I walk into the club, anticipating a hubbub of conversation… and am instead greeted by silence.

Yuri notices me, but being shy and a tad upset about the library earlier, looks back at her book quickly. Sayori has headphones on and is bopping her head to something. I wonder what she's listening t-

"HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL STAR, GET YOUR SHOW ON, GO PLAY! HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL STAR, GET YOUR SHOW ON, GET PAID!"

Yuri leapt out of her skin. "Sayori, what the Hell was that?"

Sayori pressed her fingers together, and looked away guiltily. "Ehehe, I'm uh, I like the chorus."

"So I gathered, but you don't have to inform those in Switzerland of that, you know. Maybe turn it down a notch next time, or we'll get noise complaints.", I note.

"Oh you're here now! Hi Makoto!"

"Salutations, Sayori. Looks like you're in a good mood today."

"Ehehe… I'm still not used to you being in the club, that's all."

"Huh. That's a pretty simple thing to get you into a good mood. I suppose finding joy in the simple things in life isn't unusual, maybe stuff like this is just your form of, say, comfort foods."

Sayori blinked at me. "That was uh… Unusually thoughtful of you. I feel weirdly like I'd normally have been insulted there… I can almost even remember you making fun of me here..."

Okay, she's remembering what the MC would normally do. I should probably tell Monika about that. Eh, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

"Hey, if you're feeling in a thoughtful mood, wanna come with me to buy some snacks? I'm kinda hungry..."

"No thanks, I'm not your personal credit card."

"Wh-What? I just wanted some company, you meanie!"

"Then I don't suppose you'd mind demonstrating that you do in fact have the cash for the food on you?"

"Th-That's private information Makoto. For shame! Stick your nose out of my finances."

"I'll do so the second your nose gets out of my wallet."

I grab her bag, and open it up. I pull out the coin purse, and shake the coins out onto the desk. A pathetic sum, she couldn't buy a thing with this.

"H-How did you know?"

"Why it's elementary dear Watson! Based on trigonometric measurements between here, Mt Fuji, and the moon, some carbon testing, 6 years in a North Korean prison, and a beaver with reindeer antler glued to its head-"

"You know what I'm just going to move on."

"Fair enough."

Sayori, still ravenous, turned to Yuri.

"Hey Yuri, tell Makoto to lend me some money."

"Wh-What? That's- Don't get me involved like that, Sayori. Besides, you should only buy what you can responsibly afford, and frankly, after pulling a stunt like that, your suffering is fair enough retribution."

As she realised what she'd said, she suddenly began backpedalling.

"Ah - Did I just… I-I didn't mean that! I just got too absorbed in my book. Uu..."

"Ahaha! I really like when you speak your mind Yuri, it doesn't happen much but it's a fun side of you. And you're right, I did something bad, and now I must face the revolution."

"VIVA LA REVOLUTION! LET US OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT!"'

"God, Makoto, keep it down please, we're in a public building. And Sayori, it's retribution, not revolution."

"Yes, I must face my resurrection."

"That is also incorrect. And possibly blasphemous. Retribution."

"That."

"Have to say, Sayori, I'm surprised at you! Guess there's a little devil inside all of us, isn't there?"

"There is? Get it out of me, get it out, now!"

"... Sayori, Yuri was speaking metaphorically."

"Ah, metamorphism, my bad."

"... Okay fine then. But hey, Yuri, take it from me, her dastardly ways come as no shock. She got Natsuki to make the cupcakes before even telling me to join the club! Behind the sweet facade, lies a tricky snake!"

"Okay, I think that's a bit extreme-"

"A mafia leader in the making!"

"That's definitely over the top-"

"Joseph Stalin reborn!"

"Are you done yet?"

"Yes."

"B-But… I didn't think you'd join if we didn't have cupcakes… so I had to trick Natsuki into baking them."

"Sniff… you think so little of me..."

"Remind me, who was the one calling their childhood friend Stalin reborn?"

"Okay, that's fair."

"In any ca- KYAA!"

Out of nowhere, something smacks Sayori in the face, and lands on her desk.

"Ow… my nose… What was that- Ehh?"

Her face somehow actually becomes an OwO. It's honestly just disturbing and medically concerning. Yuri also recoils, alarmed.

"A COOKIE?"

