Story 1: Meiko

'I love you'. Three dumb, little words that, said the right way to the right person could mean eternal happiness or, on the flipside, a never-ending agony that you wish would subside. For me? Those words are more than just a confession of adoration or a phrase to be passed around among friends. It's three words between two people that can shift their lives forever. It's the igniting of a flame that can never be extinguished again. It's the securing and reinforcing of a bond that can never be strained, frayed or broken.

For me… It's the three words I don't think I deserve to tell the most perfect girl that I know…

I see her standing there beneath the falling cherry blossoms, the summer semester starting as we prepare for opening ceremonies. She stands alone and looks at a single petal that fell into her soft little hand, her look one of adorable curiosity. Her soft, pink hair blowing in the gentle springtime breeze, her eyes like a pair of refined rose quartz holding such sweetness yet with hidden, sharpened edges in their stare. Her cute little smile as she hugs her bookbag to her chest. As I grow closer, she looks up at me and gasps, her sweet lips parting as she begins to speak—

The blaring of an alarm clock rings out from next to me as I scream in sudden shock, quickly swinging on and colliding my balled up fist with the face of my digital alarm that sails across the room and shatters upon impact of my wall. I take a few breaths as I look around and find I'm in my room. I peer around and then to the busted clock as I groan and throw the sheets off, "Damn… Guess I better get ready or else I'll be late." I reason begrudgingly as I look at myself in the mirrored door of my closet.

I look annoyingly at the six-foot-five behemoth I am and curse myself as I raise up my arms and look myself over. I got one helluva tan during the summer, and it definitely shows. I was annoyed I had to dye my hair black again for school, but there isn't much I can do on that front other than suck it up and deal with it. Though admittedly, I'm pretty sure dark red hair would've just made me look like even more of a delinquent then I already appear with my major RBF and muscular build. Looking down at the burgundy pajama bottoms I have on, I give a frustrated sigh and swing the closet door open to reach in and pull out my school uniform of a medium brown jacket, an orange sweater vest and white button-up shirt as well as a pair of blue slacks.

I also swipe up my black towel and head for the bathroom across the hall, as I get clean, get refreshed and get dressed. Heading downstairs, I wait to put on my actual uniform top as I start on breakfast: Fried eggs, bacon, toast and a healthy glass of juice. I say my prayers and dig in pretty quick, finishing up in a few minutes before I look at my phone and find I have twenty minutes to get going. I quickly get myself dressed fully and rush out the door, locking up and making a mad dash from my house not too far into the city. From where I run from I happen to rush swiftly past a girl with a red bow in her hair. I don't know what it is about her, but the look on her face holds a bit of a goofy air about her, but I don't pay her much attention aside from a quick greeting before rushing past.

As I run, I find that I'm not alone in my swift exodus to school as I catch up to the rest of the late crowd. I push past a few and others make way for me when I call out, and before I know it, I'm inside at at my desk for my homeroom. I give a thankful sigh and continue on with my day, most of my classes being uneventful or boring. Around quarter past one, I get dressed and ready for Gym. The only class of my day worth going to cause finally, I get to see… Her. I walk in as I'm talking to a few of my other classmates, grabbing one in a headlock and laughing heartily before I look over towards the track and I see her already running. Her soft pink hair, her tiny build, her determined glare at the track ahead, I let my thoughts slip as I whisper her name, "… Natsuki…"

"What about Natsuki?" I hear a voice say suddenly from next to me as I look over and am met with a girl I've heard about plenty around the school. Her long brown hair tied up in a ponytail held by a long white ribbon, her emerald green eyes, her light, down-to-Earth smile, it was Monika. I had heard about her from other students before and overheard some of the faculty talking about her as well, but I never really saw her until now. She'd jostled me out of my dream-like state and gave me an almost knowing glance, "Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm—"

"Monika. Yeah, I've heard about you before. You're the main topic among just about everyone in the school at any given time. Can barely turn a corner around here without someone saying your name." I interrupt as I release our classmate who grumbles rubbing his neck before walking off.

"Oh, really? Well, that's certainly embarrassing. I'm nothing special, really! So, what was it you were saying about Natsuki? You seemed like you were really lost in thought there." She said as if she was verbally jabbing me in the side, her voice dripping with inquiry though it seemed like she knew already.

I sigh a bit and look over seeing her continue to run as I grab my arm, "It's nothing, really. I just… I wanna talk to her, I guess. Or maybe the better word is that I want to apologize to her."

"Apologize? Did you do something wrong?"

"Well… Maybe? No? I just…" I sigh and rub the back of my neck, "When we first got here, during the opening ceremonies, I first saw her. She was staring up at the cherry blossoms and she caught my eye. She just looked so serene and cute and so I tried to talk to her. Strike while the iron's hot or whatever. I was contemplating what to say and couldn't decide between 'They're pretty, huh?' and 'How are you?'. I panicked and before I could stop myself I just blurted out 'How pretty are you, huh?'. I was so embarrassed and she looked so mad, I—"

"You ran away fearing you'd ruined your chance, am I right?" Monika interrupted as I hung my head in shame at my actions. She hit the nail square on, I ran like a coward and haven't had the guts to face Natsuki since. As I wallowed in my self-loathing, I heard Monika start giggling to herself which irked me for whatever reason. Guess cause it felt like she's laughing at me, but if I were her I'd laugh at my dumb ass too. Still kinda stings though.

I must've had a pretty pissed look on my face, cause as soon as she started she'd stopped and cleared her throat, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like I was making fun of you or anything. Honest." She said hopefully as I just shrugged and stared at the ground. We were quiet for a little while before she spoke again, "Hey, how do you feel about literature?"

