Chapter 34: The fire of new beginnings

A week had passed since Michael was sent to the hospital. The month of November has ended and the new month of December has begun. At long last Michael was free to go home as he was released on December 3rd on a Thursday. When Michael left the hospital, he could almost taste the freedom of finally leaving the room. To him it wasn't so bad as the Literature Club would often come to visit him every day. When he exited out of the hospital in a wheelchair. He saw three happy smiles waiting for him.

Sayori: "MC!" She yells waving her hand.

Sayori's Dad: "Bet it feels good to feel the snow on your body again?"

Michael: "A little. Still cold though, but it's nice to be outside."

Sayori's Dad: "That's good to hear. Are you ready to head home now?"

Michael: "Yes please."

Sayori's Dad: "Then let's get you into the car." Sayori and her dad helps him enter the car.

Nurse: "Mr. Conner here are your crutches."

Michael: "Oh thank you."

Sayori's Mom: "Here I'll put them in the trunk." She takes the crutches.

Nurse: "Here are the pain killers. Make sure to take two a day after eating. Make sure not to use your bad foot and always use your crutches whenever you walk. The doctor will give you a call to let you know when you can start walking again."

Michael: "Got it. Thank you."

Nurse: "You're very welcome. Please take care."

Michael: "Will do." He closes the door and Sayori's dad starts the engine.

Sayori's Dad: "Make sure to buckle up." He begins driving back home. During the ride home. "So, Michael I just thought you should know that me and Selene are going to leave later today for a business trip."

Michael: "Another one?"

Sayori's Dad: "Yeah, I know it's lonely since your mom works late, but don't worry Sayori will be living with you until you're better."

Michael: "You agreed to that?"

Sayori: "Yup, so we can have a sleepover just like old times."

Sayori's Mom: "How cute."

Sayori's Dad: "I know right." Both chuckled.

Michael: (They don't see the problem with this? They really are related. So happy, so cheerful.)

When they arrived at Michael's house Sayori's mom helped him out of the car while Sayori gets the crutches. They soon helped him get inside and laid him on the couch.

Sayori's Dad: "Alright, we're be at home packing the rest of our belongings. We'll be on our way after Sayori gets her stuff out of the trunk. Until then do me a favor and watch over our little cinnamon roll."

Michael: "Yes sir."

Sayori: "Ok I got my stuff." She pulls in her suitcase full of clothes and other stuff.

Sayori's Dad: "Well, we're be taking our leave."

Sayori's Mom: "Did you pack everything you're going to need?"

Sayori: "Yes mommy."

Sayori's Mom: "Alright then. Make sure to be good and to take care of each other while we're all gone."

Sayori: "Ok mommy."

Michael: "Yes mam."

Sayori's Dad: "Ready to go?"

Sayori's Mom: "Ready when you are."

Sayori's Dad: "Alright then see you two later. Take care of each other. Bye you two."

Michael: "Bye Samson and Selene."

Sayori: "Bye mommy, bye daddy." Her parents leave. "Ok then. What would you like for dinner?"

Michael: "Anything's good. My mom left us some money for take out."

Sayori: "No! I'm going to cook for you."

Michael: "Please don't."

Sayori: "W-why not?"

Michael: "Because the last time you cooked you …"

Sayori: "Set the kitchen sink on fire, I know, I know, but I've been improving."

Michael: "Oh lord. Alright you win."

Sayori: "Hurray, so what sounds good to you?"

Michael: "Surprise me." (Please don't.)

Sayori: "Ok then. You're on." She rushes to the kitchen.

Michael: "What have I done?"

Not even a minute had passed by and Sayori is already making too many mistakes and left a huge mess. When he heard the pots and pans falling on the floor, he tried to get up to check up on her only for her to tell him not to come in. The more he sat on the couch the more worried he got.

(She's going to kill me.) He hears the doorbell rings.

Sayori: "I got it!" She leaves the kitchen to answer the door. "Hello?"

Monika: "Hey sorry for not showing up sooner."

Sayori: Hey there."

Yuri: "Good evening."

Natsuki: "Sup"

Sayori: "What brings you all here today?"

Monika: "Thought we could come over to check up on Michael and maybe help you around." She sees the kitchen a bit. "Yeah, you desperately need help."

Michael: (Oh thank you all.)

After letting the others in. Monika went to help Sayori cook, Natsuki decided to bake, and Yuri … uh?

Yuri: "I knew it I'm worthless."

Monika: "No you aren't it's just we can handle all this by ourselves, so we don't need a fourth … crap that doesn't sound helpful at all?"

Natsuki: "Just help entertain Michael while we get all this set up."

Monika: "Yeah like what she said."

Yuri: "Entertain? V-very well. I can do that … I think?"

Monika: "Just give it your best shot. We're counting on you." She walks back into the kitchen to stop Sayori from playing with the oven. While Monika, Sayori, and Natsuki work in the kitchen, Yuri went to the living room to see Michael watching TV.

Yuri: "M-M-Michael?" He notices her and turns down the volume.

Michael: "Yes?"

Yuri: "M-may I ask what you're watching?"

Michael: "Oh just nothing. To be honest nothings good on television right now."

Yuri: "I see? Uhm, Michael would you … by any chance like to read with me?"

Michael: "Hm?"

Yuri: "If you don't want to that's fine. You must not want to read with an injury like that? I understand if you would rather do something else?"

Michael: "No I'm fine continuing where we left off." He turns off the TV. "It's been a while since we read together. I want to know what happens next."

