Chapter 4: Trying to Give

After a long walk from the club Michael managed to find Yuri sitting on a bench crying after what Natsuki said. When he found her, he tried to talk to her, but didn't know how to comfort her. With not much experience dealing with upset people other than Sayori back when they were kids, he didn't really know how to help Yuri and it's not like he knows her that well either.

Michael: "Yuri?" She wipes away her tears to see him clearly.

Yuri: "What are you doing here M-Michael?"

Michael: "I came to check up on you. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Yuri: "You don't have to check up on me. Please return to the club with the others. It's not like anyone would care that I'm gone."

Michael: "I don't think that's true. Plus, I can't ignore you when your this upset. I don't want anyone taking advantage of you during your moment of weakness." Yuri sniffs and wipes away more of her tears. "You know Natsuki didn't mean what she said."

Yuri: "N-no she's right about me. I'm just a loner who wants to grab everyone's attention and the only way to do that is to act like a know it all. You probably hate me for what you saw. I must look like a disgusting person to you."

Michael: "I don't think that way of you." She looks up to him with her red eyes.

Yuri: "Y-you're just saying that to be nice to me."

Michael: "No I really mean it. You're a very intelligent person. I told you I really liked your poem."

Yuri: "Y-you mean it?"

Michael: "Of course I do. You know just before I shared my poem with you. Monika talked very highly of you."

Yuri: "S-she did?" He nods to her.

Michael: "She said that if I wanted advice to improve my writing skills, I could go to you for advice since you're very smart." Yuri remained quiet as he takes a seat next to her. "After you left the clubroom Natsuki started to regret her choice of words. She regretted what she said to you. I don't know much about the both of you, but I know the two of you can make up."

Yuri: "D-do you think so?" He nods. "But what if she's right?"

Michael: "You need to have more confidence in yourself."

Yuri: "B-but …"

Michael: "I know, it's hard right, but that's ok. It takes a while to build up that confidence, but I know you can do it."

Yuri: "You really think so?"

Michael: "You told me that I have potential to make a great poem, so I have faith that you will have confidence in yourself, because you're a smart girl that can achieve so much. So be proud of what you are." Yuri wipes away what's left of her tears.

Yuri: "Th-thank you for being very nice to me." He gives her a warm smile.

Michael: "Come on let's head back. The others are worried about you." She nodded and followed him back to the clubroom.

By the time the both of them reached the clubroom they are greeted by Monika.

Monika: "Yuri welcome back. I was so worried that you might never come back."

Yuri: "Th-thank you for caring. Sorry for making you worry."

Monika: "You don't have to apologize for that. How are you feeling?"

Yuri: "I'm getting better. Thank you for asking."

Natsuki: "Yuri" She turns her head towards Natsuki. "Can I talk to you alone?" She says while avoiding eye contact.

Yuri: "Yes you may." She follows Natsuki out the door to talk alone.

Sayori: "I hope they can make up?"

Monika: "I'm sure they will." She looks to Michael. "Thank you for taking care of Yuri."

Michael: "You're welcome."

Monika: "To be honest with you and Sayori. Despite me being known as the idol of our school. I'm not that good when it comes to emotional people. I may be the leader, but without Sayori or anyone else, I can't do anything when it comes to people emotionally."

Michael: "Really?"

Monika: "Oh yes. Sorry for not telling you this, but Yuri can be very sensitive. Whenever I see her sad, I start to worry about her."

Sayori: "Not only that, but she's not very open to others. I doubt even Natsuki succeeded in getting Yuri to open up to her and she knew her longer than us."

Michael: "I see."

Monika: "Well since all that is settled, I think it's best for us to end todays club meeting. You and Sayori can leave now. I'll wait for Yuri and Natsuki to come back before closing up."

Michael: "Are you sure?"

Monika: "Positive, but before you two leave, I should tell you guys your next assignment." Both Sayori and Michael agreed to what Monika is about to say to them. "Tonight's homework is to use what you learned from today and make a brand-new poem. I hope your poems come out better than your previous."

Sayori & Michael: "Yes mam!"

