Natsuki groaned as she opened her eyes, her arms still clutched to her chest with Yuri's shirt squeezed between them. There was nothing but darkness for the pinkette, she couldn't see anything at all, which was appropriate. She had no windows after all so only the light creeping from underneath her door was it for her, Natsuki sitting up and running her eyes.

Shockingly enough, she didn't feel too much pain, although her neck was sore and she found it difficult to breathe at times. And for some reason her stomach was aching too but it wasn't the ache she was used to of her stomach being completely empty. It was more like a cramp that lingered and was a slight irritation.

Natsuki got up slowly, putting the shirt she had back on and leaving the room, this time not bothering to be quiet.

She checked downstairs first, peeking into the living room to see the TV was off but she could hear snoring. Her father must be knocked out on the couch and appropriately so after all the alcohol he had drank. Natsuki rests her hand on the wall, looking on through her house that's well lit by the morning sun.

In all honesty, her house really was a nice place, it looks cozy enough and if it weren't for her father, she'd love living here. Even so she still doesn't have enough fond memories of her life here to justify even calling this place home.

Deciding to leave while she still has the chance, she goes back upstairs and into the bathroom to start washing up. Brushing her teeth as she starts to hum the opening song to parfait girls, spitting the toothpaste in her mouth out before she stops and looks at her neck. She hadn't realized it just yet but her neck looks like it's starting to bruise, there's a few red markings and light purple indents where her father has squeezed the hardest.

"Goddamnit, not again!" Natsuki cries, touching her neck and brushing over the places that were bruised the worst.

Natsuki immediately goes for the makeup that she used the last time, grabbing it and desperately trying to apply it around her neck as best she can. There's not enough of it to cover her bruise line though and again it doesn't look right with her skin tone either.

"I can't catch a break here..." she mutters, touching her neck and smearing the makeup to hopefully make it blend better, "Maybe no one will notice? But what about Yuri..?" she's always been the observant type, actually Natsuki was surprised Yuri didn't notice the bruise on her face earlier.

Regardless of her worries however, she has to leave right now, she doubts her father will be going to work today and she doesn't want to stick around for when he wakes up hungover. Walking back down stairs and looking over to her father passed out on the couch, she takes a breath and goes over to him.

He's slumped over the couch and practically falling off the side of it, snoring softly with his mouth open and something clutched in his hand. Natsuki looks closer, hesitantly reaching down and taking her father's wallet from his hand. Opening it and gasping when she sees a picture on the inside of him, Natsuki and... her mother.

...

Yuri looked outside at the window as Monika drove, glancing a few times at Sayori as she bounces excitedly in the seat. Looking outside with her face practically smudged up against the window.

"Wow, Monika! You never told me you could drive! Your car is so pretty, too!" she chimes, Monika chuckling at her as she stops at a light.

"Well it's my mom's car, but yeah it's really nice. Have you never driven before Sayori?" she asks, Sayori shaking her head quickly.

"Nope! My parents always said I'm a handful to keep track of so they never took me shopping or anything too far from home. It's really cool!" Monika giggles again, MC rolling his eyes at his friend.

"I'll have to bring you along with me later today then when I go out to get some groceries. If you want we can stop by a café and get you something sweet?"

Sayori gasps and turns around, lunging at her friend and hugging her neck, "Yes!!! Please I'd love to! I've never been to a café before!" she exclaims.

Yuri smiled at her, Monika starting to drive once more, she looked away and down at her bag, 'I wonder if Natsuki would like to go to a café at some point too? I'm sure she'd enjoy it but that would be a bit of a weird thing to ask so suddenly,' Yuri thinks to herself, wanting to find some way to grow closer with the pinkette.

"Oh yeah, speaking of food, Yuri you took the rest of that pizza earlier right?" MC asks, Yuri nodding at him.

"I did, I'll put it away in the culinary class, I just hope Natsuki will be here today so I can give her some," she mutters, tinting pink again.

"Oooooooh, bringing your girlfriend some food huh~" Sayori teases, looking past her seat with a smug look on.

