A/N: Ight before you keep reading and jump into conclusions and murder me or something, I just wanna say I didn't put the tags NatsukixYuri and YurixNatsuki as a bait or anything, they're there for a reason, so take it easy will ya?

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Natsuki's P.O.V.

Why now?

Suddenly my mind begins recalling that day...

That faithful day almost 2 months ago...

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"Okay everyone! Last day of school, last day of sharing poems before the summer break starts, you know what to do and please you two, keep it friendly alright?", Monika says with her finger raised as she looks at me and Yuri like a mom scolding her children.

"Ye, ye, mom I know, I don't know if miss my poems are better can though", I reply as I look at Yuri who sighs clearly annoyed. "Alright, Sayori come here", Monika says as our bubbly vice president jumps with her poem in hand.

Guess I'll have to go first.

Dammit, I was hoping I had a bit more time but it's now or never.

Although... I wonder how's it gonna go, all I've done is make Yuri angry and upset every time...

Not like I really want that but it's... The only way she actually notices me...

I know it's bad but I have hopes I'll be able to clear the air with her soon, hopefully today is the day.

I take a quiet deep breath, pull the carefully folded paper where I wrote my poem out of my notebook and walk towards Yuri's desk.

She already has her poem out.

"Here", I say as I look away and reach out my hand for her to take my poem. Yuri takes my poem without looking at me and hands me hers.

...

As usual, I can't read this... Shit, I wish I wasn't so dumb...

I gulp quietly as I put down her poem and lift my eyes to look at her and see her reaction, she surely finished reading mine now.

I don't say anything and wait for her to speak first, seconds feel like an eternity until she sighs and her mouth starts moving.

"I-It's simple as usual, it tries using some kind of metaphor with the story format but it doesn't make much sense, maybe you could try using better words or a different format", Yuri says and with every word she speaks my heart feels like it's crumbling piece by piece.

My throat feels bitter, my stomach feels like when he punches me there, my head feels like I've been under the burning sun for hours, my eyes sore...

"Well I give a fuck about your opinion, so shove those words into your pretentious mouth and go to hell!", I snap and snatch my poem off her hands.

I'm not able to think any more, I just want this awful feeling to go.

"Whatever, Natsuki, I honestly don't care what you say, you're just an immature brat who can't take criticism because deep down you know your writing is too childish", Yuri says with a terrifying look on her face, I begin to shrink but I fight back.

"Me? Immature? Well, maybe I'm not soooo mature like you and feel like I'm such great shit but at least I try not being so full of myself for nothing!", I shout, please just stop.

"At least I'm better than you, why don't you just leave me alone already!", Yuri says as she snatches her poem off my hands. "Yeah, I always knew you thought that... You know what Yuri? Screw you! I'm fucking done with you!", I yell and I can see Sayori and Monika saying something I can't really hear, they're heading this way.

I quickly go grab my backpack and shove Yuri aside, escaping the club. I really don't want to hear any of Monika's lectures or scolding right now.

I just want to leave, disappear, wake up from this bad dream.

I furiously make that stupid poem into a paper ball and shove it into the first trashcan I see before I run out and away from the school.

I run, and run and run.

I don't know how long I've been running but my legs are burning now.

I just want to be as far away from her as possible.

Finally I arrive at the station and take the first train that passes.

I sit down on one of the furthest seats in the corner and bury my face in my backpack, I just want to close my eyes and vanish now, hoping this bitterness goes away.

...

That female voice announces the end of the line and I stand up and leave the train.

Every other passenger that got here just walks away to leave the station and go home I suppose.

I remain standing there in the middle of The platform. I spot a bench a few steps away from me.

I sit down and as I see no one else is around, I bury my face in my backpack again and finally let out everything I've been holding.

Tears endlessly come out from my eyes and roll down my face, just making the moisture on my pink backpack bigger while I sob as quiet as I can.

The bitterness won't go away.

The pain won't go away.

I'm this far and it still hurts the same as if she was right in from of me, repeating those words.

"You're just an immature brat"

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

Go away!!

Those words keep echoing inside my head over and over again.

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

"Why don't you just leave me alone already!"

STOP!!

"Hey"

Suddenly the words stop.

