DDLC Ex: Bonding

Morning comes and Yuri wakes up at her usual, early time. Sayori is still fast asleep on top of her, so, not wanting to be rude, Yuri decides to try to get back to sleep. But, almost as if she sensed Yuri waking up, Sayori flutters her eyes and lets out a yawn.

“Good morning Yuri…” Sayori says, still half asleep.

“Morning…” Yuri says, stroking Sayori’s hair.

Sayori nuzzles into Yuri’s bosom, her eyes still closed.

“Hey… About last night… I’m sorry if I got weird. Guess I’m a lightweight, ehehe…”

“It’s ok, Sayori. I think it’s nice that you’re saving your first kiss for Anon.”

Sayori’s eyes widen in surprise before she smiles and slowly shuts them again.

“Hmm… Did I admit to that… Well, it’s not like it’s a big secret that I have feelings for him. Besides, I can trust you, right Yuri?”

Yuri continues stroking Sayori’s head.

“Definitely.” A few moments pass. “So, Sayori, let’s say we go get some breakfast, I think my mom should be about done.”

Sayori lifts her head from Yuri’s chest and stretches out, her slightly too small t-shirt lifting up to reveal her belly button. She rubs her eyes before getting up out of bed. Yuri opens the door.

“Come on, we’ll shower after breakfast. It’s still early anyways.”

Shuffling half asleep through the halls and down the stairs, Yuri and Sayori eventually reach the breakfast nook that sits inside the kitchen. The smell of fresh eggs, pancakes, bacon and other assorted breakfast food fill the air.

“Good Morning mom!” Yuri says to the woman at the stove.

“Oh! Morning Yuri! And good morning to you, Sayori!”

Sayori is still half asleep but takes this cue that she missed greeting Yuri’s mom.

“O-oh, yeah, good morning to you too!” Sayori yawns. “Sorry, I’m not completely awake yet.”

“That’s alright, dear, Yuri takes after me being a morning person. Unfortunately for her father he has to be to work early, so he doesn’t get much choice in the matter.”

Sayori still isn’t entirely aware of her surroundings as she takes a seat. Gaining her bearing she finally notices the aproned woman standing at the kitchen counter. If she didn’t know any better, Sayori would have thought Yuri’s older sister was making breakfast. The woman turns around, her face looks almost like Yuri, albeit a few years older. A pair of glasses frame her face and a white apron hangs over her light blue shirt, matching her jeans. As Yuri’s mother approaches, Sayori notices her hair is a jet black, much darker than Yuri’s hair. As well her chest seems to be smaller than Yuri’s. Otherwise they’re a near spitting image of one another, definitely looking more like siblings than mother and daughter.

“So, you girls needs me to drive you to the book fair?”

“Actually,” Sayori interjects, turning to Yuri, “how about we take the bus?”

Yuri gives an apprehensive look.

“Th-the bus? Would we even get there on time? And isn’t a long walk to the bus stop and-”

Sayori giggles.

“Don’t worry, Yuri, I’ve taken the bus into the city a bunch of times. Not many people from our town go in on the weekends, so we’ll pretty much be alone to sight see.”

Yuri’s mom laughs, clasping her hands around Yuri’s.

“Oh come on dear, your friend seems confident in public transportation. It’s nothing to be afraid of. Why, your father and I used it when we were younger.” She then turns to Sayori. “Sorry, honey, Yuri’s never actually taken the bus into the city before. I don’t know why but she’s always seemed to have some phobia about it.”

Sayori puts her arms loosely around Yuri’s shoulders, half using it as an excuse to try and sleep some more.

“Don’t worry, Yuri, if anything bad happens I can protect you!”

Yuri’s mother laughs.

“How sweet. My daughter sure knows how to pick her friends, doesn’t she?”

Sayori smiles.

“Well, it’s more like I picked her, after our club president had to move. She seemed like she knew the most about literature, so she got to be vice president after I got promoted!” Suddenly Sayori remembers something and turns to Yuri. “Oh, by the way, Yuri? Have you heard from Monika lately? I haven’t for a few days.”

Yuri looks surprised.

“No, not for a few days myself either, why?”

“Oh, no real reason I guess. She was asking Natsuki if she knew any programming and was told I tried my hand at it a little bit. I tried asking her if she made any progress with the pointers I gave her but I guess she’s been too busy or something.”

“Sayori, I didn’t know you did programming.” Yuri says, surprised.

“Ehehe… Well I’d spend so much time alone in my room, I guess one day I decided to pick up my laptop and try doing something. I dunno, it’s not like I’m great at it, just a bit of Python and Java…”

“Oh,” Yuri’s mother interrupts, “I’d have thought Natuski would be the one more into computer stuff, what with all the games she brings over.”

