Updated

Chapter 3: Our cinnamon roll

The cold lonely darkness. Nothing to see, but dead bodies. The sound of horror and sorrow. A boy that couldn't do anything, but to see the corpses of his friends. A sad girl hanging herself, an obsessed girl drowning with in her own blood, an innocent girl's broken body, and a lonely girl crying for death.

?: "You need to end this. You must face Despair head on. You must remember in order to stop this. You have to save them."

*Alarm Clock Rings*

MC wakes up immediately with his heart beating rapidly and his breathing heavily.

MC: "Just another nightmare, but why did it felt so real?" He manages to calm himself and look at the clock. "It's just a nightmare. Nothing more nothing less." He gets off his bed and does his morning routine. Through out his entire routine, the images of those girls continues to haunt him. He tried his best to forget about it, but the way it all felt, it felt real to him.

By the time he finished getting ready and ate his morning breakfast. He decided to stop by at Sayori's house again like he did yesterday. After checking that he had everything he's going to need for the day, he immediately left to her place, not wasting a single second. When he arrived to her front door, he texted her to let her know that he's here, but she didn't respond again. He thought to himself that maybe she's just running late again and just decided to let her finish getting ready.

Thirty minutes had passed and class was just about to start. He thought to himself about just leaving so he wouldn't get in trouble, but he had a feeling in his heart. A sharp pain pierced through his heart and mind. "Screw it I'm coming in." He goes through a fake bird house near her front window and pulled out a spare key. (Good thing I remembered where she keeps this.) Just as he was about to insert the key in the lock, he debated whether he was doing the right thing? (Should I be doing this? This is her property and I don't want to just barge in, but … no, this should be fine. Back then her parents were ok with me doing this. They always looked at me as one of their own. I'm sure they'll understand?" He unlocks the front door and enters.

When he entered he didn't see Sayori or her parents anywhere at the first floor. He looked around a bit to see if anyone was down here, but with no luck finding her or anyone for that matter. He decided to head upstairs to see if she's still in her room. As he walks through the hallways he saw some old pictures of Sayori and her family. He saw a young Sayori being held up by her dad and another being snuggled with her mom. By the time he reached her room he knocked on her door gently to check if there was a chance she might be changing.

"Sayori?" No answer. He knocks again. "Sayori I'm coming in." He grabs the handle and gently opens the door. When he did he saw Sayori gently still asleep. He sighed in relief and the sound of her soft breathing. (Good so I'm not going crazy?) He walks up to her and looks down on her peaceful face. (You know she's kind of cute when she sleeps. Oh well time to wake her up.) He leans down to her in an attempts to wake her up, but something caught his attention. He noticed her desk drawer was slightly open. He wasn't sure why that would be enough to distract him, but as he looks down on it, he had a gut feeling there's something he has to see.

He went up to the drawer and opened it up wider. Only to see something that made his heart race. (What is this?) He takes out a lengthy brown rope tied in a very suspicious way. (What is this? No it can't be?) He looks over to Sayori cuddling with her stuffed cow doll with a peaceful look on her face, but a hint of sadness mixed in there. (Sayori … Why do you have this?) He looks back at what he found. A noose used to hang someone. Either to kill someone or to take their own life.

He didn't want to believe it, but the proof was there in his face. He thought of alternate solutions to why she would have this, but none of them made any sense and her knew he was just making up excuses not to believe that the girl he spent his entire childhood with would have something like this in her room. Before he knew it the images of last night flashed before him. He remembered one of the girls was hanging herself. Was this a coincidence? Maybe, but it didn't matter to him. He wiped away the tear building up in his eye and put the noose in his backpack. Just as he did Sayori finally wakes up.

Sayori: "Hmm … MC? What are you doing here?" She wipes her eyes and yawned.

MC: "I came to pick you up. It's time to go to school." He puts on a fake smile. "We're going to be late, so you might want to hurry up and get ready? I'll go downstairs and make you breakfast ok?"