I hear a voice, a voice I don't recognize.

"Are you okay?"

Again.

Am I imagining things now?

Then I feel something touching my shoulder and I instantly lift my head from my backpack.

Standing before me is a girl of long strawberry red hair tied up into a fishtail braid, dark brown eyes, wearing a sailor like school Black uniform and... Her nose and cheek patched up for some reason.

"I guess you're not", she says shrugging awkwardly. "I-I'm fine", I reply as I try to wipe off the tears of my eyes.

She doesn't say anything and suddenly starts wiping off the remaining tears of my face with a pink handkerchief.

It feels... Well, odd.

Last time I had someone doing something like this was... Years ago, when she was still here.

I don't protest. I just want to remember how it feels one more time.

"Umm I know I'm a complete stranger but if you need someone to talk to...", She says as she puts her handkerchief back in her bag. "Sure... I guess talking could help, anything to get this damn feeling off my chest", I reply.

"Okay! Then... You don't mind if I sit here?", She asks as she sits next to me. "It's alright", I sigh.

"So? What's wrong?", She asks kindly. "Do you have, or have you had someone you like?", I ask.

"Romantically speaking right?", She asks and I nod. "Yes, we all have at this point I suppose", she says smiling awkwardly.

"And have you ever had them tell you that they don't want you around, to leave them alone already, that you're immature and childish even", I say and it hurts again as I remember her speaking those words.

"Yes... Well, more less, not the immature part but the part of leave them alone yes", she responds and I find myself a bit surprised, I guess I'm not the only one who gets her heart broken.

"Oh... Well, it's that... The person I like told me that today after I... Well, to begin with we've never got along that well, but I wanted to try clearing the air between us today and start at least being friends, so I made something I hoped they liked but... It was completely ignored and treated like trash", I say holding back more tears eager to come out.

"I see... That's awful...", She says and her expression somehow tells me it rings a bell on her, guess she has gone through something similar. "Then we started arguing as usual and they said those things which I guess it's what's they always wanted to say and finally had enough of me to do so today", I continue.

"And then you ran away and ended up here, right?", She says to my big surprise. "Y-Yeah, how'd you know?", I ask.

"I'm here because I did that too, although for a slightly different reason", she smiles sadly. "What happened to you, if I may ask?", I say curious.

"See this things? I got... Bullied really hard today, I had enough and I just wanted to go away so I ended up here without thinking", She explains briefly. "Why'd you get bullied though?", I ask even more curious now.

"Because some people just don't like when something is different from what they're used to, that's all", she says with a distant look on her face. "Well people are stupid", I say and I suddenly hear a "pfft" sound.

"I guess you're right", she starts giggling. "Of course I am! People can be freaking dummies sometimes", I say and her giggling turns into a more genuine laugh.

"Hahaha, yeah you're right", she laughs again. "Come on it ain't that funny", I say and I feel like laughing now.

"It's funny because it's true! Specially when someone says it so honestly like you did", she giggles. "Dummy", I say and look away trying my best not to laugh yet.

"Hahahahahahaha", she laughs happily know, I see her holding her stomach now. I start laughing too.

I suppose I needed this.

We laugh and laugh and laugh like maniacs until we have enough.

"What's your name?", I ask as I realize my rudeness. Well, I guess I wasn't thinking clear anyway. "Ryuko Tokugawa, you can call me Ryuko though", she says with a smile.

"Natsuki, nice to meet you Ryuko", I say pulling out the beat smile I can. "Nice to meet you too, Natsuki", she says and looks at me... In a way that makes me a bit nervous, in the good sense of the word.

"Feel better now?", She asks. "I guess, maybe it's better if I stop thinking about it for now though", I sigh a bit tired.

"Good call, what are you gonna do now?", Ryuko asks. "I guess I should go home now... And literally now! It's already late and if I don't get there... Shit", I say that last thing in the lowest voice I can as I realize the weight of my actions.

"Come on, then let's go to the other platform!", Ryuko says and grabs my wrists to make me run asap. We hurry and thankfully the next train leaves in 2 minutes.

Ryuko and I chat about random things on the way back but my biggest surprise is the moment we arrive at Omiya station where I came from first and turns out Ryuko gets off here too.

