Here we go again…
Josuke had cautiously entered the clubroom and just hung out for a while. Besides the two pop-quizzes, the school had been pretty uneventful.
He had spent his lunch with Koichi. As promised, the situation with the club was not mentioned at first. Surprisingly, Josuke was the one who brought it up, asking why none of them investigated the club themselves. Koichi told him that he couldn't join the club because Yukako wouldn't allow him to be in a room full of girls without her. She herself couldn't join because she wanted to give Yuri some space, and Rohan was too old to take part in a high school club.
Before they went back to class, Koichi reminded Josuke to call the café when the club was over. Okuyasu didn't even join them for lunch. Koichi didn't know why he wouldn't check it out himself. Josuke assumed that Okuyasu was mad at him for whoever it was he apparently forgot.
Honestly… I don't care about what's up with him. Sure we might have been friends, and we do like a lot of the same things… Hang on. Why am I thinking that? He's my friend… Right?
"Hi, Josuke!" Yuri cheerfully greeted him. "I've been waiting for you. Are you ready to continue reading? I brought my best tea today-"
He froze as she stood in front of him. "Uh… Yuri? I only just got here."
What's up with her? Does she not remember what happened yesterday, or is she trying to clean up her act?
"Monika!" Natsuki shouted. "I told you not to- Ugh… Is she really late again?"
Yuri sighed. "Inconsiderate as usual, Natsuki."
They both looked at her.
"Excuse me?" Natsuki said.
"Must you always interrupt my conversations with your incessant yelling?"
"What are you talking about? You say that like I do it on a regular basis or something. I just wasn't paying attention, okay? I'm sorry. Seriously… What's gotten into you lately?"
"Me?" Yuri looked surprised.
"Yeah," Josuke began. "You've been acting pretty strange. Don't you remember what happened yesterday?"
"W-What do you mean? I-Is it really that bad? I'll get over it! Anyway, we don't need to talk about it…"
"I think we kinda do need to talk about it."
Suddenly Monika walked into the room.
"Aw, man… I'm the last one here again!" she sighed.
"It's alright," Josuke began, a wave of relief washing over him as he saw her. "We haven't done anything really yet."
"Were you practicing piano again?" Yuri inquired, trying to distract the others from her issue.
"… Y-Yeah… That's right…" Monika nervously giggled.
"You must have a lot of determination. Starting this club, and still trying to make time for piano…"
Monika shot a quick glance at Josuke. "Well, maybe not determination…"
"Anyway," Josuke interrupted. "Should we talk some more about the festival?"
"I thought we already discussed this," Natsuki stated.
"Um… Natsuki," Yuri began. "We talked about it yesterday and we decided that we will do something for the festival."
The pink haired girl folded her arms and remained silent.
"Um, also… If you help us out with this, then I'll buy you a new manga!"
Everyone was surprised at first before Natsuki began to laugh.
Once she composed herself, she said, "Look, I did some thinking about yesterday. I was a little more hostile than I meant to be… I guess I really felt threatened or something. Probably like when m-" She quickly cut herself off and cleared her throat. "Anyway, I'll help out."
Josuke smiled, but his thoughts began to focus on what she was going to say for some reason. It's good that she'll help us out, but why do I feel like I need to protect her? And from who?
"Thank goodness," Yuri sighed. "Isn't that wonderful, Monika- Monika?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah! That's great! The club wouldn't be the same without you, Natsuki!" Monika said with a low energy, which went back to normal when she faced Josuke. "So, what do you want to do today, Josuke? I thought we could-"
"Actually- We already have plans today."
Monika's face fell. "Ah…"
"Hey!" Josuke said. "I haven't even said that I would do it."
Now Yuri's face fell. "O-Oh…"
"I need to get some work done first, and-"
"It doesn't matter," Monika stated, a disappointed look on her face. "You guys can do whatever you want."
And with that, the club dispersed. Yuri lingered for a moment before she reluctantly turned around and headed for the door. Just before she made it to the door, she felt a hand grasp her arm. She turned around to see Josuke looking at her with concern.
