Chapter 38: Want to join?

After another tedious day and a tedious introduction cause I can't think of any another way to move the day and night cycle. Natsuki quickly rushes to the club. During her way, she overheard some boys talking. No doubt about her looking like a child. Choosing to ignore them, she continued her walk. When she arrived, she saw that everyone else had already shown up. She saw Yuri reading her book while Sayori and Monika are having a conversation.

She looked around the room to see where Michael was and saw that he was at the back of the classroom reading his Manga. She decided to walk up to him and he notices her as she makes her way to him. He waved to her as he puts aside his Manga volume.

Michael: "Hey how's it going?"

Natsuki: "It's alright, I guess? Whatcha reading?" She points at the volume.

Michael: "Oh I'm just rereading the Berserk series, since the creator just loves to procrastinate."

Natsuki: "What's it about?"

Michael: "Wwweeeeeeell first off its violent and gruesome, but what makes it interesting are the characters and the art. It makes us question about ourselves as humans."

Natsuki: "Sounds hardcore?"

Michael: "It is, but I just love the artwork and the story it's telling when you ignore the violence."

Natsuki: "You sound like Yuri a bit whenever she goes off about her books."

Michael: "Do I? Never thought I would be compared to her?" He smiles. "Well to answer your question. It's about this man name Guts trying to face off against monsters that appeared out of nowhere. It started off simple with the whole thing taking place in medieval time, but then slowly turns into a dark fantasy world, with fairies, monsters, demons, Gods, and so on. It's hard to explain."

Natsuki: "That's fine. Well guess I'll leave you be?" She turns away.

Michael: "Is there something you need?"

Natsuki: "Not really? Just wanted to ask if you wanted to continue with Parfait Girls?"

Michael: "Sure"

Natsuki: "Really? What about your reading?"

Michael: "It's alright. I already read this before and I want to know what happens next in Parfait Girls."

Natsuki: "You're still interested in it?"

Michael: "Well yeah I mean it just started to get good and I want to see what happens next."

Natsuki: "Heh, alright then. I hope you're ready for what's going to happen next." She pulls out the next volume of Parfait Girls.

While Michael puts away his Manga, Natsuki grabs a nearby desk and places it right next to him since he can't really move well with his injured foot. After finishing setting everything up, they began reading a couple of chapters. When they finished, they started having a conversation before it was time to share poems again. After they finished everyone packed up.

Michael: "Ready Sayori?"

Sayori: "Ready"

Natsuki: "Hey wait up!" Both Michael and Sayori looked behind themselves just before leaving the club room.

Michael: "What's up?"

Natsuki: "Do you mind if I tag along?"

Michael: "Well I don't see why not? What about you Sayori?"

Sayori: "It's fine with me. She can help me take care of you."

Michael: "Then that's a yes."

Natsuki: "Cool" The three of them leave school grounds and head off to Michael's house. On their way to his place, all three shared a conversation about today's classes and how boring or interesting they were. However, their conversation was put on hold as trouble was up ahead. "What the?" They were stopped by some guys.

Random Boy: "Well look who we have here? It's the son of the bastard."

Random Boy 2: "Looks to me he has company?"

Random Boy 3: "Oh hey it's that kid from school. Ain't it bad to walk around with grownups that aren't your parents?"

Natsuki: "Piss off!"

Random Boy 3: "Woah! She's fierce."

Random Boy 2: "Forget about the kid we're her for Conner."

Michael: "Oh lord what do you want now?"

Random Boy 2: "What are we here for? We're here to fuck you up."

Sayori: "Now wait just a minute! He's already injured so why should he fight you?"

Random Boy: "We know he's injured so we have the upper hand. Can't defend yourself with a messed-up foot."

Natsuki: "Grr! Fucking cowards!"

Random Boy: "What you say little girl?"

Natsuki: "You heard me! Fucking cowards, you can't beat Michael when he's at his best, so you decided to fight him when he's injured. Pathetic."

Random Boy 2: "Listen here bitch, don't get involve with grownup matters. Run along and play with your dolls."

*POW!*

"Ga! My nose!"

Natsuki: "Say it again, I fucking dare you."

Random Boy 3: "Oh shit! She got you good." He says this to his friend as he holds his broken nose.

Random Boy 2: "Just fucking kick her ass!"

Random Boy 3: "Right, come on man let's get them."

Random Boy: "Right!"

Todd: "Wrong" The two boys stop at their tracks.

Random Boy: "Oh shit it's Todd."

Todd: "I should let the principle know what you've been up to since you all ditch detention." The three boys look at him in fear. "Tell you what. Get out of here right now and leave them alone. Never bother them again got that and I will overlook this little stunt of yours."

Random Boy: "Y-y-yes sir. Come on you two." He helps his friend picking up their fallen comrade out of the scene.

Natsuki: "Fucking losers."

Sayori: "Hey thank you for your help."

Todd: "It's no problem. I'm just returning a favor."

Sayori: "Favor?" Todd looks over to Michael meeting his one gold eye.

Michael: "Oh it's you again from the other day."

Todd: "You better get home and rest. The sooner you rest the sooner you get better, especially during the wintertime." He turns away and walks off.

Natsuki: "Hey Michael what did he mean about a favor?"

Michael: "Well you see one time I accidentally bumped into him and made him drop all his paperwork. I felt bad and helped him gather them even though he said that they were going to the ferniest."

