Updated

Chapter 5: Plans for the Festival

Darkness once again. The nightmares continue to haunt MC as he is able to see more. He still sees a girl hanging herself with tears of blood running down her face, another girl stabbing herself causing her to drown in her own blood. He looks behind himself and sees the third girl dying in bed with her broken body, and the last girl crying for death only to shoot herself. What made this nightmare stranger was the fact that he was able to see the identity of the girl hanging herself. Last time he saw her, her face was covered in shadows. The girl hanging herself was indeed Sayori. He wasn't sure why he still sees her like this when he knew he saved her, but what could these nightmares mean to him? Are they really just dreams or are they real?

?: "I'm sorry you have to go through all this again, but it's the only way for you to understand what's going on. You have to be careful though. I doubt she'll make it easier for you."

MC: "She? And what do you mean again?"

?: "Watch out for her, I'm sure she'll do whatever it takes to prevent you from achieving your goal."

MC: "Wait!"

*Alarm Clock Rings*

MC tries to reach his phone to shut off the alarm, but instead …

*Squeeze*

Sayori: "Kyaaa!

*Slap*

"Watch where your grabbing!"

MC: "Ow" Sayori gets up and covers her breasts. "Sorry I was trying to grab my phone." She gives him the look of doubt. "Hey at least we're up on time."

Sayori: "Yeah, I guess so, but still?"

MC: (Aw man. Why does it feel like I've been through worst when it come to her?) He scratches his head. "Well we better get ready for school now. You can use my parents bathroom, just let me get you a towel." He gets off his bed and grabs a towel in his closet. "Here you go."

Sayori: "Thank you, but you better not peep or else I'll poke you in the eyes and it will be painful."

MC: "Yeah, yeah, yeah just take a shower already." She leaves to go use MC's parents' bathroom to shower and MC goes to his room's to wash up. (That dream again? Who was that? It felt as if that voice was actually talking to me? Who was that voice referring to as "She"? It doesn't matter, it's just a dream. Now getting smacked by Sayori isn't a dream. That was most definitely real. Worst case scenario I would've been beaten to a pulp, shot at, shouted at, and stab. God those Main Characters in those Harem Anime have it the worst. Good thing I'm not them. I would not last long.)

He continues to think to himself while brushing his teeth and washing his face. By the time he looked up after washing his face he jumped back. "Woah!" He hits the wall behind him. "What the?" He gets back on to his feet and looks at his reflection again. "It happened again. Just like when I was at school." He stares at his reflection to see if his eyes changed again only to see his normal gold eyes. (My eyes turned red again. What the hell is going on with me?) He shook his head and went straight to shower. He chose to ignore what he saw and just thought he was hallucinating.

After showering and putting on his uniform, he went to his parents room to check on Sayori. He knocked. "Sayori, are you all set?" He hears no response. He knocks again before entering this time. "Sayori?" He takes few steps and hears the water is still running. (Oh she's still showering. Well since I'm all set I might as well get breakfast ready.) He leaves the room and heads downstairs to the kitchen to get breakfast ready for the both of them. As he cooks, he can hear foot steps coming his way.

Sayori: *Sniff, Sniff* "Mmm that smells good. Whatcha cooking good looking?"

MC: "An omelet. Your plate is on the table so eat up."

Sayori: "Yay! Thank you for the food." She starts chowing down before MC could take his seat. Later on after they finished eating.

Sayori: "Delicious. That was an amazing omelet." She pats her stomach as MC takes sip of his juice.

MC: "Well since we ate, it's time we head out."

Sayori: "Righto" They both get their backpacks and head out to school. Just as they left his house Sayori gets a call from her mom. "Hello, mom? What's that? No he didn't do anything to me." She sticks her tongue at him. "Doctors appointment? But I'm not sick … oooohhhhh now I understand. Ok I'll go. Bye mom." She hangs up. "MC did you tell them?"

MC: "They have the right to know, but yeah sorry about that."