“No, I think Natsuki is more into the playing aspect of that” Yuri replies.

Her mother smiles. “Well, either way it’s adorable how into them she gets.”

Sayori and Yuri finish their breakfast and clean their dishes before heading to the bathroom.

“So, Yuri! Which way to the bathroom?”

Yuri looks around, playing with her hair, avoiding eye contact. Sayori gives a concerned, inquisitive look.

“What’s wrong, Yuri?”

“N-Nothing… It’s just… The guest shower doesn’t really get hot water working right.”

Sayori contemplates what to do for a brief moment before Yuri speaks up again.

“I mean, if it’s ok with you, my bathroom is pretty big… We could…”

Sayori smiles and places her hand on Yuri’s shoulder.

“No big deal!” she says, giving a thumbs up. “Besides, we’re both girls anyways!”

Yuri blushes as she smiles contently to herself.

The girls enter Yuri’s bathroom together. While Sayori was expecting a decently sized bathroom in a place like Yuri’s she didn’t expect what she saw. The shower itself had two doors going into it, with four shower heads creating a central showering area. Two bathroom counters flanked either side of it, while a central combination table/dresser stood between them with a small chandelier hanging above. A large bathtub sat between the twin counters as well. The toilet seemed to be in a small room of it’s own, a sliding door separating it from the rest of the bathroom.

“Wow! Yuri! This bathroom is really nice!” Sayori says, slipping her panties down on to the floor.

Yuri grabs a couple of clean bathrobes and places them on the counters before she undresses. She turns on the shower heads as the two girls wait for the water to heat up. Sayori decides to sit on the raised counter central to the bathroom. Sitting on the edge she kicks her feet playfully back and forth, smiling. Sayori lays down on the counter and looks at Yuri, who was standing behind her.

“What’s wrong, Yuri? You look embarrassed.”

Yuri looks slightly away and blushes.

“W-Well it’s just… you’re…”

“Naked?” Sayori interjects. “Come on, Yuri! Natsuki barged in on my shower before, and besides it’s not like I’m coming on to you like last night!” She gives Yuri a cheeky smile. “Unless you actually liked that or something.”

Yuri’s face turns bright red as her eyes open wide. Her heart pounds. She quickly clenches her fists and closes her eyes.

“N-No! I-It’s not that!”

Sayori laughs.

“Hehe… Sorry… I think I’m starting to pick up on Natsuki’s habit of teasing people…”

Yuri keeps looking away from Sayori, giving the occasional glance as she plays with her hair. Noticing the steam starting to form Sayori leaps up and goes over to Yuri, opening one of the shower doors. She motions for Yuri to go in.

“Ahh! This water’s hotter than I thought!” Sayori exclaims, jumping as the first of the water jets hit her.

Yuri laughs to herself and turns the temperature down slightly. Sayori stands out of the water, occasionally checking it. Once it reaches the right temperature, Sayori stands under a shower head. As the water rushes over her, Sayori’s face melts almost into pure ecstasy.

“Wow.... Yuri…” Sayori says, enveloped by the torrent of warm water. “Did I mention your bathroom is reaaally nice…”

Sayori stands under the water for a few minutes, enjoying it rather than washing herself. Yuri as well stands in the water, however she’s more used to it and waits for Sayori out of politeness. Eventually Sayori notices this and decides to start shampooing her hair. Yuri follows suit. Sayori lathers up a loofah and hands it to Yuri.

“Can you get my back? I always feel like an idiot trying to reach all the way down there.”

Holding the loofah in her hands, Yuri stares apprehensively at Sayori’s back, before eventually she slowly starts scrubbing.

“Mmm… That feels nice, Yuri…”

Yuri blushes, unnoticeable through the steam of the shower. After Yuri finishes, Sayori turns and grabs the loofah, adding more soap to it.

“Ok! Your turn!”

Yuri slowly turns for Sayori to clean her back. As she feels the soapy, scrubby surface of the loofah touch her skin, Yuri winces out of nervousness. She moves her long, violet hair over her shoulder so Sayori doesn’t have to maneuver around it.

“Yuri, I never knew you had a birthmark on your back!”

“Huh? Oh… y-yeah… I guess I do…”

“It’s kinda cute.” Sayori says. Yuri blushes, again unseen.

After rinsing off Yuri turns the shower faucets off and the girls exit to dry themselves. Yuri wraps her long hair in a towel on her head to dry it off. Sayori, having shorter hair, dries it off quickly with a towel, leaving it messy. Both girls put on the bathrobes Yuri laid out.

