Doki Doki Literature Club: Trying My Best

Chapter 6

Monday

I hadn't gotten any sleep at all yesterday. It felt as though someone stabbed me in the gut, twisted the knife and left it there. "Sayori..." I forced myself out of bed and to the bathroom. I took a shower, dried off and changed into my school uniform.

I didn't bother eating and just walked right out the door and towards the school. It took me about an hour just to reach the school at the pace I was walking. Once inside, I started heading for my second class since I missed my first.

Hours later

I spent the whole day sitting in my desk thinking about Sayori. I didn't bother doing my school work, I didn't bother going to lunch, I didn't care about anything except Sayori.

The bell rang, signaling the school day has ended.

Instead of leaving the class, I sat in my desk, my head down and staring out the window. "Please...wake up soon..."

"Jack?" I looked to the door to see Natsuki standing there. "Are you okay?"

"No." I looked back to the window. "No, I'm not."

"Are...you coming to the club today?" she asked.

"Maybe... I might just go to the hospital, I don't know..." I sat up and covered my eyes. "I don't understand why she did it, Natsuki." tears stung my eyes. Wiping the tears away, I stood up and walked over to the door. "Come on."

"You're coming to the club?" she asked.

"Yeah..." I put my hands in my pockets. "I guess it might help to be around friends." I followed Natsuki to the clubroom. "Hey, can you grab the second volume? I wanna take my mind off things." I asked Natsuki.

"Yeah, sure." she walked over to the closet and pulled out the second volume of Parfait Girls before heading over to me. Sitting down beside me, we started reading.

We read the first page in silence and as Natsuki went to turn the page, I noticed a dark bruise on her wrist.

"Natsuki?" I said softly.

"Yeah?"

I gently took her hand and pulled back her sleeve, exposing the bruise. "What happened?"

"Oh...I, uhm...I fell..." she replied.

Taking a closer look at it, the bruise seemed to be in the shape of a hand, like someone gripped her arm too tight and pulled. "You don't get a bruise like that from falling, Natsuki." I gently wrapped my arm around her wrist and she winced. I didn't apply any pressure but she winced anyways. "How'd this happen?"

"I...don't want to talk about it." she pushed her sleeve back down and we continued reading.

"Alright..." I continued reading with her.

Before long, Monika said we could leave if we wanted. Because of what happened, none of us wrote a poem for today and I doubt I'll be writing any for some time.

"Hey, Natsuki?"

"Yeah?" she looked at me.

"Could I...nevermind." I shook my head. "Forget I said anything."

"What is it?"

"It's just... Can you come over to my house? I...don't want to be alone..." I said softly.

She was about to say something but instead just nodded her head. "I'll have to stop by my house to change first."

"Okay." I wrote down my address and phone number and handed the piece of paper to her. "Call me when you're coming over."

"Okay." she wrote down her number and handed me the paper before getting up and leaving the room.

Leaning my head against the wall, I let out a slow, shaky breath. "Jack?" Monika said.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about what happened to Sayori. If there's anything I can do to help, please, let me know." she handed me her phone number.

"Thanks."

I watched her leave and spent a few minutes sitting on the floor before deciding to pick myself up and leave.

Leaving the school, I slowly walked back to my house. It took me another hour to get there and head inside.

Walking up the stairs and into my room, I pulled out my phone and saved Monika's and Natsuki's numbers in my contact list. I already had Sayori's number and I put in Yuri's Saturday.

Sitting on my bed, I waited for Natsuki to call.

Hours later

Still nothing from Natsuki, I put my phone on my desk and laid down in my bed. Closing my eyes, I started to drift off.

Tuesday

I opened my eyes and immediately wished I hadn't. I was having a dream that Sayori was awake, that she never...

We were a couple in my dream. We were happy, and everything bad that ever happened was just a nightmare. But waking up, and realising it was all a dream, was the true nightmare. A nightmare I wished would end.

Forcing myself out of my bed, I stood up. "Fuck..." I placed a hand over my eyes as anger started to slowly build its way up. Everything started to anger me, school, people, myself...life.

I forced myself to my feet and changed into my school uniform. Grabbing my phone from the desk, I turned it on and saw three messages from Natsuki.

'Sorry, I can't come over. My dad...grounded me.' the first read.

'I might be able to come over tomorrow, though.'

'I'm really sorry, Jack.'

I put my phone in my pocket and left my house to make my way to school. It took me another hour to get there and I missed first period again. Walking into my second period, I went over to my seat and sat down, placing my head on my desk.

About thirty minutes into class, everyone was working while I just stared out the window, waiting for the day to end. Eventually, I heard the teacher walk over to me.

"Jack?" my teacher said softly. "I heard about what happened and I wanted to say, I'm sorry to hear it. But you shouldn't throw your grades down the drain. I know how you f-"

"No you don't!" I snapped, lifting my head off the desk. "My best friend tried to kill herself and you expect me to believe you know how I fucking feel?! I don't give a damn about my grades! I don't give a damn about anything right now!" I looked around the class to see everyone staring at me. Irritated, I stood up from my desk and walked to the door.

"Jack, where are you going?"

I stopped at the door for a second before shaking my head and yanking open the door before storming out. Heading for the stairs, I walked down them and towards the exit.

Pushing open the doors, I started heading for my house. It didn't take me long to get there.

Changing out of my school clothes and into my hoodie and jeans, I walked outside and got into my mom's car. Putting the key in the ignition, I turned the car on before backing out of the driveway and towards the hospital.

It took me about thirty minutes to reach my destination. Parking the car, I got out and walked inside the building. Approaching the front desk, I was greeted by the nurse behind it. "Hello. How may I help you?" she asked.

