Authors Note:
Well damn, 8 follows before I'm even on chapter 2! I recognise most of you guys from In My Hand, thanks for the support, and especially thanks for your kind comments. And yes, bravo TitanSolracar, enjoy your cookie. I have a really busy week of school ahead of me, so I'm afraid I won't be able to upload again until this weekend at the earliest, but oh well. Enjoy.

I walk into the club, Sayori eagerly skipping along with me. Geez, with her energy and chipper attitude, it's no wonder MC had no clue about Sayori's depression.

I look around the room. It's so weird to see this room from this perspective, I'm so used to the fixed perspective in game.

"Everyone! The new member is here!" Sayori shouts.

Monika's eyes instantly latch onto me. She's definitely more interested in me than a random, new member of the club, I can see it in her eyes… She knows. I hope she knows I'm sentient, and doesn't think I'm just the player's guinea pig like MC is in the game.

Yuri puts down her book, and says "Welcome to the Literature Club, it's a pleasure to meet you. Sayori always says nice things about you."

Propaganda, excellent. Thank you Sayori, for you have fooled them and now they are not prepared for my wicked ways - wait what am I saying?

Natsuki takes one look at me, and groans.

"Seriously, you brought a boy? Way to kill the atmosphere."

"Seriously, you have a gremlin? Way to kill the atmosphere."

Yuri laughs, before suddenly going red and retracting into her book. She's reading Project of Markov, as usual.

Natsuki harumphs.

"I'm sorry Natsuki, I was just trying to make a joke to break the ice."

"Wait, how do you know my name? Did Sayori tell you?"

Crap. Off to a bad start. Based on the look Sayori is giving me, I'm guessing she's never mentioned the club members, at least not by name.

"Uh… How many pink haired sub 5 foot students do you think there are in the school? Your name, alongside a relevant description, came up in one of my classes, I think Chem."

Phew, thank goodness I'm good at thinking on my feet, that was close.

"Sure thing, Stalker-Boy. Sounds like a likely story."

"I'm not a - forget it, this will just encourage you."

"Hey, my locker's 136 if you need to know where to send your secret admirer letters! I'd ask that you not put a GPS tracker on me though, stalking me in person is so much more romantic."

Oh God, this is going to be a long day.

"Why Natsuki, already asking me to be romantic around you! So forward!"

"GAH! Shut up, dummy!"

"Do I perchance detect a blush upon your cheeks?"

"N-No! That's my righteous rage!"

I decide to quit while I'm ahead. And while I still have a head, because I think if I push Natsuki much further, she'll deliver a falcon punch to the face.

Yuri puts down her book.

"H-Hey… Makoto is it?"

"Yeah, but my friends call me MC. And you?"

"Eh? Well, my name is Yuri, but my friends call me… Yuri."

She looks away, flustered.

"Cool, it's a pleasure to meet you Yuri!"

Finally, Monika.

"Ah, Makoto! What a nice surprise! Welcome to the club!"

Of course, that stupid thing about shared classes. As if she'd know the name of some random person she barely knew in one class. Wait… can some people actually do that?

All words escape me in this situation.

This club… is full of inedibly cut squirrels!

I feel like I got the quote wrong somehow. Eh, take it or leave it script.

Sayori introduces the girls formally, word for word following the script. A script I'd really rather she not be following, seeing as the club kinda has a 160% mortality rate (8 deaths across 5 participants).

"And it sounds like you already know Monika, is that right?"

"That's right. It's great to see you again MC!"

God, no wonder the MC said she was out of his league. I mean, a drunk middle-aged woman working at McDonalds was out of that asshole's league, but she just had everything on her side. She was, inside and out, unapproachably out of the league of humanity. So having her smile this genuinely at me feels…

"The feeling is mutual!"

Sayori invites me to sit down, and I take a seat next to her. Monika looks ever so slightly downtrodden about my not sitting next to her… I feel a pang of guilt, but I can contact her soon enough, one on one.

While Sayori and Natsuki bicker about who should fetch the cupcakes, and Yuri grabs a teaset, I sense Monika's intense gaze. I still can't tell if she knows that the player is actually here, or if she thinks they're just watching through the MC as is usually the case.

Natsuki is now brandishing a tray. In spite of knowing exactly what the grand reveal will show, I join Sayori in exclaiming "Uwoooooah!". The cupcakes look absolutely amazing.

"Those are awesome! Hey, I'm going to call you Natsukitty from now on. No, wait, Catsuki!"

"Oh, cute nicknames MC! You know what I'm going to call you? Bedridden, if you ever actually call me that!"

Oof.

After Sayori compliments Natsuki's baking prowess, we each grab a cupcake. It feels almost immoral to bite into this piece of art, this wondrous sugary tapestry…

I can't help but notice Natsuki sneaking glances at me, as I hunt for part of the cupcake which I would feel least guilty about taking a chunk out of. Once I finally find a spot (cats don't need two ears it's fine.), the taste hits me. A quick reminder- I hadn't eaten anything other than frozen peas for 8 months. And this was a rich, beautiful, delicious cupcake. My body spasms in shock, totally unable to handle this, and I collapse to the floor.