"Uh… Literature? What, like books and junk?"

"You could certainly put it that way, yes."

I honestly had to stop and think about it for a solid minute as I crossed my arms and bowed my head in thought before I looked back at her, "I read sometimes, I guess. Mostly just manga and some comic books I ordered from overseas. Why the random question anyways? What's it gotta do with—"

"Just curious. I was wondering if you'd like to drop by my club today after school. We're short a few members and I think you'd fit in great! So, what do you say?" She said as she leaned a bit more towards me with her arms crossed behind her back.

I blink confusedly at her and shake my head, "Uh… Nah, I don't think so. I'm not the writing/reading type and I was more looking for some sports or physical after school activities. So, I'm gonna have to decline. Sorry." I say bluntly as I make my way to the track and start running myself, keeping a good distance from Natsuki so I don't bother or interrupt her but I can keep an eye on her now and then.

After school, I gather my stuff up and head out from the locker rooms to go check out the more sporty after school clubs. Every one I go to though I can't seem to catch a break, cause they're all full! As I'm turned down by the fifth club, I think back on the invitation from Monika and sigh, "I guess it's better than just wasting away in the gym alone."

Soon, I find myself in a third floor corridor of the west wing of the school as I open up the door to find Monika and the girl I'd passed on the way to school this morning talking at a makeshift table of pushed together desks with a purple haired girl peering up over her book curiously to look at me. The girl from before gives a big, excited smile as Monika appears a bit surprised for a moment before smiling at me as well as they both get up to greet me as I walk in, "Meiko, it'a so good to see you took me up on my offer."

"Honestly? I wasn't planning on it, but every other club was full and I didn't want to just end up spending all my free time at home or working out. So, here I am."

"Well, regardless of your reasoning, I am happy to see you. This is my good friend Sayori. She's the vice-president of the Literature Club." She says as she places a hand on the girl's shoulder as she hops up to me and smiles up at me.

"Welcome! I'm so glad you decided to join our club! Monika said a big guy would be coming today but I had no idea she meant someone as big as you!" She talks about me like I'm some kind of giant or something. Though I guess in comparison to her I kind of am, so I let it slide.

"Nice to meet you, Sayori. Yeah, Monika gave me the invitation during gym today, but I never set in stone that I was gonna come in." I say with a bit more of a stern tone before giving a sigh and looking back to the table where the third girl hadn't moved, "By the way, who's that?"

"Oh, Yuri! Come here at meet our newest member!" Sayori calls as the girl, who's name is apparently Yuri, stands and shyly walks over to us, lightly fumbling with her hair as she looks up at me slightly, being a bit closer to my height but still about a foot shorter.

"H-Hello… I-It's nice to m-meet you."

"Yeah, uh… Nice to meet you too, I guess?"

"Yuri's a bit shy, but she's also super smart and kind!" Sayori says, hyping up Yuri heavily as I scratch the back of my head.

"Uh… Yeah, okay?" I say as I sigh and turn, "Okay, maybe I should've just stayed with my plan… I'll keep you in mind, but I really don't know if this is right for me. I'll go home and think about i—" I stop short as, once I try to head back through the door, I feel someone run full speed into my abdomen.

Looking down, all I see is a mess of bright pink hair as they look up with those big, curious rose eyes brimming with shock as I'm faced with Natsuki face first in my stomach. Before I can react, she shouts and leaps back from me, "What the hell!? What're you doing here?!"

"Natsuki, it's good to see you took me up on my offer as well!" Monika chimes in with a bashful tone as she rubs her cheek a bit stepping past me as she stands by Natsuki, "This is Meiko, from our P.E. class. Since you're both first-years, I figured it'd be nice to have you both here so neither of you feel overwhelmed or lonely being in a room of people ahead of you."

"Yeah, I know his stinkin' name… You had to invite a boy, though? And it had to be this guy?" Hearing her talk is a strange feeling. On one hand, she sounds like she'd rather be in a room with a hungry wolf, but on the other, she speaks with so much energy and devotion… I can't help the redness that creeps along my face as I look away from her. "Huh? H-Hey, what're you looking like that for?" Dammit, she must've noticed.

"Well, I uh—"

"He had something he wanted to say to you if my memory serves me well. Isn't that right, Meiko?" Monika interjected as she smiles, "Don't worry, Yuri, Sayori and I will be right in here in case you need us." She said as she lightly shoves me forward and shuts the door as I'm stuck in the hall looking down at the huffy face of Natsuki.

"H-Hey, Monika," I look back and the door is, in fact, shut. I sigh and scratch the back of my head before looking down at Natsuki once again who crosses her arms expectantly looking up at me, "Um… Hey—"

"What? Wanna ask me how cute I am again, creep?"

"No, it's not like that. Really, I just… I was trying to greet you normally and my brain… I get scattered sometimes and I don't… Talking to… Words are hard." I continue to babble and bumble over myself like I just learned the language yesterday, my blush only growing as I try again and again to find the words. As I go on, Natsuki's hardened glare slowly but surely softens as she drops her arms to her side's and she snickers a bit before she starts to make the sweetest yet demeaning sound I've ever heard; she starts laughing at me.

Her laugh is so cute and loud but considering it's at my expense still kinda stings, but I'll get over it. Once her laughter quiets down she pats my arm, pausing a moment to seemingly admire the muscle which only makes me blush more before she shakes her head and puts her hands on her hips. "Okay, okay. Apology accepted you big lug! Man, and here I thought you were just another meathead looking for girls to bother with your macho junk… Guess I was wrong. You're a meathead with a conscience and a speech problem!" She laughs a bit more as I just stare at her. She isn't entirely wrong, I did come here for a single girl in particular and right now, she's laughing at me and, I guess in a kinda backhanded way, complimented me? I don't mind though given I didn't think she'd give me time of day before now.

