ACT ONE

SUNRISE

The piercing chirps of my alarm clock greet me to a rude (but routine) awakening. Groggily, I run my hands across my nightstand in search of my clock, finally grasping the plastic device. I squint through the darkness as I try to read the time.

7:01am. Monday.

I sigh, and toss my blankets aside as I prop myself up on my bed. I get up and start to stretch, gazing out the window of my bedroom. Sunrise begins to break through the gloomy clouds, washing away evidence of last night's rainstorm. I open my drawer and dig for my phone, the harsh glare almost blinding my frail eyes. I scroll through the notifications that built up overnight. Boring news reports, some kinda funny memes, same old same old...nothing terribly interesting.

I tap away to my music playlist, pulling up my select favorites. Soon a sweet but somber piano cover fills my ears as I walk into my small bathroom. I start to undress as I begin fiddling with the nozzles, turning them to just the right temperature. As I squirt a dollop of soap into my hair and begin to scrub, I take a moment to let the soothing hot water rush over me as I try to gain my thoughts for the day ahead.

Assuming she wakes up on time, I'll probably walk to school with Sayori, my bright-spirited, happy-go-lucky friend since our primary years. We've been relatively distant since the semester started, but in recent weeks we've been walking to school together just about every day in the mornings. She'll probably bug me again about joining a club (despite my repeated objections to the otherwise). Call me anti-social, but I cherish the little free time I have after school (which I admittedly use more for leisure instead off doing my schoolwork) and no club has ever felt important enough to me to give those couple of hours to myself up.

Plus, I know when Sayori tells me she wants to see me join a club, it's because she wants me to join her club, the 'Doki Doki Literature Club' (she didn't come up with the name). From what she's told me (other than that she's adopted the title of 'Vice-President'), she only has three other members excluding herself, and they've been struggling for a while to find new members (I wonder why that could be?)) Bless her sweet yet oblivious heart, but pouring out my feelings onto a piece of paper isn't exactly my forte. I especially don't want to make a fool of myself when my work doesn't hold up to others (work I'm not getting a credit for, nonetheless!).

I finish up with my shower and step out, a fluffy towel wrapped around my waist. I reach for another towel and begin to dry my damp black hair. I toss the towel aside as I dig into my closet for my pressed school uniform (a brown blazer, deep orange vest, white shirt and a red tie with blue jeans to match.) I grab my comb and start to style my hair, while also grabbing a toothbrush with my free hand. Compared to other schools, it's a pretty stylish look. I feel bad for those American students who have to wear just a polo and pants, how boring...

I rinse my mouth and head out the door, taking a final look in the mirror (handsome as ever, I jokingly say to myself). Almost tiptoeing, I quietly step downstairs as to not wake my parents. They work late in the day and don't come home till early 'am the next day, so these early hours are really the only time they have to sleep. I creep into the kitchen and look in the fridge for a quick snack before I leave.

Eggs? Too complex. Cereal? Cant stay for long. Smoothie? Too loud...aha! My eyes focus on a chocolate chip Rice Krispie bar. I grab the snack and slip it into my pocket. I head for the door and start making my way to the front gate. I glance down at my phone. 7:40. School starts at 8:45. A brisk 10 minute walk to the campus, then maybe finding a place to sit and hop back into this new manga I started reading. It was slow going at first, but now it seems things are finally about to pick u-

"Hi, Kazuma!"

"Gah!"

I almost fall flat on my butt, but I grab the fence for support. Standing in front of me is Sayori, her genuine smile beaming at me. She giggles at my clumsiness, not offering to help me up. I lurch forward and dust myself off. "Jeez, Sayori. Trying to give me a heart attack?"

She laughs. "Ehehe, don't be so dramatic, Kazuma! I'm sure those mangas you love give you far worse scares then I could." I roll my eyes and start walking towards the campus, Sayori right beside me.

"So how was your weekend, 'zuma?" I laugh a little. That dumb nickname she gave me when we were kids (all because she misheard my name on the attendance roster) has still stuck, all these years later.

"Oh, y'know. Usual stuff. Finished up some classwork, tried to start reading a new manga. Pretty dull. Yours?"

She pauses for a moment, carefully thinking of her choice of words.

"Eheh, just at home. You know how lazy I am." She says with a laugh. I nod in acknowledgement.

A car speeds by, and splashes up a large puddle on the road. Instinctively, I push myself and Sayori out of the way. The water splashes onto the sidewalk, leaving a dark streak on the pavement.

"You okay?" I say to Sayori. Sayori tries to squeak something, but her voice gets tangled. Her cheeks are blushing hard.

Confused, I glance down. My hands were sorta wrapped around her shoulders, but they were also a bit close to her...

I immediately pull away. "Sorry." I mutter. "Sorry."

Red still on her cheeks, she mutters out a quiet "I-its okay..." An awkward silence lingers for about a minute. Trying to break this awkward tension I unintentionally created,. I dig into my pocket and find the Rice Krispie bar. "So, um...you hungry? I got a present." She turns to me and looks at the bar. A smile breaks on her face. "Oooh! Gimme gimme gimme!" She says, trying to reach the bar I teasingly hold out of her reach. She playfully pounds my chest. "Meanie!"