She asked me where I was heading then and if this world wasn't small enough by then, it turned out she lived in the same street as me.

In the end she was kind enough to pay a taxi for us and thus I got home before 7 pm, learning that Ryuko lived just 5 minutes from my apartment building in the process.

But all that happened with Ryuko that day wasn't even close to the weirdest thing that day.

My blood went cold when I saw the lights from my apartment on.

I gulped and knowing already what awaited me up there, I braced myself for the always worst part of the day, something common for me now though.

I remember everything perfectly, from each and every step I took, the top hat man that passed next to me while I was going upstairs and him downstairs, and the faint but clear sound of the TV already on inside the moment I was right at the door.

I took a deep breath and unlocked the door as quietly as I could, then I locked it again.

The feeling of something was odd began as I noticed the lights were on, since he always liked having them off while watching TV.

Then the next thing that started freaking me out a little, was the inexistent smell of alcohol I was so used to by then.

Disturbed, I tried making the less noice possible hoping he wouldn't notice me walking behind him to get to my room but then.

"Welcome home kid!", He suddenly jumped off the couch he was sitting on and greeted me with a very disturbing at that moment smile. Mainly because it had been ages since I ever saw him smile like that.

"H-Hi, papa", I said nervous. "I brought pizza today and some strawberry shortcake for dessert you still like that right? grab yourself how much you want they're in the kitchen table", papa said smiling from ear to ear and then patted my shoulder.

At that moment I closed my eyes and flinched, waiting for the worst, but nothing happened.

"Sorry... just eat something before you go to bed, alright?", He said and a bit doubtful simply messed my hair gently before going back to watching TV.

I was in complete disbelief so I ended up going to the bathroom instead.

I splashed my face over and over again, to see if it was all a bizarre dream but... It wasn't.

Still not completely sure about what was going on with him, I decided to take some of the food he really had brought and eat it, in case not doing it would actually make him mad.

That night I went to bed early, and while one part of me wished when I woke up it had all been a strange dream, that part being what happened with Yuri, the other part hoped that wasn't the case after seeing papa like that and... Meeting Ryuko.

And indeed, it all was real.

After that day Papa never did anything bad to me again, he'd even cook for me and give me money every now and then, asked me about my life, what I like and don't like...

It just really seemed he wanted to know me, as if he was an entirely different person who replaced the monster I once feared.

Then...

That summer I spent with her helped me heal and with great patience and care, she picked every piece of my broken heart and did her best to put them back in its place.

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"What's wrong Tsuki?", the girl of strawberry red hair asks me as our lips finally pull away from each other. "Nothing... I was just remembering stuff", I reply and smile reassuringly.

"And what would that stuff be?", Ryuko asks as she caresses my hair gently with one hand and rubs my cheek with the other.

"The day we met", I reply. "You, are a romanticist", Ryuko smiles as she gives me another quick peck on my lips.

"S-Shut up... Idiot", I say looking away embarrassed. "Your idiot though", Ryuko says and our lips meet once again, this time for bit longer.

I then hear the sound of rushed footsteps in the distance, probably someone jogging nearby or something.

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Yuri's P.O.V.

No matter how much I do it, no matter how much I cry, no matter how much I try, that image won't get out of my head.

I ran and ran and ran, after what I saw in that park until I got home.

I hurried to my room, opened my drawer and pulled out my precious black metal box inside which I store my collection.

I rushed to the bathroom.

I cut and cut and cut.

Hoping somehow the blood gushing out and going into the sink would take that image with it.

But nothing.

I stopped as I felt my consciousness going dizzy.

I took a cold shower and bandaged my arms.

Now I'm here, laying on the floor staring at this purple ceiling with that image in my mind still.

Tears stream down my eyes again, I guess my body recovered enough to do that again now.

Of course...

All makes sense now.

The distant attitude towards me in contrast to her nice attitude towards anyone else, the missing books of her box, the two cupcakes, the lunchbox...

Of course she hates me.

Now she has someone she loves and that loves her back, and doesn't want me around to ruin her happiness.

I should forget about her.

But seeing her everyday will make it so hard... The pain will be unbearable...

I guess...

She's not for me in the end.

Heh... Now I realize.