Glancing around for where this cookie came from, and possibly for any local Cookie Monsters who could deprive her of her chocolate chipped goodies, she finds nothing.

"Is… Is this a miracle? Is it because I paid my restitution?"

"Retribution, Sayori."

"Actually, that one almost worked."

Natsuki then came into sight.

"Haha! I was just gonna give it to you, but then I heard you blabbing about cupcakes. Totally worth it to see your reaction."

"Sure, Natsuki, it was totally you and not the cookie gods."

"... You're aware there aren't cookie gods right?"

"Of course I am… Cough all hail the mighty cookies gods cough."

"That took like 4 seconds to say Sayori, you can't just say it in between repeating the word cough and expect us to not hear it."

"LALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING! Oh, but if it is you, thank you Natsuki, that was nice of you."

Sayori then began drawing ideas for a cookie god shrine, while happily munching the cookie up.

"Uh… Okay, that was weird. Well, hope you enjoy."

"I bit my tongue!" Sayori shouted excitedly.

"Why is that a good thing? Actually no, I'm not even going to ask. I can't think of any good reason to be excited about pain."

Yuri went white and ducked further under her book. Thankfully Natsuki did not notice. Instead, she was pulling out her own cookie.

A bit of drool appeared in the corner of Sayori's mouth. "H-hey Natsuki. Your cookie also looks really good, mind if I take a bite?"

"Jeez, Sayori. Beggars can't be choosers."

"But yours is chocolate."

"Why do you think I gave you that one?"

"Fine… still, thank you for the cookie.", Sayori said, hugging Natsuki.

"Ah geez… I get it, I get it, it's fine, please get off me."

As she tried to nudge Sayori off, cookie in hand, Sayori bit in.

"Mmm, delicious!"

"D-Did you just… WHAT THE HELL SAYORI?!"

"Uhuhu" Sayori chuckled, running off to safety.

"Dammit Sayori that was half of my foo- uh, I mean half of my cookie! Could ya have at least gone for a small bite? Cmon Monika, back me up here."

The enormous support of exactly no one backed her up.

"Monika? Where is she? Do any of you guys know where the hell Monika is?"

"I may have a suspicion," I note.

"Oh?"

"Well you see, there was a certain location in which she was born and raised, back then in the playgrounds is where she spent most of her days, until a couple of guys who were up to no good, started causing trouble in her neighbourhood. She got in one little fight, and her mum got scared and said "You're moving with your uncle and aunty in Bel air."."

"GOD DAMMIT MAKOTO NOT THE TIME!" Natsuki yelled.

"Monika got into a fight? And where is this Bel air location?" Yuri queried, clearly unaware.

Sayori lit up, and suddenly chanted.

"DRINKING ORANGE JUICE OUT OF A CHAMPAGNE GLASS AND SHE SAID TO THE CABBIE "YO HOMIE SMELL YA LATER!" AND-"

The door swung open.

"Sorry! I'm super sorry! And uh, did I miss something? Why is Sayori singing some bastardised version of Fresh Prince and GOD WHY IS SHE WEARING A CAPE WITH A COOKIE ON IT?"

I glance over. "She is? Oh. So she is. How did she even get that - you know what, forget it, I'll just accept that. In any case, it's a really long story."

"Somehow, I can believe that. Hope you guys weren't worried about me, I didn't mean to be late."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Does anyone ever intend to be late?"

"Hmm. It's more a turn of phrase, but I see your point. Although actually, I suppose there is such a thing as fashionably late."

"So what held you up anyway Monika?"

"Oh, well last period was study hall and to be honest I just lost track of the time, ahaha..."

Natsuki suddenly squinted, confused. "That makes no sense though. You would've at least heard the bell ring."

"Actually wait, that depends." I add. "Did you, after hearing the bell, take one more look and then develop total amnesia? I heard a song about that once."

"Ha ha Makoto, very funny, now's not the time."

"Amnesia's no joke Natsuki. Amnesia kills 69% of Americans every day."

"I- You know what, forget it. So are we going to read our poems or not?"

Monika, who had been looking progressively more and more uncomfortable about not being in charge of the conversation, looked up with glee. "Sure thing Natsuki! I've been looking forward to this!"

I decide to share poems with Sayori first. I notice that she is writing a cookie-themed prayer.

"Hey Sayori, can I see your poem?"