Sayori: *Sigh* "Well I Guess I can't blame you for it. You're only trying to help."

MC: "Cheer up. Just remember, if you ever feel alone in the rainclouds I'll be there with an umbrella."

Sayori: "You mean it?"

MC: "Just give me a call and I'll be there."

Sayori: "Thanks MC, I'll do my best."

MC: "Now that's what I want to hear." He pats her on the head.

Just as he stops, he receives a message from Sayori's parents thanking him watching over their little cinnamon roll. After reading it they both headed to school. When they arrived they decided to meet up during lunch. Later on after he endure a long boring day of school only to realize it was only lunch time. He felt a little sad that there is still more classes after this, but pulls himself together as he remembers that he made a promise to see Sayori for lunch. When he met up with her, they decided to go outside to the school's plaza. The two of them ate together and talked for a while. Soon after Sayori changed the subject.

Sayori: "Hey MC can you do me a favor?"

MC: "Sure, what is it?"

Sayori: "Can you let the others know that I won't be at the club today?"

MC: "Is it because of your doctor's appointment?"

Sayori: "Yeah. Please?"

MC: "Sure thing."

Sayori: "Thank you MC."

The two of them spent the rest of lunch talking about Earth-Chan for some reason until the bell rang. They both left for their classes knowing that it won't be for a while for them to see each other again, but Sayori let him know that she's coming over to his house to pick up her stuff. MC gave her his spare key and asked her to make sure she hides it well after using it. After school was completely over and done with, MC went straight to the club. When he got there he notices that he's the only one in here.

MC: "Hmm guess I'm the first to be here for once?" He felt someone taping his shoulder and turned back to see who it was.

Yuri: "H-hello M-Michael."

MC: "Oh hey Yuri."

Yuri: "I-I'm guessing the others haven't arrived yet?"

MC: "Except us two." Just as he said that Yuri started to blush.

Yuri: "J-j-just us two?" He looks at her with a confused expression and she started to stutter of what to say next until Natsuki appeared.

Natsuki: "Hey are you going to say something or not?" Yuri looks to her then back to MC with her face turning red. "I guess not? And of course Monika is late." Ignoring the fact Sayori isn't here either.

MC: "Yeah guess so? Anyways what was it you were saying?" He turns back to Yuri after looking around the hallways.

Yuri: "N-no it wasn't important." She enters the club room.

MC: "Uhm, ok?" (Can never read that girl?) He follows soon after as Yuri takes out her book to read. (That book of hers again. Every time I see it. It makes my stomach turn. Whenever I attempt to read it, it just makes my head feel dizzy.)

Natsuki: "Freakin Monika! Did you touch my Manga again!?" He heads to the closet where she is yelling.

MC: "Let me guess she moved them again?"

Natsuki: "Yes! And now I have to get them from up there." She points up and grabs a chair ignoring that it has wheels.

MC: "You know that's dangerous right?"

Natsuki: "Shut up and hold the chair for me."

MC: "You are aware that I'm a boy and your wearing a skirt? Wouldn't it be better for me to get them since I'm taller?"

Natsuki: "Just hold the chair already!" MC rolls his eyes and did what she asked. "Almost got it … there. Phew got em." Just as she was about to get down she realized MC is under her, completely forgetting that she asked him to hold the chair. "S-stop looking up my skirt!"

MC: "I told you this was bad ideaaaaaa!" Natsuki falls off the chair landing on him. "Ow!"

Natsuki: "Eww gross!" She quickly gets off of him. "Gaww Monika are you trying to kill your club members!?" Monika looks up from the teachers desk.

Monika: "Oh sorry the teacher got mad at me for using up too much space in the closet. So I had to do some reorganization." She looks back down writing on a piece a paper.

