Chapter Text
The night's air was cold, and dark rain clouds hung overhead from last nights storm. They hadn't gone away, long overstaying their welcome in Natsuki's head. Rain water lingered in the cracks between the pavement, soaking her socks as she made her way down the street. Natsuki hadn't even had the time to put her shoes on before she was forced out of the door. She'd only barely managed to grab her phone and her backpack, but she doubted it had anything that could help her anyway. Eventually, she found herself in the park by her house in a daze. The fog lingering in the air seemed to match the state of her usually sharp mind. Natsuki always got like this after arguments with her dad.
She shivered when she sat down on the cold metal bench. It was wet and uncomfortable. Natsuki wanted nothing more than the comfort of a sweatshirt right now. Even her school blazer. Anything would be better over the thin white tank top she adorned. It happened so suddenly that she wasn't able to prepare. She didn't even know what she did wrong before the screaming had already started.
The cold bench seemed to take her out of her dazed state, and she took out her phone from her pocket. Her fingers absentmindedly ran over the cracks in the screen before she unlocked it with her fingerprint. There was no signal here. Of course there wasn't. Even knowing that, she looked over her contacts. Sayori, Monika, and Yuri were pinned to the top of the list. Natsuki's closest friends. Only real friends, but she couldn't ask any of them for help. Sayori was too nice for her own good. Monika had her own life. She didn't want to bother her. And Yuri… Natsuki knew Yuri thought she was a joke.
Natsuki slipped her phone back into her pocket. A night spent outside wasn't the worst fate. She'd gotten worse punishments from her father before. Natsuki's fingers brush over a fresh injury on her arm, covered by makeup, wincing slightly and yanking her hands away at the burning pain.
She settled into the bench, trying her best to ignore the biting cold against her skin. Her mind wandered as she attempted to distract herself.
It was Friday, which meant no school tomorrow. She knew that would've excited her when she was a kid, but now she couldn't help but feel an aching sense of dread. No school meant more time at home. That's if her father let her back into the house, that is. Maybe she could scrounge up enough pocket money to get a new copy of the latest volume of Parfait Girls. Though she'd have to find a new hiding spot for it. Asking Sayori to keep it at her house again wouldn't work. She got a little too curious about why Natsuki couldn't keep it with her. Sayori wasn't the type to pry when it was clear she didn't want to tell, but she was nosy.
After a while, she managed to shut her eyes and her mind slowly faded out.
.
.
.
"Hey, kid," A gruff, unfamiliar voice sounded out.
Natsuki's eyes snapped open, and she looked around for the source of the voice. She saw him after a moment. An older guy standing a few feet in front of her. The silver of his badge glistened in the moonlight, and he was wearing a police uniform. She was immediately jolted awake
"You can't be here this late. Park's closed."
Natsuki reached for her bag, holding onto it as she sat up. "Eh… Right, I didn't know. I'll leave."
The officer gave her a weird look, eyebrows furrowed as Natsuki stumbled onto her feet. There was a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "What's your name?"
"Natsuki. I fell asleep waiting for my friend to pick me up," She said, hoping to get him off of her back.
The look in his eyes didn't disappear, but he un-furrowed his brow. "Alright then. Name's Officer Sato. Everything alright at home?"
"Yep," Natsuki replied, nearly the instant the question left his mouth. She slipped the backpack on over her shoulders and straightened her posture. "I-i'll get going now. Bye."
She turned around and sped walked in the opposite direction. Dammit. She'd completely screwed that up all because she didn't know how to act right. All she could do was hope she never saw that officer again.
As Natsuki walked along the sidewalk once again, the pressing question lingered in her head. Where was she supposed to go? She'd forgotten most parks were closed to the public at night, and she hadn't gotten any texts from her father. She knew all she'd get was trouble if she went back to her house right now. So she absentmindedly walked the streets, following her own subconscious path as she tried to figure out what she was supposed to do.
Somehow her mind had led her here. She glanced up at the house in front of her. It was a dark house with elegant curtains covering the windows, and old Halloween decorations strewn about the lawn. She'd been here a couple of times for school projects, and her mind had memorized the path. This was the only place she could've gone that made sense. Sayori would ask too many questions. Monika would help, but she wouldn't understand. Not like Yuri would.
Natsuki walked up, pressing the small gold button beside the wooden door frame. The 15 seconds she spent waiting was enough time for several thoughts and regrets to fill her head. What would she even say? The truth wasn't an option. Maybe it would've been better to wander the streets till sunrise.
Natsuki looked up, met with the familiar figure standing in the open doorway.
"Natsuki..? What are you doing here at this hour?" Yuri asked, voice unfairly soft.
For a second, all Natsuki could do was stare. She didn't have the energy to keep up with her usual sharp and snappy demeanor.
"Can I stay with you? I... have nowhere else to go."