Chapter 70: Let's do something new
Sunday February 7. Intense breathing, sweat dropping. Left alone at home with no one around. Taking the opportunity to finally do it. Michael does some intense work out. Starting just yesterday, he thought to himself that he should start working out again as he felt weak compared to back then. Ever since winter break ended, no one has picked a fight with him. He found it odd that no one attempted to and thought to himself if they're just completely scared or maybe they just realize they can't beat him?
Either way with the time he has now, he spent a good majority of his time relaxing. However he felt that a lot could happen if he's not prepared and thus began training to maintain his physique and skills. After doing some warmups and intense workouts, he then decided to practice his punches. The way he struck almost looked like a professional boxer.
Not remembering how long it was the last time he did these workouts, he just shut off his thoughts and struck with his fists. However the more he punches the more he remembers his past. He tried to forget about it, but the adrenaline he felt brought back the nostalgia. As he continues to box he thinks to himself if he really needs to do this anymore? He no longer has the use for it other than self-defense and yet he felt he must sharpen his skills. After giving one last good punch he stops.
Michael: "Phew! Wow I'm sore as hell. Guess that proves I'm out of shape?" He clenches his hands. (How long has it been since I did my last training regime? It's been so long since he was arrested and … that reminds me. I haven't seen my friend's grave in a while now. I stopped seeing him after that time I ran away from the club after our indoor pool trip. I think Monika saw my eyes at the time too? Maybe I'll do that today. I promised myself not to look back, but to acknowledge it. I need to visit him. But first I need to shower.)
Later that very same day after getting ready and leaving his house. He takes a trip to the cemetery with a box of chocolates in hand as he pays his respects before speaking to an old friend. "Hey it's been awhile? Sorry I couldn't see you sooner. I had a lot to deal with here and there and sorry that I couldn't get a girl to deliver you the chocolates, so just bear with me giving it to you myself." He takes a deep breath as he stares at the tombstone.
"Just want to let you know that I'm doing alright and you never left my thoughts. I … I appreciate our friendship despite you being a womanizer. However despite that you did help by showing me a path I could take so long as it wasn't your path. That never left me despite doubting myself. I'm doing well with my clubmates, oh that reminds me we got new members to join so that's cool.
Heh, heh. I wonder what life would be like if you were still around? Would I still be the same or would I have changed sooner? I may never know, but I did find my own path. Just want to let you know what I've been up to since my last visit when I was down and all. Well I better get going. I'll make sure to visit again later." He gets off his knee to stand.
Jason: "Oh you're here too?"
Michael: "Huh? Jason?" He turns to behind himself to see the dirty blonde.
Jason: "Hey, I thought that was you."
Michael: "Hey Jason. What brings you here?"
Jason: "I'm guessing the same reason as you?" He looks passed him to see the tombstone.
Michael: "Ah so you're here to visit him as well?"
Jason: "Yeah, I make the effort to visit at least once a month." He walks passed him to leave another box of chocolates in front of the grave. "How long has it been since the three of us were together?"
Michael: "In a couple of months, a year."
Jason: "That long already? Felt like it's been ages rather than recent."
Michael: "Yeah …"
Jason: "… Michael I …"
Michael: "It couldn't be helped. You were so far away, the police did jack shit, and I was busy with Sara. Don't feel guilty about what happened to him. The only one who should be is me."
Jason: "You regret it?"
Michael: "I do. I should've killed the bastard, I had him in my sights, the gun was in my hand and yet I couldn't go through with it. It still haunts me to this day, but … there's no point in thinking about what could've been. I have to face forward the way he wanted it. Besides if I did pull the trigger I wouldn't have met them."
Jason: "Yeah, you're right. Take a rest old friend. We'll continue on for you." He looks to the grave. "So you have big plans today?"
Michael: "No, not really. Do you?" The two of them start walking back to the exit of the cemetery.
Jason: "Not really. I finished all my work yesterday, so I'm free today."
Michael: "That so, well look at you all cool and shit."
Jason: "Shut up." The two chuckle as they leave. "What do you feel like doing today?"
Michael: "Don't know. Maybe just play video games?"
Jason: "Hmm? Do you want to maybe go to the good old café?"