Monika: "Perfect, I'll see you two tomorrow." She waves to the both of them as they walk out the classroom.

Sayori: "Say MC since we're both attending the Literature Club, want to walk home together just like old times."

Michael: "That's fine." Sayori gave him a big smile and they began their walk home.

After a long walk home from school and having a small conversation about poems. They finally reached Michael's place.

Michael: "Looks like I'm home?"

Sayori: "Yeah, so I'll see tomorrow MC, bye." She turns from him and begins to walk away.

Michael: "Sayori can I ask you something?" She stops right on her tracks and turns to him.

Sayori: "Yeah, what's up?"

Michael: "It's about Natsuki and Yuri. Do they always argue like that?"

Sayori: "Oh no, no, no. That's the first time I saw them argue like that before."

Michael: "Really?"

Sayori: "Well I mean they do argue every once in a while, but it never really escalated like that before."

Michael: "I see."

Sayori: "You don't hate them, do you?"

Michael: "… No, I don't. I just wanted to know, is all."

Sayori: "Well I hope things can go back to normal?"

Michael: "I hope so too."

Sayori: "I wish everything can go back to normal just like old times."

Michael: "What was that?"

Sayori: "Nothing, see tomorrow MC." She starts walking further up the streets.

Michael: "Yeah, see you later?" (What's with her?) He turns to his house and enters inside. He went straight to his room to drop his backpack before heading back downstairs to get dinner. After eating he went back to his room to lay on his bed thinking about what occurred today.

"What a bad start in joining the Literature Club. I hope they do make up?" He continues to lay on his bed lost in thought about the four girls. Sayori, the childhood friend that he stopped talking to for years until recently. Natsuki, the tough girl. Yuri, the shy one and Monika, the school's Queen and the President of the Literature Club.

(Compared to them I'm nothing more, but a huge mistake. Blamed for everyone's misfortunes. A person who now carries his father's sins.) After thinking to himself he got off his bed and went through under it to take out the bottle of liquor again. He took a sip before putting it back under his bed and pulled out his Revolver from his lower drawer again. He spun the barrel and pulled the trigger on his head.

*Clank*

"Guess I'm not dying today either?" He puts the gun away before walking towards his computer desk to start working on his next poem. After spending an hour trying to write his next poem using the advice he got from the girls. He finally finished it and started thinking to himself again.

(Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, Monika. I want to get to know you all better, but I think it would be for the best to keep my distance from you all.) He puts away his poem in his backpack before showering and going to bed.

Meanwhile at Yuri's house. Yuri is seen laying on her bed after trying to read her novel at her desk. She wasn't able to focus on her book due to her over thinking the events that had occurred earlier today. Not what Natsuki said, but to what Michael said to her.

Yuri: "… Michael, he was really nice to me, but why can't I focus on reading my novels? The more I think about him the more my face burns. Gaa! Why can't I focus! What should I do!?" At that moment she heard a knock on her door. "Oh uh, please come in?"

Yuri's Mother: "Hello, is everything okay sweetie?" Said the woman with violet hair and eyes. A woman who is the spitting image of Yuri herself.

Yuri: "Y-yes, I'm doing well, it's just …" Her mother waits to hear her out. "Mother there's this person who was really nice to me today. When my feelings got hurt, he I mean her took the time to check on me and cheered me up."

Yuri's Mother: "That was nice of her, so what is it you want to ask me for real?"

Yuri: "I … I wanted to say thank you to him-her, but I feel as if saying thank you isn't enough?"

Yuri's Mother: "I see, so you wanted to do something special for your friend?"

Yuri: "Yes" Her mother takes the time to think.

Yuri's Mother: "How about giving your friend a small gift?"

Yuri: "A gift?"

Yuri's Mother: "Sure, it wouldn't hurt to give your friend a small gift to show your appreciation."

Yuri: "I understand, but what should I give to him?"

Yuri's Mother: "That's something you have to decide. Just give your friend a gift that you put a lot of thought into and I'm sure your friend would really appreciate it."

Yuri: "I see, thank you mother."