Yuri glares at the bubbly girl, "W-We aren't dating Sayori! Jeez, I-I'm not even into girls anyways... I-I think..." she mutters, Yuri's never really been with anyone as it is so she's never bothered to experiment with who she prefers.

"Sayori please, stop teasing her, they only just started to hang out recently anyways. So I doubt Yuri and her can even be considered friends just yet," Monika says, trying to get Sayori off of the topic.

Sayori pouts at her, "But they would be so cute together! Imagine it! Them hugging and being all romantic with each other rather than fighting~" Yuri can't even respond.

Her face is a maddeningly deep red and she's so hot right now that she wouldn't be surprised if steam was coming off her face. MC just laughing and watching this all unfold as Yuri tries to hide herself and Sayori sits back, content that she's gotten her point across that not even Monika can disagree with...

For the rest of the day, Yuri was a mess, she was walking through the halls with her mind filled with all sorts of different scenarios that would never ever come true.

Natsuki and her skipping class to hang out, Yuri pinning the pinkette to a wall and holding her face gently, the two holding hands while they shopped and Natsuki excitedly pointed out everything that caught her attention. It was so much for the bookworm and for almost no reason, but she felt wrong about thinking up any of these events. She had only started to get along with Natsuki just a couple of days ago, no way can it be possible that she actually has feelings for her right?

Yuri shakes her head in frustration, starting to have an urge to cut herself from losing control of her thoughts and emotions. She's thankfully unable to leave to do so as she's already walking through the doors of the literature club and would rather use her club time productively. Looking around and seeing Monika and Sayori chatting with MC, Sayori pointing somewhere on a paper MC is hold while he nods understandingly.

For whatever that might be, Yuri doesn't bother asking when she sees Natsuki sitting on the floor near the closet. A massive box of manga next to her with one of them in her hands, the pinkette completely taken by the story.

Yuri gulps and approaches her, fidgeting with her hair, "U-Um, Natsuki?" she calls startling the pinkette.

"Jesus Yuri, d-don't sneak up on me like that damnit!" she snaps, having been completely absorbed by the manga in her hands.

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to, Natsuki um... but I have some leftovers here from last night, if you'd like?" she says, pulling out a ziplock bag of a few slices of pizza, "It's cold but well, I figured you wouldn't mind?"

Natsuki shifts her attention straight to the food and tries not to make it obvious she wants it desperately. Marking her page and rolling her eyes at Yuri who's once more being so considerate to think about her.

"Ugh, well I guess, but don't think free pizza is going to make up for you leaving me and MC the other day to talk with Monika," she grumbles, taking the food and already starting to devour it again.

Cold pizza or warm, it still tasted amazing to the pinkette and she was grateful to Yuri for it all but refused to show it.

"Ah, you're still upset about that?" she asks, not having realized she left Natsuki to handle so much.

"Duh! There were so many people who came by and it was just me and that dork over there! What were you and Monika even talking about anyways?" she asks, Yuri sighing and deciding to sit down next to Natsuki on the floor.

"Just Sayori and if she was okay. Like me, Monika was suspicious of her well being and we decided to talk about it then rather after club times," she says as Natsuki bites once more into the pizza, continuing to read.

"That explains it, but you're not excused, you still owe me for yesterday. How is she by the way? Sayori I mean, is everything okay?" Natsuki asks, getting sauce on her face that she licks away, greedily going for the second price of pizza quickly.

"As long as she's open with us she will be. I cannot say for sure but I would guess she's depressed or struggling mentally," she says, Natsuki looking at Sayori with clear shock.

"Sayori?! Her?! But... how? She's always so happy looking," she points out.

Yuri nods and sighs, grabbing a cloth from her bag and using it to clean Natsuki's face, "Yes, but looks are deceiving Natsuki. However, she seems much better now that she knows she can come to us all for support. She'll be okay, I'm sure," Yuri says, smiling warmly at Natsuki as she smudges her cheek.

Holding the pinkette's face gently as they both lock eyes together, Yuri still looks at her warmly while Natsuki is just captivated by her. The two suddenly realizing they've been staring at the other very intently and looking away, both girls blushing a little.

