Work Text
Monika: hey everyone…Monika: i forgot about this during the club meeting, but what if we all wrote poems to share next week? :DMonika: i feel like we all appreciated that before, so maybe we should do it again?Natsuki and I wake up to those messages in the group chat.She’d sent them at 3 in the morning.Mochi: “Jeez, I guess she really does make her own hours.”Natsuki: “Yeah, wow. No wonder she’s always got dark circles under her eyes.”We nuzzle together. We haven’t left Natsuki’s bedroll yet after sleeping together for the first time.I watch Natsuki’s thumbs move with incredible speed as she types up a response.Natsuki: 😻😻😻Natsuki: u got it sisterNatsuki: i will b writin 🗒️✍️🤓Then, she turns her head toward me.Natsuki: “What’re you gonna write a poem about?”Mochi: “I don’t know, I’ll need some time to think about it.”Mochi: “Whatever moves me, I guess, since I don’t need to impress you anymore.”Natsuki: “Heh! You better try to impress me, or I’m gonna be pissed!”I roll my eyes.Mochi: “Okay, okay, I’ll see what I come up with.”Mochi: “But your poem had better impress me, too.”Natsuki: “Yeah, well, that won’t be hard.”Mochi: “Hey, what’s that mean?”I poke her in the ribs, prompting her to laugh and poke me in the stomach. We play-fight, jabbing each other repeatedly with our fingers.Natsuki: “Heh-hey, ow, quit it!”Mochi: “Not until you quit it!”Neither of us relents. It’s a fight to the death!Our poke-fight escalates into playful wrestling. I’m much larger than Natsuki, so I make sure I don’t take her down too easily as we trade off “pinning” each other down.Before long, we’re laughing too hard and it de-escalates into cuddling.Thinking in the moment, I offer:Mochi: “Y’know… we should go on a date somewhere tonight. Someplace fun.”Natsuki: “You sound like you already have a plan.”Heck yeah, I do.Mochi: “Wanna go bowling at the entertainment center?”Natsuki laughs at my clear enthusiasm.Natsuki: “God. My dork girlfriend just goes crazy for the bowling alley.”Mochi: “Yeah, she does. What’s your verdict?”Natsuki: “Duh, I CRUSH bowling! Of course I’ll go!”Mochi: “Awesome!”I sit up.Mochi: “I’ll need to head back home first, since, y’know, I need to shower and change clothes, and I didn’t bring my charger so my phone’s almost dead, and…”I trail off. We stare at each other for a bit.Mochi: “We’ve got all day.”I lay back down with her and snuggle up against her neck.…Natsuki: “Hah! That’s right! Who do you think you are? I am!”I should know enough at this point to know that when Natsuki claims to be good at something, she’s usually really good at it.I watch in disbelief as she bowls strike after strike. It’s practically automatic.She’s doing it all with a dark red ball that she seemed to pick solely because it fit her chosen color scheme.Meanwhile, I spent a long time deliberating a comfortable size and weight for my ball, and yet, she’s absolutely crushing me. I’m down by nearly 100.Mochi: “Man, you’re cheating or something. This is crazy.”Natsuki: “Just admit I’m better than you! It’s not that—what the heck?!”Mochi: “What?”I follow her gaze up to the elevated area behind the bowling alley, where there are some billiards and air hockey tables set up.I see her immediately. It’s Monika. She’s playing pool with a nondescript man.Natsuki: “Uh… should we say hi?”Mochi: “I dunno, I think she’s on a date…”We can’t hear her over the lame throwback music, but it looks like she’s uncomfortably maintaining a one-sided conversation with the guy.Natsuki: “Yeah, but like, not a good one…”Mochi: “Still. This is our date, and she’s on hers.”Mochi: “Let’s focus on ourselves, yeah? If she wants to come talk to us, she’ll come talk to us.”Mochi: “Here, watch me hit this strike.”Natsuki looks less certain. Her gaze lingers on Monika, and she misses the opportunity to mock me for bowling directly into the gutter.…After we finish the game (178-61), we admit to ourselves that neither of us can stop looking back at Monika.We watch as she tries in increasingly obvious ways to flirt. She’s all but pressed against him now, while he maintains an aloof, detached demeanor.Man, this is really sad to watch. Why is she bending over backwards for a guy who’s plainly just not interested in her?Natsuki: “I’m intervening.”Mochi: “You know what? You have my blessing.”Natsuki hops up the steps to the billiards tables two at a time. She throws her arms up as she prances over to them, and I faintly hear her shout over the music.Natsuki: “Monikaaaaa!”Natsuki breaks the two apart with a dramatic hug, and, in her subsequent chat with Monika, points me out.Both Monika and the guy look over at me, so I put on a big grin and flash double peace signs. Monika gives a