Chapter 16: Squid of five
With everyone gone searching for Yuri after she ran away from the club. Everyone searched all over the school but could not find her anywhere. Despite Michael claiming he was going to search for Yuri. He didn't bother looking for her. He was way too upset at what happened he didn't have the will to go look for someone who was actually nice to him.
Michael: (Fucking bastards. I hate them. I hate all of them. They all look down on me for looking like him but know nothing of my suffering. They can all go to hell.) As he walks downstairs where no one is around. He started to remember some bad memories of his past. "Tch!"
After taking a seat on a nearby bench in the hallways to help calm himself he started to realize something about himself. (Why am I here?) He looks at the clear blue sky through the window as he remembers the smile Yuri showed him. (I need to go find her.) He gets up and goes looking for her. After spending hours looking for her, he had no luck finding her. Not just him, but everyone else.
Natsuki: "Anyone found her?"
Sayori: "No I don't know where she could be?"
Monika: "Keep searching girls. We need to help her."
Natsuki & Sayori: "Right" They all split up to search again.
Monika: "Where could she have gone? Where could you have gone?"
Meanwhile with Michael. He started wondering if she already went home already. He made this assumption since he knows Yuri is too shy to be anywhere near all these students. He wasn't sure where to go next and decided to use this time to walk around to clear his mind, until he heard sniffling.
Michael: "Yuri?" He walks around the corner behind the school and sees Yuri crying the same way she did back after Natsuki insulted her. "Yuri" She looks up to see him eye to eye only to look away towards her arms.
Yuri: "Why are you here?"
Michael: "Everyone is searching for you. We're all worried about you."
Yuri: "How can you all worry about me? I messed up our poetry performance and made the Literature Club look like fools. I shouldn't be a part of the club after all this."
Michael: "That's not true."
Yuri: "It is." *Sniff* "I couldn't say a word and now the girls hate me."
Michael: "No, they don't."
Yuri: "You probably hate me too?" He shakes his head.
Michael: "Never." He sat next to her on the floor. "Listen you're a sweet person."
Yuri: "Liar"
Michael: "It's the truth. You should've seen what Monika said to those bullies. She along with the rest of us care. You're our friend and our club member."
Yuri: "… Michael …"
Michael: "Yes?"
Yuri: "Do you hate me? Be honest."
Michael: "I already told you. I don't hate you, not even the slightest."
Yuri: "Even after what almost happened Saturday."
Michael: "I told you before. It's my fault. You did nothing wrong."
Yuri: "But I almost caused you to cheat."
Michael: "I'm already a bad person. If I cheat, then I'm the villain. You're someone who didn't know about it. I'm the one who should be apologizing."
Yuri: "Michael?"
Michael: "Compared to you and the others. I'm the worst person in the club. It's me who should be hated, not you. You're a good person."
Yuri: "Do you really believe that?"
Michael: "I do. I'm glad I met you." He offers his hand to her.
Yuri: "I-I feel the same way." She didn't accept his hand, but instead she hugged him and he hugged her back. When they broke apart, she saw a tear running down his face. (Michael you're in more pain than I am. Are you?)
Michael: "Let's go back to the club. The others are worried about you."
Yuri: "You're right. Shall we?" He nods to her before they both got up and walked back to the club. When they returned, they are greeted by the others.
Sayori: "MC! Yuri!"
Monika: "Oh I'm so glad you two are back safely."
Yuri: "I'm sorry about what happened. I failed the Literature Club." She bows.
Monika: "No you didn't. I'm the one who failed you all."
Natsuki: "Come on Monika that ain't true."
Sayori: "She's right."
Monika: "No it's the truth. I was so desperate to get more members that I pushed aside the feelings of the members that I already have. I just want you all to know that I'm grateful for all of you who joined me in this club." She bows.
Sayori: "We are as well. Thank you for making us feel welcome." The others stand beside her.
Monika: "You guys." She smiles in joy by the sight of her friends.
