Chapter 61: The Truth Hurts
Waiting alone at a nearby park on the other side of town. The sun setting as everyone around leaves for home.
Natsuki: (What's taking her so long? I ain't got all day.) She thinks to herself as she taps her foot. (Maybe I should have asked her tomorrow instead, but this is something I need to get off my chest right now. Can't concentrate on my work with these thoughts in my head and I know she's feeling the same way.)
Yuri: "Oh there you are." Natsuki notices her walking towards her.
Natsuki: "You're late."
Yuri: "I'm sorry, when you called I was in the middle of stitching and I couldn't find a good place to stop."
Natsuki: "Ah whatever."
Yuri: "Is there something on your mind? You called me for a meeting when you could've told me over the phone?"
Natsuki: "I know, but this is something I need to ask you in person. Considering you'll just hang up when I ask."
Yuri: "Hm?"
Natsuki: "I don't mean to be nosy and all, but I overheard your talk with Monika."
Yuri: (So bluntly.) "Y-you did?"
Natsuki: "Yeah, I heard it all."
Yuri: "O-oh w-well you see … we were …"
Natsuki: "Don't even bother trying to hide it. I know you two like him as well."
Yuri: "As well?"
Natsuki: "Just tell me the truth. Are you really fine with all this?"
Yuri: "… Whatever do you mean?"
Natsuki: "I mean are you fine letting him go!? You may have told Monika you're fine with it, but I know for damn sure you're just lying to yourself and her."
Yuri: "Natsuki it's very rude to assume how I feel. If you had heard then what I said is the truth."
Natsuki: "Bullshit!"
Yuri: "Natsuki, it's not very polite to ask me these questions. I told Monika how I felt and I am completely okay with her dating Michael."
Natsuki: "So you're just going to let him go? Just like that?"
Yuri: "Indeed. I may feel hurt, but seeing him happy is all I care for."
Natsuki: "And what if he likes you? Have you ever thought about how he feels?"
Yuri: "W-what do you mean by that? O-of course I know how he feels. You and I both saw what he's been through."
Natsuki: "No you don't."
Yuri: "I don't? How would you know?"
Natsuki: "Because I've seen him grow."
Yuri: "Saw him grow?"
Natsuki: "Let me ask you this? If I was to tell you I had feelings for him, would you let me have him?"
Yuri: "What?"
Natsuki: "If I was to tell you that I like him, would you do the same for me as you did for Monika? Letting me have him?
Yuri: "… I …"
Natsuki: "Can't answer that? Then what if Sayori did, would you let her? What does Monika have that we don't? Why let her have him and we can't?"
Yuri: "That's not it Natsuki. I would let you or Sayori take him."
Natsuki: "And what if we all confessed that we like him? Who would you support?"
Yuri: "Th-that's …"
Natsuki: "What if he chose to be with Sara again? Then what would you do?"
Yuri: "Eh?"
Natsuki: "If he was to be with Sara again, what would you …"
Yuri: "Never"
Natsuki: "Never?"
Yuri: "I would never let him be with someone like her. Someone who always hurts him, who always talk down on him. I could never let someone like her take him."
Natsuki: "Then let me ask you another question again. What if he loves you? What then?"
Yuri: "I … I don't know?"
Natsuki: "If you're going to let him go and let him be with someone else. You owe it to yourself to tell him how you feel. With your own voice."
Yuri: "How I feel with my own voice?" She starts thinking about him.
Natsuki: "At least confess to him and hear from his own voice. After that then you can let him go if he doesn't reciprocate to your feelings. That's all I want to tell you. I won't bring it up anymore, but you owe it to yourself and him." She turns away to head home.
Yuri: "Natsuki" She turns to face her again. "Why, why are you helping me all of a sudden?"
Natsuki: "You really are dumb sometimes. I'm just looking out for my old friend."
Yuri: "Friend?"
Natsuki: "You need to have more confidence in yourself." She turns her head away.
Yuri: "H-how are you this mature?" She asks nervously as Natsuki smirks.