"O-Oh, well... I-I guess if you're sure about it," Natsuki says, trying to read her book again but unable to focus.

Yuri chuckles awkwardly, "Y-Yes um... well, if I may ask, Natsuki. Can I perhaps make it up to you for yesterday?" Yuri asks, hoping to change the subject quickly.

Natsuki huffs out annoyed, "Oh, so now you care?" she fires back, looking at Yuri from the side.

"Natsuki, please," Yuri says, finding her tsundere nature absolutely adorable.

"Ugh, fine, if you really care that much then here," she reaches down and grabs the first volume of the manga series she was halfway through, practically shoving it in front of Yuri, "How about you give this a try, hm?"

Yuri looks down at the book, it looks... sugary to say it nicely. 4 different cutesy girls all in highschool attire of a light pink cover plaguing the entire book. Yuri looks at it almost sourly, she usually doesn't judge books by their covers but this time is an exception.

"Ah, uh... N-Natsuki I really don't think you'd like what I'd have to say about this uh, h-how about something else?" she asks, the slight excitement Natsuki had to share this with someone instantly diminishing.

"Oh..." she sighs and takes it back, "Alright... Nevermind, forget it," she mutters, about to put it away.

Yuri rubs her arm and sighs, "N-Natsuki..?" she calls, stopping her, "Just... give me the book. I didn't mean to offend you, I just... manga isn't appealing to me but if you really want me to, I'll at least read the first one," Yuri forces herself to say, deciding that sacrificing some of her pride is worth seeing Natsuki happy.

The pinkette scoffs at her, "Ugh, but you don't even want to read it," Natsuki doesn't have much of a choice when Yuri just takes the manga from her, still being careful not to damage her book.

"Yes, but you want me to, right?" Yuri says, looking at the cover still unimpressed while Natsuki is stunned!

Yuri of all people is about to read something she already hates just because Natsuki wants her to? It's something that she's not in any way accustomed to, someone doing something for her because she wants them too...

"Parfait girls... this cover looks oddly familiar to me for some reason, the girls and the way they're posed that is," she says, examining the backwards book before opening it to the first page.

Natsuki is instantly fascinated as she scoots closer to Yuri, their thighs touching but Yuri is too focused on trying to get through this manga to notice it. Reading through the first manga with Yuri who's actually starting to take her time to look at each page's detail and imagery. She can't deny that she feels bored with it so far, all it seems to be is a slice of life story with very obvious future events.

She can't really see so far as to why Natsuki is actually entertained by this, there's very little to like about it. Although she must admit the seeming teasing relationship one of the girls has with another is somewhat amusing.

Yuri sighs and closes the book, taking a breath and looking at Natsuki, "That was... interesting," she says, Natsuki waiting eagerly to hear more, "Although I must ask, Natsuki... are Misako and Nala in love?"

Natsuki grumbles at her, "Yuri! Don't ruin it, how could you even tell?!" she pouts, upset that Yuri's observative nature has predicted the next two volume's plots.

Yuri giggles at the pinkette beautifully, giving her back the manga, "It's rather obvious, the blushing, the stuttering in the dialogue, and of course Misako styling her hair differently at the end which is in some cases a know way for confessing one's feelings," Yuri explains very proudly to her, Natsuki rolling her eyes as she shows off.

"Oh, that sounds a lot like you and Natsuki there Yuri~" Monika chimes in, both girls jumping and looking up to see all of their club mates sitting on some of the desks looking at them from the side, smirking.

"Monika?!" Natsuki snaps, "No it doesn't!" she insists, Yuri blushing and grabbing the long strands of her hair to hide her face with.

"You sure? Cause you're both sitting pretty close there y'know, and I'll never figure out how you got Yuri to read one of your mangas there, Natsuki," MC says, Sayori just watching with the smuggest smirk on.

Natsuki moves away from Yuri immediately, "Ugh, would you all shut up! How long have you even been sitting there for?!" she growls, demanding to know why they were spying on her and Yuri.

"About two minutes or so, nothing serious. We were going to get you both for poems but then realized none of us wrote one yesterday so we settled for watching you both cuddle and read," Monika explains as if this is making the situation better.