"I'd like to visit a patient: Sayori Valentine." I told her.

"Of course." she smiled. "Go right on in!" I thanked her before walking down the hall.

Heading for Sayori's room, I walked in and saw her condition hasn't gotten any better. Sitting in the chair beside the bed, I placed my hand on Sayori's. It was cold to the touch.

"Hey, Sayori..." I said softly. "It's...good to see you again." I didn't know what to say, but I figured me being here would make her happy. "I wish you were awake." tears stung my eyes. "I wish we could chat, have fun like we used to."

I slowly let go of her hand and leaned back in the chair. "Please, wake up soon."

Hours later

I awoke to my phone buzzing in my pocket. Rubbing my eyes awake, I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. Turning it on, I saw messages from Yuri, Monika and Natsuki.

"Hey, I heard you stormed out of the school? What happened?' the text from Monika read.

'Where are you? Are you okay?' Yuri asked.

'Since you didn't show up to the club, I assume you're at home? I'm stopping by later today. I hope you're okay, Jack.' Natsuki sent.

After reading the messages, I put my phone in my pocket. Looking at Sayori, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. "I'll come back tomorrow, Sayori." I kissed her on the forehead before heading for the door. "I... I love you."

I slowly left the room and started heading for the exit. Leaving the hospital, I walked over to my mom's car and climbed inside. Turning it on, I started to drive back home.

Reaching the house, I pulled into the driveway and saw a familiar, pink-haired girl standing on my doorstep. She was wearing a long sleeve white top and skinny blue jeans.

Getting out of the car, I walked passed Natsuki and unlocked the door. Pushing it open, I gestured for her to walk in, which she did.

"Jack, I'm really-" I wrapped my arms around her in a hug, cutting her off.

"Thank you, Natsuki." I felt her slowly return the sudden embrace. Pulling away, I wiped my eyes.

"You went to see Sayori, didn't you?" she asked.

I nodded in reply.

"Is she...doing any better?"

"No." I shook my head. "She's not."

Natsuki looked around before reaching into her bag. "I...brought the second and third volume of Parfait Girls. I thought it might...help cheer you up..."

"Yeah... I could really use a distraction."

We walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Natsuki opened the second volume where we left off and the two of us began to read. About thirty minutes in, Natsuki must have noticed I wasn't really paying attention.

"Okay..!" she closed the book and stood up.

"What are you doing?"

"Sayori wouldn't want you to sulk around like this." she grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet. "Let's do something that'll really take your mind off things."

"Like what?"

A devilish smirk crossed her lips. "I can think of a few things."

Minutes later

"Seriously?" I asked once I saw Natsuki pull out all of the ingredients needed to make cupcakes. "Baking?"

"It's very fun." she replied as she started making the batter.

"Really?" I rolled my eyes. "How exactly-" I felt something soft and moist hit my cheek. Using my index finger, I wiped whatever it was off and noticed it was the icing Natsuki was making. "Did you just-?"

"Whatchya gonna do about it?" she smirked.

"Seriously, I'm not-" another glop of icing hit my cheek again. Looking to Natsuki, I saw her dipping her finger into the icing to toss more at me. "Don't you da-" this time, the icing hit my forehead. "Okay. You asked for it!"

Natsuki placed the bowl of icing onto the counter before dipping her finger in it to try and get one last toss at me. As she went to throw it at me, I ducked under her hand and grabbed her arm. Backing her up against the wall, I pinned her other arm with my free hand.

She giggled as I placed her arms above her head and held them together with one hand. Wiping the icing off my forehead, I looked at it before Natsuki. "If you try anything, I'll scream!" she warned.

"Is that so?" I wiped my finger off on the sleeve of her shirt.

"Gross!" she squealed before giggling. Seeing icing still on her finger, I smirked. She had her eyes closed from laughing which gave me the perfect opportunity.

Leaning down, I licked the icing off her finger. Her eyes suddenly opened. "Did you just-!?"

"Yes. I. Did!" I smiled. "Whatchya gonna do about it?"

"Okay." she giggled. "That's it!" she managed to get one of her hands free and pushed me away. Stumbling back, Natsuki ducked under me and ran to the icing bowl. "Stay back, or else!"

"Or else, what?" I grinned.

She reached into the bowl and scooped up more icing on her index and middle fingers. Dashing towards me, she smeared the icing across my cheek before I could even react.

Slowly wiping it off, I looked at Natsuki. "How dare you?" I said teasingly. Her eyes widened before I decided to just lick the icing off my hand instead of continuing this icing battle. "Okay..." I chuckled. "Truce?"

"Uhm..." she glanced at the icing bowl. "Truce."

"Good." we continued making the cupcakes.

Minutes later

The oven beeped, signaling the cupcakes were done. Natsuki put on an oven mitt before pulling the cupcakes out and placing them on top of the stove. Grabbing one off the tray, I took a bite. "This really good, Natsuki."

She smiled. "Of course it's good! I made them!"

"Hey! I...kinda helped."

"You did. But I did most of the work." she replied.

"Fair enough."

We ate the cupcakes before walking over to the couch and continuing to read the manga.

A few hours later

It had gotten pretty late and Natsuki had to leave. "Thanks for coming over, Natuski." I opened the door for her. "You want me to drive you home?"

"Uhm...you know what? Sure!" she nodded.

"Alright then." I locked the house before the two of us climbed into the car. Turning it on, I backed out of the driveway. "Where to?"

It took me about fifteen minutes to find Natsuki's house and drop her off. "See you tomorrow, Natsuki." I said as she walked towards her house.

"Bye!" she waved.

Pulling away from the curb, I started driving back home.

End of chapter 6