Warning! There will be fighting and heavy swearing. Additionally there is mild sexual content. Reader discretion is advised!

It wasn't long after when Tommy told me about Sayori, that break ended. We said that we would see each other, and meet up at the club. I made my way towards Study Hall. I knew I was in for a treat, I promised Monika about me being there for Piano Practice. Given her perfectionist nature, it might be a treat.

I noticed behind me that there were three students had their glares set on me for some reason. I shrugged it off and continued on my way. The students seemed to be an hurry, despite having more than 3 minutes to get to their classes. The hallway got empty in matter of seconds. A student with that same glare got in my way.

"'Cuse me." I said as I tried to move past him. He didn't budge.

This isn't good.

"Where do you think you're going bud? We have stuff to talk about." A voice said behind me.

Keep cool. They are trying to intimidate you.

"What do you mean "friend?" I asked with faux pleasure.

"Me and my boys have seen you talking to Monika, the star and sweetheart of our school. And we don't like it."

I balled my fists up. Are they really complaining of being with Monika? I can hardly care less.

"What do you mean? We are only friends. Nothing more."

"Bullshit. We saw you hugging her and holding hands with her."

"She did that so people like you won't bother her anymore. Back off." I said with a glare.

"People like us?" He shoved me. "We wanted a chance at that hot, smoking piece of ass, but you got in the way."

I was growing increasingly annoyed. "Back off. I mean it."

His tone darkened. "Fuck you. Now bud, since you have her, we are gonna teach you a little lesson on treating her right." He raised his fist up.

Hoo boy, this is gonna be fun. Let's dance. I gathered all the anger I can to reinforce my strength and speed.

He thrusted his fist towards me, but I grabbed it to stop the momentum and countered with a fist to his face.

"Aw fuck!" He clutched the side of his face. "Get that fucker!"

The three students charged at me, I kept my calm and grabbed the arm of the closest one to me. I threw him down overhead which impacted one guy. I moved on to the third thug, who was getting ready to punch me. I kicked his stomach and which he gave a pained groan. He immediately bent over and held his abs in pain. I quickly brought my knee up to his chin making him fall over.

The "leader" recovered and was ready to attack. I gave him a headbutt to the face, and swiftly punched his stomach. I picked him up with his blazor and got him a few inches from the ground.

Finally a time where going to the gym actually helps with self-defense besides vanity.

The two guys that I didn't really fight got back up, they were ready but saw that their leader was being picked up from me. They immediately walked backwards slowly, and got up the third semi-conscious thug. After they got his friend up, they sprinted away from us.

I opened the door leading to a staircase while holding the leader. I placed the leader a few inches away from the head of the downstairs.

He was flailing about for balance and grabbed on to me for support. I can push him and he can fall. "W-wait no stop!"

"I told you to back off. You're an idiot for going after a bigger guy like me. Besides, Monika probably wouldn't like your scrawny ass anyway." I tilted him towards the stairs, his legs being the last bastion of him not falling.

"Alright man you made your point! I'm sorry! Don't make me fall PLEASE!" He begged.

That's all I wanted to hear.

I picked him up and threw him against the wall of staircase.

"I know love can make you do stupid things, but this wasn't even thought out properly. I even fucking said that I'm not interested in her." I said with my arms behind my back in a condescending pose.

"Don't come near me or Monika again. Do. You. Understand?"

"Yes sir."

I left him there to think about what he did. I don't know why, but it felt good display my strength. I am a really modest person, almost never taking credit for any work I did. I believed that it was a group effort to achieve what we did.

But man! That felt amazing! I feel as I take on the world!

It was probably all that adrenaline talking right now, but I don't care. I was probably going to regret doing this but this feeling was overwhelmingly awesome.

I'm down those 10 minutes! Shit! I was 7 minutes late to Study Hall. I rushed to the period until I was out of breath.

I opened the door to the Hall. I clutched my knees in order to relax and to catch my breath. The teacher just came in and didn't notice that I arrived. I gave my name and looked for Monika. I saw her sitting alone right next to the piano, with her arms crossed and glaring at me.

Seriously? I know she doesn't know what I've gone through, but she's going to be mad about that?

I walked towards her. "Hey Moni-"

"You're late." She cut me off.

"Yeah... about that. I got caught up with something, so it took me a while to get there. It won't happen again."

Her eyes softened but her face didn't. She looks so cute when she is angry.

Wait what.