"O-Oh, Josuke…" she muttered. "Do you want to read some more after you-"
"Don't do it," he whispered. "If you go to the bathroom and take more than five minutes, I'm going to get you and you won't get your knife back."
Yuri gasped, eyes wide with shock. She raised her other hand to her chest. Looking into his eyes, she could see that he was telling the truth. For a moment, Yuri felt like Josuke was looking at her with two sets of eyes. She gently pulled her arm out of his grasp and sighed.
"O-Okay… C-Can I… have my-"
"No. I can't trust you with it yet. Maybe after the meeting…"
Her face lit up slightly as she said, "Alright."
Yuri then made her way back to her desk and sat down.
That was close… She was about to do it again. Anyway, nothing bad has happened today just yet. I suppose I should take this time to put all of this evidence together.
Josuke then made his way to a desk away from the others and took out a piece of paper. He then reached into his bag for his pen, but he couldn't find it. He looked thought his bag, in every pocket and section, to find it. When he found no trace of it, his stomach sank when he remembered yesterday's events.
Wait… Didn't Yuri say that she took my pen? Great…
Josuke slowly stood up and made his way over to the purple haired girl. She was reading some more of the book, but she quickly put it down as she saw him approach.
"J-Josuke! Did you change your mind?" she asked.
Josuke shook his head. "No. Could I have my pen back?"
Yuri winced at what he said. "U-Um… S-Sure…"
She very slowly reached into her bag and pulled out his pen. Her hand trembled as she held it out for him. He took the pen from her, but he noticed something strange about it.
Hang on… This is my pen, but it feels… sticky?
"Um, hey… Yuri?" Josuke began. "What's up with my pen? Why does it feel sticky?"
Her face became entirely red as she looked away and tried to hide in her hair.
"… I… I'm sorry…" she muttered, barely audible.
He raised an eyebrow.
She's sorry…? What for? It's not like she-
Josuke's eyes widened in realization.
… Oh… OH! … My God…
He made his way back to his desk, only holding his pen at the end with two fingers. As Josuke sat down, he looked at his pen in disgust.
Really?! My new pen?! Did Yuri really…? … Actually, I'll go wash it off… Hopefully that'll work…
Josuke returned to the clubroom, having washed his pen thoroughly, and found everything and everyone in order as he sat down. He then began writing down his thoughts, hoping to piece these things together.
Now… back to business. So, first I see Yoshikage Kira in place of Monika before she said that I should join her club. Then, I see Red Hot Chili Pepper from the lights, but it wasn't there. Next, everything began to speed up around me as Yuri and Natsuki began to argue. After that, my friends said that I had forgotten something… Did I really? … Whatever…
He quickly looked up and glanced around, only to see everything going on as normal. He then quickly went back to writing.
Then, Natsuki claimed that she had forgotten that argument. Next, Yuri was cutting herself when Kira, looking like Kosaku Kawajiri, appeared behind her… How does this all connect? Is this some sort of Stand that makes hallucinations of past enemies? No… That seems a little too specific for a Stand ability. Plus, that wouldn't explain Natsuki, and possibly, my memory loss. Hallucinations also wouldn't explain Yuri's strange behavior… That's what I missed!
Josuke had finished writing down everything. Each point was scattered about the page with lines drawn to them with possible theories.
Alright. That's everything. It seems like the one that could be the user would be- … not Monika. She couldn't possibly be a Stand user. I knew her last year!
Before Josuke could think of anything more, Monika called the club together.
"Okay, everyone! It's time to share our poems!" she announced.
Josuke put away his plan and reluctantly pulled out his poem. He had written it right after Yuri had angered him so it was a bit aggressive. He decided that he would show his poem to Natsuki first. They were both a bit hesitant to exchange each other's poems. Natsuki read his poem.
Truth
The truth can hurt.
The truth is not always helpful.
People lie to make others feel better.
They lie to make themselves feel better.
This town is full of liars.
People lie every day to hide what they really do.
They lie about how they are feeling.
They lie about their opinions on certain things.
But most things are better left unsaid.
We don't need to know how you feel about that person.
