Chapter 35: No more

Time had passed by quickly as Saturday came by like no other. It was to be seen since Michael just asked the girls to hangout on Thursday after he was released from the hospital. During the rest of Thursday night after Sayori burned the noose she almost used before, she remained at Michael's house since the two of them are going to be living together until he's fully recovered. After everyone left for home, the remaining day was awkward for the two.

Michael: "For the last time no. You can't sleep in my room. You'll be staying at the guest room."

Sayori: "No I should stay here to keep an eye on you."

Michael: "Look if I need you, I could call you."

Sayori: "Well I don't trust auto correct."

Michael: "What?"

Sayori: "If you tried texting me then you'll most likely make grammar mistakes and auto correct might make things worse."

Michael: "Aye Sayori. I don't know what you're trying to say anymore, but fine. You win."

Sayori: "Yay, you let me win."

Michael: "There's a futon in my garage downstairs. You can use that to sleep on."

Sayori: "Roger that." She leaves his room to retrieve it.

Michael: "Jesus Christ. She can be such a handful at times, but it's nice to have her around."

Sayori: "Ok I'm back and I got it." She starts setting it up. When she finished setting it up, they both laid down. "Ok so if you need anything just let me know."

Michael: "Right. Good night Sayori." He turns off the light.

Sayori: "Good night MC. Make sure to get plenty of rest."

Michael: "Will do." They both went to bed and spent the night together in deep sleep.

During the night. In the darkness. In his dream. He heard a familiar voice. A voice he knows too well a voice of a man.

?: "Do you think you can move on from all this? Can you really change? Can you become strong? I don't think you can. Don't even try." The voice kept the negative talk going until it changed into the voice that terrifies him the most. The sound of a girl. "You were born to be miserable. That's the truth and there's nothing you can do about it. Your life is nothing but a tragedy."

The next morning Sayori's phone alarm kicks in. Even though Michael has an excuse to not attend classes for a while, Sayori on the other hand must still attend. Despite her not wanting to leave her old, wounded friend on his own. He doesn't want her to skip class for his sake. A conversation they had after the others had left. In the end Sayori agreed, but still didn't like the idea of leaving him alone.

Michael: "Sayori … Sayori it's time for school get up." He moves to his left. *Sniff* (What's that fresh smell? It smells really nice. Wonder if mom washed my sheets before I got home, so I could have a better night sleep? Not only that but it's also very warm and soft.)

*Squeeze*

(Huh?) He opens his eyes wide open "AH!" He falls out of his bed.

Sayori: "Hm? Oh, good morning."

Michael: "Good morning. Wait why the hell are you in my bed!?"

Sayori: "I got cold last night, so I thought I come to your bed. It was nice and warm."

Michael: "Guess I need to get you a better blanket? Well anyways time for you to get ready for school. You can use my mom's bathroom. I have towels in my closet so help yourself."

Sayori: "But what about you? Who's going to take care of you?"

Michael: "We had this conversation yesterday. Don't worry about me. I'll do fine on my own until you come back."

Sayori: "But?"

Michael: "Say hello to the others for me. Don't worry I'll be fine."

Sayori: "Ok, but as soon as school is over, I'm coming straight here."

Michael: "Fine, fine." Sayori grabs a towel from his closet and heads off to his mom's bathroom to shower. "I need to shower as well. Good thing the nurse gave me these wraps to cover my cast." He gets up and takes his own shower. At first, he struggled for a bit adjusting to his injury, but soon enough he was able to shower a little more peacefully.

Sayori: "MC are doing ok!?"

Michael: "Yeah I'm almost done!"

Sayori: "Ok I'm going to get breakfast ready!"

Michael: "Please don't cook." He tells himself.

Sayori: "You're thinking that I'm going to cook are you!?"

Michael: "Do you want the honest truth!?"

Sayori: "Meanie! I'm just going to use the microwave!"

Michael: "Ok that's fine." (Thank God.)

Sayori: "See you when you get out!"

Michael: "Yeah sure!" While Sayori gets breakfast ready Michael struggles getting out and drying himself. When he did finished, he put on his clothes and slowly went downstairs.

Sayori: "Good you got here. Here you go." She shows off some nice Hot Pockets. "Looks good right?"

Michael: "Yeah I'm starve."

