"Heeeeeyyyy!" I see an annoying girl running toward me from the distance, waving her arms in the air like she's totally Oblivious to any attention she might draw to herself. That girl is Sayori, my neighbor and good friend since we were children. You know, the kind of friend you'd never see yourself making today, but it just kind of works out because you've known each other for so long?
We used to walk to school together on days like this, but starting around high school she would oversleep more and more frequently, and I would get tired of waiting up. But if she's going to chase after me like this, I almost feel better off running away. However, I just sigh and idle in front of the crosswalk and let Sayori catch up to me.
"Haaahhh...haaahhh... I overslept again! But I caught you this time!" She said, gasping to catch her breath.
"Maybe, but only because I decided to stop and wait for you." Was my slightly annoyed reply.
"eeehhhhh, you say that like you were thinking about ignoring me! That's mean, P̙̫̮̻̃͑̒̿̚ͅḻ̶̣͙̳̺̝͚̎̑̀̽̾͜͟ͅa̴̮̫̣̘̱̲̝͕ͮ͌͒ͣ͋̈́̚y̨̛̙̾ͦͫ͂ͫ͘eͧ̐͌̌̋́̃̚҉͇̳ṙ͐͋̃́̑҉̵̺̤̜̹͚̙͝ "
I get a throbbing headache as she says my name and everything goes dark for a moment. Shaking my head everything clears up and Sayori is still standing there waiting for me to say my next line.
"Well, if people stare at you for acting weird then I don't want them to think we're a couple or something." I reply, my throat dry and my words croaky, but she doesn't seem to notice.
"Fine, fine, but you did wait for me, after all. I guess you don't have it in you to be mean even if you want to~" She says this with a huge, shit eating grin on her face.
"Go fuck yourself, Sayori..." I sarcastically reply to her.
"Ehehe~" She giggles, hitching her step to keep up with me. We cross the street together and make our way to school. As we draw near, the streets become increasingly speckled with other students making their daily commute.
"By the way, P̙̫̮̻̃͑̒̿̚ͅḻ̶̣͙̳̺̝͚̎̑̀̽̾͜͟ͅa̴̮̫̣̘̱̲̝͕ͮ͌͒ͣ͋̈́̚y̨̛̙̾ͦͫ͂ͫ͘eͧ̐͌̌̋́̃̚҉͇̳ṙ͐͋̃́̑҉̵̺̤̜̹͚̙͝ ..."
"Motherfucking Hell!" I groan as the name burrows into my ears like a bullet. This interruption doesn't stop Sayori's lines at all.
"Have you decided on a club to join yet?"
"A fucking club?" I rub my temples. My head ringing. "I told you already, I could give a fuck less about joining a club."
"Eh? That's not true! You told me you would join a club this year!"
"I did?" I'm sure it's possible that I did, in one of our many conversations where I dismissively go along with whatever she's going on about. Sayori likes to worry a little too much about me, when I'm perfectly content just getting by on the average while spending my free time on games and anime.
"Uh-huh! I was talking about how I'm woried that you won't learn how to socialize or have any skills before college. Your happiness is really important to me, you know! And I know you're happy now, but I'd die at the thought of you becoming a NEET in a few years because you're not used to the real world! You trust me, right? Don't make me keep worrying about you..."
"Alright, if it'll get you to shut up I'll look at a few clubs."
"Yaay~!" Why do I let myself get lectured by such a carefree girl? More than that, I'm surprised I even let myself relent to her. I guess seeing her worry so much about me makes me want to crush her head ease her mind at least a little bit-even if she does exaggerate everything inside of her head.
Everything from outside the school to the end of the school day is a complete black screen wipe, but I somehow know that the the school day is as ordinary as ever, and it's over before I know it. After I pack up my things, I stare blankly at the wall, looking for an ounce of motivation. I think briefly about clubs and what I would even want to join. I guess I could start with the anime club.
"Hellooo?" Sayori's voice comes from the classroom doorway.
"Sayori...?" I ask, she must have come in while I was spacing out and I realize that I'm the only one left in the classroom.
"I thought I'd catch you coming out of the classroom, but I saw you just sitting her and spacing out, so I came in. Honestly, you're even worse than me sometimes... I'm impressed!" She smiled wide, her big blue eyes staring blankly at me.
"You don't need to wait up for me if it's going to make you late to your own club." I said, picking up my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
"Well, I thought you might need some encouraement, so I thought, you know..." She blushed a little and looked out the window.