Natsuki: "Easy, I just grew up and I have you guys." She says before leaving the park.
Yuri: "She grew?" (I see, that's what she meant. She used to be so moody back then, but after Michael showed up, she's grown to be a better person. Perhaps I can grow as well, but … I made a promise to Monika that I would support her. No she's right. He does have the right to know how I feel. I can't concentrate on my work until I have closure. Only then can I truly let him go.) "I know what I must do now. It's time to get back to work. I don't want to let the club down again." She smiles softly before leaving as the sun sets.
The next day after their conversation, everyone gathered at the club.
Natsuki: "Seriously, he's not here again?" She says annoyingly.
Sayori: "Fraid so."
Natsuki: "The hell is he up to? He knows how important this is right?"
Sayori: "I know, but …"
Natsuki: "Not to mention it was his idea to do the Poetry Performance again."
Sayori: "Well I'm sure he has his reasons, but right now he's feeling ill."
Natsuki: "Ill? Yeah right."
Sayori: "Come on Natsuki don't be like that. He's sick what can he do?"
Natsuki: "You're the problem too."
Sayori: "What me?"
Natsuki: "Shouldn't you have stayed to keep watch?"
Sayori: "I did, I tried to but MC kept insisting that I attend school and to help you guys with preparations."
Natsuki: "Ga!"
Yuri: "May I ask what's going on?"
Sayori: "Oh hey Yuri. It's nothing really, just telling Natsuki that MC is sick."
Yuri: "He is?"
Sayori: "Yeah"
Yuri: "Then perhaps you should get going?"
Sayori: "That's real nice of you, but MC told me to stay and help. Since we got a lot of work to do."
Yuri: "I see." Dead silence.
Natsuki: "So has anyone seen Monika yet? We can't really start until she's here."
Sayori: "Wonder what's taking her so long?"
Yuri: "W-well she's always busy so maybe she lost track of time?"
Sayori: "Maybe? Well it's best that we start working now. You two can start getting to work on those decorations, I'll go look for Monika so we can work on the pamphlets."
Natsuki: "Yeah sounds like a plan. Way to go Vice President." She says sarcastically.
Sayori: "Hey you meanie!"
Yuri: (Wonder if he'll be okay? I thought that maybe today I could tell him how I really feel, but it would seem destiny had other plans? Now what am I going to do?)
Natsuki: "…" She looks over to Yuri with a worried expression.
In the meantime, while Sayori goes out looking for Monika. On the other side of town. Walking down the streets on his crutches. Michael makes his way to Sara's place again. With him lying to Sayori about feeling ill, he hoped that he could return home before she gets back. He could've stayed home and played his part, but a part of him needed that fix he's been craving.
After Sayori left home he took the time to get ready for his trip to Sara's place, but before he left he felt that he should at least work on his poem. Despite that he still wasn't sure what to do? The choices Sara gave him. Stay with the club or leave it to be with her. In the end he was still undecisive. However as he walks down the streets he thinks carefully on what he wants in life.
The bonds he made with the Literature Club or the pleasure from Sara, as he thinks about his two choices old memories start to erupt. The abuse he felt from her and the gentle touch of his friends. In the end his thoughts came to an end when he arrived to her place. An old looking building still livable with a few cracks with some grass as the rest dies off. Walking to the front door he knocked only to be greeted in a way he didn't suspect.
Sara: "Welcome back lover. Hope you're ready for our time alone?" She says with a seductive smile as Michael looks to her revealing outfit. "Come on in, my parents aren't home."
Michael: "… R-right." He says as he enters her house.
Meanwhile back at school.
Sayori: "Where could she be?" She looks to her phone with zero messages. (I told the others to call if Monika showed up, but nothing. What's taking her so long?)
Zackary: "You're still here on school grounds?" She looks behind herself to see a boy with brown hair and mint green eyes behind a pair of glasses.
Sayori: "Uh?"
Zackary: "Classes are over, so you don't have to be here any longer you know?"
