24 May

The school day went on as normal. By the time it ended, Ryuji had asked Jessikah if wanted to hang out. He was slightly disappointed when she was reminded that she had go to her club meeting. And with that, the two went their separate ways.

"I'm here!" Jessikah said cheerfully as she entered the classroom.

"Hi again, Jessikah!" Monika greeted her. "Glad to see you didn't run away on us. Hahaha!"

"What? Of course not. After all we did yesterday, how could I?"

Yuri quietly piped up, "Thanks for keeping your promise. I hope this isn't too overwhelming of a commitment for you. Making you dive headfirst into literature when you're not accustomed to it…"

"Oh, come on! Like she deserves any slack. Sayori told me that you have a criminal record. I don't know if you plan to come here and hang out, or what… But if you don't take us seriously, then you won't see the end of it," Natsuki said.

"Natsuki, you certainly have a big mouth for someone who keeps their manga collection in the clubroom." Monika chimed in.

Natsuki blushed a bit and began to pout. "Manga is literature!" She then stopped and looked at Jessikah. "Hey, didn't you say the other day that you actually KNEW Yusuke Kitagawa?"

Jessikah scratched the back of her head. "Uh, well, yeah I do know him. How come?"

She suddenly noticed that everyone was looking at her. She then folded her arms and looked away.

"N-Nothing! I was just making sure I heard you right."

Silence hung in the room for a moment as they all processed what just happened.

Jessikah decided to break the silence. "So, what are we going to do with our poems again?"

"We'll be sharing our poems later. For now, just have fun guys!" Monika answered her smiling sweetly.

As the group began to disperse, Sayori quickly informed Jessikah "Oh, oh! Yuri brought you something today, you know-"

"W-Wait! Sayori…" said Yuri, embarrassed for being put on the spot like that.

Jessikah blinked and looked at Yuri. "Huh? For me…?"

"Um… Not really… It's really nothing."

"What is it?"

"N-Never mind. Sayori made it sound like it's a big deal when it's really not…"

"H-Hey, it doesn't matter. You don't need to worry about it. I wasn't even expecting anything at all. So there's no reason to worry over this too much. I'm sure it can't be that bad."

"… Well, alright… Here."

She reached into her bag and pulls out a book. "I didn't want you to feel left out… So I picked a book that I thought you might enjoy. It's a short read, so it should keep your attention, even if you don't usually read. And we could, you know… discuss it… if you wanted…"

Jessikah was pretty surprised. She tought that it was really kind of her to pick out a book she thought he'd like.

"R-Really? Thanks! I'll definitely read this." She enthusiastically took the book.

Yuri sighed in relief. "I look forward to hearing what you think."

Once she went off to go read book, Jessikah looked around to see that everyone else was already doing something else. Sayori and Monika were having a conversation at the front of the classroom, and Natsuki was rummaging around in the closet.

Man. It looks like no one wants to be bothered today. What should I do now? Maybe I should read some of the book that Yuri gave me.

Jessikah sat down in a desk and pulled out the book. She quickly looked over the cover and read its title.

'The Call of Cthulhu'

Jessikah looked back at the book.

She looked around, only to see that everyone was doing their own thing again.

Maybe I should get to know each one of them and figure out who it could be.

She decided to start with Natsuki since she was the first to look away from her, possibly to eliminate any suspicion.

As Jessikah approaches the closet she hears and exasperated sigh.

Once she sees her, she says, "You need some help looking for something?"

Natsuki responded without turning around, "Freaking Monika… She never puts my stuff back in the right spot."

Jessikah notices that she is sorting out a bunch of manga. She then looks over her shoulder at Jessikah and asks, "You read manga, right?"

"Uh… sometimes. I haven't read that much manga. It's more Ryuji's thing."

She raised an eyebrow upon hearing that name. She had never heard of her before, but she just brushed it off believing that this 'Ryuji' is one of Jessikah's friends.

"Earlier you asked about Yusuke" Jessikah began. "Was there anything you wanted to know specifically?"

She blushed slightly and turned back around to continue sorting out the manga. "I was just wondering if maybe you would help me… m-meet himor something like that."

Jessikah smiled to see that someone who acted so stubborn would think about doing something nice. Her smile fell once she noticed something on the back of her neck. It looked like a bruise or something, just peeking out from behind her collar.

What's that?

She decided that she showed no hostility gently touched her neck, healing her bruise. Natsuki suddenly straightened up and put her hand do her chest. She then turned around to look Jessikah in the eye.

