Chapter 3: Presentation

A few days just passed, and the literature club activities were all the same since then. We trade poems, giving each other feedback and then free time until it's over. And everyone's feedback is always the same. Takagi and Sayori were impressed, Monika quite liked it, Natsuki is not too simple for her taste, and Yuri's not too complex for her style. However, the festival's coming close just in a few days, and we haven't even prepared anything yet.

Takagi is happily chatting with Sayori, Natsuki is rummaging in her closet, while Yuri's buries in her book as always. Monika is writing something while I'm doing my homework.

I glance at Monika, she has a puzzled look at her face. She glances around the room before an idea sparks on her head.

Monika: "Okay, everyone! We're all done reading each other's poems right? I have something extra planned today, so If everyone could come and sit at the front of the room."

Natsuki: "Is this about the festival?"

Monika: "Well, sort of~"

Natsuki: "Ugh. Do we really have to so something for the festival? It's not like we can put together anything good just in a few days. We'll just end up embarrassing ourselves instead of getting new members."

Yuri: "That's the concern of mine as well. I don't really do well with last-minute preperations…"

Monika: "Don't worry so much! We're going to keep this simple, okay? We won't need much more than a few decorations. Sayori has been working on posters, and I've designed some pamphlets we can give out during the event."

Natsuki: "Okay, that's great and all. But that doesn't tell us what we're actually going to be doing on the festival."

Monika: "We're going to be performing!"

Natsuki: "Performing!?"

Yuri: "Uh…M-Monika…"

Monika: "Yeah! We're gonna do some poetry performance! Each of us are going to chose the poem to recite during the event. But the cool part is, we're also going to let everyone else come up and recite poems too! Sayori's putting it on all the posters in case anyone wants to prepare ahead of time.

Sayori: "Ehehe~"

Sayori, who's been coloring a poster, holds it up for us to see.

Takagi: "That looks great, Sayori-san!"

Natsuki: "You…You didn't already start putting those posters up, did you?"

Monika: "Eh? Well, I did. Do you really think it's that bad of an Idea?"

Natsuki: "Well…no, It's not a bad idea. But I didn't sign up for this y'know! There is NO way I'm going to be performing in a group of people like that!"

Yuri: "I…I agree with Natsuki! I could never…in my life…do something like that."

Imagining it, Yuri shakes her head in fear.

Takagi: "Guys…"

Monika: No, Takagi. I understand where they coming from. Remember that Natsuki and Yuri have never shared their poems with anyone until a few days ago. It's a lot for them to recite their poems out loud to a whole room of people. I guess I kinda overlooked that. So, I'm sorry."

Natsuki: "…"

Monika: "…But! I think we should give it our best! We're the only one that's responsible for the fate this club. If we start the event, and put a good performance, then it will inspire others to do the same! And the more people who perform, the better we'll able to show what literature is all about!"

Sayori: "Yeah! It's about expressing your feelings. Being intimate with yourself, finding new horizons, and having fun!"

Monika: "That's right! And it's those reasons we're all in this club today! Don't you wanna share that with others? To inspire them to find the same feelings, that brought you here in the first place? I know you do! I know WE all do!

And all if it take is standing in front of the club room for two minutes, and reciting the poem, the I know you can do it!"

Natsuki: "…"

Yuri: "…"

Natsuki and Yuri remain silent. Sayori looks worried. I guess that leaves me no choice…

Nishikata: "I agree. I-I don't think it's too much to ask. I think that Sayori-san and Monika have been trying really hard to get new members. The least we can do is to help them out a little bit."

Takagi: "Exactly! I do too!"

Natsuki: "Well, maybe…but…"

It looks like Natsuki doesn't have any argument left.

Natsuki: "…Uu…Okay fine! I guess I just have to get it over with."

Takagi: "Alright!"

Monika: "Phew…Thanks, Natsuki. What about you, Yuri?"

Yuri: "Sigh…I guess I didn't have a choice, do I?"

Sayori: "Ahaha, That's everyone! You're the best, Yuri!"

Yuri: "This club is seriously going to be a death for me…"

Takagi: "Oh gosh! You'll be fine Yuri-san!"

Monika: "Anyway, let's move on into the main event! I want each of you to chose a poem of yours. We're going to practice reciting them in front of each other."

Natsuki: "N-N-No way!"

Yuri: "M-Monika! This is too sudden…!"

Monika: "Well, if you can't recite your own poem in front of the club. The how are you going to do it in front of stranger?"

Yuri: "Oh no…"

Monika: "Don't worry! I'll start off to help everyone feel comfortable."

Sayori: "Can I go next?"

Monika: "Ahaha! Of course! Now let's see…"

Monika flips trough her notebook to the specific poem she has in mind for herself. She then stands behind the podium.

