Chapter 41: Alone

Principle: "And that is why your daughter is here."

Natsuki's Dad: "I see. I'm sorry for the trouble my daughter caused."

Principle: "I'm glad you understand. Natsuki, I hope you understand what you did was wrong and not appropriate in school. There for your punishment is that you are suspended for two months."

Natsuki: "What!? That's not fair! Why am I the only one who gets in trouble for what those jerks did?"

Principle: "I'm afraid that's not what they're saying. I heard that you just randomly attack them."

Natsuki: "Are you for real? That's a bunch of bull shit they made up! They were the ones who started it!"

Principle: "I will not hear anymore. You are excused now."

Natsuki: "Tsk! Why you good for nothing …"

Natsuki's Dad: "Come on let's head home."

Natsuki: "What!?"

Natsuki's Dad: "I said let's go home."

Natsuki: "You can't be for real? You're not even listening. I didn't start the fight. Come on dad, you got to believe me?"

Natsuki's Dad: "I told you to give up on those childish things, but you didn't listen. We're going home now."

Natsuki: "… Should've known you wouldn't listen."

They both leave the principal's office and head out for home. Later on, after school was over and Natsuki left for home with her dad.

Monika: "What!? She got in trouble by the principle?"

Sayori: "Yeah, that's what I heard. Apparently, she got into a fight with some boys who stole from her which caused her to attack them."

Monika: "Then how come she was the one who got punished?"

Sayori: "Maybe because she attacked them?"

Monika: "But still. They provoked her. They got what's coming. How did they get off Scott free?"

Yuri: "Perhaps they lied to the principle?"

Monika: "That is a possibility, but?"

Yuri: "They most likely know what to say to put all the blame on her."

Monika: "Yeah and it doesn't help that most people won't speak up out of fear of getting bullied themselves. Honestly some people."

Michael: "Damn it." He shuts off his phone.

Monika: "No luck?"

Michael: "She's not picking up her phone. I tried texting her, I tried calling her, but nothing."

Sayori: "Can't we just go visit her?"

Monika: "None of us knows where she lives."

Sayori: "Aw!"

Michael: "Damn, so that means we can't see how she's doing?"

Monika: "Pretty much and I doubt her parents would allow her to leave home or let visitors come over." Michael's ear twitches when she said that said.

Yuri: "That is a problem."

Michael/Yuri: (She's unaware that it's just her dad.)

Monika: "There has to be a way to help Natsuki out, but what?"

Sayori: "Oh! Why don't we tell the principle the truth that those boys are the cause of all this?"

Michael: "Easier said than done."

Sayori: "What why?"

Yuri: "We need evidence that those boys are lying."

Sayori: "Oh that makes sense. Wait how about we ask around the people who witnessed the fight?"

Michael: "I doubt they would say a word."

Sayori: "How come?"

Michael: "Remember what Monika just said. About not saying anything out of fear of getting bullied or being an outcast. Because of that people are only thinking about themselves. If anyone of them says a word, they will be in trouble for being a snitch and lose their popularity points."

Sayori: "But then the people who are innocent will …"

Yuri: "They're the ones who pay while the real culprit gets away to cause more trouble."

Sayori: "I …"

Michael: "If we want to catch those guys, we need to catch them in the act by making them tell the truth of what happened in front of the principle or record their confession. Anything really."

Yuri: "This is quite troublesome. How are we going to do that?" (Should I, do it?)

Monika: "Yes this is quite troublesome? How can we catch them in the act?" She ponders to herself.

Michael: "I think we should end today's meeting and think of what we can do to help Natsuki?"

Monika: "Yeah good idea. We should use our time to think of a plan to catch those liars. Does everyone else agree?"

Sayori: "I do! The club isn't fun if one of us is missing."

Yuri: "I agree." Michael nods in agreement.

Monika: "I'm happy to hear your answers. I'll see you all tomorrow. Until then, hopefully we can figure out a way to help out Natsuki."

Everyone Else: "Yes Mam!"

With that said and done everyone headed home to think of what to do to help out Natsuki. During this time however after leaving school grounds with her dad.

Natsuki: "Why!? Why didn't you believe me? Those bastards started it."

Natsuki's Dad: "I already told you that I do believe you."

Natsuki: "Then why didn't you say anything to the principle?"

Natsuki's Dad: "Because you need to learn that your childish ways are what caused you to be in this situation."

Natsuki: "What?"

Natsuki's Dad: "I told you stop reading those childish books of yours. You only brought this down upon yourself. If you just grew up, then maybe you wouldn't be in this mess."

Natsuki: "Really? Is that your reasoning?" She stares at her dad with a serious look. Pink eyes to another.

Natsuki's Dad: "Is there a flaw in my statement?"

