A/N: And now for Just Monika.
Whoa, don't know what happened there. Anyway, let's just move on, shall we?
Thoughts and emphasis in italics.
Muse: "Message In A Bottle" by The Police/Bailey Pelkman
Waiting
By: Leafsdude
Epilogue 4: Monika
Present Day
"And last, but definitely not least, the master of all things literature, and the best damn president we could ever have, Monika!" I lead the quickly deafening applause as the long-haired brunette enters the stage, also heading in my direction.
Stopping a few steps in front of me, she extends her hand, and I shake it playfully, patting her shoulder before letting go.
"C'mon Monika," I say playfully, as I throw my arms out widely for her. She looks at me for a moment in surprise, before smiling.
"Oh, well," she takes a step forward. "If you insist."
The bear-hug lasts for a moment before we separate, and I'm pleased to see the happy glint in her eyes as she holds my gaze for a second before turning to join the others.
Monday, April 16, 2018
"So, what do you guys think?" Monika finishes her explanation, looking around at the four of us. I catch Natsuki and Yuri glance at each other with a smile and nod.
"I think we should do it," Natsuki says confidently. "It's an honour to be given this job, and I think we'd kick ass at it. Plus, it'd be a great farewell for the club."
"I wouldn't use such vulgar language to describe it," Yuri cuts in, giving the pink-haired girl a look before the light smile crosses her face again. "But I agree. We should accept, because we'll never get a chance at it again. And I'd really like to have the opportunity to do something like this, for the practice."
I exchange a glance with Sayori, and she gives a concerned look when she sees my expression. I turn back to look at everyone else.
"Are we sure we're up for this?" I ask, uncertain despite the enthusiasm in the voices of my two friends. "Usually it's the big clubs that take on this job, and there's only five of us here again. It's a big undertaking to do it well."
"We can do it," Sayori responds quickly, giving me a confident look that Natsuki would be jealous of. "All of us, working together. It'll be easy."
"I share your concerns, John," Monika cuts in as she holds my gaze for a moment. "The response is not due until this weekend, so we can let them know whether we will accept the offer to run the club appreciation night on Friday. I think we can put together a basic plan this week for what to do, so we're all confident."
All of us murmur with each other softly before turning back to see Monika grab up a piece of chalk. She looks at us expectantly from the front of the room, clearly waiting for one of us to start throwing out ideas.
"We could use the same kinds of decorations we used at the festival," Yuri suggests. "We'd need to expand them for the larger area, but I think it'd be straightforward to adapt, and it'd be easier to do that instead of something new that might not turn out like we expect."
Monika writes the idea down on the board as Yuri talks through it. Stopping, she turns back for the next comment.
"I have a couple friends who know about electronics and stuff," I note. "I could see if I can get them to help set up the PA system and that stuff. They might jump at the chance, since they've been bugging me to do things with them all year, but I haven't had the time."
"I can cater all the food and stuff," Natsuki offers after Monika steadies her hand on the board once again. "Sayori could give me a hand, so we'd be able to make enough for everyone without overexerting ourselves. Maybe I could even get my bakery to chip in."
Monika writes that down as well, but then sighs as she turns back, a look of concern creasing her brow as she looks at us. "These are all great ideas, guys. Really. We need to deal with all these issues when doing this, but…there needs to be something, that's about the club, and what's made it so rewarding to be a part of."
We all take a moment, shrugging as we look at each other. I don't notice Sayori lost in thought before she looks up.
"What about a story?" She asks, and all of us perk up immediately.
"What do you mean?" Monika asks, intrigued as she encourages Sayori to expand on her idea.
"We could all tell a story, to show what we've learned from the club throughout this year," she looks around at our impressed faces. "I could read from one of the books that Yuri showed me, that I didn't know I would like so much."
"And I could read one of the biographies that John showed me," Yuri nods in agreement, quickly catching on. "I still love fantasy, but those real stories were so much more interesting than I thought they could be."
"I'll read one of those fan fictions that Natsuki got me to write," Monika says with a smile. "It's not great, but the enjoyment that expanding on existing worlds gave me would be fun to share with everyone, and maybe give people an idea of how we don't always realize just how easily we can connect with even the most obscure subject."
Everyone looks at Natsuki, who folds her arms across her chest stubbornly, though she smiles proudly at us. "Well, I'd just read a long joke," she offers. "Because that would probably be the best way to express the fun I've had just hanging out here with everyone. That'd be okay, right, guys?"
