Chapter 1: Welcome to where it all begins

*Alarm Clock Rings*

A young teen boy struggles to turn off his phone alarm. He didn't bother getting up and would rather stay in bed longer. However, as a student and child, he had no other choice and just yawned.

Mom: "Michael wake up! You're going to be late for school if you don't get up now!" She yells through the door before she starts knocking and entering her son's room. When she enters, she sees her son still in bed still struggling to turn off his alarm. "Michael" She says with an annoyed tone.

Michael: "Fine, fine, I'm getting up." He sits up wiping his eyes as he yawns again before seeing his mom in her work attire. A simple office attire.

Mom: "Get ready for school. Breakfast is almost ready."

Michael: "Ok mom thanks." His mom leaves his room while he heads to his bathroom. There he washes his face, brushes his teeth, and takes a shower before putting on his school uniform and combs his long dark brown hair covering his eyes. After getting ready he grabs his backpack and heads downstairs.

Mom: "Good you're ready. Here's your breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and toast." She hands him his plate.

Michael: "Thanks mom, but you don't have to push yourself too hard every day."

Mom: "Don't worry about me. Mothers are strong don't you know. It's only a matter of time until you meet that one girl, so let me spoil you a little longer."

Michael: "But with all that work you do shouldn't I be the one to spoil you? I don't want you to collapse from all this work you do. I don't understand why you won't let me drop out of school and look for a job to help you?"

Mom: "I won't allow you to make that decision. Education is the most important thing you need. After you go to college and find a career, then you're set for life. Don't worry about me. When you find the right career, then you can spoil me." She smiles to her only son. Michael could've said something back, but seeing her warm silver eyes and bright smile, how could he?

Michael: "Yes mam." He starts eating his breakfast.

Mom: "Well it's time for me to head to work. Take care Michael." She waves to him before leaving.

Michael: "Bye mom -" She closes the door before Michael could finish his sentence. "See you tomorrow morning?" He went silent and kept eating. After eating and cleaning his plate, he grabbed his backpack and headed off to school.

(How long has it been since dad left? How much longer do I have to go to school so I can help support my mom? I much rather drop out and find a job to help her, but no. God, school is just so tedious.) He sees the cross light getting ready to change. He thought to himself if he should pick up the paste or just keep his normal paste. Just as he was about to make a run for it.

?: "Hey wait up!" He looks behind himself.

Michael: (Oh great I see an annoying girl running up to me with no care in the world. The way she runs up to greet me, she looks like a fool. However even when she make's herself look like one, she could care less.)

?: "Thanks for waiting." She breaths heavily.

Michael: "I only waited because the lights changed." He crosses his arms.

?: "Hey! You meanie." She pouts.

A couple of seconds passed by and the cross light changed, allowing both of them to cross.

Michael: (Sayori my childhood friend. I've known her for years. We used to play together all the time back when we were kids. My mom would say we were inseparable. Hell, her parents consider me one of their kids and mom would consider Sayori as her daughter. We used to have fun playing games and going out for adventure until … an incident occurred and I stopped seeing her.)

Sayori: "mc, Mc, MC!" He snaps out of his thoughts.

Michael: "Sorry I dozed off. What were we talking about?"

Sayori: "Have you been getting enough sleep?"

Michael: "Not really. I've been having difficulties going to sleep."

Sayori: "Maybe you should lay off the Anime?"

Michael: "Just tell me what we're talking about?"

Sayori: "I was just asking if you're planning to join any clubs?"

Michael: "No"

Sayori: "What why!?"

Michael: "I have no interests in joining any clubs. Not even the Anime Club."

Sayori: "Come on MC please join a club like mine?"

Michael: "Still no." Just as Sayori was about to say something. "And no I did not make a promise to you that I would try to join one."

Sayori: "Please MC join my club." She gives him the puppy dog eyes and he sighs.

Michael: "I'll think about it."

Sayori: "Hurray!" She starts hopping.

The two of them continue their conversation all the way to school. When they reached school, they both went their separate ways. Before they attended their classes Sayori told Michael that she will come by his classroom after school to guide him to her club. He waved to her goodbye and went to class.

Hours had passed and the final bell finally rang. All the students packed up their belongings and left for home or to attend their own clubs. In the meantime, Michael remained in his seat lost in thought. The thoughts of his past bothers him. He remembers somethings he wished he could forget, but they continue to haunt him. What felt like hours to him passed by in minutes to others around him. Alone in his darkness. The world growing cold around him. His eyes shut not wanting to see it. Soon enough he opened up his eyes after feeling a disturbance in the force.

Michael: "Oh shit!" He almost fell off his seat, after seeing Sayori was right up in his face.

Sayori: "Oh good you finally noticed me."

Michael: "Did everyone else leave?"