Sayori: "Ok" She gets off her bed and heads out to the hallway to where her bathroom is. While she showers MC went downstairs to cook her something to eat. He tried desperately to forget what he saw in her room, but couldn't. By the time he finished cooking breakfast, Sayori came down. *Sniffing* "Watcha cooking good looking?"

MC: "Just some eggs, bacon, and toast." He gives Sayori her plate and lets her dig in. "Just make sure to wash your plates when you get back home."

Sayori: "Sure thing." She continues stuffing her face with bacon. In the meantime MC decided to go through his phone while he waits for her to finish devouring the food he cooked for her.

Sayori: "Ah! That was so good. Thank you MC." She starts drinking her orange juice with huge gulps. When she finished they quickly got their things and left for school, but before they walked out the door, MC turns to her and gives her a big hug.

Sayori: "MC? What are you doing?"

MC: "I … I just felt like giving my old friend a hug is all." He holds her tightly.

Sayori: "It's been a long time since we hugged." She hugs him back.

MC: "Yeah your hugs always did put me at ease." He lets go of her. "Alright then let's get going we're already late as is."

Sayori: "Right!"

With everything settled they both left for school. On their way to school they saw how empty the streets can be when there aren't any other students around. Makes them wonder if it's like this everyday when they are attending classes? By the time they arrived at school grounds, MC looked at his watch to see the time. By his estimate, he believes that they have already missed two classes by now. When they entered the building they both said their goodbyes and headed their own separate ways to their next class just about ready to start.

MC: "I'll see you later."

Sayori: "Alrighty then see you soon."

Throughout the rest of this short day. MC would often get lost in his own thoughts about what he witnessed this morning. He would ignore what's on the board, ignored the students around him, and even ignore whatever it is Sayori's talking about. RoboCop, I don't know? He didn't have to think about it too hard as the final bell rang ending today's short day. When he heard it, he sighed in relief when he realized that not much had happened today in class. He packed up his things and left for the club. By the time he reached upstairs he saw Monika just about to enter, but stopped when she notices him.

Monika: "Why hello Michael." She gives him warm smile, but breaks her smile when she notices somethings off about him. "What's wrong? You seem down? Did something happened?"

MC: "Ah no, just a bit exhausted is all." He tries to smile.

Monika: "I'm sorry to hear that, but hopefully spending time with us cute girls will make you feel better?"

MC: "What?" His face turns slightly red and she giggles as she enters the room. (Knew I should've stayed in bed today.) He soon follows her in. When he entered he saw that Sayori and Yuri were already here, but no Natsuki. He thought to himself that she's just probably running late for once and paid no attention to it. He looked at what the others were doing and saw that they were just doing their normal activities. With not much to do until it's time to share poetry again, he decided to use this time to rest. After everything he saw today, he desperately needed it.

After taking his seat and resting his eyes for a couple of minutes, he felt a bit at ease now. When he felt his body getting heavy, he thought to himself that he could easily fall to sleep at any minute now. After resting his eyes, body, and mind. He felt a disturbance in the force. When he opened his eyes to see what was causing him to feel tension, he was scared off at what he was in front of him. "Oh shit!" He almost fell backwards after his eyes met Sayori's.

Sayori: "Oops sorry about that. Wait? No I'm not? You know this is a Literature Club not the Napping Club."

MC: "Does our school have a Napping Club? Can I join?"

Sayori: "MC! Have you been doing dirty things late at night?"

MC: "Why would that be the first thing you ask?"

Sayori: "Anyways can you walk with me to the halls?" She gives him the puppy dog eyes.

MC: "No"

Sayori: "What why!?"

MC: "Well why don't we check your purse?"

Sayori: "Why?"

MC: "I just want to look at it, is all?"

Sayori: "Oh uhh." She did what he asked. When she took her purse out she fumbled a bit to open it and once she did, she dumbed out all her belongings on the desk. The only thing that came out of it was one quarter.

