Healing with Yuri

Yuri arrived at the club room. It had been a rough day at school. Last night, she barely got any sleep. She was restless. She almost wished she was even capable of dozing off in class. But she wasn't.

Her arms itched.

"Oh, and Yuri! I finished reading that book you recommended, Immutable Transgression. It was really really good... I identified with Erika so much! Probably more than I should admit." Sayori gave a sad smile. "But um, I had a question, there was a part at the end that I didn't quite understand."

"What is it?"

"At the very end of the story when she was giving away all her possessions, donating her money to charity and all that, she gives her dog away. But she's giving it to Akasaka, not to Nana, who loves dogs and was always talking about how cute it was. I don't quite get that."

Yuri smiled "I think that's one of many deliberate hints that the dog she owns was originally owned by Akasaka's sister before her untimely demise."

Sayori's mouth popped open and her eyes gleamed. "Oooooh~! That makes so much sense. I think this is probably my favorite book you've ever recommended to me."

Natsuki looked between the two with an unamused expression on her face. "Ah, crap so now you're getting into this pretentious nonsense as well?"

Yuri glared at Natsuki sternly. "Don't judge a book by its cover. It's a very personal story. You should read at least a little bit of it. It has Sayori's name written all over it."

Sayori nodded. "I know you don't like stuff like this Natsuki, but it's not pretentious! I mean, I guess it gets a little much in a few passages, but the story aims right for the heart."

Natsuki folded her arms. "Hmph! Well, I suppose looks can be deceiving sometimes. Still, I have too many things to catch up on in my backlog. The last book Yuri recommended me knocked me off my reading schedule."

"And you liked it didn't you?" Yuri said pleasantly.

"Well, don't get cocky or anything. Frankly, I'm surprised YOU liked it. But I'll give you credit for discovering something I would normally overlook." Natsuki said, but she was smiling as well.

The door slid open again. This time, the protagonist entered the room.

"Hello everybody. Good news, Natsuki. The manga that you wanted arrived at my house."

"Really!?" Natsuki looked excited. "Did you read any of it?"

"Yep, and it's pretty good. I think you'll like this one."

Natsuki held out her hands excitedly. He tossed it her way and she immediately started reading it. She had a big grin on her face, and her expression changed at every panel she glanced at.

"Natsukiiii you're so cute!" Sayori said, fawning over the excited girl.

"Hey, let me finish before harrassing me!" Natsuki said, hiding behind what she was reading.

"I have a couple more coming in over the week, so we're gonna have a lot to talk about."

Natsuki had a chipper expression "Sayori, bringing in this sucker to buy me a lot of Manga, you really are the best thing that ever happened to this club!"

"Wha- hey! I buy them for me as well" he grumbled.

Yuri gave him look. He briefly put on an embarrassed expression - but she laughed teasingly.

He quickly shifted the topic. "Hey, Yuri, you don't look so good. Are you okay?"

"Ah... I'm fine."

All the attention in the room had shifted her way.

"I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. It's hard to sleep when I've gone so long without... you know."

"Umm, did you bring one to school?" Sayori said nervously

Yuri nervously gestured to her bag. The pocket where she put usually her knives was empty.

"I mean, I don't see what the problem with just having one around is... I almost never did it at school... I mean, what if I need to protect myself?" Yuri said defensively.

"I think we would all feel a lot better if you avoid bringing one with you. I mean... at least as long as you still feel the urge to do it." Sayori said diplomatically.

"I know..." Yuri said "I mean... I try to never break a promise. I just... I feel so tense right now."

Yuri could feel her mind filling up with colorful metaphors to describe her state of agitation. She swallowed them back. The last thing she wanted was for her friends to be even more concerned.

"I'm making progress. You guys have helped me a lot."

"Tell you what." Natsuki said from behind her Manga, hiding her expression. "If you feel like it's too hard to do it alone, just give me a call and I'll talk you through it. I mean, if you need me too, I'd even come right over. I doubt my dad will know or care if I sleep over at your place."

"Ah- Natsuki!" Yuri said, surprised. "Are you sure? What if it's late at night?"

"You don't live that far from me, I'm sure I could manage it. And besides, it's a great way to get you to owe me."

"Ah... thank you... but how would that help?"

"Honestly? Just yell at me. Say edgy things or whatever. You're too quiet."

"That sounds ill advised. If I were to agree to that, you'd need to be sworn to silence" Yuri was becoming very self conscious as the silent Sayori and her childhood friend were listening intently.

"Well, chances are I'll be yelling back at you, so I won't say anything so long as you don't!"

"Mutually assured destruction..." Yuri said, as if it were a pleasant concept. "I guess I'll be relying on you then. You'd better not back down, or my retribution will be severe."

Natsuki glanced at the two silent people in the room. "Enjoying our conversation?" she said, with a hint of annoyance.

"Ah, I was just trying to be supportive~" Sayori said awkwardly. "I didn't really have much to add though!"

"She's just trying to save face, Sayori. Come on, let's leave the two BFFs alone." her childhood friend said, as the two of them walked to the other side of the classroom.

Natsuki dropped what she was reading on the table. "See what you made me do? You'd better get a lot out of this."

"I will, Natsuki. Don't worry. I'm.. I'm gonna take a bit of a nap though."

"Fine. Try not to snore too loudly."

Yuri sat down and put her face down on the desk. Her agitation was low. She felt herself slowly drift off to sleep.