[N] Old Abuse Greens

>Walking towards the literature club.
>Another boring day, but at least you've got four friends to make it worthwhile. Right?
>The third floor hallways are always empty around this time.
>You turn the corner and spot a shape halfway down it's length.
>Upon further inspection you realise it's Natsuki!
>She's huddled against the wall, legs tucked right up to her chest.
>Then you hear it.
>Natsuki sniffles quietly.
>Is she... crying..?
"Hey, Natsuki"
>Probably not the best idea to call out, but that doesn't matter. Natsuki's in trouble and that's more important right now.
>Her head instantly darts in your direction as she gasps.
>"A-Anon!"
>You can barely see her face, but you can tell her pink eyes are watery, cheeks stained.
>Before you can say anything she stands up and turns away from you, walking off towards the club quickly.
"Natsuki wait!"
>You run after her. Suddenly she just stops.
>She doesn't turn as you approach her.
>You hear her muttering something about you not wanting to see.
"Hey.. Natsuki, what's wrong?"
>Her fists ball up at her sides, she sighs heavily.
>Finally she turns to you, her face still downward, eyes pointed to the floor.
>You see now why she was crying.
>A black-purple mark paints her left cheek.
>Again, Natsuki acts before you can even speak.
>She hurls herself into you, arms wrapped around you with her face buried into your chest.
>You feel her shiver as she begins to bawl her eyes out into you.
>You wrap an arm around her and bring the other up to her head, stroking the back of her soft head.
>There are no words, all you can muster is a quiet.
"Shhh"
>Time passes, the other club members must be wondering where you are.
>You don't care.
>You still have the little girl in a tight embrace.
>She's long since stopped crying.
>Finally your hold on her breaks off a little, you can see her face now.
>Cheeks still stained, eyes avoiding you like the plague.
>You tilt her head up and inspect the damage.
>Who could have done this.
>What sick monster..
>You almost feel safe assuming there's more than just this bruise.
>At the same time though, you're hopeful you're wrong.
>"I don't want to go... to the club.."
"That's okay, we can skip today."
>"W-We?"
"Yeah, I'm not gonna leave you alone like this now am I?"
>Finally her bright pink eyes shift to meet yours.
>A faint smile replaces her trembling lips.
>"T-Thank you.. Anon.."
>The little girl hugs you again.
>You know fine rightly that staying with her now won't help much.
>But you'd do your best for her either way.
>To her that matters a great deal.

-----

It's been a few weeks since the first incident.
>You'd found Natsuki crying in the hallway.
>The fear in her eyes, that bruise on her cheek. It's been burned into your mind since.
>You can't imagine someone would do such a thing.
>Well, something, actually.
>Whoever did that is a monster.
>And more problems were starting to arise.
>Natsuki was skipping school a lot.
>She hadn't attended a single class or club meeting in a few days.
>You were worried, to say the very least.
>You hate to admit it, but the club was really lonely without her.
>As were your lunch times.
>In a small way, Natsuki sort of completes you.
>She makes school bearable at least.
>"Anon, are you okay?"
>A voice snaps you out of your trance.
>It's Yuri.
"W-What?"
>"I asked if you were okay, sorry if I startled you."
"No it's alright. I was just spacing out is all."
>Yuri gives you a small, warm smile.
>"Alright then."
>She returns to her desk and picks her novel up again.
>You look at the manga in your hands.
>You were sitting against the wall in your usual spot.
>The cold sensation of emptiness filled the spot beside you.
>She'd usually be there. Head rested on your shoulder to "get a good view and nothing else!"
>For "nothing else" she cuddled unusually close to you like this sometimes.
>Especially after-
>No. You need to get it out of your head.
>Thinking about it does no good. She's probably alright. Right?
>Your eyes scan the colourful pages in front of you.
>As you begin to make sense of the story, the door opens.
>It's Natsuki!
>She's staring down at the floor. She doesn't even look at you as she limps towards you.
>As she limps towards you.
>Before she even sits down you know it's happened again.
>None of the other club members seem to acknowledge her.
>Maybe they're too invested in their own work, maybe they're used to Natsuki being absent these days.
>Natsuki finally makes it to you.
>She plops down next to you. Still not looking at you.
"Hey, Natsuki."
>She speaks, her voice quiet if not barely audible.
>"Hi Anon."
>You're almost scared to look at her, images of that first bruise flashing through your mind.
>Despite not wanting to, you turn to look at her.
>From what little face you can see, you can make out the distinct colour of bandaids.
>Shit.
>That coupled with her limping, this doesn't look good.
>Natsuki takes a deep breath before speaking again.
>"Did you get the manga from the closet?"
"Nah, this is some of my own."
>She stands up, struggling with her hurt leg.
>"Dummy. We need to finish this volume before the next one comes out."
>You stand effortlessly and follow the little girl into the closet.
>As you close the door however, Natsuki doesn't reach for the stool.
>The way she's standing facing away from you reminds you of last time.
>Sure enough, she slowly turns to you and looks up at you.
>Underneath her left eye sits a dark purple mark.
>Plus three bandaids stuck to her face.
>She's not even crying.
>Her eyes are just filled with fear and a deep, deep sadness.
>If you didn't know Natsuki any better, you'd say she'd given up.
"Natsuki.. Who did this.."
>She looks away from you.
>You feel a small sense of anger bubbling deep inside you.
>You take her hand in yours and squeeze it gently.
>"S-Sorry I've missed so much time reading with you.."
"Natsuki no. It's okay. What's more important is you."
"Who keeps doing this to you."
>She just shakes her head.
>"It's okay Anon.
"No! It's not okay Natsuki look at yourself."
>"I-I fell down the stairs at home, it's no big deal.."
>What a lame excuse.
>Nonetheless, it'll have to do.
>You can't push her too hard or else you'll scare her off.
>You sigh.
"Okay. I can't say I believe you, but I unsderstand."
>Her eyes shift to you again.
>Those bright pink eyes usually so filled with a burning determination she prides herself on.
>Now reduced to a smouldering ash pile. Like someone stamped out the flames of her heart.
>She looks broken.
"I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but if you ever do then please know I'm willing to listen to you and help you. Whatever it is."
>She sighs heavily.
>"T-Thanks.. Dork.."
>You pull her into a hug.
>As you wrap your arm around her right side you feel her wince.
>A quiet "Ow" escapes her lips.
"Sorry.."
>"It's okay."
>You lower your arm a little and continue wrapping it around her.
>Soon enough you feel her return the hug.
>Dainty arms find themselves around your back.
"I can't make everything okay, but I'll do my best to make things a little better."
"Okay?"
>She buries her head into your chest.
>"Okay.."
>You break off the hug.
"Now let's read that last volume, we don't have all day."
>You see a small smile trickle across her battered face.
>"C-Can you.."
"Yeah I'll get it, gimme the stool."