"Come on," MC mumbled to himself. "Think of something good, something that will blow everyone's socks off today."

MC sat at the dining room table, a pen resting in his right hand. In front of him was a blank sheet of paper, and that meant a world of infinite fates rested within him. Were he to play his cards right, he could produce a work of literary genius that would make even the likes of Shakespeare seem second-rate. Firstly, though, he had to think of something. Too bad thinking was hard.

The ringing of the doorbell echoed throughout the house, jolting MC out of whatever train of thought he might've had going. Not that he minded; maybe talking to a certain visitor would provide him with the necessary inspiration.

"Monika time," MC sang to himself as he arose and headed for the front door. He gently opened the door to find his daily visitor gracefully awaiting. She flashed him a smile as sweet as honey.

"Good morning, MC," Monika greeted, her hands behind her back. "Whatcha' doin'?"

MC shrugged. "Nothing really important. I'm trying to write my daily poem, but I'm coming up a little bit short right now."

"I know that struggle," Monika replied with a nod. "I wasn't able to think of anything today, either. Somebody has been stuck in my head all night," Monika informed with a wink and a grin.

MC flashed his own grin, though his was laced with no small amount of amusement. "Really, now? I figured I would've given you plenty to write about, Monika."

Monika's smile dropped. "You have, for the past three weeks, in fact. Do you even read the poems I give you?"

MC nodded. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

Monika groaned in mild frustration. "I swear, MC: When it comes to literature, you are absolutely the densest person I know," Yet her smiled returned. "I still love you, though."

"I figured such was the case," MC replied. An awkward silence then followed.

Monika eventually cleared her throat. "Anyway, I was thinking of how I might win your heart today, and I remembered something that I think might work. Have you ever heard of that proverb: 'The easiest way to a man's heart is through his stomach'?"

As if on cue, MC's stomach emitted a ravenous gurgle. He gave Monika a sheepish grin. "There's your answer, I believe."

"Then I have just the thing for you," Monika replied, then removed her hands from behind her back. She handed him a tinfoil-coated object, which he took for her. "I baked you a pie!"

MC stared at her, mouth agape in pure happiness. "Oh, boy! I haven't had a pie in ages! Monika, I might actually kiss you for this!"

Now it was Monika's turn to drop her chin in joy. "Really!? Try it, MC, I want that kiss!"

She didn't have to tell him twice- MC was already tearing away at the layers of foil separating him and this wondrous dessert. Maybe this was just the brain food he needed to write Shakespeare out of a job. When he finally ripped the last layer off, however, his hopes and dreams, as well as his appetite, were dashed. The pie was black- blacker than the morality of a baby-eating Nazi. Instead of a fruity fragrance gently tickling his nose, MC's sense of smell came under attack by the stench of charcoal and failure. There was no way in hell he could ever eat this.

"Uh, wow, Monika!" MC exclaimed with artificial excitement and a massively fake smile. "This looks like sh-. . . Deliciously delicious pie! One question, though. What flavor is it?"

"Blueberry," Monika replied, her eyes filled with a tremendous hope that MC did not dare to spoil.

This was not blueberry. It may have once been blueberry pie at one point, but those times were long over now. If anything, it was now blackberry, but such an assumption also seemed far too insulting for actual blackberry pie. "It must've taken a lot of effort to code this in, but I'm glad you did."

Monika's smiled faded. "'Code this in'? No, MC, I baked it."

"Oh," Note to self: Never eat what Monika cooks. "Well, I can't wait to eat it after school today," MC lied once more. He subconsciously scratched his nose to make sure it wasn't growing. Thankfully, the worst that had happened was that it had withered slightly from the odor. This thing is going in the trash as soon as you leave, Monika.

"Why wait until after school?" Monika questioned with an inquiring frown. "It will be cold by then; why don't you eat it now?"

MC gulped. He glanced down at the questionable object referred to as 'pie', then back at Monika's expectant face, then down at the pie again. Was this some sort of formulated revenge for the meatloaf fiasco? No, this was just Monika being Monika. He knew what he had to do, regardless of whether he liked it or not.

With a heavy heart, he reached for a piece that Monika had pre-sliced for him. The brittle crust practically snapped upon the slightest application of pressure, coating MC's hand in a black sludge. What remained of the slice was reluctantly placed in his mouth- better to eat it all at once than take it out bite-by-bite. It was as if he had eaten a bowl of sand straight from the Sahara, and you bet he ate every last inch of that piece in front of Monika. When he finally swallowed it, it scraped the back of his esophagus all the way down. He could only pray that no permanent damage had been done.

Monika gazed at MC with half-lidded, seductive eyes. "So, how about a different kind of dessert?"

MC swallowed. "I'm good, thanks."

Monika frowned. "Wait, it wasn't that good? I-I worked really hard on it and everything."

"Oh no, it was godawful, er, -ly great!" MC declared as happily as he could. "I just don't know if I can handle anything sweeter today, that's all."

Monika giggled. "Aw, MC, you really know how to make a girl feel special. How about I bake you another pie tomorrow, then?"

MC's eyes widened in primal fear. "No!"

Monika raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Uh, I mean. This pie will last me for a few days, won't it? I don't want you to go through all the trouble when I still have plenty of leftovers, that's all."

Monika nodded. "Good point," she answered. "You want to walk to school together?"

MC unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, I have a few things I need to take care of before I head out today. Sorry, Monika."

Monika sighed. "That's understandable. See you at lunch, MC."

"See you then," MC replied, and then he closed the door gently. As soon as Monika was off his front lawn, MC immediately grabbed his phone and dialed a certain number.

"Hey, MC," he heard Natsuki greet on the other end. "What's up?"

"Natsuki, how would you like a free pie, no questions asked?"

There was a short pause. "I'll be over in five minutes," she replied, and then the phone clicked.