Chapter 17: Cutie

After a long day of school has come to an end. Everyone gathered up at the club and had their usual free time. Yuri went ahead to read while Monika and Sayori talk. Natsuki went to the classroom closet to get her Manga leaving Michael with nothing to do. Instead of just waiting to be talked to, he decided to go see what Natsuki is up to. When he got close to the classroom closet, she yelled.

Natsuki: "Freakin Monika!"

Michael: "What's wrong?"

Natsuki: "She put my Manga box on the top shelf again."

Michael: "I see … Here let me get it."

Natsuki: "No I can get it myself. Just hold the chair for me."

Michael: "Wouldn't it be easier if I got it for you?"

Natsuki: "Just hold the chair!"

Michael: "But?" He shuts his mouth as Natsuki gives him the look. "Fine" He grabs the chair she had and held onto it as she gets on top of the seat. (Why couldn't she just let me get it for her? This is awkward.)

Natsuki: "Almost got it. Got it!" She looks down and immediately turns red. "W-w-w-w-where do you think you're looking at!?"

Michael: "You told me to hold the chair. Remember?"

Natsuki: "Stop looking up my skirt!"

Michael: "I was not and calm down you're going to fall."

Natsuki & Michael: "Oh shit!" A huge thud can be heard all around the classroom.

Sayori: "Hey are you two ok?"

Michael: "Natsuki please get off of me."

Natsuki: "Eww gross!" She jumps off of him. "Monika, are you trying to kill your club members!?"

Monika: "What happened here?"

Natsuki: "Why did you leave my Manga on the top shelf knowing I can't reach there!?"

Monika: "Sorry it slipped my mind when I was cleaning it out. Are the both of you okay?"

Michael: "A little. What about you Natsuki?" He turns to look at her and notices something was wrong. He gets up and walks towards her. "Is something wrong?" Natsuki turns with tears building in her eyes. "Natsuki? Is everything ok?"

Natsuki: "No!" Her voice squeaks as she throws her Manga volume down the floor. Sayori and Monika walk up to her to see if she's ok while Michael picks up the Manga she just threw.

Michael: "I see." He looks at the volume and sees that there are more creases on the first volume of Parfait Girls. He looks through it one more time and sees that the Manga isn't going to last much longer as the pages are just about ready to fall apart. He already knew how beaten up it looked when he first read this with her but seeing how much she loved this more than the others. He started to wonder if there's any sentimental value in it.

Monika: "What's the matter?" He shows her the damaged book. "Oh, I see." He walks up to Natsuki still crying.

Michael: "Natsuki" She doesn't respond. "Could you two give us some room please?"

Monika: "Sure"

Sayori: "I hope you can cheer her up?" Both her and Monika leave to the other side of the room as Yuri peeks at the situation.

Yuri: (Natsuki ... I feel sorry for you. To love something that was given to you as your last gift, to be this ruined. I wish there was something that I could do for you.)

While Natsuki continues to cry, Michael went ahead to gather up all her Manga volumes that were spread out when they fell. He gathered them all up and place them in their rightful order.

Michael: "Here" He hands her the box as she begins to have hic ups.

Natsuki: "Why?"

Michael: "A part of it was my fault, so I felt responsible to clean up. Sorry I couldn't do anything about this one." He shows her the first volume of Parfait Girls.

Natsuki: "That's not what I meant. Why are you so nice to me after I was being so mean to you?"

Michael: "I guess it's because you're not really a bad person. After all, we all have our worst days. Some even worse than others."

Natsuki: "Thank you. Don't worry about this one."

Michael: "That volume must be really precious to you?"

Natsuki: "Yeah, it was given to me by my mom before she passed away. It's her last gift to me." She hugs the volume. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. Guess this is my punishment for being so mean." Michael chuckles a bit. "What's so funny?"

Michael: "That's the first time you apologized to someone instead of giving them a treat."

Natsuki: "Heh, guess you're right."

Monika: "Is this a bad time to say that it's time to share poems?"

Natsuki: "No everything is alright. Let me go get mine." She walks away from Michael and Monika.

Monika: "You did good Michael."

Michael: "Huh?"

Monika: "Okay everyone it's time to share poems."

Everyone gathers up after getting their poems. Michael was a bit nervous sharing his new poem but went ahead to share it with Monika first.

Monika: "Hello Michael, starting off with me I see."

