The morning came sooner than I'd expected. My alarm went off at the right time. As I'd come to expect, Meiji was still asleep inside my head.
I sat up and looked out the window. To my confusion, it was raining. "Weird, it normally doesn't rain today." I got up, showered and dressed in about twenty minutes despite my still healing injuries. Monika came down at around seven that morning when I was busy making a more traditional Japanese breakfast, rice, fish and miso soup. I placed a large mug of coffee at Monika's plate. She looked just like she had the previous morning as she grabbed her coffee and downed it in one gulp, holding it out for more. "Did you sleep well?" I asked as Monika downed her second cup of coffee.
"I did," she said groggily as she put her empty mug down. "You?"
"I did too," I said.
"Itadakimasu," she said as she grabbed her chopsticks and began eating her meal fast. I chuckled and ate my food as well, not sure what to talk about. I finished before her and brushed her messy hair again. When she was finished, she looked up at me and smiled sheepishly. "Again, sorry for being grumpy."
"It's not a problem," I said. Looking at the clock, I saw it said 7:13 AM. "If you want to take a shower, you'd best to do it now. We've got to pick up Sayori soon."
She nodded. "Alright, I will. No peaking," she said with a wink as she headed upstairs to presumably grab her uniform.
"No promises," I teased back.
"Oh you!" She giggled as she came back down and shut the bathroom door.
At that moment, Meiji woke up. Good morning…what time is it?
About time to pick up Sayori. Monika's showering right now, though, so we have to wait for her.
Got it. Hey, what's that noise? Is it raining?
Yeah, pretty hard too. I heard Monika humming the tune I'd sung the night before as the shower turned on.
That didn't happen in the game, he said. The rain I mean. At least not from that gameplay we saw. Right?
Right, and that worries me.
While she was showering, I pulled out Meiji's phone, sat down on the couch and shot Sayori a text. Sayori, you awake yet?
Is that you Josiah? She replied a little while later.
Yeah, sorry if I woke you. Meiji and I were just checking on you. How are you feeling?
I'm doing OK.
Good. Well Meiji's parents said it was okay if Monika stayed here.
Aww, that was nice of them. I didn't get a chance to ask my parents, Sayori replied.
Well, ask them anyway. Meiji's parents might change their mind.
Okay! See you soon?
Sure, see you in a bit.
"Were you texting Sayori?" Monika asked from behind me.
"Yeah. She seems alright, but it's easier to fake being happy over text," I said, standing and turning. Monika was in her uniform, her bag on her shoulder. Her hair was tied up in its traditional ponytail with the white ribbon. "Lovely as always," I said with a smile.
She blushed. "Thanks. Well, ready to go?"
"Yep," I said, grabbing the bag and a couple of umbrellas from the front. "Let's go grab Sayori and head to school."
When I opened the door, it was pouring. Monika looked more confused than I did. "It didn't rain in the game," she said. "I hope that's not a bad thing."
"Me too," I said as I opened my umbrella and handed the other to Monika. We headed over to Sayori's house and I walked in. "Sayori?"
"Just a minute!" she called from upstairs.
"I hope you have an umbrella; it's raining pretty hard out here," Monika called up.
"I do!" Sayori called out. A few minutes later she ran down, tucking her shirt into her skirt hastily. She looked "Sorry sorry! I couldn't get up today. Your text woke me up."
"I'm glad I could wake you up," I said. I walked over and immediately hugged her. "After yesterday, we were so worried."
Sayori froze and looked up at me and Monika. "You guys, I'm really fine-"
"No, you're not fine," I said quickly. "Meiji and I aren't the only ones to have noticed. Monika's noticed too and she's worried. So is Meiji."
Sayori looked down, a look of guilt on her face. "He's the last one I wanted to worry. He doesn't have to, and neither do you two," she added with an attempted smile.
"You know that only makes us more worried, right?" I said. "Sayori, we're here for you. If something's wrong, you can tell us."
Sayori shook her head, smiling sadly. "That's not good…why-why can't it be like it's always been?" She looked away. "This is all my fault. If I didn't get so weak and accidentally express my feelings…you guys wouldn't have come here." Her smile had begun to vanish now. "I'm being punished for being selfish."
That sounds too familiar, Meiji said.
It's the lines she said on Sunday in the game. It's not a good sign that she's saying them now.
"Sayori, you're the least selfish person I know," I said. "We can tell something's wrong. What happened?"