Sayori: "I know, I'm here for my club."
Zackary: "And that club would be?"
Sayori: "The Literature Club. I'm Sayori the Vice President."
Zackary: "Ah yes the Literature Club. I heard lots about that from Monika."
Sayori: "You know Monika?"
Zackary: "Of course I do, but right now I have more concerning matters to ask, like why are you out here instead of the club room?"
Sayori: "Oh well you see, Monika hasn't shown up to the club yet and we started to get worried. She's late sometimes, but she's never too late and today it seemed off for her to be this late to the club."
Zackary: "Oh I see now, so that's why you're out here in the halls instead of being in the club room." Sayori nods. "Well if you're looking for her then she's most like in her secret room?"
Sayori: "Secret room?"
Zackary: "It's up on the last floor near the end of the hall. That's where you can find her."
Sayori: (Wait in the same floor as our club room?)
Zackary: "Well I'll let you be."
Sayori: "Wait! How do you know where she is and not only that, but aren't you worried about how she'll react?"
Zackary: "Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll be fine if it's just one of her friends." He says before turning away to leave.
Sayori: "Ah, thank you for your help!" Zackary doesn't look back, but gives her a peace sign as he continues walking away. (Ok! Last floor where our club is, near the end of the hallway.) She thinks to herself before heading out. Arriving to the last floor of the school. "Let's see … it should be around here? Huh?" She hears someone singing along with the melody of a piano.
Following the melody, she came across the last room as Zackary said. Slowly opening the door she saw Monika playing the piano singing. Singing so beautifully yet so hurt? Sayori wasn't sure why, but the tone in her voice sounded like she was in pain. Like her heart is bleeding and doesn't want to show it. Hearing her voice drove Sayori closer. When she step a foot closer and door made a creaking sound.
Monika: *Gasp!*
Sayori: "Oh … sorry."
Monika: "Sayori, how did you find me?"
Sayori: "I had help finding you. It's time for the club." Monika looks to the clock and realized that she's thirty minutes late to the club meeting. "Are you ok?"
Monika: "I … I am. Sorry to worry you and the others. I lost track of time."
Sayori: "I could see that, but …"
Monika: "What's wrong?"
Sayori: "It's nothing. Come on we should head to the club. Yuri and Natsuki are working on the decorations and we still have to finish the pamphlets."
Monika: "Right, just let me get my stuff and I'll head out."
Sayori: "Ok, also it's just going t be us four again." Monika's eyes widen when she heard that. "MC felt a bit sick, so he's at home right now."
Monika: "I see, well I hope he gets better before the Festival."
Sayori: "Don't worry. As long as he gets plenty of rest I'm sure he'll be just fine."
Monika: "I hope you're right." (Still doesn't want to see me?) She finishes packing up. "Alright I'm all set so let's get back to work."
Sayori: "Ok!"
[Supernatural by Daughtry]
Later on at the club.
Monika: "Okay, I managed to get copies of the pamphlets we're going to need from the school libraries printing machine. All we have to do now is decorate them."
Sayori: "Ok, I'm on it."
Monika: "Yuri, Natsuki, how are the decorations coming along?"
Natsuki: "The main banner is good to go. We just need to make the curtains now." She shows off the main banner. The banner was black with white paint displaying The Literature Club on the center of it. The edges were covered with gold stars and different color jewels; Blue, Pink, Purple, and Green all around the logo of the club.
Monika: "Wow it looks beautiful."
Natsuki: "Eh it's alright." Monika smiles hearing her response, even though it wasn't the response she wanted to hear.
Monika: "And what about the curtains?"
Yuri: "I took the initiative of working on them during the weekend. We should be done tomorrow."
Monika: "That's good to hear. At this rate we should be done in no time."
Sayori: "Heh, not bad for just us four, am I right?"
Natsuki: "Hmph! We would've been done sooner if Michael was here." She crosses her arms.
Monika: "I know what you mean, but he's sick. Nothing we can do."