Sayori: "Yeah, you're the only one left in the classroom." She looks around the empty classroom only seeing Michael. "So, are you ready to visit my club?"

Michael: "Think I'll pass."

Sayori: "What, but you promised."

Michael: "No I said I'll think about it and I made the decision not to go."

Sayori: "But we have cupcakes."

Michael: "Bribing me won't help you and why do you want me to join so badly?"

Sayori: "Because I want to spend more time with you and you need to talk to more people." He looks up to her dead on the eye. (Is he staring at me eye to eye? It's hard to tell with his eyes covered by his hair.)

Michael: "What's the real reason?"

Sayori: "I already told you. I want us to hangout more." She starts to sweat a little.

Michael: "Sayori" He says with an annoyed tone.

Sayori: "… Ok, ok, I kinda promised the other club members that you would be coming to visit and possibly join us."

Michael: "Sayori, don't ever make promises you can't keep."

Sayori: "I know, I know, I'm sorry, but please visit the club."

Michael: *Sigh* "… Fine, but I won't guarantee I'll join."

Sayori: "Okie Doki, let's go!" She grabs him by the arm and drags him upstairs.

This was the first time he went upstairs. Normally he would spend most of his time at the bottom floors of the school or at the plaza. He would spend lunch time avoiding people and hiding himself away from others. After a few more steps the both of them made it to their destination.

"Here it is."

Michael: "This is where your club is?"

Sayori: "Yup and I'm sure the others are already here. Come on let's go inside and meet them." She opens the door and enters with Michael right behind her. "Hey everyone, I brought us a new member!"

Mystery Girl: "Oh what you brought a boy over? I thought this club was only going to be girls. You know girl power?" Said the short girl with pink hair and eyes.

Mystery Girl 2: "N-Natsuki, you shouldn't be rude to our new guest. I-I'm sorry for her rudeness." Said the tall girl with long purple hair as she bows.

Michael: "Sure" (She's kind of cute.)

Sayori: "Yuri and Natsuki, how are you two doing?"

Natsuki: "Just fine or whatever." She crosses her arms.

Yuri: "I-I'm doing well. Thank you for asking."

The door swings open.

?: "Hey everyone, sorry I'm late. I had a discussion with the Student Council and … why hello Michael."

Michael: "Hello Monika."

Sayori: "Hmm, you two know each other already?"

Michael: "Sort of? We had class together last year, but we never really spoke to each other."

Sayori: "Ah I see. That makes sense."

Monika: "So, what brings you here Michael?"

Michael: "Sayori dragged me here."

Sayori: "What no I didn't!"

Monika: "Wait a minute, so your Sayori's childhood friend. I must say, she has spoken very highly of you."

Michael: "Really now. Here I was starting to worry that she may have said some embarrassing things about me." Yuri gets closer to Sayori.

Yuri: "I-is this the boy you played with all those years ago?"

Sayori: "Yup! That's him Michael Conner. My childhood best friend."

Monika: "Well it's nice to meet Sayori's friend." She looks at Yuri and Natsuki. "Have you two been nice to him?"

Yuri: "N-Natsuki was being rude to him and I apologized to him."

Natsuki: "You snitch."

Monika: "Really Natsuki? Does Yuri have to clean up all of your messes?"

Natsuki: "No mam."

Monika: "Good. Okay everyone introduce yourselves to our guest."

Natsuki: "I'm Natsuki. Nice to meet you or whatever."

Yuri: "H-hello I-I'm Yuri. I-It's a pleasure to m-meet you."

Sayori: "You already know who I am. I'm your childhood friend and the Vice President of this club, Sayori."

Monika: "And I'm the President of this club, Monika."

All Four Girls: "And Welcome to the Literature Club!"

Monika: "Okay girls, you know what to do."

Natsuki/Sayori/Yuri: "Yes mam!"

Sayori started to arrange the desks into a circle while Natsuki grabs a tray of cupcakes. Meanwhile Yuri went to the classroom closet to take out a tea set and prepare everyone tea.

Monika: "So Michael how have you been?"

Michael: "Just fine."

Monika: "That's good." (He not much of a talker? Maybe he's the shy type?)

Michael: "Hey Monika can I ask you something?"

Monika: "Sure, what is it?"

Michael: "Why did you leave the Debate Club?"

Monika: "Oh well … Let's just say I got tired of all the arguments and I wanted to do something new."

Michael: "If you wanted to leave, then how come you decided on this club? There are plenty of clubs that would love to have you."

Monika: "True, but I wanted to do something that I always wanted to do. There was no Literature Club and I always wanted to join one. Sayori was the first one I asked and I'm grateful that she brought over Yuri and Natsuki. Oh, sorry if it's not the answer you were hoping for."

Michael: "It's fine. You wanted to do something your passionate about. I have no right to judge."

