1:Hajimaru
The beginning comes too fast
The end comes too fast
Every beginning is an end
Every end is a beginning
I should have slept earlier. Ughhhh. I opened my eyes, seeing the light filter in through the gaps between the blinds. I looked around my new room, seeing the piles of packed boxes and my laptop sitting on my desk. Sigh. That was a great game. Doki Doki Literature Club. The truth is, I just moved here last night. But being the loser I am, the first thing I did when I got here was take out my laptop and play that game. Until around 3 in the morning. And now, it's the first day at my new school! Yay! Just kidding. I hate school.
So here's the story: I'm a third year student, and I don't really get around much, if you know what I mean. I spent basically my entire school life doing homework, playing video games, and watching anime. Seriously, could it get any better? Except for the homework part, of course! Recently, my dad got a new job, so we had to move to a new town. Not that I care. It's just going to be like any other suburb, an endless loneliness. Not like the bustling, exciting city life, or the calming, community-oriented life of the countryside. It was just in between, with none of the good parts of both, but the bad ones. Besides, I'm graduating in a few months. Off to college!
"Nozomu! Hurry up or you'll be late for school!" My mom shrieked from downstairs.
"Okay, mother!" I shouted, putting on my clothes and splashing a meager amount of water on my face. I went downstairs, into our new kitchen. "Morning."
My dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper.
"Morning, Nozomu! You ready for your first day? Got everything? Your brain?"
"Yeah!" I responded half-heartedly.
"Alright! Now remember, don't spend all day by yourself, studying. If you want to get married, you better go meet some girls!"
"Okay, okay." All I need are those 2D ones!
"Hey!" Mom objected. "Don't teach him bad! Nozomu, you better study hard now. You're going to college very soon, and you'll have to learn how to be independent. I don't want you slacking off and messing around with ladies, okay? Focus on your studies!"
"Yes, mom."
"Hey! I told you, you should let off of him sometime!" Dad shouted. Oh no, here we go again. I quickly grab my school bag and leave the house, my parents' screams behind me. Like a creature leaving its cave, my eyes narrowed in the blinding morning sun. Ahhh. Just another day in my boring life. Right? I examined my street for the first time in daylight. It was nice and peaceful, lined on both sides by small houses. Eh. Just like any other town. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.
"E-eh? EHHH?"
I turned to see a girl with short, light hair and a red bow. She was wearing the same school uniform as me.
"Are- you- the person living here!?" the girl asked, giddily jumping up and down.
"Y-yes."
"Yayyyyyy!" She cheered. "I'm Sayori! I live next door!"
Oh no. A 3D girl is talking to me! What do I do? Okay. Remember your training.
"Wow! That's cool!" I replied awkwardly. "I'm Nozomu. Nice to meet you."
"Yay! Finally, someone's here again!"
"Mm. Um, who was here before?" I asked cautiously.
"Ah, my childhood friend. He moved out a while ago. I've been sooo lonely! I hope we can be great friends!" Sayori smiled.
"Mm. Yeah!" OH MY GOSH DID A GIRL JUST ASK TO BE FRIENDS WITH ME? Am I living in an anime or something?
"It looks like we go to the same school. Wow, you came just in time for the start after winter break! Come on! I'll show you the way!" Sayori ran ahead, motioning for me to follow. My heart beating fast, I did.
We passed by clean streets and convenience stores, pausing to grab a bun for for breakfast.
"Tastes good, right?" Sayori mumbled through her food.
"It's delicious!" I grinned. Is this seriously happening to me?
"Hold on…" Sayori took out her phone. "Oh NO! We're gonna be late!"
"Ahhhhhh! Let's go!" I shouted, panicking. We broke out into a run, and quickly made it to the school. Just like I expected, it was any old school. Whatever. No time to think! Gotta get to class!
"What class are you in?" Sayori asked, breathing heavily.
"Uhhhhh…" I replied, fumbling with my phone to check my notes.
"Hurryyyy!"
"Ah! 3-3!"
"Aw… I'm in 3-1! Well, it's over there. See you at lunch!" Sayori ran off to her class. Wow. That was fast! She basically asked me out! I quickly slid open the door of my class, panting.
"Ah, sorry I'm late!"
All eyes in the class turned upon me, including the really stern-looking middle aged woman teacher.
"Ahem. Yanagi Nozomu, right?" She asked coldly.
"Uh, yes!"
"Welcome to my class. I am Sato. Don't be late again. Now, please sit down over there, at the empty desk in the back."
"Mm." Wow, this sucks. Now everyone thinks I'm a delinquent. Well, who cares? It's not like I'm gonna know them for long. I sat down in the back, next to the window, which looked out across the schoolyard and the front gates. Sighhhhh. Here we go, boredom time!