Sayori: "Me to." They both take a seat and ate breakfast together. When they finished Michael looked at his phone for the time.

Michael: "Well looks like it's time for you to head out."

Sayori: "Aw, do I have to?"

Michael: "Yes you do. Now get your stuff and head out before your late."

Sayori: "Yes sir." She sadly gets her bag and walks out to the front. "I'll see you as soon as schools over."

Michael: "Sure, have a nice day."

Sayori: "Bye MC." She starts heading off.

While she attends school, he would spend the rest of day napping or watching Anime. When Sayori came back they would order take out and enjoy playing video games, watching TV and even sharing poetry again until bedtime. During that time Sayori would notice him on his phone a lot more often than usual. She wasn't sure what he was doing but felt like it's none of her business. However, this didn't stop her from worrying. After all that was settled it was finally Saturday.

Just before turning in for the night, they all had a conversation about Saturday. They all agreed to meet up during the afternoon at the bus station like before. Until then, they all did their own thing until it was time to meet up. When they all arrived, they greeted each other as soon as they saw each other.

Monika: "Sayori, Michael, how are the both of you doing?"

Sayori: "We're doing great."

Monika: "And what about you? How's your foot feeling?"

Michael: "It's doing well."

Yuri: "A-are you sure you want to go to town? I-I think it would be best if you s-stayed home and rest."

Michael: "Thanks for worrying, but I'm sure of this. I want to see the town. Think I go mad if I didn't."

Yuri: "I-I see, v-very well. Sorry for asking."

Natsuki: "Aye Yuri." They all got in the bus and headed off to town. When they arrived, they all look around again. "This doesn't seem to be getting old anytime soon?"

Yuri: "No it doesn't."

Monika: "Since we're here, what do you want to do? I know you want to go see the beach, but is there anything else you want to do before that?"

Michael: "As a matter of fact I do. Does anyone want to go back to the arcade again?"

Sayori: "Oh! Me, me!"

Natsuki: "I'm down."

Yuri: "Oh no, but if that's what you would like to do then I'll do my best."

Monika: "That's fine with me. I had fun last time we went there."

Michael: "Then let's get going then." He tries to lead the way, but since he walks slower due to the crutches he's using the girls ended up walking past him. "I meant follow me."

All Four Girls: "Oh!"

Sayori: "Sorry"

Monika: "Please lead the way."

Michael: "Thank you." He walks past them.

After a long slow walk and by using some assistance. They arrived at the arcade.

Natsuki: "Wonder what we should play first?"

Sayori: "All I know is, I'm going to beat you." The girls enter the building as Michael looks to his phone. Something Monika noticed before she entered.

Monika: (Wonder what he's up to?) "Hey is everything okay?"

Michael: "Yeah just had to do something real quick. I'm coming now." Both him and Monika rejoined the others inside.

[Makenai Ai Ga Kitto Aru by Yukie Nakama]

The sounds of games playing in the background as the Literature Club members go around playing a large variety of games the arcade had to offer.

Natsuki: "Come on Yuri! You almost got the high score!"

Yuri: "This is nerve racking." She continues pressing the buttons and moving the control stick intensely. "Oh no." She keeps pressing the buttons in a panic. "Oh lord please help."

Natsuki: "God can't save you from this and there ain't no save button either."

Yuri: "Almost there." Sounds from the game occur. "Phew"

Natsuki: "Hey nice going."

Yuri: "Th-thank you, but it felt as if my heart was going to pop out."

Monika: "Nice moves though. Look you got the high score."

Yuri: "That was scary."

Monika: "Not bad for someone who doesn't play video games."

Yuri: "Indeed, reading is much easier for me."

Natsuki: "Hey where's Sayori and Michael?"

Monika: "They're over there playing Whack-A-Mole." She points to them as Sayori scored higher than Michael.

Sayori: "Hazza! I beat you."

Michael: "Damn moles."

Sayori: "Want to play again?" He doesn't respond to her instead just looked at her.

While they both play again Monika and Natsuki decided to have a race on the next arcade machine.

Natsuki: "Oh no you don't." Engines can be heard from the game.

Monika: "Try me." She steps on the gas petal.

Natsuki: "Come on!" She stomps on her petal. "Not losing to you here. Hell yeah!"

Monika: "Ah you got me in the end. Nice."