"Nothing happened," Sayori said, moving to sit down on the step in front of the genkan. I sat to her right; Monika sat to her left. "I've always been like this. You're just seeing it now."
"Sayori…I'm going to take a wild stab at this. Do you have depression?" I asked, knowing full well that she did.
She froze a bit, before looking down. "You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" she asked, looking down with a sad defeated smile on her face. "Yes, I've had really bad depression my whole life. Why do you think I'm late to school? Because most days I can't find a reason to get out of bed. What reason is there to do anything when I know how fully worthless I am? Why go to school? Why eat? Why make friends? Why make other people put their energy and caring to waste by having them spend it on me? That's what it feels like. And that's why I just want to make everyone happy…without anyone worrying about me."
"Listen," I said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I know it feels hopeless, but it isn't. You're not worthless at all. You are worth it. I think so, Monika thinks so, the club members think so and Meiji definitely thinks so. He cares about you a lot."
"I don't want to be cared about," she said softly. "It's bittersweet when people try to care about me. It feels nice sometimes, but it also feels like a bat being swung against my head. That's why I wanted for Meiji to make friends with the other club members. Helping everyone be happy together is the best thing for me."
"Oh Sayori…" I wanted to say something else but she held up a hand.
"But then I discovered something else too. I know this is going to sound crazy, but seeing you, Meiji and Josiah, making friends and getting closer with the others in the club felt like a spear going through my heart. That's when I decided the world just wants to torture me. Every path leads to nothing but hurt."
I inhaled, then turned her to face me. "It's my turn to speak. Sayori, I know it hurts to be loved and cared about. I know that the only time you ever feel anything is when you're feeling pain, but it doesn't just have to be like that. There are ways you can get better. There are doctors who can prescribe anti-depressants. There are counselors who you can talk to. There are friends you can talk to. You can fight this."
"It's too hard," Sayori said, tears running down her face now. "And the only thing that can help is if things go back to the way they were. But I got selfish and showed you what a horrible person I am. I wanted Meiji to join because I was selfish."
"No," I said calmly. "You're not selfish. What's wrong with you wanting a friend to join the same club you're in?"
"Everything!" Sayori's face was stained with tears now. "I was selfish and I was punished by my heart hurting in a way I don't understand. And now you three are hurting too. I'm just weak and selfish, that's all I am. And that's why I'm going to accept all these punishments. Because I deserve every one of them."
I had pulled out my phone and started up an instrumental for a song I hoped would help. I cleared my throat. Monika and Sayori faced me as I began to sing again.
"Every time the rain comes down,
close my eyes and listen.
I can hear the lonesome sound
of the sky as it cries.
"Listen to the rain.
Here it comes again.
Hear it in the rain.
"Feel the touch of tears that fall,
they won't fall forever.
In the way the day will flow.
All things come, all things go.
"Listen to the rain, the rain.
Here it comes again, again.
Hear it in the rain, the rain.
"Late at night I drift away,
I can hear you calling.
And my name is in the rain.
Leaves on trees whispering,
deep blue seas, mysteries.
"Even when this moment ends,
can't let go this feeling.
Everything will come again.
In the sound falling down,
of the sky as it cries.
Hear my name in the rain."
Sayori wasn't crying anymore, but both she and Monika were watching me with rapt attention. After I was done, Sayori stood and wiped her eyes, a sad smile appearing on her face. "Thank you, Josiah. That song spoke to me."
"You're welcome. I sung it especially for you." I saw a jealous look in Monika's face followed by a guilty look. "Sayori, you're not alone. There are your friends in the literature club. And they are your friends. They love you."
Don't confess for me yet!
Why not?
You saw what happened when we chose yes, remember? It didn't help.
Fair enough. We'll wait then.
"I wish they wouldn't…it hurts too much." Sayori looked down.
"Do you want to stay home?" I asked. "I feel like you wouldn't be able to concentrate today."
"N-No, I'll be fine," Sayori said. "I don't want to miss the club meeting."
"What do you think, Meiji?" I asked.
I…I don't know. Knowing what I know about the game now, I don't really want to leave her alone. But you have a point. She won't be able to concentrate in class. Hmm…what if we had the club meeting at either her house or my house today?
Good idea. "Meiji's suggesting that we have the club meeting at either mine or Sayori's house today. That way, Sayori can stay home and rest until the meeting."
"But then the others would worry about me more," Sayori said.
"They're going to worry regardless," I said. "If it makes you feel better, we'll just say you're feeling a bit under the weather."