Michael: "Sure I don't mind."
Jason: "Good, can't remember the last time I went there or what I used to order when we all went together?"
Michael: "I can't remember either, but every so often I still go there. I just love their coffee."
Jason: "That so, well he did kind of forced it on you?"
Michael: "I know, but you know how he is."
As they walk and talk, a man can be seen dressed in all black paying his respects to a pair of graves further up to where Jason and Michael were.
?: "… How long has it been? How long has it been since you two were taken from me? … Don't worry you two. I will avenge your deaths no matter the cost."
The next day after school hours had ended and Monika giving her usual announcement. Everyone was now on free time. Which means … more dumb things to waste time on!
Johnny: "Ok, so let me get this straight. You're telling me that this whole entire time I've been writing for the literature classes. No one has ever told me that I've been using their, they're, and there the wrong way?"
Michael: "Pretty much." Him, Ronald, Sebastian, Hina, and Natsuki take a sip of their sodas.
Johnny: "Jesus Christ and no one thought to telling me until now!? No wonder I kept getting failing grades!"
Hina: "In all fairness, you think the teachers would tell you that?"
Johnny: "No! They just tell me to a better job or take this more serious. This whole time they've been doing a crappy job of teaching." He face plants his desk.
Hina: "Nah, don't feel bad man. The teachers I had don't do a good enough job at teaching calculus, so don't feel too bad."
Sebastian: "…" (It's best to let her think that way.) Hina looks to him curiously.
Hina: "What?"
Natsuki: "Ah God. Today's been a real pain in the ass."
Ronald: "Tell me about it. P.E was the worse for me."
Natsuki: "What you don't work out?"
Ronald: "I'm not much of a runner."
Natsuki: "Same, I hate running."
Ronald: "Relatable" Both the pink and red heads give each other a thumbs up of approval.
While they talk at the back of the classroom. In the front near the windows.
Lily: "So you ain't a Student Council member no more?"
Monika: "Nope which is load off my back." She does a stretch.
Lily: "Damn girl. Talk about heartless. I feel bad for those council guys now."
Jane: "Sounds like a pain being a member. I don't know how you or the others can pull it off and make it look so easy?"
Monika: "Well I guess you could say it's experience? After all, I've been doing these kinds of things since I was young, so I guess my body just adapted?"
Lily: "You crazy girl."
Sayori: "Look on the bright side. Now you have more free time to play."
Monika: "Yeah you're right about that. I can just kick back and relax until graduation. By that time I should be set." (Though I do feel bad that it's just those three. Hopefully they find new members to help fill in our spots.)
Sakura: "Something wrong Jane?" She looks to her blonde haired friend.
Jane: "Can't wrap my brain with all that work. I have a hard time understanding math."
Sakura: "That's because you're an idiot."
Jane: "Hey! I'll have you know that I'm doing the best I can ok? Even the teacher gave me a gold star for trying."
Lily: "The fuck I want a gold star."
Sky: "We are in high school right?"
Sayori: "That's what the setting says."
While they all talk in two groups. Sitting alone at her usual spot reading her novel. Yuri keeps to herself. Knowing well that she isn't much of a talker she decided to spend time alone and let the others chat while she does what she does best and read until it was time to share poems.
Yuri: (Seems a lot more noisy today? They must be having a lot of fun talking with each other? I know that I should join them, but I already know that I'm not good when it comes to conversation. Especially the conversations Hina is having.) She flips the page. (Still it's nice to see the club being more active and livelier than usual.)
Michael: "Is that a new book?"
Yuri: "KA!" She covers half her face with her book. "M-Michael?"
Michael: "Oh did I scare you? Sorry, I forgot that you have the habit of losing your sense of awareness when you read."
Yuri: "N-no, no. I-I'm sorry. I-it's a bad habit of mine that I should really work on. I'm sorry."
Michael: "It's fine, it's fine. Is that book new?" He points to it with the title When I'm Long Gone
Yuri: "Y-yes it is. My father received this from a friend of his and decided to give it to me to read. After he finished reading it of course."
Michael: "Does your dad also like to read?"
