Chapter 29: Heart of the Cards

November 22, Sunday. Sayori stands in front of Michael's house once again. She stood there for some time. Mentally preparing herself to confront him again after what happened last night. Assuming he's home.

[Stay and Drown by Finger Eleven]

Sayori: (Yuri, after seeing you speak up for MC. I now know what I have to do. This is my last chance to convince him to leave Sara and to let go of his past. If I can, then maybe he would go back to the way he once was. This time I won't keep it a secret anymore. MC if you can confess your demons then so can I, but I know it won't be easy. Which is why I decided to do this.)

She looks at a deck of cards she brought with her and knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again, but still no answer. "Come on. Don't tell me you're with her again?" She knocked harder, but still no answer. "Desperate times calls for desperate measures." She pulls out a spare key. Given to her by Michael's mom years ago. (Back then I used to use this a lot to visit MC. He would always look so happy to see me and we would then go to his room to play. Until … he left me all alone. Ever since then I stopped coming over for a visit. Even when we were able to see each other again I never once used this key again. At least until now.)

She looks around the bottom floor of the house. She didn't see Michael any where and figured that he's up in his room. When she got there, she knocked before entering. When she heard nothing, she gently opened the door and saw there was no sign of him around. Instead of leaving she decided to look around in his room.

(How long has it been since I've been in his room? A lot has changed since we were kids. I remember it being a lot more roomier, but now? There's his Manga collection, his Anime, his video games.) "Hm?" She notices his closet is slightly open and walks up to it. Attempting to grab the handle. (No wait I shouldn't be snooping around. It's an invasion of privacy. I need to get out, but … I need to know what he's been up to all these years. Please forgive me MC.)

She opens the closet. "Woah no way he still has this?" She pulls out an old Duel Disk. "I remember this. This the Duel Disk from that one anime we used to watch together. This is the same Duel Disk we bought together when we both did chores around both of our houses to earn the money." She looks at some of the scratches, cracks, and lost screws on it. (Well, that's to be expected. It is old after all these years, but why does he still have this? You think MC would throw something damaged and replace with a new one, but no he didn't? MC …) She hugs the disk. "Hm? What's that?"

She sees something shining off underneath his bed. She set aside the Duel Disk and went underneath his bed. To her surprise she saw something she wish didn't have to see. "Oh my God." She pulls out a bottle of liquor. "Why would he have something like this underneath his bed? Doesn't he know that this is bad for him?" She hears the front door open. "Gasp!"

She hears footsteps coming closer and closer. She could have hid herself or attempt to leave by window, but she didn't. Instead, she felt that if she did, then everything would have been a waste. She felt she must face him now or never. If she flees then she could never face him again. It was time to face this despair head on.

[Song Ends]

Michael: "Sayori? How did you get into my house?"

Sayori: "I used the spare key your mom gave me when we were kids."

Michael: "You still had that? Why didn't you use until now?"

Sayori: "I felt that it was wrong of me to do so." He doesn't say a word as he looks at Sayori's sad expression. "MC … tell me. Have you been drinking?"

Michael: "What makes you say that?"

Sayori: "This" She reveals the bottle behind her back. "Have you been drinking this? If so, why?"

Michael: "You don't need to know that. Give it back to me and head home."

Sayori: "No, I refuse."

Michael: "What?"

Sayori: "I won't leave until you tell me the truth. Why do you have this? You know that it causes addiction and your underage to drink."

Michael: "I'm aware of the law, but I don't care. Nothing matters to me anymore."

Sayori: "Where did you get it from?" He just stares at her before responding.

Michael: "It belonged to my dad."

Sayori: "When did you start drinking it?"

Michael: "I've been drinking ever since he got arrested. When he left my life."

Sayori: "Why? Why do this to yourself? How is there still this much?"

Michael: "My dad had plenty alcohol lying around. I lost count of how many bottles I had. I've been taking sips of it every day, before …"

Sayori: "Before what?"

Michael: "It doesn't matter."

Sayori: "Yes it does. Tell me what you do after you drink this?"

Michael: "Hmph! You want to know why? Fine then. I drink from that bottle before I contemplate suicide."