Yuri is beet red in the face and Natsuki is just angry, about to give out to them all for interrupting her time with the bookworm only for the bell to ring instead.

Sayori looks up and groans, "Aaaaaaaw, clubs are over already..?"

Monika and MC just smile at her, "Afraid so, but hey I did say I'd take you to a café later today didn't I?" Monika reminds instantly reviving Sayori's cheerful mood.

"Wait, really?!! I didn't think you were being serious!" she exclaims excited, grabbing Monika's hands and holding them together making her laugh.

"Well yeah, why wouldn't I be? C'mon, let's go before it gets too dark," she says, Sayori dragging the club president out of the room and straight to her car while MC and the others just watch.

MC and the other two girls walk out from the clubs, mixing with a few other students on the way, before stopping at the main gate. Natsuki and Yuri are both visibly shaken by being caught sitting so close together earlier but try not to make it obvious.

"I'm surprised you aren't going with them, MC," Yuri points out, "You and Sayori are practically inseparable as far as I'm aware."

He shrugs, "Yeah well, I'm beat, yesterday was crazy and I just wanna go home and sleep in a bed. Having Sayori lay on top of me was admittedly not the best choice for a blanket," he jokes, making Yuri giggle at him through her lips.

"In that case, we'll see you tomorrow, me and Natsuki live in the opposite direction anyways," she says, the pinkette still upset with MC and the others after spying on her and Yuri.

"Alright, I'll see you two tomorrow then," he says, turning and starting to walk away with the sun starting to set already.

"About time," Natsuki complains, her arms crossed.

Yuri looks down at her with an endearing grin, the both of them starting to walk to the left in the direction of their homes. Both girls decide to stay quiet the whole time they walk. Yuri however can tell that Natsuki is still bothered by earlier when they were caught reading so closely together.

Yuri giggles at Natsuki when they start to walk up towards her main game, "Natsuki, a-are you really still upset with the others?" she asks though isn't exactly unphased by earlier herself.

"About time you asked, obviously! So what if we were sitting together?! They make it out like just cause we're getting along suddenly means we like the other," Natsuki complains making it clear where she stands in this.

"Yes well... We don't, but perhaps it is a nice thought," she admits getting Natsuki's attention, "We fought very often over some of the littlest of things. I'm personally glad we're getting along better now," Yuri says sincerely which Natsuki wasn't expecting at all.

"Yeah... I guess..." she grumbles, looking down at her bag and sighing, following Yuri through her fences gate, "Look, Yuri, I know things have been kinda weird this week but... you're right!" she exclaims, stomping her foot as Yuri turns around to pay more attention, "I-It is nice and well... I know you might not enjoy it much but I would like it if we could talk more about Parfait Girls, have something that you and I can share?" Natsuki reaches down, pulling out the 2nd volume of the manga, holding it out for Yuri to take.

Yuri is taken back by this, 'She wants me to read more so we can talk about it?' she thinks, looking at the manga unsure, 'It's certainly not the most interesting of stories, however... I wouldn't mind hearing Natsuki talk about it more if just for a little while.'

Yuri sighs and caves, "Alright, but if I do, you must agree to read my favorite book as well, Natsuki," Yuri says which Natsuki smirks at.

"Heh, fine! That seems like a fair trade, but if I start to get scared I won't read a single page more!" she exclaims, handing Yuri the book.

"I suppose that's fair, here let me give you mine then," she says, searching through her bag before coming back up with the Portrait of Markov and carefully slipping Natsuki's manga to replace the empty space.

"I can't believe you're actually agreeing to take it," Natsuki says surprised.

Yuri shrugs at the pinkette, holding the book out for her, "Yes well... you have agreed to read my favorite book, I'm sure the least I can do is do the same in kind."

Natsuki smiles and reaches out, taking Yuri's book and looking at it, her eyes tracing up just for a few moments before stopping on something. She looks at Yuri's wrists, noticing a paperish strand of something wrapped tightly underneath Yuri's uniform sleeve.