She didn't seem happy with that suggestion. "I don't know…"
"Think of it this way," I said. "You can catch up on some much-needed sleep."
She continued to sit and think, and finally sighed. "I…I would like that," she said softly.
"Good. Go ahead and go back to bed. We'll be by later today," I said, smiling at Sayori. "We'll call when we're close and let you know where we're going to have our meeting."
"Alright, that's fine," she said, smiling a little bit.
"We'll see you later, okay?" Monika, who hadn't spoken since we got there, finally spoke up, squeezing Sayori's shoulder gently.
"Sure, Monika. See you." She stood and headed back up the stairs. Monika and I left the house and headed out. The rain was still coming down heavily as we walked in silence.
I moved closer. "Monika, are you okay?"
She looked down sadly. "No, I'm not okay. I couldn't find it in myself to say much of anything…I just stood there, frozen. Indecisive. I know you know this from the game, but dealing with people isn't my strongest character trait. I can make plans easily enough, but Sayori's always been the more sociable one." She leaned on my shoulder. "Josiah…I'm scared. Her depression is spiking, and every time I try and edit it back to normal, something changes it back. Honestly, I'm afraid to keep trying because I'm afraid I might break her."
"I know you can do it, but that wasn't the only thing I was asking about. Earlier when I was singing that song, you had a jealous look on your face."
She looked away from me, that same guilty look appearing in her eyes. "Josiah…you know how I feel about you. And it's not just because you're the Player, it's because of who you are. I've gotten to know you over the past few days. You were willing to take me in despite not trusting me, you went to Yuri's defense when she was being bullied, you were honest enough with the others when it would have been easier to lie and say you were Meiji. I learned enough to fall head over heels for you, not the Player, but you, Josiah Bordeaux, the American college student. And when you sang for Sayori…"
I took Monika's hand. "Listen to me. I said I would take you on a date, and I intend to keep that promise, but we need to focus on saving all three of the girls. And I need to focus on keeping you safe too."
She threw aside her own umbrella suddenly, grabbed my blazer and buried her face in my chest. Fortunately, no one else was around to see this. I put the umbrella over us and put my free hand on her head. "Josiah…I…" she couldn't get out what she wanted to say, just buried her face deeper, almost like she wanted to hide herself in me.
"Monika, even if the script is superseding your coding control, are you going down without a fight? Are WE going down without a fight?"
She looked up at me, sniffling. I took out Meiji's handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. She looked away, almost embarrassed. "No…I know we aren't, but-"
I put a finger to her lips. "Then don't. This isn't the Monika I know. The Monika I know would never give up. She's not the type to let some silly script stand in her way."
She looked thoughtful for a bit, then smiled. "You're right. You're absolutely right. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry about how you're feeling. I'm scared too. We'll make it through this somehow." I didn't know what I was saying, only that I hated seeing Monika this upset. "Now let's get to school."
The two of us walked in silence. As we walked, I pulled out my phone and began playing another song. Monika perked up as I began to sing again.
"I walk the maze of moments,
but anywhere I turn to
begins a new beginning,
but never finds a finish.
I walk to the horizon,
and there I find another.
It all seems so surprising
and then I find that I know…
"You go there you're gone forever,
I go there I'll lose my way.
If we stay here, we're not together,
anywhere is…
"The moon upon the ocean
is swept around in motion,
but without ever knowing
the reason for its flowing.
In motion on the ocean,
the moon still keeps on moving,
the waves still keep on waving,
and I still keep on going…
"You go there you're gone forever,
I go there I'll lose my way.
If we stay here, we're not together,
anywhere is…
"I wonder if the stars sign
the life that is to be mine,
and would they let their light shine
enough for me to follow?
I look up to the heavens,
but night has clouded over.
No spark of constellation,
no Vela no Orion…
"The shells upon the warm sands
have taken from their own lands
the echo of their story,
but all I hear are low sounds.
As pillow words are weaving
and willow waves are leaving,
but should I be believing
that I am only dreaming…
"You go there you're gone forever,
I go there I'll lose my way.
If we stay here, we're not together,
anywhere is…
"To leave the tread of all time
and let it make a dark line,
in hopes that I can still find
the way back to the moment.
I took the turn and turned to
begin a new beginning.
Still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish.
It's either this or that way,
it's one way or the other.
It should be one direction,
it could be on reflection.
The turn I have just taken,
the turn that I was making.
