Chapter 3: Poem Time

*Alarm Clock Rings*

Early morning has arrived and Michael once again struggles to turn off his alarm clock. After a few attempts of turning it off, he sat up to wipe his eyes before yawning. He gets off his bed and does his morning routine. When he finishes, he grabs his backpack and heads downstairs to see his mom cooking breakfast.

Mom: "Good morning, Michael. You made it just in time for breakfast." She hands him his plate.

Michael: "Thanks mom." He starts eating and his mom joins in.

Mom: "You seem down? What's wrong?"

Michael: "It's nothing, really."

Mom: "Doesn't seem like your fine to me? Tell me what's on your mind?"

Michael: "… Yesterday Sayori invited me to join the Literature Club with her at school, but I'm not sure if I want to? Not only that, but the rules for a club has changed. You need to have five members and there are only four members. If they don't find a fifth member, then they lose their club."

Mom: "I see … Tell me son … what do you want?" He looks at his mom with confusion. "Even though I want you to go to school instead of working. There are somethings I can't decide for you. You have to make your own choices. It's up to you to choose what you really want." She looks at her watch. "Guess it's time for me to go to work? Remember, only you can choose. Just follow your heart." She waves to him before leaving.

Michael: "Follow my heart?"

Hours had passed since then. Earlier in the day as he walks to school he didn't see Sayori around, so he just walked alone. Throughout the day he remained lost in thought. He struggled with the two choices he's been given. As the hour gets closer, Michael must make a decision. He promised Monika that he would tell her his answer today, but he still hasn't made up his mind.

In the end, the final bell rang and he must now make his choice. He packed up his belongings and headed upstairs to where the club room is. When he reached there, he slowly opened the door and saw Yuri and Natsuki were already inside.

Natsuki: "Oh hey it's Sayori's friend again."

Michael: "Is Monika here yet?"

Natsuki: "Not yet. Why are you going to confess your love to her?"

Michael: "No, I came to give her my answer."

Natsuki: "You could just tell me you don't want to join and I can tell her that."

Michael: "I think it would be best if I tell her myself."

Natsuki: "Hmm?" She gets close to Michael, her eyes squinting.

Michael: "What's wrong?"

Natsuki: "You're a strange one?" He looks at her confused.

Yuri: "N-Natsuki, don't be rude to him."

Natsuki: "Well he is. Most guys would try to avoid talking to Monika as they're too shy to be around her."

Yuri: "I-I suppose that's true."

Monika: "What's true?"

Natsuki/Michael: "Oh shit!"

Monika: "Sorry I arrived late. I lost track of time talking with Sayori. Hello Michael."

Michael: "Hello"

Sayori: "MC you came back."

Michael: "Y-yeah?"

Monika: "Did you come back to tell me your decision?"

Natsuki: "Do you really need to ask? It's obvious he's not going to join us."

Yuri: "B-but we need a fifth member. D-did anyone ask someone who wants to join?"

Sayori: "I did, but no one seemed interested."

Monika: "And no one wanted to stand next to me."

Yuri: "I-I see."

Natsuki: "Gaa! What are we going to do? We have until next week, then our club will be force to disband."

Monika: "I know, but we had fun while it lasted right?"

Sayori: "We sure did. I just wished we could spend more time together as a club."

All four girls started talking about the amount of fun they did have. They all tried to keep a smile on their faces, but it was clear that they're sad. Michael remained silent still struggling on what choice to make, until he remembered what his mom said to him this morning.

"Follow your heart."

Monika: "Oh sorry for ignoring you, Michael."

Michael: "No it's alright, it's just …" Monika leans in closer. "I made my decision. I'll join the Literature Club, so you don't have to worry about finding a fifth member."

Monika: "Really!?" Her eyes lit up.

Sayori: "Hurray!" She gives Michael a huge hug.

Monika: "Awesome, then that means I could inform the school that we have five members."

Yuri: "I'm so glad."

Natsuki: "Nice"

Monika: "By the way did any of you do your assignment last night?" Room fell silent.

Natsuki: "Crap, I was hoping you'd forget about that."

Monika: "Oh my dear Natsuki. You should know that I don't forget things easily."

Yuri: "I wish you did. How embarrassing."

Sayori: "Oh you girls." She says with a bright smile.

Monika: "What about you Michael? I'm guessing you didn't write one. It's okay if you didn't."