MC: "Knew it."

Sayori: "Heh, heh." She giggles nervously as MC gives her the look. "No fair how did you know?"

MC: "Well first of all, if you did have money you would already gotten something to eat. Secondly you're always hungry and I know you were trying to get me to buy you something.

Sayori: "Wwwwhhaaaaaaat?" Yuri giggles and Sayori turns to her.

Yuri: "Oh I'm sorry I wasn't eavesdropping or anything. I-it's just something funny occurred in my book."

Sayori: "Yuri help me guilt trip him. Pllleeeeeeeaaasss."

Yuri: "P-please don't involve me into this." She says nervously. "B-besides you shouldn't pull a mischievous trick on him and for that the suffering your feeling right now is more than enough for your retribution." She says with a small amount of authority. "Oh I'm sorry … I didn't mean to say it that way?" She goes back to being shy.

Sayori: "No that's alright. You're right I shouldn't have done something like that to MC and for that I will except the revolution." Both MC and Yuri look at her with a confused look.

MC: "You mean retribution?"

Sayori: "That too." He face palms then sighs as he closes his eyes.

MC: "I could never stay mad at you." Sayori giggles a bit.

Yuri: "Well I guess there's a little Devil in all of us."

MC: "I know right? Like how she tried to guilt me into joining the club."

Sayori: "Well I never expected you to join that easily especially when I tricked Natsuki to make those cupcakes." Just as she says that, she was smacked in the face with what looked like a huge cookie. "Kyaa! Huh, what's this? A cookie?" She holds it up like she just got a gift from God. "Is this what I get for paying my revelation?" Just as MC was about to correct her, Yuri stopped him and let him know to just let it go. Meanwhile Natsuki walked in.

Natsuki: "Jeez and I was going to give you it to you the normal way, until I heard what you said. So I thought why not get pay back and here we are now. Smacked in the face with a over sized cookie. Just so I get to see your reaction."

Sayori: "Thank you." She starts eating it like she never ate before ignoring Natsuki's comments. "Shhoo goooood." With a mouth full of food.

Natsuki: "Hey has anyone seen Monika? I had to stop by the bathroom before I came here."

Yuri: "Now that you mention it. She was here earlier, but now she isn't? Do you think she's okay?"

Natsuki: "I'm sure she's fine … I hope?"

Sayori: "Gasp!" She says out loud to catch everyone's attention. "You don't think she left us for her boyfriend?" They all took time to think about it.

Yuri: "W-well I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. She is more desirable than the rest of us."

Natsuki: "You're probably right about that?" All three girls look down hurt.

MC: "H-hey, hey that's not true. I think each of you have your own quality that makes you desirable to boys." Everyone looks at him for his comment only to avoid eye contact as their faces turn red. (It ain't easy being the only boy here. Jeez how do those Main Characters in Harem Anime do it?) After a couple of awkward silence the door swings open.

Monika: "Sorry everyone I forgot something back in the other classroom. What did I miss?"

Sayori: "Monika chooses the club over her boyfriend. You're so strong will." She starts to tear up and Monika looks at her with confusion.

Monika: "Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend. I just forgot something that's all." She looks at MC with a blush on her face and he just waves at her. "Well then, since we still got some time before we share poems, everyone enjoy your free time."

Everyone: "Ok!"

After her announcement Yuri went back to reading her book, Natsuki went to the closet to get her box of Manga and Monika sat in the teacher's desk to do some work. That would leave Sayori and MC.

Sayori: "Hey MC check this out." She pulls out a piece of paper full of drawings. "Aren't they cute?"

MC: "Did you spend all day drawing instead of learning?"

Sayori: "Mmmmmmaaaaaayybeeeeee?"

MC: "Oh lord you could at least try to learn."

Sayori: "I am trying."

MC: "Then can you at least dress properly?"

Sayori: "What do you mean?"