The class was really boring, and I struggled to stay awake. Okay, I really should have slept earlier. Stay awake! Stay awake! I twirl my pen between my fingers. The girl sitting in front of me had really nice, long hair. It was so dark and luscious, and smelled like apples. If only… I could touch i- what am I thinking?
"Ehhhh… excuse me?"
Huh? What? The girl had turned around, and was talking to me! Her dark, deep eyes pierced into mine, and I felt my heart go doki-doki.
"Ah, yes?" I asked.
"Um… your pen is stuck in my hair," she said. I looked down, and saw that my twirling had gotten her hair all tied and knotted around my pen.
"AHHH SORRY!" I screamed.
"Yanagi-san! Keep it down!" Sato-sensei shouted.
"Yes!" I piped, lowering my head. The girl turned back around, facing the teacher. As class continued, I frantically tried to undo the hair, to no avail. Finally, it was time for lunch. The teacher and everyone else left for the cafeteria, leaving me and the girl.
She turned back around.
"I'm so sorry, miss, I-"
"It's okay," she said softly. "Here." She reached over with her hands and attempted to untie the knots of her hair. I tried to help her, and we worked in awkward silence.
"How- did it get stuck anyway?" She said timidly.
"Ummm, I was just falling asleep and twirling my pen, I didn't know what was happening! I'm serious!" I explained nervously.
"Oh!" The girl giggled, then suddenly covered her mouth, embarrassed. "Sorry." She kept her head down, managing to untie one of the knots. Unnnnnnghhhhh. She's actually really cute. Reminds me of Yuri from- WAIT. THE GIRL WHO I MET EARLIER WAS SAYORI. Does this mean- um. WAIT. WHY AM I MEETING THEM IN REAL LIFE? AM I LIVING IN A FANFICTION OR SOMETHING? Is this seriously ha-
In my thoughts, I accidentally placed my hands over the girl's.
Our eyes widened as we realized what had just happened.
"Uhh…. SORRY!" I apologized, shrinking back my hands. The girl's face was blushing beet red.
"Ah…" She covered her face, looking away.
"I'm so sorry! Here! You can do it back to me!" I said, putting my hands out. Wait, what the heck? "Never mind! Ahhhh I'm so sorry!"
The girl slowly lifted her hands away from her face.
"It's fine!" She said shakily. "I'm sorry about my hair… it's causing so much trouble for you, and it's your first day too! Sorry…" She quickly continued untying her hair, hands shaking. Finally, my pen was free from its grasp, and we both let out a sigh of relief at the same time. Ahhhh. I lay back in my chair. It was getting hot in here!
"Ah, there you are! Nozomu-kun!" Sayori burst into the room, running up to me. "Where were you? Lunch is already almost over!"
"What? Sorry!" I replied hastily.
"What are you doi- eh? Yuri-chan?" Sayori asked, puzzled.
"It's not what you think!" Yuri stuttered. "His pen just got stuck in my hair." Sayori looked at me skepitcally.
"True!" I piped.
"Eh? Okay, whatever. Oh yeah! Yuri! We should get him to join our club! Natsuki said she baked cupcakes for us, since it's the first day returning from winter break!" Sayori said.
"W-what?" Yuri asked.
"Club? What club? Anime club?" I inquired. No, no! If it's some random club, then I can't join! I've gotta have as much time to stay in my room and watch anime as possible! Aughh, but I can't turn down an invitation from such a pretty girl….
"Come on, Nozomu! It's the Literature Club! It'll be bundles of fun! What do you say?"
Oh no, LITERATURE?
"Well… I'm not really good at literature," I mumbled. What are you doing? Don't give away a chance to be with cute girls!
"Aww, come on, please! Natsuki's making cupcakes! You don't have to be any good at literature!"
Wait. Hold on. Is this… the Doki Doki Literature Club? Cuz… No, no, no! This has to be a dream! Then again, I kinda want to see what it'll be like… I hope Monika is normal, though…
"Okay. Sure."
"Yayyy! Isn't that awesome, Yuri-chan?"
"Ahhhh. Yes," Yuri said, embarrassed.
After class, Yuri turned to me and forced a smile.
"Ah, Nozomu-kun! Here- I'll show you to the club," She blushed, quickly moving towards the door with long, graceful strides. I followed her, the the top floor, and into an unused-looking classroom.
"Yay! You're here!" Sayori said, leaping over and pulling me in front of the classroom. A short girl with pink hair and a tall blonde sat at the desks.
"Hi everyone, I'm Nozomu," I said nervously. As expected, there were only girls. "You must be Natsuki, and you're Monika."