I might be just beginning;
I might be near the end."
Monika smiled. "You chose that song for a reason, didn't you?" she asked.
"You caught me," I said.
"Where do you find all these songs?" she asked, moving a bit closer so our umbrellas were overlapping.
"Some were songs my parents like and so they passed that love onto me, others I found on my own. I'll give you a flashdrive of my music library later."
"I'd like that," Monika said.
We approached the school gates. By this time, other students were walking down the road to school with us. I got a few confused stairs from people, and someone even asked where Sayori was. "She's not feeling well today," I replied.
"That ball of sunshine?" the student asked confused.
"Hey, even balls of sunshine need their days to rest," I said, walking through the gates and towards the school's entrance.
"Thank you again for the walk, Josiah," Monika said softly. "I'll see you in the clubroom."
"Sounds good. See you then."
We put our umbrellas away, then we each went to our shoe lockers. The moment I opened it, I noticed a bunch of letters had been stuffed in. I quickly retrieved them, put them in the bag, put slippers on and headed to my class.
Wonder what those letters are, Meiji said, sounding worried.
Could be threats, could be thank you letters, could be both, I said as I entered the classroom.
Kozue looked up at me and motioned me over hurriedly. "Get over here," she said softly. "You're in big trouble."
"I guess that explains these," I said, opening my bag and showing her all the letters.
Her eyes widened. "What the hell…?"
"You're telling me," I said, grabbing a random one and opening it. "This one says…thank you?" I raised an eyebrow. "So…are the others the same?"
"What's going on?" Sayonika had walked up and was looking at us curiously.
"Ah, long story," I said.
"I heard about what happened yesterday," Sayonika said, her face falling. "Are you alright?"
I indicated my injuries. "These? 'Tis but a flesh wound," I said jokingly, but the serious faces of both girls caused me to sigh. "They look worse than they feel. I'll be fine."
"Yae didn't show up today," Kozue said.
"Good thing for small favors," I said as I finished putting the letters away in my bag. "Let's hope she gets help."
"Help…? She needs to go to jail, that loser," Kozue said.
I frowned. "No, what she needs is counseling. She's obviously got some problems and she's taking her frustration out on everyone."
Sayonika smiled. "You're a good person. By the way, it's raining, so could we cash in that rain check for lunch?"
I laughed. "Clever. Yes, I don't have any lunch plans."
"Perfect, so the three of us can spend lunch together?" Sayonika asked.
"I don't see why not," I said. At that moment the teacher walked in and class started.
Wonder what they want to talk about? Meiji asked as I began taking notes.
We won't know until lunch, I guess, I said.
For the next few hours, all I did was take notes, allowing the worries of the past couple of days to melt away as I focused on the drudgery that was schoolwork. When the bell rang, I stood and grabbed Meiji's wallet. Kozue stood as well, grabbing a small bento box. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"The cafeteria. I don't have a lunch with me," I said.
"Then let's go together!" Sayonika said, walking up with her own bento box in hand.
At that moment, the classroom door opened. Monika stood in the doorway, smiling at me. "Hey Meiji, wanna eat lunch together again?" she asked. However, she looked at the two girls on either side of me and her face fell. "Oh, um…"
"Hey, you can join us if you want!" Sayonika said cheerily. "I just was hoping to get to know Meiji a bit more."
Monika's somber expression lifted a bit. "Are you sure?"
I smiled. "Sure, I'd love it if you came along. Hell, maybe you can get these two to join the literature club!"
Kozue rolled her eyes but said nothing. Monika raised an eyebrow. "Hey, not a bad idea, Meiji," she said. "I'm always looking for new people to join."
"Let's go then," I said, smiling at Meiji's fellow classmates.
We headed to the cafeteria. Once again, I got the chicken curry with rice. I was definitely growing addicted to the dish, but I couldn't help it. It was delicious. Monika once again got the vegetarian bento. Kozue and Fujiwara found a seat near a window and each sat. As Monika and I waited, she leaned over. "What do those two want with you?"
"I don't know, get to know me better? Kozue's acting like she's got a crush on me, and Sayonika's pretty much the responsible but friendly class rep anime cliché. Sakura Academy is certainly living up to its name."
She looked away. "Do we really need to be involving them? We'd only be putting them in danger too."
"They're the ones who approached me," I said. "I can only guess why. Monika, I know you're worried and jealous, but don't be. If either of them want to join the Literature Club, we'll just tell them they can join after the festival because we're busy with our preparations. They should understand."
