Monika: Aw, man...
Monika: I'm the last one here again!
You: Don't worry, I just walked in too.
Yuri:Were you practicing harp again?
Monika: Yeah...
Monika: Ahaha...
Yuri:Doesn't that hurt your fingers? You must be really ambitious.
Yuri:Starting this club, and now picking up harp...
Monika: Well, maybe a little. But it's not ambition...
Monika: But I guess it's more of catharsis.
Monika: Besides, remember that the club wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you.
Monika: And I'm super happy that you're all willing to help out for the festival, too!
Natsuki: Aaah, I can't wait for the festival!
Natsuki: It's gonna be great!
m Eh?
Monika: Weren't you complaining about it just yesterday, Natsuki?
Natsuki: Well, yeah.
Natsuki: I'm not talking about our part of the festival.
Natsuki: But it's a whole day of school where we get to play and eat all kinds of delicious food!
You: You sound a bit like Sayori all of a sudden...
Natsuki: Monika! Do they usually have fried squid?
Monika: Squid...?
Monika: That's a pretty specific thing to look forward to...
Natsuki: Oh, come on.
Natsuki: Are you saying you don't like squid?
Natsuki: You, of all people?
Monika: Eh? I didn't say I don't like it.
Monika: Besides, what do you mean by 'you of all people'?
Natsuki: Because!
Natsuki: It's right in your name!
Natsuki: Mon-ika!
Monika: Eh?!
Monika: That's not how you say my name at all!
Monika: Also, that joke still makes no sense in translation!
Natsuki: ...?
Monika: Ah...never mind!
Monika: Let's just focus on our own event for now, okay?
Natsuki: Ehehe.
Natsuki: Fine, fine.
Natsuki: Your reactions aren't as fun as Yuri's or Sayori's, anyway.
Yuri:Excuse me...
You: Where is Sayori, anyway...?
You: Oh, there you are.
Sayori is sitting at a desk in the corner of the room, looking down at nothing.
I walk over to her.
You: Hey, Sayori.
I wave my hand in front of her face.
Sayori: Eh-?
You: You're spacing out again.
Sayori: A-Ah...
Sayori: Ehehe, sorry...
Sayori: Don't mind me.
Sayori: You can go talk to everyone else.
You: Huh...
You: Is everything alright?
Sayori: O-Of course!
Sayori: Why wouldn't it be?
You: It just feels like you're a little off...
You: Sorry for assuming things.
Sayori: Jeez, you worry too much about me.
Sayori: I'm fine, see?
Sayori shows me a big smile.
Sayori: Don't let me distract you from having fun with everyone.
You: Well...alright.
You: If you say so.
I worriedly glance at Sayori before turning back toward everyone else.
But the conversation has already dispersed, with everyone back at their usual activities.
Maybe I should ask Monika if she's noticed anything about Sayori recently...
Since they've been preparing for the festival, they must be spending a lot of time together.
I timidly approach Monika, who is shuffling through some papers at her desk.
Monika: What's up?
You: Hey, this might sound a little strange, but...
You: Have you noticed anything up with Sayori recently?
Monika: Anything up with her...?
Monika: Oh you must mean...
You: Maybe I'm reading into it a little too much, but she seems a bit downcast today...
Monika: Still?
Monika: I can't say I've noticed anything extra about her...
Monika peers across the room at Sayori, who is idly dragging a rubber eraser up and down her desk.
Monika: Maybe I am going to have to do something...
Monika: But I'm surprised I'm not the one asking you.
Monika: You certainly know her a lot better than I do.
You: Yeah, but she's never really like this...
You: She's always talked to me about things that bothered her.
You: But this time, when I asked her, she was really dismissive.
You: ...Sorry, I know it's not your problem!
You: I just wanted to ask if you knew anything, so I'll drop it now...
Monika: No, no...
Monika: It's absolutely partly my problem.
Monika: I'm the President after all.
Monika: I mean, I'm also friends with her...
Monika: And I also intend to take care of club members, you know?
Monika: Maybe I'll try talking to her myself...
You: Eh? Are you sure about that...?
You: She seemed like she wanted to be left alone...
Monika: Are you sure?
Monika: Maybe she just has a hard time bringing it up with the person of interest...
You: Person of interest...?
