Updated
Chapter 2: Knowing what to expect
Back to nothing once again shrouded in darkness. Nothing to see, only to hear, even within this dream world. The only thing MC could do is nothing, but to hear the same two words repeated over and over again. Hope, Despair, Hope, Despair, Hope, Despair. Even with his efforts to escape it, those words would constantly follow him.
?: "You can't save them. You can't stop them. you can't stop me. You're only setting yourself up for Despair. You can't do anything, but fail. You'll always be a failure. You tried saving them before, but in the end you couldn't do anything, but watch. You cannot change your fate, nor can you change yourself. You can't change your past and you could never change your future. You are doomed to fail. Michael, you can't win against me."
As MC heard those words the voice talking to him laughs evilly. Mocking him for his failings.
*Alarm Clock Rings*
MC awakens suddenly at the sound of his alarm.
MC: "What was that about? Despair, Hope, my failures? That voice it sounded different from the one I heard the other night and yet it sounded familiar?" He got out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom to wash his face. After finishing splashing some cold water onto his face and letting the droplets fall from him. He looked intensely at his reflection. (That dream was even weirder than the dream I had the other night? Why am I having these dreams of mine?) He dries off his face with a nearby towel. (Oh who cares it's just a dream. Nothing more, nothing less. I better get ready for school. Don't want to be late.)
After doing his usual morning routine he texted Sayori to see if she's up. To no avail she did not answer him back. "Guess she's still getting ready? Girls sure do like to take their time? Then again why would Sayori care about her appearance? Sometimes whenever I see her around school, her hair would look all messy like she didn't even take the time to brush it?" He grabs his backpack and looks through it to make sure he had his poem in it before heading out.
When he exited his house, he attempted to walk to school as normal, but instead of going. He looked behind himself to where Sayori's place is. "I should go check on her? I doubt she already left home, so I should go see how she's doing?" He turns from the direction from school and heads to his childhood's friend's house. By the time he got there he looked around her front yard and wondered if her parents already left for work? (Wonder if her parents took her to school?) He walks up to her front door and just as he got up to it, the door suddenly swung open.
MC: "Woah there!"
Sayori: "Kyaa! MC what are you doing here? I thought you already left to school?"
MC: "Well a hello to you too? And here I thought it would be nice to walk with my old friend to school?"
Sayori: "Aww MC." She smiles and blushes slightly. "Oh sorry for not messaging you back I was getting ready myself."
MC: "Maybe if you got up earlier you wouldn't need to rush?" He folds his arms.
Sayori: "I know, but its ssooooo hard to get out of bed. I just wanted to lay on it all day."
MC: *Sigh* "Guess I can't blame you for that feeling. I feel the same way too." He pats her head and she smiles cutely.
With the both of them walking to school together, they manage to make it in time as the warning bell rang. Both of them said their goodbyes and rushed to their classrooms. After a long tedious day of school, class finally ended. Now it was time to go to the club. When MC reached the club room he notices Yuri just about to enter the classroom.
MC: "Hey Yuri."
Yuri: "Oh h-hello Michael." She tries to avoid eye contact.
MC: "You ready for today's meeting?"
Yuri: "Y-yes I am. Th-thank you for asking." She opens the door.
MC: (Cute) After she enters he follows.
After the two of them showed up Sayori and Natsuki appeared. Leaving Monika as the last one to show up.
Monika: "Well at least I'm not late this time?"
Natsuki: "That's a first." Monika choosing to ignore that comment. She turns her attention to someone else.
Monika: "Well then, Michael I'm glad you didn't run away from us."
MC: "Me? No."
Monika: "Well I'm glad to hear that. Right now we're going to have our free time before we start sharing our poems. Please do whatever you like to do until then."
MC: "Yes mam."
As she walks to go have a chat with Sayori. MC decided to double check his backpack to see if he did bring is poem today. When he saw that he did bring it, he looked around to see what everyone is doing. Monika and Sayori were at the front of the classroom talking about girly things at least that's what he's thinking. Yuri is engrossed with her book and Natsuki is going through the closet. He decided to see what Natsuki is up to and made his way to her. By the time he reached her, he heard a loud groan.
MC: "What's wrong?"
Natsuki: "Freaking Monika! She didn't even bother putting my box full of Manga's away properly. Now I have to waste time going through all this crap just to get them."
MC: "Manga? You read them too?" His eyes lit up.
Natsuki: "I see you're a man of culture."
MC: "Yeah I enjoy a good read and amazing artwork as well."