She takes the book, her smile disappearing as now an uneasy curiosity replaces it. Her silence worrying Yuri who bends down a little to get closer to Natsuki's height.

"Natsuki? Are you alright?" she asks, Natsuki looking up at Yuri clearly suspicious of something.

"Yeah... Yeah I um..." she clears her throat, putting the book she was given away first before getting closer to Yuri, "Hey, really quick, can I see your hand, Yuri?" she asks.

Yuri tilts her head confused, "Um, I'm sorry what? W-Why do you want to-ah!" Natsuki doesn't wait any longer, grabbing the taller girl's palm and pulling it towards her, forcing her sleeves up quickly, "N-Natsuki!!!" Yuri screams, pulling her arm away from the pinkette but it was already too late.

Natsuki had seen them. Bandages. Thick white bandages with dark red stains bleeding through from Yuri's arm.

"Holy shit..." Natsuki mutters in disbelief, Yuri backing away and trying desperately to roll back down her sleeve that had gotten caught on one of her bandages folds, "Yuri! What the hell?!" she shouts, Yuri's eyes filled with anxiety and terror as she looks back at Natsuki.

The pinkette freezes, realizing how much she's just messed up in doing this but not stopping regardless. Approaching Yuri who's already trying to retreat to her house, reaching to grab her keys but fumbling badly before she even gets to the front door.

"G-Get away! N-Natsuki why did you-" she's silenced when Natsuki grabs Yuri's other arm, her grip is firm, freaking Yuri out enough to turn around so sharply that she trips back and stumbles onto the ground.

Natsuki follows, Yuri taking most of the fall to her own walkway while trying to fight the pinkette off of her, "Yuri!!!" Natsuki shouts loud enough for her voice to echo across the setting sky, birds cawing as they fly out from nearby trees, "Stop it!" she demands, her voice not going down in volume at all.

Yuri doesn't stop, trying to get away and finding it nearly an effortless task with how small Natsuki is compared to her, about to throw her off before Natsuki suddenly grabs her by both of her wrists and pins them beside Yuri's head.

"I-I... said... s-stop!" Natsuki huffs, out of breath and sweating, her arms quivering as she keeps Yuri held down with the little strength she has while she just looks up at the pinkette.

Yuri should be scared and freaking out with the number 1 priority being for her to get away. But instead she's just sitting there in front of her house, captivated to see how much Natsuki is fighting just to keep Yuri still.

"Natsuki, p-please, stop I-I... just let me go! Don't look at me!" Yuri begs, Natsuki growling and feeling like she's about to cry seeing someone she's grown to like so much acting like this.

"Why?!" Natsuki shouts back, scaring the girl beneath her into silence, "Why would I let you go after seeing this?! Why would you..." Natsuki stops and shakes her head, trying to pull herself together and not break down suddenly discovering someone as wonderful as Yuri in so much pain, "Why would you do this to yourself?!" she chokes out.

Yuri's frozen, looking up at Natsuki and seeing someone who actually... cares about her? She's using whatever strength she has to keep Yuri down and now she's even showing compassion to her, why would anyone do that for her..?

"Why does it matter..?" Yuri growls back, suddenly seeming angry now which only gets Natsuki more fired up.

"What?! What do you mean, "why does it matter"?!" Natsuki demands.

Yuri leans up, Natsuki watching as her eyes swell with tears suddenly, "Why does it matter that someone as worthless as me is doing this to herself?!" she shouts, choking back sobs of her own.

Natsuki sits there speechless, why would she think that of herself? How could someone like Yuri ever say something so hurtful or do something as terrible as self harm?!

"Y-You... Why would you care anyways if I'm doing this?! This has nothing to do with you, Natsuki! Nothing!" Yuri tries to lean up towards Natsuki more, gritting her teeth to keep herself from breaking down, "Now let me go! I have nothing to say to you anymore, you... you don't deserve to deal with this..." she mutters, Yuri's anger suddenly being snuffed out as she starts to cry silently.

Tears streamed down the side of her face with her hands clenched shut, her wrists bleeding more from all the thrashing she had done to try and get away from Natsuki. She just stared at Yuri beneath her, watching how she's so desperate to get away and hide herself again.