Natsuki: "Heh, heh. Want to go again?"

Monika: "You're on."

Natsuki: "As expected from you." They both ready their engines again.

While they play again, Yuri can be seen staring at something.

Yuri: "Oh dear." She looks at her little purse. (I really want it.)

Michael: "What are you doing?"

Yuri: "Huh? Oh well you see …" He looks past her and sees a crane game.

Michael: "Is there something you want?"

Yuri: "... Well … maybe one thing." Her face changes to red.

Michael: "Can't get it?"

Yuri: "No" She hides her embarrassed face.

Michael: "Here let me try."

Yuri: "Oh no you don't have to. I don't want you to spend your money or time on something like-"

Michael: "Got it. Here you go." He passes her a little raccoon plush.

Yuri: "H-how? How did you obtain it?"

Michael: "Skills" He moves around his fingers.

Yuri: "O-oh is that so? Th-thank you. I'm grateful to you." She hugs the plush with a sweet smile.

Michael: "It's no problem." He tries to hide his lower face with his hand as his face turns to a shade of pink.

Sayori: "Hey! Come on you two!" Both him and Yuri look over to her waving at them. "We're going to have a competition! Come on you two!"

Michael: "Be right there! You coming?"

Yuri: "Y-yes." They both head to where the others are and they all continued playing games together.

After spending three hours indoors playing games, Natsuki being the winner of most of them only to be dethroned by Michael a couple of times. They all had fun and soon left to attend a coffee shop for a break.

[Song Ends]

Sayori: "Man that was fun." She takes a sip of her drink.

Natsuki: "I still call hacks, but whatever I still had fun."

Monika: "Hey Michael I noticed that you've been on your phone a lot lately. Is something the matter?"

Michael: "Oh no don't worry about it." He starts drinking his coffee. (It's almost time.) He thinks to himself as he looks out the window to see the sun setting.

Monika: (He tells me not to worry, but that's what makes me worry.)

Natsuki: "So what's next?"

Monika: "Don't ask me. We're doing whatever Michael wants to do."

Natsuki: "Oh right."

Yuri: "Is there anything else you would like to do?"

Michael: "For now I just want to walk around town for a bit. After that we can go see the beach."

Yuri: "A walk around town?" She sips her tea.

Natsuki: "Isn't your foot going to make it difficult to walk around?"

Michael: "It'll be fine. I still have one good foot."

Natsuki: "Well …"

Monika: "If that's what you want then lead the way. We'll do whatever you like to do. If it would make you happy."

Michael: "Thanks" They all continue drinking their coffee and tea while talking about school related events. While the girls have their own conversation, Michael is seen looking at his phone again and staring out through the window again. (This is it.)

When they all finished, they followed wherever Michael wanted to go. They walked around town as the snow falls and the night appearing before the town. They saw kids skating, couples holding each other, families shopping, and having dinner. When Michael finished sightseeing. He looked at his phone again and spoke up.

"That should be enough for now. Is everyone ready to see the beach?"

Sayori: "I am!"

Natsuki: "Same"

Michael: "What about you two?"

Yuri: "I have no objection."

Monika: "Same for me. Lead the way."

Michael: "Alright then. Let's go see the beach now." The girls cheered as he leads them to their next destination. During their way the sun settled further down leading into the full night. The sun replaced with the moon shining brightly as if the sun was still up with a cool breeze accompanying it.

Yuri: "This is still beautiful to watch."

Monika: "It is. I'm glad we get to see this again."

Natsuki: "Mmm"

Monika: "What's wrong?"

Natsuki: "It's just every time we come here something bad happens. Haven't you noticed it?"

Monika: "Yeah you're right, but even still. It's beautiful to see."

Sayori: "I'll say."

They all look at the ocean again while Michael looks at his phone once more.

Michael: "It's time."

Monika: "What was that?"

Michael: "You asked why I kept looking at my phone? The reason is because I was talking to someone."

Monika: "Really who?" He steps away from them.

Sara: "What are they doing here?" All four girls turn to see her again.

Monika: "Not her again."

Sayori: (Why did she have to show up?)

Natsuki: (Wait it was her he was texting? What is he thinking?)

Sara: "Hey, why are they here? I thought it was just going to be the two of us?"

Michael: "You thought wrong."

