*1 month later*

Natsuki and Yuri have been living together mostly without any issues, although what happened that night was made public very quickly the next morning. It was so serious that Monika ended up calling Yuri's phone frantic and worried before school had started. Of course Yuri assured her everything was fine and Natsuki was safe but they wouldn't be going on that day which Monika didn't care about and was only concerned with their safety.

From there both girl's lives improved for the better. Yuri had spent much of her time cooking for Natsuki, taking her out to eat, going on walks with her in the sunlight everyday, doing whatever she could to make Natsuki regain her strength. Even after a full month of proper meals and actual healthy interactions with the outside world, she's still rather skinny and has a long way to go.

Her face has color again and her bruises are almost all completely gone at this point, especially the nasty one that was sprawled onto her chest though there was still a bit of redness and swelling left over. Still, Yuri is so proud of her, she's finally able to enjoy life for once and has even started to bake again now that she doesn't get exhausted from the most simple of tasks. Her body isn't in pain constantly and Yuri almost feels like crying whenever Natsuki gives her a genuine smile while they're doing something fun.

Of course both girls have some arguments here and there, everyone does at some point, but if anything it only shows how close the two have grown together. Fighting and able to make up soon afterwards rather than holding resentment towards one another like how they used to. Indeed, things were finally looking up for both girls, Natsuki was finally safe and Yuri couldn't be happier about it either...

Yuri hummed quietly to herself as she grabbed the large manga collection Natsuki kept in the literature club, carefully taking it down from the shelf and looking down at it fondly.

"It's hard to believe I enjoyed this series as much as I have," she mutters but chuckles anyway.

"Oh? But I thought you hated manga~" Sayori teases from behind, Monika sitting with her reading through her poem to edit it before sharing.

Yuri turns and can't help but smile, tinting red and looking away while playing with her hair, "Yes, well... this one is an exception," she lies making Sayori giggle at her.

"Hah! As if, we both know you only read these with Natsuki! Admit it, you actually like her don't you?!" she demands, Yuri sighing at Sayori and putting the box set down.

"Sayo, stop it, Yuri and Natsuki have already told us nothing is going on between them and they're just friends. Besides, why not focus on Lee and Mei like you have been? Those two can't seem to stay away from one another anymore," Monika says, rolling her eyes unimpressed.

"To be fair, none of the others have really been in the club these last few days," MC says, which Monika nods at, putting her pen down and looking at her poem in disappointment.

"They... may have left for good, they didn't seem too engaged in our club after the 2nd day of being in it," Monika admits, having been so excited for two new people to join her club in one day a couple weeks ago.

Sayori pouts, leaning against Monika's desk and putting a hand on her shoulder, "Exactly why I don't care about them as much anymore! Besides, Yuri and Natsuki have always been cuter together," Sayori says, Monika actually smiling at her attempt to make her feel better about two people leaving her club.

Yuri sighs and shakes her head, still tinting pink, "One of these days, Sayori, I'm going to end up bursting a blood vessel over you and your "shipping" antics."

Before Sayori can say anything, the club rooms door slides open, the small pinkette Yuri has grown so fond of walking inside. She takes out her ear buds and puts her phone away, having been pretty glued to it all day after Yuri bought her it but not enough to keep herself away from the literature club. She looks around the club quickly, spotting Yuri and seeming to melt when she sees her, also blushing now as she walks into the club.

"Ah, Natsuki, finally. Okay, now that we're all here we can finally start, does everyone have their poems today?" Monika asks, getting up.

MC hisses through his teeth and rubs the back of his head, "I kinda forgot to finish mine, think I could write the rest of it now?" he asks, Sayori laughing awkwardly and poking her fingers together.

"Uh... eheh... I sorta forgot too-" she admits.

Monika grumbles at them and crosses her arms, "I swear you two... go to the corner and finish them, quickly now too!" she says, both procrastinators doing as they were told and leaving to finish their poems quickly.