MC: "You got toothpaste on your collar, your buttons on wrong, your hair is messy, and your bow is crooked. Honestly I don't even know how I didn't manage to catch you this morning? Jeez if you don't shape up you'll never get a boyfriend."

Sayori: "W-what that's so mean and that goes against what you said earlier."

MC: "Then let me help you then." He get right up to her and cleans off the toothpaste, ties her bow right, and straightens her hair. His toughest challenge was buttoning up her blazer. "What the hell? Does this even fit you properly?"

Sayori: "It did when I first got it."

MC: "And that was when?"

Sayori: "Heh, Heh … Since our … first year."

MC: "And it never occurred to you to get a new one that fits?" She giggles some more. "What's so funny?"

Sayori: "That just means my boobs got bigger." He looks down.

MC: (Oh my.) He thought to himself with a George Takei voice. "Well anyways, all done." He takes a step back and she moves around.

Sayori: "Hmm? This isn't right?" She unbuttons her blazer and does a spin after. "Phew! Much better. Nobody told me anything about my appearance?"

MC: "That's because there tying to be nice, unfortunately for you I don't really care."

Sayori: "Meanie" MC rolls his eyes. "So if I keep this up I won't get a boyfriend huh? Well I guess this is fine?"

MC: "Why?"

Sayori: "Because if I did then we won't be able to see each other again. Besides you take better care of me anyways."

MC: "I guess we take better care of each other than we do ourselves then?" He smiles and pats her head.

After their little talk was over. Sayori decided to go have a chat with Monika. With her gone, he looked around to see what the others were doing. He sees Yuri is busy reading and Natsuki is napping. He didn't want to bother them so he left them alone, until he remembered he needed to return volume one of Parfait Girls back to Natsuki. He decided to leave a note for her to let her know that he's grateful for the Manga. After writing the note he left it and the Manga on her lap. He also wiped away the drool she was having. Just when he was about to leave the club room someone called out to him.

Monika: "Michael!" He turns his head to face her. "Where are you going?"

MC: "Oh I just needed to use the restroom."

Monika: "Oh sorry. This is awkward? Changing the subject can you help Sayori get some supplies for us?"

MC: "Sure, but can I use the restroom first?"

Monika: "…Yes."

MC: "Alright lets go."

Sayori: "Okie doki."

The both of them left the club room and headed straight to the nearest restroom.

MC: "Wait out here I won't be gone too long." Sayori saluted to him before he enters. After having done his business he washed his hands and looked at himself in the mirror. (Why does my heart burn so much? Could it be from what I found in Sayori's room?) The image of the noose flashed before his eyes. (Wonder what her parents would feel if they saw it? Their surely be hurt at the sight of their daughter having a noose near her. Why would she have it? She's always so happy and yet? Maybe that's it? She's been faking it this whole time and I never noticed it until now. When did she start feeling this way? I need to figure this out before it's too late.)

After thinking about his next move, he stared intensely at his reflection not losing focus of his gold eyes. Before he knew it. "W-what!?" He quickly pushed away from the mirror and fell to the ground. For a split second he saw something odd in his reflection. Something that shouldn't occur when looking at your own reflection.

Sayori: "MC! Are you ok!?" She shouts to him so he could hear her since she's unable to enter the boys restroom.

MC: "Yeah! I'm ok … I just hit my elbow is all!"

Sayori: "Ok then! Try not to scare me like that again!"

MC: "Right!" (What was that? For a moment my eyes changed color?) He looks at the mirror again to see if it would occur, but as he looks it his reflection, all he could see was his natural gold eyes. Not like the pair of red eyes he just saw. He thought his eyes were just playing tricks on him and decided to just let it go, but not before looking behind himself as he walks out of the restroom. "Ok I'm back."

Sayori: "Alright lets go adventure now." She leads the way with MC following her.

MC: (It's been a long time since we both hanged out like this. It's very nostalgic.) The both of them came across the nearest class from the restroom.

Sayori: "Here! Let's go in."