Natsuki: "There they are." She grabs the box full of Manga's well organized. "Now I'm happy." She smiles with joy. He takes a peek in the box she's holding.
MC: (Parfait Girls? Why do these look familiar?)
Natsuki: "Hey if you're going to judge the windows that way."
MC: "Ah no I'm just trying to remember if I read this before?"
Natsuki: "Hmm, well why don't you read it with me? Maybe reading it could jog your memory or whatever?" She blushes slightly.
MC: "Sure, but where should we sit?"
Natsuki: "We could read over there?" She points to the window. "I like to read under the window. It's always nice and warm there."
She takes her seat and MC follows with no question. As they both sat next to each other Natsuki tried not to sit too close to him, but didn't have much of an option to get close so both of them could read. MC held the Manga between them and the both of them started reading. After reading a couple of pages Natsuki spoke up.
Natsuki: "Man how long has it been since I read this?"
MC: "You don't go back to reread previous chapters?"
Natsuki: "Not really. The only times I go back is when the series is over and I decided to take a look back to how it was when it started."
MC: "You mean like a retrospect?"
Natsuki: "Yeah I guess so?"
More time had passed as Natsuki and MC continues to read. The more he read the more it felt as if he had read this before, but when, how, and why? It didn't matter to him, he was just glad to see Natsuki being happy sharing one of her interests with someone.
MC: (I think I got her to open up to me a little?) After reading a couple of chapters, She spoke again.
Natsuki: "Well I think that's it for now? Believe me it gets better later on."
MC: "I'll trust you on that. By the way this series has a lot of baking in it. Did it inspire you to bake?"
Natsuki: "What? No! Like anyone could get into things from a Manga. Its just coincidence." She avoids eye contact.
MC: "Guess so?" (Might as well drop this? Don't want to make her too upset.)
He decided to change the subject and ask her a couple of questions involving Manga. She told him a little of her interests and that she doesn't want other people to find out about it. The two of them started to get close as the conversation keeps going. Eventually she decided to let MC take the first volume of Parfait Girls to read what happens next. At first he wasn't sure if he was allowed to, but Natsuki convinced him to keep reading it so that he could get to the more exciting parts she promised and with that MC made the decision to take it home with him.
Natsuki: "You better take good care of it."
MC: "I will." Monika walks up to the both of them.
Monika: "Natsuki could you come over here for a moment? Sayori and I need to discuss about the club activities with you."
Natsuki: "Could you pick a better time to ask?"
Monika: "Sorry to interrupt you when your comfy." She giggled as Natsuki realized she's sitting very close to MC and immediately moved away.
Natsuki: "Whatever" She got up and walked with Monika to other side of the class where Sayori is waiting.
After Natsuki left MC took the Manga she let him borrow and put it in his backpack. When he safely put the Manga away, Yuri walked up to him nervously.
Yuri: "H-hello M-Michael, I'm glad you didn't run away from us. E-even after being forced to participate with our activities."
MC: "It's fine don't worry about it."
Yuri: "S-sorry, I hope this won't be too overwhelming for you?"
MC: "We won't know for sure right?" She looks away from his gold eyes. (You know she's cute when she's shy. I hope she gains more confidence in herself.)
Sayori: "Don't worry Yuri, MC can do anything when he puts his mind to it. He's very helpful to me, like the time he helped me clean and cook."
Yuri: "How very dependable?"
MC: "That's because your room was all kinds of messy. I don't understand how your able to sleep or walk around in there. Last time I was in your room I almost drown with all that crap in there. Not only that the last time you tried to cook something you almost set your house on fire. Seriously how do you start a fire in the sink? That's what I like to know." Sayori nervously laughs hearing what he said.
Yuri: "You both seem very close together. I'm quite jealous."
Sayori: "Aww don't say that. I'm sure you and MC can be close too. Back when we were kids we used to take baths together."
Yuri: "What was that?" Her face turns red.
MC: "S-Sayori! Don't tell that to her." He blushes intensely.
Sayori: "Oops" She closes her mouth with her hands. "Sorry I mean what?" MC looks at Yuri trying to cover her red face.
MC: (Get close to Yuri? Why do I feel like me and her are already close to each other?)
Sayori: "So Yuri are you going to give him that gift yet?"
Yuri: "S-Sayori!" Her face turns into crimson red.
Sayori: "Good luck Yuri." She whispers to her and leaves them both alone together.
MC: "A gift for me?"
Yuri: "I-its no real big deal the way Sayori said it." She plays with her purple hair.
