?: "Heey! Wait up!"

I see a girl running towards me in the distance, waving her arms in the air like she's totally oblivious to any attention she might draw herself into.

Her name is Takagi. My friend from middle school who also happens to be in the same highschool as mine.

You know, the kind of friend you'd never see yourself making today, but it just kinda works because you know each other for so long?

We used to walk to school on days like this when we were in middle school, but starting highschool, she started to oversleep frequently and I would get tired of waiting.

But I just sigh and wait for her in the idle of the crosswalk and let her catch up to me.

Takagi: "Haaaaahh...hey Nishikata. You did wait me after all."

Nishikata: "Y-yeah...did you overslept again? You don't usually oversleep at all from this point."

Takagi: "Said someone who watch 200% Unrequited Love all the time."

Nishikata: "What!? Hey! Don't get too loud! They might know!"

Takagi: "Ahaha! Anyways, thanks for waiting though."

We cross the street together and make our way to school. As we draw near, the streets became increasingly speckled with other students with their daily commute.

Takagi: "By the way Nishikata, have you decided to join a club yet?"

Nishikata: "N-nah, not really. I'm not really interested to join any club yet. I haven't been looking either."

Takagi: "But you said you would join a club this year."

Nishikata: "Eh? Did...I?"

I'm sure it's possible I did in one of our may conversations where I dismissively go along with whatever she's going about.

Takagi likes to worry about me, when I'm perfectly fine with spending my time in anime and games for a while.

Takagi: "Yeah. You just didn't care because you like to spend your free time in anime and games. Isn't it Nishikata?

I'm just worried that you won't have any social skills before college. And I know you just scrub it off now, but I'd die at the thought of you becoming a NEET in a few years just because you're not used to the real world.

You trust me, right? Don't make me keep worrying about you."

Takagi leans closer to me, showing a face of concern.

Nishikata: "A-a-alright, alright! I'll look at a few clubs, okay!?"

Takagi: "Hihihi~"

Why do I get myself lectured by such a carefree girl? More than that, I'm surprised I even relent myself to her.

I guess seeing her worry so much about me makes me want to ease her mind a bit, even if she does exaggerate everything inside her head.

And as always, she teased me all over again on the way to school.

A few moments later.

The school day is as ordinary as ever and it's over before I know it.

After I pack up my things and stares blankly at the wall, looking for an ounce of motivation.

Nishikata: "Clubs..."

Takagi said that she wanted me to check on some clubs, huh? Umm...I guess anime club will be the first choice since I love anime.

?: "Hellooo? Nishikata?"

Nishikata: "Aaah! Takagi!"

And as always, I got scared by Takagi immediately, looks like she snuck up on my classroom when I stared blankly at the wall. Not to mention that we're not in the same class anymore. But I also upped my courage to say her name without honorifics last year.

Takagi: "Ahaha! I thought I catch you coming out of the classroom, but looks like you're just sitting here spacing out. What were you thinking?"

Nishikata: "You don't need to wait up for me if it's gonna make you late at your own club."

Takagi: "Well, I thought you need some encouragement for finding clubs of your own."

Nishikata: "Nah...I'm good."

Takagi: "Hey Nishikata, how about you join my club?"

Nishikata: "What? Your club? What is it?"

Takagi: "Literature club."

Nishikata: "Huh...literature..."

Not sure why, but I'm not really interested in literature anyway. Since I'm not the committee member of the library anymore, my interest in literature feels a bit weary. Especially Takagi, who's gonna make me embarrassed in the club itself.

Nishikata: "Takagi."

Takagi: "Yes?"

Nishikata: "There's no way I'm joining your club."

Takagi: "Huh? Why is that?"

But with that in mind, visiting the literature club could be interesting. Not that I aware that Takagi has any interest on joining the club itself. And that said, I could be mistaken that if I joined the club, my interest in literature will be 99% downgraded.

Nishikata: "Umm...I'm going to the anime club."

Takagi: "Come on, Nishikata. Please?"

