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.
But after seeing Monika's poem yesterday, I feel a little ashamed.
I'm clearly not up for all this.
Thankfully, I get through the rest of the time without anyone noticing that I didn't share again.
Monika: ...Okay, you four!
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: Why don't you...
Monika: Uhh...
Monika: Work on creating the best poem you can.
Monika: You'll need all the experience you can get to catch up to everyone else.
You: Ah-
You: That's...
Is Monika suggesting I spend the weekend alone?
How on Earth am I supposed to respond to a suggestion like that...?
Yuri:Ah...
Yuri:I...suppose I wouldn't mind a bit of help...
Natsuki: I can help you with that Yuri.
Natsuki: And even if you don't know how to bake, there's always some dirty work I could give to you.
Yuri: Really?
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 everyone out the door as they chat between each other.
I worry that I'm not really connecting with anyone.
But I'm sure it's nothing.
Besides, there's still time right.