"Don't deserve to deal with this..?" Natsuki repeats, trying to understand why Yuri would say that, "You don't think I deserve to deal with what?! You're the one that's been "dealing" with me all week! You think I want to see you, someone so caring and sweet, like this?!" Natsuki exclaims, letting Yuri go and watching her rub her eyes, sobbing more openingly now.

Natsuki is silent as Yuri cried beneath her, the pinkette shaking her head after a few minutes of no response. Carefully, Natsuki got off from Yuri and helped the sobbing girl up, crying into her hands as Natsuki took her back. Rifling through it to look for her keys, finding them buried beneath the manga she gave her, a few pens, and... a knife?

Normally Natsuki would find this concerning but after seeing Yuri's wrists, she can't say she's even a little surprised. Unlocking the door to her house, Natsuki leads Yuri inside, turning on lights and shutting the door behind her. Yuri's cries start to get softer, trying to stifle herself and keep whatever pain she has locked away.

Natsuki grabs a glass from the kitchen and fills it with water, returning to Yuri and making her sit down on the couch. Soft weeps escaping from Yuri as Natsuki holds her hand but with a gentle grip this time. Rubbing Yuri's palm with her thumb and bringing the glass of water she got up to Yuri's lips.

"Here, drink it," Natsuki insists, Yuri looking at her through tear filled eyes and nodding, taking the glass of water and slowly gulping it down.

Natsuki waits patiently, Yuri finishing the entire glass without stopping to even breathe once. Natsuki takes the glass from her and sets it down on the table, Yuri looking at the pinkette with absolutely no fight left in her.

"N-Natsuki, I-" Natsuki stops her, grabbing both of Yuri's hands and cupping them together, sitting on her knees and moving closer to her.

"Stop, Yuri, enough..." she says, Yuri starting to cry again already, shutting her eyes and looking away as Natsuki leans her head forwards, pressing it against Yuri's, "You've said enough, okay?"

She nods and takes a sharp breath, trying to lean away from the pinkette but only being brought closer to her when Natsuki lets go of Yuri's hands and wraps her into a tight and safe hug. Yuri starts to cry louder, no longer feeling obligated to keep her pain hidden away as she clings to the pinkette.

Natsuki doesn't say anything, she doesn't have to knowing it could just tip Yuri off even more and that's the last thing she wants to happen. Simply sitting where she is and letting Yuri cry and weep as much as she needs to until she feels Yuri's grip on her loosen.

Leaning away from her, Natsuki again takes Yuri by the wrists, making her hold them out for her. She looks up at Yuri first, asking without words to look at her wounds closer to which Yuri nods, sniffling. Gently taking the bandages by the edge and starting to unwrap them from around Yuri's wrists.

She's shaking as Natsuki unwraps, taking the gauze bandages off from both hands and... it's horrific. Dozens of dozens of deep long gashes riddle all of the underside of Yuri's wrists. Some of them are older than others but a vast majority of them are obviously recent. So recent that they're barely healed at all and still bleeding with some of them even looking like they had barely been scabbing before cut once more.

Natsuki can't stop staring at Yuri's wrists, thinking back to earlier when she had been touching near her wrists before. Realizing that Yuri was hiding this from her very recently and she only found out just now by accident.

"Yuri..." Natsuki says, the girl in front of her looking away shamefully as if she was caught by her parents getting into trouble, "Why? W-Why would you do this to yourself..?" Natsuki asks, the question easily making Yuri flinch and struggle for words.

"I-I... It's..." Yuri pauses and takes a moment to compose herself, Natsuki holding her hands again comforting her enough to continue, "I feel so... helpless, Natsuki. I don't have any control over anything... My parents have made all the decisions in life, told me what to like, never listened to any of my interests, they've brushed off any concerns I've ever had," she admits, closing her hands around Natsuki's tightly, "If I ever tried to argue back or speak an opinion they never agreed with, they demanded I stay quiet! If I ever slipped out of their grasp they would threaten taking me out of school away from any friends I had managed to make," Yuri starts to cry again, feeling the fear of losing her friends that she swore she'd never feel again.

