Chapter 14: Baking for the worst
The final day before the School Festival is here. Michael struggles getting out of bed early in the morning since he didn't sleep well after what happened with Yuri. His heart filled with nothing, but guilt and pain. The pain on his body is nothing compared to the pain he feels in his heart. Despite his struggles getting out of bed he forced himself up to prepare for Natsuki's arrival. After doing his morning routine he got a lot of text messages from her.
"I'm coming over around twelve. That cool with you?" He responded to her first question and then answered the rest of her questions. Most of her questions was about what utensils he has for baking. He wasn't sure what they were going to need so Natsuki gave him a list of what they're going to need. After going through the list, he went to his kitchen to look if he had any of them that Natsuki is asking for.
Soon after he texted his mom if they had any and when she responded she told him where they would be. By the time Michael got them all and texted Natsuki about what he had and what he didn't. Only having half of them, Natsuki would have to bring the other half with her. Other than that, she gave him a list of ingredients for the cupcakes. She didn't want to admit it, but with the amount they're going to make she didn't have enough money for all of the ingredients.
After checking the list out, he then looked at the clock and saw he still had plenty of time to go to the grocery store to get more of the ingredients they're going to need. He quickly left home to go to the nearest grocery store. When he arrived to his location, he spent all his time searching around the store for the things Natsuki was asking for.
Michael: "Hmm? Where could the vanilla extract be?" (The fuck is that anyways?) He continues walking down the aisles in search of the item. Just when he was about to turn to the next aisle, he bumped right into a familiar face.
Monika: "Michael? What are you doing here?"
Michael: "Monika?
Monika: "I see you're doing some shopping?" She looks closely at his basket.
Michael: "Yeah, I'm just searching for the ingredients me and Natsuki are going to need for the cupcakes."
Monika: "I see. Speaking of helping. How did everything go with Yuri yesterday?"
Michael: "Yuri?" He has a flashback of yesterday while Monika waits for his response. "... It went fine. We manage to finish the decorations."
Monika: "That's great."
Michael: "Yeah, well I better get going. There's a lot of work to be done today."
Monika: "Sure thing. I'll see tomorrow at the Festival tomorrow."
Michael: "Yeah, later." He waves to her before he checks out.
Monika: (Did something happened between him and Yuri? He seemed down when I asked him about her?)
Later after arriving back home. Michael unpacks all the ingredients he purchased from his bags and begins to wait for Natsuki to arrive. In the meantime, he decided to practice his performance since today is the last day to do so before the Festival. While he practices, he heard the doorbell rang and looks at his clock.
Michael: "Guess it's time?" He quickly went downstairs to answer the front door.
Natsuki: "Sup"
Michael: "Hey"
Natsuki: "Did you get all the ingredients I told you to get?"
Michael: "Yeah there all set up in the kitchen."
Natsuki: "Good, I brought the other stuff we're going to need."
Michael: "I'll lead you to the kitchen then. Come on in. Oh, should I take those bags for you?" He points at the two grocery bags she's carrying.
Natsuki: "Tsk if you insist?" She gives both bags to him.
Michael: "Oh shit! How are you able to lift these?"
Natsuki: "I may not look like it, but I'm a strong girl."
Michael: "I see … Well, this way." He leads her to the kitchen while he struggles a bit carrying the bags. (Have I got weaker?)
Natsuki: "Nice kitchen you got here."
Michael: "Thanks, so how are we going to bake? This is my first-time baking cupcakes by scratch."
Natsuki: "Don't worry young one. I will show you the way on how to bake some delicious cupcakes."
Michael: "Ok then I'll be in your care."
Natsuki: "Then let's get started." She cracks her knuckles.
The both of them got started making the cupcakes by scratch. Natsuki showed him the steps on how to prepare before they put them in the oven. At first, he thought it would be easy when he saw Natsuki doing it, but in truth it was a lot more difficult than what he thought.
"Rule number one: Don't ever think baking or cooking is easy. Now watch closely." She takes over his place and shows how it's really done as she mixes the batter together in the bowl. "Now you try."