Nishikata: "W-why...do you care so much anyway?"

Takagi: "Well...I kinda promise everyone that I'll bring a new member."

Nishikata: "What the-!? Don't make promises you can't KEEP!"

Takagi: "Oh come on, Nishikata. Is it that hard on joining the literature club? You were the library committee in middle school. So, I thought you liked literature."

Nishikata: "Takagi...!"

I grunted. Sure, Takagi could be stubborn, just because she didn't really make promises that she could keep. But if that really makes her happy, then I guess I have no other choice.

Takagi: "There's gonna be cupcakes y'know?"

Nishikata: "Okay, fine. I'll stop for a moment, okay? Just a trial."

Takagi: "Yeah! Let's go!"

A few moments later.

And today thus, I sold my soul for interest of literature and cupcakes. I dejectedly follow Takagi upstairs where third-years class usually do their classes and activites at, the spot where I rarely visit. Takagi, full of energy, swings open the classroom door.

Takagi: "Guys! the new member is here!"

Nishikata: "What the-!? Don't call me the new mem-"

Eh? I glance around the room as a girl, with coral pink hair and red bow attached in her head, came to me.

Girl 1: "Awww! He looks so cute! Takagi you did brought a great member!"

Nishikata: "C-cute!?"

And suddenly a tall girl with dazzling purple hair showed up.

Girl 2: "Welcome to the literature club. It's a pleasure meeting you. Takagi always says nice things about you."

And short a girl with pink hair sitting at the distance marches towards me.

Girl 3: "Seriously!? You brought a boy? Way to kill the atmosphere."

And a tall girl with tan-coloured hair with white ribbon, and emerald green eyes came to me.

Girl 4: "Ah, Nishikata! What a nice surprise! Welcome to the club!"

Nishikata: "..."

My face warms up. Words escaped me in this situation.

THIS CLUB

IS FULL OF INCREDIBLY CUTE GIRLS!

A girl with pink hair looks at me intensely.

Girl 3: "What are you looking at? If you wanna say something, then say it."

Nishikata: "S-Sorry…"

Takagi: "Natsuki..."

Natsuki: "Hmph!"

The girl with the sour attitude, whose name is Natsuki, is the one I didn't recognize. Her small figure makes me think she's probably a first year.

Girl 1: "You can just ignore her when she gets moody."

A girl with red bow silently whispers to my ear. Which made me jump, of course.

Nishikata: "HEY! D-Don't get so close!"

Girl 1: "Anyway this is Natsuki. Full of energy! And that is Yuri. The smartest in the club."

The girl then points the purple haired.

Yuri: "D-don't say things like that, Sayori."

Yuri, who seems comparably timid and mature, seems having a hard time keeping up with Takagi and Natsuki.

Nishikata: "Oh, Nice to meet you-"

Sayori: "And I'm Sayori! The vice president of the club!"

The girl with red bow, whose name Sayori, also seems to be very energetic, despite that she is a vice president.

Takagi: "And sounds like you already know Monika-san is that right?"

Takagi points to Monika, the girl with a white ribbon.

Monika: "That right. It's great to see you again, Nishikata."

Monika smiles sweetly. We do know each other, because we are at the same class last year, but we rarely talk.

Monika is the most popular girl in this year. Smart, beautiful, athletic. Basically, completely out of my league.

And seeing her smile like this...makes me...

Nishikata: "I...yeah...Nice to meet you, too."

Sayori: "Come sit down, Nishikata! You can sit down next to me or Monika! Natsuki is making cupcakes!"

Yuri: "Then how about I make some tea as well?"

The girls have a few desks arranged on the table. As Sayori said, it's been widened so that I can sit next to Sayori or Monika. Still feeling awkward, I decided that I will stand up, instead of sitting next to two adorable girls.

Takagi: "Hey Nishikata, how about next to me?"

Takagi then widened her desk so that I can sit next to her.

Natsuki proudly marches back to the desk, tray in hand.

Natsuki: "Are you ready? Ta-da!"