Monika frowned and looked down. "I guess that'll work."
"It'll work. Trust me, okay?"
She smiled uncertainly at me. "Okay, I trust you."
Once we got our food, we went over to where the other girls had settled down. Sayonika was telling Kozue something in her cheery voice, while Kozue was listening silently, eating a sandwich. Once the two of us returned, Sayonika stopped talking. "Ah, Meiji, Asano-san! I was just telling Tani-san here about the time my uncle's old cow was chased around the farm by a cat, A cat!" Sayonika dissolved into a fit of giggles.
"Cow?" Monika asked as we both sat. "Fujiwara-san, are you a farmer?"
"Me? No, my aunt and uncle are though and as a kid we used to visit every summer," she explained as she took a bite of her meal. "And call me Sayonika!"
"A farmer girl…great…" Kozue said, poking at her meal with her chopsticks.
"Kozue? Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said. I could tell she was lying, though. I decided not to press the matter.
"So, I forgot to ask," I said, "but are you two in any clubs?" Monika tensed up a bit.
"I'm in the Art Club," Sayonika said. "But…it's getting way too stuffy for me." She then turned to Monika. "Know what I mean?"
Monika looked confused, then realization dawned on her. "Club politics?"
"Exactly!" Sayonika took a large gulp of her water. "Our president and vice president are always butting heads. All I want is a place where I can enjoy the things I love. I would create another art club, but that would be impossible."
"What else do you enjoy?" Monika asked.
"Oh, lots of things! Botany is a big one. Also, I love to write and read." She looked up sheepishly at Monika. "Which is why I'm glad you're here. I was hoping…to join your club. I asked Meiji here to talk to me because…well…"
I held up my hand. "You wanted me to ask Monika, right?"
"I'm sorry! That wasn't the only reason I wanted to talk to you," Sayonika said apologetically, bowing low. "I just figured that since you two are so close and all, that it'd be easier to talk to you."
Real boost to the self-esteem there.
Oh hush. She's not like that and you know it.
"Whoa whoa, it's okay. I understand," I said. "But actually, we're not accepting club applications right now. Right madame president?"
Monika, looking a bit out of her depth, quickly shook her head. "Um…well, yeah unfortunately. Not this week anyway. We're busy planning for our club's role in the festival, but when the festival is over, we can definitely accept new members." She put on her confident club president façade again.
Sayonika smiled. "That's fine with me. So, what do you do in the club?"
Monika smiled. "A lot actually. We read books, discuss them, write poems, but for the most part we do our own thing. Yuri is the biggest reader out of everyone. Natsuki reads manga, Sayori does what she feels like, which lately has been writing her own poems."
I saw Kozue perk up. "Manga? You read manga in the clubroom?"
"Why not? It's just as much literature as a novel," Sayonika said. "Right Asano-san?"
"R-Right," Monika said. "And you can call me Monika too…"
Hmm…something about Sayonika seems to be putting Monika off.
Jealousy?
That might be part of it…but there's something else going on…
"The vice-president is actually my childhood friend Sayori," I chimed in. "She's pretty amazing in her own right. Always cheerful, looking out for her club members, a real asset."
"Damn right she is," Monika said.
Heh, she's getting used to swearing.
Is that a good thing?
It just means she's letting loose and trying to enjoy life more.
Alright…
"I've seen her around," Sayonika said. "She's a lovely cheerful girl. Man, I can't wait to be a part of that club."
Kozue looked a bit bored. I leaned over to her. "Hey, you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, just spacing out…"
"If this is boring for you, we can talk about something else," Sayonika said.
"No, it's cool," she said.
Suddenly remembering how she'd perked up at the mention of manga like Natsuki had, I cleared my throat. "Kozue, you read manga, right?"
Kozue looked up at me sharply, almost defensively. "No…why would I read such childish stuff?"
"There's nothing wrong with reading manga," I said. "I like it, and there's a member of my club who enjoys it. And besides, no one at this table is gonna laugh at you for liking something like that."
Kozue, clearly embarrassed, just sighed and rolled her eyes. "You say that now…but after Monday, how can I be sure?"
"Because Meiji's not like that!" Sayonika blurted out. "He's a good guy, he'd never do that."
"I can vouch for that too," Monika added with a smile. "From what his friend Sayori's told me, he might tease you, but he would never betray trust placed in him."
I'm beginning to like Sayonika more and more, but not how I like Sayori. I guess she reminds me of Sayori in a way, Meiji said.
