April ∆7 20XX

"You got everything you need, darling?", asked the purple haired girl, nicely as usual. "Mmm... I think so? lemme double check the important stuff just in case... flashlight, batteries, rope, lighter, bandages... Yep, everything's here", replied the pink girl after rummaging through her pink backpack.

"So... Y-You still have... Around 20 minutes?", Yuri asked a bit nervous. "No, Yuri, we're not gonna do it right now, I need to save my stamina", Natsuki sighed with crossed arms, closed eyes and light blush.

"E-Eh?! No, it's not that!", Yuri replied red as a stop traffic light. "No? Weird...", Natsuki glared at her suspiciously.

"I-I just wanted to see if we had time to show you a little something...", Yuri replied after sighing to relax a little, fidgeting with her hair. "No, even if you're wearing new lingerie I won't give in", Natsuki sighed but refused to look at her girlfriend to not fall into the temptation as she turned around.

"I-It really isn't that!!", Yuri exclaimed completely flustered, to then go grab something hidden behind some cereal and cooking boxes in the pantry of their small kitchen. "Look, please", Yuri then pleaded.

"Yuri, I swear if something happens to me because of your horn- huh?", Natsuki began saying as she turned around again, only to cut herself short when she immediately recognized the the object in Yuri's hands. "Is that a manga?", she asked with magenta eyes that soon began to sparkle.

"Yes! Jasmine's turn was yesterday so I asked her to look it for me and bring it if she could... I-I've been doing my research thanks to those magazines we found the other day and I thought this is a manga you'd like, it's called Whispering you a love song and since one of the protagonist is in some cooking club where she makes sweets and other desserts for her girlfriend who-", Yuri began explaining a bit nervous while holding the book with one hand and fidgeted with her hair with the other.

"Geez, Yuri...", Natsuki cut her off. "Y-You probably already read it, didn't you...?", Yuri asked a bit sad.

Natsuki sighed with a smile. The pink girl walked over to her taller girlfriend, took the book from her hand and then caressed her cheek with the other, reassuring the purple one who again was able to smile thanks to the gentle touch of her lover.

"You're such a big dummy awesome girlfriend, you know?", Natsuki said with a cute grin. "Not as much as y-", Yuri tried to say but Natsuki was quick to press her finger between her lips to shut her up.

"Shush, I won't have any of that shish today. And for the record, no, I haven't read this one. Thanks a lot, really", Natsuki said with a sweet smile as she gently pinched her lover's cheek. "S-Since we still have some time... Would you like to start reading it together?", Yuri asked with pleading violet eyes.

"What kind of dumb question is that? Of course I'd like to!", Natsuki exclaimed smiley to then grab her girlfriend's hand and drag her back to the couch until both sat down next to the other.

Yuri was handed the manga, assuming she'd be the one holding it for them to read but before she could do so, Natsuki snuck underneath her arm, wrapped her arms around her waist and nuzzled her cheek against her chest.

"What are you waiting for? We don't have all day! Or should I say night?", Natsuki questioned herself. "A-Ah, sorry, sorry!", Yuri replied after a brief moment of her losing herself in the warmth her smaller girlfriend provided her with.

It didn't take long for both girls to get hooked as they quietly read one page after the other, usually being Yuri who finished first, turning the page everytime Natsuki gently squeezed her with her arms to indicate her she was done.

Although no words were spoken in the meantime, both still would giggle or just smile at what they read. Natsuki would also nibble on Yuri's baggy sweater every now and then which it was a cute habit of her Yuri never got tired of seeing.

The purple girl also had one of her own as she would just rest her nose on Natsuki's soft hair, enjoying that ever so sweet strawberry scent it had. She'd also just softly kiss her head every now and then, something that Natsuki always enjoyed quietly.

But time never forgives as almost 20 minutes passed and the beeping coming from Natsuki's wrist watch reminded them of it.

"Shut, time's up I guess...", Natsuki sighed a little sad, cutely twitching her mouth. "I see you didn't forget of setting your alarm", Yuri simply said as she too felt the sorrow caused by the feeling of her girlfriend letting go of her.

"Of course, dummy, otherwise I could stay reading with you like this all night and not realize it", Natsuki chuckled. "I guess I could say the same", Yuri chuckled too but in truth, it was just a way for both to bear being apart from each other for the following hours, again.

"Anyways, thanks again for the gift, babe, I really liked it, no, I loved it!", Natsuki exclaimed with hands on hips. "No need to thank me, my love", Yuri smiled sweetly to then grab Natsuki's hands and pull her a little closer.

"You're always doing your best for us, all of us I mean. You always work hard, put yourself at risk and bear so much just to ensure we are all safe. This isn't nothing compared to what you do but I hope it lets you know how much I love you and how much I'm thankful for what you do not just for us, but for me too", Yuri paused a little as she wrapped Natsuki's arms around her waist, to then wrap hers around her small girlfriend and complete the embrace.

"You deserve the world. All the love you've given me can't compare to anything else in the universe. So please, please, take care out there and come home safe because I'll always be waiting for you and even if the day I'm not here comes, remember I'll always watch over you too", Yuri finished, both girls continued to embrace each other for a few more moments.

