Work Text:
Monika sat in the dimly-lit classroom, rubbing her eyes. She barely stifled a yawn as the beginnings of students began to appear in the corridors. It was club festival day, and she had spent all weekend doing preparations - stapling together booklets, ensuring that Natsuki and Yuri could complete their respective tasks on their own, and numerous video calls with Sayori. And now, a few hours before the event was due to get underway, she was beginning to burn out; and the low light meant that her head was starting to drop…
“I’m here!” Natsuki announced, swinging the door open with a crash. “Jeez, Monika, why’d you stay up so late if you’re just gonna be tired all day?” She set the trays carefully down on the table.
“I had things to do… Good morning, Natsuki,” she murmured in response. “Are you looking forward to the festival?”
“Absolutely. Even though I won’t get to eat my cupcakes I’m glad other people will enjoy them. I bet you’re looking forward to the fried squid, huh?”
“Why specifically the… wait, nevermind, I remember. Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” She paused. “Did you bring all those cupcakes yourself? There are four trays there.”
“Of course I did! I made them, I’ll bring them!” she responded, grinning proudly. “I expected Yuri to be here before me, at least. But maybe she’s struggling with bringing all her stuff.”
“Maybe she’s adding some final touches - I’m sure she’s put a lot of effort into those decorations,” Monika suggested. “Not that you didn’t put effort into your cupcakes, of course.”
“Of course.”
After a brief pause, she lowered her voice slightly and her grin dropped a fraction. “How’s Sayori been doing?”
“I managed to convince her to come, at the very least… She’s going to be quite a bit late, I would expect.”
“As long as she’s coming.”
Monika watched with a tired expression as Natsuki began arranging the cupcakes on a nearby table. The words she had chosen were mostly from their poems that the four had been beginning to share, with a few that mattered just that tiny bit more.
Trust.
Understanding.
Respect.
Balance.
Self-love.
Equals.
“These turned out great,” Monika said, wrapping her arms around Natuski from behind and resting her chin atop her bright pink hair. “Everyone is going to love them.”
“Well, duh! My cupcakes are the best,” Natsuki responded, beaming. “As long as you like them I don’t really care anyway. Everyone else can stuff it.”
Monika released Natsuki and made her way over to the chalkboard at the front of the room. That lectern seemed less threatening before. But now the four of them would be taking turns to read out poems, which was a reflection on the image of the club. Monika hadn’t thought about how that now reflected her image too, as the President. About how if they got no new members, they would have to spend the next year justifying their existence to the school board - Yuri was leaving for university soon enough, meaning that they’d be down to three members. Not enough to form an official club.
She sighed deeply and rubbed her temples. Everything had been stressing her out lately. It seemed as though the festival, Natsuki’s home situation, and Sayori’s mental health had been working together to give her near-permanent stress-induced headaches. But at least one of those problems was about to be over. Only time would tell if it went well or not.
“Monika… you gotta stop taking on more stress than you can handle,” Natsuki murmured as she wandered over. “Jeez, nobody’s gonna judge you if you need to take a step back for a bit. Sayori can handle some stuff. It might even make her feel better.”
“I know, I know. It’s just, the festival–”
“–will be fine,” Natsuki interjected. “As long as nobody unpleasant shows up.” She quietened, and her face contorted in concern. “All I’m worried about is my old friends coming back to laugh at me.”
“I’m sure they won’t. They’d know better than to do something like that in a room full of people, I’d hope.”
“Then it’ll be fine, and everyone will have an amazing time. Ask Yuri, whenever she’s planning on getting here. And Sayori, too. She’s always loved the festival. Mostly for the food, but that’s beside the point.”
“Everything will be fine,” Monika mumbled. She didn’t sound convinced - there was still a lot to stress about - but the conversation with Natsuki had nonetheless helped.
After some time rearranging desks, chairs and the poetry booklets, Monika stood back to survey the room. Yuri had texted to say she was still going to be a while (the paint on some of her banners had still not dried properly), and they were starting to get bored with waiting. There was nothing they could do now but wait for the others to turn up so they could start their event.
“We could look around some of the other clubs,” Natsuki suggested. “I want to check out the baking club. Not because I want to switch- I don’t–” (she hastily added, upon seeing Monika’s face) “–I just want to see if they have any tips for baking vegan cakes. They never turn out great when I do them.”
“Well, I don’t see why not. As long as you’re not going to double-cross me,” Monika replied with a smirk.
“Oh, of course not. You know you’ll always be my favourite club president. And the Literature Club will always be where I found my home.”
“That’s sweet of you. I like feeling like what started as me being sat in a room all on my own ended up being something special for all four of us. And I hope it’ll continue to be special for all of our new members, too.”
“You should put that in a speech. That would encourage a lot of people to join.” Natsuki looked out of the window, over the school grounds far below. “It would’ve encouraged me to join way earlier, if I knew what you guys were like. That’s why I picked the poem that I did - I wrote it not long after I joined. It has all my favourite feelings about you guys in it.”
“Natsuki… That’s… really sweet of you.” Monika kissed the top of her head. “You’re so adorable. Really. Just the cutest.”
Monika laughed as Natsuki pouted, making her signature tsundere face. Her small fang-like tooth jutted out of the side of her mouth; a stark reminder that while she was cute, she was also deadly. Despite this, Monika ruffled her hair and giggled again as Natsuki blushed furiously and stumbled over her words. Trying to mumble something between “not cute” and “you know it,” she eventually managed to say–
“You know you’re cute.” She flushed further. “Not what I meant to say–”
At that moment, the door swung open and Yuri walked into the room back-first, lugging with her a huge, overflowing box of banners, fairy lights and other handmade decorations. She stared at the scene before her as she turned, bewildered at Natsuki’s flushed face and Monika’s barely stifled laughter.
“Did… Did I interrupt something?” she asked. “Oh, God, I did, didn’t I? I-I’m so sorry–”
“No, no, don’t worry. Natsuki’s just having a bit of a moment. Here–” she pulled the chairs into place for hanging the banners “–let me help. I think Natsuki would be a bit too short, even with the help of the chairs.”
Natsuki pouted again at that, and made a small “hmph” sound to make her displeasure known. After an hour or so of setting up decorations, all three stood back by the door and admired their handiwork. Natsuki and Monika silently intertwined their hands in the dim light as it illuminated their faces and the door slid slowly open behind them to reveal three eager and expectant faces.
“Welcome to the Literature Club!”
This fanfic's poem:
You Are Enough
To be, or not to be?
That’s quite a question.
I think you love me
And that’s quite enough.
I don’t feel safe up high.
But when I’m with you
I feel like I can fly.
And that’s quite enough.
When I’m with you
Everything’s warm
Everything’s cosy
And that’s always enough.