"What?"
"Well, that you could come to my club!"
"Sayori..."
"Yeah?"
"Fuck that!"
"Eeeehhhhh?! Meanie!" She's the vice president of the Literature Club even though she's got less brains than a sack of wet socks.
"I'm going to the anime club."
"C'mon, please?"
"What, did you promise you'd bring me to join without thinking about how I'd feel?" I spat. There was a moment where her facial expression changed between ecstatic, sad and flustered, her mouth moving without any words.
"Well... I kind of told the club yesterday I would bring in a new member..."
"That's what I just sa-" I started but her lines hadn't ended.
"And Natsukie made cupcakes and everything...Ehehe..."
"Don't make promises unless it's scripted..." I mumble to myself. I let out a long sigh. "Fine... I'll stop by for a cupcake, okay?"
"Yes! Let's go~!" And thus, today marks the day I sold my soul for a cupcake. I dejectedly follow Sayori across the school and upstairs- a section of the school I rarely visit, being generally used for third-year classes and activities. Sayori, full of energy, swings open the classroom door.
"Everyone! The new member is here~!" She shouts as she enters.
"I'm not a new member."
"Welcome to the Literature Club. It's a pleasure meeting you." A beautiful girl with long purple hair approaches and says. "Sayori always says nice things about you."
"Seriously? You brought a boy?" A girl with short pink hair and a slender frame says, mildly annoyed. I look down and for the first time realize I'm a boy. Last time I remembered I was female. Oh well, work with what you've got. "Way to kill the atmosphere."
"Ah, Player! What a nice surprise," Monika, a girl I had a class with last year says her long brown hair flowing around her shoulders. I cringe as she says my name, but unlike when Sayori said it, it just comes out as a normal word, causing no harm to me. "Welcome to the club!" The text along the bottom, which I can only assume is my internal monologue says that this club is full of incredibly cute girls.
"What are you looking at?" The tiny pink haired girl says,stepping up. "if you want to say something, say it."
"I want to fu-" I start, but I'm interrupted by the purple haired girl.
"Natsuki..." She chides the smaller one.
"Hmph." She shrinks back. I don't recognize her from anywhere, but with how tiny she is, I'd assume she's a first year. She's also the one who made cupcakes, according to Sayori.
"You can just ignore her when she gets moody~" Sayori says quietly into my ear turning back towards the other girls. "Anyway, this is Natsuki, always full of energy. And this is Yuri, the smartest in the club!"
"Don't say things like that..." Yuri says, fiddling with her hair and turning away from both Sayori and me.
"Well, It's nice to meet both of you."
"And it sounds like you already know Monika, is that right?"
"That's right," Monika says. "It's great to see you again, Player." She smiles sweetly, putting her hands behind her back in a very cute manner.
"You too, Monika."
"Come sit down, Player! We made room for you at the table, so you can sit next to me or Monika." I cringe again as someone says my name, but whatever was going on seems to be over with. Thank God. "I'll get the cupcakes~"
"Hey! I made them, I'll get them!" Natsuki aggressively announces .
"Sorry, I got a little too excited~" Sayori, says, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Then, how about I make some tea as well?" Yuri proposed. The girls have a few desks already arranged to form a table. As Sayori mentioned, it's been widened so that there is one space next to Monika and one space next to Sayori. Natsuki and Yuri walk over ot the corner of the room where Natsuki grabs a wrapped tray and Yuri opens the closet. I take a seat next to Sayori and feel a tinge like something is wrong, like that feeling you get when someone is watching you. Natsuki proudly marches back to the table, tray in hand.
"Okaaay, are you ready?" Natsuki says,a huge smile spreading over her face. "...Ta-daa!"
"Uwoooah!" Sayori shouts as Natsuki lifts the foil off the tray to reveal a dozen white, fluffy cupcakes decorated to look like little cats. The whiskers are drawn on with icing, and little pieces of chocolate were used to make ears. "So cuuuute~!" Sayori shouts.
"I had no idea you were so good at baking, Natsuki!" Monika adds.
"Ehehe. Well, you know. Just hurry and take one!" Natsuki says, gesturing towards the cakes. Sayori grabs one first, then Monika. I follow.
"It's delicious!" Sayorie exclaims, taking a deep bite of hers, getting icing all over her face.
I turn the cupcake around in my fingers, looking for the best angle to take a bite. Natsuki is quiet and I can't help but notice her sneaking glances in my direction. I finally take a bite. The icing is sweet and full of flavor, I wonder if she made it herself.