Natsuki wasn't expecting this, Yuri made her parents out to be hard working well endowed people. The kind that cared about keeping their children as comfortable as possible financially even if it meant they would leave for months on end.

Yuri continues, "But when I started to cut... I-I felt something, for once in my life I was in control of something, anything! It hurt... but I didn't feel awful, I had something finally that I could use to call myself unique. I started to buy more and more knives and experiment, I-I did it so often, eventually my parents found out and well..." she sighs and sniffles again.

Natsuki reaches up, wiping her eyes, Yuri leaning into the pinkette's hand more, humming at her touch and gladly taking in her warmth. Yuri was hot as well, Natsuki could feel how scared she was talking to her about any of this but it only made Natsuki want to listen more.

"They seemed broken... they saw me doing something to myself that they hadn't known about for months! But instead of yelling at me for it or taking me out from school and away from the literature club, they just... they left," she stops and Yuri suddenly seems somber and blank.

Natsuki leans back to look at Yuri better, "Um, they left?" she repeats, not sure what she means by that.

Yuri nods at her, letting Natsuki go and sitting more comfortably, "They haven't been home for nearly three years... they send me funds but to be truthful... I-I don't know where they are right now, Natsuki. They've refused any contact with me and..." Yuri stops, deciding she's said enough, shaking her head and wiping her eyes again.

"They just abandoned you?!" Natsuki exclaims, Yuri holding her arms and trying to comfort herself.

"In a sense, yes... and well, doing this," she holds her arms out again, "I-It makes me feel like I'm somewhat in control-" Natsuki reaches out and grabs Yuri's wrists again, being sure she's gentle with her.

"Yuri, THIS is not control!" Natsuki gets closer again, only a few inches away from Yuri's face, "This is the opposite of control! Look at you! You're bleeding and sobbing while your shitty parents are off doing who knows what! They left you to suffer by yourself, damnit!"

Natsuki's anger starts to show once more, Yuri putting her hand on Natsuki's chest to keep her where she is.

"Natsuki stop, i-it doesn't matter, you don't have to get this upset for me when-" Natsuki doesn't stay to hear anymore of Yuri's attempts to calm her down.

Getting up and storming off down towards her bathroom, she searches through the cabinets inside the bathroom. Grabbing a roll of gauze bandages that's almost finished and a few disinfectant wipes. Coming back to Yuri quickly, she looks upset with herself, staring at her wrists and not knowing what she should do.

Natsuki reclaims her spot on the couch and holds her hand out to Yuri, "Gimme your arm," she orders to which Yuri hesitates but complies, Natsuki holding her in place gently while starting to pat her cut up wrists down with disinfectant.

Yuri flinches slightly at the sting but doesn't pull away from the pinkette, "Thank you..." Yuri mutters, looking away and clearing her throat, "I-I can do it from here, Natsuki, I-"

"It's bullshit..." Natsuki growls out irritated, "You shouldn't have to do this Yuri, you shouldn't have to have me do this for you either, but your deadbeat parents lose a little control with you and suddenly they leave?! Do you even hear yourself?!"

Yuri's eyes widen, appalled by Natsuki's sudden vulgar attitude, "But... I-I don't understand, Natsuki. Why are you so upset over this..?"

Natsuki sighs, finishing wrapping one of Yuri's arms and starting to disinfect and wrap the second, this one looks worse than the first, "Because I care about you, dummy! You've done so much for me, Yuri. You have no idea how much I appreciate you letting me stay over the other day, you think I'm just going to let you face whatever it is you're going through alone after seeing this?!"

Yuri's at a loss for words, Natsuki tying the end of the bandage nice and tight, sighing. Yuri watches as the pinkette starts to clean up, going to return everything to the bathroom where she found it, leaving Yuri alone again.

She looks down at her newly wrapped arms, this is the kindest act anyone has ever done for her and out of everyone it was Natsuki to have done it! She's never felt so light, having needed to cry like that for a very long while and yet she still didn't feel completely safe...