"I'll let it slide just this once Jones, don't let it happen again."

Why is she so pissed? What did I do?

I meekly nodded and took a seat with her.

"I've been working on a song that I wrote. And I want your opinion on it."

"Uh. I'm not best person for critique, I find all types of music interesting."

"Doesn't matter. One person's criticism is better a hundred hollow compliments."

I was impressed with that analogy.

She took a deep breath and started humming. She pressed on the keys of the piano. It gave a soft chord and she started playing.

Each note blended together perfectly, each adding to the calm and pleasant tone of the overall piece.

It didn't take long after I started losing interest on the song she was playing. The song wasn't bad, but I was growing increasingly distracted by her angelic face... her warm chestnut hair... her curvy and sexy body.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?

I couldn't help it, I was ogling Monika. The bane of my objective, the essence of my fears, now my next conquest.

"So?" Her expression went back to her cheery, innocent self. "How was it?"

"It was uh g-god, I mean good!"

I stood up, "I'll be right back. Mon." I smiled at her and she smiled back even brighter.

I exited Study Hall. And made a mad dash to the men's restroom.

I was breathing erratically. My heart was thumping uncontrollably.

I opened the door to restroom. There was no body, from the looks of it.

I clutched the sides of the bathroom sink and took a hard look at myself.

This isn't me. This isn't real. No! It can't be!

I turned on the water faucet and grabbed a handful of water to splash it on my face. I repeatedly did this until I calmed down.

Why? Why is this happening to me? I'm trying my best not blow my cover! I feel as if I'm going to break!

No. No! NO! I'm stronger than this. My mind is my own! It doesn't belong to anyone! I am the master of my own Mind! I will not fall! I will prevail!

With new resolve and a fresh will, I exited the bathroom and re entered Study Hall. I looked for Monika, she was no where to be seen.

What?

I found her in the library, being a cornered by a guy. The guy was looking impatient and he looked as if he had a bad streak in life. She was growing increasingly uncomfortable, while ignoring the man's growing bolder advances.

"Leave me alone! I told you, I'm sorry! I don't like you back! Now stop it!" She demanded.

"Well, I don't give a fuck. You are going to learn to like me back. Or else." The man had finally backed her onto a small corner in the library. He planted his arm a good few centimeters away from Monika's head. She visibly squirmed and was getting terrified.

"Or else what?!"

"Let's just say, you'll have to deal with a tree, in your body. Now come he-!"

"Let her go, asshole." I said.

"Oh it's you! The dude who held hands with this bitch! Sorry fucker. The bitch is mine now!" He possessively grabbed Monika's waist.

"I am warning you." I was growing infuriated. I have never felt this sort of anger before, and it's threatening to spill! "Let her go. Now."

"What are you going to do me, tough guy? I'm a fucking certified black belt, I can beat your ass!"

"Bring it fuckass. Let's see what you got."

"Val! No! Don't do fight him! You're going to get in trouble!"

"I don't care if I get in trouble or not! I'm going to protect you and your honor!"

"No please..." She hugged onto me and buried her face into my chest. "Don't do it..." Her voice threatened to break.

I felt a sharp pain at my back. She let out a shocked gasp.

"VAL!"

I let go of her and fell to my knees. I turned my head to him

"Hitting me with my back turned? A typical move from people like you."

"I don't fucking care. Keel over so I can have her already!" He proceeded to kick my already sore back.

"Gah!" I fell to the ground, immobilized from the pain I am receiving.

"Valkyrie! NO! Stop it!"

He started laughing triumphantly and he proceeded to kick me while I was down.

I wasn't going to let that asshole touch Monika. My rage flooded my body.

I will not him touch her.

The rage I felt dulled any pain I had and I felt stronger.

He was going to kick again but I grabbed a hold of his foot and pushed it off, causing him to lose his balance somewhat. I quickly got back up to my feet and delivered lightning quick punch to gut. He grabbed hold of it in pain, and I gave him more punches on his chest. I grabbed him and threw against him against the wall. He still put up a fight, so I head-butted him on the face, since his body weight was being supported by the wall, the back of his head received the brunt of attack. I slammed him on the ground and planted my knee on his upper back.

"Listen to what I have to say. I'm only going to say this once."

"Fuck... you."

I grabbed his head and slammed it on the floor.

"AH! Okay okay!"

"You are going to get up and apologize to that sweet woman. After that you are going to avoid her for the rest of your crummy life. Do you understand?"