polite smile and waves at me.I can’t tell what’s being said, but Natsuki is acting really sassy, and Monika is getting more and more sheepish.The guy looks flippant, but he doesn’t argue, and just turns around to go to one of the arcade machines. Monika covers her face in embarrassment.Natsuki points down to me again, and Monika looks down. I wave. Then, she closes her eyes and nods, and Natsuki begins bringing her down to the alley.Natsuki: “…so get yourself some bowling shoes and we’ll rock!”Monika: “You’re not gonna get mad when I beat you, are you?”Natsuki: “Heh! You don’t need to worry about that.”Monika replies snidely.Monika: “Oh, were you ever on the school bowling team?”Natsuki: “Hah! Doesn’t even matter with the skills I’ve got.”I love the confidence Monika’s got, but I feel like Natsuki’s got this in the bag……What follows is a bowling war for the ages.My pathetic splits and gutterballs are quickly ignored in favor of an intense rivalry between Monika and Natsuki, who are practically neck-and-neck for the entire ten frames.Natsuki’s on fire. Having a competent opponent seems to bring out a new side of her, one that feeds off of rivalry. I’ve never seen her so completely dialed-in.With her final roll, she breaks 200. But she’s only 7 ahead of Monika, who cradles her lime-green ball in preparation for her final frame.We bite our nails as Monika winds up, takes three measured steps forward, and releases the ball fluidly, like a professional. It drifts to the side of the alley, then arcs back and nails the front pin.All ten pins come cascading down. It’s a strike! Monika jumps up and down in delight, while Natsuki looks like she’s about to tear out her hair.Monika: “Woohoo! I’ve still got it!”Natsuki: “Rematch! Rematch!”I’m not sure I can do a third round of bowling. Maybe my mechanics are bad, but my arm really hurts.Mochi: “Uh, if you guys do another game, I’m just gonna go play at the arcade.”Natsuki looks over at me, seeming to realize something.Natsuki: “Actually…”Her face lights up in a big, wide grin. She turns and dramatically points at her opponent.Natsuki: “Monika!”Monika: “What? What’s up?”Natsuki: “I challenge you to the Entertainment Center Olympiad!”Monika giggles.Monika: “And what, exactly, is that?”Natsuki: “We’re gonna play each other once in every game they’ve got here. We’ll use that to crown a champion. Mochi can keep score! Right?”Mochi: “What? Uh, yeah, right!”I mean, it’s just counting, right…?Monika actually seems really psyched for this idea. She steps forward, places her hands at her sides, and bows. Natsuki returns the gesture.Monika: “Let’s do this!”…For the rest of the night, my role becomes that of referee for various games that I’ve hardly ever engaged with before.When the two of them play pool, I just let the number of balls on the table dictate. Monika cleans up shop in convincing fashion, sinking the eight ball before Natsuki can mount any challenge.The story is different in air hockey, where Natsuki absolutely humiliates Monika to the tune of 11 goals to 4.Despite Monika’s time on the high school tennis team, Natsuki unexpectedly beats her 21-to-15 at table tennis, flexing her impeccable hand-eye coordination.But Monika regains her lead at foosball, where she simply learns the game faster than Natsuki, winning 7 to 4.Natsuki equalizes with an absolute drubbing in an old Guitar Hero game, but Monika pulls ahead again in Dance Dance Revolution.Then, Natsuki puts up such an impressive score at pinball that Monika concedes the point before she even pulls back the plunger.After eight events, the two are tied, 4-4.I’m floored at the competitiveness of these girls. I can tell just from watching that both of them would absolutely destroy me at every one of these games.They’re thriving off this rivalry. After each game, they’re ruddy-faced and out of breath, but the loser’s urging to try the next game keeps them energized.Monika and Natsuki are looking each other dead in the eye. It’s hard to tell what they’re thinking, but I can tell that both of them are having the absolute time of their lives.Monika: “Looks like there’s one event left, Natsuki…”Natsuki: “Mini golf?”Monika: “Not just mini golf. Blacklight mini golf. For all the marbles!”Natsuki: “May the best girl win.”Monika: “Thanks for the well wishes!”Monika strides past Natsuki with a self-satisfied look that I haven’t seen since high school. Natsuki shouts after her, but it’s pretty clear Monika got her good with that retort.