Disclaimer: There's going be a disclaimer for literally everything. Oh, and before you go into this, an additional poem, a haiku:

I love to drink tea / Weyland isn't me, I swear / I'm worse than he is

Make sure to point out any mistakes in my writing down below!


Day 1, Part 3: With Emotion, Now

Act 1: Body


What is the point of living

If we are living just to die

What is the point of breathing

If we choke on our last breath

What is the point of sight

If we see forever black

What is the point of existence...

. x . x . x . x .

Besides those earlier mishaps; more importantly, Sayori, Natsuki and Yuri, the school day passes relatively quickly. I was left in my head for the most part, which I was thankful for, yet I couldn't help but continue to wonder what club Sayori had signed me up for? Could it be that nerd club she'd pointed out a few months back, or the Sakura something Swimming Club I keep hearing about... er, nah, I'd probably drown. Whatever club it is, it certainly had her excited for me. Maybe the Anime or Manga Clubs? I'd definitely get a kick of seeing Natsuki every other weekday.

God, I really hope it's not the Anime or Mango clubs. Besides the odd novel or show I'd watch, I know jack about Animuu or Mango, but Sayori knows I'd suffer for her. Miserable sonova-

The sudden bell ringing cuts my mental conversation off and I'm left blinking at my desk. That was the day bell, the final one too; did I really miss out on this whole period? Resting my head in my hand, elbow planted firmly against the desk, I grumble. Thanks, 'Yori. If any of my grades drop from today, it's her fault. Even though I was the one that wasn't exactly paying attention... but still! She put each of the possible clubs I could be apart of in my head, she made me late for school, she missed lunch! It's all her fault! Glaring absentmindedly at the chalkboard at the front of the room, despite almost everyone leaving, I continue to toy with my thoughts.

I should really stay out of my head, but it's probably the Goddamn Anime club now if I really think about it. She'd definitely get a kick out of that. Wonder if I'd be able to leave without anyone noticing? Bah, probably not. Sayori might end up monitoring me or something, just to make sure I stuck with it. I'm thinking on this way too much, just get up and see what she's got plan-

"Hey, Wey'!" With the abrupt appearance of the girl on my mind in my sight, like two inches away from my face, of course it's a given to let out a totally manly scream. Which I totally didn't do, because I totally wasn't scared or anything like that.

Yeah.

Regardless, I fall back out of my seat and land on my tuckus. How the hell does she do that? Always sneaking up on me with no hint whatsoever. Freaky; clutching my hand to my chest, I look up at her. Her mouth is open in a wide 'o' as she looks back down to me. She starts giggling. "I'm so sorry, hehehe! I didn't know you were spacing out, I definitely would've started with something less startling!" She outstretches an arm to me, and I'm half tempted to smack it away.

Too bad I care.

Grabbing onto the appendage, I pull myself up with a little too much force... pulling her into me. Why does today have to be so weird. The rhetorical question goes unanswered. I can feel her heart beating into my chest, her giggles sending weird vibes throughout my body. I push her away gently.

I'm sure my face is red right now, so I raise a hand up and pinch the bridge of my nose to hide my embarrassment; standing directly in front of her, I'm sure she notices regardless. "Sayori, what'd I say about sneaking up on me? We always have this conversation." Calming down with a ragged sigh, I lower my hand and pat her gently on the head. "You're gonna be the death of me one of these days, kid." I knew that word would rile her up, her giggling stops and her brows furrow as she pouts at me.

"Don't call me that, I'm older than you! It's not my fault you're so oblivious!" The way she says that, it sounds as if there's an underlying message... but I'm probably reading too hard on that, for all I know, maybe I do need to keep a better look out for my surroundings.

She's the one who did frighten me, after all.

Did I just admit that to myself?

"So, you're still shorter. When I see you a good inch ahead of me, maybe I'll stop." After meeting that Yuri girl earlier, the one I'm sure who's taller than me, I feel like I have a superiority complex now. She harrumphs loudly and lightly punches me in the chest. Not being able to help myself, I chuckle at her rightful attitude, thoughts drifting away from the book lover. "Anyway, you wouldn't scare me without reason... so, what's up?" She blinks idly for a few seconds before a quick 'aha!' escapes her mouth, her childish pouting all but forgotten.