Sayori quickly gets her hair brushed out. Yuri unwraps her hair and begins to brush it when Sayori stops her.

“Not to be weird or anything, but can I brush your hair?” Sayori asks.

“Sure, I suppose so.”

“Thanks! I’ve always been a little jealous of your hair since we met, to be honest…” Sayori admits. “It must be hard to keep up.”

“A little bit,” Yuri replies, “but your hair style fits you well, Sayori. Honestly I’m a bit jealous of your hair color myself.”


“Thanks!” Sayori says with a smile as she continues brushing out Yuri’s long hair.

The two girls leave the bathroom to pick out their outfits for the day. After putting on her underwear, Sayori goes to grab her bow. With her she brought a white blouse with lace sleeve ends and a slight v-neck. To go with it she wears denim shorts and sandals.

Yuri puts on a white tanktop and black leggings. For footwear she decides on a pair of white hi-top canvas sneakers. She grabs a white turtleneck sweater that she lays on the bed next to her.

Until now Sayori didn’t notice, since Yuri had been wearing long sleeves, or was covered by the steam of the shower, but now her forearms are completely visible. Across them are scars, evidence of years of self harm. Thankfully no fresh cuts are present, it seems Yuri’s getting better in that regard.

“Say, Yuri…” Sayori begins, sitting on the bed next to where Yuri is standing, “have you ever tried going out without long sleeves?”

Yuri quickly grabs her forearms, hiding them from Sayori.

“Never! What would people think if they saw me like that?”

“I don’t think anyone would think much of it at all. We all have something that makes us unique.”

“Listen, Sayori, I know what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate it. I really do. But today’s not the day for that.”

Sayori frowns. Despite her well intentions, she realizes it’s going to take a bit of time before Yuri gains more self confidence.

“It’s ok!” Sayori says, smiling as she grabs Yuri’s hand, “It’s something for you to decide when you’re ready! I just think you look nice in short sleeves, ehehe…”

Yuri’s anger and self loathing fades as she smiles back at Sayori. She decides against the sweater and grabs a navy blue cardigan instead, wearing it open.

Getting their bags together and making double sure they have everything in order, the girls head out the front door.

“Bye mom!” Yuri shouts, “I’ll be home in time for dinner!”

Yuri’s mom rushes over to give her daughter and Sayori a goodbye hug. Before the door closes, she hands Yuri some extra money. Sayori notices that it’s well beyond what she even gets for Christmas.

“Feel free to eat out if you girls want, it’s no big deal! Besides, saves me time cooking!” Yuri’s mother says with a laugh.

Sayori and Yuri wave goodbye as they close the door and head to the bus stop.

*****

Around this time is when you wake up. Even though it’s almost ten, this is still a bit early for you to be up on a weekend. Breakfast doesn’t seem to be a priority as you just grab whatever catches your eye until you feel full. After about a half hour of watching TV you decide to get showered and dressed. You’re unsure if Natsuki is awake, but you did plan on going over to see her today. Around a quarter to eleven you decide to head to Sayori’s.

You knock on the door before letting yourself in, as you normally would. The house is mostly dark, except for the light of the television. On the couch Natsuki is laying on her stomach, knees bent and her feet kicking back and forth in the air. She looks over her shoulder as she hears you entering.

“I don’t remember saying ‘Come in!’” Natsuki says, smugly.

“I don’t remember this being your house” you respond in turn.

Natsuki flips herself over and sits cross legged on the couch to face you. You notice she’s just wearing a cropped t-shirt and underwear.

“Hmph! You don’t have to be so mean about it! I was just joking.”

“Yeah, yeah… I know.”

Natsuki leans towards you, smiling.

“So, whatcha wanna do today?” she asks. Natsuki then lays on her back. “Or did you come here to take advantage of me being alone?” she says, pulling her finger down across her bottom lip before giving a sly grin.

You move yourself away from her before turning your head to the door.

“Not at all!” you insist.

Natsuki sits up, still giving her sly smile.

“Heheh... Got you going there for a moment.”

“Hardly!”

“Oh come on, Anon, lighten up! Just because I watch anime doesn’t mean I’m into my big brother or anything!”

“Big brother, huh?” you say, trailing off.

“Well, yeah… I mean Sayori’s my big sis… and since you two are, well… you know…”

“Are what? We’re just friends is all.” you tell Natsuki. However she can sense the unsureness with which these words come out of your mouth. She smiles at you.

“Oh come on! I’m not an idiot, you know? The way you two are around each other, the way you talk…”

“W-Well… We’ve been friends for a while… It’s only natural!” you try to insist.

“Hmm… If that’s how you feel. She had a similar reaction. But you’re both way too easy to read!”