Sayori: "WOAH!"

Natsuki unwraps the tin foil revealing dozens of cupcakes decorated to look like little cats.

Sayori: "So cute!"

The whiskers are drawn by icing and the little pieces of chocolate were used to make the ears and eyes.

Takagi: "I had no idea you were so good at baking, Natsuki-chan!"

Natsuki: "Ehehe~ Well you know. Just hurry up and take one already!"

Sayori grabs one first, then Monika and Takagi, I follow.

Sayori: "It's delicious!"

Sayori talks with her mouth full and has already managed to get icing on her face.

Takagi: "Wow! This is so good!"

Natsuki: "Hehehe!"

She giggles as I turn the cupcake around, looking for a best angle to bite.

Natsuki is quiet. I can't help but notice her sneaking glances in my direction. Is she waiting me to take a bite?

I finally bite down. The icing is sweet and full of flavour, I wonder if she made it by herself.

Nishikata: "This is really good, Natsuki-chan. Thank you."

Natsuki: "W-why are you thanking me? It's...not like...I made them for you or anything."

Nishikata: "Um...I thought Takagi said-"

Natsuki: "Well-! Maybe...but, Not for you! Y'know...you dummy!"

Nishikata: "Err...okay."

I give up on Natsuki's weird conversation and decided to roll with it.

And Yuri returns to the table, with a tea set in her hand.

She carefully placed down the tea cup in front of us before setting down the teapot next to the cupcakes tray.

Nishikata: "You keep a whole tea set in this classroom?"

Yuri: "Don't worry, the teacher gave us premission. After all, doesn't a hot cup of tea help you to enjoy a good book?"

Nishikata: "Ah, I guess."

Monika: "Ehehe~ don't let yourself get intimidated by Yuri. She's just trying to impress you."

Yuri: "E-eh? T-that's not-!"

Insulted, Yuri looks away as I felt my face burn up again.

Yuri: "I meant that...y'know..."

Nishikata: "I believe you. I mean, t-tea and reading may not be my thing, but I still enjoy drinking tea at least."

Yuri: "I'm glad..."

Yuri faintly smiles to herself in relief.

Monika then raises an eyebrow then smiles at me.

Monika: "So what made you considered you the Literature club?"

Nishikata: "Umm..."

I was afraid of this question. Something tells me that I shouldn't tell Monika that I was practically dragged here by Takagi.

Nishikata: "Well...I haven't joined any club yet and looks like the literature club seems pretty fine, and Takagi also looks happy in here."

Sayori: "Ahaha! Don't be embarrased! We'll make sure you feel right at home okay?"

Monika: "As president of the literature club, it's my duty to make the activities fun and exciting for everyone!"

Nishikata: "YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT!?"

I am shocked.

Nishikata: "Monika...How can you decided you start your own club? Y'know...you can be the board member in major clubs...and weren't you the leader of the debate club last year?"

Monika: "Ahaha! Well...y'know. I actually quit the debate club. To be honest, I can't stand all the politics around the major clubs.

It feels like arguing about budget and politics and how to prepare for events. I'd rather make something personally I enjoy, and make something special about it.

And if it encourages others to literature, then I'm fulfilling that dream!"

Takagi: "Monika-san really is a great leader!"

Yuri then also nodded in agreement.

Nishikata: "Then...I'm actually surprised by how much people weren't already in this club. It must be hard to start a new club, right?"

Sayori: "You could put it that way. Not many people are interested in literature or putting out the same effort of trying something new.

You have to work hard to convince people that you're both fun and worthwhile. But it makes school events, like festival, much more important.

I'm confident that we can all really grow this club until we graduate! Right everyone?"

Monika: "Yeah!"

Takagi: "Yup!"

Yuri: "We'll do our best."

Natsuki: "You know it!"

Everyone enthusiastically agrees. Such different girls, all interested in the same goal...

Monika and Sayori must've really work hard to find these three, especially Takagi. Maybe that why delighted by the idea of a new member joining. Thought I still didn't know if I can keep up with their level of enthusiasm...