Yuri: "O-okay." She says happily. She took out the book they've been reading together and began reading where they left off until it was time for dinner.

Sayori: "Dinners ready!"

Michael: "Right I'll be there! Ready to eat?"

Yuri: "Y-yes." She sees Michael struggling a bit to get up even with his crutches. "H-here let me assist you." She grabs on to him to help him on his good foot.

Michael: "Thank you."

Yuri: "You're very welcome." She says nervously. They both enter the kitchen and saw all the food they prepared.

Michael: "Wow this all looks good."

Monika: "We worked really hard, so go ahead and eat everyone. There's plenty enough for seconds."

Sayori: "Yay! Let's dig in." They all started eating together. "Hey MC, you got something on your face."

Michael: "Really, where?"

Sayori: "Right here." She uses a napkin to wipe the food away.

Michael: "Oh thank you."

Sayori: "Anytime big bro." They both smile to each other.

Monika: "It's nice to see the two of you are as close as ever."

Michael: "You think?"

Monika: "Yeah, It's nice to see you two are happy."

Sayori: "Of course we are. We're now siblings."

Monika: "That's good to hear, so does that mean you're going to keep him all to yourself if any girl tries to get near him?"

Sayori: "Of course not. He's free to date whoever he likes as long as I approve."

Monika: "Heh, I'll keep that in mind."

Michael: (Damn it Sayori. This is so embarrassing. Oh well it's nice to see she's smiling for real now. Wonder if those rain clouds are going away now? If not, then I have to keep an eye on her until then. Wow now I sound like a big brother.) He smiles to himself.

Monika: (It's nice to see him smile.)

They all continue eating dinner until it was time to clean up. All four girls helped around while Michael sits in the living room. When they all finished Sayori spoke up.

Sayori: "Hey everyone listen up. I have an important announcement to make."

Natsuki: "Wonder what it could be?"

Yuri: "Is something the matter?"

Sayori: "No, I just want to let you all know that I'm happy that all of you are my friends."

Monika: "Aw how sweet."

Sayori: "That's not all I wanted to say. When MC told us about his secrets. I felt that maybe I can as well."

Monika: "What are you talking about?"

Michael: (Is she really going to do it?)

Sayori: "I know I already confessed about this before, but I just want to say it more properly. Since the last time I mentioned this, it was during my explanation to the situation me and MC went through. Now I want to bare my soul to you all. I want you all to know that I was suffering severe depression." Monika and Yuri stood in silence as Natsuki spoke up.

Natsuki: "I still can't believe you of all people was depressed. It's hard to believe that happy face of yours was hiding it." Both Yuri and Monika doesn't say a word.

Sayori: "I know, I've been hiding it for so long that no one ever suspected me. Even though I was hiding it from you all. You all showed how much you cared. That's why I want you all to witness something."

Yuri: "What could that be?"

Sayori: "This" She pulls out a noose.

Monika: "You still have that?"

Michael: "What!" He quickly gets up but falls back down. Unable to get to the kitchen.

Sayori: "Please everyone listen to me." She walks to the living room as the others follow so Michael could see what was going on. "I just want to say I'm sorry for causing so much trouble especially to you MC. After seeing what MC did to stop me from hanging myself and hearing from his heart. I wanted to do better myself. I almost made a huge mistake that day. A mistake that I could never undo, but after seeing what MC was willing to do, I felt it would make sense for me to move forward."

Michael: "Sayori?"

Sayori: "MC could I start a campfire. I want to get rid of this for good." She looks at him with determination.

Michael: "... Yeah, the matches are in the kitchen."

Yuri: "I'll get them."

While Yuri goes to find the matches, Sayori helps Michael up and they both lead everyone outside to the backyard to where the fireplace is. Sayori and Natsuki got some water ready and some wood to burn.

"I found them." She hands them to Michael.

Michael: "Are you sure about this?"

Sayori: "Yup. After all those rainclouds won't bother me so long as your there."

Michael: "You're right. If they ever do come back. I'll be there to give you an umbrella."

Sayori: "Thank you for always being there for me."

Michael: "... I'm the one who should be thanking you."

Sayori: "Huh?" He lights up a match and throws it at the firewood. It took a while for the fire to start, but when it did. It gave off a beautiful light around the snow. While the girls look at the fire in amazement, Sayori held the noose tightly before taking a few steps to the fire. "This is a new start for me." She looks at the noose one last time.

(Daddy won't be needing this anymore either. He could always get one of those hook ones.) She smiles to herself before throwing the noose into the fire as everyone watched it burn into ashes.

Michael: (You've grown. I never thought that you could get back on your feet so quickly.) He looks at his injured right foot. (If you're willing to start a new then so can I.) "Hey everyone can I ask you all something?"

Monika: "Of course you can."

Michael: "Are you all available this Saturday?"

Monika: "I know that I am, but not until the afternoon."

Yuri: "I'm available Saturday."

Natsuki: "Same here."

Sayori: "I'm always free."

Monika: "Why do ask?"

Michael: "I want to go to town again. I've been cooped up indoors for too long. It would be nice to get some fresh air."

Monika: "That's understandable. Where do you want to go?"

Michael: "I want to see the beach again. I want to see the moon reflecting the ocean." He stares up into the stars above as snow continues to fall.

Monika: "If that's what you want then we'll take you there." She says with a warm smile. (Sayori must've inspired him as well?)

The snow falling ever so slowly in the night sky.

Michael: (This is something I have to do. For them and for myself. It's now my time to start a new. I won't back down to my Despair. I'll do what I do best. I'll fight it head on.)

End of Chapter 34