"I remember that day clearly. That was when all of the pain, the sadness and the loneliness began. I wanted it to go away. I really, really wanted it to go away. But… am I talking about my pain or theirs?"

"Selfish"

"Time to get to work!" Sayori cheerfully thought as she gathered her things. Now that school was finally over, the young Vice-President could finally meet up with the other members of the Literature Club.

As she anxiously made her way to the meeting place, the young girl's curious gaze was caught by a familiar sight walking out of the school. She approached the window and silently watched a figure vanish from the school grounds.

"Oh…" Sayori gently pressed her hand against the cold glass. "Oh, wait, I got to get to the club. I can think about things when I get there."

In no time at all, she reached the classroom that held the club.

"I'm here!" she happily announced before tripping over her own two feet. Just as quickly as she fell, Sayori sprung back up on her feet. "Huh."

"Are you okay, Sayori?" Monika asked.

"Yeah, but I think I'm really used to being helped up," she replied.

"That doesn't sound like something a club VP would say," Following the direction of the sudden voice, Sayori curiously turned around to find Natsuki holding another container filled with various manga. The pink haired female then turned her stern gaze to Monika and asked: "By the way, when are we going to get our own club room?"

"I don't think we'll be getting our own club room anytime soon. Until then, this classroom will be our meeting place," Monika answered.

"What?! I thought this place was only temporary until we were official."

"Sorry, Natsuki, but I don't think that there's anything we can do about it right now."

"There's really nothing we can do?"

"Uhm… I think situations like this are under the authority of the Student Council President," Sayori replied. "So we would have to ask her."

"Ugh…" a nervous drop of sweat crawled down Natsuki's face as she considered that option. "I guess we'll just have to wait…"

Natsuki quickly retreated to the classroom closet, an action that surprised Sayori.

"I don't get why everyone gets that way whenever the president is mentioned," she said.

"Ah…"

Sayori and Monika turned towards the direction of the second sudden voice and watched Yuri quickly avert her gaze.

"What did you say, Yuri?" Sayori asked.

"Ah… Nothing. I really shouldn't say anything," the young maiden nervously replied.

"You don't have to be so nervous, Yuri," Monika assured her. "You can tell us whatever you were going to say."

"Well… To answer Sayori's question… The Council President has an air about her that scares the other students," Yuri said. "She really seems like a person that you need a lot of courage to approach and sustain a conversation with. In fact, I have heard other say how exhausted they were after talking to her."

"Oh…" Sayori closed her eyes before exhaling an exhausted sigh. "I'm tired just thinking about it. I bet he would be too."

"He… Are you referring to the same friend you mentioned before?" Monika queried.

"Mm-hmm," Sayori happily nodded.

"He must be very special to you if you feel compelled to mention him as much as you do," Yuri said.

"Huh? Do I really mention him that much?" Sayori wondered aloud.

"Constantly," Natsuki interjected as she walked out of the classroom.

"Huh. I guess I do," Sayori casually accepted. "But yeah, we grew up together, so of course I like him a lot."

"Mm…" a sad smile fell on Yuri's face. "It must be really nice to have someone that special to you…"

"Eh?"

"Ah… Nothing, I was just thinking aloud. It's nothing…"

Before Sayori could respond, Yuri looked down at her desk and reopened her book.

"Special…?" the young VP remained silent as her attention shifted back to Monika.

"Something on your mind?" she asked.

"Mmm…" Sayori's head slightly tilted from left to right until a bright smile formed on her face. "I just forgot. But besides that… "

Her curious eyes dropped down to the open journal tucked between Monika's hands.

"What're you writing in that journal?" she asked.

"This?" Monika gently closed the journal and said, "Just a story I'm working on."

"What's it about?"

"It's a secret."

"Secret?" that response did nothing but cause Sayori's curiosity to grow.

"But, I haven't been able to get much done today since my mind's been on other things," Monika continued.

"Like what?"

"What my class may be doing for the upcoming Cultural Festival. Our suggestion's been submitted and I'm a little worried that it may be approved."

"But events that classes do during the festival are usually really fun. Why are you worried?"

"Well… Let's just say that I may have to look forward to the Athletic Festival more than the Cultural Festival."

