A/N: Note that this is being portrayed as though it's real life rather than a game.
A/N: I do not own the characters of DDLC, they belong to Team Salvato! Commission is by Popidoru!
A/N: Later chapters will have dark themes such as murder, attempted suicide and suicidal thoughts!
A/N: Chapters will be uploaded every two weeks on Saturday!
Sweet and Dark Heart: Chapter 4
- Wednesday Morning, 10 A.M.-
Today was the day to share poems and John Sarashina was exhilarated to do so, after all, this was his first one that'd he ever written. Sayori of course was waiting for him near his house as per usual, with her usual goofy grin on her face.
"Hey John, you actually waited this time for me!" Sayori said.
"Well of course I did, if I didn't, then who would walk to school with you? Hmmm?" John teased as Sayori giggled.
"I guess you make a good point, you are my best friend from childhood and you live right next door so it works out perfectly! After all, you wouldn't have anyone to walk with either!" Sayori teased back.
"Oh, feisty today are we? Hah, I expect as much from you! I'll be honest, I'm rather happy to be sharing our poems at the Literature Club today…I never thought I'd like to write a poem." John said.
"Oh really? So it looks like me guilt-tripping you into joining the Literature Club was a great idea after all!" Sayori said as she excitedly clapped her hands as John scoffed in mock annoyance.
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that so soon, I mean, I still need Natsuki to warm up to me…if she ever does!" John said.
"I'm telling you, she is a nice person once you get to know her!" Sayori said as John sighed.
"I don't know, she seems so hostile sometimes but…I think you may be right so…I'll try to have a positive mindset with her." John said.
The two chatted for some time more and then once they reached the school, Sayori and John said their goodbyes and went to their classes. It was the same old, same old as per usual and the day went on by; then it was time for the Literature Club. John was pretty happy and he entered the club room, seeing that Sayori, Yuri and Natsuki were there already. Yuri was engrossed in a book while Sayori was chatting with Natsuki animatedly about a new item she got from a claw machine which was Ms. Cow, the partner to Mr. Cow. The taller pink-haired woman was listening and teasing Sayori with her arms crossed. When John entered, he said hello and Natsuki give a quick wave while Sayori waved excitedly. Yuri on the other hand was too deep into her book to realize that John had entered to begin with, so John went and sat down.
Since Monika wasn't in the club room yet, everyone did their own thing, with John reading his poem over and over, feeling rather proud. To some people, it may have been silly or even ridiculous for John to be so thrilled, but considering he had never taken an interest in literature beforehand, the young man was happy to know that he had done something new not related to anime, manga or video games which he loved to do in his free time.
A few minutes later, Monika entered, her hair a bit disheveled as she hurried in, panting slightly. Sayori and Natsuki just finished wrapping up their conversation and Yuri closed her book while John put his poem onto his desk.
"Hah…sorry about being late guys…I'm really sorry…I was being doing my piano lessons and lost track of the time, so I didn't hear the bell ring…" Monika said as she fixed up her hair.
"Huh, awesome, I didn't know you played piano, Monika!" John said as Monika gave a small smile.
"Yeah, I've been doing it for about a week now, I'm really getting into it!" Monika said as Natsuki chuckled.
"It's pretty impressive you play piano…so just this once…it's alright Monika, I'll forgive you, but if you make it a habit, there'll be trouble!" Natsuki teased as Monika chuckled.
"Duly noted Natsuki, I'll do my best to be on time!" Monika said.
"I do think it's rather nice you're playing an instrument as elegant as the piano…Mozart's Sonata…such a great example of a skilled pianist!" Yuri said with a small smile.
"Maybe one day Monika will be compared to the likes of Mozart!" Sayori said, earning a warm smile from Monika.
"Hahah, I don't know about being that great! But thanks, Sayori, that means a lot to me! So, let's get down to business so that we can do whatever we'd like afterwards, let's start off by…sharing poems with one another!" Monika said.
Sayori went over to Yuri and began to share her poem, while John went over to Natsuki. Once everyone would be finished, Monika told John that she would share hers as well with the group. Natsuki huffed and gave John the faintest of smiles as the young man looked up at her, taking a deep breath.
"So, Natsuki…I, uh…wrote a poem for the first time…want to hear it?" John asked as Natsuki looked down at him.
"I guess I have no choice…let's hear what you came up with…" Natsuki said, feigning annoyance, though she certainly made it appear as though she genuinely meant it.
John read his poem out loud and Natsuki's eyes widened a bit once he finished. John could tell with Natsuki's intense stare that she was listening intently the entire time. A few seconds of silence passed before John decided to ask the massive woman if she liked it.
"So…Natsuki was it…good?" John asked.
'Good? Good?! It was the best poem I've ever heard in my life! Better than the analytical nonsense that Monika writes, or the dark and complex poetry Yuri writes and far better than Sayori's poems about breakfast. This is his first poem…? It's amazing…so amazing…but…ugh! I can't tell him that! He'll think I'm being too sentimental! Maybe…maybe be a bit tsundere, but not too much…' Natsuki thought to herself as she crouched down to be eye level with John.
"It was…it wasn't too bad! I mean, my poem is far better than yours, but for a first timer, it's great!" Natsuki said, holding back a bit of what she truly wanted to say.
John's eyes lit up when hearing Natsuki's response as she straightened up to her massive 6'11" height, towering over the 6' tall man. Natsuki had a small but genuine smile on her face.
"Thank you! That…that means a lot!" John said as Natsuki scoffed.
"But of course! I mean, it makes sense the best poem writer would compliment your poem! Now, let me read you mine, dummy!" Natsuki said.
Simple by Natsuki Himoto
Simple words on sheets,
Does what I do even matter?
Feels like it doesn't.
"Woah…this is…this is kind of…deep, Natsuki…" John said, a bit flabbergasted.
"Hah, of course it's deep, the message is obvious too; it's about how people wonder if what they do in life really matter! Simple words can capture poetry too!" Natsuki said.
"If…you don't mind me asking…do you…feel this way about yourself…?" John asked as Natsuki's eyes widened a bit.
Natsuki took a step closer to John, looming over him. She gave a sidelong glance around the room, seeing the others sharing their poems and leaned down to his level.
'This'll be a good way to show him I'm not some terrifying, pink-haired giantess and have some heart…I'm still trying to warm up to him but I'll…I'll show some vulnerability.' Natsuki thought.
"…Sometimes…I do feel like what I do doesn't matter. Like everyone else is doing cool stuff and I'm just woman who reads manga and watches anime…" Natsuki said as she straightened up, towering over John once more.
"Well…I think you're kinda cool…plus a person who likes manga or anime is even more cool to me, who cares what others think?" John asked, as Natsuki's eyes lit up.
'Yes…he's definitely the one for me. I'll make him mine…and mine alone.' Natsuki thought.
"Thanks dummy, that means a lot…don't think this means that we're best friends or anything…but it's nice to have someone get me…" Natsuki said with a small smile.