Yuri: "So Nishikata, what kind of books you like to read?"

Well...considering I haven't read for ages since middle school, I still have an interest on...

Nishikata: "Encyclopedias...and manga..."

I muttered to myself, half-joking.

Natsuki head suddenly perks up. Looks like she wants to say something, but she kept it quietly.

Yuri: "Not much of a reader I guess..."

Nishikata: "Well...I guess that can change..."

What am I saying? I spoke without thinking after seeing Yuri's sad smile.

Nishikata: "F-forget about that, okay? How about you?"

Yuri: "Well, let's see..."

Yuri traces the rim of the tea cup with her finger.

Yuri: "I usually go for a story with novels that builds complex and fantasy worlds. The level of creativity and craftsmanship are amazing to me. And telling a good story in such a foreign world is equally impressive."

Yuri goes on, clearly passionate about her reading, unlike mine. She seems so reserved and timid the moment I walked in, she has eyes clearly for the books and not for the people.

Yuri: "But, I also like a lot of things. Stories with deep psycologial elements usually immerse me as well.

Isn't it amazing how a writer can so deliberatery take advantage of your own lack of imagination to completely throw you into a loop?

Anyways, I've been reading a lot of horror lately."

Nishikata: "Well, I read a horror book once."

I desperately grasp something I can relate to at the minimal level. At this rate, Yuri might as well have a conversation with a rock.

Takagi: "Really? I wouldn't expect that Yuri, for someone who is gentle as you."

Yuri: "I guess you could say that. But if a story that takes me to another world, I can't put it down.

Surreal horror is often very successful at changing the way you look at the world, if only for a brief moment."

Natsuki: "Ugh! I hate horror..."

Yuri: "Oh? Why is that?"

Natsuki: "Well...it's just..."

Natsuki eyes darted on me for a split second

Natsuki: "Nevermind."

Monika: "That's right! You usually write about cute stuff, huh Natsuki?"

Natsuki: "W-what!? What gives you that idea!?"

Monika: "You left a piece of scrap paper on the last club meeting. It looked like you worked on a poem called-"

Natsuki: "Don't say it out loud! A-and give that BACK!"

Monika: "Fine, fine."

Sayori: "Ehehe~ Your cupcakes, your poems. Everything you do is as cute as you are."

Sayori sidles up behind Natsuki and puts her hand on her shoulders.

Natsuki: "I'm not cute!"

Nishikata: "Natsuki-chan, you write your own poems?"

Natsuki: "Yeah, why do you care?"

Nishikata: "That's quite impressive, why don't you share them sometimes?"

Natsuki: "No! Y-you wouldn't like it..."

Natsuki averts her eyes away from Takagi.

Takagi: "Ah. Not a very confident writer yet?"

Yuri: "I know what Natsuki feels. Sharing that level of writing takes more than just confidence. The truest form of writing is writing to oneself.

You must be open up to your readers, exposing your vulnerabilities and even showing the deepest kinds of heart."

Takagi: "Do you have any writing experience too, Yuri-san?"

Monika: "Maybe if you could share some of your work, you can set an example and feel confident enough to share hers too."

Yuri: "..."

Takagi: "I guess...it's the same as Yuri-san."

Sayori: "Awww...I wanna read everyone's poems."

We all sit in silence for a moment.

Monika: "Okay! I have an idea everyone!"

Nat & Yuri: "...?"

Natsuki and Yuri look quizzically at Monika.

Monika: "Let's all go home and write a poem of our own! Then next time we meet, we'll share them with each other. That way, everyone is even!"

Natsuki: "Uh...um..."

Yuri: "..."

Sayori: "Yeaaahh! Let's do it!"

Takagi: "Good idea."

Monika: "Plus, now that we have a new member, I think it'll help us all get a little more comfortable with each other, and strengthen the bond of the club! Isn't that right, Nishikata?"

Monika smiles warmly at me again.

Nishikata: "Hold on! There's still one more problem."

