The School Festival is held throughout the day, with it being opened to the general public it's a way for others to become interested in our school and what it has to offer. Not only that but it's also a way to evaluate each clubs accomplishment. But in general sense, it's a good time for everyone to have fun and socialise, a nice change of pace.
Once morning came, perhaps its one of the earliest times I've ever woken up for school as I had the assistance of my Father to help deliver boxes of cupcakes to school. After meeting up with the others at the club room we move towards the field where we have out stand and begin prepping. With folding chairs to sit on, napkins for those who'd like them and spoons for the strange ones. The banners and decoration that Yuri created was simply spectacular; fancy but not overwhelming.
It appears we'll simply be offering cupcakes then later into the day we'll be reading our poems for those that are interested. The pamphlets that Monika and Sayori made were a way to entice those who aren't interested and those who don't quite understand their meaning. While we wouldn't want to read to an empty audience, all I can rely on are our cupcakes and good words.
Looking at everyone else prepping their own stands and hearing many enthusiastic voices, our campus is really starting to looking like a festival. Since we only have cupcakes, there was no need to set up an allocated area for people to eat like some others have.
Each given our allocated shift; the first two were Natsuki and I, then Monika, and then lastly ,Sayori with Yuri.
While it doesn't seem right for one person to be alone, it's only natural when there's an odd number. Monika herself volunteered to be the one, her being the Club President, perhaps I should give her more credit where it's due. She's the Ace after all, many look up to her for a reason. Natsuki probably wouldn't enjoy tending to the stand alone, the same goes for Yuri who'd most likely be uncomfortable talking to our peers.
...
As the festival's finally on its way, we sat at our stand eager to offer our cupcakes to those that'd like them. However, since we're set up beside other food stalls; the scent of takoyaki, yakisoba and other foods aren't working in our favour.
"I guess it's not everyday you have takoyaki..."
I look over to Natsuki who appears to be more bothered by the situation. With her arms folded, she taps away against her arm with her finger tips but remains quiet.
"O-Our cupcakes look pretty nice displayed like this, don't they?"
Sitting on top of numerous cake stands, we have the rest stored for whenever we need them. But at this rate...
"If they do, then why is no one interested?"
Natsuki snaps back with a bitter, but true comment as I more or less didn't expect this outcome.
"W-Well... the festival just started! I'm sure people will get sick of eating everything else and..."
As my voice trails off, I realise that being the last choice isn't exactly the outcome we'd like.
"It's not like I care or anything, people these days are so spoiled. I mean what kind of ridiculous people eat battered balls of octopus."
I for one feel guilty for even thinking about purchasing a tray or two for us after our shift was over. Perhaps now it'd be a bad idea.
"Balls of octopus... you know people will get the wrong idea if you say it like that."
"W-Who cares if they do! It's not my problem..."
"True..."
Before long, a voice calls out to us in the midst of the crowd; more specifically, Natsuki's name. A girl who looks to be in the same year as her appears with a kind smile.
"I was wondering what you'd be doing for the festival, Natsuki. You should've told at least one of us you made cupcakes."
"O-Oh, yeah... I guess it just slipped my mind..."
Wondering whether or not they're on good terms, she turns to me and introduces herself with a small bow. She belongs to the cooking club where Natsuki would sometime appear and use their storage. The only thing Natsuki has to do then is offer some of whatever she has made, which appear to be mostly desserts like parfaits and cupcakes.
"I do remember Natsuki mentioning that you guys want her to join your club."
"Of course we do!"
She raises both her arms and looks to me in excitement.
"We, the Cooking Club; strive for excellence! Which is why we want Natsuki to join our club!"
"T-That's not going to happen, I like the Literature Club a lot more than making food."
"I know... it's a shame..."
She droops her head in despair before chuckling.
"Anyways.~ Are we allowed to have more than one?"
I look to Natsuki as she shrugs her shoulders and answers.
"I suppose so, we made enough to ensure everyone has at least one."
