Chapter 45: Walk through the thorns

Traveling back home as the sun sets. Not much to do after Natsuki finally opened up and told her family life. Michael was saddened that her life was depressing and she hid it all away from everyone. When he walked past the park, he looked around to see no one around. He stood near the frozen pond lost in thought. Staring at the ice-cold pond, unable to see his own reflection he continues his walk home.

On his way home he stopped by a store and bought something wrapped in a box and safely in a bag to carry. When he finally reached home, he stood at the front gates of his house and looked at his phone. He saw the time being 6:40 pm and went through his contacts. It's unknown why he did that, but either way, after he finished, he entered his house and was greeted by a happy smile.

Sayori: "Welcome back MC. How did things go?"

Michael: "Alright I guess."

Sayori: "Did something happen?"

Michael: "Yeah, but right now I don't want to talk about it."

Sayori: "… I understand." (Did something happen between him and Yuri?) She thinks to herself and notices him carrying a box in a bag. "Oh, that's right! Gabriella was here earlier."

Michael: "My mom was here?"

Sayori: "Yeah, but she had to head back to work again. She left this for you though." She points at a huge box. "She told me to tell you not to open it until Christmas."

Michael: (Must be my gift? Thanks mom.) "Oh, speaking of which are you going to spend Christmas with your parents?"

Sayori: "Sure am. What about you? Are you going to spend Christmas with Gabriella?"

Michael: "Doubt it. My mom works everyday even during Christmas. She can't seem to catch a break."

Sayori: "I'm sorry to hear that." (Why did I have to bring that up?)

Michael: "I should let you know that I'm going somewhere tomorrow."

Sayori: "Where are you off to now?"

Michael: "I'm going to meet with a friend of mine. I'm sorry that I have to leave you behind again." He says as he takes a seat.

Sayori: "That's ok MC. Actually, Monika asked me to come by at the café tomorrow anyways."

Michael: "Really? What for?"

Sayori: "I don't know. She said it was important, so both me and Yuri are going to meet up with her."

Michael: "Just you three?"

Sayori: "Well she asked for you to come by as well, but since you already made plans …"

Michael: "Could you tell her I'm sorry about that?"

Sayori: "Yeah, I'll let her know."

Michael: "Thanks"

Sayori: "No problem. You ready for dinner? Gabriella left us some food to eat."

Michael: "That's sounds great. I could eat something."

As they both eat dinner left by his mom, he would often look at his phone almost after every bite he took.

Sayori: "MC, you know not to have your phone on the table?"

Michael: "Oh sorry about that. I just needed to know what's going on."

Sayori: "Is that your friend you were talking about?"

Michael: "Yeah, just waiting to see what time we should meet up."

Sayori: (Waiting on Jason, eh? I wonder how he's doing? Hmm, maybe I should see him too and thank him for his help. If it wasn't for him telling me about MC and Sara's relationship, then we wouldn't have known about MC's problems.)

Michael: "Are you feeling ok Sayori?"

Sayori: "Huh? Oh yeah I'm doing great."

Michael: "Oooook?" Later during bedtime after they both took their showers. Not together like last time, only that was accidental. "Here this is for you." He hands her a medium size box from the bag he was carrying.

Sayori: "What is it?"

Michael: "It's a gift. Don't open it until it's Christmas, ok?"

Sayori: "Aww thank you MC, but I didn't get you anything." She looks down upset.

Michael: "Don't worry about it. Just accept it." He gets underneath the covers. "Good night Sayori."

Sayori: "Good night MC and thank you for the gift." She says with a smile on her face before going to sleep.

The following day it began to snow again. Despite it being cold outside it was nice and warm indoors. The fire cracking as it burns the wood. The sound of the heater for those who prefer using that instead. The smell of hot coco in the air. It was a nice day to be indoors.

Jason: "How are you enjoying your coco?"

Michael: "It's good thanks."

Jason: "So what else did you want to talk about? You told me the situation of your friend, but you haven't found a way to convince the principle."

Michael: "No, it's been hard since Sebastian is the swim teams ace, I doubt the principle would listen to me or the others about what happened."

Jason: "Even the Queen?"

Michael: "You know I'm not sure about that, maybe?" He takes a sip from his mug. "Natsuki told me her side of the story, but still it bugs me."

Jason: "Sebastian … known as Shark. He's the school's ace swimmer. No one can seem to beat him in a race."

Michael: "That's what I heard."

Jason: "The only way to get the principle to listen to you is if you can get Sebastian to tell the truth."

Michael: "I know that, but … something seems off about the story?"

Jason: "What makes you say that?"

Michael: "With what I heard his friends were the ones who started it, but not him. When I saw him, he seemed more sad?"

Jason: "That is strange?" (Wonder why though? Is he perhaps feeling guilty about all this?) He takes a sip of his coco.

Michael: "It is, but right now I'm not focus on that. I'm more worried about my friend's mental health."

Jason: "Is she sick?"

Michael: "In a way, but there's nothing I can say or do to help. Both me and her do share the same pain. The only difference is how we handle things. She keeps to herself barley ever sharing her interest as for me …" *Sigh* "I don't know what to do anymore? I should just drop it and give up. It's her life, I shouldn't get involve in her life."

Jason: "…"

Jason's Dad: "Do you really want to?"

Michael: "Huh?"

Jason: "Dad?"

Jason's Dad: "Sorry for eavesdropping, but you shouldn't think that way."

Michael: "What do you mean?"

Jason's Dad: "What I mean is, it's fine to worry about your friend, even if you feel like you shouldn't get involve in their personal lives. That just shows you're a true friend. However, it is true you shouldn't be overprotective. Your friend has to grow on their own, but that doesn't mean you can't motivate them." He gives him a wink.