Monika: "Thank you."

Sayori: "Ok everything is all set up."

Monika: "Oh perfect. Shall we?" He nods in agreement. "Take a seat wherever you like."

Seeing how they set up the room. Michael took a look at the seats all gathered in a big circle. He decided to sit in the middle seat closest to the wall. Both Sayori and Monika sat next to him. Yuri came by giving everyone a teacup and pouring nice hot tea in them. In the meantime, Natsuki gave everyone a cupcake. Michael takes the cupcake Natsuki gave him and looks at it. The design was the shape of a cat. While he inspects it, he felt a burning sensation on himself. He looked away from the cupcake and saw Natsuki staring at him.

Michael: (Why is she staring at me? Is she waiting for me to take a bite?) With no more hesitation he took a bite out of it. "Oh, wow this is good." He continues to eat it until there was nothing left. (It's sweet, but not too sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness.) "Thank you for the cupcake uh … Natsuki?"

Natsuki: "I don't expect you to remember my name, but your welcome and thanks." She whispers to herself that last part. For a moment Michael could see a shade of pink on her face.

After thanking Natsuki for the cupcake he took a sip of his tea.

Michael: "This tea is good."

Yuri: "Oh uh th-thank you." Her face turns red and Michael looks at her with confusion.

Monika: "Oh by the way Natsuki you dropped this last week."

Natsuki: "Th-that's not mine. You're tripping."

Monika: "Pretty sure this fell out of your backpack."

Sayori: "What is it?"

Monika: "A poem and it's just adorable."

Sayori: "Really let me read it?"

Natsuki: "F-f-f-fine it's my poem, but it's not adorable!"

Michael: "Guess you aren't a confident writer?"

Yuri: "I can't blame her. It takes a lot of courage to read out loud if not letting people read your work. I would die if I had to share my poems."

Sayori: "Aww, but I really wanted to read your poems too. I think they would be awesome."

Monika: "Wait Sayori, you just gave me a great idea."

Michael: (She did?)

Sayori: (I did?)

Monika: "Every great writer needs a little push before they become famous right?"

Michael: "Wait what do you mean?"

Monika: "Listen up everyone, tonight we're all going to write our own poem and share them with each other."

Sayori: *Gasp* "Great idea!"

Natsuki/Michael/Yuri: (Not a great idea!)

Monika: "Okay everyone tonight for homework write your own poem and bring them here tomorrow."

Natsuki: "Now hold on for a moment. I didn't agree to do this."

Yuri: "Natsuki's right. This is far too embarrassing."

Sayori: "Come you two, don't be party poopers."

Yuri: "I can't write a poem and share with others. It's embarrassing for me to do so. I'll die if I do."

Monika: "Don't be so dramatic. You'll do fine as you get used to it."

Natsuki: "I'm still not doing it and you can't change my mind."

Sayori: "Come on Natsuki. Pllleeeeeeeeeaase." She gives Natsuki the puppy dog eyes, but Natsuki does her best not to give in and she gave in.

Natsuki: "Fine I'll do it."

Sayori: "Yay, you let me win." She claps her hands.

Monika: "What about you Yuri?"

Yuri: "…" All eyes are on her as she struggles to think. "V-very well then, I'll try."

Monika: "Great and what about you Michael?"

Michael: "You know I can't do it."

Monika: "Come on Michael, sure you can."

Michael: "It's not that, it's … I'm not part of the club."

Monika: "Oh yeah I completely forgot about that. Well let's sign you up then."

Michael: "Hold it. I told Sayori earlier that I was willing to visit, but I never said that I would join. I'm sorry, but I have no interest in joining any clubs."

Monika: "Oh I see." She looks down on the floor.

Michael: "Sorry" He scratches the back of his head.

Yuri: "N-no we're sorry for forcing you to take part in all this. It's just … we were hoping that you would join our club so we can establish this as an official club."

Michael: "Say what now?"

Monika: "Just a couple of weeks ago the school board established that for a new club to be official we need at least five members before a certain deadline."

Michael: "Wait I thought you only needed four people to make it official?"

Monika: "It was, but now they demand five now. We only have four and we need a fifth. If we don't find ourselves a fifth member, then the Literature Club will be force to disband." All four girls started to look gloomy after hearing that their club will be shut down all because of one dumb rule. "It's okay Michael if you don't want to join. We won't force you. I'm sure we can find someone else that's interested in joining us."

All four girls look at the floor with sadness in their eyes. If they don't find a fifth member, then all their hard work will go to waste. Michael wasn't sure what to do. He promised himself that he wouldn't join any clubs as he already hates school and would rather work to help his mom, but to see four girls this sad. This was something his mother wouldn't want. With so many thoughts in his mind Michael must make a decision, but what will he choose?

What will his route be?

End of Chapter 1