Sayori: "W-what?"

Michael: "You heard me. I've been thinking about suicide all my life. The only reason I never gone through with it is because fate wouldn't allow me."

Sayori: "What do you mean?"

Michael: "I play a game of chance. If I win, I die. If I lose, I suffer."

Sayori: "But why play such a terrifying game?"

Michael: "That's just how fucked up I am. A part of me wants to live, but another part of me wants it all to end. So, I let fate decide for me."

Sayori: "You're wrong."

Michael: "Huh?"

Sayori: "You idiot. You stupid, stupid boy. Why would ever think of nothing, but negative thoughts about yourself?"

Michael: "Because it's the truth. Everyone is right about me. No matter where I go, no matter how hard I try. I could never escape from my past. I could never change. I could never find peace."

Sayori: "That's not true. You're the best person we could ever ask for! Everything we did was to help you. We wanted you to be better. We wanted you to confront your past so you could move on and head towards the future. Even when everyone else rejects you, we accept you."

Michael: "Am I really that worth it? All the trouble I caused you all. You think I'm worth it? Look what happened to Yuri. She got hurt because of me. Not only did I break her heart I let her get assaulted by Sara. All I did was just watch her get beat up. Why am I worth fighting for?"

Sayori: "Because we care!"

Michael: "Just shut up! There's nothing you could say or do to change my mind! I don't deserve friends like you! I don't deserve the club! I just want it to end! The suffering."

Sayori: "Then you left me no choice. I know how to talk to you."

Michael: "What?" She pulls out her deck of cards.

Sayori: "Let's settled this the way we used to back when we were kids. With a Duel."

Michael: "Why should we?"

Sayori: "Because I know how much you had fun playing this game. We both did."

Michael: "You're stupid. Why do you want to Duel me? How will this help me?"

Sayori: "We won't know unless we play, but this time I'm putting everything on the line."

Michael: "What do you mean by that?"

Sayori: "If I win then you have to confront your past."

Michael: "And if I win?"

Sayori: "Then I'll leave the club. I'll leave my Vice Presidency spot."

Michael: "What? Why? If you do that then the club will be forced to disband."

Sayori: "I know."

Michael: "You're willing to give up the club for me, when you could use my name to keep it? Why would you give up everything for a loser like me? What about the happiness the club gives to you and the others?"

Sayori: "It's not fun without you. If the others were here, they will tell you the same thing. The club is nothing without you. You gave us hope when you decided to join. This already proves that you're a good person."

Michael: "Me giving you girls hope?"

Sayori: "You, me. Duel me now. I won't take no for an answer."

Michael: "You never won once against me. What makes you think you can now?"

Sayori: "I've been learning how to play better thanks to the internet. I'm confident that I can beat you."

Michael: "How? You don't have your Power Tool Dragon anymore. Michelle ripped yours remember and you never were able to get a new one."

Sayori: "Yeah, I'm still upset about that, but I still have Power Tool Mecha Dragon and I've upgraded my deck."

Michael: "I just can't win against you, can I? Fine, I accept your challenge. I'll prove to you that you're wrong about me and that you and the others wasted all your time and efforts trying to help someone who is long gone." He grabs his bottle of liquor away from Sayori and puts it back underneath his bed. While he places it back to its original spot. He then took out a small box next to it and pulled out his old deck. "It's been a long time since we played Duel Monsters. Let's get this over with."

Sayori: (Just yesterday he was having fun, but now he's acting like this? Sara must have brainwashed him to think this way. He was finally having fun with us and she had to ruin it. I can't afford to lose here. If I do, then I'll have to confess my feelings. Please let my heart set you free.)

They both head downstairs to the kitchen and took their seats on opposite sides. They both called heads or tails to decide who goes first. Sayori got heads and made the decision to go first.

Michael/Sayori: "Duel!" They both start the Duel with 4000 life points if anyone cares.

Sayori: (Hmm? What to do? I need to be careful. I'm not sure if he upgraded his deck or not? I need to use my brain. I got to be prepared for when he hits hard. Especially when he decides to summon his favorite card. The very same that always ends me every time we played. Then again if memory serves me right, he has his alternate dragons as well?)