Yuri simply enjoyed her girlfriend's warmth while it lasted. Natsuki made sure to engrave those words in her heart.

"Alright, alright, Miss Purple cheese, enough hugs cause I gotta go, Gen and Ryona must be waiting for me already", Natsuki said as she gently pulled apart from the taller girl. "Okay, love. See you later then?", Yuri asked smiling lovingly.

"See you later, and tomorrow and the day after and the month after and the year after and in the next life even, you dummy", Natsuki replied chuckling to then wrap her arms around Yuri's neck, get on her tip toes a bit and finally kiss her lips to profess her infinite love for her with actions instead of words.

As they pulled away from the kiss, a bit slow and reluctant of doing so, Yuri leaned down a bit more as she grabbed her girlfriend's face between her hands and pressed her forehead against hers a bit.

"I love you so much, please be safe", Yuri mumbled. "Love you lots too babe, and don't worry, I'll be", Natsuki replied.

Before they could continue prolonging their goodbye, a knocking on the door brought them back to reality.

"I'm coming Gen! Jesus, can't you just wait a little bit?", Natsuki shouted as she put on her backpack and headed to the door now feisty as usual. "Hey", simply said a dark blue haired girl as Natsuki opened the door.

"Ah, Ryona, I didn't expect it was you", Natsuki said. "He sent me but this is the main reason why I came", Ryona said and pointed with her thumb at something over her shoulder.

"Wha- Ah!", Natsuki asked confused but she almost jumped before she could finish. "Heya!", exclaimed the red bow girl, smiley as ever as her head popped up behind Ryona's shoulder.

"Sayori? The hell are you doing here?", Natsuki asked. "I came to see your girlfriend actually hehe", Sayori replied.

"Yeah, we should hurry now though, Natsuki", Ryona said. "Ah, yeah, yeah... I'll see you later, Yuri!", Natsuki turned around quickly and waved her hand at her purple girl just a few steps away from her. "Take care, darling", Yuri replied waving back with a sweet smile.

Natsuki and Ryona began heading off right after but they wouldn't disappear from Sayori's sight before she could say one more thing. "Take care, Ry!!", Sayori shouted loud as she waved her hand high and full of energy as ever.

Ryona stopped her rushed walk, turned around and waved her hand at her with a shy smile. "Hey, move your ass! You came to rush me, now I rush you too!", Natsuki exclaimed as she pulled Ryona by the arm startling her a bit as she almost lost her balance.

Sayori and Yuri now both standing at the door and watching them go just giggled at the funny way Ryona began chasing Natsuki visibly embarrassed.

"Aaand they're gone...", Sayori said as both finally disappeared from their sight after turning in the next corridor. "Yeah...", Yuri replied but Sayori was quick to notice the mysterious expression on her face.

"Anyways! I came here to take you with me!", Sayori said to break the brief but always silence. "Eh? Where to?", Yuri asked.

"To our knitting class! Today we're gonna learn how to make neck clothing", Sayori replied enthusiastically.

"Oh, I see... I-I'm sorry though... I have something to do right now, t-there are some things I still need to clean here", Yuri said with an awkward smile. "Hmmm, you okay, Yuri?", Sayori asked concerned.

"Y-Yes, why wouldn't I be?", Yuri replied a bit nervous. "I don't know? You tell me", Sayori asked.

"It's alright, Sayori, really", Yuri insisted but her smile became faker by the second. "You barely show up to our knitting class now, plus everytime Natsuki leaves you never come out of your room, I can't help but worry", Sayori said looking intensely in the eyes of the purple one.

"I-I just... Feel a bit lonely without her, that's all. Y-You may think being locked in there by myself won't help but it actually does, things like cleaning her stuff, organizing her clothes and such make me remember she's always going to come back here, to me... I-Is that weird?", Yuri asked fidgeting with her hair.

"Not at all! That's really cute! ...but okay, just... Keep in mind your friends want to spend some time with you too, okay?", Sayori asked as she grabbed Yuri by the shoulders and squeezed them gently, which prompted her to notice something curious.

"Woah! Your shoulders are quite stiff!", Sayori exclaimed. "I-I may be a bit stressed now...", Yuri smiled awkwardly as she gently removed Sayori's hands off them.

"Sorry! Welp, we'll be in Omi's room tonight in case you change your mind", Sayori said. "I'll remember that", Yuri replied with a smile. Sayori left right after, bouncing through the hallway while Yuri got back inside and closed the door.

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5 minutes passed. Yuri opened the door again.
She looked around and saw the coast was clear, she turned to the left, three rooms away from hers and across. She didn't knock on the door. It was open from inside so she just turned the knob.

"I've been waiting for you", said the one inside sitting on her individual couch, cleaning a hunting knife with some old cloth. "Let's not waste any time", Yuri said. She took off her sweater.

"That baggy sweater really hides it well I see", she replied as she put on her beanie hat and got up. "Natsuki, tonight, I'll watch over you once again", Yuri said as she put on the mask.