Michael: "Motivate them?" (That's right now that I think about it. Didn't my actions motivate Sayori not to kill herself?) He looks at his injured right foot again. The image of what he did began to flash before his eyes. The sound of gun fire as he shot himself on the foot to stop Sayori from hanging herself.

Jason's Dad: "You told us about your life. You must know that even when you didn't want to open up or change, your friends got involved in your life because they cared about you. Even when it may seem that their being nosey, they helped motivate you to change." Michael looks back up to see Dan's eyes. "Sometimes you need to face your problems alone but keep the ones who love you in your heart and face that demon."

Michael: (Face the problem alone but keep my friends in my heart? Motivation? I think I know where he's getting at. Sayori told me how she really felt. Her depression holding her down and Yuri doing something she would never do, only doing it to help me. There in my heart and motivated me to face Sara and my dad. They motivated me and now …) "Thanks Dan. I think I know what I have to do."

Jason's Dad: "That's good to hear."

Michael: "I need to head home now." He gets off the couch.

Jason's Dad: "Do you need a ride? It's getting dark outside."

Michael: "That would great. Thank you." Later on, after being dropped off at his house. "Thanks for the lift."

Jason's Dad: "Anytime, take care Michael."

Jason: "Talk to you again later." He waves to his friend.

Michael: "Sure thing." He waves to them both before they leave. (I know what I have to do now. I can do this.) He clenches his hand before entering his house.

Jason: "Never thought you could be so wise."

Jason's Dad: "And I never thought you can be so mean to your father."

Jason: "You're the one who raised me."

Jason's Dad: "Smartass" They both laugh as they drive by the snow.

Sayori: "Oh MC your back."

Michael: "So are you."

Sayori: "Did you have fun?"

Michael: "Yeah and thanks to them I know what I have to do now."

Sayori: "What are you going to do?"

Michael: "What I've been trying to do all this time. I'm going to help Natsuki rebuild herself."

Sayori: "Rebuild herself? What do you mean by that?"

Michael: "As much as I like to tell you, I think it would be best to hear from Natsuki herself. It ain't my business to tell others her secrets. Especially when it took all of her power to tell me."

Sayori: "Say no more. I got it. I trust you. After all I saw how much you're willing to go to help someone." She says as she looks at her old friend's injury.

Michael: "Speaking of which, what did Monika wanted to talk to you about?"

Sayori: "Oh right, well you see …"

Michael: "R-really?" He stood there shockingly.

Sayori: "Yeah, I'm not lying."

Michael: "That's great news to hear." He smiles greatly. (So, there is indeed hope. Now I'm more determined to help her.)

Sayori: "So what are you going to do now?"

Michael: "Just need to make a quick order right now."

Sayori: "Order? Order what?"

Michael: "Something that can help Natsuki and show her how much we care."

Sayori: "Cool then let me help out to."

Michael: "Alight then. Off to the internet."

Sayori: "Got it!" She says with enthusiasm. Later that night. "Ok the others are willing to help out as well. They'll pay you back when we meet at the club again."

Michael: "Alright, so now all we have to do is wait until tomorrow morning for the package to be delivered." *Sigh*

Sayori: "What's wrong?"

Michael: "Oh it's nothing, just exhausted." (I still need to start making plans. There's a lot to do tomorrow. Can't rest just yet.)

Sayori: "You really are thoughtful."

Michael: "I wouldn't say that." (I only bought three gifts. I just hope they understand.)

Sayori: "I'm sure no one would blame you. You did it for a cause."

Michael: "Yeah, but still."

Sayori: "If you feel that bad then why not be creative?"

Michael: "Easier said than done."

Sayori: "Maybe, but it's the thought that counts."

Michael: "You're probably right, for once."

Sayori: "Hey!" He chuckles to her response.

[11:11 P.M. by All American Rejects]

The next day after eating his breakfast and talking with Sayori. The package finally delivered as he quickly made his way to Natsuki's house once again.

Sayori: "I'm going to go talk with Yuri and Monika today. Are you sure you can handle this on your own?"

As he walks to Natsuki's house he held his grip firm on his crutches passing everyone who are walking with or in the opposite direction of him.

Michael: "Yeah this something I need to do alone."

Sayori: "You sure do like doing things on your own. Makes me wonder how you're going to act when you get a girlfriend?"

Michael: "What do you mean that?"

Sayori: "Oh it's nothing, well I'll see you soon. Take care MC." She smiles to him before she left his house.

Her smile was the last thing he saw before he left home. The cool breeze of winter, but a warm body not bothered by the cold. He kept his pace and continued his walk. Ignoring his surroundings, he failed to notice a person he once met walking by. Not wanting to stop, only focusing on what's up ahead. He never noticed the red head.

Ronald: "You don't see that every day. What is he doing?"

Running out of breath, lungs feeling a burning sensation due to inhaling the cold air. He finally arrived at Natsuki's place once again. For a brief moment he hesitated. He thought to himself how he can help. There were a lot of things he could say or do, but he didn't want to throw it all out there.

If he spoke out of his ass there was going to be a huge chance that it will not help Natsuki's situation. Not only that, if he rang the doorbell right now, he may forget everything he wanted to say to her. Either way it was a lose, lose situation, or so he thought. However, no matter what comes his way he must confront this. It was now or never.

Package in hand he slowly and carefully walked up some short stairs and gently rang the doorbell waiting for a response. He mentally prepared himself and as soon as he heard the door unlocked, he stiffened. When the door opened, he knew that this was going to be a difficult challenge as the true obstacle stands before him.

Natsuki's Dad: "How can I help?"

The true challenge has begun.

Michael: "Hello sir, my name is Michael Conner. I'm here to speak with Natsuki."

[Song Ends]

End of Chapter 45