"Okay! Here." I hand the bar to her, and in seconds she has it open and a chunk of it in her mouth.

"Sho' good!", She says through a full mouth, swallowing her bite. "Thank you, Kazuma."

"Well, friends have to look out for friends. Don't mention it." When I say this, Sayoris face kind of contorts into some unusual emotion I cant place. She nods, and continues eating the breakfast bar.

As we approach the school, the influx of students grows greater, the sounds of indistinct chatting getting louder. Seeing all the couples holding hands and walking together makes me feel slightly awkward, what with someone like Sayori at my side. We walk through the gates of the school, an expansive campus complete with its own koi pond and fully staffed cafe. I stroll through the halls of the school, passing by the endless doors of classrooms and eventually reach the entrance to the cafeteria. Sayori still trails behind me.

"So, have you thought about joining any clubs yet?" Sayori quips, tossing her wrapper in a trash bin. I ponder my response for a moment. "Well...I was thinking about joining the anime club, but I wasn't really sure." I say, a hint of unenthusiasm in my voice. Of course, I didn't really have any interest in joining. If an anime club is anything like how bad certain fan communities can get, then that is something I want no part in.

"Kazuma, you can't be serious! Don't you watch enough of that at home? Wouldn't you want to join a club that, y'know, expands your horizons? Makes you think a little?"

"Don't I think enough at school, Sayori?" I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I push through the doors into the cafe, where dozens of kids are scattered about the tables, eating their breakfast. I stroll to a row of vending machines and pull out my billfold.

"Not like that! But in a good way! Thinking without restriction. No grades or anything, just thinking for fun!"

Peering through the display filled with colorfully-packaged drinks and snacks, I eye my usual morning drink, a chilled coffee. I push a button and the machine gives a soft electric whir as it dispenses my beverage.

"You know, this club kinda sounds familiar." I respond. Sayori perks up. "Really?" I grab my drink from it's holder and start to open it. "Yeah, and I think I know someone who's in it, too. She's the vice president, I think?" A sly smile escapes my lips. Sayori gives me a look.

"Ooohkay, fine! You know me too well. It's the Literature Club."

"Sayori-"

Without warning, Sayori grabs me by my blazer and shakes me, almost making me spill my drink.

"Oh, plllleeeeassse Kazuma! Can you at least consider joining it? We're really desperate for another member, and we want at least one new person before the festival next week! " Sayori says, a trace of desperation in her voice.

I remember in primary school when Sayori would finish her cookie that she had at lunch time, then she would use that same voice to ask me over and over for my cookie until I just got annoyed and gave it to her. Well, her begging won't work this time. I pull my poker face. "Give me one good reason." She grins. "Actually, I can give you two! For one, one of our members baked a tray of cupcakes for our meeting today! They are some of the best I've ever tasted, you have to stop by for at least one!"

I think about it for a moment. I am a sucker for sweets and Sayori knows it, playing into my weaknesses like a lion does an injured antelope. Plus, Sayori knows a thing or two about good food, since she's constantly hungry. I guess one biite couldn't hurt...

My mind snaps back to reality. "And the other reason?"

"Oh, umm..." She does this cute tick she has where she taps both of her index fingers together. "I may have told our club leader I would get us a new club member by today?" She laughs awkwardly.

Hearing this, I almost choke on my coffee. "Sayori!" I say, exasperated. "Don't make promises you don't know if you can keep!"

She waves it off. "I don't need to sorry about that, because you are at least gonna stop by for a cupcake, riiiiight?" She says, leaning in slightly.

I think about my usual routine after school. Walk home, unwind, take a shower, then do nothing except read manga and do some classwork. About as exciting of a day as wet cardboard, so it's not like I have any other commitments that would stop me from going. Pllus, it'll make Sayori happy. And how can I say no to a face like that?

"Alright, Sayori. I'll go, as long as you meet me after final bell at my class to take me to where it iis."

Sayoris face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Really?! Ohhh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She squeals, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I can't help but blush, darting my eyes around. Nobody seemed to notice.

The bell rings, signifying the start of first period. I say goodbye to Sayori, who happily strolls off in the opposite direction. I walk back outside and take another sip of my drink, the smells of the morning dew flooding my nostrils. My thoughts linger back to Sayori and the Literature Club. Would I really be happy spending upwards of an hour after school at a writing club? I mean at least it might help me improve my skills, and in turn help my grade in class.

'And I'm doing this all for a cupcake', I think with a laugh.

I mingle with the crowd of students, trying to reach my class. I walk along the cafeteria and head inside the main building, walking up the stairs. I let out a long, quiet sigh. Another boring day awaits. I don't share any classes with Sayori, which are mostly filled with a bunch of random students with a few other boys that fit the title of 'acquaintance' rather than 'friend'. Maybe joining Sayoris club will give me a group of people I can actually consider my friends, literature fans or not.

Or, perhaps, something more?

I guzzle the remainder of my drink and toss the can into a recycling bin, checking my phone one last time before turning it off (phone usage in class is strictly forbidden and getting caught results in having it confiscated and a hefty fine to go with it). I hastily shove my phone into my bag.

Sigh. Calculus. My favorite.

I step inside the class.