Once again, she finally stops laughing and sighs, "Alright, I'm done. You wanna go inside and find out what this whole 'Literature Club' thing is about? Cause to me it looked like I ran into you in the middle of you trying to bail."

"What, who? Me? No no, I uh… Yeah, I'm up for it if you are." I say trying to be a bit calmer as I rub my arm where she'd touched it.

"Good, cause if it's boring at least I won't be bored alone!" She said followed by a punch to my arm, though with her small size it really didn't feel like anything. I wasn't going to tell her that though. She gives a proud smile and just as proudly walks past me to swing the door open as she hops back, the feeling of something falling into my back as I turn to look and see Sayori, Monika and Yuri had fallen onto me and were leaned over each other as each one had an embarrassed or bashful smile on their face. Natsuki was the first to speak as she growled a little, like an angry kitten. "What the hell are you three doing?"

"W-We were, uh… Sayori?" Yuri stuttered out as she leaned off of me.

"Heheheh, we were just, uh… Monika?" Sayori chuckled nervously as she ducked out from between the brunette's chest and my back.

"We were just making sure that your conversation went smoothly and were ready to step in if needed." Monika explained as she leaned up off of my back and lightly brushed herself off as if she'd planned out each word of her excuse. Honestly, I just thought they were snooping but with her calm and calculated delivery? I'd almost be inclined to believe her.

Regardless of that, Natsuki has a look on her face that says she's not convinced, "Yeah, sure. Whatever, let's just get this over with." She says as she grabs the sleeve of my jacket as if she were trying to drag me in. Not wanting to keep her waiting or embarrass her, I follow along as she sits at a corner desk and I sit down next to her, Yuri taking a seat next to me while Monika and Sayori sit opposite to us.

As I expected, the Literature Club was a club centered around reading, discussion of books, authors, favorite forms of literature, etcetera. In other words, it was boring. I tried my best, but before I knew it, my eyelids grew heavy and I ended up falling asleep. A little while later, I groan and rub the sleep from my eyes as I notice Monika, Yuri and Sayori are all missing. I look over to my side and I feel my heart nearly stop as I see Natsuki sleeping peacefully leaned against my arm. I can't help but feel my face burn up as I try to nudge her awake, "Hey, Natsuki. I think the meetings over, wake up." I whisper as she groans and wraps her arms around mine, making my face overheat as I watch her sleep using my arm as a pillow.

Seeing no other way around it, I stand up and end up lifting Natsuki into my arms, just barely being able to pry her from my arm only for her to hug me around my neck. I stare off into space for a moment as I smile a little and hug her back to keep her stable and comfortable, 'She really is the most adorable thing I've ever seen in my life… She's so soft and light, like carrying a plushie. Wonder if she's thinking the same thing.' I wonder as I wander the two of us out of the school and avoid being seen by any faculty or students. Thankfully, it seems like all the other clubs and such ended already. As I carry her down the street, we get a few looks from passersby as well as some remarks about us. I don't acknowledge them or anything but they do make my blush darken as I continue to carry the unconscious girl along.

Before long I here a grumbling of a stomach, "Was that me? I mean, I am pretty hungry…" I hear it again and then look down at Natsuki who's groaning with a bit more of a disgruntled look on her face. It must've been her, she must be hungry. Starving if that noise was anything to go off of. I think for a moment before I gasp and smile, knowing a perfect way to fix our collective problem.

After a little while of walking and a bit of waiting, Natsuki finally opens her eyes and groans, "Good evening, sleepyhead." I say playfully as she looks up at me from her spot in a booth at my side. Seeing how she was holding onto me, her face quickly reddens and she seems to fully wake up quite suddenly as she gives a shout of surprise.

"WW-What the hell!? Where are we!? How did I get here!?"

"Whoa whoa, calm down! You're alright, we fell asleep. Monika, Yuri and Sayori were all gone and I figured I couldn't just leave you in the clubroom alone. So, I carried you out and brought you here for some dinner. I, uh… Hope that's okay."

As Natsuki listened to my recalling of the events her face turned from confusion and anger to a bit more of a shocked confusion, "Wait… Dinner? Y-You know, I don't have any cash on me! So unless you plan on treating me—"

"That's actually exactly what I was doing."

"Eh?" Natsuki seems a bit more surprised by this as she peers up at me with arms crossed, her smug look disappearing as she looks down at the two menus, water already at the table along with some complimentary rolls. "Wait, you're… You're serious?"

"I mean… Yeah, of course I am. I wouldn't lie to you, Natsuki."

"Oh, well uh… G-Good! You owe me for the weird thing you said at the opening ceremony!"

"I figured the same. That's another reason we're here. I wanted to apologize properly to you."

Once again, her smug look vanished as she stared up at me again. I swear, that look is going to be burned into my memory forever, it's so cute. "You really wanted to… Well, you just have an answer to everything, don't you? What's next, you're gonna say that this is all an elaborate way to get me to go on a date with you or something?"

I go quiet. I hadn't even thought of that, I just wanted to do something nice for her, but now that she brings it up this definitely feels like it. I carried her here, I've been sitting here waiting for her to wake up, and I'd be lying to myself and her if I said I didn't want it to be a date. She looks at me expectantly for an answer but seeing my bright red face looking away from her, she too gains a red hue as her face becomes one of pure embarrassment and shock as she gets on her knees in the booth to get a bit more of a height on me as she tries to turn my head to face her.

