Chapter Text
“Sayori, you do realize it's hella freakin' cold outside today, don’t you?"
Sayori blinks her beautiful big blue eyes in Natsuki's general direction, then sticks her lower lip out in a decisive pout:
"I don't know what that has to do with having a craving for ice cream, Na-chan."
"Well," Natsuki says, taking a deep breath as she gears up for an entire rant on the subject, "first of all-"
"I think having a bowl of ice cream later sounds like a wonderful idea," Yuri interjects.
Natsuki guffaws, completely taken aback by this curve-ball. "Say what!?" She squawks, appalled and betrayed.
Yuri shrugs without looking up from her book. "You can't control your cravings, Natsuki."
"Yeah!" Sayori agrees at once. "If someone as smart as Yuri's saying it, then it must be true!"
Natsuki buries her face in her hands. "I must be hallucinating. You guys can't be serious- Monika!" She snaps, eyeing their club leader with ill-concealed hope, "weigh in!"
Monika looks up from the sheet of paper she's doodling on. "Weigh in on what?"
"Sayori wants to ditch club and go get ice cream." Natsuki makes a face to emphasize her disgust for the concept.
Monika hums, glancing out the window as her doodle spirals away into nothingness. "I wouldn't say no to a bowl of ice cream."
Natsuki decides she's entered an alternate dimension where crazy talk is accepted as a reasonably made demand. "Say what!?"
"Oh, do we have your blessing then, Monika? Please-say-yes, please-say-yes, please-say-yes!" Sayori accompanies her pleas with little bounces at supersonic speed.
Watching her makes Natsuki feel ill. "Not happening Sayo. Monika is nothing if not a stickler for-"
"We've already finished our official club business for the day," Monika interrupts, successfully halting Natsuki's attempted monologue.
Sayori stops bouncing and stares at Monika, wide-eyed and hopeful.
"That's true," Yuri muses, "and it's not as though the teacher will mind if we leave a bit early today."
"To get ice cream. In the middle of winter. On a day when it’s cold enough to shatter you to pieces if you slip on the sidewalk after you've been outside for five minutes."
"Yes, Natsuki, we hear your vote of disapproval." Monika grins at Natsuki's answering scowl. "You don't have to come get ice cream with us if you don't want to."
"But..."
It's Natsuki's turn to pout, even as Sayori hops to her feet and pushes in her chair. Yuri, bookmark in hand, continues to read, while Monika stacks her things so she can slide them neatly into her backpack. She stands up with a bit more propriety than Sayori, only to ruin the image of professionalism by kicking her chair into place beneath the desk. Natsuki, utterly defeated, groans, and stands, and stomps to the closet to hide her manga away on the shelf.
"Do you know where you want to go, Sayori?" Yuri still hasn't gotten up, but she has turned sideways in her chair and is groping around for her bag.
"Hmm... yes! I want to go someplace where the ice cream is yummy!"
"Wow," Natsuki deadpans as she snags her backpack from the chair she left it hooked over, "what a riveting description. Truly you are a master of choice and choosing... ness."
Sayori giggles into her hands. "You know what I mean, don't you Na-chan?" She skips across the room and drapes herself across Natsuki's shoulders, hugging her gently from behind. "It's a special occasion! We can't just hit up MC Do's and get soft serve!"
"Why not? Ice cream is ice cream, isn't it?"
She can hear the frown in Sayori’s voice when she asks, "Do you really think so, Na-chan?"
"I do when it's this cold outside!" When Sayori whines in dismay, she adds, "Getting ice cream in the summer is a totally different story, though."
"I agree with Sayori," Monika butts in. "A special occasion calls for a special outing."
"I don't remember asking for your opinion."
"You didn't, but since we're all going, we all get a say, and I say Sayori is right."
"Say Sayori," the girl hums. "Say Sayori, say Sayori, say Sayori, say Sayori.” She wrinkles her nose in thought. “It's not much of a tongue twister, is it?"
"Not at all," Yuri agrees from where she's suddenly appeared beside them.
Natsuki nearly jumps out of her skin. "Dude! Yuri! Warn us before you ninja out of nowhere like that!"
Yuri doesn't even look up from the book she's still reading. "I'm sorry?"