"Oh great! Then... I'll have fifteen cupcakes, and could I reserve another ten? I'll come by at the end of the day to pick them up."
"Fifteen straight up... a-ah yes! But first, would you like to choose the words you like?"
"Oh so that's why they have words on them... so you get us to choose the ones we like, both interactive and delicious! Perhaps we should've done something similar..."
Choosing the words she likes, It didn't take as long as I initially thought as we also hand her the poem pamphlet.
"This is?"
Looking at the front, then the back, she soon opens it and reads.
"We plan on reading out an original poem each one of us has created. If you're interested, please stop by and listen."
"Oh poems? ...That means Natsuki's reading one too?"
Looking to her, Natsuki dodges eye contact.
"O-Of course, I'm a member too so I'll be reading one of my own creations."
"Hmmm... then I'll stop by when it's time. I look forward to it! Oh and once your shifts are over, come stop by our stand for some oden. I can guarantee you it tastes great, I made it after all! We're set up just near the entrance so come by.~"
"Oden? Sure, that sounds great actually. I guess we'll see you then, It was nice meeting you."
"Like wise.~ Make sure you come by, okay, Natsuki? Oh and I'll be sure to let the others know you're selling cupcakes too."
"Yes yes, I'll come since you asked. See you later."
With a big smile, she walks away whilst munching on a cupcake in delight.
...
With our first order being a huge help, sooner or later members of the Cooking club came in pairs. Each and every one of them was different in character, but they all shared the same view on one thing and that's how much they enjoy Natsuki's cupcakes.
After awhile longer, Monika's shift occurs as we decide to look around the festival together.
"I guess we should go check out the Cooking Club stand now."
With a nod we begin heading towards the entrance, taking in the sights of other stands on our way.
"Ah you're here! Welcome.~"
With it now being her shift, she greets us behind the numerous trays of ingredients soaked in broth, the scent is mouth-watering as I soon find myself wanting to try each and every one.
"Looks great. What do you recommend?"
"The daikon's great, you gotta have them when you have oden, it's the rule! Other than that... hmm, I don't know, I like them all. Personally, I think my assorted tofu's great! You should try them all.~"
"Then what was the point of even asking for a recommendation, Midorin?"
Natsuki sighs as she steps further towards the stand.
"Well you know me, if you're not sure, just have them all! You know my words good.~"
"Hmmm, that's right, I still haven't tried your fried rice."
Pointing towards numerous items, Natsuki chooses a great selection as Midorin picks each one up and places it into a bowl.
"Oh right!"
Flicking her ladle in reaction, a bit of the broth runs off and onto her apron, but it seems like she doesn't care.
"You should come visit when the festival's over and I'll whip you up a batch of my specialty."
"Heh, we'll see."
Grabbing two bowls, Natsuki hands me one with the chopsticks provided.
"Ah, thanks for the food."
"You're welcome! Enjoy!~ It was nice meeting Natsuki's boyfriend.~"
"Na?!"
Almost spilling her oden, Natsuki looks back to her ready to retort, however another customer enters the fray keeping her preoccupied.
"Aha, come on, let's go find somewhere to sit."
"H-Hey, at least act like she has the wrong idea!"
...
After the oden, we checked out the stands that piqued our interest on the way. Our first stop was a goldfish catching game. The one where one would be given a paper scoop to net a fish. I didn't want to embarrass myself so I sat out and gave Natsuki the first scoop.
"It's time for me to show my hidden talent."
Licking her lips, Natsuki steadily holds the scoop as she scans for a potential prey.
"You've done this before?"
"No, but I've seen it on TV. You just need to be steady, not forceful... there!"
Natsuki goes in with killer intent; dipping the scoop into the water, she quickly lifts up below a fish. Making an extravagant splash, the fish flops back into the water leaving Natsuki one hungry bear... I mean person, wait that's not it.
"W-Well, it was my first time, so of course it'd be this way..."
