[N] Natsuki Drops Her Lunch

>The bell for lunch time finally rings.
>You rush to pack your bag and make way for the door.
>Thank god you aren't getting held up again for some stupid reason.
>Because today's the day you have your lunch "date" with Natsuki!
>You can still hear her scolding you for referring to it as a date.
>Speeding through the halls like a bullet, you finally reach the cafeteria.
>Natsuki is waiting outside the main entrance for you.
>"Took you long enough."
>Her arms are crossed, her face as stern as usual.
"Come on! The bell just rang."
>"Hmph!"
>She turns and heads into the cafeteria with you in tow.
>The two of you get in line for food.
>Exchanging idle chit-chat about this, that and the other.
>Natsuki is the first to have her tray filled with shitty school food.
>You're up next. Deciding to pass on extra cauliflower since even the sight of it turns your nose.
>You turn to exit the queue and into the wide, wild west that is the sitting area.
>The two of you scan the room for two seats across from each other.
>"Over there, in the corner."
>Natsuki points to a half empty table.
>You start walking towards it, praying no one else sits down so the two of you can eat in peace.
>Suddenly Natsuki trips on something, falling forward.
>She lands on the ground, tray clattering on the floor and food going everywhere!
>Natsuki just lays there. Her face lying in a pile of mash potato.
>The entire cafeteria erupts into hysterical laughter.
>You see her chest rise and fall as she sighs slowly.
"Natsuki!"
>You quickly set your tray down somewhere, before kneeling down next to her.
>Her face turns to you, caked in mash. Expression is completely blank.
>You reach a hand out to her.
"Here, get up."
>"I-I don't need your help.."
>She lifts herself off of the ground and starts walking away from you quickly.
>You watch her for a moment, before running after her.
>She sprints out of the cafeteria and down the hallway.

>As you turn the corner after her, you catch a glimpse of her disappearing into the girl’s toilets.
>You approach the doorway and listen closely.
>Natsuki chose a particularly quiet part of the building, so it’s not hard to make out her sobs masked behind running water.
“Hey, Natsuki.”
>”Go away!”
“I’m not-”
>”You’re just gonna laugh at me like everyone else! Fuck off!”
>You sigh.
“Is anyone in there with you?”
>”N-No, why?”
>This risk had better be worth it.
>You quickly glance down both ends of the hallway, before darting into the girl’s bathroom.
>Natsuki is standing over the sinks, staring at herself in the mirror.
>”The hell?! Get out you perv!”
>You ignore her protests and approach her.
“Natsuki.”
>She throws a fist at you, which you catch with ease.
“I’m not going to laugh at you, Natsuki.”
>”Yes you are!”
“Look at me, I’m not even smiling about it.”
>Natsuki’s watery eyes look up at you. She sighs.
>”Then what do you want?”
>Her gaze falls to the floor.
>Natsuki’s face is still red with embarrassment. Tear stained cheeks under puffy, red eyes.
>She sighs again, this time more unhappy.
>”I’m the school laughing stock now, Anon.”
>”Everyone’s gonna remember me as the girl that fell and landed in her mash potatoes.”
>You grab a roll of toilet paper from one of the stalls as she continues to speak.
>”Now no one’s going to want to be my friend at all.”
>You choose your words carefully as you set about wiping Natsuki’s clothes off.
“What about me? Or the others in the club.”
“We’re your friends. Right?”
>”Well..”
>Natsuki chokes on her words.
>You bin the dirty sheet of paper and rip a new one off. Beginning to wipe the tears from her face.
>”I guess..”
>With her clothes as clean as you can manage and her face dry. You put the toilet paper back where it belongs.
“Look.”
>You grab Natsuki’s shoulders firmly and look her dead in the eyes.
“I’m your friend, Natsuki.”
“And no silly accident is going to change that.”

“Trust me.”
>Her eyes begin to water again as she realises you mean every word you say.
“And I don’t care if everyone else is laughing at me because I’m with you.”
“I don’t give a damn what they think.”
“You’re still my friend, and I’m gonna stick by you.”
>The girl closes her eyes as more tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
>She grabs you around the waist and hugs you tight.
>”T-Thanks Anon..”
>You wrap your arms around her.
“Don’t mention it, Natsuki.”
>”We should probably get out of here before you get caught.”
“Good idea.