Author's Note: I know some of y'all are pissed at my once-in-a-blue-moon updates, but I haven't given up on this story, I promise!

Also, I'm not sure if I explained this before, but this is how the story is gonna go as far as routes: I'll post the first part of each character's route, then segue into the poems and whatnot, then I'll post the second part of each route, and so on and so forth.

Also, also, I did not expect this story to gain as much traction as it did. So, thanks! I appreciate each and every one of you who's been following this story.

Alright, enough of my blabbering. Onto the story!

Unsure of what else to do, Shuichi slid into the chair of the closest desk and awkwardly looked around the classroom. Some time later, he eventually found himself eavesdropping on Kaede's and Rantaro's conversation.

"...We're probably gonna seem lame compared to the other clubs, though..." he heard Rantaro say.

Kaede frowned at the club president. "Hey, don't talk like that! We can't give up! This is our chance to show everyone what the literature club's really about!"

"Right, sorry." Rantaro gave a sheepish chuckle. "I think I know what the problem is, though. A "literature" club sounds intellectual and dense, yeah? But it's not like that at all, we just need to find a way to tell everyone else that."

"Yeah, that's true... But we also need to find a way to rope people in and get them to come in the first place. You know, like the opening act before a main event!"

"Hm..." Rantaro rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look. "That makes sense. Any ideas on how we would bring them in?"

Kaede folded her arms and hummed in thought. "Oh! What about food?"

Rantaro raised an eyebrow. "Food?"

"Well, I'm thinking more along the lines of sweets, but yeah! We could make something like... cupcakes! You know, I've actually gotten into baking recently."

"Really? What have you made?"

"Um... Well, I've only bought some materials and a few cookbooks, so I haven't really made anything yet... But, on the bright side, making cupcakes would be the perfect time to start practicing!"

Rantaro shook his head at Kaede with a slight chuckle. "Okay, we'll make cupcakes for the festival, then. Good thinking, Kaede."

Kaede giggled. "This is going to be so fun!"

Rantaro nodded before saying, "Alright, now we just need to work out the details of the event itself..."

A large grin stretched across Shuichi's face. In the end, Kaede was still her usual self; someone that he couldn't help but admire. After all, she could make just about anything come to life when she put her mind to it—unlike Shuichi, who was too afraid to take initiative ever since—

Shuichi was suddenly pulled from his thoughts when he noticed Kaede's face filling his vision.

"Whoa!" Shuichi jumped back in his chair, giving his friend a bewildered stare. "Hey!"

Kaede pouted at him. "Hey, don't freak out like I'm some sort of monster!"

Shuichi rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry... Did you need something?"

Before saying anything, Kaede took the desk to Shuichi's left and pulled it over to his so that the desks were touching. She then took off her backpack and hung it on the back of her chair, then turned to Shuichi. "Why are you over here by yourself instead of talking to the others?"

"Ah, well..." Shuichi pulled his cap down over his head. "I'm still getting used to the club, so..."

Shuichi trailed off once he realized that Kaede was staring at him rather intensely. "...Is something wrong, Kaede?"

Kaede stayed silent for a moment, a frown creasing her face. "Are you staying up late again?"

Shuichi froze, eyes widened. "Wha—?"

"I can see the bags under your eyes, Shuichi," Kaede said bluntly. "Plus, I've heard you yawn, like, ten different times since you walked into the classroom."

"That's..." Shuichi averted his gaze from Kaede's. "That's a personal question!"

"What could you possibly be doing that you have to stay up the entire night?"

"Er... homework?" Shuichi offered, knowing damn well that he wasn't fooling anyone.

"Come on, Shuichi, you didn't even try with that lie. You always do your homework when you get home! Not to mention, we don't even get that much homework in the first place."

Shuichi opened his mouth to try and refute, but nothing came out. "I—I-I... Well, what about you? You don't exactly have the best sleep schedule, either..."

"That's totally different!" Kaede defended, crossing her arms.