Monika: "The title of this poem is 'The Way They Fly'. Ahem…"

Monika begins to reciting her poem. Her clear, confident voice clears the room. More than that, her inflection is pristine. She knows how to apply emotions behind each line she recites, bringing the word to life. Is this something she's done before? Or just simply natural?

I glance around me, everyone's ahs their eyes on her. Sayori looks amazed, Takagi gave a genuine smile, Yuri has an intense expression on her face that I don't understand. Finally, Monika finished the recitation. The five of us applaud. Monika takes a breath and smiles.

Sayori: "That…was amazing, Monika!"

Takagi: "Yeah! I never thought that you could do that!"

I nodded in agreement.

Monika: "Ahaha! Thank you very much! I was just hoping to set a good example. Are you ready to go next, Sayori?"

Yuri: "I…I'll go next!"

Sayori: "Uwah! Yuri's fired up all of the sudden!"

Yuri clutches a sheet of paper between her hands and stands up. Keeping her head down, she walks towards the podium quickly.

Yuri: "This poem is called…"

Yuri anxiously glances at four of us.

Sayori: "You can do it Yuri!"

Yuri: "It's called… 'The Rise of the Demitrix'."

Yuri voice shakes as she started to read the poem. Just a moment ago, she practically refused to this. Why is she suddenly putting too much effort?

As Yuri gets pass the first couple lines, her voice changes. It almost looks like she absorbed into her books.

Her quivering word transform into the sharp syllables of a fierce and confident woman. The poem is full of twist and turns in its structure that she enunciates with perfect timing. This must be a rare glimpse into the whirling fire Yuri keeps concealed inside her head! Suddenly she finished.

Everyone is stunned, and I couldn't help but notice that my jaw drops all the time. Yuri snaps back into reality and glances around her, as if she bewildered even herself.

Yuri: "I…"

It's up to me to save this situation. I close my jaw, and start applauding. Everyone joined me afterwards, and we gave Yuri the recognition she deserves. It's not like we didn't want to applaud to her, it's just that we were so stunned and caught off-guard that we forgotten. As we applaud, Yuri rushed towards her seat.

Monika: "Yuri, that was really good! Thank you for sharing."

Yuri: "…"

Looks like Yuri's down for the count…

Sayori: "Okay! I guess I'm next then."

Sayori hops out of her chair and cheerfully walks to the podium.

Sayori: "This one's called…. 'My Meadow'. Ah…Ahaha. Sorry, I giggled. Ehehe~"

Nishikata: "Sayori-san…"

Sayori: "Sorry, it's a lot harder than I thought! How do you guys do it so easily?"

Monika: "Try not to think of it like you're reciting your poems to other people. Imagine, you're reciting in your mirror, or in your own head! It's your poem, so it'll came out the best that way."

Sayori: "I see, I see…Okay then!"

Sayori begins reading her poem. Somehow, it feels like her soft voice was made as a perfect match. The poem isn't aimlessly cheery like Sayori is. It's serene and Bittersweet.

If I were reading this on paper, I probably wouldn't think much of it. But hearing it coming from Sayori's voice gives it a whole new meaning. Maybe this what Sayori's meant when she said she likes my poem. Sayori finishes and we applaud.

Sayori: "I did it!"

Takagi: "Great job! You did fantastic!"

Nishikata: "Y-Yeah! Good job!"

Sayori: "Ehehe~ Even Takagi liked it! I guess it's a good sign!"

Nishikata: "What does that even mean?"

Monika: "It came out nicely, Sayori! The atmosphere of the poem fits you really nicely."

Sayori: "Thanks!"

Monika: "Now who's next?"

Takagi: "I go!"

Takagi grabbed her sheet of paper and walks towards the podium.

Takagi: "This one's called 'Miracle'. Ahem…"

Takagi then begins. She started with a very serious look on her face as it keeps everyone's eyes upon her. Her soft toned voice kept the meaning perfectly, as if she was the character that really said those words. Her sentences are simple, yet very complex and intriguing.

Then her facial expression changes very quickly as she goes on, from seriousness to someone who's fallen in love. Her shooting voice and her movement abilities makes the poem itself feel very real and alive. For years, I've never seen Takagi does this kind of thing.

Suddenly she finished. Everyone applauds.

Takagi: "Thank you! Thank you!"

Monika: "That was sooo good, Takagi! Never seen this side of you before."

Takagi: "Now you know."

Takagi plops back to her seat. She then turns to me.

Takagi: "How was that?"

Nishikata: "I-It was good."

Takagi: "Oh?"

Nishikata: "What kind of feedback do you want!?"

Takagi: "Oh, I was just thinking something else."

Nishikata: "W-What is it?"

Takagi: "Nevermind. Who's next?"