Natsuki sighed as she came back, Yuri standing up and approaching her, "Okay, I put everything back, now about what I was saying-" this time Natsuki's the one to be interrupted when Yuri grabs her.

Wrapping her long slender arms into a tight and warm hug and cuddling Natsuki against her. A shaky breath escapes the tall broken girl as Natsuki stands there not sure what she should do right now.

"Thank you..." Yuri chokes out, crying again but Natsuki knows these tears are those of gratitude, "T-Thank you, Natsuki..."

The pinkette rolls her eyes but smiles, returning the gesture and hugging Yuri as she sheds more tears, some of which land on top of Natsuki's hair.

"You wanna thank me? Don't hide your problems from me anymore. I can't expect you to just stop hurting yourself from now on but at least give me a heads up that you're having urges to cut?" Natsuki asks to which Yuri nods at her more than willing to indulge herself in Natsuki's comfort and support.

"O-Okay... okay, just please I..." Yuri pauses and sniffles again, nuzzling the top of Natsuki's head with her cheek, "Don't leave just yet, I-I'm... I'm not ready to stop hugging you," Yuri admits, dreading the idea of Natsuki leaving her once more.

Natsuki giggles at Yuri, feeling her hands on her back rubbing up and down tenderly, "I wasn't going to leave tonight at all, idiot. How could I after seeing how much you need me right now?"

Yuri's heart flutters, she couldn't believe this was really happening, she's never felt so cared for like this nor given this much attention. It's a moment Yuri hadn't realized till now that she was longing for, she forgot what it was like having someone to care for her in any way. Sure Natsuki has shown to Yuri that she does have some compassion for her and of course after last night she knows her friends would be there for her as well.

Her parents however have made reaching out to others for help an almost impossible task with how her needs and problems were brushed aside or scolded for.

"Alright, well... I think I'm going to go and take a bath then, if you'd like Natsuki you can help yourself to anything in the fridge," Yuri says, letting Natsuki go and backing up to look down at her with teary eyes and smile.

Natsuki gives a sigh of content and holds Yuri's shoulder, "Alright, but I'm going to help you with your bandages again when you get out okay?" she says which Yuri has no objections to.

She holds Natsuki's hand close to her chest which admittedly makes Natsuki flush red pretty fast, "Th-Thank you, Natsuki... I've said it so much just now but really, I-I can't possibly thank you enough for... Everything!" she exclaims, genuine happiness on Yuri's face that makes Natsuki forget how flustered she was getting from being this close to Yuri's chest.

"Hm... well, you're my friend and your parents are assholes. If they ever come back I'll personally pummel them into the ground for what they've done to you!" she jokes although for all Yuri knows she could be completely serious.

"N-Natsuki, that's sweet but... you don't have to-" Natsuki puts a finger to Yuri's lips.

"No! I will do that Yuri, and you can't say anything to dissuade me. Now go, clean up now and we'll relax for the rest of the night," Natsuki insists, pushing Yuri down the hall and forcing her to end the conversation, not giving her a choice.

Yuri closes the door and Natsuki walks away, deciding instead to just wait for her in pain friend on the couch. She's not sure why, but Natsuki feels strangely good, she's not thrilled in any way about seeing someone she cares for in pain. It pisses her off to no end to have heard how badly Yuri's been neglected and her personal problems discarded.

She's glad to know that Yuri trusts her to have told her so much about her family issues but still...

"They were so deep..." Natsuki mutters, looking down at her own wrists and touching them, "How is she still alive..? There were so many and some were still bleeding too, the fact that Yuri hasn't cut an artery yet is unbelievable," the pinkette shivers at the thought.

She looked over at the front door and felt anger swell inside her, Natsuki promising to herself from now on that those two people will never speak to Yuri again. She didn't care if they were the reason Yuri could live as comfortably as she currently is, already the thought of her parents made Natsuki sick after how pathetic they are for leaving their daughter.

Natsuki sat there thinking for a good while, not sure what she should be feeling as of now other than protectiveness. She couldn't leave Yuri anymore, not after seeing how much she needs someone to confide in. A set goal to protect her friend from both herself and her parents, whatever the cost... whatever it would take to help her.