We don't need to know what you think of us.
And you probably don't want to know what we think of you.
Josuke's eyes widened as he read her poem.
What the hell?! This isn't a poem! This is… a cry for help? I don't understand… I'm glad that she cares about her friends, but why would they be acting strangely in the first place? And why should I not let Monika know? She can make cupcakes? Cool…
Josuke looked up from the poem at her. "I… uh… liked it…?"
Natsuki stared at him, expressionless and said, "I changed my mind. Ignore everything you just read."
She then swiped her poem out of his hands before giving him back his own and went on her way. He just stared at her as she walked away, mildly confused.
What? Was? That?
Yuri then approached him and said, "Finally…"
Josuke jumped slightly as she took the poem out of his hands and held it up to her face. She breathed it in, not even reading it.
"It's perfect. I love everything about it. Josuke, I want to take this home."
"You didn't even read it-"
"Will you let me keep it? Please?"
Josuke looked at her as she pleaded, confused. "S-Sure, I guess…"
Yuri laughed. "You're too nice to me… I've never met anyone as nice as you. I could die."
Josuke's eyes widened.
"N-Not really, but-" she continued. "I just don't know how to describe it. It's okay to be feeling this way, right? It's not bad, right? I'm going to take this home with me and keep it in my room. I hope that it makes you feel good when you think about me having it. I'll take good care of it!"
"I mean… it's just a poem."
"I'll even touch myself while reading it over and over."
Josuke backed away from her, his face becoming red. "W-W-WHAT?"
"I'll give myself paper cuts so your skin oil enters my bloodstream. Ahahahahaha. You can have my poem too. Besides, after you read it, I know you're really going to want to keep it. Here, take it. I can't wait any longer. Hurry! Read it!"
His face turned as white as a sheet when she said those words. She then put her poem into his hands. When he looked at the poem, he thought he might hurl. The paper she gave him was full of illegible words with many different colored stains on it.
What the hell is this?! Is this her blood?! Did she really… Oh God…
Josuke immediately let go of the paper, letting it float down onto the ground. When he looked back up, he saw Yuri's face right in front of him.
"Do you like it?" she asked, her breathing uneven.
He stumbled back, but she approached him again.
"I wrote it for you! I've endowed it with my scent."
Josuke was terrified. He looked at this girl in horror and disgust for the things she had done. Without meaning to, Crazy Diamond suddenly appeared. It sensed its user's fear and stood between him and the girl. She paid no mind to the cyan and pink figure before her.
"See, aren't I the most thoughtful person in the club?" she continued.
What the hell. What the hell. What the hell. What the hell. What the hell. Do it! Just stop her, Crazy Diamond!
Josuke's Stand pulled back its arm and launched a punch in Yuri's direction.
"DORA!"
Before it made contact with her, she jumped back, mouth widen open and tears falling down. Crazy Diamond lowered its fist as it and its user looked at her.
Yuri looked down at the paper, eyes wide. "I… I think… I'm going to vomit."
She then rushed out of the room, her hand covering her mouth. Josuke was left standing there in front of the nastiest object he had ever seen in his life.
I'll take a disembodied hand any day. This shit is too much. I'm not touching that again. I won't even let Crazy Diamond touch it.
Josuke looked around as his Stand fazed into his body.
"Okay, everyone!" Monika announced. "It's time to figure out the festival preparations." Her face fell. "Let's hurry and get this over with."
Josuke let out a deep sigh. Great. Hopefully this will get that out of my mind…
"Jeez…" Natsuki started. "Why is the mood so weird today? Look, even Yuri isn't immune to it."
At that moment, Yuri stumbled into the room, her face drained of all color. She wearily made her way over to the group after she secretively picked up her poem and threw it into the trash.
"Uuh…" she groaned. "Stagnating air is… common foreshadowing that something terrible is about to happen…"
… Oh… Great.
"Look, can we just get this done?" Monika sighed. "I'm going to be printing and assembling all the poetry pamphlets. Natsuki, I was thinking-"
"I want to make cupcakes!" Natsuki yelled.