"W-Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

I look away from her.

"Hey, look me in the eye when I talk to you, Meiko!"

I groan and and slowly glance towards her. She's so close but even sitting I'm easily half a foot above her as she continues to look at me expectantly. I shudder a bit looking at her close face and begin to stutter out an answer, my brain going a mile a millisecond before a clearing of a throat next to us catches both our attentions, a waitress standing there.

"Are you two going to order?"

"O-Oh, right. Sorry, I'll have a… Whoa."

"Something wrong, Natsuki?"

"This stuff is super pricey… You sure this is okay?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have brought you here otherwise."

"Yeah, that's true…" She sounds guilty, as if she's forced me into this before nodding, "I'll have the Hokkaido Short Rib Special with extra meat and noodles please! Oh, and an extra egg and a seafood Okonomiyaki with a green tea, please."

The waitress and I are both rendered speechless, but I know it's not for the same reason. She's probably wondering how such a small girl can eat so much, but for me, it's that she gave the exact same order as my usual, down to the toppings and side. Even the green tea. I slowly turn to the waitress, who seems a little older than the two of us and say, "I'll have what she's having. But,"

"Oh yeah, one more thing,"

"Can you make it spicy with some red chilli paste and add a few slices of Chashu—"

We both freeze as we look back at each other with widened eyes.

"Wow, guess that's that couple's connection I've heard about." The waitress comments before putting up her pen and waltzing away with a sly grin on her face.

Neither one of us correct her or take our eyes off each other, our glances of pure shock unwavering as Natsuki slowly sits down again with her back to me, leaning against me as I look away from her nervously. After a while of silence she groans, "H-Hey, Meiko. Move your arm, it's uncomfortable."

"Huh? O-Oh, yeah, okay. But uh… Then what do I—"

"Ugh, stupid." She grumbles as she takes my risen arm and pulls it down over her chest as she leans fully against my chest looking up at me, "There, dumbass. Better? Good."

I stare down at her with embarrassment and adoration, my heart racing faster as I hold her close to her silent demand as she nods and crosses her arms leaning against me. This… This is happening. I'm in a restaurant with the girl of my dreams under my arm. And she's so soft and cute looking at me with that huffy face, I can tell she's just as embarrassed and enjoying this as much as I am. This close I could just lean down and—

"Hey, lovebirds. I've got your meals." The waitress from earlier said as Natsuki and I were brought back to reality from seemingly just staring at one another, our faces lighting up like Christmas trees as we turn to the table as our food is sat down side-by-side. "If the two of you need anything else, let me know. And… Try to at least keep it PG, alright? I don't mind the PDA, but no funny stuff." She says in a bit more of a whisper as she gives us a wink and walks away, leaving us red faced as Natsuki grumbles a bit and grabs my arm, pausing as if she was thinking about what to do next.

I blush and decide to buck up and hug her gently, to her surprise as she looks up at me, "If you're comfortable we don't have to move, okay? I'm fine." She starts to smile a bit before she gasps and huffs again.

"G-Good! Cause I don't feel like moving and uh…" she wanders a bit in her speech as if she's trying to think of an excuse. I chuckle and scoot a bit closer to the table so we can both eat unburdened from the position we're in, chancing glances at one another as we eat. Watching her eat is something to behold, cause I can't even begin to understand where all that food goes in her tiny body as she easily keeps pace with me!

After we finish up, the waitress returns and takes our empty plates, bowls and glasses with clear confused shock on her face as she turns away to leave. The two of us chuckle at her startled expression as Natsuki pauses and leans into me again. I look down and notice that she's more or less shifted to properly sit on my lap and is hugging me with her face in my chest, which I stare at for quite a while as I return it and lean down to envelop her. I don't question her, I don't stop her, not just because I enjoy the closeness but because I can partially feel her… Shaking? I move to tilt her head up but she shakes my hand away and presses more into me, "No, don't… Don't look at me yet… Please." She whispers as I look worriedly at her and gently pet her head.

"Alright, alright… Whenever you're ready, okay?"

She chuckles softly and peers up towards me, "Suddenly you can talk to me, huh?" She says with reddened eyes from… Tears? Is she crying?

"Natsuki, you're… What's wrong, are you okay?"

"I… I just don't get it, okay? Why? Why do you act so nice and sweet and caring to me? You just met me a month or so ago. We just started really talking this afternoon, and we're basically on our first date and I'm crying in your arms and you're just… Why are you so perfect to someone so… So—"

"Perfect?" I finish as she freezes in place looking up at me, "Natsuki, if either one of us are perfect here, it's you. I didn't have the heart to speak to you until you confronted me. I wouldn't have stayed in that club today if you didn't drag me in with your presence. I've planned this date out since I first saw you, and it's gone amazingly… The only thing that's wrong," I wander for a moment as I gently rub the tears from her eyes and face, cupping her cheek with my far larger hand which I hadn't realized fully until now, "Is that a girl as amazing as you shouldn't be crying."

She stares up at me again, speechless. She starts to giggle a bit as she leans up and hugs me around my neck, "I got you to call it a date, dummy…"

"Guess you did… Are you against i—"

"No. Not at all… But if you tell Monika, Sayori, Yuri or anyone else? You'll be sorry." She whispers as she nuzzles into my neck.

"Roger that… Natsuki?"

"What's up, Meiko?"

"I… I lo—"

"No," she intersects pressing a hand to my lips before leaning back, "Not right now… Let's wait till you ask me out properly instead of just carrying me while I'm asleep." She says with a bright red blush and a cheeky grin as I blush back and nod. "Now, let's go." She says as she hugs me again and secures herself in my arms as I nod, stand and go to the register to pay for our meals before heading out into the crisp night air.