"Oh hardy har har MC. You know, I put a lot of effort into those… not like it was for you, but you know, still. Rude."

Sayori frowns. "Th-This isn't like him. I'm just going to quickly check he isn't having an epileptic sausage or something."

Yuri facepalmed. "Seizure, Sayori. How did you get the word epileptic but not the word seizure?"

"My friend is having a sedative Yuri! I'm not stupid, I know what a ceasefire is, but I'm panicking!"

"... How did you make two DIFFERENT errors on seizure? It's not a difficult word Sayori."

"Uh, guys? Turns out he actually is having a senior. We gotta get him to the nurse!"

"... Yeah helping your friend get medical attention is more important than correcting you again."

I have limited control over my eyes right now, but Natsuki looks like she's actually concerned, and feeling guilty, emotions I don't typically associate with her.

They pick me up, and take me to the nurse's office. After a few minutes, my system is finally in good enough condition for me to sit up and talk.

"So uh… What happened to the rest of my cupcake?"

Sayori glares at me. "Are you seriously going to eat the rest of that cupcake?"

"Well yeah. It was a friggin fantastic cupcake. 10/10 would have a seizure again."

I can see Natsuki grin a little in the background.

"H-How did you have a seizure from one bite of her cupcake? It wasn't even a large bite." Yuri queried.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhh I blame Sayori."

"E-Eh? And why would that be, you meanie?"

"Okay fine maybe it wasn't her. Maybe some of my dietary choices haven't been wise."

"What, did you skip breakfast or something?"

"I hadn't eaten anything aside from frozen peas for 8 months."

The four of them stare at me, aghast.

"EIGHT MONTHS? JESUS, YOU COULD'VE BEEN KILLED!" Monika exclaimed.

Now why didn't anyone tell me that before I died in the real world? A little late Monika.

"Oh, you exaggerate. But that's why I reacted so violently. I went from months of peas to an amazing, sugary, icing covered goddess that disguised itself as a cupcake."

"Why would you not have eaten anything but peas!?" Sayori yelled.

"I'm not made of money. Food is a waste of money. You do the maths."

"Aww, but I hate maths - oh you mean the figure of speech. Right. Well, food isn't a waste of money, it's something you need in order to survive!"

"Surviving costs too much. I've been saving virtually every penny - I mean, yen, for a while now so as to avoid student debt and save up for a deposit on a house. In doing so, I've… cut back on luxury products."

The girls look very concerned.

"Define luxury products." Yuri asked nervously.

"You know, fancy clothes, entertainment products, coffee, hygiene items, healthcare, the water supply, food..."

"... Well that's unhealthy, we should address that with you at some later date. But uh, you seem to be a lot better, maybe we should take this back to the literature club."

We begin to walk over. I'd like to talk to Monika in private sooner rather than later, but first, Yuri starts chatting with me on the way back to the club.

"So Makoto, what books do you like to read?"

"Well… ah..."

I read a bunch as a kid, but I'm afraid I mostly dropped the habit when I went to high school, so I can't really answer that question.

"Um… Well I'm afraid I haven't been reading enough recently to have an answer to that… that's actually a major part of why I came to the club in the first place, that was a habit that I'd like to return to."

"It is a good habit to possess. You say return to?"

"Oh yeah, I read all the time before high school. Back then I was more into action and comedic books. I was a kid at the time though. Of what I have read lately, I like it most when it raises questions about utilitarianism, or economic things like class warfare. Oh, and I adored Flowers for Algernon, if you haven't read that, do. What about you?"

"Well, I'm quite impartial to novels which build deep and complex fantasy worlds. The sheer creativity and craftsmanship behind such works always delights me. Of course, anything which envelops me in a new world is great. Stories with psychological elements also appeal to me because of that. It's really incredible how a good author can use your own lack of imagination to throw you for a loop. In the last few weeks, I've been mostly reading some horror titles."

Her passion for reading was always my favourite element of her personality. Her other passions involved a few too many pens and a tad too much cutting open my skin and crawling inside it for my taste. I prefer a reader to a bleeder.

"Horror? Huh, you never struck me as the type to enjoy horror. Always seemed more gentle than that to me." Monika comments.

"I… I suppose that's a fair statement. But if horror books can transport me to a new world, or make me think about new perspectives, I'll happily read them."

Natsuki grumbles. "I hate horror."

Yuri glances at her. "Oh? Why is that?"

"W-Well, I just… Never mind."

"Oh that's right, you usually like to write about cute things, don't you? Like what you were working on last time, that poem called -"

"DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD!"

"Ehehe, your poems, your cupcakes..." Sayori said, placing her hands on Natsuki, "... Everything you do is just as cute as you are!"