"Ok I'll do my play." She does her plays to summon her ace card, setting up her board. "Thanks to this I'm able to summon out Power Tool Mecha Dragon. I'll end my turn by placing a face down and equip some spell cards to Mecha Dragon. It's your turn MC." (If I know him well enough, he'll go for Red Wyvern before he goes for his main ace. He always uses that strategy.)

Michael: "It's my turn. I draw." (What is this feeling in my body? I feel weird right now. Could it be because of my bruises or something else?) "I'll go for this combo to summon a familiar monster." He does his own plays summoning a very creepy looking monster.

Sayori: "A level seven?" (Could it be Dark Highlander? If so, that's not good for me. That was another card that would leave me open.)

Michael: "I summon Power Tool Dragon."

Sayori: "What!? When did you get that copy?"

Michael: "I got it when we stopped seeing each other."

Sayori: "No way." (So, he did update it, but why does his deck use it? Power Tool is machine type. All his cards are … what were they again? Oh, that's right! Fiends and Dragons.)

Michael: "Since Power Tool is out and you have Mecha out as well. I can summon this little guy. Synkron Resonator."

Sayori: (He can do that? He rarely ever does that?)

Michael: "Sayori, I'm about to prove to you just how bad a person I am. I'm going to use your favorite card as a stepping stool to summon my own. Say hello to Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend."

Sayori: (There it is. Even though it's just a card. I could imagine that thing coming to life and scaring me. Still wish someone was crazy enough to make the actual cards come to life like in the show.)

Michael: "I'll use Scarlight's effect to get rid of your dragon and inflict you with 500 points of damage."

Sayori: "Nope! Thanks to my spell card Mecha is protected. However, at the cost of my dragon losing ATK points."

Michael: "Then I'll have to beat you with brute force. My dragon attacks, your dragon is gone. It's your move."

Sayori: (Good thing I have a plan to take care of it. I just got to hope he doesn't make it stronger. I know he doesn't use equip cards, so I still have a chance to overpower his dragon.)

"Ok I'll use this. I use Monster Reborn to bring back Power Tool Dragon from your grave and use this to upgrade it into Life Stream Dragon. Thanks to Life Stream, my life points go back to normal. Then I'll use this equip card to boost its power making it stronger than your Scarlight. Life Stream attacks and gets rid of your ace. Hurray! I did it."

Michael: "Don't get cocky. Don't forget how my deck works."

Sayori: "I'm aware how you play, but thanks to my equip card you can't use Hot Red to get rid of it. I'll set a card facedown and end my turn."

Michael: "You want a bet?"

Sayori: "Huh?"

Michael: "Sayori since we're being honest here, let me tell you a little secret of mine."

Sayori: "Secret?"

Michael: "When we were kids, I was always holding back when we played."

Sayori: "You what?"

Michael: "I've been holding back what my cards can really do, but this time … not anymore. It's my turn. I'll use my copy of Monster Reborn to bring back Scarlight. Next, I'll summon Chain Resonator and use its effect to bring out another copy of Synkron Resonator. I double tune to summon an even more powerful beast."

Sayori: "Oh no."

Michael: "Say hello to Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend."

Sayori: "No way you had that card since we were kids?"

Michael: "Of course, but I never needed it until now. It's time to get this over with. Tyrant destroys everything on the field."

Sayori: "Oh no, not good."

Michael: "Tyrant attacks you directly."

Sayori: "Hold it. I'll use my face down card you destroyed to block off your attack."

Michael: "My answer is no."

Sayori: "What?"

Michael: "Tyrant stops you from using your card effect and boosts its power to 4000."

Sayori: "No"

Michael: "Tyrant atta-" He hesitates for a moment. (Why? Why can't I say it? Why am I stalling?) "Tch! Tyrant attacks you directly." Sayori's life points drop to zero. "I … I won."

Sayori: "Well I gave it my all." She says smiling.

Michael: "Why? Was this really worth it? Please tell me you were joking about the bet."

Sayori: "No, I meant it. I'll be the one to disband the Literature Club."