"Yuri, as club leader, I must formally request that you put your reading materials away until we're all sitting down again."
Slowly, Yuri lifts her head until her large purple eyes are boring unobtrusively into Monika's green ones. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's a safety issue!" Monika explains bravely. "If you're injured during the course of club activities, I can be held liable."
Yuri's brow furrows while she parses Monika's claim. Sayori, who is still closely occupying the space around Natsuki's person, giggles heartily while she swings her hands through the air.
Natsuki thinks she might be developing a headache.
"I see," Yuri concedes, and finally marks her spot. "Have we made a decision about where we'll be dining, then?"
"Only you would call it dining," Natsuki grumbles.
"And actually, we're still brainstorming. Sayori wants-"
"Ice cream that's delicious! Memorable! Preferably not soft serve!"
Yuri nods twice. "Why don't we go to Haru's Parlor? I believe the ice cream she serves more than fits your description."
Sayori does a little hop into Natsuki, who teeters dangerously, but manages not to topple over.
"Watch it, Sayo!"
"Sorry Na-chan! Yes Yuri yes, let's go there!"
Monika snorts. "Sayori, have you ever even been to Haru's before?"
"No, but if Yuri says it's good, then I trust her judgment!" Sayori winds around Yuri's arm like a benevolent boa constrictor. "Lead the way, Yuri!"
"What? O-oh, all right. But only because you asked me to." Yuri turns and, with an excited Sayori still attached, strides out the door.
Monika follows them, grinning from ear to ear, and Natsuki brings up the rear.
"We're going to go and eat ice cream," she mutters to herself while she locks the classroom door, "in the middle of winter, when it's already stupidly cold out." She looks up to see her club-mates disappearing into the distance. "Guys, wait for me! I'm not as tall or as fast as you are! Hey!"
🍨
"You guys suck," Natsuki grumbles later.
Sayori laughs, Yuri grimaces, and Monika sheepishly rubs the back of her neck.
"At least you're warm now?" She offers with a lopsided grin, a question Natsuki responds to with a huff and a pointed readjusting of her scarf.
They've made it to their chosen destination, and Natsuki has to admit: She's impressed. The place is cozy, quaint, and features brick walls, a polished hardwood floor, and a chilled glass display case loaded with tubs of ice cream. Framed artwork lines the walls, and, upon closer inspection, each piece has a price tag and a mini-biography about the artist tacked up beside it. Yuri wanders off to peruse a painting while Sayori investigates the counter. Natsuki eyes the available seating with a critical gaze, until Monika gently nudges her side.
"What do you want, traitor?"
"Traitor? Is that any way to talk to your club leader?" When Natsuki continues to give her the stink eye, she sighs. "What did I do?"
"You gave Sayori the green light on this whole ridiculous adventure. We could have stayed safe and warm in our club room if not for you throwing propriety to the wind for once in your life and letting us leave early." Natsuki crosses her arms and huffs. "I don't know if I'll ever thaw."
To her consternation, Monika chuckles. "I tried to tell you that you didn't have to come with us-"
"As if I'm gonna let the three of you go and get dessert unsupervised! Honestly, Monika, who do you take me for?" Natsuki leaves her behind and strides across the room to peer into the ice cream freezer.
"Natsuki!" Sayori greets her at once, cheerful smile in place. "Come and help me pick a flavor!"
"Strawberry," Natsuki deadpans, already seeking it out behind the glass.
Sayori pouts. "You always suggest strawberry."
"That's because it's the best flavor! Although birthday cake is pretty good too. So is brownie batter. And cookie dough."
"So what you're saying," Yuri hums as she once again just, appears behind them with no warning, "is that you always choose strawberry so you don't have to agonize over a decision?"
"Hey, don't knock the system! Besides," Natsuki beams when she spots the flavor in question, "strawberry tastes different at every ice cream place you visit. It’s my solemnly sworn duty to try them all!"
"No kidding," Monika mutters. She leans forward and peers at the available options. "Is there a coffee flavor?"
"Right there!" Sayori points it out. "But how am I supposed to choose a flavor?"
"Get two scoops."
"That just means I have to choose twice!"
"I don't suppose I can interest any of you in trying a free sample?" A sweet voice cuts in.