"Well originally I was going to wait for you outside, but you hadn't left the classroom yet, so I ended up walking in, and there you were! You were in space!" Her phrasing is odd, but she's not wrong. "And I figured, 'if Weyland is in space, maybe I should bring him down to Earth!' and so I did. Your face was all red and funny looking, hehe." When did I say it? Earlier, right? She's a bubbly girl, and I guess I appreciate it from her. Somewhat.

Mussing up her hair, toying with the cute red bow that sits on her head, I laugh. "Is that all...?" I leave the question open, knowing she's not finished speaking.

She hums an audible no, letting out a content sigh along with it, and she continues speaking. "Nope! Like I said, I'm here to show you that club you're in!" I hate how she says I'm in a new club when I never even really gave my consent. Ah, well. May as well humor the girl. Friendship and such.

Besides, saying 'no' won't do squat for me, anyhow.

"Mhm, and may I know the name of the club I'm in now... or what?" As fun as it is playing these games, I really would like an honest answer. Sadly, with Sayori, an answer up front is next to impossible. The pinkette shakes her head and pulls on my arm, forgetting entirely I also need to walk to be able to keep up with her. She puts more effort into pulling than I do and I nearly fall back again as I grab my backpack from beside my seat.

Sadly, she's too much in a hurry for me to be able to grab my binder. Knowing Mrs. Hidei — Mr. Hidei's wife, surprise surprise — everything left of mine will likely be in the office by tomorrow. Everything, minus my pen, that is.

I can never keep track of those things. I've lost more pens in one year than I have received headaches. And I get those a whole lot.

"It's a surpriiiise~" her voice finishes in a tune and I'm brought back to Earth once more because of it. I really do space out a bunch, don't I? I smile at Sayori regardless of my blatant spacing. This girl. As we leave the room into the hall, the door shrinks from behind us, and even hall itself soon retreats from view as we head upwards to the only place I've never really been: the second floor.

How intimidating.

It wasn't a long walk, honestly just felt like we just went up a flight of stairs, which we did. Now staring at a closed door, I can't help but notice the sheets of paper tacked on the wall next to it. "A new journey every week," "words alone encourage greatness," "poetry nights, Thursday nights." Things like that should've made me realize-

"Welcome to Literature Club!"

-that she'd signed me up for a Literature Club. Well, it's not Mango Club... but still, Literature? I don't even want to read that book Yuri gave me. She opens the door without warning just as I'm about to make a retreat, full throttle. I feel three new pairs of eyes staring at me as I look down at Sayori with a glare and my cheeks redden. Goddammit, 'Yori.

She rushes from me into the room, an excited squeal escaping her throat as she passes me by. "Everyone! The new member is here~!" She looks back at me and I give a pathetic wave from my position just outside of the room.

"Sup." Kill me now. I move inside, glancing at the other occupants; three girls stare back at me, two I'm already slightly familiar with and one I've maybe seen, like, once, like, two years ago. Probably. How the Hell am I supposed to know? Apparently already knew Natsuki, sheesh.

"Weyland? Ugh, I thought you had me bake cupcakes for another girl, but Weyland? This loser?" Speak of the Devil, and she shall appear. I still can't help but feel slightly hurt...

I flip her off.

Sayori smacks my arm.

"Welcome, it's a pleasure to meet you." The tallest of the bunch, Yuri, stares at me with a still expression. "Again," she chuckles behind her sleek hand at me and Natsuki, the other girl from earlier, glances between both her and me. "Sayori said some rather nice things about you, after meeting with you today, she was not wrong. It'll be a pleasure to have you in our little club." Her calming demeanor does little to nullify the amount of awkward I'm feeling.