Natsuki: "I-I'll go next…"

Monika: "Oh? What's gotten into you, Natsuki?"

Natsuki: "Nothing at all!"

Natsuki begrudgingly gets out of her seat and makes her way into the podium.

Natsuki: "The poem is called…W-Why are you all looking at me!?"

Monika: "Because you're presenting…"

Natsuki: "Hmph! Anyway, the poem is called… 'Jump'."

Natsuki takes a breath once she starts reciting her poem, her sour attitude disappears a little. While she's still a little unenthused, her poem has a rhythm and rhyme to it. It's Natsuki's trademark style, and it works surprisingly well when spoken aloud. The words feel like they bounce up and down, as if giving a life to the poem. Natsuki finishes and, and everyone applaud. She huffs back to her seat.

Monika: "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Natsuki: "Easy for you to say!"

Takagi: "And looks like you're the last one, Nishikata."

Nishikata: "Yeah, I'm going."

I stepped into the podium and before the second I knew, everyone has their eyes one me, making me feel terribly awkward.

Takagi: "You're blushing."

Nishikata: "Hey!"

Sayori: "Takagi, can you at least stop teasing him when he's performing? You're making him feel very anxious."

Takagi: "Ahaha! I'm sorry, it's just a habit of my own. I'll stop."

Takagi giggles. I gave her a hard glare, before returning to everyone else.

Nishikata: "Anyways…This poem is called… 'Heart of an Artist'."

Yuri eyes suddenly perks up, making me feel very uneasy. I recite my poem. Since I'm not exactly confident in my own writing, it's hard to put energy to it. And as I finished my poem, everyone looks at me, dissapointed.

Nishikata: "S-Sorry, my poem's trash. I'm not good as everyone else, either."

And before I have the urge of crushing my paper, Takagi start applauding, and the rest follows. Giving me a HUGE relief.

Monika: "Well, that was okay. I think it's less about your abilities, and more about your lack of confidence in your writing. That something that'll improve over time, though."

Nishikata: "Yeah…Maybe…"

Monika then stands from her seat.

Monika: "Okay, everyone! I think that's about it for today. I know the festival's coming up, but let's try to write another one for tomorrow! It's been working really nicely so far, so I'd like to continue that. As for the festival, we'll finish tomorrow! And then we'll have the weekend to prepare. Monday's the big day!"

Sayori: "I can't wait~"

Takagi: "Same here!"

Yuri: "I can do this…I can do this…"

Nish & Nat: "…"

I stand up. There's no way I'll be able to find the same level of enthusiasm as Sayori or Takagi. But I'll do my best to get through it.

If it's for the sake of the club. And impressing Monika…Then I'll have to do my best.

Takagi: "Ready to go, Nishikata?"

Nishikata: "Ah! Y-yeah."

Natsuki: "Look at you two! Always going home like that!"

Monika: "Ehehe~ It is kind of adorable isn't it?"

Takagi: "Ahaha!"

Nishikata: "I-It's not like that at all! Don't make such a big deal out of it!"

Sayori: "It must be kinda nice, though. Ehehe~"

Nishikata: "Ah…well."

How am I supposed to respond to that?

Takagi: "It's okay, Nishikata. You don't have to say it."

Nishikata: "Y-Yeah! Come on, Takagi!"

I grabbed Takagi hand by accident and dragged her out.

I walk once more with Takagi. Even though it's only a few days, a lot of things has changed. But today, Takagi is being a little quieter than she usually is. If she was being like herself, she would tease me all the way.

Nishikata: "Hey, Takagi."

Takagi: "…Ah! Sorry! I was spacing out."

Nishikata: "Oh, huh."

Takagi: "I was thinking about something earlier. So, let's just say that Sayori-san asked you to go walk home with you."

Nishikata: "HUH!?"

Takagi: "What would you do?"

Nishikata: "What kind of question was that!?"

Well…

Nishikata: "Walking home with Sayori-san huh?"

Why the thought of that makes my heart pounds?

Nishikata: "I would do it sometime soon."

Takagi: "Right? She's so cute and pretty."

Nishikata: "Errr…."

Takagi: "Is that the reason that you wanted to walk home with her?"

Nishikata: "Wait-!"

Takagi: "Instead of me?"

Nishikata: "Huh?"

Wait, why is she asking these questions?

Nishikata: "Well, she's not a replacement for you."

Takagi: "It's just a matter of time before you don't need me, Nishikata."

Nishikata: "Eh? No! You're my closest friend after all. I won't ditch you for, Sayori-san."

Takagi: "…"

The conversation trails off. It's kind of weird thing for Takagi to care so much about. But I wanted to make her happy. Then again, the festival is only a few days away.

Who knows what will happened that time?