I didn't bother hear his answer. I picked him up and threw him towards Monika. He fell down from the push after a few milliseconds of walking.

He pathetically got back up. "I-I'm sorry for everything I said and done to you ma'am! I will from now on never speak to you unless spoken to and will avoid you!"

With that, he ran away, clutching his bleeding face and mitigating the trauma from the back of his head. I could hear him sobbing audibly.

I bent down and held my knees, I had to catch my breath. I was exhausted from that.

Once I recovered, Monika was really close to me. She had a pained expression on her face, as if she was about to cry.

"Mon? Look I'm sor-"

She hugged me with monstrous amount of strength. The searing pain from my back exponentially increased. I let out a hiss from the pain. Strangely she didn't loosened up, she thought I would disappear into thin air if she didn't hold on to me. After a while, the pain started to dissipate.

Well this is awkward.

I lethargically stroked her hair.

"Valkyrie, thank you. Thank you so much."

She then buried her face into my chest, crying into it. She was crying so much to the point, that my chest felt the wetness of her tears. I awkwardly held her tightly.

Monika eventually stopped pouring her heart out. She looked at me, and I grinned at her. Her precious emerald eyes were half lidded, full of an emotion I can't put my finger on. Wait a minute...

Oh no. Is that... is that Lust?!

I wasn't sure how, but our faces somehow got really close, like invading personal space close. She closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

OH FUCK! WHAT THE SHIT! WHAT DO I DO? I'M FREAKING OUT OVER HERE!

I couldn't break free from the hug, she was curved on my body. She was straddling me, I could feel her grinding on my... no...

AHHHH! SHITTTTT! FUCKKKKKK!

She was a millimeter away from my face.

ABORT MISSION ABORT! Wait, I can just move my head.

I turned my head around.

"Mmm-oah! Huh?"

Monika kissed my cheek. Her face flared up on realization on what she did.

"Umm... Monika?" I pointed downwards.

Her eyes widened on what her lower area was touched. Her face reached the apex of red and embarrassment.

As if on cue, the school bell blared. She shoved me and made a mad dash out of Study Hall.

I don't think we are ever going to talk about that. Ever.

I awkwardly left the Hall and proceeded to make my way towards the Literature Club.

I took my time to get to the club. I didn't have the confidence to see or speak Monika on what happened. I found Tommy just about to enter the room.

"Hey Tommy!"

"Whoa Val! What's wrong? You seemed as if you seen a ghost or something. You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Let's go in."

...

"Oh hi you two!" Monika greeted. She avoided my gaze completely. "I'm glad you didn't run out on us! Hehehe!"

"Don't about it Monika. Me and Val keep our word every time! Right Val?"

I didn't look at her. "Yep."

Yuri approached us shyly. "O-oh. Hello Valkyrie and Tom." Yuri meekly greeted. "Thanks for keeping your word, I hope this won't be too difficult of a transition for you, Tom. As for you Valkyrie, I hope you would show us you experienced you are..."

I shivered when she mentioned me. The way she said it made it seem so strange...

"Well you can cut Valkyrie some slack, Tom doesn't deserve any! Sayori told me that Tommy didn't even want to join any clubs this year, and the year before it! Just so you know, I'm keeping my eyes on you two. So you two better take us seriously, if not then you won't see the end of it."

I rolled my eyes and decided to play a wild card. I put my hands behind and straightened my posture to seem taller and superior.

"Well... You certainly have a big mouth for someone who has a mango collection in the clubroom."

Everyone started chuckling, which made falter my posture. The chuckles turned into laughs.

Natsuki's giggles turned into a full blown laugh and Yuri couldn't breathe from the laughter and started snorting. Sayori in the back was losing herself to my error. And Monika, the girl that I had a tense and awkward some sort of moment with, was laughing whole heartedly.

"What! I'm right aren't I? Natsuki has a mango collection in the back right?"

"It isn't called mango Val! It called man-ga!" Tom said in between laughs.

Oh.

"Well fuck me! I didn't know alright! But I was still right... right?"

"Haha! Yes, Valkyrie. You are right, Natsuki has a manga collection." Yuri replied.

Natsuki still laughing said, "Mangoes are form of literature!" before taking a seat.

"Aw screw you all!" I took a seat and crossed my arms.

"Valkyrieeee don't be like that!"

"Why not Sayori? I just made an ass out of myself. Not only that, I hate myself now."

She tapped her chin in thought.

