Chapter 10: Childhood Memories

What only seemed like days had passed was only the weekend ending. During the entire weekend everyone struggled writing down their new poems to perform for the School Festival. What started with a few crumpled pieces of paper on the floor turned into mountains.

Not all shared the same struggle. Everyone experienced something different during the time. Monika had only three pieces of crumpled paper in her room's trash can. Yuri only had two in hers and the both of them remained calm when writing their poems. Sayori and Natsuki managed to fill up their trash cans to the point that it could overflow. Michael on the other hand had it the worst. He had to throw out his trash can to the dumpster twice just to have room for more bad poems. It's a surprise he didn't need to go to the store to get more. You think he ran out, but no.

By the time the weekend ended school was just around the corner. When it did end everyone gathered to the club room. Everyone greeted each other the same as always and went their separate ways to do their own thing. Michael was so tired after struggling to write his poem that throughout the day he would doze off. To his surprise none of the teachers caught him sleeping in class. Which is good for him, but he remains exhausted.

Since he has free time before sharing his poem again, he thought he could use the time to take a quick nap. What felt like hours had passed Michael could feel a little bit better than earlier. With no teachers around to tell him not to sleep during class hours or the thought of being caught he rested easily. While he rested, he notices something seemed off about his surroundings. He wondered if it was due to the girls around him that made him feel a bit uneasy. When he opened his eyes the answer to his question was right there on his face.

Michael: "Oh shit!" He jumps off his seat a bit almost falling backwards.

Sayori: "Oops sorry MC. Wait a minute? No, I'm not, MC you shouldn't be napping in here. This isn't the Napping Club."

Michael: "Do we have a Napping Club? Can I join them?"

Sayori: "Have you been up late watching Anime?"

Michael: "No I was up trying to write a good poem to perform for the Festival."

Sayori: "Well maybe if you got some proper rest then maybe you could have an easier time writing one?"

Michael: "You're one to talk. Just look at you."

Sayori: "What's wrong with me?"

Michael: "Your bow is on wrong, you got tooth paste on your collar, your shirt is button wrong, your hairs messy and your blazer isn't button up. If you keep that up, there is no way for you to get a boyfriend."

Sayori: "Huh that's so mean to say. No one told me about it?"

Michael: "That's because no one wanted to point it out. Unfortunately for you I don't really care."

Sayori: "You're mean."

Michael: "Sorry, but it's for your own good. Now come here." He gets right in front of her and started combing her hair, put on her bow on right, buttoned her shirt right, and wiped away the toothpaste off her collar. His biggest challenge however was buttoning up her blazer. "What the hell? Does this even fit you?"

Sayori: "It did when I first got it."

Michael: "Damn it Sayori. You should always make sure to get one that fits." As he struggles to button up her blazer. Sayori starts to giggle as her face turns red. "What's so funny?"

Sayori: "That just means my boobs got bigger." He looks at her chest.

Michael: "Yeah you sure did, but still get a bigger size. There we go" He takes one step back and Sayori checks herself out.

Sayori: "This feels all wrong." She does a twirl while she unbuttons her blazer. "Phew much better."

Michael: (There's no helping this girl.)

Sayori: "So if I don't straighten myself out, I can't get a boyfriend? If that's the case, then you'll have to do it for me from now on."

Michael: "What why?"

Sayori: "Because if I had a boyfriend then that means we can't be close to each other anymore." He remains silent. "MC?"

Michael: (This girl!) He face palms.

Sayori: "Hey what's wrong?"

Monika: "Okay everyone it's time share poems." Michael and Sayori looks towards Monika. "What?"

Sayori: "You ready?" He nods.

Monika: "Okay everyone, this time we're going to do things a little different this time."

Yuri: "How so?"

Monika: "I'm glad you asked. We're still going to give each other our poems, but this time that person will have to read it out loud for all of us to hear."

Yuri/Michael: "What!?"

Natsuki: "Same here. What?"

Monika: "Like I said. We're going to read each other's poems out loud instead of reading them to ourselves. This helps with us reading out to a crowd and to make us comfortable by reading someone else's work instead of your own."

Natsuki: "Ok, but how do we start? For that matter, who do we give our poems to?"

Monika: "I made a list of who gets to read who's. I made this list yesterday and after doing some careful thought about who's reading who's. Michael will give his to me, I'll give mine to Sayori, Sayori will give hers to Natsuki, Natsuki will give to Yuri, and Yuri will give hers to Michael. Any questions?"

Everyone Else: "No mam!"

With that said and done everyone did what Monika said. It was a bit awkward with everyone reading each other's poems out loud, but not nearly as bad as what they thought. Since they're reading each other's, there was no worries reading them compared to if they read their own. Everything went slightly different than before.

Monika: "You changed your style?" She stares at Michael.

Michael: "Yeah?"

Monika: "Wow I'm impressed. This is written a lot better than before."

Sayori: "You changed styles MC? Why?"

Michael: "Well … since this is for the Festival, I thought it would be best to try something else and hoped for the best."

Sayori: "I see. Guess my style didn't suit you?"

Michael: "No, sorry about that."