Michael: "Right"
He does what Natsuki showed him and soon enough got the hang of it. Throughout the next two hours Natsuki would constantly watch over him to make sure he doesn't make any mistakes. After another two hours had passed, they finally finished.
"Phew, finally done." He says as he sits down on a nearby chair.
Natsuki: "Man we sure did bake a ton of them, but we're still not done yet." She takes a seat as well.
Michael: "What we're not done yet?"
Natsuki: "No we still got to decorate them using frosting."
Michael: "Oh lord, so what are we going to decorate them as?"
Natsuki: "I don't know. I haven't decided on that yet?"
Michael: "Should we ask the others for ideas?"
Natsuki: *Sigh* "I guess."
Michael: "Alright I'll text them."
Natsuki: "No, I'll do it."
Michael: "You sure?"
Natsuki: "Yeah you worked hard so take a break until we decide what to design them as."
Michael: "Ok then." He gets off his seat and heads to the living room.
Natsuki on the other hand stays seated and calls everyone else. She asked what they should design them as and when they responded they all had different ideas, but both Natsuki and Michael are getting exhausted to decorate them all differently. In the end all four agreed to pick one. It took almost twenty minutes for all of them to decide and when they did, they all chose for a literature design such as books are a letter.
Natsuki: "Alright then we're go with that. Later everyone." She hangs up the phone. "Hey Michael we all decided what we're going to design them as.
Michael: "What are we going to design them as?" He says as he walks back into the kitchen.
Natsuki: "We all agreed to go with something literature related like a cover of a book or something."
Michael: "I see, makes sense since we're the Literature Club."
Natsuki: "Yeah so ready to get this done and over with?"
Michael: "Yeah" After an hour had passed the both of them manage to complete decorating all of the cupcakes they made. "Finally finished." He says as he stretches.
Natsuki: "We're not done just yet."
Michael: "What? What else is there?"
Natsuki: "We still have to clean up all this mess."
Michael: "Oh right."
Natsuki: "Well luckily we made the right decision of cleaning up a little as we waited for the cupcakes to finish baking, so we have less to clean now."
Michael: "Yeah you're right. Let's get this over and done with."
Natsuki: "Agreed"
The both of them started cleaning around the kitchen. When they finally finished, they both took a seat and looked at all of the cupcakes they made inside the trays.
Michael: "We sure did make a lot?"
Natsuki: "We sure did." A random growl occurred.
Michael: "What was that?" The growl occurred again. He looks around and notices where it came from and looked at Natsuki.
Natsuki: "W-what are you looking at?' Her stomach growled as she turns red.
Michael: "Are you hungry?"
Natsuki: "Just a bit." Her stomach growls louder.
Michael: "Do you want anything to eat?"
Natsuki: "No! I need to head back home. My dad is cooking and I need to eat as much as I can."
Michael: "Really?" She nods in response. "Well if you say so?" They both got up and he walks her out the door, but before she could leave, she saw the photos of him and Sayori as kids.
Natsuki: "Hey so that's what your eyes look like." She shows one of the pictures to Michael of himself. "Hey so like who is that girl next to you and Sayori. The both of you look annoyed by her?"
Michael: "... Just someone me and Sayori knew. Nothing more nothing less."
Natsuki: "Ok? I'm guessing that photo over there is your mom?"
Michael: "Yeah" He looks at the photo.
Natsuki: "... What's your mom like?"
Michael: "?"
Natsuki: "Is your mom nice?" She says as she continues looking at the picture.
Michael: "Yeah, my mom is nice. My mom's a sweet person, but she can get annoying at times."
Natsuki: "And your dad?" He doesn't say a word. She looks to her side to see his emotionless face, but it was clear that he was feeling annoyed. "Forget about it. It's not like I wanted to know more about you or anything."
Michael: "... What about your parents? What are they like?"
Natsuki: "My mom was awesome. She was the one that got me into baking."
Michael: "Was?"
Natsuki: "Yeah, she died a long time ago and ever since then me and my dad haven't been the same. Mostly dad." He looks at her with concern. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'll see you tomorrow at the Festival. I'm leaving all the cupcakes here for now."