Yuri: "Indeed he does. Matter of fact he was the one who got me into reading. When I was a child he would occasionally read me a bed time story."
Michael: "Must be nice to have a dad that cares?"
Yuri: "I-I-I-I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to brag or anything. Um? Maybe he can read for you?"
Michael: "Eh?"
Yuri: "W-wait I didn't mean it that way." Her faces turns bright red.
Meanwhile in the background.
Hina: "What a lovely girl she is." She smirks as the others continue their conversation.
Now back to our main show.
Yuri: "I didn't mean to treat you like a child. Oh dear." (He's going to hate me now. No wait? If I continue then he'll go for Monika. Perhaps this might be helpful in getting those two together?)
Michael: "It's fine. I'm glad to hear that you and your dad are close."
Yuri: "Eh?"
Michael: "Don't worry about it. Though that was thoughtful of you to suggest that." He smiles warmly.
Yuri: "Y-yes I s-suppose you're right." She smiles sweetly as her red face turns to a beautiful shade of pink.
Michael: "So have you already made some progress?"
Yuri: "Not at all. I've only just started."
Michael: "Uh huh …"
Yuri: "Is something the matter?"
Michael: "Hey …"
Yuri: "Y-yes?"
Michael: "Do you …" She waits for his response. Oh how the tables have turned. "… want to read together?"
Yuri: "Yes" She said immediately only to blush when she realized she said that so quickly.
Michael: "Really that's cool. Uhm, where did you leave off? We can start from there?"
Yuri: "Oh no we could start over if you like? I haven't made that much progress."
Michael: "You sure? I don't want to force you to go through the introduction again when you probably just finished it?"
Yuri: "No it's fine with me. I don't want to cause you to get lost in the story without context." (What are you doing?)
Michael: "Well if you're really ok with it then sure. Just let me get the seats set up so we can begin."
Yuri: "Yes of course." He sets the desks up to their usual spot and they both got close enough to be able to read. "Are you ready?"
Michael: "Yeah, let's get started." She nods and they both start to read together. While they read, every once in a while he would glance over to her to see how she was doing. As usual she was more focused on the texts rather than her own surroundings. He smiled to himself and turned his sights back to the pages.
(How long has it been since we last read together like this? I can't remember, but … reading with her again puts me at ease. I wonder why? Perhaps it's because …) He took one more glance at her before looking away again and to continue reading before she turns the page. Soon enough it was time to share poems once again..
After everyone finished. It was time to end today's meeting, but before leaving the club room.
Monika: "Okay everyone. I have an announcement to make." Everyone stopped with what they were doing and gathered up. "So it has come to my attention that each of our newest members have gotten used to writing poems correct?" They all nod in agreement. "And I'm sure our older members have gotten tired of it by now right?" The original four hesitated. "You can be honest with me."
Michael: "Well …" He struggles until a certain someone spoke.
Natsuki: "Yeah, we've been doing this ever since the second week we started this club."
Michael: "What she said."
Sayori: "Aw, but we had fun right?" Michael, Yuri, and Natsuki look away from her. "Ga!" She falls to the floor.
Yuri: "Is there something you want to say Monika?"
Monika: "I do as matter of fact I thought we could do something else as a fun project."
Hina: "Ooooohh, what do you have plan?"
Monika: "I was thinking instead of just writing poems, why don't we write our own story?"
Everyone Else: "Story?"
Johnny: "You mean like write our own book?"
Monika: "That's right. I thinks it's time for us to expand and do something new."
Sky: "Uh, question?"
Monika: "Yes?"
Sky: "If we were to write a story, how is it going to be handled?"
Monika: "Excellent question. So how is it going to be handled? It starts with our first assignment. Your assignment today is to come up with an idea by writing a concept of what you're going to write. Then tomorrow you're going to share that idea to your clubmates similar to how we share poems. Just make sure not to copy or plagiarize."
Ronald: "Ok, but is there anything else we're not allowed to or?"
Monika: "You're allowed to write whatever you like, hell I'll even accept Fanfiction, just so long as you write a very interesting story however it may be. Romance, Horror, Suspense, Comedy, and so on as long as it's appropriate. No naughty things in this club room."