Sayori: "So what now?"
Natsuki: "To be perfectly honest with you all. I'm quite happy that it's just the five of us."
Sayori: "Natsuki?"
Yuri: "I-I agree. Being just us five has made me feel very comfortable."
Monika: "Then it's all decided. No more members. We're be an awesome club with just the five of us." All four girls celebrate Monika's decision. All except for Michael who turns away to walk out the door. "Where are you going Michael?"
Michael: "Home"
Monika: "But why?"
Michael: "I just want to be at home. I'll see you next time." As he reaches for the door.
Monika: "Does it have anything to do with what those boys said about you?" He froze for a moment.
Michael: "Don't worry about it."
Monika: "Worry? When you give a response that way of course I'll start to worry. Michael please, just tell us what happened to you?" He doesn't say a word.
Sayori: "Come on MC."
Michael: "If I tell you then I can no longer be a member."
Monika: "What do you mean? You'll always be a member."
Michael: "Then let me go home to clear my head."
Monika: "What?"
Michael: "I'm going home. I'm not feeling well."
Sayori: "Wait MC!"
Michael: "Don't follow me! Just let me be. I'll see you all tomorrow at the club." He says before leaving.
All four girls watch as he leaves. They weren't sure what else to say or if there were any other words to say at all? Michael headed home as the girls decided to clean up the room before checking out the rest of the Festival.
Monika: "Well it's all locked up. What do you girls want to go see?" None of the girls answered.
Yuri: "If it's all right with you. I'll be taking my leave."
Monika: Why is that?"
Yuri: "I'm not feeling too well myself. Sorry."
Monika: "Don't be. I can understand how you feel. Take care and see you tomorrow."
Yuri: "Thank you. See you all tomorrow as well. Have fun in the Festival." She bows and takes her leave.
Monika: "What about you two?"
Natsuki: "If it's not too much to ask how about we go get ourselves some squid?"
Monika: "I didn't know you like squid?"
Natsuki: "Of course, who doesn't? You of all people should know that?"
Monika: "What do you mean by that?"
Natsuki: "It's in your name. Mon-ika."
Monika: "I'm not following, but if that's what you want then let's go?"
Natsuki: "You're no fun." All three of them walk to a stand to get some fresh grilled squid. "Aw man this is some great squid. Too bad Yuri and Michael are missing out."
Monika: "Got to say it ain't half bad."
Natsuki: "Told you so. Hey Sayori, what do you think?"
Sayori: "It's good." She says less energetically than usual.
Monika: "You haven't been eating much as I thought you would? Is everything okay?"
Sayori: "Yeah, just sad about what happened today."
Natsuki: "You can get sad?"
Monika: "Natsuki"
Natsuki: "What?"
Monika: "Don't worry Sayori. Everything will be okay. I promise. Now eat up."
Sayori: "Ok" She takes a bite out of her squid.
For the rest of the day the three of them enjoyed the School Festival to the fullest. It may not have gone well for the Literature Club, but Monika knows that their pull through. Later on it was time to end the School Festival with everyone cleaning up before heading home. The next day after the School Festival has concluded. Everyone gathered back into the Literature club.
Monika: "Hey everyone."
Sayori: "Hey Monika."
Natsuki: "Late as always."
Monika: "Sorry." She looks around the classroom and sees all the girls, but no Michael around which caused her to worry. She looks at the girls faces as they too are sad as well. "Hasn't shown up yet?"
Sayori: "No, I tried to see him during this morning, but no luck."
Natsuki: "Wonder if he'll ever show up today at all?"
Monika: "Well according to what I heard he did show up today."
Natsuki: "Then he probably left for home then?"
Monika: "Probably." She looks out the window. (Wonder if he's avoiding us now? The way he's been acting so distant he might not want to come back.)
The door opens suddenly and the girls look to see who it was.
Michael: "Am I late?"
Sayori: "MC!"
Natsuki: "You finally decided to show up."