Now it was Shuichi's turn to stare with a unconvinced look. After a long moment of silence, Kaede finally cracked and sighed.

"Fine, you got me there. I didn't mean to sound angry... I just... I wish you'd take better care of yourself."

"I wish you'd take care of yourself, too..." Shuichi agreed.

Kaede then shut her eyes, as if she was thinking of something. When she opened them again, she said, "Okay, how about this? I promise I'll try and wake up earlier, but only if you promise me that you'll try and go to bed earlier."

The corners of Shuichi's mouth tugged up into a small smile, and a chuckle escaped his lips. "Alright, you have a deal."

Kaede gave him a smile of her own. "Great, then our deal has been officially put in place as of right now! And it's gonna start with you catching up on the sleep you've lost."

Shuichi gave her a look. "Eh? You aren't you suggesting that I sleep right now, are you?" At Kaede's nod, he continued with, "Uh, won't Rantaro say something about that?"

Kaede waved a dismissive hand. "Rantaro's chill, he won't mind. And even if he does say something, I'll just use my Vice President powers to veto him!"

"I don't think that's how that works..." Shuichi pointed out, scratching the back of his head. "But... Thanks, Kaede. I appreciate it."

And so, Shuichi laid his head upon his desk, using his arms as a makeshift cushion. Not exactly ideal, but it was comfortable enough. He turned his head so that he was looking straight at Kaede, and offered her a lopsided grin.

Kaede giggled at him before turning around and retrieving a music player and a pair of earphones from her backpack. "Wanna listen to some music. It'll help you fall asleep easier."

"Sure."

Kaede nodded and shuffled through it until she finally decided on a playlist that she liked. She plugged the earphones into the music player, then popped one of the earbuds into her right ear and gave the other to Shuichi, who put it in his left ear.

Kaede pressed "play" on the music player, and the tune of classical music filled his ear. Shuichi wasn't really surprised at her music of choice; it wasn't uncommon to hear her playing it in her home, and she never missed an opportunity to bring up how people should appreciate it more.

Kaede then set the music player down before laying her head down on her own desk, and somehow, she and Shuichi found themselves staring in each other's eyes.

It went on for a minute. Shuichi's golden eyes found themselves lost in Kaede's violet ones, and he felt calm and safe and warm all at once.

That's when Shuichi gazed over to Kaede's hand, which rested in between the desks, right beneath the music player. He couldn't help but find himself thinking that it looked so, so soft, and...

"Ah... Do you mind if I hold your hand?"

"Oh, uh..." A slight blush covered Kaede's face as she flexed her fingers some. "Y-Yeah... Yeah. That's fine."

Shuich nodded, and as he carefully placed his hand on top of Kaede's, he felt his own face heat up.

The pure comfort Shuichi felt just being in the presence of his childhood friend, added with the soothing melody of classical music playing in his ear, he could feel his eyelids growing heavier and heavier as sleep began to take him.

Alas, before Shuichi could fully immerse himself into the dream world, the voice of the club president began to address everyone in the room.

"Okay, everyone. I think it's a good time to share the poems we wrote now, yeah?"

Shuichi slowly raised his head and blinked. Kaede followed suit, taking the earbuds out of her and Shuichi's ears before shoving the earphones and music player back into her backpack and taking out a slightly crumpled piece of paper. She turned to Shuichi.

"I can't wait to read your poem, Shuichi!"

With those parting words, Kaede stood up and made her way to the center of the classroom.

"Haha, yeah..." Shuichi replied as he watched Kaede walk off. He started to sweat bullets as he slowly retrieved his own paper from his own bag.

Yep, it was official—Shuichi was doomed.

Author's Note: And that's it (for now). I hope you enjoyed it and will tell me what you thought.

FYI, I have a Tumblr now! So, if you want to chat about this story with me (or just talk to me in general), feel free to find me at strawberrymixt.

And that's it. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you next time!