MC: "Well … may I have it then?" She remains silent, but looks into his eyes. (How is she being this cute without even trying?) He clears his throat. "Listen I wasn't expecting to get a gift today so anything you have for me will make me really happy. Thank you for being thoughtful."
Yuri: "O-ok then h-here you go." She gives him a book.
MC: "The Portrait of Markov?"
Yuri: "Y-yes I happened to have two copies so I thought I could give you my spare copy."
MC: (This book looks familiar? That eye on the cover, have I seen this before? I have a bad feeling about this, or perhaps I'm just being paranoid?) "Thank you Yuri I appreciate it." He gives her a warm smile.
Yuri: "Y-your welcome." She continues to play with her hair.
He opens the book up and looks through it as Yuri gives him a summary of the story. After talking nonstop she realized this and stopped herself from saying anymore. However MC couldn't stop thinking about how the plot sounded familiar? It's as if he knew about the story already, but instead of continuing to think about it he turned his attention on Yuri being shy again.
"I-I'm sorry for rambling, it's just when I talk about books I just couldn't help, but to talk about them."
MC: "It's ok I'm not losing any interest in it, as a matter of fact I could listen to you forever. It is a Literature Club right?"
Yuri: "Y-yes it is." She smiles a bit.
MC: "Well now how about I get started reading this?"
Yuri: "You don't have to."
MC: "Nonsense, we still got time. Just one chapter to get me started." He sat on the nearest desk and invited Yuri to sit next to him. "Shall we read together?"
Yuri: "I-if that's ok with you?" She sat near him putting there desks together so they both can see the pages. "S-sorry am I invading your personal space?"
MC: "No you're fine."
Yuri: "O-oh okay then."
They sat close to each other as they read the first chapter together. The more he read the pages the more he couldn't help, but wonder if he already read this book before. All the sentences seemed familiar to him, like he knows what's going to happen next. Unfortunately he could not put his finger on it. He tried to read more, but realized it's difficult to concentrate as he could smell the sweet scent of the shy girl next to him.
MC: (Aw man, my heart is beating like crazy, but yet … it feels comforting. It feels so nostalgic?) "Say Yuri the Main Character in this story, do you think you could relate to her?"
Yuri: "I never thought of that? What makes you say that?"
MC: "You said you like stories that you can feel a part of it. I was wondering if maybe you could relate to her or is it just me?"
Yuri: "No I can't say I relate, but now that you mention it I could see a bit of myself in her. What about you? Do you relate to her?"
MC: "I can't say for sure, but I could understand how she feels. The way she thinks about herself, the way she picks her actions, all of it. I guess that proves that this story can make you feel a part of it?"
Yuri: "I see?"
MC: (This girl, she remined me a bit about Yuri. Shy and timid. Can't speak up for herself and doesn't have much confidence in herself. This girl always second guesses herself. The one thing that concerns me the most are the Antagonist in this story. Something about them rubs me the wrong way? What could it be?)
Monika: "Okay everyone it's poem time!" She says while singing, surprising Yuri. "It's time to read each other's poems."
MC: (Oh god here it comes.) He goes to where he left his backpack and gets his poem ready. While he does that the others do the same.
Monika: "Okay everyone pair up and takes turns reading each other's poems. When your done make sure to give your fellow club members your opinion of how they could improve their work."
MC: "Oh god! Alright then here I go." He does what Monika asks and gives his poem to each of the girls one at a time as everyone pairs off. Each of the girls were amazed at how good his poem was. Sayori felt inspired to do some laps around the school. Yuri looked as if she could take on the world. Natsuki was disappointed with the fact that his poem was better than hers, but felt as if she could take on anyone in a fight.
After they read his poem MC read theirs. Sayori's was odd, but kind of funny, Yuri's was well written, but strange, and Natsuki's was short, but cute. Despite it being the message of giving up. After he read theirs, MC gave his poem to Monika and she did the same with hers. He read her poem and finds it kind of hard to understand what it meant. Monika on the other hand.
Monika: "Oh my this is … this is really good. I didn't think it would be better than mine? I'm caught off guard."
MC: "Oh come on all of you said that. You don't have to be that nice about it."
Monika: "I'm not this is so inspirational. You got talent."
MC: "You think so?"
Monika: "Yup! I think this type of poem should be known as either motivational or Hope poem. Hmm maybe Hope poem?"
MC: "Oh uh thank you."
Natsuki: "Why do you put so many big words in here? I can't understand what the hell your saying?" Everyone looks to where Natsuki is shouting from.