"Oh! That's true..." I couldn't tell which part she was saying was true or not.

"Buttt... Yuri! You have something for Val, something that he will like right?"

That was really smart thinking, Sayori brought up something else to help me feel better.

Yuri looked flustered. "W-wait! Sayori it isn't like that..."

"Huh?" I was confused. "What do you mean that you have something for me Yuri?"

"It's nothing really..."

"What is it?"

"Don't worry about it."

Seriously? That's my line!

"Sayori made it sound like a big deal when it really isn't... Uuuuh, what do I do...?"

"Yuriii, just give it to him!"

Great. It's up to me bail her out. Eh, whatever.

"Yuri, if you got something for me, I would be more than happy to accept it. Cuz the thing is, I didn't expect anything in the first place and a surprise gift is always nice. Besides, I won't make it a big deal, unless it's a marriage proposal or something."

Yuri giggled from that. "Well is that so? Then here you are."

She hands me a book from her bag. The title of the novel is "Portrait of Markov." There's an eye in the middle of the cover, giving it a third eye feel to it. I could tell this was a horror novel.

"Yuri, this is a horror novel right?"

"Y-yes, I recalled you like internet horror stories right?... So I thought that... that... you might like this book..."

"You kidding?" Yuri's expression sunk. "This is going to be awesome! I can't wait to read something professional and not something written by some edgy 12 year old! Thanks!"

Her eyes lit up and she had a small smile. "I'm glad that you would like it. I-I was hoping th-that we can discuss the b-book together..."

"I was going to ask the same thing. You have a copy of the book right?"

"Y-yeah."

"Then it's settled, I'll text you on which chapter I'm going to stop on K?"

"Okay. I tried to stop myself from reading it, but... I already read a couple of chapters... I'm sorry!"

"Uh. It's fine? If you got the book first, then you have every right to read it."

"O-oh I see. Well I look forward to hearing what you think."

"And hey, if you want to read it now, by all means go ahead."

Yuri gave a curt nod before sitting down to read the book. She has a focused and an intense look on her face, like she's going to mess stuff up. In this case, the message of book.

I found myself starting into her dark amethyst eyes. I broke out this gaze when she proceeded to turn the page.

First you stare at Monika and now Yuri? Get a hold of yourself Val!

I decide to yawn and stretch my arms out. I unconsciously flex to get some of that soreness out. Man I should have taken those protein supplements. If I have any.

It wasn't out of my corner of eye that I noticed somehow was staring at me.

"Huh?" I take a look around the room to see if anyone was staring at me. Yuri was still reading the book with that intense expression on her face. Sayori and Tommy were talking to each other, Monika was doing paper work and Natsuki was no where to be found, probably rummaging in that mango closet.

That was weird. I could have sworn that someone was staring at me. Whatever.

"Okay everyone! Since everyone's ready, find yourself a partner to share your poems with!" Monika announced

"Yay! I can't wait!" Sayori cheered.

Aw man...

If only I could have somehow told Tommy about this before hand. Maybe we could have joined another club.

I hesitantly took out my poem and so did Tom.

"Yo Val, you wanna trade poems?"

"Sure thing."

Tommy's poem is written on a neatly folded computer paper, compared to everyone else probably writing on loose leaf.

I opened the poem and I was greeted with nonsense.

V2hhdCBhcmUgeW91IGRvaW5nIGhlcmUgeW91IGlkaW90PyEg

WU9VIE5FRUQgVE8gR0VUIFRIRSBGVUNLIE9VVCBOT1chIA=

SSBLTk9XIFRISVMgSVMgQUxMIEdJQkJFUklTSA==

QlVUIFlPVSBIQVZFIFRPIFdBS0UgVVAh

SSBIQVZFIE5PIFdBWSBPRiBXQUtJTkcgVVA=

RVZFUllUSElORyBZT1UgU0VFIElTIEEgTElFISBXQUtFIFVQIQ==

What the fuck? What the hell is this?!

A message somehow scribbled itself at the bottom of the note.

ERROR! RUNTIME BASE 64 HAS CRASHED! RESTARTING!

The poem then rewrote itself into a normal poem. I read the title of the poem, it says "Loneliness".

I knew this is fucking weird, but I went with the flow.

"Uh. This is actually pretty good Tom."

"Really?"

"Yep. It describes how you feel sometimes, don't worry I got you."

"Thanks Val, I appreciate it."

"No problem."

Now who's next up to read my poem?