The shorter girl, with a firework-esque attitude, pushes Yuri off to the side. She looks up and down my entirety, and I can't help but feel as if I'm being stripped bare. The glaring she adds along with it doesn't help. "Seriously? Am I the only one who didn't read the sign-up bulletin? Of all the people in the school, and you allow the transfer-" a hand clasps over her mouth and she quiets, now glaring daggers at the final girl in the room. The brunette who silenced the mini-inferno stares at me; silently, intently, almost critically.

Kinda freaks me out, if I'm being honest.

"Ah, Weyland. What a nice surprise to finally meet you. When you had registered for the club, I was hoping to see you here yesterday." She lowers her hand that covered the boisterous girl's mouth and extends it outward. Despite grossing me out, I grab onto it with my own either way. "Initiative goes a long way in the Literature Club, think of that as your first official writing tip, hm?"

Natsuki, with a temper seemingly worse than before, continuously glares at the taller girl. "Initiative? Tch, yeah, he sure showed that when he called me Mango Girl..." Her comment goes over everyone's head except mine.

I almost flip her off again, but the girl directly in front of me coughs lightly, politely into her other hand. My attention falls on her once more.

"I am Monika Kuse. The leader, or president rather, of this here club. Sayori, your friend I assume, is the vice-president. She has been such a great help setting up this club these last few months. And with you joining, you are officially our fifth member! Although, I am surprised you have already met the other two... you are aware that we share the same Physical Education class, correct? Racquet Sports is a delectable pass-time when partaken with friends or close acquaintances." She lets go of my hand to intertwine both her own, hanging them loosely them over her lap. Her emerald eyes, staring back into my own almost sickeningly cutely, asking that unasked question. 'Why have you not spoken with me until now?'

I'm at a loss for words for an answer. I can already feel a headache beginning to form.

I almost pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration, blink and stop it mid-air. I look like an idiot, I'm sure. This, ah, this literature group's been an official club for a few months? And I'm their fifth member? That nerd club I saw weeks back had, like, twenty plus, and they just started out about the same time, I think! Do they just not want to expand? I lower my hand and look to Sayori, her toothy smile blinds me for several seconds before I sigh.

"What're you sighin' at? Bored already?" Natsuki interrupts me before I could even speak. Does everyone here do that? "If you're so bored, why don't you just leave?" That comment throws me off a little, and I go to tell her off-

"Natsuki..." But Yuri does it for me.

"Hmph."

She's got a big mouth on her for such a small frame. Fricken' first years. Sayori's hand grips my shoulder lightly and stops me from mentally ranting yet again. My attention turns back to her. "You can just ignore when she gets all moody~ she's not always like this. Promise!" Her voice whispers into my ear, and once more I fight off a weird vibe crawling up and down my spine.

No, seriously, why is today such a weird day?

She squeezes my shoulder gently once again before letting go and turning to the three girls. "Welp! You've already met Natsuki, but I bet you don't know Yuri! She's the very most smartest girl in the club, she's amazing!" With how she's phrasing it, I'm sure Natsuki can make the same claim about herself as well.

A light gasp comes from the girl she mentioned and Yuri's face turns a blazing red. I almost feel sorry. "D-don't say things like that!" Remembering my earlier experience with her and her light-switch attitude, I don't. I mean, did she not just greet me earlier and now she's all red in the face?

Sayori's expectant look pulls me away from my thoughts. How many times is this going to happen exactly? I shake my head visibly, earning a light giggle from my friend. "Ah, well... it's nice to, y'know, meet you all... er, for some of you for the second or third time." Thinking briefly of Natsuki, I raise a hand and scratch the back of my neck awkwardly. Monika smiles at my horrid attempt at a greeting, a giggle of her own escapes from behind a hand.

"Oh! How could I forget! This is Monika!" But, she just-

"Sayori, you are so forgetful at times. It is so cute, really! Weyland and I had just introduced each other, remember?" Ah, well, at least one of these girls has a good head on their shoulders. Pity for the rest, though, Sayori with her stumblebum brain, the ticking time bomb that is Natsuki, and... er, whatever Yuri has going on. Sayori laughs at herself and nods her head.