Yuri: "Because … someone has to since you use … cute little words."
Natsuki: "Cute! What do you mean cute? My poem has nothing to do with being cute."
Yuri: "That's not what I meant."
Natsuki: "Here let me help you improve your writing style since everyone liked mine."
Yuri: "Excuse me, but I've been writing a lot longer than you. I think I know what you need to do to improve yours. Even ask Michael, he liked my poem too."
Natsuki: "Oh ho ho so your trying to impress Michael I see?"
Yuri: "N-no I'm not! M-maybe your trying to impress him since you wrote your poem overly cutesy?"
Sayori: "Uhm?" She tries to say something, but didn't have the guts to tell them.
Natsuki: "Oh yeah, well at least my boobs didn't magically grow the moment Michael showed up!"
Monika: "Natsuki that's a bit much?"
Natsuki/Yuri: "Stay out of this!"
Yuri: "How could you say that in front of everyone?" The argument kept on going until MC stepped in and Karate chopped them both on the heads.
Natsuki/Yuri: "OW!"
MC: "That's enough you two!" Everyone shocked to hear him raise his voice. "You both need to stop this right now." He folds his arms and looks at them disappointedly.
Natsuki/Yuri: "But!"
MC: "No buts!" Both girls remained silent and MC looks at Yuri. "Yuri, you need to understand even though Natsuki doesn't use much vocabulary compared to you, she can still make an excellent poem with just simple words." He turns to Natsuki. "And Natsuki you need to understand that you can't judge others for their poems being different from yours."
He looks at both of them. "Isn't this the point of the Literature? The ability to express words with imagination. I like both of your poems, because they represent your personality and skills. It's what makes you different from each other." Both girls remained silent. The look of defeat in their faces showed.
Yuri: "I understand."
Natsuki: "I guess that makes sense."
MC pats both of them on the heads to make up for karate chopping their heads. Yuri left to make tea while Natsuki thinks about what she did and Sayori follows to check on them. Monika approaches MC.
Monika: "You handled that well Michael. It's as if you knew just what to say and do. That's very impressive." She gives him a smile to comfort him.
MC: "You think so? I can't help it that I might of went too far?"
Monika: "No I think it was necessary to stop them. To be honest even Sayori has difficulty stopping them. Between you and me I may be the leader, but I'm not that good with people." MC doesn't say a word. "Okay everyone I think it's a great time to end today's club. So what did you all think about sharing poems?"
Sayori: "It was fun."
Natsuki: "It was alright."
Yuri: "This was so embarrassing."
Monika: "Michael, what did you think." He gives her a thumbs up. "Great, well I hope this will help you all write your next poem. Hopefully you all learned what you could do to improve. I'm looking forward to your next poem."
Sayori: "MC ready to head home?" He nods to her question.
The both of them said their goodbyes and headed out. While they walk home, they decided to have another conversation to pass the time. Hopefully one that makes sense. The closer they got home MC decided to end their conversation about The Terminator. I guess not?
MC: "Hey Sayori? About Yuri and Natsuki … do they always argue like that?"
Sayori: "Oh no … well sometimes, but only about minor things. This is the first time I saw them act that way."
MC: "Guess they act that way because of me?"
Sayori: "Come on don't think that way. You don't hate them do you?"
MC: "No I don't."
Sayori: "That's good to hear. Hey MC?"
MC: "What's up?"
Sayori: "Let's say one day that …" He looks at her with a confused expression. "... if … lets say Yuri or any of the other girls were to ask you to walk with them … what would you do?"
MC: "Well if they were to ask me I would do it, just to be polite to them. However I still enjoy walking home with you."
Sayori: "Really?" She starts to blush.
MC: "Of course, especially since its been a long time since we walked home together. I almost forgotten how much happy I was. Oh … well looks like I'm home."
Sayori: "Oh right, well I'll see you tomorrow then. I'm sure that when I'm gone you'll do fine with the others." She turns away from him and runs home.
MC: "Yeah I'll see you tomorrow. Wait what did she just say?" After her sudden question he pondered to himself about what he just heard. (When I'm gone? What does she mean by that?) He looks up at the clock and saw the time. "I need to get ready for bed." Choosing to ignore his thoughts, he did his usual night routine. When he got into bed he started thinking about why he's been having a strong sense of déjà vu. Without coming up with any answers, he decided to just ignore it and go to bed. He turns off the light and covers himself with his sheets. Soon enough he drifted to sleep.
End of Chapter 2