I carry Natsuki close as we talk more openly, going over the things we've dealt with at school in just the last month or so. From annoying teachers to students we kind of get along with. Apparently, Natsuki had met Yuri prior because she was the one to lead her through the school before ceremonies. Small world, I guess. At some point we exchange our numbers between one another's phones. As I hand her's back, Natsuki's face has lost all color and goes pale, "Hey, Natsuki? What's up? You oka—"

"Oh shit…" She whispers as she quickly breaks free from my hold, "Shit shit SHIT! He's gonna fucking kill me!"

"What, who?! Natsuki!" I call after her as she rushes away down a street.

"Don't follow me! Please! I just gotta go, I'm sorry!" she shouts back at me before she disappears behind a corner up ahead. I stand there, confused and a bit hurt as I sigh and rub my neck before turning down the opposing way and heading home myself. As I peer down at my phone, I notice that she hadn't even gotten to put her number in as I groan in annoyance and disappointment.

Looking around, I find myself in… Looks like a classroom, maybe? Yeah, definitely one of the classrooms at school. But none of the classrooms have a grid of ones and zeroes outside the windows! I turn quick and go for the door, putting all my strength into forcing it open, only… My muscles… Hey, this isn't my body either! It isn't weak, but nowhere near what I got normally! And I'm so pale I almost look grey… What's going on here—

"Oh, you're awake. Good, thought you'd be dreaming for a while longer."

That voice… I know that voice! I try to turn around quick, but for some reason I'm turning way slower than I want. Like I'm not in control of myself or something. I stagger to turn more as I lock eyes on those bright green eyes and a voice that definitely isn't mine scoffs.

"Hey, Monika."

Once again, I wake up with a start as my phone alarm goes off, peering around for it and seeing it on the floor next to my bed. I groan and reach down to grab it, seeing that I, once again, woke up late. I get sorted for the morning and rush out again, images of my weird dream last night flicking through my head before I shake them away. Why would Monika be in my dreams? I don't like her or even know her like that. And why was my body so weird…

Whatever, water under the bridge. For right now, all I want is to get to school and talk to Natsuki about what happened last night. We did, in a way, have our first date and she definitely agreed to a second one. I even almost got to tell her I—

"Whoa!" A startled voice said as a pair of hands grabbed my wrist and narrowly slowed me down from running into the street. "Be more careful, Meiko! Nearly became a hood ornament!" Turning to look at my savior, I see none other than that girl from yesterday at the club.

"Uh… Sayori, right? Thanks, you saved my skin."

"Yeah, of course! Don't want my brand new club member becoming roadkill! You okay? You looked pretty out of it."

"Oh, uh… Yeah. Was just in my own head. You know how that is, right?"

"Oh yeah, you have no idea…"

The way she said that kinda bothers me. The way she turned away, her tone, the look in her eyes… It feels like something's up. Before I can ask her anything about it, the light turns and the walk symbol appears. "Well, I'll see you at the club!" She says suddenly before she takes off, disappearing into the sea of students. I take off after her but even once I hit the school gates, she's long gone. What was all that about? First my weird dream with Monika and now Sayori's acting strange. Was it something I said?

School goes by as normal, but for whatever reason, I don't see Natsuki anywhere. Maybe she'll be at the club already? Upon entering, I see the other three, but still not sign of Natsuki. Seeing me walk in, Monika is the first to pipe up, "Welcome back, Meiko! Glad to see you didn't up and run on us!"

"Yeah, hey, have any of you seen Natsuki? I haven't seen her all day and it's kinda worrying me."

"Natsuki? Uh… No, I don't think so. Sayori, Yuri?"

"Now that you mention it, I know I saw her come in today… She seemed like her usual huffy self. Yuri, you saw her too, right?"

Yuri nods as she places a bookmark on her page and looks over, "I did. Last I saw her she was headed behind the school… I wanted to ask why or follow her, but I didn't want to pry."

"Behind the school?" I parrot confusedly before we here a crash outside below the window. Rushing over, I push past Monika and Sayori to open it and look down, seeing a few guys shoving and around a smaller pink haired figure I know all to perfectly, "Natsuki!" I shout as she suddenly looks up before being shoved against the dumpster as the guys start to crowd her. At that moment, I see red and grip the window sill.

"I'll get a teacher!" Sayori says quickly.

"I'll come with you. Yuri, go get the nurse and call the authorities." Monika orders as I feel her hand grab my arm, "Meiko, come with—"

"They. Hurt. Natsuki."

"We're going to go help her now!"

"Not enough time." I seethe through gritted teeth as I step back a few feet from the window. Monika must've known what I was about to do and shouted something but I was deaf to her by then and leapt out the window. My mind was racing and my pulse was thumping with anger and adrenaline. More than I've felt in my entire life as I landed in a roll behind the girls and turned from my crouched position.

The guys all seemed startled at my arrival as I moved quickly towards them and they began to scatter. Looking towards Natsuki I notice that her head is bleeding, her lip is busted and tears are streaked down her face. Her perfect little face is stained with tears and blood.

I won't let them run from this. They will pay for what they've done. Then, everything goes red.

By the time I'm tuned back into reality, I look around and that the guys are all heavily battered and bruised. One of them have a helluva head wound and another's leg is twisted out of place. I'm panting hard and my body feels like it's on fire as I feel someone clutch my arm. Looking slowly over, I see Natsuki hugging my arm tight, my fists splattered with blood as she looks up at me with her teary pink eyes as if checking to see if I'm here.