Natsuki looks up into the smiling face of a pink haired woman wearing an apron over a sleeveless shirt. The name tag affixed to her top hat reads Haru, and Natsuki guesses she's the owner, or maybe someone who happens to share the owner’s name? She's looking at them expectantly, but Natsuki is rather distracted by her arms, because wow, if she had biceps like that, she wouldn’t bother to cover them either.
[Natsuki loosens the scarf around her neck and waves the end at her flushed cheeks, pretending to contemplate the ice cream instead of Haru's physique.]
"I'd like to try the coffee ice cream," Monika requests, "and I'm also curious about the flavor and texture of the waffle cones."
"The beans we use to make the coffee ice cream are personally provided by a dear friend of mine," Haru explains while she scoops a generous dollop into a spoon. "As for the waffle cones, I have a little carton of broken pieces stashed back here behind the counter. I like to snack on them when it's slow."
"That's a ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one." Monika licks tentatively at the spoonful of coffee ice cream. Her eyes widen and she shoves the entire scoop into her mouth. "T’is is de’wicious!"
"I'm glad to hear it!" Haru offers her a tidbit of waffle cone. "Now it's time for the real test."
Monika pinches it delicately between her fingertips and gives it a sniff before she pops it into her mouth. "Mmm!"
"I assume it meets with your approval?" Monika flashes her a double thumbs up. "Excellent."
"May I try a scoop of the Matcha ice cream?"
"I'd like to try your cake batter! And the chocolate! And the cookie dough!"
"Geeze Sayo, settle down would ya? Let the woman breathe!"
"Sorry Na-chan! I'm just excited!"
"It's no trouble at all," Haru assures them while she hands Yuri a spoonful of something green and sophisticated looking. "I prefer to serve customers who are eager to have a taste of my ice cream. Excitement is preferable to apathy, you know?" She scoops up Sayori's choices, then turns to Natsuki with an expectant smile. "And for you?"
"I want two scoops of strawberry, topped with rainbow sprinkles, please," Natsuki decides. "And I was wondering if you could make the second scoop look like little ears on top of the first scoop? It's okay if you can't; I just thought it might look cuter that way, and be more fun to eat."
Haru's eyes sparkle. "Oh, I can definitely make that happen. Just give me a second to put it together for you."
Sayori makes a pained sort of noise. "Natsuuu, trying all those flavors just made my decision even harder!"
"How is that my fault?" Natsuki wonders as she fishes her wallet out of her backpack.
Sayori pouts. "It's not, but you could pretend it is..."
"How does this look? Is it as cute as you were imagining?"
Haru shows off a skillfully scooped strawberry ice cream creature topped with an artful smattering of rainbow sprinkles. It's been assembled in a shallow dish that looks like a hedgehog.
"It's perfect!"
"Do you mind if I snap a quick picture of it? I have a social media page for the store-"
Natsuki waves a hand. "Go for it. Just, y’know, please don't eat it."
Haru laughs. "I would never!" She digs her phone out of her apron pocket and snaps a few pictures.
The total makes Natsuki cringe, but she passes over a few bills and drops the change into the tip jar anyway. That's what she gets for choosing two scoops of the fancy stuff. She makes her way to a nearby table and collapses into the cushy red booth with a delighted sigh.
"I'd like two scoops of the coffee flavor in a waffle bowl, with almonds and toffee on top," Monika orders.
"And I'd like a scoop of Matcha and a scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone," Yuri adds.
"Are you paying for those together?"
"Oh, no, they’ll be on separate tickets,” Monika assures her. “I just didn't want to have a chance to change my mind."
"Give me a moment then, and I'll ring those up for you."
The two of them wander over a few minutes later, looking shell shocked.
"Expensive, huh?" Natsuki notes, and finally takes a bite of her ice cream.
The flavor explodes across her tongue, smooth and fruity and perfect. She tries to suppress a moan, fails, and knocks her head against the back of her seat.
Or, well, she tries to, but it's really too soft to have the intended effect.
"Is something wrong, Natsuki?" Yuri asks from behind the cone she's licking.
Natsuki shakes her head. "This is just. So good." She spoons herself another huge bite. "Where has this place been all my life?"
