"Wait; there was really a movie about Romeo and Juliet that started with a shootout?" a look of sheer disbelief landed on Natsuki's face as she asked this.
"Yeah," a nostalgic smile formed on Sayori's lips. "Our teacher showed it to us back in our before school uniform days."
"But the characters still spoke as they did in the original text?" Yuri queried, her face lit with curiosity.
"Yup," Shujinkou confirmed with a nod. "It was a really weird movie."
"It sounds like a really weird movie," Natsuki said in agreement. The petite student then crossed her arms, silently contemplating what she just heard. Though the concept was strange, she just had to ask, "Why did they have a shootout again?"
"The Capulets and Montagues were rival crime families with… um… construction businesses as a front?" Shujinkou vaguely recalled.
"From high class families to mobsters, huh? What does that make the prince; a major political figure or the godfather of the families?"
"No, the prince is a police captain."
"A police captain?" the look on Natsuki's face could only be described as one of confusion and acceptance. "They're sure taking liberties. Thought I guess a police captain makes sense when the two families are mobsters."
"Going back to your initial observation, liberties are necessary when adapting text to the silver screen," Yuri calmly stated. Though her calm demeanor would not last long as it would soon fall to worried curiosity "…That said, I do wonder if the updated setting robs the original tragedy of its unique identity."
"Well, you can tell that its Romeo and Juliet, but that may be because of the script," Sayori guessed.
"Wait…" silence once again took hold of Natsuki as she quickly recalled various plot points of the famous tragedy."If there's no prince in this version… What about Romeo's banishment?"
"The police captain banished him," Shujinkou answered.
At that moment, Natsuki's expression quickly shifted from curiosity to disbelief to acceptance. Once she reached acceptance, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself over what she had heard. The whole concept sounded too dumb to believe.
After taking a moment to compose herself, Natsuki glanced up at Shujinkou. "…I'm gonna assume that this film's a comedy version of the story."
"That's what I assumed after watching a more faithful version," Shujinkou chuckled as he scratched his right cheek.
"So, its unique identity is lost in this version…" Yuri thought. The young maiden then snuck a glance at her fellow club members. As she had expected, she was the only one who seemed bothered by such a fact. "But… I guess it could just be chalked up to an alternate retelling. Everyone has their own version in their heads, right? Plus, it's not like it will harm the original in any way."
"Wait…" Confusion possessed Sayori as she swiftly turned her gaze to Shujinkou, then Natsuki then finally Yuri. "Where's Monika?"
The four club members shifted their attention towards the teacher's desk where they found their club president writing. Her eyes were glued to the pages of her journal as she continued to fill the blank canvases with words. Suddenly, she swiftly closed the journal and glanced up at the rest of the club.
She smiled as she watched disappointment fill their curious eyes. "Did you need something?"
The four remained silent until they heard a bright voice call, "Senpai!"
The entire club followed the voice to the classroom door and watched Mali cheerfully stroll in.
"Mali," curiosity and anxiety swelled in Shujinkou as he laid eyes on the sudden guest. "What're you doing here?"
"Visiting Senpai, of course," the first-year student answered as if it was the most obvious fact in the world. "Why does Senpai sound so surprised to see his Kohai?"
"Well… I haven't seen you all week," Shujinkou answered as he awkwardly scratched his right cheek.
A knowing smile crossed Mali's face. "That's because I got a surprise for Senpai and everyone else to see."
"A surprise?" such a mystery excited the curious Sayori. "What is it?"
"You'll have to come and see," Mali answered.
Moments later, the entire Literature Club's eyes widened with surprise as they walked into an empty room.
After taking in the spacious empty room, Monika glanced at Mali and asked. "This is…?"
"Mm-hmm," she confirmed with a nod. "I found an empty room that can be occupied by a club."
"Wow," Sayori beamed. "How'd you find one?"
Another knowing smile filled Mali's face as she recalled how she found the empty room.
A few days prior, she had just left her Senpai to embark on a quest to find a room for his club to occupy. "Now… I wonder how I can find a clubroom for Senpai…"
The first-year student giggled as the answer immediately came to her. She immediately proceeded to make her way to Fuyu's office and posted herself at a nearby corner. There she waited until finally Fuyu and Rei walked out of the office. She watched as Fuyu locked the door behind her before leading Rei down the hall, eventually disappearing from sight.
"Time to get to work," Mali thought as she approached the office doors.
She kneeled in front of the doors and got to work on her first obstacle. In no time at all, the first-year student casually opened the door and quietly closed it behind her.
Mali then whistled a little tune as she casually strolled to Fuyu's desk and effortlessly logged on to her computer.
"Now, let's see which clubs do have a clubroom," the young girl's eyes scoured the scrolling screen of names. "Pottery Club, Journalist Club, Art Club…"
Suddenly, her eyes immediately zeroed in on a viable candidate. "Supernatural Studies Club?"
Mali memorized the location of the room such a club was occupying and walked out of the office, re-locking the door behind her. She then walked to the location she had previously memorized and found herself in front of a door with a crude sign that read: "Supernatural Studies Club".
Curious about such a club, Mali knocked on the door and moments later it was flung opened by male student.
"I knew'd you come…!" the student glanced down; disappointment filled his face as he laid eyes on Mali. "You're not, Monika…"
"She'd probably come if you were someone else, Nese," Mali replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
The first-year student smiled as the young man in front of her slightly back away from her. Such a disturbed reaction was always a delight to see.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"Information," Mali innocently answered. "Anyway, what does the most popular girl in school have to with your 'grand' entrance?"