Yuri's Mother: "Anytime sweetie, goodnight."

Yuri: "Goodnight mother." She says as her mother leaves the room.

Yuri's Father: "Is everything alright?"

Yuri's Mother: "Yes dear, just our little girl being love struck is all."

Yuri's Father: "Oh that's good … wait what?"

With her door closed and left alone in her thoughts. Yuri must now think about what exactly to give to Michael. She struggled to find what to give to him and spent most of her time trying to get inspiration from one of her novels. Soon enough she thought of giving Michael something that belongs to her. She began looking around her room hoping to find something that he might enjoy, but she wound up back to square one.

Yuri: "This is more difficult than I thought? I don't know much about Michael, so I don't know anything about his interests. However, the way he took his time to cheer me up proves that he's a good person, just like what Sayori said, but something about him seems off?" She looks at her bookshelf near her door and started to think more about him. (Michael, I want to know more about you, but I'm too shy to ask.) She walks up to her bookshelf and took out a book. "Perhaps I should give him this. Not many people would like to receive a book as a present, but I'm sure he would enjoy this?"

She takes the book and places it in her bag before getting ready for bed. However, before she does. "I need to relieve some stress first before heading to bed. At least this once. I hope?"

The next day after school has ended. Michael packs up his belongings before heading to the clubroom. On his way there he spotted Yuri just about to enter.

Michael: "Yuri?" She turns to face him.

Yuri: "Oh h-h-hello M-Michael."

Michael: "How are you holding up?"

Yuri: "Uh … I-I'm doing well."

Michael: "I take it that you and Natsuki made up?" Yuri remains quiet as she covers her mouth with her book. "Oh, sorry if I'm being nosy."

Yuri: "N-no, no you aren't. Thank you for being considerate of me."

Michael: "That's good, so are things ok with the both of you."

Yuri: "Well yesterday Natsuki couldn't say she was sorry."

Michael: "What!?"

Yuri: "Wait, me and her did make up this morning." He looks at her with confusion as she takes out a small plastic bag from her purse.

Michael: "What is it?"

Yuri: "Cookies. Whenever Natsuki does something rude she normally takes the time to bake some sweets for me as her way of apologizing."

Michael: "Oh I see now. Well, I'm glad the both of you are still friends." He says while walking past her. Yuri attempted to say something but couldn't.

Yuri: (Oh I couldn't give it to him. Maybe later.) She follows him to the club.

When they both enter the clubroom, they saw that no one else had arrived yet. Both Michael and Yuri took their seats and laid their belongings on their desks, waiting for the others to show up. When the others did show up, Monika gave the announcement to everyone that they have free time before they start sharing poems again.

Everyone went their separate ways around the classroom. Natsuki went to the classroom closet to get something. Monika sat in the teacher's seat to do work. Sayori and MC got together to talk about poetry. Leaving Yuri alone to try reading her book. Despite this she tried to work up the courage to give him her gift. Time had passed and Yuri still hasn't budged from her seat. All she could do was try to read.

Monika: "Michael, I wanted to let you know that I registered you as an official member of the Literature Club to the Student Council."

Michael: "You did?"

Monika: "Yup and thanks to you we're an official club."

Sayori: "Hurray, I'm so happy! We get to keep our club."

Yuri: (I'm glad we're not disbanding.)

Monika: (Now that that's settled, we can have the opportunity to get to know you.) "Michael, can I ask what you like to read?"

Michael: "What I like to read?"

Monika: "Yes sir."

Sayori: "Come on MC tell us."

Michael: (Crap what should I tell them? I don't want to tell them that I just read manga and I can't lie to them. If I lie to them then it's only going to bite me in the ass later on. Hell, I don't even remember what the last book I read was.)

"Well, I read Mangaaaa." He whispers the last part.

Monika: "I'm sorry what was that?"

Michael: "It's nothing. It's just …"

Monika: "I see not much of a reader huh? Well, I hope that changes while you're here."

Michael: "Y-yes mam." He scratches the back of his head nervously.

Monika: (This is my opportunity to get to know him, but I'm going to need some assistance.) "Yuri, could you recommend any books for Michael to read? You know to at least get him started?"

