Another day of classes comes and goes, being just as boring as the last. I try my hardest to fit in but find it hard to keep up with all of my peers socially. Believe it or not, dressing up as Monika and committing several acts of terrorism for two years straight fucks with your social skills. If it weren't for Phone Girl helping me through conversations at school, I'd probably be a goner.
Monika's been having sleepovers a lot more often, mostly involving myself and some other friends of hers. Whenever she mentions them she makes sure to put heavy quotations over "friends", as she doesn't see them as sentient enough to truly build any semblance of a relationship with.
Though most of the days as of late have blended together, today stands out to me. Because after school today is the Literature Club's first-ever orientation event, a way for the club to gain new members while also allowing myself and Natsuki to slip in as well. Monika's made sure that her sleepover decoys attend and join the club as well. I asked her how she was so sure they would and as it turns out they're extremely easy to manipulate due to their lack of programming, or something like that.
Standing at the front of the school, I wait for Natsuki at our designated meetup spot. PG suggested that we walk in together since we're supposed to be a couple or whatever. The whole situation is frankly super icky, as the idea of being in a relationship never truly appealed to me. Honestly, I'm not too sure what made Monika any different in hindsight. Regardless, it's nothing against Natsuki but I haven't been enjoying this whole relationship facade. Not too sure why Phone Girl saw it necessary.
Speaking of which, I avert my focus towards Natsuki, who has just now made it.
"What took you so long?" I pout.
"I got forced to stay in and stack the chairs again." The now significantly taller girl rolls her eyes. "It's stupid how they make the guys do all of the menial labor."
"Yeah, kind of stupid how gendered that kind of stuff still is." At PG's insistence, I grab her hand in a motion to begin walking. "Anyways, should we go… Babe?"
Natsuki blushes more in embarrassment than in actual infatuation. "Sure."
As we walk down the halls hand in sweaty, tense hand, the weight of what we're doing truly begins setting in. We'll have to make this smooth and reduce suspicion. Well, I will, the most suspicion is probably on me. Natsuki probably isn't in as much danger at the moment.
"Is this it?" I attempt to feign confusion at the location of the classroom, before peeking in to see it's the wrong one. This was all calculated in advance, of course, and upon observing its emptiness we continue a few more doors down the hall until we finally reach the correct room.
This is it…
I swallow my own saliva and gently open the door to the scene of several individuals, simply standing around and making small talk.
Good, it hasn't started yet.
"Serena, you're here!"
I nod my head slightly at Monika, who begins walking towards me in salutation. All I'm able to muster out in reply to her overwhelming energy is a simple "Hey."
"I'm glad you could make it! I'm super excited for you to join, even if it is a bit late into the school year."
"Yeah…" I chuckle at a loss for words. Sensing this, PG pitches yet another suggestion to me.
"Introduce your boyfriend."
Rolling my eyes, I comply, having no other choice in the matter. "Oh, Monika, you haven't met my boyfriend yet, have you?" I motion for my partner to come forward. "Monika, meet Natsuki."
I freeze for a split second at mentioning the name before remembering that this guy's name is, in fact, Natsuki.
Monika beams. "Oh! It's great to finally meet you! You know, there's a person in this club who I just know you'd get along with."
The two shake hands, and Natsuki cringes just the slightest bit at her friend's comment. Monika's aware of who Natsuki is, so she definitely knows what she's doing. I may love Monika, but she can be a bit of a cheeky bitch sometimes.
Introductions continue, and I mingle with a few other people. Out of everyone at the orientation, no one sticks out to me as a potential candidate of being Tyler. Eventually, things settle down, and everyone present at the meeting is seated.
Natsuki and I sit next to each other, but as this simulation's rendition of the pink-haired girl takes a seat in our row she motions for us to move. In an attempt to make up for it we move to the front row, as if we're doing it in an effort to listen more intently.
Monika takes to the front of the classroom and stands in front of the podium that looks like it was stolen from an abandoned IKEA. She takes some cards out of her bag and starts to speak.
"Hi, everyone! I'm glad you're all interested in joining the Literature Club! Even if our organization has been small in size, I promise you the experience you'll have here will be priceless! It certainly has for me, at least." She chuckles and continues her speech, though I stop listening to her words, instead mesmerized by her projection and how she carries herself. In that moment she looks and sounds just like an angel, charming her audience with her voice.
After a few minutes of her talking, though, I'm pulled back into reality by the sound of a door opening. Monika initially continues her speech and ignores it, but stops in her tracks when she sees who came through the door.
"Oh, Sayori, I'm glad you could make it! I was starting to get worried."
I turn back to see not just Sayori, but another person as well. I recognized his bent-over figure instantly, as it was one I once lived in. The stereotypical anime guy, average in every way, struggling to help the bent-over girl into a nearby chair.
"Sorry I'm so late, Sayori tried to kill herself again after school. Had to help her down, you know how it is."
The main character.
This was not the last surprise of the day, though, as Monika soon after continued her greeting, her words putting me into a state of shock as they are said.
"Well, I'm happy you're here, Tyler."