Not knowing how to respond, the two of you sit silently for a few minutes. Eventually you decide to break the silence.

“So, Natsuki… I never asked, but what happened that ended up making you move in with Sayori.”

Natsuki looks surprised that you’d ask. She brings her knees up to her chin and wraps her arms around her legs.

“Well, I guess I can talk to you about this. I dunno if I told you but my dad is a pretty bad alcoholic. Like most of the time he’d be too drunk to remember I existed… Too drunk to remember to buy food for me… But I guess it was better when he forgot about me because he wouldn’t be yelling at me. Or hitting me for getting in his way…”

Tears start falling down Natsuki’s face, but her voice remains steady. You put an arm around her to comfort her.

“He wasn’t always like that though… But I guess after mom died he couldn’t handle it. It wasn’t immediately that he started drinking. I remember before he got really bad he used to say I looked like my mother. It’s been so long, I can’t remember.”

She pauses to wipe her face.

“Anyways, I’ve managed to be pretty independent for a while. If I couldn’t sneak his card away long enough to buy food I’d sometimes ask the neighbors. Sometimes I’d even sell cookies and cupcakes,” Natsuki smiles through her tears, “guess it helps when you’re this cute, huh? So yeah, the day of the festival was coming along and I managed to get together enough stuff to make the cupcakes. Little did I know you were going to have us go to Sayori’s. I don’t know how much I believe in fate, but she definitely saved me. My dad had been getting worse lately,yelling at me and hitting me for no reason. Not like the bastard was ever home anyways. Half the time he’d be out drunk for days. Thankfully he’s enough of a regular drunkard to have open tabs and I’m sly enough that I could steal his card for a while. Idiot would never check his balance, so I managed to get myself food, clothes and even spent money on gacha out of spite of him.”

Natsuki laughs at this last part. You laugh internally as well, not at the story, but because you’re curious what gacha Natsuki plays.

“I didn’t expect Sayori to let me stay even one night, if I’m being honest. Sure she’s nice at school, but I didn’t know anything about her other than our meetings in the literature club. You’re lucky to have known her for so long… After a few days she ended up asking why I didn’t go home. She wasn’t wanting me to leave, she was just being curious. So I told her, and she immediately called her parents and asked if I could start living with her.”

“Sayori really is something, huh?”

Natsuki sniffles through her tears and smiles.

“She’s nothing short of a saint. She even offered to help me get my things. I wish she didn’t though. I didn’t want her seeing that place…”

Suddenly you remember that dream you had. The dusty, dirty home. The smell of stagnant booze. And the screams of a terrified girl, attacked by an angry drunk. And-

Natsuki’s sobs and sniffles intensify as she’s just short of breaking down crying.

“I thought that bastard wouldn’t be home, but he was! Sayori, I’m sorry you saw all that! I’m sorry he hit you!” Natsuki breaks down crying, burying her face in her knees. You hug her as tightly as you can, patting her back to try and calm her down.

“It’s ok, Natsuki, it’s not your fault… It’s not your fault…” you assure her.

The cries of an innocent girl are never something anyone wants to experience. You can feel yourself even starting to cry. You never imagined Natsuki’s home life was that bad. Worse yet, the pain that affected her for years even came for Sayori. You begin to shed tears too, sharing the pain of two of your best friends.

Eventually Natsuki’s crying stops and she wipes her face.

“A-Anon… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to-”

“Don’t apologize, Natsuki. There’s no shame in crying in front of your big brother.”

Natsuki wipes her tears and smiles. She reaches up and gives you a kiss on the forehead.

“Thanks… You and Sayori, you two mean a lot to me.” Natsuki composes herself a bit more and continues, “My dad tried getting me to come back home, but the police pretty much told him he didn’t have a chance at seeing me again. Haven’t even heard from him in a while. Good riddance, I say.”

You continue patting Natsuki on the back.

“Hey, Natsuki, how about I take you out around town today. Spend some time hanging out with your big bro. We can go to the park, I’ll even feed you.”

“Hmm, sounds like a date to me” Natsuki gives a sly grin, “What would Sayori think, you going on a date with your little sister?”

“It’s not like that! Come on!”

Natsuki chuckles.

“I know, I know… Alright, if you’re offering, sure. Let’s go see what’s around town. I’ve never gotten too many chances to go out anyways.”

Natsuki takes a quick shower and comes out in a black tank top and black denim shorts. She goes back in to her room and comes out with a gray hoodie with a black kanji character and white socks that go about halfway up her shins. In her hands she holds a pair of pink canvas hi-top sneakers. She puts them on by the front door.

“Alright!” she exclaims, “Let’s get going!”