"… Yeah, that. Glad we're on the same page. Yuri, you can… Well, it doesn't matter. Do whatever you want as long as you think it'll help."
Yuri looked up. "Monika… I'm not useless, you know!"
"I-I know that!" Monika looked away.
"I already know what I'd like to do. We can't run a successful poetry event without having the right atmosphere for the occasion. So I'm going to make decorations and set up some nice mood lighting."
Is it just me, or does Yuri seem a bit more assertive than usual…?
"There, see?" Monika smiled. "That's a great idea! And that gives us all something to do."
"Eh? What about Josuke?"
"Josuke is going to help me."
"I am?" Josuke said, confused.
"Wait, you? You have the easiest job, Monika!" Natsuki complained.
"Sorry, but that's just how it is," the club president stated.
"Like hell it is! What are you trying to pull?"
"I-I agree with Natsuki!" Yuri added. "Not only is your work already most suitable for one person, but my task is laborious enough to benefit from an extra pair of hands."
"Mine too!" Natsuki whined.
"What, your cupcakes? Please."
"Like you would fucking know! All you care about now is dragging Josuke around with you and your stupid books. You AND Monika!"
"Hey!" Monika said defensively. "I didn't even do anything!"
"Okay, then why not let Josuke decide who to help instead of abusing your power?"
"I'm not… abusing my power."
"Yes you are, Monika," Yuri chimed in. "Just let Josuke make the choice, okay?"
Not Natsuki. I feel like I should stay away from her for some reason… DEFINITELY not Yuri! So… I guess that means-
"Monika," Josuke decided.
"Yay, you picked me!" she cheered and smiled sweetly. "We can meet at your house this weekend. I promise it'll be fun. Is Sunday okay with you?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?! This isn't fair at all!" Natsuki screamed.
"It is fair, Natsuki. It's what he chose."
"No, it's not fair!" Yuri added. "Giving us all this work and then taking him for yourself. What a shameful thing to do!"
They're making this seem like I didn't even have a say in this matter…
"Yuri, I didn't even give you any work. You decided it for yourself. You're being a little unreasonable here."
Yuri's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. "I'm being unreasonable?! Ahahaha! Monika, I can't believe how delusional and self-important you are! Pulling Josuke away from me every single time you're not included in something. Are you jealous? Crazy? Or maybe you just hate yourself so much that you take it out on others? Here's a suggestion. Have you considered killing yourself?"
Josuke suddenly stepped in. "Whoa there! Stop talking, right now! All of you!"
Everyone looked a bit uncomfortable, especially Natsuki and Monika.
"N-Natsuki, let's just go. I don't think she wants us around right now," Monika said nervously as the two of them head out the door.
Yuri called out to them as they left, "See, that wasn't very hard. All I want is to spend a little time with him. Is that so much to-?"
"What the hell, Yuri?" Josuke asked angrily.
Yuri smiles at him, her eyes still wide. "Finally! This is all I wanted."
"Are you listening to me? What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"There's no need to spend the weekend with Monika. Don't listen to her. Just come to my house instead."
"Like hell I will! You should never tell someone to kill themselves!"
Yuri began giggling maniacally. "Wow… There's really something wrong with me, isn't there? But you know what? I don't care anymore."
"You… You're insane…!"
"Just being with you is a far greater pleasure than anything I could imagine. I'm addicted to you. It feels like I'm going to die if I'm not breathing the same air as you. Doesn't it feel nice to have someone care about you so much?"
"I… I wouldn't call that caring about me…"
"But if it feels so good, then why does it feel more and more like something horrible is going to happen? Maybe that's why I tried stopping myself at first, but the feeling is too strong now. I don't care anymore, Josuke! I have to tell you!"
You're the Stand user?!
"I'm… I'm madly in love with you!"
Josuke's face fell. "… Huh?"
"It feels like every inch of my body… every drop of blood in me… is screaming your name. I don't care what the consequences are anymore! Please, Josuke, just know how much I love you. I love you so much that I even touch myself with the pen I stole from you."
He grimaced. I preferred it when I wasn't reminded of that…
"I just want to pull your skin open and crawl inside of you."