Natsuki: "That makes sense."

Michael: "I wonder who he is?"

Sayori: "Wait you don't know who Todd is?"

Michael: "No I don't. Well maybe a little. Do you know who he is?"

Natsuki: "He's the current Debate Club President. He's the most popular boy of our school and he's also Monika's ex-boyfriend."

Michael: "Ex? Never knew that?" (Wait, I do recall their conversation they had.)

Natsuki: "Neither did us until she told us."

Michael: "I see." (Wonder why they broke up? More importantly he doesn't show any signs of hostility against me. What's running through his head?)

Sayori: "Well either way it was nice of him to help us with those meanies."

Michael: "Yeah you're right. Come on let's go home. It's freezing out here." He takes the lead.

Sayori: "Okie doki."

Natsuki: "Yeah sure." She mumbles as she touches her right knuckle. For the rest of the day the three of them would have dinner together at Michael's place. After Natsuki helped Sayori learn how to cook better she went home. "I'll see you two tomorrow."

Michael: "Yeah see you soon."

Sayori: "Be careful on your way home. It's scary out there."

Natsuki: "Yeah, yeah. Later." She leaves his place.

On her way home Natsuki looked around town. She wasn't sure why, but she knew that she needed some air before arriving home. When she did arrive home, she saw he dad sitting in the living room watching T.V.

Natsuki's Dad: "Where have you been?"

Natsuki: "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

Natsuki's Dad: "I'm your dad. Now tell me, where did you go?"

Natsuki: "I was at a friend's house."

Natsuki's Dad: "Friend's house?" He whispers. "I see."

Natsuki: "Is that all? If so, I'm heading into my room."

Natsuki's Dad: "Before you go, tell me something? Do you still enjoy reading those children's books?"

Natsuki: "There not children's books there Manga and what if I still do?"

Natsuki's Dad: "You're going to have to grow up eventually."

Natsuki: "Then how about you feed me more properly?" Her dad shuts up. "I'm heading to my room." She storms upstairs slamming her door.

Natsuki's Dad: (If you don't want to live here then move out. If not, then I'll make you grow up.)

Natsuki: (Jerk, telling me to grow up when all he ever does is starve himself. I wish she was still around. I know she would take my side. Mom …) She stares up at the ceiling. (I never did open that chest of hers. I wonder what she hid in it. I got the key, but never used it. Maybe because it would hurt too much to see her old belongings. Either way it wouldn't make a difference in my life.)

The following day during the club's free time. Everyone is scattered around. Sayori and Michael are playing another round of Duel Monsters while Yuri reads and Monika doing paperwork while Natsuki is going through the closet. She got her Manga collection and notices Monika walking up to Michael and Sayori. Not wanting to eavesdrop she attempted not to hear them talk, but curiosity caught her attention, so she decided to pretend to read while listening in on their conversation.

Monika: "Are you two playing again?"

Sayori: "Yup and this time I'm going to win."

Michael: "Keep telling yourself that."

Monika: "Mind if I watch?"

Michael: "By all means." The two of them set up as Monika grabs a seat to watch the Duel. A few minutes later.

Sayori: "Ga! I was so close."

Monika: "Well look at the bright side at least you damaged him a bit." When she said that Yuri giggled a bit and the three of them looked towards her.

Yuri: "Oh sorry I wasn't laughing at you. It was something funny in my novel."

Sayori: "Hey why not give that book a rest and come play with us?"

Yuri: "Oh no I shouldn't. I'm not that good at card games."

Sayori: "Aw come on please."

Yuri: "…" She looks at Sayori's goofy smile as a drop of sweat comes out of her forehead. *Sigh* "Very well, but don't expect me to do too well." She closes her book and walks up to them.

Sayori: "Yay" She claps her hands cutely.

Michael: "Hey Monika, how about you play against Yuri?" Both her and Yuri look at him confused. "Since you two are new, it would be best if you two Duel."

Monika: "Well I don't know about that?" She looks at him smiling to her. "Oh, why not? Since me and Yuri are both beginners it should be alright."

Michael: "Cool, so which deck do you both want to try out?" Both him and Sayori show off their decks to Monika and Yuri.

Monika: "Hmm, how about you choose first, Yuri?"

Yuri: "A-are you sure?"

Monika: "I am. Let's give it the best we got."

Yuri: "Y-yeah okay. Th-then I'll take this one." She takes Michael's deck. "Is this okay with you two?"

Monika: "I'm fine with Sayori's deck."

Michael: "It's your choice."

Yuri: "R-right"

Monika: "Okay then let's get started, shall we?"

The both of them shuffled their decks and began playing. Both Sayori and Michael gave them guidance on how to play and what the rules are. Meanwhile Natsuki stares at them having fun. She looked away at their smiling faces until she looked back and saw Michael smiling to her. He signaled her to come join them and seeing him inviting her to join made her blush a little.

Natsuki: "Ah what the hell."

She put aside her volume and soon joined them on the fun. They all continued to have fun until it was time to end today's club meeting. During this time however, Natsuki's dad can be seen looking through a window from work remembering something from his past.

"Honey, what are you looking at?"

Natsuki's Dad: (Why? Why must you leave me here alone? Why leave me here with just her? Why leave me in the darkness of despair?) He continues to look out as his stomach growls. (You promised to never leave me behind …

You lied to me.)

End of Chapter 38