"Holy shit, this is delicious! Thanks Natsuki!"
"W-Why are you thinking me? It's like I...!" Ah fuck, she's a Tsundere. "...Made them for you or anything."
"You totally did, Sayori said-" I started.
"Well, maybe! Bu not for y-you know, you! Dummy..."
"Whatever you say." I give up on Natsuki's weird logic and dismiss the conversation. Yuri returns to the table, carrying a tea set. She carefully places a teacup in front of each of us before setting down the teapot next to the cupcake tray.
"You keep a while tea set in the class?" I ask.
"Don't worry, the teachers gave us permission," Yuri answers. "After all, doesn't a hot cup of tea help you enjoy a good book?"
"I dunno, I hate tea." I answer.
"Ehehe, don't let yourself get intimid-" Monika starts, stopping ever so briefly I can see something like confusion behind her eyes before she continues. "-ated, Yuri's just trying to impress you." She finishes smugly.
"Eh?! T-That's not..." Yuri says, flustered and insulted. "I meant that, you know..."
"Hey don't worry about it, reading a tea might not be a pastime for me, but to each their own."
"I'm glad," Yuri seems relieved. I wonder if she heard what I said or what's normally in the script. "Monika raises and eyebrow, then smiles at me.
"So, what made you consider the Literature Club?"
"Um... I was gonna look for a club anyway and Sayori seemed happy here so..."
"That's okay! Don't be embarrassed! We'll make sure you feel right at home, okay? As president of the Literature Club, It's my duty to make the club fun and exciting for everyone!"
"Monika, I'm surprised. How come you decided to start your own club? You could probably be a board member for any of the major clubs. Weren't you a leader in the debate club last year?"
"Ahaha, well, you know..." Getting seriously sick of hearing that. "To be honest, I can't stand all the politics around the major clubs. It feels like nothing but arguing about the budget and publicity and how to prepare for events... I'd much rather take something I personally enjoy and make something special out of it. And if it encourages others to get into literature, then I'm fulfilling that dream!"
"Monika really is a great leader!" Sayorie chimes in and I see Yuri nod in agreement.
"Then I'm surprised there aren't more people in the club yet. It must be hard to start a new club."
"You could put it that way. Not many people are very interested in putting out all the effort to start something brand new, especially when it's something that doesn't grab your attention, like literature. You have to work hard to convince people that you're both fun and worth while. But it makes school events, like the festival, that much more important. I'm confident that we can all really grow this club before we graduate. Right, everyone?"
"Yeah!" Sayori piped.
"We'll do our best," Yuri quietly added.
"You know it!" Natsuki exclaimed. These four different chicks all interested in the same goal. Monika was lucky to have found these three, probably why they were so delighted at the thought of a new member joining. But I really doubted my ability to match their enthusiasm for literature.
"So, Player, what kinds of things do you like to read?"
"Sick ass Doujinshi." I reply. I see Natsuki perk up in my peripherals.
"Not much of a reader, I guess..."
"Well, that can change..." What the fuck am I saying? I don't care how sad of a smile she has. "What about you?"
"Well, let's see..." Yuri traces the rim of her teacup with her finger. "My favorites are usually novels that build deep and complex fantasy worlds. The level of creativity and craftsmanship behind them is amazing to me. And telling a good story in such a foreign world is equally impressive." Yuri rambles on about what kinds of books she likes and I start to doze a little. "But you know, I like a lot of things." My head pops up and I shake myself awake. "Stories with deep psychological elements usually immerse me as well." Boring, where's the guns and shit? "Isn't it amazing how a writer can so deliberately take advantage of your own lack of imagination to completely throw you for a loop? Anyway, I've been reading a lot of horror lately..." My ears perk up at the word Horror. "Ah, I read a horror book once..."
"Really? I wouldn't have expected that, Yuri, for someone as gentle as you." Monika chimes in.
"I guess you could say that, but if a story makes me think, or takes me to another world, then I really can't put it down. Surreal horror is often very successful at changing the way you look at the world, if only for a brief moment."
"Ugh, I hate horror..." Natsuki adds.
"Oh? Why's that?" Yuri asks.
"Well, I just..." She looks at me briefly. "Nevermind."
"That's right, you usually like to write about cute things, don't you, Natsuki?" Monika jokes.
"W-What?" Natsuki is now flustered. "What gives you that idea?"