"I'm not cute!" she shouted in an adorable fashion.

"Come on Sayori, it's not nice to pick on little kids."

"GOD DAMMIT MC! I'm shoving the rest of the cupcake in your mouth when we get to the club you ass."

"Oh no, not the cupcakes! You're a cruel one Natsuki! That's ancient medieval torture right there!"

"Hardy har. I figure if a bite gives you a seizure, the whole thing will put you in a dang coma."

"Alright, but this isn't Sleeping Beauty. I know Natsuki has made her attraction to me clear, but girls, promise me you won't let her have her way with me while I'm out."

"I Solomon swear." Sayori said.

"I don't, and it's solemnly, what's wrong with you today Sayori?" Yuri added.

Natsuki goes red. "I don't have a crush on you, you friggin perv!"

"Sure thing sweetie."

"Hey! That's Natsweetie- I mean, Natsuki to you! And I really don't like you!"

"Your cheeks tell a different story."

"No! I mean, I get it, I'm pretty dang awesome, who wouldn't want me to have a crush on them, but your delusions are only hurting your chances of ever actually getting with me. I'm sure you like the idea of us getting into that closet over there, you stroking my pink locks, as we stare into each others eyes, kissing, and we pull off each other's uniforms and-"

"What the fuck Natsuki." Monika said, mouth agape.

"Yeah. I was messing with you Natsuki, where the hell did that come from?"

"What happens next?" Sayori said, looking genuinely confused. "Why would you take off your uniform there? It'll get dirty from the janitor's equipment and you'll just have to put them back on."

We burst out laughing, as Sayori harrumphed, vexed at what we were all on about.

Luckily for Natsuki, once we're done laughing, we move on from what she had been saying.

Monika snaps her fingers. "Say, Natsuki's poem thing earlier gave me an idea. What if we all make poems, and present them at the next club meeting? That way, everyone's even!"

Yuri and Natsuki react with polite silence, while Sayori exclaims "Yeah! Let's do it!"

"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, Makoto?"

"Sounds great! Hey Monika, can I quickly have a word with you?"

"Uh, not right now, I'm afraid I have something really important to do tonight. But how about we chat after poems tomorrow?"

Damn. I really don't want to have to wait that long, but I can't think of a way to communicate how important this talk is without the other girls being concerned. Maybe if I try to make it clear that I know?

"Sure Monika, I'd be game for that! A.I.- Sorry, I mean I, look forward to it. Cough the universe is a lie cough."

I know, I know. Maybe I was too subtle. It is a blessing and a curse.

"Uh okay glad you're up for that chat. See you tomorrow MC!"

Damn.

Sayori walks up to me.

"Wanna walk home together?"

"Sure, sounds great!"

While we walk home, I realise something. D-Does the poem mini-game system still exist? Uh… I guess I'll test that tomorrow. I'll bring in 20 random words, and if they don't like it, I'll pretend I'd given the wrong sheet and show an actual poem.

I glance over at Sayori. She's the most friendly ticking time bomb I've ever encountered. I can't let events pass as they did in game…

"Hey, you know what I said about doing your bidding today?"

"Eh? Oh yeah, I recall."

"You haven't really taken advantage of it. Sure, I went to the literature club, but is there anything else you'll do with this temporary slave labour?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Weirdly, no, nothing comes to mind. Don't suppose you have any suggestions?"

"Hmm… I know, how about we have a sleepover! I remember you liking those."

"E-Eh? But, but we haven't had one of those since we were in Middle School! And well, you're male, I'm female… I don't want to have to explain the birds and bees to you, but with that, it's kinda going to look weird to have a sleepover at our age."

"Don't worry about the birds and bees talk, I know that. You see, when a mummy and a daddy love each other very much they chuck bees at one another and then a baby appears."

"Th-That is a joke right?"

"... Yes Sayori. But in terms of social convention… well who's going to stop us? Our parents seem to be perpetually gone."

"Now that you mention it, our parents really are pituitary glands."

Did Monika do something to her intelligence? She seems to have been slipping up on words a lot today.

"... Right then. So do you want to have a sleepover then?"

"Yeah sure! My house or yours?"

"Let's have it at your house. I'll go grab some necessities and snacks!"

Fortunately, unlike real world me, MC has a large, non-pea based pantry. I grab some chips, and candy, as well as some pyjamas, and go to join her. As I walk out, I look across the road at the weird, procedurally generated homes I mentioned earlier, that fill up the bits of the game that never actually existed. I'm about to move on, when I notice one glitch a tinge. I stare into the window of the house.

A pair of green eyes stare back.

God damn that is creepy. Why is she not reacting to my looking at her? Oh yeah, I suppose she thinks the actual in-game camera is still facing the player towards Sayori's house. I have really got to bring that up with her tomorrow - stalking me is not an attractive feature. But as Sayori bursts out, I have no choice but to focus my attention on her.

"Hey Makoto! I've tidied up a bit, so you can come on in now!"