Chapter Text
Monika hears the squabble before she sees it. She can’t help the sigh that slips from her lips as Sayori, sitting at her side and scribbling onto a piece of paper, glances up at the back of the room to see what all the fuss is about.
“I told you it was too many!”
“W-Well… you should take some out, then…”
“Me?! Uh, hello, this box is mine! Get your own!”
“You… You use all of them. How is that my fault?”
Monika sighs again and looks up.
At the back of the room, near the closet, stand Natsuki and Yuri. Natsuki has her hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out angrily and eyes narrowed. Yuri plays with a lock of her hair, threading it between her fingers and looking away from Natsuki. Between them, on the floor, is what appears to be a box.
Natsuki kicks the box with her foot, her scowl growing when it doesn’t even move, “Look! It doesn’t even slide!”
“Take some of your manga out, then,” Yuri replies, frowning, “You have other boxes in the closet. Put some in there.”
Natsuki scoffs, cocking her hip and leaning forward at Yuri, “Um, excuse me? I have a sorting system! I think you of all people would understand not to disrupt that kind of thing!”
Yuri doesn’t respond. Monika figures that she does understand that. Then, she clears her throat and says, “…well, I need to put my books somewhere.”
“There’s no room,” Natsuki replies, shaking her head.
Monika sighs for a third time, which prompts Sayori to hop out of her seat and scuttle over to the back of the club room. She decides that she needs to, at the very least, finish this bit of the schedule before helping with the problem. Besides… Sayori usually had a handle things like this.
“Hi girls, what’s wrong?” Sayori asks, skidding to a stop near the two of them.
“Yuri’s piggybacking off of my storage space!” Natsuki snaps, “And now we can’t get the box into the closet!”
“Natsuki is hogging the closet,” Yuri mutters, “And won’t reorganize her boxes. I need to store things in the closet too, you know…”
Natsuki huffs and crosses her arms, “Hmph. Well bring some of your books home or something. They’re too heavy.”
“Aw, c’mon you two!” Sayori chimes in. Monika glances up in time to see her sling an arm around Natsuki’s shoulders and Yuri’s waist. They both look slightly annoyed, but neither makes any motion to shake her off, “I’m sure we can do a little reorganizing to make the box fit!”
Monika looks back down at her notebook, intending to quickly touch this last thing up.
“The space isn’t the problem,” Yuri replies, frowning, “We can’t…”
“We already cleared a spot out,” Natsuki says, scowling, “It’s just…”
They both trail off. The room goes quiet, save for some quiet rustling and shuffling.
Monika finishes the schedule for next week a couple minutes later and finally looks up for real. Her interest has been piqued, primarily because all three of her club mates have stopped talking, and they don’t usually do that if they’re all together.
What she can see, from here at the front of the room, is that all three of them have crowded around inside the closet. Natsuki leans up against something and points at something around waist level. Sayori crouches in the center of the floor. Yuri stands on her other side, fiddling with her hair and pointing at the same thing Natsuki does.
Welp. Time to see what’s what.
Monika hauls herself out of her seat and walks over to the back of the club room, passing by the box on the floor as she does so.
“Hmm,” Sayori hums to herself, as Natsuki scoffs and Yuri shakes her head. Monika finally gets a glimpse at what they’re pointing at.
There’s a spot on the shelf, perfectly cleared out. It’s around (Natsuki’s) waist height, and has evidently been sized specifically for the box sitting on the floor next to her. And there’s certainly enough headspace for the box that, once up on the shelf, it wouldn’t be hard to dig through without taking it off. Sayori puts a hand on the surface of the shelf, then lowers her hand to the floor.
Ah.
Monika turns to the side and looks at the box. It’s large, made of sturdy cardboard, and is absolutely full to the brim with books. A quick glance reveals it to be mostly Natsuki’s manga, though Monika can also see some larger, thicker hardback books, likely the things that Yuri wanted stored. She plants a foot on the side and pushes lightly. It doesn’t budge. Monika frowns and put a little more force into it, and the box shifts to the side.
Heavy, but not too heavy.
Monika glances at the box, then the shelf, then the box again.
Yeah, she could do it.
“Do you just need the box up on the shelf?” Monika asks aloud.
All three girls in the closet turn to look at her, blinking.
“Huh?” Yuri asks.
“Uh,” Natsuki says.
“I think so!” Sayori replies with a grin, giving the only real answer.
Monika nods and begins to stretch her legs. The other girls just watch as Monika does a quick limber up, and then flaps her hands out in preparation.
“Mmkay,” She says, “Clear out, girls. I don’t want to hurt anybody if I drop this.”
Sayori slowly backs out of the closet, followed closely by Natsuki, then Yuri. They scoot off to the side and, rather uncharacteristically, remain silent, watching Monika as though they’re about to see some herculean feat.