"W-what? How did you know our names?" Natsuki blurted. Monika looked really puzzled.
"Well, there's this game I played, and you're all in it…"
The girls looked at each other in confusion.
"Ahhh, nevermind! Where are the cupcakes, Natsuki?"
"Hey! How did you know? Ahhh, here!" Natsuki produced a tray of cupcakes, and I took one. "I-I didn't make them for you," Natsuki said bashfully.
"I know! But thanks anyway!" I smiled, munching on the cupcake.
"S-so, Sayori said things about you," Monika said, leaning over to help herself to a cupcake.
"Is that so?" Oh my, seriously what am I thinking? Why I am acting so tough like this? I'm never like this. I guess it's because I know I'm in a dating sim?
"She said you were her new neighbor, and you're really cute!" Monika smiled sunnily, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face.
"Um. W-what?!"
"Iyaaaa, Monika-chan, don't tell him that!" Sayori shouted, feebly slapping Monika's arm. Monika giggled. "Wow, it's not like I suggested anything!" She said. Suddenly, Natsuki blurted in.
"Oh, I know why! Nozomu-kun, you played Doki-Doki Literature Club, right? That dumb game!" Natsuki said.
"What? Yeah! You girls are from it!"
"Sigh... Look, you're not in a dating sim or anything. This is real life! It's just that some dude just happened to decide to make characters that were exactly like us for his game… look, we're not gonna like fall in love with you anything just because you think you're the main character, okay?"
Well, that's that. It's just a regular club… I'm not dreaming… well, I guess I should just not join! Go back to playing the real game, where these girls will actually love me!
"Yeah, sure," I replied.
"Hey, Natsuki-chan, you shouldn't be so mean to him," Yuri said.
"Mean? I'm just getting his priorities straight. He's gotta know that this isn't a dating sim club, it's an actual literature club. Manga included."
"Well, at least be more welcoming to our gu-" GUUUUURRRRGGGG. "Iyaaaa!" Yuri squealed as her stomach growled. She had skipped lunch, as well as me!
"Teehee!" Monika giggled, trying to suppress herself. "Yuri! Did you not eat lunch?"
"No, she just needs to eat more food to keep that large package of hers operational," Natsuki shot.
"Hey, it's okay, Yuri-san," I said. "I didn't eat anything either."
"Mm." Yuri quickly took her bento out of her bag and opened it, beginning to eat. Wait. I didn't bring any lunch today! Guess I'll just eat cupcakes!
"Ah, did you not bring lunch today?" Monika asked.
"Nope! Don't worry, I'll just eat Natsuki's lovely cupcakes and turn fat!" I replied, grinning at Natsuki. She stuck her tongue out at me.
"Aww, poor Nozomu," Sayori said, patting me on the head. I blushed. I was the center of attention for four girls! For the first time ever…
"Um, Nozomu-kun?" I turned to see Yuri, holding her bento out to me with both hands.
"Huh?"
"Here, have some of mine," She said. "I don't need to eat much."
"B-but it's yours! Sorry, I can't!"
"Take it!"
"Ahh… here, I'll just take a little bite." I reach over for her chopsticks, but instead of handing them over to me, she quickly snatched a ball of rice and seaweed, putting it into my mouth.
What? I stared in disbelief.
"Ahhhhhh!" Yuri shrieked. "Sorry! Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking! I- waahhh!" Everyone burst into laughter.
"Wow, Nozomu-kun, you sure are a chick magnet," Monika remarked. LOL.
"Ehhh…. Thanks?" We spent the rest of the hour fooling around, and soon it was time to go home. I said bye to the others at the gate, and walked with Sayori back home, in the rapidly darkening winter light.
"That was fun, wasn't it? See?" Sayori asked, before leaving for her house.
"Yeah. It actually was," I replied.
"You coming back tomorrow?"
"Mm. I'm not sure."
"Come on! Pleaseeee?"
"I'll- think about it. See ya!"
"Okay. Bye-bye!"
That night, as I lay on my bed, I smiled. For the first time in my school life, I did not touch my computer that day. I went right to bed after finishing my homework, laptop closed where I left it. Hey. Maybe this thing isn't that bad after all. Hah! Imagine this- Me, having fun at school! Well, that's impossible. But wait- didn't I just have fun today? My heart began to beat fast. What is this strange feeling? It feels like- how I'd feel when I get a new game. Excitement. For a new day, a new adventure. Except, it's not in a game…
Doki-Doki Owari
*OP plays*
Hey everyone! Please read this story and enjoy! Follow, favorite, and please leave a review! Also, check out my Love Live fanfic, Uchiura no Kiseki!