"You left a piece of scrap paper behind last club meeting. It looked like you were working on a poem called-"
"Don't say it out loud! And give that back!"
"Fine, fine~" Monika smiled so smugly, I could just punch her in the fucking head.
"Ehehe, your cupcakes, your poems... Everything you do is just as cute as you are~" Sayori poked. Sayori sidles up behind Natsuki and puts her hands on her shoulders.
"I'm not cute!" Natsuki shouts.
"Natsuki, you write your own poems?" I ask, mildly annoyed for her.
"Eh? Well, I guess sometimes. Why do you care?"
"I think that's impressive. Why don't you share them sometime?"
"N-No!" She looks away from me. "You wouldn't... like them..." Honestly, probably not, but I hate bullies.
"Ah... Not a very confident writer yet?" Who the fuck programmed these lines? Like I'm less of a dick in my own game, Jesus.
"I understand how Natsuki feels," Yuri says, looking down at the floor. "Sharing that level of writing takes more than just confidence. The truest form of writing is writing to oneself. You must be willing to open up to your readers, exposing your vulnerabilities and showing even the deepest reaches of your heart."
"Do you have writing experience too, Yuri?" Monika asks. "Maybe if you share some of your work, you can set an example and help Natsuki feel comfortable enough to share hers." Yuri turns bright pink and won't make eye contact with anyone, looking super worried.
"I guess it's the same for Yuri..." I say.
"Aww... I wanted to read everyone's poems..." Sayori says. Awkward silence commences.
"Okay!" Monika announces.
"Motherfuck!" I shout as she scares the living piss out of me.
"I have an idea, everyone~" We all look at her expectantly. "Let's all go home and write a poem of our own! Then, next time we meet, We'll all share them with each other. That way, everyone is even!"
"U-um..." Natsuki starts, but doesn't continue. Yuri looks extremely nervous as well.
"Yeaaah! Let's do it!" Sayori yells.
"Plus, now that we have a new member, I think it will help us all get a little more comfortable with each other, and strengthen the bond of the club. Isn't that right, Player?" Monika smiles warmly at me once again.
"Wait a fuck, there's one problem." I say.
"What's that?" Monika asks.
"I never said I would join this club! Sayori may have convinced me to stop by, but I never made any decision. I still have other clubs to look at, and...um..." The four girls stare at me with dejected eyes.
"B-but..." Monika says, her legs seeming to sink into the ground.
"I'm sorry, I thought..." Yuri says, sinking as well, what the fuck?
"Hmph," Natsuki snorts, somehow getting shorter than she already is.
"Player..." Sayori says and I look down at their feet, seeing them actually having sank down to their ankles in the floor, like it was quick sand.
"Fuck, fine, I'll stay." They all pop out of the floor as I say that and I can see their eyes light up.
"Yesss! I'm so happyyy~" Sayori announces, wrapping her arms around me, jumping up and down.
"Knock it off!"
"You really did scare me for a moment..." Yuri says.
"If you really just came for the cupcakes, I would be super pissed," Natsuki said.
"Then that makes it official! Welcome to the Literature Club!"
"Thanks, I guess."
"Okay, Everyone! I think with that, we can officially end today's meeting on a good note. Everyone remember tonight's assignment: Write a poem to bring to the next meeting, so we can all share!" Monika looks over at me once more. "Player, I look forward to seeing how you express yourself. Ehehe~"
"Yeah..." I wonder how I can fuck this shit up. The girls continue to chit-chat as Yuri and Natsuki clean up their food.
"Hey, Player, since we're already here, do you want to walk home together?" Sayori asks.
"Sure, might as well."
"Yaay~" She seems genuinely excited.
With another screen wipe I'm home, in front of a notebook, stuck having to write a poem. I stare down at the pages and see the word choices I have here. I pick up a pen and try to write "Fuck" but it changes to "bubbles." Oh-fucking-kay, I guess. If I can't choose my own words, I'll just choose whatever the fuck I want. "Horror," "Shiny," "Pink," "Uncontrollable," "Marshmallow," "Explode," "Anger." Does that fucking say "Suicide"? Uh... "Friends." Dude, "Massacre"? I'm choosing it. "Climax" (Hehe), "Treasure," "Excitement," "Dream," "Awesome," mix it up with "Puppy," "Fun," "Contamination," Destiny," "Vanilla." Finally fucking done. I'm going the fuck to bed.