Sara: "What? How dare you lie to me and not call me for a while."

Michael: "Maybe because I have an injured foot?"

Sara: "That ain't nothing compared to what you've been through. Maybe I should show you." She walks up to him ignoring the girls around her. When she passed by Yuri, she gave her a glare that intimidated her before grabbing Michael's wrist. "Come on. Let's get away from them."

Michael: "..."

Sayori: (No, she can't do this to him when he's not fully healed.)

Yuri: (I, I … I can't allow her to continue with this.) When she took a step forward, he spoke up.

Michael: "No" He pulls his wrist away from her.

Sara: "What? How many times do I have to tell you about hanging out with these girls? First you don't call, you're never home, and now you're hanging out with them again. You're the worst. After everything I've done for you. This is how you repay me?"

Michael: "You're damn right." The girls gasped to his reply including Sara.

Sara: "What did you say to me?"

The waves crashing under the moon light. The sound of nothingness as he thinks to himself in the void.

Michael: (This is it. I can do it. It all starts here. I won't let their efforts be in vain.) He grips his crutches and takes a deep breath before speaking once more.

[She Loves Me Not by Papa Roach]

"Sara, I'm officially breaking up with you."

Sara: "You what?"

Monika: "What?"

Yuri: "Did I hear that correctly?"

Sayori: "He's breaking up with her?"

Natsuki: "It's about damn time he got his head out of his ass."

Sara: "You're breaking up with me? After everything I've done for you? I tried to help you, I tried giving you all the love you could ask for and you're dumbing me?"

Michael: "First of all, you never loved me. I was a fool to ever love you, but now, no more. I'm done being your punching bag. I'm done feeling sorry for myself. I'm done with all this abuse. I don't need your love because all you ever gave me are scars. I always told myself that maybe you are trying to help me by hurting me. To make sure I wouldn't commit the same crimes my father did, but it's clear to me now. I was wrong. I'm done with you."

Sara: "Why you? I thought you wanted to do better than your dad?"

Michael: "I do, I still do, but now my eyes are finally open. I can do better for myself without you. You know what you said to me when we first started dating? You told me that we would be together forever. No fighting, no arguing, no drama, all the love we can share together. We were supposed to be in harmony, but your love makes me sick. I don't need it. I don't need this shit. I don't need you. All I need are my friends and family. The ones who supported me since the very beginning. The ones who were willing to sacrifice everything for a guy like me. I don't need this kind of relationship. I don't need this abuse and I most definitely don't need a bitch like you. I can do so much better than you."

Sara: "Bastard"

Michael: "It's over between us. I don't ever want to see you again. Don't ever come near me or any of my friends and family ever again. If you ever show up in my life again. I won't hesitate to call the police and if they can't help. Don't expect me to be a dog lying down. I will fight for them and for myself."

Sara: "Tsk! Fine be like that! I don't need a worthless man like you! The only good thing about us not seeing each other anymore is now I can start dating a real man!" She storms off. "Piece of shit boy."

Michael: (… So long Sara. You won't be missed.) He thinks to himself as she walks as far as she can go. Soon enough, she was finally gone. Gone from his life. "Phew, I can feel some of the weight being lifted off my shoulders." (My first step is taken.)

[Song Ends]

Monika: "Michael, is this why you asked us to come over here?"

Michael: "Yeah, I wanted you all to witness this." He turns to face Monika and the others with a bright smile. "Thank you for being here. I'm grateful."

Monika: "You're welcome." She smiles back to him. (I'm so happy to see him smile like this.)

Yuri: (I'm so very happy that they finally broke up. He deserves far better than her.)

Sayori: (Maybe I'm not the only one ready to change.)

Natsuki: "Nice to see you do have the balls to speak up."

Michael: "Hey?" He looks back at the ocean before looking back at the girls. "It's time for us to head home now. I got to get up early tomorrow."

Yuri: "Why is that?"

Natsuki: "Yeah we don't have school tomorrow, so why wake up early."

Michael: "There's still something I must do."

Monika: "Like what?"

Michael: "There's still a demon that's been eating away at my soul. Now it's time for me to face it."

Monika: "Wait, you don't mean?" He nods before taking a few steps forward.

Michael: (Just wait for me. It's time I finally confront you and tell you the crimes you've committed. Here I come dad.)

End of Chapter 35