Sayori: "Eh? What's that?"

Now that we're back to the original topic of us joining the club, I bluntly come forth with what's been in my mind all this time.

Nishikata: "I never said that I would join this club! Takagi may convince me to stop by, but I never made any decisions. I still have other clubs to look at! Especially...Anime club! And...um..."

I lose my train of thoughts. All four girls look at me with dejected eyes.

Monika: "B-but...!"

Yuri: "I'm sorry, I thought..."

Natsuki: "Hmph."

Sayori: "Nishikata..."

Nishikata: "You all..."

However, Takagi smiles at me and come towards me with a smug. Something tells me she would do something before I could even react.

Takagi: "Say, Nishikata. Are you bothered with this club?"

Nishikata: "No...not at all! I-it's just..."

Takagi: "Hmmm? Are you actually saying that you're embarrassed because you're the only boy? And that all the girl here were cute?"

Nishikata: "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT!?"

Takagi: "You were a perv after all."

Nishikata: "NO I'M NOT!"

Takagi laughed as I felt heat coming from my body to my face quickly.

Takagi: "You're blushing, again."

Nishikata: I-it's just HOT in here!"

The four girls looks at me and giggles silently.

Takagi: "Well then, let's have a competition. If you are blushing or embarresed you have to stay in this club. But if the opposite, you can go check other clubs."

Nishikata: "W-wait! That's not the deal at all!"

Takagi: "Who's the cutest girl in this club?"

Nishikata: "WHAT THE-?"

I froze. What kind of question was that? I knew Takagi for quite a while, so seeing her poking fun at me is no stranger. But the she never understands the situation that we're in, like a she dominates the entire surroundings.

Nishikata: "I...um...err..."

Oh, what am I doing? At this rate, I might as well-

Sayori: "Ah! You're blushing!"

Monika: "Yeah! Your face is really red!"

Knew it. Yuri and Natsuki giggles as Takagi came to me.

Takagi: "You lost Nishikata. That means you're the new member."

I fell down with all four as all the girls laughed. To be honest, I couldn't imagine what the club would be without me as I remembered those sad eyes. That is, if writing poems is the price I need to spend time with these beautiful girls...

Nishikata: "Okay, okay! I made my decision. I'll join the literature...club..."

All the girl eyes light up.

Sayori: "Yesss! I'm so happy!"

Sayori wraps my hands around me, jumping up and down, making my face to look like a tomato.

Nishikata: "HEY!"

Yuri: "You really did scare me for a moment."

Natsuki: "If you just really came here for a cupcake, I would be pissed!"

Monika: "And that makes it official! Welcome to the literature club!"

Nishikata: "Thanks..."

Takagi: "Ehehe~"

I couldn't help but notice Takagi's giggle as she gave me a warm smile. Jeez...would I ever win against her?

Monika: "Alright everyone! And that makes it the official club meeting for today! Don't forget to write poems for tomorrow!"

Monika looks at me once more.

Monika: "Nishikata, I look forward to see how you express yourself. Ehehe~"

Nishikata: "Y-Yeah…"

Monika: "Ehehe~"

Can I really impress Monika with my bad writing skills? I already feel the anxiety welling all over me again. Meanwhile the girls continue to chit-chat as Natsuki and Yuri clean up their food. I'm just standing in the corner, blushing while thinking of...something.

Takagi: "Hey, Nishikata."

Nishikata: "Wah! Y-yeah...?"

Takagi: "Since we're already here, wanna walk home together?"

Nishikata: "Sure...thing..."

That's right. Takagi and I haven't walk home in ages since she stayed school for clubs.

With that the two of us depart from the clubroom and make our way home. The whole way, my mind wanders back into the five girls:

Takagi

Sayori

Yuri

Natsuki

And of course, Monika.

Will I be really happy to spend time after school in literature club? Perhaps I'll have a chance to grow closer to one of these girls.

Alright! I'll just need to make most of my circumstances and I'm sure a good fortune will find me!

And I guess that starts with writing a poem tonight...