Natsuki: "Stupid old man. What gave you the right to say that to me? Have you looked at yourself!? You tell me to grow up and here you are being nothing more but a walking talking stickman and you want me to grow up! You want me to grow up to be a miserable old bastard like you? If mom was here she would have …"

Natsuki's Dad: "Enough! Don't bring her into this! You're grounded until your suspension is over! End of story! I'm going back to work." He turns his back on her. "Before I head out, I'm taking away your phone, so you better start reading real books. No more of this Manga nonsense."

Natsuki: "Tsk!" Her dad leaves back for work as she shakes her fist in pure anger.

[Open Wounds by Skillet]

Alone at her empty house. No love to be had, no happiness to be found. Despite her dad being there when he's home, she felt alone in this broken home. During the rest of the day, she would stay in her room thinking about what she took for granite. The demons eating away at her soul as her pride diminishes.

(I took them all for granite.) She thinks to herself as she lays face first on her bed. (I miss everyone. Even though they can be annoying at times, I always had fun with them, but now … I'm all alone. I'm sorry everyone.) She clenches her sheets.

(Why can't I ever say that to anyone? Why can't I just be honest with them? This is something I always hated about myself. Add this to the list of things I hate about my life. I'm not popular like Monika. I'm not well endow like Yuri. I'm not cheerful and carefree as Sayori. I'm not strong like you Michael.)

She stares up at the ceiling as she thinks about everyone. (How are you like this? Even after everything you've been through, you remained strong. You spoke up and told your story. You changed your look even if its slightly. You changed your attitude. How are you doing this? Am I stupid?)

She stares at her hand. (Your precious thing remains with you, but for me. I'm sorry mom. I lost the one thing you left for me. I let those jerks ruin your gift to me. Forgive me mom.) A tear falls down her face. (I hate them all. I hate everyone at school. I hate cowards.) "I hate them all!"

While Natsuki spends her day alone, her dad goes through her phone curious about her life outside of home.

Natsuki's Dad: (These must be the people she talked about?)

*Flash Back*

Natsuki: "You're home early today."

Natsuki's Dad: "Yeah they let me go early today since they think I'm not well." He takes a sip of his water. "What about you? You seem late today."

Natsuki: "I joined a club."

Natsuki's Dad: "A club?"

Natsuki: "I joined the Literature Club."

Natsuki's Dad: "I see, well good for you." He continues drinking his water.

*Flash Back Ends*

Natsuki's Dad: (These are most likely the members of that club of hers. Monika, Sayori, Yuri, and Michael? Three of them are girls, but one is a boy. What relation do they have?) He continues to look at the numbers.

*Sigh* (Well I doubt they would let her join back after her little stunt? Better delete these numbers now since they will most likely do the same. Honestly, what kind of people would let my daughter rejoin again. She's nothing more but a child who spends all her money on childish things.)

[Song Ends]

He gets ready to delete the numbers in his daughter's phone. However, for a brief moment he hesitated, but why? He continues to stare at the names of the Literature Club members. The more he looks at them an image starts to form in his mind.

?: "Well since everyone is doing their own thing, I'm all yours." Said a woman.

? 2: "What's that supposed to mean?" The man responds.

?: "All my friends are off with their boyfriends or with their families."

? 2: "I'm more surprised that you still talk to them? Last I heard you had a major argument."

?: "Yeah, but as my real friends we made up. I'm grateful to meet such great people. Back then I didn't really have much friends. No one wanted to be my friend just cause I like to read Manga and watch Anime. Though I guess you could say maybe I'm desperate?"

? 2: (People who are accepting of one's flaws?)

?: "Oh I'm sorry for telling you my life story."

? 2: "Oh no don't be. I'm just glad you met some good people."

?: "Me to. Everyone in high school can be so emotional. That's just how life is. We don't know what we had until it's gone. However, there will always be one thing that will define us. I enjoy my life the way it is and I don't care what anyone has to say about it. It's my life and I enjoy it." She smiles.

Natsuki's Dad: *Sigh* (Better get back to work.) He places the phone on his desk and continues typing on his keyboard. Later that day after work was over. He arrived back at his house and looks around the living room to see where Natsuki is.

With no sight of her on the first floor, he assumed she's in her room. He dropped his stuff on the floor and headed straight to the kitchen. "Guess she decided to cook something?" He says as he looks at the dishes drying off.

He goes through the fridge to see it nearly empty. He took out an apple and took a bite out of it before putting it back in. He walks upstairs to his room and on his way there he sees no light in Natsuki's room. (She already went to sleep?) He thinks to himself as he places his hand on her door before continuing his way. When he reached his room, he took off his tie and removed his work uniform.

*Sigh* He sits on his bed and looks behind himself to see the other half of his bed is empty. (How long has it been since you left me? Alone in this room without your warmth. I'm sorry that I couldn't teach Natsuki how to be a proper adult. You must be upset with me right now, are you?)

He looks at his nightstand to see the photo of himself and his wife. (Sometimes I wish I was at high school again. The time I spent there was bad, but with you, it was all worth it.) He stares up at the ceiling before he falls to sleep.

(How much longer until I can see you again? When will my time come?)

End of Chapter 41