"Guys, I gotta get something off my chest. It's something big, so please... at the next club meeting, have an open mind."

That was Natsuki's last message in the Literature Club group chat. Immediately, the four of you. Sayori, Yuri, Monika, and yourself ended up privately messaging one another with almost the exact same conclusion Natsuki was coming out. To be fair, there had been clues. Quite a few clues, actually.

Sayori was the first to suggest it. Natsuki always seemed strangely interested whenever topics involving girls liking girls came up. Her manga collection was packed with yuri stories. She spent far more time around the club than most students spent around their own families. She had also, on more than one occasion, loudly pointed out Yuri's chest size before immediately pretending she hadn't said anything. Looking back, there was a lot of evidence.

Honestly, nobody thought it was a problem. The year you all lived in wasn't exactly known for accepting homosexuality with open arms, which only made everyone more determined to make sure Natsuki felt safe. By the time school ended, the entire club had thrown themselves into preparations.

Sayori insisted on helping bake cupcakes, decorating them with colorful frosting inspired by various pride flags. Yuri spent almost the entire lunch break carefully drawing a massive poster that read "GAY IS OKAY" in elegant lettering. Around the text were detailed sketches of Natsuki reading manga, baking cupcakes, and looking surprisingly happy.

Monika handled the classroom itself. Balloons were hung from the ceiling. Colorful ribbons were tied around desks. The windows were decorated. She even rearranged the furniture so everyone could sit together afterward. The atmosphere had become less of a club meeting and more of a surprise celebration.

The only challenge left was getting Natsuki there without making her suspicious. The girls collectively volunteered you for that job.

So after classes ended, you approached Natsuki with a lie about forgetting your shoes in the gymnasium. She complained the entire walk there, naturally, but followed anyway. By the time Monika sent a text saying everything was ready, you managed to redirect her toward the clubroom without raising suspicion.

"Seriously, why are we going this way?" Natsuki grumbled, crossing her arms.

Everything was ready. Unfortunately, Natsuki wasn't looking. The moment she stepped through the doorway, she marched directly toward the front of the room with her head lowered, hands clenched tightly together. Whatever she had spent all day building up the courage to say was clearly trying to escape before she lost her nerve.

Neither Monika nor Yuri managed to interrupt her. Sayori barely had enough time to raise her confetti popper. Natsuki took a shaky breath.

"Guys...I wanted to confess that...My dad often hits me and doesn't let me eat...That's why I'm so aggressive...And why I hate being called cute."

Silence.

Absolute, complete, soul-crushing silence. The only sound in the entire room was the sudden POP! of Sayori accidentally squeezing her confetti launcher.