Natsuki: "Hmph! Talk about convenience."
Yuri: "…" (Perhaps it's a bad time, but I need to do this as soon as possible. I can't afford to be distracted during the performance.)
Natsuki: "…" (Honestly these two.) *Sigh* (Where are you Michael? You've been avoiding us for almost a week now?)
Later on after completing a huge amount of work.
Monika: "Well I believe it's time to call it a day."
Sayori: *Yawn* "Man I sure am tired."
Natsuki: "We got a lot done though."
Sayori: "So true, but we still have lots to do."
Yuri: "Indeed …"
Monika: "It's time we call it a day. I hope you all get plenty of rest, we still got plenty of work to do."
Everyone Else: "Yes Mam!" They packed up their belongings.
Yuri: "S-Sayori"
Sayori: "Hm? Oh hey what's up?"
Yuri: "Will you be attending Michael when you get home?"
Sayori: "Sure am. Got to make sure he's heathy so he can help us out."
Yuri: "I-I see … Um … I-if it's okay with you, m-may I also offer aid to you?"
Sayori: "You want to help out too?" Yuri nods shyly. "Ok! You can help with the cooking."
Yuri: "V-very well. Though I must say I'm not the best at cooking, but I can assure that my skills are edible."
Sayori: "Cool then let's get going." She turns to Monika and Natsuki. "I'll see you two tomorrow."
Monika: "Bye and take care."
Natsuki: "Later"
Sayori: "Come on let's get going." She leads the way.
Yuri: "Y-yes" She follows soon after.
Monika: (Yuri walking with Sayori? You don't see that every day. She most likely wants to check up on Michael. Maybe I should've went instead … No it's best that I don't.)
Natsuki: "I'm a head out now." Monika snaps out of it.
Monika: "Uh yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."
Natsuki: "Yeah later." She leaves the club room.
Monika: (Alone once again. What else is new? Best to stop complaining and head home.)
Walking down the streets as the sun begins to settle.
Sayori: "You know, you and I never walked alone together like this before? We should do it more often."
Yuri: "W-well we do live on opposite sides of town. That's the main reason we don't normally walk home together."
Sayori: "Eh true enough. We're here." She opens the front gate and enters.
[Song Ends]
Yuri: (It's been awhile since I've been here? I can't remember the last time I was here.) Both enter the house.
Sayori: "We're here MC!" She shouts so he could hear her from upstairs.
Yuri: "He's not here?"
Sayori: "He's most likely upstairs? Come on, follow me." They both head upstairs. "MC?" She knocks before entering. "MC?" She sees nothing but an empty bed. "MC?"
Yuri: "Is he perhaps in the restroom?" Sayori does what Yuri suggested and knocked on the bathroom door.
Sayori: "MC, it's us?" Nothing. "MC!" She opens the door and found no one inside.
Yuri: "W-what's wrong?"
Sayori: "I can't find MC again!" She runs out his room and goes searching for him all around the house. "No! It's like Mr. Whiskers again!"
Yuri: "Who?"
Sayori: "This is bad, where could he have gone this time?"
Yuri: "Sayori, may I suggest messaging him?"
Sayori: "Ah!" She snaps her fingers to her idea.
Yuri: "I now see what he means by you."
Sayori: "Ah …"
Yuri: "What's the matter?"
Sayori: "He already texted me that he's feeling a lot better and needed some air. He messaged me thirty minute ago. Well crud." She gives Yuri the goofiest expression ever.
Yuri: "Sayori … I just keep learning new things about you."
Sayori: "I'm sorry!"
While all that occurs. On the others die of town again. Sitting alone at the park.
Michael: *Sigh* (I hope Sayori doesn't freak out again. This gag is already getting old.) He looks up at the now orange sky. (The wind is so calming and cool. I could easily fall asleep right now.)
Random Person: "Oh stop that it tickles."
Random Person 2: "Come on it's fun to tease you." The couple continues to flirt.
Michael: (Must be nice to be in love like that?)