Jessikah nervously asked, "Uh… Are you feeling okay?"

After a second Natsuki looked down at the floor and took a deep breath. "Y-Yes actually. I've never felt better..."

Jessikah sighed in relief as she turned back around, Jessikah then noticed a lone manga volume in a shelf high up. She picked it up and she then looked at it.

"There it is!" Natsuki exclaimed as she snatched it out of Her hands. She then puts it into a box of manga. "Aah, much better! Seeing a box set with one book missing is probably the most irritating sights in the world."

Despite being that into literature in general, Jessikah completely agreed. Intrigued as to what was in the box, she look in and read the title.

"Parfait Girls…?" She had never heard of this before so she didn't know what to think.

Natsuki pointed at the door and said, "If you're gonna judge, you can do it through the glass on that door."

She began to chuckle a bit. "That was pretty good… But I wasn't judging anything."

"Well, I've got a lesson for you straight from the Literature Club: Don't judge a book by its cover!" She then pulled out the first volume of Parfait Girls. "I'm going to show you exactly why!"

Natsuki shoved the book into Jessikah's hands.

Ah… Dang it. I was planning on going to see Yuri now' Natsuki is obviously not

" Well, I guess I can't leave her hanging. Plus what's wrong with making a new friend?

Jessikah looked at the cover to see several girls striking feminine anime poses.

Natsuki then spoke up, "Don't just stand there!"

She then grabbed Jessikah's arm to pull her out of the closet. As she did this, she noticed just how small she was compared to her. She might even say she was about half a meter taller than her. Natsuki then takes a seat against the wall, beneath the windowsills. She pats the ground next to her to tell Jessikah to sit with her. She sat down with her, still towering over her.

"Alright…" Jessikah sighed as she opened the book.

She begins to read with her. "Wow, how long has it been since I read the beginning…?"

They began to read for a bit. Jessikah wasn't really paying much attention because nothing had really happened yet. It seems like it was just about a bunch of friends in high school. It reminded her of Ryuji and Ann.

She was disappointed that she wasn't able to hang out with them yesterday. Since she didn't have that many assignments due tomorrow she decided that she would go spend some time with them.

"Hey, are you even paying attention?" Natsuki asked frustratingly.

"Wha- uh… yeah. But… is there ever going to be a plot?"

Natsuki then talked about some of the events that would happen later in the story. They continued to read on for a few minutes. Reading through a few chapters, they occasionally spoke about their situation of her having to basically watch Jessikah read. As she read, she noticed that there was a lot of cooking in this manga. She assumed that she might have taken her interest in cooking from reading this.

Maybe I should introduce her to Yusuke. I mean she was so eager about meeting him.

"Okay, everyone!" Monika began, addressing the club. "Are you all ready with today's poems?"

Natsuki spoke up, "Oh come on! Could your timing be any worse?"

"Sorry! I just need to make sure we have enough time. Though you do look pretty cozy over there. Ahaha!"

"Eh-?!" Natsuki blushed, noticing that the whole club was looking at her. "A-ah!" She then noticed how close she had gotten to Jessikah and quickly slid herself away.

Jessikah blinked. "Uh… I guess we'll stop here for now." She then closes the book and hands it to Natsuki.

"You're just giving it back? Don't you want to know what happens?"

"Uh… well, Monika said that-"

"Don't be dumb. Just take it home with you."

"Woah, really? A-Are you sure?"

"Yeah. You can finish this one so we can start the next one by tomorrow."

"By tomorrow…?" Jessikah looks a bit nervous because she can't think of when she would have time to read this if she hung out with her friends. "Well… okay." She then got up to put the book in her bag.

Monika then approached her. "By the way, did you remember to write a poem last night?"

Jessikah smiled. "Yeah, I did! I really liked the way it turned out. Want to see?"

Monika smiled sweetly. "Sure!"

They exchanged poems. Jessikah was pretty proud of her poem and Monika could see why.

"W-Wow, Jessi! That was pretty good for someone with little literary experience." Monika stated, impressed.

Jessikah was still reading her poem, but when she was done she looked up at her and smiled. "Thanks, Monika! I liked yours too."

She giggled. "I just wanted to point out something about your poem. Your writing style is a bit all over the place. I suggest that you should listen to the others and ask for their advice on the matter."

"Oh, really? Thanks, I guess."