"I think that would be perfect," Monika responds with a nod.
There's a moment's pause before I speak up. "I'm not sure if I know what I could offer," I comment, a bit concerned that I'm the missing link.
"What do you mean?" Yuri asks, strangely entertained by my statement.
"Yeah, you've probably got the best story to offer out of all of us," Natsuki's jealous voice comes out, which just confuses me further.
"I'd love to hear you tell it out loud," Sayori nods at me supportively.
"Tell what out loud?" I finally ask in frustration, and I notice Monika slowly place her palms against her forehead in her amusement.
"The book we all helped you write about the club, remember?" She says after a moment, glancing through her hands at me.
"Oh, that," I say as I finally remember. I pause as I think it over. "But that was all really personal, for all of you. Are you sure you're fine with that?"
"I think it'd be really good," Yuri cuts in before anyone else can. "To tell everyone so intimately how much one can get out of a club, just from the interaction with peers in this sort of setting."
"And I think we could all get something from it, too, to hear you read it out loud," Sayori smiles a little shyly at me. I return it lovingly a moment later, then sigh lightly.
"But it's so long," I argue further. "It'll take up way too much time."
"I can help you shorten it up," Yuri says quickly. "Turn it into little snippets and add in general themes that it tells."
I nod slowly as I see the idea coming together well in my head. "If that's what you all want, then I'll do it," my voice is strong in its resolve as I say that.
"I think that sounds like an excellent plan for the main part of our show, then," Monika says with a smile. "Okay, everyone. I think we can end the club a few minutes early today. I know a few of you have plans for tonight. We'll meet tomorrow at the normal time and try to flush out some of the finer details before we commit to it completely."
We all nod as we begin gathering our stuff. Sayori walks up to me after throwing her backpack over her shoulders, smiling brightly.
"So I'll see you at home?" I ask her and she nods as Natsuki slowly walks over next to her.
"Ready for our lesson?" Her question is playful as she stops next to my girlfriend.
Sayori nods. "Yeah," she smiles. "Though, mostly, I'm looking forward to eating our lesson."
We all laugh at her joke before I wave goodbye as the pair turns in the direction of the door.
"Sometimes I'm surprised at how good you three get along," Yuri notes as she moves to stand next to me, watching them giggling with each other as they walk out of the room together.
"It's not always perfect," I note with a shrug. "But Sayori always makes that easier."
Yuri nods. "She does," she agrees before turning to me. "You're better at it than you think, though."
"I'm not so sure of that," I say pointedly, knowing she'll understand why I think that. She shrugs instead.
"We're conversing with each other right now, aren't we?" She responds with a similarly pointed tone. She doesn't give me the chance to respond before she heads towards the door herself. Looking back just before heading through the threshold, she gives a soft, almost shy wave back at me that I return.
I hear Monika dust off her hands, having erased the chalkboard with a now dusty implement.
"What about you?" I ask, expecting a similar thought in response, but Monika just looks at me in surprise.
"What?" The confused question comes out sharply, and I chuckle.
"Nothing," I respond, grabbing my backpack as I intend to begin my trip home alone.
"You're sure?" She asks, a touch of concern in her voice, and I stop to look back at her.
"Yeah," I say slowly. "I thought you were paying attention, but…"
I trail off, not sure how to finish the thought.
"Sorry, I do that sometimes," Monika reminds me with a smile. "Bad habit."
I nod in understanding. "You don't do that as much anymore, at least," I remind her in return.
"I guess not," she gives a look of gratitude. "You helped with that."
"I want to say that Sayori did more of that, but," I pause with a short laugh. "I seem to say that a lot."
Monika nods. "I'm just glad I got over that whole thing, finally," there's a touch of self-deprecation in her tone, but she smiles strongly at me.
"We all understand," I note, hoping to reassure her again. "It's not easy to put yourself out there. For all of us. The rest of us didn't realize that applies to you as well. It was our fault, really."
She gives me a grin. "Well, I'm glad I can call you a friend. For real."
I nod in agreement. I think for a minute, then give her a mischievous grin.
"You know, a long time ago, Sayori asked me something that maybe I could do now," I smile at Monika's confused face. "I wondered if you would want me to walk you home tonight. It's a long, quiet trip for me anyways, so there's no worry of making it longer, and I'd enjoy a little extra company. And I think she'd be happy, that I managed to have the chance after all."
Monika nods after a moment's thought. "Sure, that sounds like it would be fun," she says with a smile, shutting off the clubroom lights before leading the way down the hall.