I slowly bring my hand over and touch her cheek, rubbing her tears away as I fall to my knees and am instantly hugged tight around my neck as she begins to break down in my arms. I clutch her close and hold her tight as I pet her head, "You're okay, Nats… I'm here. I will never let them hurt you again."

"You came… I-I was so scared…"

"What were you doing back here anyway? I've been looking for you all day." Natsuki sniffled a bit and reached into her vest pocket to pull out a folded up piece of paper. Opening it, it read 'Meet me behind the school later. I wanna talk about our next date'. These bastards… They lured her out here… Pretending to be me!?

Seeing the note makes my almost cooled blood boil over again as I glare towards them all. I can feel my brow furrow, my teeth clench and my muscles tense as I slowly rise up , "You motherfu—"

"Meiko, Natsuki!" A frantic, worried voice calls out as Sayori and Yuri rush over to us, distracting me from the guys as one so must not have injured too badly charges me and rams into my chest. It didn't hurt too bad, but it definitely knocked the window out of me.

Before I can react, and he starts to wind up, a small balled-up fist collides with his jaw and sends him sailing a couple feet over himself as Natsuki walks over after releasing me. The guy staggers to his feet again butis quickly given a swift forward kick to the leg, his knee visibly bending as he shouts before being grabbed in a backwards headlock and driven into the ground by Natsuki!

I stared ahead in shock as Natsuki stood again and kicked the guy over onto his back before repeatedly stomping on his chest as she shouted, "Never. Come. Near me. Or Meiko. Ever. Again!" She finishes the guy off with a swift kick to his jaw as he goes still and she spits on him. "Asshole." She scoffs at him as she walks back over to me and hops into my arms, hugging her close as I rise up and look down at her pressed to my chest, her face snuggled into my chest as I cradle her.

Before I can register what just happened, the sound of feet hitting the dirt coming towards us alerts both our glances as we see Monika leading the police over and pointing out the guys that attacked Natsuki and I, "Oh good, you two are alright! Oh my gosh, Natsuki, you're—"

"Fine. Those guys hit like toddlers and fell like sacks of hammers!" She said proudly crossing her arms as she looked up at me, "Not like they stood a chance against Meiko!" She said with a wider smile as she gave my shoulder a light punch.

I blush and rub the back of my head bashfully as I take her hand, "Hey, wasn't all me. Natsuki took down the last guy that caught me lacking. Threw him right over her shoulder and stomped him out! It was amazing." I say proudly as I return her smile, her face flushing a bright pink as she puffs her chest out proudly.

"It's true! Natsuki was so cool, like some kinda pro or one of those anime characters!" Sayori gushes as she starts re-enacting the event in a sort of childlike play way as Yuri nodded in agreement.

"I must admit, against all odds Natsuki certainly showed her prowess in hand-to-hand proficiency in dispatching the last student with great haste." She said with a calming smile.

Natsuki keeps her proud smile, but I can tell she's getting flustered from all the praise as I hug her close and lean my head down to press our foreheads together, "You were amazing, Nats…" I whisper as she stares into my eyes with her sakura pink ones, the two of us a breath away and motionless staring at each other. I could feel our hearts both beating harder from our chests being pressed together as I leaned a bit closer before her gaze drifted and her face turned to one of embarrassment as she quickly brought her hand up to my mouth and flicked her eyes over between me and whatever was over there.

Looking over, we saw Yuri, Monika and Sayori watching us closely with expectant stares as I too blush and stare at them in embarrassment. Seeing us notice them, Monika waved her hand dismissively, "No no, don't stop on our account." She says playfully as Natsuki huffs and hops down from my arms, stepping behind me.

I sigh and go to speak before a policeman comes over to the five of us and tells us they'd need our account on the situation and what happened. We comply and are taken to their cars, the guys that attacked us loaded up into one and the rest of us climbing into two separate cars that were called over. Natsuki and I got to ride together while Monika, Yuri and Sayori got into another ahead of us. After an awkward amount of time of getting sidelong stares from the police and maybe an hour or so trying to clear up why the guys that jumped us were bloodied up, had some broken ribs and other ligaments while being asked if we wanted to press charges, which Natsuki told them yes, by the time we were released it was dark outside already.

As we were walking out, the front receptionist Lady let us know that our friends had already been processed and sent home, leaving us on the steps of the police department alone. We sigh with dying annoyance before glancing to one another with reddened faces and I guess Natsuki had the same thought as me. Cause all we could do was laugh at the entire situation as a whole. "I can't believe all this happened in a few hours!"

"I know, right?! No one would ever believe us!" Natsuki laughed heartily as she leaned on me and I held her close in our combined laughing fit. Finally, our laughter died down as she looked up at me, "By the way, I uh… Never actually got to thank you for saving me back there."

"Don't mention it. Besides, you took one of them down by yourself!" I lift her up and into my arms to look up at her as she wraps her arms around my neck, using my left forearm as a seat as I gaze up at her with the streetlights shining down behind her, "You saved me too, Natsuki."

"Yeah, guess I did. Oh well, and here I was gonna give you a reward."

"A reward? For me?"

"Of course for you, dumbass. Who else—" she stops short as she looks down and leans her head against mine, "I-I mean…"

"I know." I say as we once again reach the intersection we'd separated from the day prior. I can't help but stare at her, her eyes so soft and her lips so shiny… With how close she is I can't resist and start to lean towards her. Sewing me come closer, she does the same. We close our eyes, only a breath away.

"There you are, you little shit!"