That thought makes Monika chuckle to herself as she squats down (always lift with your legs!), and nudge the box against the nearby desk slightly. Just enough for just a little bit of leverage, just to let her slip her fingers underneath the bottom of the box. Then, tilt tilt, so she can get a better grip on it. Monika spends a few moments simply positioning her hands correctly.
And then, with a grunt and a flex of her leg muscles, Monika… hefts the box into the air.
“Oh… wow…” She manages, swaying on her feet slightly as she stands there, making sure that she’s not gonna drop it, “This… is really heavy…”
A bit heavier than she expected, really, but… well, she’s lifted heavier weights. Granted, it was in the gym, and she was expecting to, but… still! Heavier!
Monika shuffles into the closet, slowly, careful to let her legs do most of the work, before carefully bending her knees once she gets to the back. Then, it’s a simple matter to push the box forward, and nestle it carefully into the designated spot. Monika spends a few moments making sure nothing got pinched or caught behind it, then finally straightens her legs and grins.
“What did you put in there, girls?” Monika asks, jokingly.
When she turns around, the three other members of the Literature Club stare at her with wide eyes. Sayori has a hand clasped over her mouth, though Monika can see the edge of her lips peeking out, her mouth curved into a surprised ‘o’. Natsuki grips the edge of her skirt in a white knuckled grip, digging her fingers into the material. Yuri purses her lips, anxiously twiddling her fingers and picking at the cuffs of her sleeves.
For a second, nobody says anything.
“Um,” Monika finally speaks up, “I… hope that was what you wanted. I just… figured.”
Again, silence, as the other girls stare.
And then Natsuki and Yuri look away, red beginning to dust their cheeks, as Sayori leans forward, astounded, and says:
“Monika! Oh my god!”
“Uh,” Monika replies. Thankfully, Sayori continues.
“Moni, when did you get so strong?!” She asks, giggling and scuttling up to Monika, suddenly very close, “We tried to lift that box, even together, but it was really hard, even with me and Yuri or me and Natsuki, and, like, wow! You did it all on your own!”
Monika lets a relieved laugh slip out of her mouth. They were just impressed, “Oh, that? Yeah, it’s… no big deal, really. I guess I never really brought it up, but… well, I used to do track and field before I started the Literature Club. I stopped to run the club, because I figured I wouldn’t have the time for sports meets and stuff, haha…”
Sayori’s eyes light up, and she leans just slightly closer. Monika rubs the back of her neck as Sayori grins at her, “Wow! It must have been a while since you’ve done any sports stuff, but you’re still so strong!”
“Well, I still keep up with my old training routine, sort of,” Monika chuckles, “It wouldn’t exactly be pertinent of me to quit my exercise, even if I’m not doing the sport anymore, you know?”
Sayori nods excitedly, and then turns back to the still red Natsuki and Yuri, “Come on guys, that was cool, right? Like, suuuuuper cool?”
“I… I-I guess. It’s uh… well, convenient,” Natsuki says, biting her lip soon after.
“It was… certainly impressive, f-from a certain standpoint…” Yuri replies, pulling a lock of hair in front of her cheek.
Monika’s eyes flick between the three of them. What?…
“Hey, Moni, can I ask you something?” Sayori says, reaching out. Her hand lays itself on Monika’s bicep, gently, and Monika can see her begin to bounce lightly on the balls of her feet the moment she makes contact.
Monika glances down at Sayori’s hand, then reaches up and pats it with her own. Sayori’s grin widens.
“Of course, Sayori.”
“Um,” Sayori’s face flushes red, and she shuffles juuuuust a bit closer, “So, since you’re like… really strong, you can pick up all sorts of things, right?”
“…yes?” Monika isn’t sure where she’s going with this.
Apparently, neither are Natsuki and Yuri. They both seem to shake off some of the strange spell they’ve been put under, looking at Sayori with clear confusion on their faces. Natsuki cocks her head, eyes narrowed, while Yuri blinks.
“So um, can you,” Sayori pauses for a second to giggle, then looks up at Monika with excitement dancing in her eyes, “Can you pick me up?”
Monika’s mouth opens slightly in surprise. Both Natsuki and Yuri snap their stares towards Sayori, and they look at her, aghast, with wide eyes.
“I… suppose that I could, yes,” Monika says, letting her eyes flick up and down Sayori, sizing her up.
Sayori is a handful of inches shorter than her, and adorably chubby to boot. Humans were a bit more awkward to hold than boxes, probably… But, really, Monika had definitely hoisted larger things into the air for a hot second. Granted, Sayori was definitely heavier than a box of books (hopefully), but…
“Yeah, I could,” Monika repeats, nodding. When she looks back at Sayori’s face, however, she sees… excitement. And… well, Monika just has to make sure she’s understanding this correctly, “Do you… want me to?”