MC: "Wait, when did she get here?" He looks down to Natsuki, who's just about ready to cry. "What's wrong? … Oh." He sees her trying to get rid of the crease off one of the pages. "Are you …"

Natsuki: "No!" She squeaks. "Why is everything so hard? I just want a peaceful place where I can be free and read what I like. Is that so hard to ask?" More tears fall from her eyes down to her cheeks. MC remains quite and started to pick up her Manga off the floor. When he gathered them all up, he organized them in order by volumes and gave the box to her. *Sniff* "Your really nice to me, even after the way I treated you. Why?"

MC: "I don't know myself, but I do know there's more to you than I think."

Natsuki: "I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you. It's just …"

MC: "You don't need to force yourself. Just enjoy your time reading what you love." Natsuki wipes away here tears. "Well now, should we start reading volume two now?" She smiles a bit and nods. The two of them sat near each other and read a couple of chapters until Monika made her announcement.

Monika: "Okay everyone! I have an important announcement to make." Everyone stopped what they were doing and walked up to her. "Listen up everyone. The School Festival is almost coming up. Sayori and I have made a decision for what we're going to do."

Yuri: "What are we going to do?"

Monika: "Heh heh I'm glad you asked. We decided to do a poetry performance."

Everyone Else: "What!"

Monika: "Yup so let's give it all we got."

Yuri: "B-b-b-b-b-b-but I don't think I can do it?"

Natsuki: "Same here."

Monika: "Come on girls." Her happy face changed to a sad expression.

Natsuki: "Nope. Ain't no way in hell."

Yuri: "I agree. This is far too embarrassing for us to do."

Monika: "But?"

MC: (The School Festival? Poetry performance?)

Monika: "We worked so hard to come up with that idea."

MC: "Very well then. I'll do it." All three girls look at him surprised when he spoke. "What?"

Natsuki: "Are you for real?"

Yuri: "How can you agree with something this embarrassing? I don't understand?"

MC: "Come on you two. It may sound difficult, but we can do it. Plus the sooner we do it the faster we can get it over and done with."

Yuri/Natsuki: "..."

Monika: "Michael is right, so let's do it."

Natsuki: "... Alright then, I'm in. Let's just get this over and done with." They all turn their heads towards Yuri, who still isn't sure whether to do it or not.

Yuri: "… I swear this club is going to be the death of me, but very well."

Monika: "Awesome! Now then we each have a job to do in order for us to succeed."

Yuri: "Wait!" Everyone looks at her which made her nervous again. "W-where is Sayori?" The other two girls look around the room.

Natsuki: "Oh yeah, no wonder why it's so quiet?"

Monika: "That is strange? You think we noticed this sooner? Michael do you know where she is?"

MC: (Aw crap! I forgot to tell them about her absence. Well better than never.) "Yeah she had to leave early for a doctor's appointment."

Monika: "What's wrong with her?

MC: "I can't say. I promised her I wouldn't say anything about why she's at the doctors."

Monika: "I see, well I hope she's doing fine. I'll just text her about it later."

Natsuki: "What is everyone's jobs anyways?"

Monika: "Right, Natsuki, you are in charge of baking sweets, Sayori and I will be making pamphlets, and Yuri will … uh …" She starts thinking of what to say.

Yuri: "I knew it, I'm useless."

Monika: "No you're not. It's … I know you can make decorations. You know to set up the atmosphere?" Yuri raises her head the moment she heard the word atmosphere.

Yuri: "Atmosphere … I love atmosphere!"

Monika: "Great now Michael."

MC: "Yeah the most useless out of all of us." He crosses his arms.

Monika: "That's not true. You can help one of us. I'm sure we could really use your help?"

MC: "When is the Festival?"

Monika: "Monday and Friday we don't have school. So what will you do? Baking with Natsuki, decorating with Yuri, or maybe … me?"

Natsuki: "Hey wait a minute, why does he have to help you and Sayori? The both of you have the easiest job."

Yuri: "I agree. This isn't fair Monika."

Monika: "Hey I'll have you know it's a lot harder than you think." All three girls started to argue of who gets MC.