"Anyway, here's Monika's Writing Tip of the Day! Sometimes when you're writing a poem – or a story – your brain gets too fixated on a specific point… if you try so hard to make it perfect, then you'll never make any progress. Just force yourself to get something down on the paper, and tidy it up later! Another way to think about it is this. If you keep your pen in the same spot for too long, you'll just get a big dark puddle of ink. So just move your hand, and go with the flow! That's my advice for today! Thanks for listening."

"Well, thanks! I know I'll be busy with my new pen. Thanks for the advice!"

Jessikah eventually went around exchanging poems with the rest of the club members. She had taken in each of their criticisms about her poem and listening to some of their ideas for her future poems. She then thought about more important matters.

This club… there's something off. I'm sure this is no coincidence. Although, I should probably spend some time with Sayori, Yuri and Monika. There's no reason to rush, right?

As she was lost in thought, she overheard Natsuki and Yuri begin to argue.

"Maybe you're just jealous that Jessikah appreciates my advice more than he appreciates yours." Yuri said.

"Huh! And how do you know she didn't appreciate my advice more?" Natsuki quipped. "Are you that full of yourself?"

"I…! No… If I was full of myself, I would deliberately go out of my way to make everything I do overly cutesy!"

"Uuuuuuu…!"

"Um… is everyone okay?" Sayori asked.

"Well you know what?!" Natsuki yelled. "I wasn't the one whose boobs magically grew a size bigger as soon as Jessikah started showing up!"

Jessikah's eyes widened. D-did that happen? She hadn't noticed…

"N-Natsuki!" Yuri gasped, embarrassed beyond belief.

Monika tried to step in. "Um, Natsuki that's a little-"

"This doesn't involve you!" both Natsuki and Yuri yelled at her.

"I-I don't like fighting guys…!" Sayori whispered.

They then suddenly turn towards Jessikah.

"Jessi…!" Yuri began. "She-She's just trying to make me look bad…!"

"That's not true! She started it! If she could get over herself and learn to appreciate that simple writing is more effective, then this wouldn't have happened in the first place! What's the point in making your poems all convoluted for no reason? The meaning should jump out at the reader, not force them to figure it out. Help me explain that to her, Jessi!" said Natsuki.

"W-wait! There's a reason we have so many deep and expressive words in our language! It's the only way to convey complex feelings and meaning the most effectively. Avoiding them is not only unnecessarily limiting yourself… it's also a waste. You understand that, right, Jessi?"

Jessikah was speechless. "Um…"

"Well?!" they both ask simultaneously.

Oh, great. How did I get into this mess in the first place? Dang, I wish I could use the metaverse to get out of this.

Jessikah sighed. "Look, I liked both of your poems. But the thing is, I barely know a thing about literature. Besides, you both have completely different writing styles. How can I say which one is better? It's like asking: which is better, a spoon or a car? There's no comparison."

They both looked at the floor then glanced at each other.

"Also, insulting each other does not help your cases," she added.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable situations, the two apologize to each other.

Monika then speaks up to the whole club. "Well, now that we're past that, everyone's read each other's poems, right? I hope that was worthwhile for everyone! Especially you, Jessi! And to be honest, it's a nice change of pace from the lazing around we got a little too used to."

"So, I guess me joining the club kinda ruined the atmosphere…" said Jessikah.

"No, not at all!" Monika stated, almost hurt by what she said. "Well, anyway, let's do the same thing tomorrow. I think that we all learned a lot by sharing poems."

Great. Another poem. Well, this should be fine. I guess I'll be staying up late.

"Jessi!" Sayori began. "Ready to walk home?"

"Y-Yeah, right. Let's go." She responded.

And so they left. However, Jessikah glanced back at the school and clubroom to make sure that nothing was off.

"Sayori, that thing between Yuri and Natsuki, does that happen often?" Jessikah asked as they were already in their neighborhood.

"Uh, not really. No. That's honestly the first time I've seen them fight like that. I promise you they're both wonderful people. You don't… You don't hate them, do you?" she asked him, lowering her demeanor.

"What? Hate them? I've only just met them. It's not like they're-… evil or anything…"

"Heh, right. You know, I'm glad that I get to spend time with you in the club, but I think seeing you get along with everyone is what makes me the happiest. And I think everyone really likes you, too!"

"Ah… well, I guess we'll see what will happen in the future, Sayori."

I had a lot of fun today. Jessikah smiled as she headed into her apartment, to her surprise Sayori lived a few apartments down from the Niijima's, Jessikah hadn't noticed.