Ronald: "I see so we have enough freedom for anything we want."
Monika: "That is correct, but for now I want you all to write a rough idea on what kind of story you'll be writing. Tomorrow we're go into more detail, but until then take it easy. No pressure and have a great rest of your day."
Everyone Else: "Yes mam!"
With the new assignment given. Everyone continues packing up before leaving one by one. While Michael packs up. He glances over to see Yuri doing the same.
Sayori: "MC are you ready to go? I'm hungry." She rubs her stomach.
Michael: "Yeah, sorry. I'm coming." He grabs his backpack and takes one last look at Yuri before leaving with his childhood friend.
With the day coming to an end a new day begins as the final bell rings.
Michael: "Phew" (Glad it's finally over. Today was a real pain.) He grabs his stuff and makes his way to the club, but before he could leave.
?: "Connor" He turns to face his teacher.
Michael: "What's wrong Mrs. Brianne?"
Mrs. Brianne: "Do you mind staying a bit? I want to talk to you."
Michael: "Ok?" He closes the door and walk to her desk. "Is something wrong?"
Mrs. Brianne: "It's about your grades."
Michael: "Am I failing?"
Mrs. Brianne: "No, as a matter of fact your making tremendous progress."
Michael: "Am I?"
Mrs. Brianne: "I even looked over your other classes and saw the same results. I also talked with the other staff and they told me your grades always range from C to F, but now your grades are B and close to A. It's very impressive how much you've improved."
Michael: "Thanks, but I'm sure the exams were made easier for me. If it was anything else I probably get a D."
Mrs. Brianne: "Maybe, but don't sell yourself short. There's still plenty of work to do before Graduation, so keep up the hard work."
Michael: "Yes mam."
Mrs. Brianne: "You're excused. Take care."
Michael: "I will. Thanks." He leaves the classroom and makes his way to the club. (Never noticed my grades were improving. Every time I get my answer sheets back I just shove it in my back pack, because why should I care for how my grades are. I always get low grades so there was no point in checking.) He looks out the window in the halls.
(All I ever known was violence. I fought, I trained, I earned, I lost. It's now a part of me and there's no changing that, but that doesn't mean I can't use that aggression for something else. I'll use it to protect them. I won't let it happen again.) He clenches his hands. *Sigh* (I better get going. I'm already late for the club.) He continues his way as the day goes by as normal. By the time he got there he notices how quiet the hallways were. Perhaps too quiet. He opens the door and sees.
Lily: "Why are you so mean!?"
Sakura: "I'm not being mean. I'm being truthful."
Lily: "Ga!" The truth from her white hair friend stabs her in the heart.
Michael: "Uh?" He watches as the two continue while everyone else just continues on with their day. "Uh?"
Hina: "Oh hey what's up?"
Michael: "Hey? So what's all this?" He points at her two friends.
Hina: "Oh those two are always like that. Don't worry about them."
Michael: "I see?" Hina walks away to hang out with the others.
Monika: "Oh good you're here."
Michael: "Hey Monika. Sorry I was held up in class."
Monika: "Nah, don't worry about it. So long as you're here, that's what's important. I trust you did your assignment last night?"
Michael: "I have, but … well you know?"
Monika: "Don't worry too much. We're here to help and I'm sure the others feel the same."
Michael: "I suppose you're right."
Monika: "Well you we still have time before we share what we got, so go out there and have fun, relax, and forget about the bad."
Michael: "You seem cheerier than ever?"
Monika: "Am I now?"
Michael: "You are."
Monika: "Aren't I always?" He tries to respond, but couldn't think of one. Instead notices something that caught his eye. "What's wrong?"
Michael: "Nothing it's just … You're not wearing your usual white bow?"
Monika: "Oh you noticed." She shows off her usual ponytail, but with a new hair tie. The hair tie was thinner than her old bow, but what stuck out the most was the white daffodil flower on it.
Michael: "Well your white bow always stuck out, but this new one."
Monika: "Does it look bad?"
Michael: "No I think it's lovely."
Monika: "Oh good I was worried that I might look weird, but I'm glad you like it. That makes me so happy."
Michael: "I doubt you can make anything look weird."