The two of us are brought back down by a slurred, older voice and Natsuki's face goes pale as we both look over. Walking towards us is a disheveled, middle-aged man with fading pink hair and tired eyes wearing lightly tilted glasses, a messed up necktie and a button-up that was half-tucked into black slacks, carrying a bottle of what I can assume is booze from the stench I get even from probably ten or twenty feet off.

I look at him beyond lost for a solid minute and when I go to question him Natsuki speaks up first. "Papa…"

"Papa? Wait, this is your—"

"Where the hell've you been!? You were supposed to be home two hours ago, you fucking pest!"

"I—"

"Shut the fuck up! I don't give a damn, just get your useless ass over here! I'll deal with you when we get home!"

"Y-Yes, Papa…" Natsuki, this whole time, has been clinging to my jacket with her hand behind my head and slowly slinks it away as she gestures for me to let her down. I look her in the eyes and all I can see is fear. The kind of fear you see in a person who's surrendered and knows what comes next. The fear of a victim.

My eyes go wide and as I place Natsuki down, I step in front of her to keep her from going near her father who glares at me once he's about a few meters away, "What the fu—Who the hell're you!? Get outta my way, asshole!"

"What're you gonna do to her?"

"Fucking excuse you?"

"You heard me, old-timer. What're you gonna do to Natsuki!?"

"Last I checked that's none'a your fucking business, boy! And who the fuck're you to ask me anything!? Huh!?"

"Natsuki is…" I wander a moment before looking back at her. The fear is still there but I see a sparkle starting to return as I smile and reach my hand back which she hesitantly looks between it and her dad and then grasps with both hands, hiding behind me. I blush and turn back towards him, "My name is Meiko Chiaki, and I'm Natsuki's boyfriend."

Her dad's face contorts into a snarling glare as he comes closer, "Oh yeah? You think you're good enough for my daughter!? You think you can just come outta nowhere and think you know what'a good for her!?"

"I know she's special in ways you wouldn't begin to understand, you old fuck!"

"That is MY daughter! She's MY property, and as far as you should be concerned, she doesn't fucking EXIST to you! Got that, you fucking punk!?"

" Back off, fossil. You may be her dad, but I will defend myself and her from you if I have to." I warn him openly, pushing Natsuki gently behind me as she lets go of my hand and clings to my jacket again.

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Think you're some tough guy? Huh!?" He quickly and sloppily tries to reach past me at Natsuki and my reflex kicks in. Which delivers a swift kick to his stomach as he stumbles back holding where my strike landed.

"Back. The fuck. Off. I won't say it again."

He groans and growls as he rushes me, grabbing my jacket and lifting me up! I groan and grab his wrists as he glares up at me. How the hell is this guy so strong!? He looks like a light breeze should've sent him flying! He tosses me a couple feet back and into a wall as Natsuki runs over and kneels by me, my head a little dazed.

"Meiko, are you okay!? Oh my god, don't worry, I—OW!"

I'm brought back to reality some seeing Natsuki grabbed by one of her pigtails, her dad pulling her towards him but she keeps a tight grip on my jacket, "Come on you little pissant! Time to go home, now!"

"No! I-I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"I wasn't fucking asking!"

"M-Meiko! Help me!"

My eyes widen as she cries out to me, her voice sounds so helpless and terrified. I immediately see red like earlier and shoot up at her dad who looks back at me with rage and shock before I blackout again.

Soon, my senses come back and I'm breathing heavy. I can taste blood and my body is heavy, but I'm holding… Something soft and warm. I look around and I'm at my place. It's my front door. I look down and I see Natsuki, huddled into me and… I can hear her crying. I slowly bring a hand to her head and pet her gently as she looks up startled. Her cheek is bruised. My eyes narrow as I move my hand to it and pet her cheek.

"M-Meiko… You're okay…"

"Ugh… My head feels like I was beaten with a train, but yeah. What happened? Where's that old fart?"

"You two got into a fight after you got him off me. You were fighting and winning. And then he hit you really hard with the bottle he was carrying. He kept going and going and then… Then you hit him so hard he went flying over the wall barrier between someone's yard and the street. You picked me up, we ran, and then you passed out the moment we got here. I was scared that you wouldn't wake up… Your head." She said as she reaches up and touches my head, bringing it back down to show I was bleeding. I stare for a moment and sigh as I hug her close to my chest, "W-What're you—"

"Are you okay?"

"What? What kind of—"

"Are you. Okay?"

She pauses for a moment and I hear her breathing quicken before she begins sobbing into my chest, wailing into me as she batters her hands into my chest, "Of course I'm not okay, idiot! You're hurt because of me! You put yourself in danger twice because of me! I was scared I'd lose you! I thought I'd lose the only person in this world that loves me! How can I be okay after that!?" She cries out as I pet her head and give a tired, pained chuckle, "What's so funny—"

"You said it first…"

"W-What?"

"You said I couldn't say it until I asked you out properly… You said it first." I smile big at her as she stares at me. Either in disbelief or pure shock before she scrunches up her face.

"Just come here, dammit!" she cries as she lunges at me and presses her soft, sweet lips into mine, my eyes widening as she wraps her arms around my neck and sits secured on my lap. I stare into space for a moment before I slowly close my eyes and hug her around her waist and pull her deeper with the hand at the back of her head. It's so soft and warm, like being wrapped in a big, fluffy blanket with a cup of cocoa on a winter day. We sit in silent bliss as we share our embrace before she pulls back slowly, a small glistening trail linking us for a moment longer as we stare at each other, "I love you, Meiko… I love you so much…"

"I love you too, Natsuki. Never forget or question that for a second."