You: What do you mean by that?
Monika: I'm saying that maybe the thing on her mind is you.
You: Me...?
You: How on Earth would you come to that conclusion?
Monika: Well...
Monika: I probably shouldn't say too much, but...
Monika: Let's just say I know this matter far better than you do...
You: Eh...?
Monika: Besides, she's been so much happier ever since you've joined the club.
Monika: It's like an extra light was turned on inside of her.
You: What?
You: No way...
You: Sayori...is always like that.
You: She's always been full of sunshine.
You: It's not any different now than it always has been.
Monika: Ehehe.
Monika: You're so funny. You still haven't noticed?
Monika: Have you thought that maybe you've always seen her as so cheerful...
Monika: ...because that's just how she is when she's around you?
You: ...
Monika: Ah...I've said too much.
Monika: I'll try to talk to her and make sure that things don't get too bad.
You: Ah...
You: Alright...
Monika smiles meaningfully.
I know she said to not worry about it...
But I already know that I won't be able to get her words out of my head.
Monika stands up from her desk and walks across the room to where Sayori is sitting.
I watch her kneel down next to Sayori and gently talk to her.
But she's keeping her voice so quiet that I can't hear her from here.
I sigh and sit myself down.
I know Sayori told me not to worry about her, and to have fun with everyone else...
But that's impossible to do when she's behaving like this.
Exactly how much do I care about her, that I'm letting this weigh me down so much?
Now it feels like I'm the one behaving out of the ordinary...
But there's nothing I can do besides wait for Monika.
Monika: Okay, everyone!
After some time passes, Monika calls out to the clubroom.
Monika: Why don't we share our poems now?
Before I know it, everything is back to normal.
Everyone goes to retrieve their poems, and I do the same.
I make eye contact with Monika, and she smiles at me.
I wonder what she was talking about with Sayori...
Either way, Sayori seems to be back to her usual peppy self.
Sayori comes up to me.
Sayori: Hey, I'm super sorry about earlier.
Sayori: I'm not feeling right so I'm going to go home.
Sayori: Don't worry about walking me home or anything.
Sayori: I wouldn't want to distract you from having fun here.
With that Sayori immediately leaves.
No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to understand what's going on with her.
Monika comes up to me.
Monika: I tried my best to talk to her, really.
Monika: Somethings just aren't easily undone.
Monika: But I will uphold my promise to make sure she'd alright.
You: Thanks...
I'm not sure why Monika seems so guilty about all of this, but I'm glad she seems so devoted to fixing it.
Monika: In the meantime, do you want to read my poem?
She hands me her poem.
It's called "The Lady who Knows Everything"
An old tale tells of a lady who wanders Earth.
The Lady who Knows Everything.
A beautiful lady who has found every answer,
All meaning,
All purpose,
And all that was ever sought.
And here I am,
a feather
Lost adrift the sky, victim of the currents of the wind.
Day after day, I search.
I search with little hope, knowing legends don't exist.
But when all else has failed me,
When all others have turned away,
The legend is all that remains - the last dim star glimmering in the twilit sky.
Until one day, the wind ceases to blow.
I fall.
And I fall and fall, and fall even more.
Gentle as a feather.
A dry quill, expressionless.
But a hand catches me between the thumb and forefinger.
The hand of a beautiful lady.
I look at her eyes and find no end to her gaze.
The Lady who Knows Everything knows what I am thinking.
Before I can speak, she responds in a hollow voice.
"I have found every answer, all of which amount to nothing.
There is no meaning.
There is no purpose.
And we seek only the impossible.
I am not your legend.
Your legend does not exist."
And with a breath, she blows me back afloat, and I pick up a gust of wind.
Before I can even respond, Monika has turned away.
It's like she doesn't even bother to read my poems.
She's already strided away before I can speak up.
Monika: ...Okay, you three!
Monika: We're all done sharing poems, right?
Monika: Why don't we start figuring out-
Natsuki: Hold on a second!
Natsuki: Is it just me, or did you say something strange just now?
Monika: Eh...?
Yuri:Something did sound a bit unusual...
Yuri:That's right.
Yuri:You deviated from your usual catchphrase when addressing the club.
Monika: C-Catchphrase?
Monika: I don't have a catchphrase...