The next afternoon…

"Every day, I imagine a future where…" Monika stopped herself and gently tapped the heart-shaped cap of her pen against her right cheek. "…I'm still so lost after that part."

"Whatcha whispering, Monika?" the club president glanced up to find Sayori standing next to her with a puzzled expression planted firmly on her face.

"Nothing, I was just in deep thought about something."

"You know… You looked so out of it, that you kind of reminded me of my friend. He kinda dazes off a lot."

"He dazes off a lot?" Monika's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Mm-hmm," Sayori nodded her head in response. "You never really know what goes on in that head but it usually sounds exciting."

"Hm. You know, now that I think about, I don't think you ever mentioned your friend by name."

"I haven't? Uhm… I'm pretty sure that I have. Haven't I?"

Monika shook her head.

"Oh, well his name is Shujinkou," Sayori replied.

"Shujinkou," Monika repeated, the tone of her voice layered with interest.

Out of nowhere, a sweet scent entered the room and penetrated the nostrils of the Vice-President. Her eyes widened as she instantly turned towards the classroom door and watched Natsuki walk through with a tin container.

"Natsuki?" Sayori said as she continued to eye the container. "What's that?"

"This? It's just something I decided to bring in today," Natsuki proudly removed the top of the container to unveil to the rest of the club 20 individual double chocolate brownies.

"Whoa! Where did you get those from?" Sayori excitedly asked.

"I made them myself. I bet you're surprised that I know how to bake."

"Really surprised," Sayori nodded with a stuffed face.

"Eh?" the young baker did nothing but stare as Sayori reached for more brownies. "You… You really like sweets don't you?"

"Mm-hmm. Well, I like a lot of things, but sweets are one of the things I like the most." The club VP took one large gulp and miraculously swallowed the brownies with no issue. She gently patted her stomach as Natsuki continued to stare at her in disbelief.

"I'm going to need to keep an eye on this girl…" she thought.

Sayori then slid a few into her lunchbox and stuffed it back in her bag.

"Some for the road," she said with a smile.

The club's meeting continued on as usual. The evening came and, the moment the club was dismissed, Sayori said her goodbyes and dashed down the usual road home, except today she had a stop to make. She eagerly approached one of the many houses near her own and knocked on the door. Not too long after, the door opened to reveal very a familiar face.

"Hey, Auntie H!" she waved cheerfully.

"Long time no see, Sayori," Hiro eyes scanned the 2nd year student from top to bottom. "You look so cute in your school uniform."

"Really?" Sayori curiously glanced at her uniform. "Is Shujinkou in?"

"Oh, uhm…" Hiro's expression changed. "I… I actually don't know where he is."

"Really? He usually leaves school before me. I wonder where he could be." Sayori wondered aloud.

"Wait… You leave after him? What do you do after school?"

"I'm the Vice-President of the Literature Club."

"Really? Sounds like you're 2nd in charge of a fun club."

"It is fun. In fact…" Sayori dug into her bag and pulled out her lunchbox. "…One of the club members made some brownies. I wanted to see if Shujinkou wanted any, but it look like I missed him… I guess that means I don't have to share."

"Right… It's his loss," Hiro weakly chuckled.

"So, what are you up to these days, Auntie H?"

"Me? Not much. Just keeping house, practicing my knitting skills and uh…"

"What is it?"

"What I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential."

Hiro motioned Sayori towards her and whispered in left ear.

"WHAT?! Is that true!?" Sayori inquired.

"Well… Yeah," Hiro chuckled.

"Does Shujinkou or Granny Hisa know?"

Hiro shook her head.

"Wow… Well, I promise I won't tell him when I eventually catch up to him," Sayori assured her.

Hiro's eyes widened with a surprise.

"You're going to try and catch up with him?" she asked, unable to hide her shock.

"Mm-hmm," Sayori nodded before glancing down at her lunchbox. "Actually, I think there's something I have to do first, but I'll definitely try and catch him after that."

"Oh… Well, that's good."

"Yeah. Wish me luck, Auntie H!"

With a new sense of determination flowing through her, Sayori reached into her lunchbox and handed Hiro one of the leftover brownies. She then stuffed another in her mouth and rushed home.

"Good luck." Hiro whispered. "And thanks."