I could only smile in acceptance with a nod as I hand her the second last scoop.
"Okay, this time I'll catch a goldy friend, you'll see!"
Given a second chance, she readies the same stance, this time she manages to scoop one out without the paper breaking; but with the amount of force it wriggles, it easily breaks free. If anything it may as well had jumped and slapped us across the face.
"This little sh-! ...rimp, shrimp."
"T-That's not a shrimp."
"I know!"
Natsuki snatches the last scoop off me and tries once more, this time succeeding... only for a little while, the gold fish popped a hole in the bag which created a small waterfall for it to fall back in.
"What's with this?! Ahh, I don't need a stupid fish anyways. Hmph."
Natsuki rises in frustration as the students behind the game gave us one for our efforts. Though it was offered to Natsuki at first, she simply walked away, leaving me to chase after her with our little friend.
...
"Heyyy, Natsuki, you left your little fish behind.~"
"I don't want it."
"Ehhh, but weren't you going for this one specifically? He's small and feisty, kind of like-"
Natsuki stops walking and turns to face me.
"Like?"
I guess being compared to a goldfish isn't really something one should say. I think they're rather cute, if anything I'm scared of fish in general but goldfish are innocent; definitely not an enemy.
"Nothing...~ Come on, at least accept him, he's gonna cry. How can you say no to his little face."
"Hahhh, fine..."
Closing the gap, she places her hands against her waist and takes a good look at the goldfish as it stares back at her. Opening and closing it's small mouth, Natsuki soon smiles at him.
"Well aren't you just the most dorkiest thing."
"H-Hey now, he has feelings too."
"Well I don't care, let's just release him into a river or something. I don't know how to raise a fish, let alone one who mocked me."
"Please don't, I don't want to be held responsible for his demise. He won't survive out in the big world."
"Then... maybe Sayori would like it."
...
After meeting up with Sayori and Yuri who appeared to be touring the festival together, she took the goldfish at first glance. I really hope she knows how to care for it, leaving it in a bowl will only shorten its lifespan; I learnt that the hard way.
After that we went and did numerous activities together, from can stacking, to ball tossing, ring tossing and navigating through a haunted house. Only after being scared out of our wits, it was time to present our speeches in the auditorium. Meeting up with Monika in the waiting room, I'm not so sure if any of us asides from Monika is ready for this.
"Nervous, Yuki?"
Sayori calls out to me as the others listen in.
"I guess so. It's my first poem after all."
"Don't worry, we won't let you go last so people aren't disappointed."
Natsuki strikes with a jab as I'm not even in the least, reassured.
"Thanks, Natsuki, you sure know how to not disappoint the masses."
...
With Monika being the first to present her speech, she first off further explain the meaning behind poems; why people write them, and how significant they are. By writing poems, one can learn many things about themselves; a way to truly understand about the universe. She also took the time to answer any questions, but since the crowd was small, not many even raised a hand.
"That's the Club President for you..."
Sayori was up next as I'm to follow her after. She presented a speech about feelings of inner turmoil and how ugly it is being in a world alone; but more importantly, the worst points of truly being alone in a world where no one knows or cares about who you are. A tragic state where most people unwillingly find themselves in out of nowhere; she created a poem to try and help others that's suffering the same pain as her and trying to find the light.
"Sayori, you idiot, if you give a speech like that, I'm the one who's going to look like a complete fool..."
Saying this quietly to myself, I also find myself tearing up as Monika offered me tissues.
With that out of the way, it was finally my turn to make everyone else look good. Calming my nerves, I take one last look at Natsuki; burning the image into my mind, I walk out into the unknown; not knowing whether or not I'll be belittled.
"I haven't been in the Literature Club for as long as the others. I never thought I'd find myself to be in this position, however, I'm grateful for it. I've met some great people and I'm honored to be a part of it. There's one person in particular in which I never thought I'd see them the way I do now. This is a poem... dedicated to her..."