"Well, in that case while they finish up," Natsuki looks at Yuri, seeing the full set of parfait girls out on the desk already, "Do you want to finish the manga, Yuri?" she asks, her eyes looking at the taller woman eagerly making Yuri giggle softly at her.

"Yes, Natsuki, I'd love to, please," Yuri gestures to the floor where the pinkette and her usually sit, about to grab the last volume of the manga.

Monika looks on at the two girls and shakes her head with a grin on, 'These two... I need to do something already, Sayori was right about them, it's almost painful seeing them hold back on their obvious feelings for each other.'

The club president quickly chimes in, "Actually, would you two mind going to grab me something from the storage room upstairs? I hate to ask but I need to make sure those two don't goof off, I just need a box of paper and extra pens for the room. Someone keeps stealing them for some reason," Monika says, confused.

Yuri's face deepens in its red color, looking around clearly guilty but luckily isn't noticed when Natsuki scoffs at the club president.

"Ugh, Monika really?" Natsuki complains, clearly annoyed.

Before Monika can ask her again, Yuri practically trips towards the pinkette, holding her shoulder with an anxious smile on.

"D-Don't worry about it, Monika, we don't mind! Let's just get the stuff, Suki-uh, N-Natsuki," Yuri says, catching herself.

Natsuki looks at Yuri weirdly but doesn't try to fight her on it as she's led out of the club room to retrieve the supplies that Monika asked for. All of them watching the two girls leave the club room while Sayori screams internally at the two and their obvious crush on the other...

Natsuki and Yuri walk together upstairs, Yuri just thankful to be away from that whole scene, "What was that all about?" Natsuki asks, Yuri looking down and chuckling awkwardly.

"E-Eheh, nothing I just... got a little embarrassed calling you Suki..." she mutters, moving some hair behind her ear, "I-I don't like anyone hearing me call you that... sorry."

Natsuki laughs, hitting Yuri in the arm jokingly, "You're a dork y'know that?" she says, very entertained by Yuri's flusterment as she smiles at her, "C'mon, let's get the shit Monika needs so we can go home and finish your first read through of parfait girls!" she exclaims, Yuri smiling warmly as the pinkette takes her hand softly.

The two walk together to the storage room, Yuri taking in the feelings of Natsuki's hands, taking note how much stronger her hold is now that she isn't being starved. Her health has improved immensely now that she's been eating well and given somewhere safe to live.

Both start to look through the storage for what Monika asked for, finding both the paper and pens right next to one another on the highest shelf which Natsuki reluctantly had to ask Yuri to get for her. She obliged, trying not to make fun of the shorter tsundere but finding it difficult not to at least smirk when handing her a box.

"Alright, we should head back to Monika now, it would be rude to keep her waiting-" Natsuki stops Yuri, grabbing her arm carefully.

"Hey, Yuri?" she calls, the bookworm turning around a little, "Can you show me your arms, please?"

Yuri would normally get nervous or freak out but she smiles instead, putting the box of paper down and gladly holding her arms out to the pinkette. She rolls up Yuri's sleeves for her and looks at her bandages, they're still red in a few places from the wounds still not quite healed but Natsuki sighs relieved that her friend has been keeping her promise.

"Sorry, I just needed to make sure you weren't doing anything bad to yourself again," she says as if she needs a reason to ask Yuri about her wrists.

Yuri tilts her head, looking at Natsuki with dreamy eyes, taking her hand and holding it making the pinkette look up at the taller girl.

"Natsuki please, don't apologize for that, I think it's sweet that you're worrying for me so much," Yuri looks away, smiling a lot and feeling fluttery while Natsuki can't help but return that same dreamy eyed gaze.

"Um... yeah, yeah great!" she says, pulling her hand away from Yuri and looking down a little shaky, "I-I'm glad you think so...."