Sayori: "Ah no, don't be. I'm just glad your testing new waters. I'm happy for you MC."

Michael: "Thanks"

Yuri: "May I ask what style you changed to?"

Michael: "Uh?"

Monika: "He decided to use my style of writing."

Yuri: "I see. It would make sense for him to use your style of writing."

Natsuki: "Can we just get a move on already? Just read his poem."

Monika: "Right, then allow me to read out loud." She performs reading Michael's new poem. Despite his poem being mediocre. Thanks to Monika's performance it somewhat saved it. "Well done, Michael. Think this might suit you better?"

Michael: "You think so?" She nods to him with a sweet smile.

Sayori: "Ok my turn!" She says with great enthusiasm.

After they all finished, they each had a discussion about what they liked and didn't like for each poem. They each circled what they should keep and what they should take out. After they finished Monika found it necessary to end today's club meeting. During the walk home Sayori notices that Michael seemed nervous despite his hair covering his eyes. She kept her mouth shut throughout the entire walk home or so it should be. By the time they were getting close to home, Sayori spoke up.

Sayori: "Are you feeling nervous MC?"

Michael: "Y-yeah" More silence.

Sayori: "… Don't feel too nervous. I think everyone is feeling nervous too."

Michael: "You think so?"

Sayori: "Yeah, so don't worry. I think your poem was great."

Michael: "But we literally spent what felt like hours talking about the flaws mine had."

Sayori: "Well I still think it turned out great. Besides with those tips your poem will be great for the Festival."

Michael: "I guess you're right." Sayori smiles after hearing him. The two of them continued their walk home together. The sun almost setting as they move forward.

The next day after school had ended. Everyone gathered up at the club room. Like always everyone had free time until poem sharing and spread throughout the club room. With not much to do Michael sat alone in the middle of class.

Sayori: "Hey MC could you help me gather some stuff for the club?"

Michael: "Hm? Sure, why not."

Sayori: "Yay! Ok Monika we'll be back."

Monika: "Sure thing."

Sayori: "Come on let's go adventuring!"

Michael: "Whatever" (She can be such a kid at times, but still, she seems happy, so I can't complain. Wish I could be like her.)

Sayori: "Over here MC. I found an empty classroom." They both enter.

Michael: "So why did we come here?" He says while Sayori goes through the closet.

Sayori: "Supplies for the School Festival."

Michael: "Oh right the performance."

Sayori: "Yup and we need supplies like glue and stuff."

Michael: "Why couldn't we use the supplies in the club room's closet?"

Sayori: "Monika and I checked there and we didn't find anything. That's why we're here."

Michael: "I see."

*Thud*

Sayori: "Ow!"

Michael: "Are you ok?"

Sayori: "Ow, ow, ow, ow. A little." She covers her forehead with her hands.

Michael: "Let me see."

Sayori: "No"

Michael: "Why?"

Sayori: "Because it's gross."

Michael: "Not as gross as your room. Just let me see it." He pulls down her hands. "Woah it's all red."

Sayori: "See told you it would be gross."

Michael: "Wait here, I'll go get you some ice." He rushes out the door to go look for some ice or something cold. Luckily just around the corner there is a vending machine. "Good thing I have money with me." He inserts the money into the machine. "Let's see what to get her. Wait why should I care what flavor to get her? It's for her head. Ga! Fuck it apple juice." The vending machine drops a bottle of cold apple juice.

After obtaining it he quickly ran back to Sayori. When he was just about to turn to the corner someone was about ready to open the door. Luckily Michael already made it around the corner before someone walked out of the classroom. This boy saw Michael run by and instead of saying anything he smiled. "Here" He hands Sayori the bottle of juice.

Sayori: "Oh thank you." She opens it and drinks it.

Michael: "What are you doing?"

Sayori: "What I'm just drinking it?"

Michael: "It's for your head. Did you hit your head that hard?"

Sayori: "Oh right." She closes the bottle and places it on her head. "You know MC this reminds me of our childhood."

Michael: "..."

Sayori: "It's been so long that you probably don't remember?" She gets up on her feet. "Back then you used to love adventuring."

Michael: "Did I?" He smiles a tiny bit.

Sayori: "You used to do things that I couldn't do and I would try to keep up with you, but in the end, I would just get hurt."

Michael: "Then you would start crying and I would have to try cheering you up."

Sayori: "Yeah, even though it wasn't your fault."

Michael: "Of course it was. If I would have taken things slow, you would never have gotten hurt."

Sayori: "Maybe so. Hey MC, do you think things would go back to the way they were when we were kids?"

Michael: "… I … I don't know." (Can things go back to the way they were? Do I want to go back?)

Sayori: "Neither do I. Well, we got what we came for so let's head back."

Michael: "Ok"

The both of them leave the classroom back to the clubroom. During the walk back. The conversation they had continued to linger into their thoughts. What occurred in the past? Could the future be the past again? Can things go back the way they used to?

Michael: (If things go back the way they were …)

Sayori: (… would things be better?)

Michael: (The time we spent together as kids were the happiest days of my life.)

Sayori: (I wish things would stay the same as they were.)

Michael & Sayori: (If it wasn't for her.)

End of Chapter 10