Monika: "True, but I could try." The two smile as Yuri looks on.
Yuri: (Those two seem closer than before. I'm happy for those two, truly.) She looks back to her book to hide her sad expression. With time passing by she looks up again and sees Monika talking with the others with no Michael in sight. When she saw that they weren't together she looks over her shoulder to see him engrossed with a book of his own.
(That's not his usual Manga. He's reading a novel. I wonder what he's reading? Should I go and ask? No I shouldn't, I don't want to bother him and I promised myself I wouldn't get close to him.)
Michael: "You wanted something?"
Yuri: "Ga!"
Michael: "Starting to think I should wear a bell?"
Yuri: "Ah M-M-M-Michael, w-what brings you here?"
Michael: "You were staring at me for a while and knowing you, you were shy to come and ask."
Yuri: "A-am I that p-predictable?"
Michael: "To me yes, but to everyone else no."
Yuri: "Ah" She starts to get even more nervous.
Michael: "Don't be nervous. Even when we know each other long enough there are still secrets that we don't know about."
Yuri: "I suppose that's true. There's a Devil in us all." Her red face flushed down a bit as she smiles cutely.
Michael: "True enough." He looks over to see what the others are doing and saw Ronald poking Johnny with a pencil as he's face planted on his desk. (Do I even want to know?) "So what did you want to talk about?"
Yuri: "My apologies for staring, but I was curious to what you were reading."
Michael: "Oh this? It's a Mystery Novel I've been reading."
Yuri: "A Mystery Novel?"
Michael: "Yeah, it's called The Devil in White City by Erik Larson. I got interested in these types of stories and thought this might be a good read."
Yuri: "How is the novel?"
Michael: "Good, I'm almost done with it."
Yuri: "Really?" He nods. "That's good to hear."
Michael: "…"
Yuri: "…"
The awkward silence has finally returned.
Michael: "Well …" He clears his throat. "Um …"
Yuri: "Y-yes?"
Michael: "Well …"
Sayori: "MC!" Both look to her.
Michael: "What?"
Sayori: "Come here. There's something I want to show you."
Michael: "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Sorry Yuri."
Yuri: "Oh no it's alright. Please take care."
Michael: "You too." He leaves to where Sayori, Sky, and Ronald are.
Yuri: (Feels lonely now. Everyone gathering together, having fun while I just sit here and read to myself. This is fine. I'm used to being alone. I'm not interesting, I'm not fun to be around. I can't hold a conversation without freaking out and when I do speak I never know when to keep quiet. Michael, I did what Natsuki said and said what has been bottling up for far too long. I've confessed and got rejected. He never said it, but the way he acted was a clear indicator that he has no feelings for me.
I'm not upset, I'm glad he doesn't see me that way. If he was to feel the same for me then how could I keep him happy. I'm not interesting, I'm not fun, I'm just a freak who has an addiction. He deserves far better and I'm happy him and Monika are close. I don't have to worry about him and yet I … Life is cruel, but I have to let him go. I have to let him find his true love even though I wish it was with me.
They all changed ever since he came into our lives. Sayori seems much happier than before that she even changed her look with longer hair and a light blue headband with a flower on it. Same with Natsuki. Her hair long enough that she now has a ponytail and she's more open about what she likes not to mention she has a better relationship with her father and finally Monika. So lonely, so under pressure and yet she is no longer burden. She changed her hair tie and is in a much happier mood.
Everyone here in our club are amazing people and here I am. A nobody, a freak. Maybe it's time I leave the club. They no longer need me. I've done my part. It's time for me to leave.)
Monika: "Okay everyone. It's time we share our stories." Yuri snaps back into reality from the darkness surrounding her. "I hope you all didn't forget your assignment?" Some of her members start to groan while Johnny pulls himself together. "I take it, it was difficult? Well that's fine. This is only just the beginning. Can't get everything right at the start, nowhere to go but up. So let's gather up."
Sebastian: "How is this going to be handled?"
Monika: "We're going to handle this the same way we share our poems. I want you all to partner up and share what you got so far. If any of you have any suggesting on how to make the story better, take notes. Aside from that not much really changed. Did everyone get that?"
Everyone Else: "Yes mam!"