"Just making sure I have a grand entrance when she finally shows up."
"What makes you sure of that?"
"A totally special technique that will draw her here," Nese boasted. "You wouldn't understand."
"Enlighten me, Nese," Mali calmly replied.
Though the response seemed innocent, Nese could sense the clear superiority conveyed by her words. Desperate to save face, he forced a smug smile on his lips and replied, "I put a vague and mysterious letter in her locker. It's sure to draw her here."
"And when did you put the letter in there?" Mali asked.
Embarrassment filled Nese's face. It was like her words were daggers plunging their sharp blades into his heart. "…Early last semester."
"Don't you think it possible your plan failed? She probably tossed it out."
"Even so, she will be drawn to the allure of the Supernatural Studies Club."
Curiosity welled up in Mali as she silently examined Nese from head to toe. "…Is that the reason you started this club?"
"Yes." He bluntly stated.
"Do you even need a clubroom for that?"
"Of course I do. It gives me a sweet place to hang out in and I get a deeper access to the club revenues that come with having a clubroom to customize."
"But wouldn't it be better if a club that would actually use a club room for what it's intended to be used for had this room."
"Mmm…" Nese pondered that question. "Nope."
"You sure? Cause you're hogging a club room when a more worthy club could use it," Mali pointed out.
"Blah, blah, blah," the first-year student silently continued to listen to a response she expected from a 4-year old. "Look first-year, I'm playing a long-game and I don't need people questioning me."
"More like trying to obtain an impossible task."
"Now be gone with you!" Nese slammed the door in front of Mali, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
"He's really pathetic…" the first-year said as she took her leave. "Not to mention, he's depriving Senpai of a club room for an expectedly petty reason…"
Mali crossed her arms as she pondered her current predicament. "I promised Senpai I would stop pulling pranks, but this one would be to his benefit. Plus, he's clearly abusing school funds. Hmm…"
Soon, a bright smile formed on Mali's lips. "I promised Senpai that I would stop terrorizing the school with pranks, but I never promised him that I would never do it for a good cause and Senpai is definitely a good cause."
The next day after school, Nese walked into the clubroom. 20 minutes later, Nese burst out of the room screaming. Not too long after, Mali walked out of the room giggling.
From there she waited 2 days to pass before reporting her "findings" to Fuyu. With her recollection finished, Mali glanced around the room, brandishing her usual innocent smile. "…I found it while looking around."
"Wow! Thanks, Mali!" Sayori thanked.
"Thanks for what?"
"For finding us a clubroom."
"But I didn't find you guys a clubroom. I found a clubroom," Mali emphasized as she turned her attention to her senpai. "But… I'd be willing to give it to you in exchange for something from Senpai."
"From me?" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he wondered what Mali could possibly ask him for. "What do you want?"
"I want a kiss from Senpai," Mali brightly answered.
"Huh?!" a look of pure shock landed on Shujinkou's face.
"A k-kiss?!" Natsuki exclaimed. "Why would you want that?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Mali nonchalantly replied.
"But why though?" Monika calmly questioned. "It's kind of a strange request considering your previous interactions with Shujinkou."
"Previous interactions…" a somber expression rested on Natsuki's face as she mumbled this.
"I know," Mali smiled.
"Perhaps you could make another suggestion of a reward," Yuri worriedly proposed.
"Mm… Nope," Mali refused.
"Shujinkou…" Sayori glanced up at her childhood friend. As she had expected, he couldn't even hide his conflicted emotions. An assuring smile formed on her lips, "Don't feel so down, Shujinkou. We can always find another club room if things don't work out."
Shujinkou was silent, consumed by his thoughts. "But… Everyone would like to have a clubroom and who knows when there'll be another opportunity to get one…"
Despite the awkwardness of the situation, he knew he couldn't throw away such a chance for a petty reason. "Okay… I'll do it."
"Shujinkou…" Sayori said.
"Senpai…" Mali giggled as she approached Shujinkou. "You really are lusting after a first-year, aren't you?"
Completely uncomfortable with the situation, Shujinkou remained silent as Mali stood on her toes. "Well… After you, Senpai."
Shujinkou's heart began to violently pound against his chest as his face slowly inched closer to hers. He closed his eyes and parted his lips as he moved closer to her. He could feel an intense atmosphere hang in the air, as if there was a collision of negative emotions that filled the room and there was no escape. He knew what he was doing was for a good cause and yet, he could not help but feel like it was wrong at the same time.
Suddenly, he felt a slim object press against his lips. Shujinkou opened his eyes, shocked to find Mali driving her finger against him.
"What…?" he couldn't understand the plethora of emotions that welled up in him. Deprived of his vocabulary, all the young man could do was watch Mali giggle.
"Did Senpai really think that I went through all of this just for a kiss?" she asked as she moved her face closer to his. Soon, her index finger became the only wall between them. "I worked hard to get this room so Senpai can enjoy it, no strings attached."
She smiled her usual innocent smile as she suddenly backed away from the stunned young man. "So, enjoy it plenty, Senpai."
Without saying another word, Mali left the room, leaving the awkward atmosphere she created behind.
"What just happened?" Shujinkou thought. "That… That seemed a little different from her usual teasing…"