Michael: "No I did. I did it just in case I did decide to join, but I should warn you mine is crap."

Monika: "That's okay, at least you did something. Okay everyone, let's share what we wrote." Michael took off his backpack and searched for his poem.

Michael: (Doubt that this is any good.)

Monika: "Don't be too nervous everyone. This is our first time doing this. Can't start off well without a few failures. Okay everyone, let's begin sharing our poems and after that we can have our free time."

Everyone Else: "Yes mam!"

Everyone went ahead to grab their poems and partnered up of who gets to read who's. Monika and Natsuki paired up while Sayori and Michael got together and exchanged theirs.

Sayori: "I'm soooo glad you joined. I'm so happy."

Michael: "You think so?"

Sayori: "Yup so let me read your poem." She starts reading his poem while he waits for her to finish. A moment of silence had passed and she finished reading it. "Wow"

Michael: "Is it that bad?"

Sayori: "No it's just … well it's not the worst."

Michael: "I see."

Sayori: "But don't feel bad. You'll get better soon enough."

Michael: "If you say so." He takes Sayori's poem and begins reading it. The poem was about her being greeted by the sunshine and ending off with her wanting breakfast. Despite that, she wrote hers way better than his. "Well, it's better than mine and well thought out."

Sayori: "Thank you MC, but seriously don't worry. You'll get better."

Michael: "Thanks, I believe it's time for us to share ours with the others now?" Sayori nods in agreement.

After they finished sharing their poems with each other they partnered up with the others. Sayori went for Natsuki and Michael went with Monika.

Monika: "Hello Michael having fun yet?"

Michael: "More nervous."

Monika: "Understandable" (It's hard to tell with his hair covering half his face.) "Well, here's my poem."

Michael: "And here's mine." Both exchanged their poems and started reading. When they finished, they had a discussion. Monika's poem was kind of odd to understand, but at the same time understandable when you stop to think about it. With no doubts he felt his ego kicked down a notch.

Monika: "Uh Michael?"

Michael: "I know, I know it's terrible."

Monika: "Well it's more of a working progress, but I'm sure you'll get better. Though if you want some advice, I say talk to Yuri. She's really smart when it comes to literature."

Michael: "Really?" She nods. "I see. Thanks, I'll do that." The two separated as he does what Monika asked him and walks towards Yuri while Monika goes to talk to Sayori. "Hello Yuri."

Yuri: "Oh h-h-hello." She stood there in awkward silence. This made him very uncomfortable.

Michael: (Does she not like me or is she really shy?) "Uh Yuri … poem?" He waves his paper to her.

Yuri: "Oh y-yes! I-I'm sorry for shouting."

She hands him her poem and the two of them read at the same time. Yuri's poem was odd and dark, but unique. He wasn't too sure what she was trying to say? Something about light and bathing. It kind of made him jittery, but none the less amazed.

Michael: (Monika was right about her. This is amazing.) After more awkward silence had passed. He used his hand signaling her to say something.

Yuri: "Oh uh …" She goes through the page again. "It's good …"

Michael: "And?"

Yuri: "… I'm sorry I'm no help it's just …" She fidgets with her hair. "I don't want to be negative with your hard work."

Michael: "It's fine, just tell me what you really think."

Yuri: "Are you upset with me?"

Michael: "No, I think your shyness is cute." He shuts his mouth with his hand. (Shit!)

Yuri: "I-if you're not upset with me then th-thank you for your patience."

Michael: (Roll with it.) Yuri takes a deep breath.

Yuri: "Your poem is written oddly, but there is potential in it. I'm sure when the time is right and after a few attempts your poem will be a masterpiece. Maybe better than mine and Monika's." After saying all that with confidence she went back to being timid. "I'm sorry."

Michael: "No, no, it's ok. Thank you for having that much faith in me." His face turns slightly pink and Yuri does the same. (That's the first time someone had faith in me. Wait, she probably said all that because she hasn't heard about me. It's best not to get my hopes up.) "Oh, and your poem is great. I don't really understand it, but when I reread it again it makes better sense. You have real talent."

Yuri: "Y-you don't have to praise me."

Michael: "No I mean it."

Yuri: "I see … th-thank you." More awkward silence occurs until Natsuki spoke up.