"I'm in love with you."
*Sigh* (How am I going to face her now? She bared her soul to me and I did nothing to comfort her as she did for me. Maybe I should just quit the club? I haven't been showing up these past few days when they needed me. Instead I would just give them excuses. It's not fair to them that I haven't been pulling my weight. I'm the one who suggested we do the Poetry Performance again and yet I did nothing. Talk about a useless man. Should I even consider myself a man?)
He looks over to the horizon again. (I should head home now. It's getting late and I don't want to worry Sayori. She's already having enough problems putting up with a guy like me. A guy who want the abuse as it pleases him.)
Yuri: "Michael" His eyes widen when her heard her voice.
Michael: "Y-Yuri?" He turns to face her. (Did Sayori put a tracer on me?)
Yuri: "What brings you here?"
Michael: "I … What are you doing here?"
Yuri: "This park is nearby my house. I came by yours with Sayori earlier, but you weren't home."
Michael: "I-I see?" (How did this happen? What are the chances of this to happen? Why does life hate me so much to make me go through all this?)
Yuri: "When I heard you were ill I got worried."
Michael: "W-well you don't have to feel that way anymore. I'm all better as you can see."
Yuri: "But is it wrong for me to worry?"
Michael: "N-no, I guess you have a point?"
Yuri: "May I ask why you are all the way here? Wouldn't it be best if you were near your area?" He clears his throat.
Michael: "It's just nicer here. Am I not welcome here?"
Yuri: "No, but …"
Michael: "Well I'll be heading home now. I'll see you around." He gets off the bench he was sitting and grabbed his crutches.
Yuri: "Why have you been avoiding us?"
[Drown In You by Chris Daughtry]
He froze in place. "Did I do something wrong?"
Michael: "What, no you could never …"
Yuri: "Then why have you been avoiding us? I, I mean Monika is really worried and so is Sayori and Natsuki."
Michael: "I … I just haven't been feeling well."
Yuri: "That so?" She looks away from him.
Michael: "I'll be heading home now. Take care Yuri." He walks past her.
Yuri: "… I'm in love with you." He stops in place.
Michael: "What?" He quickly turns to her as the both of them face each other.
Yuri: "I'm in love with you. I always had since the day you cheered me up. I know it seems sudden. I wasn't sure my feelings at the time, but every time we read together. I grew to love you more and more. I love you so much that I'm willing to give up everything for you. Even if it means giving you up to someone else. If it would mean giving a better future."
Michael: "Yuri?"
"I'm in love with you and so is Yuri."
(So it is true what Monika said that night.)
Yuri: "For a long time I've been debating whether to tell you this or not. I wanted to confess to you my true feelings, but I could never do it, so I kept it to myself. I told Monika how I felt and to tell her that I won't pursue you. I wanted to help her get together with you because you deserve better."
"He deserves better than this."
"But I can't go on any further. I can't concentrate. I can't read, I can't eat, I can't do anything without thinking about you. I just … I just want to be with you, but I know we could never be together because you deserve so much more! After everything you've been through! I want what's best for you and you have the right to know how I feel. I just want to confess, to get it all out of my chest. To have closure."
(I did it. I can finally be in peace, but … why does it hurt so much? Why does my heart hurt so much like it's getting stabbed by a jagged knife? … I know, it because of what I kept doing to myself every day.)
Michael: "Yuri, I …"
Yuri: "You don't have to push yourself. I know you can't reciprocate my feelings. I'm okay really. I just wanted to get this off my chest. You don't have to worry about a girl like me. You can do so much better." She gives him a smile, but Michael could already see past that smile as she fights the urge to cry.
"Please take care on your way home. I hope to see you perform Friday." She walks away from him. (I … I don't want to face him any long than I should. It's too painful for me to handle.)
Michael: "Yuri I …" He chokes on his own words not know what to say to her. "Yuri … Monika" He clenches the handles of his crutches. "… it's the both of you who deserves better."
[Song Ends]
End of Chapter 61