Yuri: "Huh … well it depends on what he likes in a story?"

Monika: "Okay then, Michael what do you like in a story? You can use a TV series or movies as an example."

Michael: "Well if I had to choose, I would say … I like fantasy, action and a bit of romance?"

Monika/Yuri: (Romance?)

Sayori: "I didn't know you like stories that have romance in it?"

Michael: "Well it depends on how it's written. I don't like romance story if it's too mushy. I enjoy it if there was a build up like if the two Main Characters started off not liking each other, but as time goes on, they started to like each other more and more. If that makes any sense?"

Sayori: "Oh ok now I see it."

Monika: "That's interesting to know." She smiles softly.

Michael: "What about the rest of you? What do you girls enjoy in a story?"

Sayori: "I like mine to have happy endings. If the middle or beginning started off sad but ends happily then that's ok for me."

Michael: "No surprise there. What about you Monika?"

Monika: "Well I enjoy romance and tragic stories and maybe a bit of sci-fi."

Michael: "Interesting, what about you Yuri?"

Yuri: "Oh well …" She gets off her seat and thinks carefully to herself. "I enjoy any story that have outstanding details and a story that involves me to think beyond my understandings. Though if I had to be specific, I do enjoy romance, fantasy, and horror."

Monika: "You enjoy horror? I didn't know you're the type of person to enjoy horror?"

Yuri: "Oh yes. I enjoy mostly about the deeper meaning behind it. For example, what if the monster isn't really evil compared to the truth of humanity? What if humans are the real monsters?"

Monika: "Oh I see. Like what if there are no monsters, but humans are the real enemy to themselves?"

Yuri: "Exactly and I do enjoy a story where we see things through the antagonist's perspective. Like if they're in the right, but the hero is just too righteous to stop and think."

Michael: "Or if maybe both protagonist and antagonist are in the wrong with what they see in life?"

Yuri: "Correct!" She says with sparkles in her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Michael: "It's ok this is a Literature Club. It makes sense we be talking about stories."

Sayori: "MC's right."

Natsuki: "Ga! I hate horror stories." She says while walking up to everyone else.

Yuri: "Really, why is that?"

Natsuki: "Because! … Oh, never mind. Forget what I said."

Michael: (Guess she enjoys cutesy stories? Then again, she might enjoy others that we're unaware of?)

Monika: "Well if that's all settled its time to share our poems together." She says with enthusiasm.

Sayori: "Hurry! Let's get started."

Yuri/Michael/Natsuki: "Huzza" They say with no enthusiasm.

All five of them gathered the desks to form a circle before they start their activity. After everything was set up, they all got into pairs and shared what they wrote with the knowledge they gained yesterday.

Natsuki's was cute, but in her own words had a deeper meaning. Sayori was simple, but funny. Yuri's was well written, but kind of scary. Monika's was also well written, but confusing to understand, and as for Michael. Well, his was still bad, but a little bit better than his previous one. Of course, everyone tried to be nice about it except for Natsuki, but Michael took the advice from the girls to make his next poem better. Soon enough it was time to end today's club meeting. Right before Monika let everyone leave, she told them all to write another poem to share tomorrow.

With that all settled and done with, everyone left. Michael went walking with Sayori, Natsuki went the opposite way where the both of them are heading, Monika stayed behind to lock up the classroom and Yuri went to the girl's restroom. While in the restroom, Yuri looked at herself in the mirror. Satisfied to learn more about Michael, but sad that she didn't give him her book. She walked out of the restroom while holding the book until.

Monika: "Oh Yuri you're still here?"

Yuri: "Oh yes, it's just I needed to use the restroom before heading home."

Monika: "Understandable" She looks at the book Yuri is holding. (Could've sworn she was holding a different book earlier?)

Yuri: "Well I'll see tomorrow. Have a pleasant day." She bows.

Monika: "Right, same to you." Yuri walks passed her downstairs leaving Monika alone in the halls. (… That book? Was that supposed to be a gift for him?)

End of Chapter 4