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Monika carefully considered the cards in her hand. Weighing the value of the various effects her cards had. She put her hand on her chin, half jokingly for her girlfriend while she tried to decide the best opening play.
Natsuki sat across from her and blankly stared at her cards. The fog eclipsing her brain making it difficult to read the many words before her. She had a long day today. The rain carrying over from last night in the morning, the beaming sun heating her up as she left the house, and the endless circle walking of around stores searching for items, and sitting in the car with the stress of driving while she ran chores for Monika so she could spend time writing a book her and Yuri were working on. But the busy day had taken a toll on her body. But she didn't want Monika to worry, and she was tried of being so... helpless. So weak...
Monika had found this new deck building game. She said it was a lot of fun and really wanted to play it when she got home, and Natsuki desperately wanted some good fun with her lover. She thought she could just push through her discomfort again. But as soon as she sat down she felt dizzy, and warm, and-
"It's your turn, honeybun!" Monika said, trying to gently push Natsuki.
Nat's body jolts in surprise, being snapped back into reality.
"S-Sorry. Just reading my cards..." She stumbled out.
Monika smiled in response. Concern mixed in.
Natsuki reassesses her hand. Her longhaired partner had explained the rules earlier, and while she tried her best to remember, the nausea and the pulsing waves of heat that had only grown sense then had made it hard to comprehend them properly... She plays a safe and basic card. Trying to stall to let her body calm down and allow her to play.
Across the table, Monika had already chosen her next move, placing a card that gave her a good status effect. She made she to read the effect out loud for her new player, but Natsuki barely reacted. Giving a half hearted "Oooooo..." that made Monika look over, confused. It sounded good to Natsuki, she new she would usually be more upset or excited to reveal her better play, but the feeling of her bones were distracting her. She felt like she was starting to sweat, in the air conditioned living room. She lifting her cards higher, trying to hide her face as her eyes darted back and forth in her cards. She couldn't tell Monika. She couldn't ruin their fun times again. This was suppose to Monika's fun day! She pulled another simple card from her hand and laid it on the table. Keeping her face as hidden as she could.
"Natsuki... Are you okay? Your hands are shaking and your breathing really heavily." Monika laid her cards down, leaning closer over the table.
She hadn't even noticed her breathing. Or her Hands. She felt sick to her stomach, like it was working over time but turned off as well. Her legs were like stone, she couldn't imagine ever moving again. Her eyes felt like they were spinning and her head was pulsing, throbbing, dizzy, and heavy. As if all the things happening in it were weighing it down. She felt like she could pass out and she was only sitting. Her eyes began to water as her brain rushed: "Monika is RIGHT HERE. I CAN'T ruin this for her. I CAN'T fuck this up again... I just need to breath and sit- No- I'm already sitting just drink my water!- just- just-"
"Natsuki...?"
"..It's... Too much." Natsuki mumbled
She slowly, shakily put the cards down face up on the table as tears rolled down her face. Monika gasped and jumped out of her seat, rushing around the table to reach the pink haired damsel. She reached for shoulder and arm. Her comforting touch electrifying Natsuki with the zap of guilt.
"Oh my god, Natsuki! What's wrong? are you hurt? I-Is it your POTS? Did you eat enough today?"
Thinking back, it only made Natsuki more upset. Her body had tricked her, again. She hadn't eaten her snack while she was out, she hadn't made anything when she got home. She didn't feel hungry all day. "No wonder I can't even read..." And she wasn't even hungry now. Even though she hadn't eaten since breakfast.
"N-No. I fucking forgot again."
"I'm sorry, dear. I should've texted when. And I'm sorry about the game. I shouldn't have asked on a day like this... We don't have to play anymo-"
"NO! I WANNA PLAY!!"
Natsuki pushed Monika away, the sudden movement of her arm making her nausea infinitely worse. She gripped her head with her hand, resting it on the table quickly. Her whole body felt hot, and wrong. But the pain of what she just did catching up to her was the worst yet. She took a deep breath and turned her head towards her girlfriend, who was still stunned.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Monika. I'm sorry... I just wanted to have fun with you! Y-You're always doing stuff for me and- And I wanted to be able to do something for you, and not just... lay around all the rest of the day and leave you by yourself..."
Her breathes were sharp and messy as she tried to hold back her sobbing. Monika approached her again, softer, slower. She held her hand out and waiting for Natsuki to take it.
"Natsuki, please don't think like that! You've done so much for me today. And you do so much for me everyday! It's okay you need some rest, laziness or ungrateful. It's a disability, sweetie... You shouldn't be feeling like you let me down in ANYTHING. Especially this. I don't care if we don't play this silly game tonight! All I care about is if my cupcake is feeling good or not."
Natsuki squeezed Monika's hand as night as a screw. She paused for a bit, working on holding back her crying. She didn't want to make things worse. After she cleared up, she softly spoke again, the words she's been dreading all night...
"C-Can... Can I go lay down?"
"You always can, cupcake."
Monika helped Natsuki up, and took her to their bedroom. Making sure to keep her partners steps steady. Once Natsuki made it to the bed, Monika spoke.
"Let me go get you something to eat and drink, okay?"
Monika dashed to the kitchen to get an electrolyte rich drink and made a quick meal. Scrambled eggs, some crackers with cheese and a left over cupcake. After a few minutes she came back to the bedroom and handed the plate to Natsuki.
"Eggs? What is this- sniff breakfast in bed?"
"Haha! It was the only thing I could think of that would be filling enough for tonight I could make quickly."
"...Thank you, Monika... I love you."
"I love you too, Natsuki. You're always so strong for me... Okay, Cupcake! Is there anything I can do for you?"
Natsuki paused as she had already started eating her food. The hunger finally catching up to her and making her hands shake once more.
"Uhm, can you tell me about you and Yuri's book?"
"Of course!"
Natsuki listened to Monika explain and ramble about the story she was working on. The yummy leftovers filling her stomach and helping her worn body feel better. She still felt bad for Monika having to take care of her like this, but she couldn't deny how much better she felt cause of her... She'll make it up to her tomorrow. "Double batch of apology cupcakes."