Yuri isn't thrilled to see Natsuki pull away from her but she understands why she does, Yuri just picks up a box and follows Natsuki out from the storage room. Yuri clears her throat as they walk down the hall, just stopping at the corner before the staircase.

"By the way, how is everything with your father? Courts and your belongings?" Yuri asks, Natsuki sighing and stopping as she figured this topic would come up soon.

"Well, the officers have released a few things from my house finally so we can go to pick them up later. As for my papa, well... I have to wait a couple of years till we even get to the court date because they're packed right now so-" Yuri's eyes start to change, that murderous look in them returning just like the night that she fought Natsuki's father, Natsuki immediately taking notice to this, "Yuri? Hey, look at me, please?" she asks, Yuri looking down at the pinkette who holds her hand, caressing her palm.

Yuri shakes her head, coming back to her senses almost immediately, "S-Sorry, I... don't know what came over me," she mutters, ashamed still that Natsuki has seen this side of her, "I just find it difficult not to get angry at that, after all that man did to you for no reason..."

She flashes back to that night, realizing how easy it was for her to have killed Natsuki's father when he was on the couch or unconscious, 'I shouldn't have left him alive... I should've just slit that bastard's throat and been done with it at the very beginning!' she thinks to herself, frustrated how her choice made both of them go through more pain and trauma than was needed.

"Well... I wouldn't say it was for nothing that he did all those things..." Natsuki says immediately getting Yuri's attention.

"What? What do you mean it wasn't for nothing that he hurt you that way?" she asks, leaning down and gently holding Natsuki's cheek so she'll keep eye contact with her.

"I... My Papa we..." Natsuki sighs and looks away, regretting bringing this up but at the same time figuring that maybe it's about time Yuri knew, "He wasn't bad all the time. When I was little he actually loved me but... when I was I think 10? My mother was taking me to school, I don't really remember what happened exactly but we got hit?" Natsuki says, leaning against the wall and sighing as she tries to calm herself down, the painful memory of that day really hitting her.

Yuri reaches out, "Natsuki... y-you don't have to-" she's quieted when Natsuki continues anyways.

Crossing her arms and sniffling, "Well, regardless of what happened I got away with just a sprain on my leg but my mother she... she didn't make it," Yuri listens, realizing how much more pain Natsuki has endured in her life even from such a young age, "I-I think that her death made him go crazy, like something broke inside of him. Long story short my papa became an officer after that, the death of my mom and his demanding job got him so stressed that he started to drink more and more and..." Natsuki stops, not needing to say much more.

Yuri leans down, reaching for Natsuki's hand that she gladly takes, "And... I know the rest," Yuri mutters, wanting to get closer to Natsuki but deciding she needs some space.

"He always said it was my fault that mom died, how he wished it was me over his "beautiful wife" and at times I have to be honest, I sometimes wanted what he said. I-I never thought that I deserved love from anyone after that happened, b-because it was my fault that she died-"

Yuri's heard enough, hating that Natsuki is being so degrading to herself like this, especially when Yuri knows what her feelings for the pinkette are. Cupping Natsuki's face with both her hands and making the short tsundere look up at her.

She glares at her seriously, "Natsuki... stop," she says almost demandingly, "None of that was your fault. A 10 year old child responsible for the death of her mother in a car accident? Not deserving of love?!" Yuri's voice raises as she gets heated, surprising Natsuki since she didn't think Yuri would react so passionately, "Do you know how ludicrous that is?! Not just that but you are loved! We love you! Sayori, MC, Monika, all of them love you so much!" she exclaims, towering over Natsuki who's too shellshocked to even think about saying against these claims.

"I-I know! Or I know that now but..." Natsuki reaches up and holds the hand Yuri has on her face, "I just was alone for so long and until getting to know you more, I didn't know what it was like to be wanted. I promise though I don't think that anymore! You've made it clear you care about me, fighting my papa and saving me was more than enough to prove that to me, but the thoughts were there before that."