Natsuki: "Are you two done yet? I still have to share my poem with the both of you." She grabs Michael's arm and drags him away from Yuri. "Here" She hands him her poem.

Michael: "Right, here's mine." Both started to read each other's poem.

Natsuki: "Yeah yours is horrible. Try harder next time."

Michael: "Well excuse me if I can't get the first thing I never done right."

Natsuki: "Whatever, just tell me if you hate mine and we can continue on with our day."

Michael: "Well I like the fact that there's rhythm. Mine has no rhythm, so yours is way better." Natsuki started to blush a bit.

Natsuki: "Whatever … you might get better at this sooner or later." They both hand back each other's poems and went their separate ways. Natsuki went to share hers with Yuri while Michael talks with Sayori and Monika.

Sayori: "Having fun MC?"

Michael: "It's alright."

Sayori: "Don't worry. It'll get better soon enough."

Monika: "She's right you know? Soon enough we'll have lots of fun together as a club."

Natsuki: "What the hell do you mean cute!?" Everyone looks to Yuri and Natsuki.

Yuri: "S-sorry it's all I could think of to say."

Natsuki: "It took you that long to think of something to say. Did you even read mine correctly. It's not cute, it's about giving up."

Yuri: "Well if you like I could give you some advice to make it a little more serious."

Natsuki: "Better yet how about I give you tips of how to write a better poem, because I have no idea what the hell you're saying here."

Monika: "Break it up, break it up. What's going on here?"

Natsuki: "I can't understand her poem and she's making fun of me for using simpler words unlike her high-class vocabulary."

Yuri: "N-no I'm not. I was just telling her my thoughts."

Natsuki: "I'll have you know Michael and Sayori liked mine a whole lot."

Yuri: "Excuse you? Michael liked mine too."

Natsuki: "Oh really now? I didn't know you were trying to impress our new male member since you didn't even bother mentioning Sayori or Monika."

Yuri: "W-wait that's not what I meant."

Natsuki: "Hey Michael get over here and tell us who's you like more?"

Yuri: "Natsuki, please don't drag him into this."

Natsuki: "Shut up! Get over here and tell us who's poem you liked better."

Yuri: "Natsuki, can't we just agree that both our writing styles are unique and end this argument, please?"

Natsuki: "No! We're going to figure this out right now. Michael, answer the damn question."

Yuri: "We're making everyone feel uncomfortable. Let's just end this bickering."

Natsuki: "You mean the bickering you started when you came at me with your maturity. FYI the only thing mature about you are your boobs."

Monika: "Natsuki"

Natsuki: "Face it Yuri, the only thing bigger than your boobs is your ego."

Monika: "Natsuki that's enough."

Yuri: "Natsuki …"

Natsuki: "Why should literature be about using complicating words when simple words can be just as effective as your big brain words?"

Yuri: "It all allows literature to be more expressive when used correctly if not more in a meaningful way. Not using them would only hold you back and be a waste."

Natsuki: "And here we go again! Your big talk. Honestly how can anyone take you seriously? With how big your ego is? It's no wonder why you're a loner with no friends!"

Monika: "Natsuki!"

Natsuki: "!" Realizing what she just said.

A moment of silence occurs. No one said a word after Monika shouted. Sayori tried to say something but couldn't. It was only the first day of the Literature Club with all five members, but for this to occur. Yuri's eyes started to water as she ran out of the classroom.

Sayori: "Yuri wait!"

Monika: "Natsuki, you shouldn't have said that to your only friend. She wanted to end this peacefully, but you wanted to keep this going. You should've listened to her suggestions considering that out of all of us she's the most experienced."

Natsuki: "But …"

Monika: "No buts. You should know better on how sensitive she is with her emotions."

Natsuki: "… I know … You're right. I should've known better." With regret of her actions, she started to tear up as Monika and Sayori talk to her.

While the three of them talked, Michael quietly slips away. Sayori notices this, but kept her mouth shut. All she had was a smile on her face when she saw him heading off in the same direction Yuri went. While the three girls have a talk. Down the hallways, Michael tried his best looking for Yuri. He wasn't sure where she could be, but the further he went down the halls the more he heard crying.

Michael: (Wonder where exactly she could be?) He went further down and just around the corner he found Yuri covering her face with her hands. "Yuri" Hearing his voice she uncovered herself and looked up at Michael with tears in her eyes.

Yuri: "Michael?"

End of Chapter 3