Funny, she reminds me of Monika in a way, I replied. But yes, Sayonika is a kind girl.
"I would never tease you publicly about your likes and dislikes," I said.
"But you would in private," Kozue grumbled.
"I tease people I consider my friends unless they make it clear they don't like it," I said. "And I'd definitely not tease you about a love of manga. I get it, it's difficult to talk about your love of something people say is childish, but I've recently learned to say 'Fuck the haters' and I'm not going to hide my love of anime, games, manga and anything nerdy from anyone."
The girls were looking at me, Monika with a look of pride and Kozue and Sayonika with an astonished look. Sayonika was the first to speak. "Wow…that's so cool of you, Meiji!"
I grinned and bowed. "Thanks."
"That…doesn't really sound like you at all," Kozue said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"Maybe my snapping at you on Monday helped clear my head of all the cobwebs," I shrugged.
Kozue looked away, a look of shame on her face. "Yeah…"
I immediately felt bad. I didn't want to make her any more upset, after all. "Kozue, I didn't mean to make you remember that. You've done a lot to make up for all you've done."
Hey Meiji, what do you think? Is she worthy of forgiveness? I asked.
As Kozue looked up at me with an almost expectant look, Meiji replied, I…maybe, yeah. I'm not too sure, but her actions lately have been very encouraging.
I get that.
"Does…that mean…?" Kozue began, but I held up my hand.
"You're getting there," I said in as kind a voice as I could. "Just give me and Sayori more time. She may forgive you fully before me, but I expect that I'll be able to completely forgive you very soon."
Kozue looked down and looked like she was trying to suppress something, I couldn't tell what though. "A-Alright."
"Good. So, Sayonika," I said, turning my attention to the expectant looking teen, "You said you like reading and writing? What do you like to read and write?"
"I'm curious too," Monika said, looking just as expectantly at Sayonika.
"Ahaha, well you might find this a bit strange," she said as she fiddled with her fingers a bit, "but I'm into two pretty different genres. For one, I enjoy happy stories that have dashes of sadness in them. Um, what else…oh yeah! Stories that lead you to believe that one thing is going to happen, but it goes a different direction. Subversive I think is the genre."
"That's one of my favorites too," Monika said, her eyes wide with excitement. "A couple of my favorite stories are Brave New World and The Handmaid's Tale."
"I love those two!" Sayonika said with a wide smile. "Did we just become besties for resties?"
I chuckled. That sounds like such a Sayori-ism.
She's said that before, actually, Meiji said.
Not surprised.
Monika smiled. "Haha, sure thing, Sayonika! So, what do you write? Poems? Short stories?"
"I dabble in a bit of both. Right now, I'm more into poetry than anything else. I've been working on a poem this week, actually! It's not ready for viewing yet, but I'll definitely show the club when it's done."
"We'd love to see it," Monika said.
Sayonika beamed. "Yay!"
I turned to Kozue. "What about you? Would you be interested in joining our club sometime?" Monika and Sayonika turned to her as well, looking curious.
Kozue, startled by my sudden question, looked a bit flustered. "M-Me?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, I mean you read manga, so you'd definitely get along with Natsuki, at the very least."
She looked away. "I…I'm not much of a bookworm like your nerdy bookish friend."
"Don't worry too much about that," I said. "It's not completely about the literature. It's about expanding your mind and enjoying a place where you can read and write in peace. It's a laid back club."
Monika nodded. "True. Besides, the club could use new members with different and unique perspectives."
Kozue still refused to look any of us in the eyes. She still looked very guilt ridden. "I don't know…"
I cleared my throat. "There's no pressure. Besides, that could be your chance to make it up to Sayori. And me."
She flinched. "Y-You think so?"
Sayonika spoke up. "Kozue, sweetie, you've grown a lot this past week. I'm sure Meiji would be closer to forgiving you if you joined."
Kozue looked up at me curiously. "W-Would you?"
"You've done a lot to redeem yourself this past week," I said. "I'm sure Sayori's looking for a reason to forgive you. She's the most forgiving person I know."
"I-I'll think about it." Kozue looked down, but I swore I saw a small smile on her face. Her cheeks flushed as well. I really hoped that didn't mean what I thought it meant.
Merry Late Christmas and Happy Early New Year everyone! I know this chapter is a bit shorter than most, but I wanted to update this and found a stopping place in the chapter I liked. So enjoy this!
morbiusgreen