…The attendant at the entrance to the mini-golf course draws on each of our cheeks with a fluorescent marker.I get a pink-violet heart, Monika gets a yellow-green flower, and Natsuki gets bright-orange cat whiskers. We smile at each other’s little decorations.Monika’s white crop top glows a radiant lavender under the blacklights, while Natsuki all but disappears, save for dimly-illuminated red stripes on her shirt.Monika quickly jumps out ahead on the simpler holes. She can read the banks and ricochets really well, giving her the early advantage.However, the moving obstacles in the later holes quickly evaporate her lead, as Natsuki’s preternatural ability to time her putts gives her easy birdies.All the while, I hardly pay attention to my own score. Monika’s the one who handles the scorecard whenever I putt.Going into the final hole, Monika’s lead has evaporated to one stroke. She and Natsuki are talking incredible amounts of trash to each other.Natsuki: “You know, Monika, if you need the Heimlich maneuver, just give the signal.”Monika: “Yeah, okay, take what you can get on the cheap gimmick holes. I’ve been beating you over the head in terms of skill!”Natsuki: “What was that? All I heard was… awck! Hawck!”Natsuki wraps her hands around her own throat, making overblown choking sounds.Monika: “I’ll give you something to choke on. Watch this.”The final hole starts with three pipes that drop down a short distance, then launch the ball out into a lower area, with the hole off to the left.Monika looks down at the lower platform, and traces the orientations of the pipes. She’s reading a ricochet. The last few times she’s done this, it’s resulted in easy holes-in-one.She finds something she likes, steps back over to the tee, and putts the ball into the pipe on the right.The ball shoots out the bottom, caroms to the left, and comes to a stop with the hole only a few inches to the side. I applaud.Monika: “End of the line, Kiki. Unless you can figure out a way to get a hole-in-one.”Monika nonchalantly steps over to the hole and taps the ball in. I write down a 2 on the scorecard.Natsuki has a wicked little grin on her face. Her teeth are the only part of her that really shines under the blacklight.She lines up a shot toward the pipe on the left. Monika giggles as she watches it, nudging my arm and whispering:Monika: “That’s a trap. It’ll send her in the wrong direction.”I tilt my head. When Natsuki is grinning like this, she’s not usually thinking conventionally.Mochi: “I don’t know if that’s what she’s doing…”Natsuki putts the ball much harder than we expect. It dips into the funnel atop the left pipe, but it’s traveling so fast that it launches out the other end like a ramp.The ball sails over the two-inch wall that exists purely to prevent this strategy, hurtles down to the lower area, rattles off the wall…And sinks into the hole.Monika: “No way…”Natsuki lets out a primal scream. Monika drops to her knees in disbelief. I hurry over to celebrate with Natsuki. We hug each other, jumping up and down.After we disengage, I write down the hole-in-one on the scorecard.Mochi: “So, that means… you two tied at 51! And I take third with 63.”Mochi: “So I guess the Entertainment Center Olympiad ends in a perfect tie!”Natsuki: “What?! But I totally stuffed Monika at air hockey and Guitar Hero!”Monika: “Yes, but you didn’t pocket a single ball in pool.”The two step up to each other, absolutely buzzing with competitive rage.Natsuki: “Well, I’ve got Smash at home, how about we make that the deciding game?”Monika: “Oh, but wouldn’t chess at my place be better to decide who’s best?”Natsuki: “Aww, you want me to play a game for nerds?”Monika: “Oh, I’m sure the people in your Smash skill bracket are definitely not nerds!”They’re right in each other’s faces, and, bizarrely, I notice that they’re actually holding hands. What’s going on?Mochi: “Hey, maybe cut it down a notch, guys?”Mochi: “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t think we need to be yelling in each other’s faces…”The two of them both seem to suddenly remember I’m here. Natsuki pulls far away from Monika, gravitating over towards me instead. She looks embarrassed.I can’t see much under the blacklights, but the two of them share a long look with each other.Natsuki: “Uh…”Monika: “Well…”Natsuki: “I’m still having fun.”Monika: “Me too. This is the best time I’ve had in a while.”Mochi: “Maybe we should have game nights, or something, then?”Both of them grin at me, their teeth bright under the blacklights.Monika: “That’s a great idea!”Natsuki: “Heck yeah!”Monika: “Oh, uh—we’re done with these, so let’s get out from under the blacklights.”Monika: “We probably want to minimize our exposure to UV radiation.”Mochi: “Uh, yeah, that makes sense.”We make our way out of the mini golf area, and back under lights in the visible spectrum.Monika: “You’re totally right, though. A game night would be