Oh God… We might have the next Morioh serial killer here…
"I want you all to myself, and I will be only yours. Doesn't that sound perfect? Tell me, Josuke. Tell me you want to be my lover. Do you accept my confession?"
"… Wha- Do I accept your confe- N-No! Hell no! You're crazy."
There was a moment of silence between the two of them. It was Yuri who broke the silence with a quiet chuckle. That chuckle turned into a giggle, then into a maniacal laughter.
Did I do something wrong…?
Yuri screamed with laughter as she pulled out a knife and drove it into her stomach.
Josuke froze. She had just stabbed herself in the stomach.
Where did she even get that knife?
She then pulled it back out, smiled evilly, and began to plunge it back into her soft flesh. Just before the knife made contact with her body again, Josuke unconsciously brought out Crazy Diamond.
"DORARARARA!"
The Stand punched the knife out of Yuri's hand with lightning speed, making it fly across the room. It then focuses more punches around the area that was damaged, healing it. Yuri's insane laughter was halted as the knife flew out of her hands and her wound was no more. She looked down at her body to see no trace of damage to herself or her uniform. She then looked back up at Josuke, terrified.
"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What did you just do?!"
His face had slowly adopted a look of anger. "You just tried to kill yourself so I healed you!"
Her legs began to tremble and she fell to the floor, breathing heavily. "This… This shouldn't happen. I… I just stabbed myself… Why am I okay? How am I okay?!"
Crazy Diamond went back into Josuke as he answered her. "I believe that you were affected by a Stand. You and I both."
"A… 'Stand'? What's a 'Stand'?"
"This is just great…" he sighed.
Just then, they heard three pairs of footsteps coming from the hallway.
Did Monika and Natsuki get help? Wait… From who? What for?
The door swung open and a boy in a familiar green school uniform, accompanied by a much taller boy and girl, ran into the room.
"Josuke!" Koichi yelled. "Are you alright?! You didn't call the café so we came here. We then saw screaming and-"
"Yuri!" Yukako called out as she ran over to her friend on the ground. "Are you alright?!"
"I… I…" Yuri fumbled with her words before tears began to roll down her face. "I tried to kill myself!"
All of them except Josuke were shocked to hear this. Yukako tried to comfort Yuri as she wept into her shoulder. Okuyasu reluctantly approached Josuke.
"Hey, man," he began. "… You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," Josuke responded.
There was silence in the room for a minute, save Yuri's sobbing.
"I'm sorry for telling you about Sayori…" Okuyasu said.
"… Were we close?" Josuke hesitantly asked.
"I mean, we knew her for about a week, but she was still fun to hang out with…"
"Heh… Did you like her?"
Okuyasu began to blush a little. "Wha- Di- Do- I- Ah! … Um… Maybe…"
Josuke smirked. His face fell before he asked a question. "Did you guys see Monika and Natsuki on your way in?"
"Uh… No, we didn't. Why?" Koichi answered then asked.
"Huh… Strange… They didn't leave too long before you guys showed up. They should have passed you, unless they ran or-"
The sound of a bone snapping was hear from out in the hallway. The three boys slowly stood up and peeked into the hallway. Near the end of the hallway, they saw a black and white figure dragging something along the ground.
Josuke blinked. "You guys saw that too, right?"
The others nodded. They went down the hallway to where that figure went after leaving Yukako alone in the room with Yuri. As they got to the end of the massive hallway, they saw that the room the figure had gone into was the music room.
"Well…" Koichi started. "Let's go."
Okuyasu and Josuke opened the double door entrance and they all gasped at what they saw. There at the end of the piano in the middle of the room was Natsuki's body… her head turned sideways at a ninety degree. Her mouth was drawn up like a wide grin and her eyes appeared to be crying blood.
All of them were frozen. Suddenly, the piano began to play. They looked up and saw who the pianist was.
The person playing the piano looked up and gasped in surprise before smiling sweetly.
"Ah! Josuke! You're just in time to hear my song. I, uh… wrote it for you…"
-To Be Continued