"I'm pretty sure it only opened recently," Monika informs her.
"About three months ago, to be wholly accurate," Yuri clarifies.
"Guys!" Sayori bustles over with three scoops of ice cream nestled together in a ceramic bowl shaped like a whale. "Look what I got!"
"Chocolate?" Natsuki guesses.
"And cake batter and red velvet!"
"That's not very adventurous," Monika chides.
"You don't get to judge, Monika! You only got one flavor!"
"When it comes to ice cream, coffee can be hit or miss."
"So can Matcha," Yuri agrees, although judging by the amount left in her cone, it's definitely more hit than miss.
Sayori pouts and takes a big bite. "You guys are mean."
Their conversation dwindles as they turn their attention to finishing their ice cream before it melts. Natsuki savors every delicious bite, but it's gone in a flash, even though she tries to make it last.
"That," she announces, and shoves her bowl across the table, "was so freakin' good."
"Delicious," Monika agrees as she scrapes the last of her ice cream out of the waffle bowl.
Sayori nods. "I t'nk v'e should t'ome back next v'eek," she suggests around the spoon in her mouth.
Yuri shakes her head. "I don’t think we can reasonably do that."
"Why not?"
Natsuki jumps in with, "Uh, because it's expensive? And, earth to Sayori, you almost never actually have any money to spend on stuff like this."
Monika laughs. "And, as Natsuki pointed out earlier, it is the middle of winter."
"Thank you! I'm glad someone in this club pays attention to the season besides me!"
"Well you know," Yuri takes a bite of her cone, then lifts a hand to block her mouth from view, "the snow is kind of hard to miss."
"But earlier you guys were acting like I was the unreasonable one for not wanting to have ice cream when it’s this cold outside!"
"Cravings, Na-chan! You can't blame us for wanting to eat them!"
"I," Natsuki leans back and crosses her arms over her chest, "can blame you three for whatever I want to blame you for. It's a talent of mine."
Monika rolls her eyes. "Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that."
They linger while Sayori savors her ice cream and Monika and Yuri crunch through their respective waffle constructs. Natsuki is contemplating sending someone to get her a cup of water when Sayori finally shoves her bowl away with a dreamy sigh.
"So worth it," she purrs. "I probably won't even need to eat dinner now!"
Natsuki scoffs. "I'm pretty sure that's not how it works, Sayo."
"She's right," Monika informs Sayori's pout. "Dessert doesn't typically leave a body feeling full for very long."
"You guys are no fun! Yuri, tell them they're wrong!"
"Well, in my experience-"
Sayori groans and thumps her head onto the table. "Bodies are stupid!"
Natsuki pats her gently on the back. "Believe me, no one knows that better than I do."
Sayori sits up abruptly, blue eyes wide. "Oh Na-chan, I'm so sorry-"
"Don't apologize. Things are better now, remember? I don't have to worry about that kind of stuff anymore."
"Indeed you don’t." Yuri yawns and stretches. "Shall we head out, then?"
"We may as well." Monika slides out of the booth. "Oof, I feel so full."
"Riiiiiight?" Sayori stands on wobbly legs and yawns. "I want to take a nap when we get home!"
"Oh no you don't! If you take a nap now, you'll be up at three in the morning and you won't be able to get back to sleep!"
"Besides," Yuri adds bemusedly, "don't you have homework still to do tonight?"
"Homework is stupid!"
"Don't worry, we'll do it together," Monika assures her.
Sayori burrows into her coat. "Fiiiiine."
"Cheer up," Natsuki says as she links her arm through Sayori's, "you and I can get help from the smarty-pants-es and hog the TV when we inevitably finish before they do."
"Ooh, good thinking Na-chan!"
"Hey! I heard that!" Monika snaps from somewhere behind them.
Natsuki grins at Monika over her shoulder. "I wasn't trying to keep you from hearing me."
"We could always opt not to help you," Yuri suggests.
Natsuki rolls her eyes. "As if you'd just sit by and let us fail."
Monika groans. "She's got us there."
Sayori cheers. "Hooray for not failing!"
The four of them exit the ice cream parlor, chatting and playfully teasing one another. They're nearly to the subway before Natsuki realizes she can't even feel the cold.