"Oops, silly me~" Monika smiles at the two of us and with a nod turns to look at the other girls. "Well, whatever! Come on, sit down Wey'-"

A snicker from Natsuki diverts my attention to her for a second. "Wey'? Haha!" Her hushed voice doesn't make its way to Sayori's ears and she sits down, directly across from the person she'd slighted.

And me too, I guess. But like, it isn't my nickname for myself, so... I'm not going to count it?

"-there's room for you at the table! I accidentally added another desk, but I didn't want to remove it, so you can sit next to Monika or me!" Why would I want to sit next to Monika, I don't even know her? And how do you accidentally add an additional desk when there's only one new member? My eyes race over everyone taking their own seats, Monika's gaze catches my own for only a second before I rip mine away. I barely catch the look of hurt that crosses her features for that moment.

I'm sorry it's too awkward to accidentally share eye contact, sheesh.

Not like I really care anyway, I'm more or less here at this point just for Sayori's sake. Prove I can do something productive and whatnot. I stand before my seat next to Sayori, pull the chair from under the desk, and sit down next to her, the girl wraps her arms around me tightly for a moment to show her gratitude. Natsuki huffs and rolls her eyes as she gets up and goes towards the mini-fridge behind the teacher's desk. Presumably to grab the fabled cupcakes.

If it's not before my own eyes as it's mentioned, it's fabled. I'm sure that's how it works, probably.

Yuri, the one I understand the least, unless I'm counting Monika, stands up as well and nods her head with a small smile. "I'll make us all some tea to enjoy." And with that, she too leaves the table.

That just leaves the three amigos: Sayori, Monika and me. Although I use the term amigo loosely, so... the two/thirds amigos? Shit, I don't know. I look around and bite the inside of my cheek. The most uncomfortable silence fills the air as Monika glances between both Sayori and me. I have a hard time saying anything while my friend is too busy bobbing her head to a silent tune. It's at times like this that make me wonder why I do anything Sayori asks me to do. I open my lips to speak-

And it's Monika who breaks the silence. Thank GOD. "So, are there any other clubs you have shown interest in? You are able to join more than one, you know. The Anime and Manga clubs are still open for new members-" from the corner of my eye, Natsuki scarcely flinches as she carries over a small tray of covered delicacies to us. "-that is, if it is any of interest to you?"

I feel two sets of eyes staring at me again, and that uncomfortable feeling returns. "I, ah..." Sayori stops bobbing her head and looks at me with a curious gaze. Honestly, I don't read manga. But I have a gut feeling I'm going to disappoint someone if I say that. "I didn't know that. I'll, uh, be sure to check them out later." I muster as much enthusiasm as I can into that lie, but it probably comes off as forced. Monika nods at my answer and as I look to Natsuki, she averts her eyes quickly, now behind her seat at the amalgamation-of-desks table with the treat.

I think I pulled it off?

"Ahem! Are you all ready..." her voice, usually filled with sarcasm or contempt, typically for me from what I've seen so far, seems to flow with pride. For herself or her creation, I don't know. "... to experience a once in a lifetime moment with these cupcakes!" The pinker pinkette exclaims loudly, lifting the foil away from the tray, revealing cute kitten-like cupcakes. I almost vomit.

"Natsuki, inside voice. And we've already experienced your 'once in a lifetime moment'. We had similar ones yesterday, remember?" Yuri's voice draws my attention to the taller girl. In her hands, a wooden tray with five little mugs filled with tea.

Or diluted plant water, but no one's asking me.

"Shut up, Miss Fun-Bags! I was talking about Wey'!" She chuckles as she says Sayori's shortened moniker for me and I groan into my hand, but not at my nickname. I try hard to suppress a chuckle at what she'd called Yuri, but I think I'm failing. Yuri's expression falters and she nearly drops the tray of liquids. "And besides! Every batch I make is different! So, of course, it's a once in a lifetime experience! Every time!" Her additional shout seems to go in one ear and through the other of the violet-haired girl.