MC: (Are they seriously arguing about me? What am I, a class pet? Whatever, I need to make a decision of who I'm going to help.) He thinks to himself of what he should do and as the girls continue to argue. He finally speaks up. "Ok, I've made my decision." All three girls stopped arguing and looked at him. He raises his right index finger. "I choose …" The girls heart started beating faster. "... I choose to help all of you."

Natsuki: "What! Why?"

Yuri: "I agree with her. Why do all this work?"

MC: "My reason is because I don't have anything else important to do this weekend, so I'm free to help all of you."

Natsuki: "Ok then, how are you going to do this then?"

MC: "Easy, I'll help Monika and Sayori with pamphlets tomorrow, Saturday I'll lend Yuri a hand on decorations, and on Sunday help you with baking since Sunday will be the day your baking's are the freshest."

Natsuki: "I guess you have a point?"

Yuri: "But why am I Saturday?"

MC: "The reason is because I want to check on Sayori since she's going through somethings."

Yuri: "I see. May I ask what's wrong with her?"

MC: "Again I can't say anything about it, but I'm sure she'll tell you when she's ready. Sorry about that."

Yuri: "That's okay. You're a good person for worrying about her safety. Sorry for being rude."

Monika: "Well then, now that, that's settled we all know what we need to do right?"

Everyone Else: "Yes Mam!"

Monika: "Today no poems, but I do expect you all to practice for Monday." Everyone nods in agreement. "Alright then, you may all return to your free time."

After making plans for the School Festival everyone scattered around the class. Natsuki went to the corner of the room to nap, Monika went ahead to start making rough drafts of the pamphlets, and Yuri went to read her book again, leaving MC to find something to do. He went to where his backpack is and notices Yuri is looking at him only to look away the moment their eyes meet.

MC: (Wonder what she wants? Better go ask her herself?) He walks up to her as she covers her face with her book. "Is something the matter?"

Yuri: "O-oh no I … I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare."

MC: "Ok then?" He looks away from her trying to come up of something he could say to her. "Say do you want to continue reading The Portrait of Markov together again?" He says as his cheeks turn pink.

Yuri: "O-of course I love to, but if you don't mind may I make us some tea before we start?"

MC: "S-sure, that sounds great." After giving his response, Yuri went to the classroom closet to get the tea set. She grabbed the pitcher and left the club to get water. Two minutes had passed and she returned. She went ahead and started making tea. Meanwhile he would just watching her do the process. "Wow you look very elegant making tea."

Yuri: "I-I'm sorry w-what was that?"

MC: "I mean what!?" He looks away covering his red face and she looks back at the tea pot. (Why did I say that? Way to go dumbass.)

Yuri: "Okay now the tea is ready."

MC: "Great!" His face starts to turn back to normal.

Yuri: "M-Michael may I ask for another request?" He nods. "May we sit on the floor near a wall? I'm having …" She stops herself and her face turns red again.

MC: "Your posture right?" She nods. "Sure after all sitting on these desks does hurt after a while. Heh, heh." (Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down or mention it.) The both of them sat near the closet and started reading where they left off last time. After a couple of minutes had pass, He started thinking to himself again.

(Why does this feel so nostalgic? I don't know why, but this feels so soothing.) After a while, he took out some chocolate he got during lunch. He tried to give Yuri some, but she didn't respond. Instead of waiting for her to respond he took the piece of chocolate and put it in between her lips. Soon after she snapped out of it and ate it. Her face turned cherry red and looked at MC. "Oh your awake now?"

Yuri: "Uh Michael?"

MC: "Hmm?"

Yuri: "I, I …"

MC: "Yes?"

Yuri: "I … I can't take it anymore." She starts breathing heavily and closes the book. "I don't want to read anymore, I, I can't focus, nor can I calm down." MC looks at the chocolate in his hand.

MC: "Didn't know chocolate had this effect on you?" (Wait why does this sound familiar?)

Yuri: "My heart is beating so rapidly. I can't control it." She grabs his hand and places it on her chest. "Can you feel it Michael? My heart beating?"