"I won't. I can't. Not after what you've done for me and how you've been to me. You… In just these last few days you've been the greatest highlight of my entire life." She sighs and sniffles as I wipe her tears away, "Well fuck… I can't go home now. Dad's probably in the middle of razing my room… I have nowhere to go."

"That's not true."

"What do you—" She pauses and looks up at me and at my house. It's a bigger sort of place, a little bigger than normal and her eyes widen as her pupils dilate, "You… You mean…"

"If you want, this could be as much your home as it is mine. I'd be over the moon if you—"

"Yes."

"… What?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I… I want to stay with you, Meiko! I-If you want to, I mean. You don't have to."

I smile and groan as I try to stand, Natsuki doing her best to help me up as I unlock the door through a keypad and walk us in. Natsuki helps me up the stairs to my room and sits me down as gently as she can given our major height difference, ending up falling with me onto my bed and landing in my chest again. I sigh in relief at the feeling of my bed and look down towards Natsuki who's looking up towards me from her landing spot, both our faces hot with a major blush as I pull her closer, "Home sweet home…"

"Are you sure about this? I mean, I'm not opposed or anything but what if people see us? What if those guys come back and find out I'm living here with you? What if Papa—" I cut her off with another kiss, petting her head softly as she seems to calm down a little.

"If those guys come back, I'm kicking their teeth in again. If your dad shows up, I'm calling the cops. If people see us? … I'm okay with that."

She stares at me but smiles as she presses into my neck, "You just have an answer for everything. Don't you?"

"I have an answer to what I can."

"Then answer this," she says as she lays her head on my chest, "… Why me?"

"Huh?"

"Why do all this for someone like me? I know you love me, and I love you, but—"

"Then what else matters?" I ask softly as she glances up at me, "Everything I've done is because I love you. I want to love you, protect you, be with you and no one else."

"I… I know… But compared to Yuri or Monika, hell, even Sayori? I'm nothing too great to look at."

"Yet they don't even catch my eye when you're around."

"Oh, so when I'm not—"

"I only think of you. Of what to say to you, how to treat you, how to be what you would want. Since I first met you I haven't been able to get you off my mind for months."

Sayori's eyes widen a bit as she giggles and falls back into me, "I… Don't have anything to come back on that." She leans up and kisses mt cheek, "You win again."

"Didn't know we were competing."

"Of course not, I'm subtle." She giggles again as she leans off me and moves towards the door, "You should get some sleep."

"Hey, you can sleep here too, y'know."

She smirks a with a brightening blush looking back at me, "I was planning on it doofus. Just gotta, well…" she smirks and begins undoing her tie, letting it fall as she opens and removes her jacket and vest, her skirt dropping as well as she's left in her button-up shirt, "Get comfortable." My eyes are glued to her and they refuse to leave the sight that is Natsuki, down to her underwear and a shirt. I groan and do my bes to sit up as she walks over and starts doing the same for me, "Don't stare like that, it's embarrassing. Now come on, let's get this stuff off you."

With some struggling, Natsuki and I manage to get my top off and Natsuki seems to freeze looking me over, "Whoa… You're way more muscular than I thought." She says as she places and traces her hand over my chest before bringing herself back from her sort of dazed expression, "A-Anyway, let's get these pants off and—"

"No! I-I mean, uh…"

"What? Something wrong? You can't sleep in your school clothes, dummy."

"I have pajama bottoms, just, uh…"

"Yeah?" She pushes me for a reason as I mentally panic, my face a deep red as I look down at her and then towards my pants. She follows my glance and her face immediately lights up too, "O-Oh… I didn't think I had that kind of effect on anyone."

"Well, you're not just anyone to me…"

"… I kinda wanna see it."

"What!?"

"What, not like I'm not gonna at some point anyway! May as well see what I'll be working with!"

"Isn't it a bit soon for—"

"You sent my dad sailing and took me home, we made out on your front door after you woke up from your injuries, you fought a bunch of guys for me and took me out on our first date the day we met. Now you're worried about it being too soon? Not to mention that you've invited and convinced me to live here now."

I pause for a moment thinking on all she said, and I sigh as I lean down and whisper, "Looks like you win this one, Natsuki."

"If I like what I see we'll both be winning~" My face flairs as she leans down to unbuckle and unzip my pants, feeling her strong yet smaller hands grasp the hem of my pants and beyond as she slides them down, her face going black as her eyes turn to pinpricks, "Holy fuck…"

"Uh… Natsuki?"

"How the fuck did you hide this from me?! Is this what's been bumping me when I'm in your lap!?"

"Glad you like it?"

"Like it? Like it?" She glances and kneels down to be eye level and look up at it and me, "… I think big boy and I have some catching up to do~" She says with that cute, playful grin glancing up at me and my pulsating friend.

"I'm still injured, you know."

"That's fine… I'm excited to go for a slurp and slide~"

"You… You mean 'slip and slide'?"

"Did I stutter?" She asks as she tackles me back onto my bed. I'm in heaven.

I'm back in this room again. Nothing seems to have changed aside from the fact I'm now sitting directly across from Monika who stares at me or whoever this is with a smile, "Wow, already got one of them done and it only took, what, a few weeks of writing? You truly are a creative one."

"Yeah? Well, it almost got a little saucy there near the end. Might do something with that later for a side project."

"You're such a tease, you know that? Regardless, can't wait to see what you come up with next, my love."

"Hey, we're not done yet, you know."

"I know, I know… Guess I'm just a little impatient. You know how much I adore all your writing."

"Yeah yeah, I know. Be patient."

What the hell am I saying? Or is this guy saying? Whay is going on with this weird ass drea—

I groan and wake