Michael: "Right. I'll make sure Sayori and my mom doesn't eat them."
Natsuki: "Thanks. See you later." She walks outside as Michael closes the door. On her way home she thought to herself about Michael's reaction about being asked about his dad. She was confused at first but could understand why. (Michael … you're just like me. You don't get along with your dad, do you? I wonder how he hurt you?) She stops and looks at the stars above. (Mom)
*Flash Back*
Young Natsuki: "Mommy! Tell me a story."
Natsuki's Mom: "Again?"
Young Natsuki: "Yeah!" Her mom cracks a smile.
Natsuki's Mom: "Alright then, come here." She lifts up Natsuki.
Young Natsuki: "You're the best!" Both her and her mother shared a laugh together.
*Flash Back Ends*
Natsuki: "Mom" She says to herself as tears start to form only for her to wipe them away before continuing her walk home.
Meanwhile after she left his home. Michael decided to take a walk for the night to clear his head. With so much going on this past week. Helping each of the girls, but at what cost? What should've been fun turned into the exact opposite. He couldn't get over with what happened to Yuri and the guilt got worst. During his walk two girls had a private conversation over the phone.
Monika: "Yuri could I ask you what happened between you and Michael?" Yuri says nothing but doesn't hang up the phone. "I know something happened between you two. I asked Michael how things went with the decoration, but the way he responded bothers me. Please Yuri, tell me."
Yuri: "… Nothing went wrong, between us. We're just exhausted that's all. Sorry to worry you."
Monika: (I know she's lying. I could almost hear her crying.)
Yuri: "Monika can I ask you something personal?"
Monika: "Of course you can."
Yuri: "Have you ever been in love before?"
Monika: "What?"
Yuri: "Have you ever been in love with a boy before?"
Monika: "Where is this coming from?"
Yuri: "Please answer the question. Please."
Monika: "Yuri" She shows a sad expression after hearing her plead. "Yes, I have, but … why do you ask?"
Yuri: "Did you ever had a broken heart from loving someone?"
Monika: "... I ... I don't know how to answer that. Sorry."
Yuri: "That's okay. I'm sorry for asking a stupid question. Thank you for listening to me."
Monika: "Sure thing. Bye Yuri."
Yuri: "Bye Monika." Both hang up.
[Far Too Young to Die by Panic! At The Disco]
Monika walks outside of her room to the balcony to stare at the stars above. The bright moon as the ultimate ray of light.
Monika: (Something did happen, but what? I need to know. I want to know, but … No, I shouldn't. It's none of my business, but still. As the Club President it is my duty to make sure all my members get along. I need to know more about my members. The Festival is near I need to get some rest.)
Sayori: (I need to be honest with him. I must, but at what cost if I do? I'll ruin everyone else's happiness only to make myself happy. MC … Michael … Why does my heart hurt so much? Why do I feel so much rain clouds on my head?)
Yuri: (I almost committed an unforgivable act. If I had known Michael was already in a relationship I would have never … no it was my fault for giving myself hope. What boy would ever like a girl like me? I need to relive my stress. I need to do it. It will help with the Festival tomorrow.)
Natsuki: (Like always not much to eat. Whatever at least he gave me some money. The School Festival is tomorrow huh. Wonder how we're all do?) She gets up to put on her Pjs before she heads to bed. (I'm going to need all my energy for tomorrow. Wonder if everyone else is nervous?)
During his walk Michael decided to stop walking and look up at the dark sky with sparkling stars above. He held onto his chest and thinks to himself about tomorrow.
Michael: (Tomorrow is the Festival.) He clenches his chest. (Can I do this? Am I ready for this or am I only setting myself up for despair? I'm too scared to show up. It isn't because of the Festival. No … I'm too scared to let the girls know the truth about me. When they find out. They'll just be like everyone else.)
He continues his walk back home to prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the big day and will everything turn out for the best or will it end for the worst? The true story begins. A story about finding oneself and overcoming all odds. This is the where the full story of the Literature Club begins. Is there Hope for everyone or is there nothing but Despair?
[Song Ends]
End of Chapter 14