Michael: "No, why?"

Sayori: "It's ok MC. Thank you for Dueling me again. It was fun to play with you for old time's sake." She keeps her smile.

Michael: "No it shouldn't be like this. Betting something like this? It's, it's just so stupid! Why did you challenge me!? Why did you place my happiness before yours!?"

Sayori: "Because I love you."

Michael: "W-what?"

Sayori: "I'm in love with you. Ever since we were kids. I didn't want to believe it, but I've been lying to myself for far too long now."

Michael: "Why me? After I left you behind? I left you all alone! Why would you love someone who abandoned you!?"

Sayori: "Because you're a good person at heart."

Michael: "No I'm not. What proof do you have that I am?"

Sayori: "Our Duel showed me enough. You should see it now."

Michael: "Our Duel? What are you talking about? This is nothing like the show. This is reality."

Sayori: "I know, but you should know how I am?" He looks at her blankly. "When I was in your room, I saw the Duel Disk you had."

Michael: "So what? What does that thing have to do with anything?"

Sayori: "We both spent hours with work to get enough money to afford it together. Even after how much it got beaten up with cracks and missing parts. You still kept it. You cared for us. Most people would have gotten rid of it or replace it for a new one, but you never did. You kept it because it's a symbol of our friendship. It's something that we bought together."

Michael: "No" He struggles keeping himself from shedding tears.

Sayori: "And that copy of Power Tool Dragon you have. You got that for me, didn't you?" He doesn't say a word. "You got me a new copy even when we stopped seeing each other. Deep down you cared for me. People may look at it as dumb, but to you and me. It meant more. I'm so happy that you still cared about me even after all these years."

Michael: "Just shut up. Don't say anymore."

Sayori: "Then there's the club. You had the chance to say no, but instead you decided to join us even when you thought that we would turn our backs on you. You did it because you're not a selfish person. You did it for our sake. To keep us happy." Michael couldn't hold back anymore. Tears started to fall. "It's my turn to bare my soul to you."

[Still Worth Fighting For by My Darkest Days]

Michael: "W-what?"

Sayori: "To be honest with you. I've been suffering crippling depression." She gives off a fake smile with tears running down her face.

Michael: "No that can't be? But you never …"

Sayori: "Never shown it? I know. I've been hiding it for years. You're just seeing it for the first time."

Michael: "No your lying!"

Sayori: "It's the truth. Every day I felt the rain clouds forming over my head. I feared that loving you would only cause more trouble for me and you, along with the others. You're not the only one who wants to die, because I felt that way as well.

The only reason why I haven't gone through with it, was because of you. Seeing you again is what gave me motivation to go to school. Every time I wake up, I wonder if life is worth it. That's why I could never get up early. The only reason I'm able to wake up early is to see you. Everything I did was to make sure your taken care of. I love you too much that it feels like my chest just wants to pop out. It hurts too much MC."

She starts crying. "I just want someone to take care of you for when I'm gone. I'm scared of being forgotten. I don't want to be forgotten."

Michael: "Why? Why haven't you told anyone?"

Sayori: "Same as you. I don't want anyone to know the truth, but you did what you felt was the right thing to do. You told us the truth."

Michael: "You idiot. Why go through it all for me. I'm a lost cause. Why waste your time on someone who couldn't do anything to stop it!?"

Sayori: "Because your nothing like your dad. You deserve better than Sara. I miss the old you. The sweet, brave boy. The boy who's talkative. I hate the you that you are now! I want the real Michael back! The one I used to look up to!"

She gets off her chair and leaves his house.

Michael: "Sayori!" He attempts to go after her but gave up when she reached the front door. "Sayori" (Is she right about me? Have I really changed that much? Have I changed for the worst? Yuri, Natsuki, Monika, Sayori, I'm sorry, but I failed you all. Mostly, the both of you. Yuri, you were willing to break from your comfort zone and spoke up to Sara. Sayori, you were willing to confess your secrets and face me head on without fear. Can I really face my past? Can I face my inner demons? Can I overcome my Despair?)

He clenches his hands. "I … I want to … but can I?"

[Song Ends]

End of Chapter 29