MC: "Yeah I'm feeling something alright?"

Yuri: "I just want to look at you." She leans closer to him. Close enough that their lips almost connect.

MC: "You have very pretty eyes." Now his heart starts to beat fast.

Monika: "Michael did you feed Yuri chocolate!?" Both him and Yuri look across the room where Monika is. Meanwhile Natsuki wakes up from her nap.

MC/Yuri: "Uuuhhh … nnnnoooooooo!?"

Monika: "Right? Well today's club meeting is over, so you may all pack up and head home. Make sure to prepare yourselves for Monday. You all know what to do."

Everyone Else: "Yes Mam!"

With the day over and done with, as everyone went to gather their belongings. It was time to head home and get things ready for a long weekend of work.

Monika: "Alright, I'll see you Monday."

Yuri: "Do take care."

Natsuki: "Can't wait to try out some squid."

Monika: "You like squid?"

Natsuki: "Yeah? Why do you ask?"

Monika: "I never thought that you like squid?"

Natsuki: "Oh come on Monika. You of all people should know how good squid is."

Monika: "What do you mean by that? You of all people?"

Natsuki "It's in your name. Mon-ika."

Monika: "I'm not following?"

Natsuki: "Talk about uncultured. Am I right?" She looks at You.

Michael: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Natsuki: "You all suck, you know that?"

Michael: "Right? Well I'll be heading out now. See you all later." The girls say their goodbyes as he walks down the halls.

Natsuki: "Can't believe this guy would offer to help us all out?"

Yuri: "I know what you mean, but … I can't shake the feeling this is nothing to him."

Monika: "What do you mean by that?"

Yuri: "I don't know? It just feels as if he's been through worst."

Monika: "I see." (Now that she mentions it. It does feel like he's done a lot more than what he's given. I wonder what it could be? Wait a minute?) "Oh my lord."

Natsuki: "What's up?"

Monika: "Oh lord we forgot to give him our numbers."

Natsuki: "Oh crap."

Yuri: "Oh dear, not good." They look at each other and back to where MC left.

Natsuki: "Get him!" They all chase him down the halls to downstairs.

MC: (You know it's really nice walking down these peaceful halls with no one else around. Nothing bad could ever happen to me.) Just as he thought of that, he heard foot steps coming right at him. He turned to where they came from only to see the three girls chasing after him. "What the hell?"

Monika: "Michael wait up!"

MC: "Huh?" Dumb founded at what he was witnessing. He remained still as the girls come at him. "What's going on here?" He asks as Monika breaths heavily.

Monika: "Phone … number … forgot … to give … you number." She tries her best to catch her breath. "I forgot to give you my number." She takes out her phone to.

MC: "Oh right? Wonder how I forgot about that?" (Seriously, how could I forget that?)

Monika: "Here's my number."

MC: "And here's mine." They both exchange each other's numbers.

Monika: "Alright then, me and Sayori will be at your place tomorrow okay?"

MC: "Yeah sure see you then." Monika walks down the stairs and for a moment he could see a blush on her face. (Well that was a thing?) While he watches her leave, he felt someone was about to punch him and out of instinct he blocked the punch on his shoulder.

Natsuki: "Whoa nice reflex."

MC: "Thank you. I've seen plenty of Anime … you know what forget it."

Natsuki: "Well whatever here's my number. You better not lose it." The two exchange numbers. "I'll be at you place Sunday. Until then, late." She walks downstairs.

MC: "Ok?" (That was something?) He feels a tug on his blazer.

Yuri: "H-here is my number I-if you want it?" She nervously gives him her phone.

MC: "Ah yes thank you very much."

Yuri: "I-I look forward to seeing you Saturday at you home." She bows before heading downstairs leaving MC all alone.

MC: "Wow this many numbers from girls. I never thought that would ever happen to me. Story of my life." Just as he took a couple of footsteps forward he stopped in place when he realized something was wrong. "Wait a minute? Why are they all coming to my place!?"

End of Chapter 5