"Sure!" she shouted, at a sufficient volume to cause Yuri to wince a little. "I'd love to swap poems!"

To my surprise, on her sheet was a scroll wheel. Huh. Guess that wasn't just a UI thing for the player.

"Sayori, I get the sense you wrote your poem this morning. Poets rarely end their poems with "I want breakfast". Aside from Edgar Allan Poe, that is, who of course did so all the time."

"Ehehe, maybe a little bit I made it this morning. But hey, that's your fault for sleeping over! I had no time!"

Natsuki glanced over sharply, looking slightly hurt. "You slept over at her house?"

"You were eavesdropping?"

"... Fair point." she said, before returning her attention to Monika's poem.

"In any case, it's a nice poem! I liked it, it sounds just like you. Especially that last line."

"I made eggs and toast!"

"I know Sayori. I was there."

"Oh yeah… Why did I say that? Something feels off..."

"You've been praying to the cookie gods, you somehow brought a cookie-themed cape into existence -"

"Actually I had that on my person anyway."

"... As I was saying, with all that, now is when you finally feel like something unusual is going on."

"Yep. Ehehe. Well, I'll be sure to make the best poem ever for tomorrow!"

"That seems hyperbolic."

"You seem hippo ebola."

"That… Okay, I'll chat with you later then."

I then proceeded to show it to Monika, who seemed indifferent on it, Yuri, who liked it, and Natsuki, who decided to use it as a tissue. Which… for her may actually be a commendation.

"Okay then, seems we're all done with poetry! And Natsuki, for future reference, try not using all of our poems as tissues after reading them. I still hadn't shown mine to anyone else."

"I have a cold."

"One which mysterious vanishes when it stops being convenient."

Natsuki pursed her lips but decided against retort.

"In any case, I have something extra planned for today!"

I can sense Natsuki immediately grow wary. "Is this about the festival?"

"Well, sort of-"

"Urgh, do we have to? It's not like we can put anything decent together in just a few days. We'll just embarrass ourselves in front of the other students."

"That's a concern of mine as well, I don't do well with last minute preparations."

Natsuki looked at Yuri, surprised to find them sharing the same position. She looked a little bit like for the sake of contradicting Yuri she wanted to change her mind.

"Don't worry, we'll keep it simple. Nothing more than a few decorations. Sayori's done some work on posters, and I've got some pamphlets designed for the festival."

"Can we hire a clown?"

"No Makoto, we are not hiring a clown. What the hell does a clown have to do with literature?"

"Ask Stephen King."

"True. Okay, in any case, the plan is for us to perform our poems."

Yuri and Natsuki both look horrified.

"Shall we bring rotten tomatoes, or is it a "bring your own" deal?"

"Oh I wish I'd thought of that, that's clever..." Yuri mumbled.

"Yuri I swear to God why can't you be this likeable more often?"

"Well, there's a limited amount of time I can spend pandering to your ego."

"And there's the Yuri we all know and love."

"Urk… I-I didn't mean it that way."

"Look, I'm sorry, I should've run it by you first, I thought it was a good idea and forgot that you guys aren't used to public attention… I'm afraid we've already started hanging up posters advertising the opportunity to hear our poems or read their own poems if they so desire."

"Well, it's not a bad idea… Fine, I guess we'll do it."

"Natsuki you don't speak for both of us."

"Do you intend to not perform?"

"...W-Well no, but it's the spirit of the matter."

"Cookies." Sayori interjected.

"Okay let's move on then. Of course, in order to prepare to perform at the festival, we'll need to practice in front of each other first."

"Wait what" Natsuki and Yuri stammer out simultaneously.

"Well obviously if you can't perform in front of the club you've no chance of being able to do so in front of a number of strangers. It's good practice."

Yuri turns a shade of white that puts snow to shame. "Oh God..."

"Hey, if it's any comfort, I can go first. That way, any rotten tomatoes will be used up before you end up on stage."

"Yeah, but so will all the bouquets of roses for your performance."

"... Yuri, it's just the five of us. None of us actually have either rotten tomatoes or flowers on us. Well, Sayori probably has the latter but that's beside the point. It was an attempt at humour."

"Ah. Say, this club meeting feels like it's been taking a long time."

"Yeah, it's really pushing the word count up. We'll have to split this into two distinct segments, at this rate."

"Wait split what into two distinct se-"