Natsuki: Jeez...
Natsuki: Why is the mood so weird today?
Natsuki: Look, even Yuri isn't immune to it.
Yuri:Uu...
Yuri:Stagnating air is common foreshadowing that something terrible is about to happen...
You: In your books, maybe!
You: Look, the only thing different is that Sayori isn't here.
Yuri:Ah...
Yuri:...It seems you're right.
Monika: Sigh...
Monika: Sayori always seems to keep the club functioning normally.
Monika: It's almost like everything's balance is thrown off a little when she's not around...
Natsuki: Where the heck did she run off to, anyway?
Natsuki: I thought she just went to pee.
Yuri:Natsuki, please show some decency...
Natsuki: Oh, come on.
You: Ah, she actually wasn't feeling too well and went home early...
Yuri:Is that so...?
Yuri:I hope she's alright...
Natsuki: Seriously?
Natsuki: Of all the times to not go home with her, you pick the time she's not feeling well?
Natsuki: So much for you two being all lovey-dovey.
You: Ah-no!
You: First of all, stop misunderstanding my friendship with Sayori!
You: And second...
You: She's kind of been avoiding me today, so I didn't want to force it...
Yuri:Hooooh?
You: That curious expression coming from Yuri, of all people?
Monika: Calm down, guys...!
Monika: I talked to her earlier, and everything is going to be fine.
Monika: I promise.
Monika makes eye contact with me, reassuringly.
You: What did she say...?
Monika: Anyway, we need to figure out the rest of the festival preparations, so...
Monika: Let's decide what everyone will be doing this weekend.
Natsuki: I already know what I'm doing!
Monika: That's right.
Monika: Natsuki will be making cupcakes.
Monika: But we might need a lot of them, and different flavors...
Monika: Can you handle that all by yourself, Natsuki?
Natsuki: Challenge accepted!
Monika: And as for myself...
Monika: I'm going to be printing and assembling all the poetry pamphlets.
Monika: Sayori will be helping me design them.
Monika: And as for Yuri...
Monika: ...
Monika: Yuri, you can...
Monika: Ah... Um...
Natsuki: ...?
Monika: Guys...
Monika: Can you help me remember something for Yuri...?
Yuri:I...
Yuri:I'm useless...
Monika: N-No!
Monika: That's not it at all!
Monika: You're the most talented person here, you know!
Monika: I had a plan and everything, I just can't remember it.
Natsuki: ...
Monika: N-Now Natsuki's pouting, too?
You: Jeez, even I can tell now...
You: I guess I never gave Sayori enough credit, but I can tell things are even harder on you when she's not around.
Monika: Ah...
Monika: That may be the case...
Monika: But if I can't do this on my own, then there's no way we'll ever make any headway.
Monika snaps her fingers, having remembered what it was.
Monika: So, Yuri...!
Monika: You have beautiful handwriting, you know?
Monika: So you should make some banners and decorations to help set the atmosphere.
Yuri:Atmosphere...?
Yuri:Um, about that...
Yuri:I...
Yuri:I love atmosphere!
Yuri's expression suddenly changes as she stares at her desk in focus and starts nodding to herself.
You: Your mind is already racing, I see...
Monika: That's great!
Monika: You'll be a wonderful help, Yuri.
Monika: I'm sorry I had forgotten that.
Monika: But anyway...
Monika: That just leaves one person.
You: The one who is truly useless.
Monika: Ahaha! Don't say that.
Monika: In fact...
Monika: I'd say you're the most important one here.
Monika: Both Natsuki and Yuri have some pretty heavy tasks to handle.
Monika: It would probably go a long way to give one of them a hand.
Monika: You could always help me out, as well...
Monika: I would be really appreciative of that.
You: Ah-
You: That's...
Is Monika suggesting I spend the weekend with one of my club members?
How on Earth are they going to respond to a suggestion like that...?
Yuri:Ah...
Yuri:I...suppose I wouldn't mind a bit of help...
Natsuki: Well, even if you don't know how to bake, there's always some dirty work I could give to you.
Natsuki: It's not like Monika's going to give me a choice, and you shouldn't be sitting on your butt anyway...
Natsuki tries to mumble a bunch of excuses like that.
Yuri:Um...