Yuri slowly lets Natsuki go, trying to calm down and backing away a bit as she recomposes, "Good... I'm sorry, Natsuki, I didn't mean to get so intense just now but... I despise hearing you so hateful towards yourself."

Natsuki shakes her head, "No it's fine! I-I know how you are when it comes to my feelings, I'm just surprised you get this worked up over it still," Natsuki jokes, showing a smile to Yuri who sighs but manages to give a small smile back.

"Mmf... I have my reasons for getting so "worked up" over things, Natsuki," she mutters, looking away and blushing, Natsuki noticing it and looking straight at Yuri's lips that are so close to her now, "A-anyways, um, thank you for telling me about that, Suki. We should go back to the club now but I-I'd like to talk to you more when we get home, if that's okay?" she asks, Natsuki nodding at her almost entranced as she looks Yuri up and down.

Her heart is beating super fast and her face still feels warm from Yuri's hands, why is she suddenly so anxious? All she did was see Yuri blushing. She was also held by her, and told that she and her friends love her no matter what. And she and Yuri cuddled a lot, spent nights together reading and learning more about one another... Come to think of it, Yuri's done a lot of things with her that she wouldn't be even close to comfortable doing with anyone else.

Natsuki snaps out of her haze when she sees Yuri rise back up with the box of paper, smiling warmly at the pinkette who was already unable to focus on anything else but her. Yuri starts to turn the corner, about to walk down the stairs only for Natsuki to quickly reach out, taking her by her uniform's sleeve.

"W-Wait!" Natsuki says startling Yuri but also getting her attention, "What about you..?" she asks.

Yuri blinks a couple times, confused, "What about me?" she repeats.

"You said they all loved me, Sayori, MC, Monika... b-but... um..." she gulps and lets Yuri go, instead grabbing her own skirt and rubbing it with her thumb, "Do you l-love me too?" Natsuki asks, her face completely red now as she finally came out to say it.

She freezes, being caught so off guard and blushing just as much as Natsuki if not more than her now as she stutters out in a rush.

"Oh! I-I... w-w-well I... um..." Yuri clutches her chest, her heart beating in her ears, "I-I didn't think... t-that's rather straightforward of you, Natsuki," she mutters, Natsuki looking at her clearly screaming internally and freaking out inside, "But... um..." Yuri forces a lump down her throat, trying to take a breath before meekly asking, "Would you hate me if I said I did..?"

Natsuki doesn't answer, instead making her friend drop the box of paper, the pinkette running her hands up Yuri's arms before stopping just under her jaw. Holding her neck and face, Yuri corners her, once again towering above Natsuki but not daring to touch her. Yuri's eyes are lidded and face a deep red though Natsuki is too scared to look at her, keeping her eyes shut and even shaking as Yuri leans down more.

"I... take this as a no?" Yuri asks, stopping despite being so close to Natsuki's lips.

She grumbles and shudders a breath, "J-Just... hurry up before I change my mind!" she says, almost begging her.

Yuri nods, doing as she was asked and holding under Natsuki's elbows, finally kissing the pinkette as softly as she can. Yuri and Natsuki feel both their bodies just melt, leaning further into Natsuki's touch as she reciprocates the kiss. She's warm and her mouth feels so soft, Yuri gets closer as Natsuki tries to pull her down more, pressing her body against the smaller tsundere who moans into her lover.

They're so focused on the others movements now, waiting for any sign of discomfort or lack of reciprocation during their kiss. However if anything, Yuri just wants even more, closing her eyes too and tilting her head so she can deepen her love towards the pinkette. Her hands running their way down just above Natsuki's butt to move her closer, making sure there's no way of her getting away until both are ready.

They stop after a few seconds, leaning back and panting, their huffs passing over each other as they gaze into their partners eyes wanting more. This was not what either of them had expected to happen but to say they were both elated that it finally did would be an understatement.