MC: "What do we need anyways?"

Sayori: "We need supplies for the upcoming School Festival." She goes through the closet.

MC: "The Festival?" (There's that feeling again. The heart ache.)

Sayori: "Yup, we need supplies to advertise the club, so we could get more members."

MC: "More members eh?" He whispers to himself. "What are we going to do then?"

Sayori: "Don't worry about it right now."

MC: "Alright then." (Festival?) He jumps a little after hearing aloud thud.

Sayori: "Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." She covers her forehead.

MC: "What happened?"

Sayori: "I hit my head, but on the bright side I found what we need." She tries to smile through the pain.

MC: "Let me see it."

Sayori: "No!"

MC: "Why not?"

Sayori: "Because … its gross."

MC: "Not as gross as your room. Just let me see it." He pulls away her hands from her forehead. "Hmm it's turning red." Sayori covers her head again almost tearing up. "Wait here I'll be back." He left Sayori in the classroom looking for the nearest vending machine. When he found it he took out some cash and put it in the machine. "Oh crap which one should I get her? Wait there's no time to think that? Besides it just for her head." He just went for the apple juice and headed back to class to give it to her. "Here you go." He hands her the ice cold apple juice.

Sayori: "Oh thank you." She opens it and starts drinking it.

MC: "What are you doing? That's for your head."

Sayori: "Oh, heh, heh sorry." She places the bottle on her head like an ice pack. "You know MC this reminds me back when we were kids. Do you remember when you would do a lot of jumping and climbing and I would try to do the same?"

MC: "I do remember and I remember you would get hurt, because I wouldn't slow down. Then you would start crying."

Sayori: "Yeah, but then you would try to cheer me up."

MC: "I had to, because it was my fault."

Sayori: "But still you would try to fix it. That's what makes you a good person." She smiles.

MC: "Good person huh?" When he heard that he felt a bit disgusted to be called a good person. He wasn't sure why, but felt as if he was actually a bad person in his heart. "Right, well we got what we needed, so we should probably head back now? We still got to share our poems with the others."

Sayori: "Yeah you're right about that." After grabbing all the materials they came for. The two friends made their way back to the rest of their friends, waiting for their return. When they came back. They were greeted by Monika.

Monika: "Just in time you two it's time to share our poems." She looks over to Sayori and sees her red forehead. "What happened to your head Sayori?"

Sayori: "I'm a unicorn!" She starts spinning in place.

Monika: "Huh?"

MC: "She hit her head … maybe too hard. Anyways here are the supplies."

Monika: "Ah thank you both. With these me and Sayori can start working. Well then let's get started with our group activates."

All five of them shared their poems with each other. Sayori loved all of theirs, of course she would. MC would also join Sayori in enjoying everyone else's poems. Natsuki and Yuri would argue again only for MC to stop them. As for Monika she would give praise to MC's amazing poem again, even though MC would prefer that she didn't as it only embarrasses him. After sharing their poems Monika decided to end today's club meeting. Everyone went ahead and packed up their belongings and headed out.

Sayori: "Ready MC?"

MC: "Yeah, but before we go, do you mind if I meet up with you at the front gate? I need to run a quick errand."

Sayori: "Oh ok then?" She looks at him with confusion as he walks down the halls.

He made his way down the halls far enough from everyone else and headed inside an empty classroom. He made sure there was no one around before slowly closing the door and grabs his phone from his front pocket.

MC: "Come on please pick up." He waits patiently as the phone rings.

?: "Hello?"

MC: "Hello Sayori's mom, it's me Michael."

Sayori's Mom: "Michael! It's been so long since we spoke." He almost dropped his phone.

MC: "Yes it has been a while hasn't it?"

Sayori's Mom: "How are you doing?"

MC: "I'm doing alright, it's just."

Sayori's Mom: "What's wrong?" He takes a deep breath.

MC: "Have you noticed anything wrong with Sayori?"

End of Chapter 3