terrific. I’ve been itching for someone to compete with other than myself.”Natsuki: “Is that what you were doing with that dude?”Monika blushes.Monika: “Uh, no, not quite.”Natsuki: “Yeah, now that I think about it, you were totally trying to get in his pants.”Monika: “Ah—?!”Natsuki pushes, her tone slightly mocking. Natsuki: “‘Cause, I mean, you were totally throwing yourself at him! You’re not a very good flirt, Monika.”Monika: “I—hey! I mean…”She shuffles her feet.Monika: “Yes, but not in the way you mean.”Monika: “I just feel like I need someone to sleep with at night.”Monika: “Now that I’m, y’know, traversing all these old memories, it’s gotten hard to sleep alone anymore.”My face reddens. I avoid looking at Monika. I still feel terrible for waking up like that.Natsuki: “Jeesh, Monika. You could have just asked me!”I blink in surprise. Monika recoils similarly, putting her hand over her mouth and glancing urgently over at me.Monika: “But, I mean, aren’t you…?”Natsuki: “What? Oh—ewww!”Natsuki makes a big show of waving that idea away with her hands.Natsuki: “No, jeesh! I just meant, like. If you can’t sleep in an empty bed, I could, uh. You know.”She’s blushing just as much as Monika did at her original interpretation of the offer.Natsuki: “My, uh, friends got me a dakimakura for my birthday a few years ago. I don’t use it, it’s just a gag gift. But it might help you.”Monika: “A daki—like, like a body pillow?”Natsuki rolls her eyes.Natsuki: “Yes, genius, like a body pillow. It’s a body pillow.”Natsuki: “It’s got Minori from Parfait Girls on it.”Natsuki: “Fully clothed, I promise.”Monika breaks into a fit of laughter. I do, too. Natsuki gets about as red as her own hair.Natsuki: “If you don’t like the offer, just forget it!”Monika: “No—no! It’s actually worth a try. It’s not like I’m gonna actually bring anyone home, I mean, have you seen me?”Mochi: “Hey, don’t shoot yourself down like that. You’ll find someone.”Natsuki: “Moch is right, Moni. You’re way too pretty to be single. Not to mention too smart to be talking like that. You oughta know better.”Monika gives us a doubtful smile.Monika: “Maybe you’re right…”Monika: “Hey, how about we go to Natsuki’s place? We can play a few rounds of Smash, and she can give me the, uh, body pillow.”Monika: “Mochi, you can get home from her apartment, right?”Mochi: “Yep.”Monika: “Okay. Is it a plan?”Natsuki: “Sounds like it!”…We play Smash until midnight. Natsuki destroys us every time, but at least I last longer than Monika, who is totally incompetent.The dakimakura is “fully clothed,” as Natsuki promised, but it’s a little saucier than she let on. Monika blushes and laughs when she sees Minori’s exposed panties.Finally, Monika takes her leave, driving back to her apartment in the warm summer night.Mochi: “I guess I should get going, too…”Natsuki: “Wait. Can we talk?”Mochi: “Sure?”We sit opposite each other on her bedroll, cross-legged.Natsuki: “So…”Natsuki: “This is, like, really embarrassing to bring up right after I just split over something like this yesterday… but…”Natsuki: “Did you notice any… sparks? Between me and Monika?”I think back to them yelling in each other’s faces with their hands clasped together.Mochi: “Uh… honestly, yeah, I think I did.”Mochi: “You two really seem to have some chemistry. Especially when you’re competing.”Natsuki sighs, covering her face with both hands.Natsuki: “This is so stupid… I feel like I need to make it up to you.”Natsuki: “I promise I’m not gonna date her, okay?”I shrug my shoulders.Mochi: “I believe you, babe. But… can I be honest?”She’s hesitant.Natsuki: “Yeah?”Mochi: “If you did wanna fool around with her, I wouldn’t stop you.”Mochi: “We can still be girlfriends. Just… y’know.”Mochi: “I know I can’t meet a hundred percent of your needs. And it seemed like that little moment of intimacy with Monika made you really happy.”Mochi: “I like it when you’re happy. So…”Mochi: “I guess this is me saying that I’m willing to do an open relationship, if it’s you and her.”Natsuki stares at me, concerned.Natsuki: “You’re sure? I don’t want to break your heart.”Mochi: “I’ll let you know if I end up changing my mind. Just make sure she knows the deal, too.”She smiles.Natsuki: “Okay.”Natsuki: “In that case, I guess I’m gonna try to be cool with you and her being Sayori together, or whatever.”Mochi: “And you’ll tell me if it stops being cool?”Natsuki: “Yeah. Hopefully less dramatically than last time.”I squeeze her shoulders gently, and lean in to kiss her.Mochi: “I love you, Nats.”Natsuki: “I love you, Moch.”Rather than taking the bus back home this late, I decide to share her bedroll again. We kiss and cuddle and joke with each other until we fall asleep.