After a brief pause, a few students begin clapping, followed by some adults as I awkwardly smile to them. Clearing my throat, I take a deep breath and begin.
"I adore you for what you are and even more so; I cherish you more for what you strive to become.
I adore you less for your realities but rather more for your ideals. Your desires may be great but you mustn't oppose to your current fulfillments, which may seem in the present, so unsatisfyingly little.
A fulfilled blossom is one whose petals are about to fall. The most beautiful of roses is one barely in excess of a bud wherein the aches and euphoria's of wants are working towards a bigger and better purpose. You are striving ahead towards something great, but you're not alone. I am and always will be there by your side and therefore, I love you."
...
With a round of applause, I sheepishly accept it with a smile. Taking a small bow, I walk towards the others off stage.
"Nice one, Yuki! That was sweet.~"
Sayori hands me a bottle of water.
"T-Thanks... my stomach doesn't feel so well though, but it feels like a load has been taken off my shoulders. That was nerve racking."
Taking a seat, I sip out of the water bottle and turn to Natsuki, who appears to be avoiding eye contact.
"You're up next, Natsuki."
"I-I know, jeez, you don't need to remind me..."
With an emphasized 'hmph', she walks onto the stage with one last word.
"I told you not to say things so cheesy... idiot."
...
After a brief delay, she recites her poem aloud towards the audience who've more or less become more interested to what the Literature Club has to offer.
"I have more issues then I could count.
And on my more regrettable days, I'll go from glad to miserable in a flash.
I won't generally like myself, and once in a while I'll even assume that you don't care for me either.
I'll push you away, and I may even drive you crazy.
Despite this, I promise you that nobody would ever even consider cherishing you much as I do.
So please, be patient with me.
There are numerous things I don't understand.
Such a large amount of things that I'm anxious about doing.
Numerous mistakes in which I could never compensate for.
Be that as it may, I'll try my hardest.
You may believe I'm somebody of worth as of now.
And I'm thankful for that.
You acknowledge me for who I am.
For what I am.
And for that.
I..."
Natsuki's voice trails off with small sniffles, but in the end, she clasps her hand over the stand mic and speaks into it.
"I... love you."
After a brief delay, from one student to the next, they begin clapping as Natsuki looks to them in a state of daze. Soon revealing a small smile, she wipes her tears away with one finger, and grasps her poem to her chest.
I too raise my hand towards my heart as I'm left spellbound.
...
After being so open with our poems, we returned to being awkward with each other; so much so that the others left us alone. Walking silently by each each others side, it was only when I saw a poster against the bulletin board about the dance that I spoke up.
"It seems there'll be a bonfire dance held later into the evening..."
"..."
Taking a seat on the stairwell, she sits a few steps below me.
"I heard... a lot of my classmates were excited over all. Since juniors can't get tickets and all, they're wondering if any seniors would invite them."
"Oh, I see..."
I guess some rules do apply after all. As I stare towards the cieling which leads to the 2nd level, I over hear other students chatting among themselves in excitement. The festival is still underway after all, and here we are stepping on eggshells; beating around the bush.
"Would you like to? Go and dance by the bonfire?"
"Are you asking me to the dance?"
She puts it straight as I find myself wondering what Sayori said before was the truth.
"N-Not really, but..."
"I don't want to. We'll be surrounded by other people, step on each others feet and look like complete dummies in front of everyone else."
"That's true... we wouldn't want to look like a bunch of idiots, right?"
I let out a faint laughter as I hop off the stairs and walk to the top.
"It's getting late, we should at least see the festival until the end."
...
Heading up towards the top, the roof is void of students as I'm sure they'd rather be elsewhere. But it is here where we'd see something spectacular. With the starless night sky above, it'll be clear to our eyes.
"What are we doing on the rooftop?"
"Observing, here, look. We can see the bonfire at least."
Grabbing hold of the fence, we overlook the bonfire as we also see others dancing hand in hand. It's a shame that we're not there with them, but if Natsuki doesn't want to then I don't blame her.