Michael: "Yeah, I thought it would be best to share this one with you first." He hands over his poem and she does the same. After reading each other's poem Monika spoke up.

Monika: "My oh my. So, you decided to change styles again? I'm guessing my style didn't suit you."

Michael: "In a way? Sorry about that."

Monika: "Well there's no harm in that, as a matter of fact this is way better than your previous one."

Michael: "You think so?"

Monika: "Of course, but I think you should go talk to her first about it? Maybe she could give you some pointers."

Michael: "Yes of course, but I should share this with the others first before I show her. Thank you." He walks from Monika to Yuri. "Yuri"

Yuri: "G-greetings Michael. How are y-you doing today?"

Michael: "I'm doing fine." He hands her his poem. Few moments had passed as they both read each other's poem. "So, what do you think?"

Yuri: "Oh well …" She looks at it closely. "It's well written, but …"

Michael: "You don't have to force yourself to like it."

Yuri: "V-very well. I don't … it's … it's not my cup of tea, but I do appreciate that you're working hard."

Michael: "I see. Well thank you for giving me your opinion. I'll talk to you another time."

Yuri: "Yes of course." (Was he thinking about her when he wrote it?)

Michael: "Sayori"

Sayori: "MC! How did it go?"

Michael: "Well Monika thought it was better than the last few and I think Yuri hates it, but she said it in a polite way."

Sayori: "Well I'm glad you're improving." She hands him her poem and he does the same. They both begin reading. (There's no doubt about it. You were thinking about Natsuki. Why is this making me so sad?)

Michael: "Sayori?"

Sayori: "Huh?"

Michael: "Are you doing ok?"

Sayori: "Oh sorry I was still reading. I think it turned out great, just like what Monika said."

Michael: "I see."

Sayori: "Here you go. Go ahead and show it to Natsuki now." He nods to her before leaving to go talk to Natsuki. As she watches him walk away, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. (Why? Why her?)

Michael: "Natsuki"

Natsuki: "Michael, ready to show me your poem?"

Michael: "Yeah, here you go." He hands her his poem and Natsuki does the same. After spending a couple of minutes reading, Natsuki spoke up.

Natsuki: "Finally something good for the day. Were you inspired by me when you wrote this?"

Michael: "Yeah, I thought I would try to use your style of writing. Did you like it?"

Natsuki: "N-no … a little."

Michael: "Oh I see."

Natsuki: "Well it's a whole lot better than your previous ones, so … whatever."

Michael: "Are you feeling ok?"

Natsuki: "Yeah, why do you ask?"

Michael: "Because your face is turning red."

Natsuki: "W-what!? No it's not. I-idiot!"

Michael: (Guess she did like it. I'm glad.)

Monika: "Okay everyone. I think this will do for today's meeting. I hope to see you all again with a new poem tomorrow."

After ending today's club meeting, everyone packed up and left for home. During Michael and Sayori's walk home. Sayori notices something on Michael's face.

Sayori: (Is he smiling a bit? Is it because he impressed Natsuki?)

Michael: (Good, my wounds are healing quickly. Maybe I will be able to go to our club trip this weekend after all.)

Sayori: (Maybe he's in love with Natsuki? If that's the case then I need to support him with everything I got, but then what will happen to me? MC, is there still a place for me in your heart or was there never room for me to begin with?)

Both of them continue their walk home as the sun slowly sets in. Later on, that night with Natsuki.

Natsuki: "Oh my god, oh my god. Why is my heart beating so fast? He wrote a poem based off of me. Does that mean he likes me? No, he can't be? Is he?" She goes to the bathroom to look at her reflection. (No, it was just a stupid poem that so happens to be based off of my poems. Besides I know for sure that he likes girls with huge boobs like Yuri and the others? Plus, with my body type I would make him look like a creep.)

*Sigh* "Why must I suffer like this? Why can't I have a body like Yuri, the confidence like Monika, and the ability to be playful like Sayori? Instead, I'm stuck looking like kid. Why does it have to be like this?" She hears the front door open. (He's home now. I wonder what we're eating tonight. Not much I assume. After all, why care at this point. He lost his will ever since mom died.)

Natsuki's Dad: "Are you home!? Get down here if you are!?"

Natsuki: "And it begins." *Sigh* "I miss you mom. I wish you were here."

End of Chapter 17