With the rules set up, everyone partnered up and shared their ideas for their stories. As they shared, it was clear who was struggling. Monika, Yuri, Sayori, Ronald, Sky, Hina, and Sakura had their ideas set while Sebastian, Natsuki, Michael, Johnny, Lily, and Jane still struggle. They each had an idea, but with not much written in their concept drafts made it difficult on the type of story they want to go with causing them to feel discourage.
However Monika assured them that this was only practice and only the first day. With the aid of their clubmates they have a better understanding on what they could write. Well, all except for Michael as he struggles on what to write exactly.
Monika: "Having trouble?" She says as everyone packs up and leaves.
Michael: "I am. I don't have a clear idea on what to write. I tried listening to music, I tried rereading my old poems. You know to give me an idea, but nothing came up. So I just wrote whatever came to mind, but even then they don't seem to fit."
Monika: "I can tell." She looks at his paper as it had ideas mixed together like a Comedy, Horror, Action genre, which could maybe work if done right, but that's the main reason he's struggling, to make them fit. "Maybe you should just focus on one thing."
Michael: "I figured you say that, but what? There's so many choices I could take this story I don't know where to start?"
Monika: "Well you still have plenty of time. Our completed story isn't due for a long time, so you have time to think of something."
Michael: "You think?"
Monika: "Sure do, after all you did make that amazing poem during the New Year's Festival."
Michael: "Maybe? I'll think of something on my way home."
Monika: "You do that. Speaking of which where did Sayori go?" She looks around the classroom. "Aren't you two heading home together?"
Michael: "Not today. She thought it would be a good idea to head to Sky's place so they can continue working while also doing their homework."
Monika: "I see and you're okay with that?"
Michael: "I'm not forcing her to walk with me every day. She's free to do whatever she wants as for me I could use the alone time to think of what I could write."
Monika: "Fair point. Well I'll see you tomorrow. Take care."
Michael: "Yeah see you soon." He leaves the classroom and heads home as the sun settles. Before heading home, he decided to head to the park to clear his head. He hoped that being in a different environment would help give him an idea of a story. (Man this is quite difficult. I don't know what kind of story to write. Looks like I'm back to square one.)
*Sigh* (Well at least I'm not completely alone. Though everyone does seem to have an idea on what to write as for me I don't know what I want. Man writers block sucks. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it.)
Yuri: "Michael, what brings you here?"
Michael: "Huh, Yuri?" He looks to his side to see her with a note book and pen in hand. "I was going to ask you the same thing? What are you doing out all the way here?"
Yuri: "I needed fresh air. I was having difficulty writing plans for my story."
Michael: "Writers block?"
Yuri: "Indeed"
Michael: "Wow that's a first. You look like the type who never suffers writers block."
Yuri: "What makes you say that?"
Michael: "Ever since we first started sharing poems, you always have amazing writing skills. I honestly thought you never suffer writers block because of that."
Yuri: "Y-you give me too much praise. I'm not that amazing. We've only just started and I'm sure the others could write a better story than mine."
Michael: "True, but I always did like your poems, so I'm sure I'll enjoy your story."
Yuri: "M-Michael?" She looks to him with a hurt expression, but soon changed that expression with a more comforting one. "Don't sell yourself short." He looks up to her with a surprised expression. "I don't know the outcome of your story, but if it's anything like your poem. It will turn out amazing, far greater than any of ours. After all your poems have exceeded mine and Monika's."
Michael: "… Guess you're right about that? Thanks, I needed that."
Yuri: "You're very much welcome."
Michael: "Suns almost down. We should head home before it gets dark."
Yuri: "Agreed"
Michael: "If you like I could walk you home?"
Yuri: "Y-you don't have to trouble yourself. My home isn't that far. I'll be fine on my own, but thank you for offering."
Michael: "Sure, I'll see tomorrow."
Yuri: "Y-yes, I hope to see how much work you've done. Take care." She bows before leaving. As she walks Michael stares as she leaves.
Michael: (She's … My poems have surpassed her huh? That girl has no idea how much potential she has, but then again.) He smiles to himself. (Thanks to her, I now know what to write about.)
End of Chapter 70