Sayori gasps excitedly, her bouncing growing faster, “Would you?! I’ve never been picked up before! Ooh, ooh, do it like in the movies!”
In the movies?… Monika stares at Sayori for a few moments, confused. Well, Sayori liked cheesy action (not really Monika’s thing, but… well, she couldn’t say no to Sayori’s puppy dog eyes…). When did people get carried in corny act… ion…
Oh.
Monika feels herself go a bit red, and turns away with a nervous chuckle, “Haha… are you sure? It… might be a bit sloppy. I’ve never held somebody like that before…”
“Aww, please, Moni?!” Sayori moves close, putting both of her hands on Monika’s forearm. When Monika glances at her, she’s got those adorable wide eyes, begging so intensely that Monika would rather fail every class she took for the rest of her life than say ‘no’.
So she sighs.
“…alright, alright. But only for a few seconds, okay?” Monika replies.
“Yippee!” Sayori cheers, moving so close that she’s practically pressing up against Monika.
Monika tries to not make it obvious that she’s biting her lip as she again sizes Sayori up and tries to figure out how best to do this. She puts a hand on Sayori’s shoulder, turning her slightly so that she’s perpendicular to Monika’s front. Sayori giggles again, at the touch, and obediently follows.
Then, Monika closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in through her nose. Keep it cool, Monika. Don’t make it weird. Don’t make it weird.
One arm goes up, pressing lightly at Sayori’s shoulder blades, corresponding hand carefully gripping Sayori’s shoulder. Monika stoops down slightly, and gently touches her hand to the back of Sayori’s knees. She then looks up at Sayori, who looks down with a grin and a wildly red face.
“Um,” Monika says, “I’m gonna push on the back of your legs. Lean back slowly, okay?”
“Okay!” Sayori responds.
And then Monika does so. She pushes against the backs of Sayori’s knees and braces her body as the weight against her other hand grows. As Sayori leans back, Monika stoops further, adjusting her footing. And then… and then she straightens her legs, a sudden, but firm shift to her position.
Sayori lets out a surprised yelp, and suddenly Monika feels Sayori’s arms around her neck, hooked on for dear life.
Monika is holding her bridal style.
Sayori isn’t exactly light, but it’s certainly different from the box. Probably because the box didn’t help by wrapping its arms around her neck, or had a different dispersal of weight. Funnily enough… Monika feels like she could probably hold Sayori forever, if Sayori let her. It wouldn’t be hard. Her weight feels so… comfortable in Monika’s arms. Natural. Perfect.
When Monika glances to the side, slightly, she sees Sayori staring at her. Her beautiful blue eyes are wide with wonder, her mouth hanging open as Monika keeps her held aloft. If the blush on her cheeks wasn’t apparent before, it certainly was now, and Monika swallows thickly.
“Wow,” Sayori says, amazed, awestruck, “It’s like I’m a bride.”
That comment hangs in the air for what seems like forever. Sayori’s body is soft against her arms, and her body heat soaks into Monika’s own.
And then Monika processes what Sayori’s actually said, and she snaps back to reality.
“O-Okay!” Monika says, suddenly feeling like her knees are about to buckle underneath her.
She quickly stoops down, adjusting her arms and quickly squatting down. Sayori’s feet hit the floor, and Monika gently nudges her until she stands up on her own, and the arms reluctantly uncoil from around her neck. Then, Monika’s hands are back to herself, and she clasps them behind her so that she won’t be doing that again anytime soon and takes a generous step back.
When she looks up, Monika gets a good look at her fellow club mates.
Sayori stares at her, lips pursed, and has quite the mixed palette of emotions on her face. However, she does seem… disappointed, vaguely. She pouts and twiddles her fingers.
Natsuki stares at Sayori, mouth hanging open in evident shock. When she notices Monika looking at her, her mouth snaps shut, she crosses her arms, and she looks away, face red.
Yuri stares at the wall. She’s receded slightly behind her curtain of purple hair, and has brought up a hand to cover the cheek closest to Monika. Her other hand plays with a lock of hair.
“Right then!” Monika says, clearing her throat, “Um… I think we can call the club here today! Unless anybody else has anything to bring up before we leave!”
None of them do. Awkward silence settles over the room.
“E-Excellent! Well then, um, I should get going, I think! I’ve… there’s an appointment I need to attend to, so,” Monika continues, brushing out her skirt and straightening her blazer, “I’ll see you girls tomorrow!”
And then she’s gone. Monika scurries up to the front of the classroom, shoving all of her stuff into her school bag with haste that even she knows is uncharacteristic. She clasps the thing shut and hauls it over her shoulder, then straightens her back and darts out of the classroom.
Monika ignores the hushed talking coming from the club room as she scurries away and tries to ignore the fact that she can still feel the warmth of Sayori pressed up against her, in her arms, and how it makes her heart pound in her chest.