Staring at the bonfire, its as though she's captivated by the sight of it.
"It's fairly bigger than I expected... big enough to roast an entire pig or two."
"L-Let's not go there... if anything marshmallows would do. ...They look like they're having fun."
Dancing as though they have no care in the world, they're all paired off boy and girl as expected.
"I guess if you call that fun. I'll never be able to do that. ...But anyway, umm... thanks for today, Yuki."
Still staring at the bonfire, her hands clutch the fence.
"Ah, don't worry about it. We're... a couple, after all."
"A couple, hmm..."
"Wait, we're not?"
If we're not then I may have jumped the gun on those three words... but that's preposterous.
"N-No, it's not that."
Releasing her hold of the fence, she turns to face me as her eyes light up.
"I just thought if we really are a couple... we'd be down there like them, dancing like idiots, making fools out of ourselves."
"I guess so... but, if you don't want to, I'm fine with that, you know?"
"Yeah. I guess that's just you, going with whatever someone else says. But in saying that, I met the Yuki who didn't listen to anything I said and managed to change my life for the better."
"Those are two separate things after all, it's nothing major... besides, look, it's starting."
I tilt my head back to the bonfire dance so we both witness the end of the festival. With a loud high pitch stream, fireworks begin blooming before our eyes. This is the best place in the entire school to see them, I'm glad we have this to ourselves.
Watching them with our mouths wide opened, I smile as I close the distance between us as I wrap my arm around her.
"H-Hey... you're too close..."
"They're pretty amazing, aren't they?"
"...Mm, they are. ...You're not going to say some cheesy line again, are you?"
"Haha, then I guess I'll save them for another time. Thanks for everything today, Natsuki. I had a blast."
"Hmph, well of course. You got to experience the festival with me after all. ...Ahhh, this is getting too mushy for my liking so I guess I'll say this now to get it over with!"
She places her hand against mine and timidly looks to me, before turning away. With the after effect lighting from the fireworks against her flustered cheeks, she looks absolutely stunning. Feeling as if my heart's beating in a state of harmony with the fireworks, she speaks.
"...I never liked festivals because I never been to one, so it made me hate them. But I guess... if you're with me, I don't hate them so much."
"Then I guess I'll accompany you next year as well, and the year after."
"...idiot, you would've graduated already."
"It's open to visitors after all, I'll be sure to come by then and find you."
We both face each other at the same time as I'm unsure on what her intentions were. As her eyes waver, they reflect me as I swallow my rising anxiety.
"Do you promise?"
Clasping each others hands in front of us, I draw myself close to her.
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
"...heh, then I guess you'll die if you lie."
My lips meet hers as I'm filled with a warm sensation, with mine being dry from the cold; I begin to wonder if it's uncomfortable for her. But she evokes no words, to be this close with her; I never thought we'd be in this position.
After a few moments, we break away from each other as Natsuki places her fingers against her mouth.
"Ekk... totally not a memorable moment, why don't you use some lip balm if you knew this would happen?"
"Y-You're saying that as though I had this all planned out..."
She may say insulting things sometimes, but I think its just her way of being comfortable around me... even if it does sting just a little.
"Hahh... what a waste. I can't believe my first kiss was something so horrific."
Hey now... it wasn't that bad, right?
Placing her hands against her hips, she looks away from me and back to the extinguished bonfire.
"...but I'm happy that it was with you."
Her cheeks flush as she shuts her eyes and walks off.
Her true emotions were constantly hidden up in the depths of her heart; locked behind bars as if she feared giving them a chance to speak. Afraid of being mocked over how she feels, she sets up a solid front while anguishing alone in the dark. Perhaps that persona of hers is gradually blurring as she further puts her trust in us.
"Hold on, Natsuki, I'll walk you home!"
I'm glad to have joined the Literature Club.
Doki Doki Literature Club - By Your Side - fin