Yuri: "I-I'm glad you're here."
Monika: "Hey Michael."
Michael: "Did I miss something?"
Monika: "No, everything is okay. We're just glad you showed up.
Michael: "That a fact?"
Monika: "Oh yes and after doing some self-reflecting. I came to a conclusion and I want to make this clear one more time."
Natsuki: "Which is?"
Monika: "We don't need more members to have fun. We can have all the fun we want with just the five of us."
Sayori: "She's right. We can have all the fun we want with just the five of us."
Monika: "I just said that?"
Natsuki: "Still, what happened yesterday still made us all feel like shit."
Monika: "Don't worry everyone. I have a plan to cheer ourselves up."
Yuri: "What would that be, if I may ask?"
Monika: "How about we all go to an indoor pool this Saturday?"
Sayori: "Really!?"
Monika: "Yup, it can help us all forget about the Festival and to show that we can still have fun with just the five of us."
Sayori: "I'm in! Let's go!"
Natsuki: "Not a bad idea sure I'm down."
Monika: "What about you and Yuri?"
Michael: "Uh …"
Yuri: "Uhm …" (I don't want to go, but I don't want to let them down again. What will I do if they see it then they'll hate me.) She thinks to herself while holding onto her arm.
Michael: (Crap I can't go unless … no I have to. I already made them worry. I should go to make it up to them, but …) He holds onto his rips.
Monika: "Michael, Yuri?"
Yuri: "Yes I'll attend."
Michael: "Same here I'll go."
Monika: "Oh perfect. Okay everyone it's all settled then. This Saturday we're be attending the indoor pool. Bring whatever you're going to need and let's have as much fun as we can."
Everyone Else: "Yes mam!"
Monika: "Today there will be no poems, but I do hope you all work on one for tomorrow. Until then enjoy your free time until it's the end of the day."
After all that was settled. Everyone split up to do their normal thing until it was the end of the club meeting. When the meeting was over everyone went home. Natsuki and Yuri went home together since they're going in the same direction. Monika went by car as someone was there waiting for her, as for Michael and Sayori they walked home together. Throughout the entire walk Sayori tried to ask him about what happened in the past but didn't have the heart to ask. Instead, she would ask him something else.
Sayori: "How are things going with your poems? Did anything help?"
Michael: "Yeah it did, I decided to try a different style."
Sayori: "Really? I thought that Monika's style suited you better than mine?"
Michael: "I know, but I think I could do better if I tried out some other style?"
Sayori: "I see, well I'll support you all the way."
Michael: "You don't have to push yourself to like mine."
Sayori: "As your closest friend. It's my job to support you all the way."
Michael: "I see well thanks for the support."
Sayori: "So what style do you think you're going to go for?"
Michael: "Hmm? I haven't decided yet. Maybe I could figure that out tonight?"
Sayori: "Well I hope things go well for you. See ya MC."
Michael: "Yeah" They both wave goodbye and went their sperate ways. Later on, that night after eating, showering, drinking, and play his deadly game. He is seen on his desk thinking about what type of poem to write this time. He went down the list but couldn't think of anything.
Soon enough it hit him. "I know. How about I do this?" An hour had passed by. "There we go. Hopefully this does well?" He gets up and examines his body. "Hopefully these will go way before Saturday or else I'm fuck if they see me like this." He lays on his bed. "If I get plenty of sleep, I should be all set before then." He closes his eyes and goes to bed.
Meanwhile at Sayori's house. She is seen getting ready for bed.
Sayori: "I wonder what MC's new poem will be like? I'll admit I am sad that he won't be writing his my way anymore, but he's his own person." She stares blankly at the ceiling. "I'm glad MC is here so we can be close, but why do we feel so distant? Wonder what happened? He used to be so friendly, but now? It has to be his sister."
She gets off her bed and picks up an old photo of her and Michael as kids. "Why do you cover your eyes? What are you hiding?"
End of Chapter 16