Yuri:If I recall, Natsuki...
Yuri:You mentioned that you would like to handle the baking on your own.
Yuri:They may not like to be around if you only make him out to be a nuisance...
Yuri:So therefore...
Yuri:He may be more suited to assisting with the decorations.
Natsuki: Hold on! I never said that!
Natsuki: How hard could it be to make a few decorations, anyway?
Natsuki: Sounds more like you're just making excuses for him to-
Yuri:W-What are you saying?!
Yuri:It will be extremely meticulous work...
Natsuki: And baking isn't?
Natsuki: Just what do you think-
Monika: Guys, guys!
Monika: Let's settle down for a moment...
Monika: In the end, I think it's up to him to decide how he'd like to contribute.
Natsuki: Jeez...
Natsuki: Can we just settle this already?
Monika: Yeah...
Monika: You're okay with this, right?
Monika: In the end, it's up to you.
You: Ah...
You: Of course.
Natsuki: Hmph.
Yuri:Very well...
Monika: In that case...
Everyone looks straight at me.
But of course, I'm going to go with-
You: Well, I guess I should probably be helping Monika...
Monika's head snaps up so fast that I swear it broke for a second.
Monika: Really?
Natsuki: Hold on one second!
Yuri:Y-Yeah!
Natsuki: Monika, you're the one who needs the least help out of all of us!
Monika: Eh? But...
Yuri:I agree with Natsuki.
Yuri:Not only is your work already most suitable for one person...
Yuri:But you already have Sayori as well.
Monika: But for once he actually...
Monika: Ah...
Natsuki: That doesn't matter.
Natsuki: You were the one who probably scared him into picking you in the first place.
Natsuki: You're the club president, Monika.
Natsuki: You're supposed to make responsible decisions for the club!
Yuri:Monika, you shouldn't let any ulterior motives interfere with this decision.
Monika: Ulterior motives?
Monika: Are you serious, Yuri?
Monika: In fact, it sounds like you guys are the ones with ulterior motives!
Natsuki: Excuse me?
Monika: Otherwise...this wouldn't have been made into such a big deal in the first place!
Yuri:That's...completely false, Monika!
Natsuki: Yeah!
Natsuki: We have a lot of work to do, you know!
Natsuki: We won't do as good of a job if you make us work alone.
Monika: Ah...maybe...that's true...
Yuri:Think of the club, Monika...
Yuri:If we want our event to succeed, then we need to appropriately distribute our resources.
Monika: Um...
Monika: Ah...
Natsuki: So are you going to do the right thing, President?
Monika: Okay, okay!
Monika: I'll do it!
Monika: Sigh...
Monika: It's...technically most logical for him to help one of you two.
Monika: So...
Monika: I guess...that's what we'll do.
Was it just me or does Monika seem more defeated than usual?
Monika: Do you have a preference?
You: Well, I'll probably be most useful helping out Yuri...
Yuri:M-Me...?
Natsuki: Are you serious?
Natsuki: Why would you-
Monika: Natsuki.
Monika: I can already tell you're about to say something mean.
Natsuki: N-No...
Natsuki: I was just saying-
Natsuki: Ugh...
Monika: So, you'll be helping Yuri then?
You: Yeah.
You: That's what I'm going to do.
Yuri:I'm glad.
Yuri:I have a bad habit of overthinking these sorts of things...
Yuri:So I think your assistance will be very useful.
Monika: That's great to hear.
Monika: Natsuki, will you be able to handle the baking yourself?
Natsuki: I mean, yeah.
Natsuki: I already said I would be fine.
Monika: Okay, okay...
Everyone can tell that Natsuki is feeling a little sour.
You: So...is that everything we needed to go over?
Monika: Yeah, that should be about it.
Monika: Are you guys excited?
Yuri:Well, 'excited' may not be the right word...
Yuri:But I suppose I'm looking forward to it a little bit.
Monika: Do you feel the same way?
You: Me?
You: Ah, I guess you could say I'm interested to see how it'll turn out...
Monika: That's good enough for me!
Monika: What about you, Natsuki?
Natsuki: ...
Yuri:Natsuki!
Natsuki: What?
Natsuki: Why is everyone yelling at me?
Natsuki: I didn't even do anything...!
Yuri:N-no-!