These strange feelings as late, the beating of my heart when she looks at me or talks to me.

I love Natsuki.

But she doesn't love me, she never will.

It hurts, it hurts so much.

I don't think I can take this.

I'm going to leave the club this Monday, but I need to talk to Monika first.

I reach my phone and look for Monika's contact, then with my sore eyes and blurred vision I begin to type.

Markov's Violet: Monika, are you there?

Deleted username: what's up Yuri?

Markov's Violet: I need to talk to you about something very important, do you have time tomorrow or Sunday?

Deleted username: Sure! Tomorrow is okay for me, is the Akira coffee shop at noon okay for you?

Markov's Violet: Very. Thank you, see you tomorrow then.

Deleted username: see you tomorrow!

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As I walk inside the shop, surrounded now by the small of coffee everywhere, I spot my soon exclubmate at the table in the furthest corner.

I head there as I breath in and out going over what I prepared as a excuse to leave the club.

"Hi Yuri!", Monika says with a shiny smile. "H-Hello", I shyly say as I sit down.

"How's it going?", Monika asks causally. "Fine I guess... Umm is it fine If I cut to the chase?", I ask, the sooner I'm done with this the better.

"Sure", Monika says. "I-I... I need to leave the club", I say as firmly as I can.

"Why?", Monika asks and it seems to me, she's not that surprised? "I-I have to attend private lessons to prepare for the admission exam for University", I reply.

"Really? That's until next year though...", Monika says. "Y-Yes but my parents are very strict about it and don't want me to fail for any reason, t-this University is really prestigious and-", I try to explain but I stop suddenly almost out of pure instinct as I notice Monika start resting her chin on her hands and her emerald green eyes fixated on me before she starts speaking.

"Yuri, you like Natsuki, don't you?", Monika asks so casually that it freezes my blood. "N-No... W-Why do-", I try to reply but she easily cuts me off.

"I'm not blind Yuri, I've seen the way you look at her, they way you act towards her, it's obvious really, you can keep lying to me or to yourself but that won't change the truth", Monika says.

"I-I...", I can't bring myself to reply yet.

Was I really that obvious?

Is she really that much of an expert on this matter?

I don't understand but... She's right in the end, even if I didn't admit it before and just realized it fully last night...

I do love Natsuki.

"I love her", I finally admit. "Wow", Monika says widening her eyes in surprise a bit.

"Listen Yuri, I'll tell you something, pay attention", Monika says and I simply nod looking at her a bit nervous.

"Despite what you may think, you do still have a chance", Monika says. "W-What do you mean?", I can't help but ask.

"Natsuki... Still looks at you with those eyes, ashes remain, you just have to try and lit back the fire, see if it works, because if you don't try now, you'll carry that eternal 'what if' burden the rest of your life", Monika smiles and before I can ask any of my now infinite questions she stands up from her seat, drinks the rest of her coffee and puts some money on the table.

"I'm sure you'll understand, just think about it, okay?", She touches my shoulder gently and then simply leaves without saying any other word, leaving me there with a chaos of doubts in my head.

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#?∆%¶&'! P.O.V.

I re∆d the poem one mor3 time before I haπd it to the one bef0re me.

...

"So you really retrieved it... Quite obvious now but Yuri is a bit dense sometimes so I'm not that much surprised", she sighs and g1ves me ba¢k the paper.

"Couldn't just leave that in the trash haha, anyway what happened then?", I a$k. "She came to talk to me like you said... I told her what I believe was best, but was it really?", She asks a bit concerned.

"Time will tell", I repl¥. "What are you gonna do with it though?", She asks curious.

"When and if the moment comes, I'll use it", I res¶ond. "Heh... Ever so cryptic", she sighs.

"You know I have to, it's not really my style though...", I reply a bit embarrass€d. "Yeah, I know... Anyway, I have to go now, see you around I suppose", she says and waves her hand at m3.

"See you soon, Monika", I reply and tilt my h∆t as she turns aroun√ and walks away.

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A/N: hi brothers, yeah murder me if you want but I never said this would be drama free.

Anyways, not much to say just thanks very much for your time and if you're still here.

Also quick character showcase, of course courtesy of picrew who always has my unartistic ass, Ryuko Tokugawa:

That is all!!