"Fuck... I-I can't believe I just did that," Natsuki says, Yuri laughing through soft pants of her own.

"I-I cannot believe it either but," she brings her hands up, now holding Natsuki's face too and smiling at her with love and care in her eyes, "It was so wonderful, you were wonderful, Suki. I've wanted to do that for so long now but-" Natsuki leans up, standing on her toes and kissing Yuri again!

She winces surprised but doesn't pull away, the two high schoolers gladly sharing a second kiss together which is a little more intense this time. Natsuki even going as far as running her hands through her lover's hair to pull her in closer, Yuri adoring the way Natsuki is holding her just so she can kiss her more.

There's nothing violating here yet either, the two are just locking lips together and enjoying the way each other tastes. Indulging in the warmth and comfort that has come with finally revealing their love for each other, especially after all that they've both been through.

They stop again, separating with Yuri practically steaming from being kissed twice by her crush, "You talk too much, d-dummy... hah... b-but yeah, I wanted to do that for a long time too," Natsuki says, laying her head against her lover's chest as they entwine hands together.

"Yes... um... eheh, uh... this seems a little silly now but," Yuri hugs Natsuki with her free arm, kissing her head with a soft smack and taking a deep breath, the scent of Natsuki's hair filling her nose, "I-I love you, Natsuki," Yuri finally admits, Natsuki giggling at her and about to say it back before someone else shouts over them?

"I knew it!!!" a shrilled but overly excited voice cries out making both Natsuki and Yuri jump and immediately push away from each other.

Looking towards the staircase, Sayori's standing there with the widest smile they've ever seen her have while Monika and MC stay peeking around a corner with shock and awe sprawled across their faces.

"S-Sayori!? What are you doing here?!" Yuri stutters out, embarrassed and flustered that they most definitely saw her and Natsuki kissing just now.

"You both were taking a while so we came to see if you needed help, I guess to an extent we were right," Monika says, stepping out from behind the wall with MC following, unable to stop smiling at the two who've finally gotten their feelings out to one another.

Yuri and Natsuki are both too flustered to bother trying to come up with an excuse to which Sayori just screams out, "Monika you owe me 20 bucks!!!"

Monika rolls her eyes but laughs softly, reaching down and pulling out some cash. Happily slapping a 20 dollar bill into the innocent girl's hand, not even mad that she lost.

Natsuki however is baffled, "Wait, were you guys betting on us getting together!?!" she says, Yuri only getting more embarrassed now as it must've been very obvious they both liked each other.

MC smirks as he picks up the dropped boxes of papers and pens, already starting to go back down the stairs with everyone else following him, "To be fair, you guys didn't hide it very well. Heck I should've bet on it too, could've made an easy 20 bucks from the club president herself!" he jokes, Monika sighing happily as Sayori rushes to her all giddy and smiling.

Yuri looks closer at the two girls, watching as Sayori hugs Monika's arm, suspicion setting in that she doesn't let stay long when Natsuki suddenly takes her hand. Looking down and seeing that the pinkette is just as embarrassed as her regardless of how joyful she is to finally have confessed to Yuri.

"Ugh, you guys are actually the worst..." Natsuki grumbles, Yuri giggling beautifully at her and giving her a little kiss on the cheek.

"Hm, well I'm just glad you two dorks are together already, but still try not to make a habit of kissing in the halls, alright? I'm still responsible for us all until club times end which means all of us need to be back in the clubroom ASAP!" Monika chimes, her playful personality easing the tension between all of them.

"Of course," Yuri says, leading Natsuki down with them all as she clings to her more, not ready to let go of her just yet.

Despite still being shaken from being caught, Yuri is just happy to have finally shared a kiss with her adorable roommate. Already she's planning to take her somewhere special after club time to celebrate and talk more just themselves. At the same time, promising herself to make Natsuki as happy as possible and that no one would be allowed to have her but Yuri...

Just Yuri~