Yuri:That's not what I meant at all!
Yuri:A-Ah...
Yuri anxiously glances between everyone in the room.
Yuri:I-I'm sorry for this!
Yuri:I don't really know why he picked me...
Yuri:And also...
Yuri:Your cupcakes are the best cupcakes I've ever had!
Yuri:They go really well with my tea!
Yuri:And nothing that I do for the event will compare to that, so...
Yuri:So...
Natsuki: I get it, I get it.
Natsuki: I'm kinda surprised, though...
Yuri:W-Why?
Natsuki: Um...
Natsuki: Well, I'm the one acting immature...
Natsuki: I already know that.
Natsuki: But you're trying to cheer me up all of a sudden...
Yuri:I-I know I'm not very good at it...
Yuri:I'm sorry if I said something bad!
Natsuki isn't the only one surprised.
Monika and I are also taken aback by Yuri's words.
When she already has trouble with words, trying to cheer someone up must be far out of her own comfort zone.
But I begin to understand.
Yuri was trying to sound like Sayori.
Even if it didn't work perfectly, I can tell that she tried to say something Sayori would say at a time like this.
Because Sayori always helps everyone smile and feel good about themselves.
Natsuki: No...
Natsuki: I kinda appreciated it.
Natsuki: I'm sorry...for making a big deal out of nothing.
Natsuki: But I'm going to say this.
Yuri:...?
Natsuki: You better bet that my cupcakes are going to be the best part of the whole event!
Yuri:Ah...
Yuri:...I believe you.
Monika: Yeah!
Monika: I hope to see everyone do their best.
Monika: But with that...
Monika: There's nothing more for today.
Monika: So I guess it's time for us to head out.
Natsuki: Alright, let's get out of here, then.
Everyone packs up their things.
I start to follow Monika and Natsuki out the door as they chat between each other.
Yuri:U-Um-!
You: Eh?
I turn around.
Yuri:Sorry...
Yuri:I realized that I don't have any way of contacting you this weekend...
You: Oh, you're right.
You: I can't believe that slipped my mind.
You: Should I give you my phone number?
Yuri:I think...that would be the best way, yes.
You: Alright, then...
Yuri and I exchange phone numbers.
Yuri:Okay.
Yuri:Then, I'll be stopping by your house on Sunday...
You: Eh?
You: My house?
Yuri:I-Is that a problem...?
You: No, not at all...
You: I just thought that I would be the one going to your house, since I'm the one helping you.
Yuri:Ah, I suppose that makes sense...
Yuri:But, if you don't mind...
Yuri:I think I would prefer going to your house.
You: Alright.
You: In that case, it won't be a problem.
I decide not to press Yuri for a reason.
It's not like it should matter much either way, so I'll just need to make sure my room is clean.
You: I hope I manage to make myself useful in some way...
You: I'm not nearly as creative as you are.
Yuri:Don't underestimate yourself.
Yuri:I think that we'll make a very productive team.
Yuri:Even if you only chose me because you felt bad or something...
You: Wait...!
You: You don't actually think that, do you?
Yuri:...
Yuri:I...don't know.
Yuri:It's difficult to come up with any other reason you may have chosen me...
You: You're forgetting the one reason with the most common sense!
You: I chose to help you because that's what I want to do.
Yuri:B-But...
Yuri thinks to herself with an extremely tense expression.
You: Yuri...you're overthinking this.
You: You wanted me to point out when you're overthinking, right?
Yuri:Eh...?
Yuri:I...didn't realize...
You: I'm telling you, I want to.
You: That's all there is to it.
You: Do you believe me?
Yuri:I...
Yuri thinks really hard again.
She looks straight into my eyes for a long while.
Yuri:...I believe you!
As if it took her tremendous effort, Yuri finally says that and relaxes her expression.
Yuri:And I'm really looking forward to Sunday.
You: Yeah...
You: I am too.
After that exchange, I make my way out the door, and Yuri follows.
Even though I would have preferred to do this with Monika...
It seems like she's been down recently and could use someone to talk to.
But who knows what might end up happening when we're outside of school?
She seemed so excited to get to spend time together too..
It's not like we feel that way about each other...
I have nothing to worry about.
If I just go with it, then I'll have a good time.