"What? You don't like ziti?" Naota asked, wondering if there really could exists such a person who didn't like all that pasta and melted cheese.
"I do actually, it smells awesome. I'm just trying to figure out why it's always pasta or noodles when I eat with you."
"I don't know, it's just fate I guess." Naota shrugged. " I promise no pasta or noodles next time."
"Next time?" Natsuki asked, raising a wary eyebrow.
"IF there is a next time." Naota corrected as he raised his hands in surrender.
Natsuki grabbed one of her ribbons to tie her hair back while she ate. Naota watched her, trying to hide his awe. One, she was very good at tying bows behind her head. Two, she still looked stunning even in a plain ponytail.
Natsuki's head whipped around as soon as she felt eyes on her. "Yeah?" she challenged the staring Naota.
"Oh, um... nice hair?" The flustered boy muttered. "I mean, your hair looks nice like that."
"Stop getting weird right before we eat. You're gonna make me barf." Natsuki chided, but couldn't hide a small, genuine smile. "Alright! What are we waiting for? Let's dish up."
Leaving his guest to rest Naota quickly retrieved plates and glasses of water for the pair. Still suspicious that Natsuki wasn't eating enough he made sure to serve heaping portions on each plate. The two happily ate in silence for a bit. Naota took note at how ravenous Natsuki could be with her bites. He was guessing he could strike anorexia off the list.
"So, what have you been up to lately?" Naota eventually asked.
"In all honesty, not much. I got some writing done a few days. Other than that I guess I've just been reading." Without the Literature club or something to bake there wasn't much for the pinkette to do.
"Reading Parfait Girls?" Naota asked.
Natsuki shot him a small smile. "No. You know I can't bring myself to read that one lately. Something's just missing whenever I try to."
Naota gave a small smile back. Knowing she hadn't read on without him filled him with a special kind of joy. "I was worried that you might of joined another club by now."
"I thought about it, but I don't think I'm ready to leave the Literature club just yet."
"That's good. The girls really miss you."
"Is that so?." A small bit of Natsuki was relieved to hear this.
"I did too, for what it's worth. I'm sorry I messed everything up."
"Yeah, I never got to hear the whole story about that day. What was with you?" Natsuki asked the question that lurked in the back of her mind for the last few weeks.
Naota swallowed hard, it was time to come clean about all his paranoid thoughts. "I was thinking about you fainting. And all those times you fell asleep while reading. And how your seemingly always hungry. I was worried you weren't eating for some reason."
Natsuki grew quiet again. Naota was a bit too close to finding another secret of her home life. She decided to slightly change the course of the conversation. "That kept you up all weekend? Why would you worry so much?"
Naota braced himself, even though he was sure she knew about his feelings it was never easy to make little admissions like this. "You're a friend and a special person to me Natsuki. You don't deserve to be in a situation where you can't eat when your hungry."
Natsuki's blushed at his kind words. "You idiot. You don't have to worry about me."
The two continued their meal in a content silence. Neither would say it out loud but feelings were growing as warm as the comfy, little kitchen itself. With food in her stomach and a friend near by Natsuki felt a solace she hadn't felt in some time. Now if only this fatigue would quit dragging her down.
It wasn't long before plates were empty. Naota gathered the dishes and started washing them while Natsuki relaxed at the table.
"Well if you want in a bit I can call Sayori and see if she can have you over tonight. How does that sound Natsuki?" Moments passed, there was no response. "Natsuki?"
Turning around Naota saw that his dinner guest had leaned forward, resting her head on the table. Her cheeks were still flushed and out of instinct he approached and brought a gentle hand to her forehead.
She was hot, burning hot.
A/N: I thought I'd do my best and get another chapter out before the end of the month. This one was actually pretty easy to write as I've been waiting to get to this part for a while so I hope you enjoy!