Her face is beet red and, unable to hold it back any longer, I snortle loudly. "F-fun Bags! W-what do you mea-" her retort is cut off by the loli as a laugh escapes her, noticing I've done so as well.

"Oh, you know what I mean."

Jesus, that's hilarious. Blunt, but hilarious.

"Girls! We have a new member, and I would appreciate it if you two would not talk that way!" Monika's hands slam on her desk, drawing everyone's eyes to her. The sudden outburst makes me jolt and I almost choke on my surprise. Everyone else does the same.

"There, now that things are calmed down, why don't we all have a seat, and enjoy some cupcakes and tea." It wasn't a question.

Natsuki chuckles gingerly and begins walking around the desks, handing out the cup-cats, see what I did there, and Yuri does the same but with her tea. I look at Sayori, she shows no interest in conversing anymore. In front of her, on her desk, lies her true goal.

And I'm not the only one who realizes.

Planting the empty tray onto the desk next to hers, Yuri's, Natsuki drops her mouth open and scoffs openly at Sayori. "Wait just one second, you told us there would be a new member yesterday! He doesn't show until today, and you knew I'd keep making them until he showed! You used me!" Sayori blinks.

And then opens her mouth in the cheekiest smile I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. Did she use me, too? For cupcakes? Holy shit, Sayori. You conniving little... She, noticing my mental gears turning, and before I can even berate her, places a chaste kiss on my cheek.

A ghost feeling of her lips remains there directly after. I sputter.

And sputter again, because what the fuck just happened.

Thankfully, Natsuki is too busy glaring at Sayori to notice, Yuri seems to be sipping her cup's contents in peace, and Monika... nevermind, Monika was looking at me, brow rising over one eye. A hint of red showing upon her cheeks, but who am I to care right now?

Clenching my eyes shut, letting out an annoyingly loud sigh, I lean my head back. "Sayori, just eat your cupcake already. Oh my God." I grumble to myself, pushing the plastic plate with my treat away from my desk and onto hers.

Sweets suck, anyway.

Frosting splatters across my face suddenly and away from my migraine-inducing thoughts I go, Natsuki glaring at me across the table confirms who the culprit was. "That was for you, asshole!" I look to my left, Sayori already has my cupcake halfway down her gullet. Her eyes are wide, looking at mine with faux-innocence.

Turning back to Natsuki with an unamused frown, with my middle finger, I wipe away some of the crumbs and frosting, shove it in my mouth, and flip her off. As she goes red in the face, only one thought goes through my head.

That wasn't bad at all actually, shit. Why did I give mine to Sayo-

And I groan; the memory of, like, fourteen seconds ago hits me like a brick.

. x . x . x . x .

If all that waits is death


Sorry, these last few days have been hectic. What with planning for Christmas and my brother's birthday coming up in the next few days, I kind of got sidetracked. But that's why this chapter's here for, its got TWO chapters' length! To, hopefully, make up for all of that!

If some of the humor falls flat, then that's my fault entirely. I'm not used to writing scenes featuring five characters, my usual limit is two xD but Hell, it was bound to happen at some point, so consider this my training chapter! Maybe? Probably, I dunno.

Anyway, review reply(ies)!

MAuthorian-WarriorOfBirthright: I was probably just gonna write 'what-if' chapters, like, "instead of this happening at this point, that happens instead." Y'know? Makes it easier for me haha, thanks for the suggestion, though!

Mark the Mark: I want to say thanks, y'know, for your continued support. It means a lot to have you here xD! And I'm not going to lie, the whole weirded out reaction was basically mine as well. Yuri is just, I dunno, a strange character is the best I can put it. Puts a huge damper my feelings for her, I guess. Anyway, hope to continue to see you around for this!

Simply Guardian: Don'tchu worry, fam. I'll keep dabbing on them haters o/ xDD but seriously, thanks. Your humorous reviews are l33t

And for those who felt they don't need to review, but still support the story I hope you all continue to enjoy! I've got a couple twists planned for the next few chapters. S'gonna be great.