Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

      Morp knows today is one of those days - he’s almost to the stoplight and Sayori is nowhere to be seen. She must have slept in again. Should he wait?

    The fact is, she is his best friend. And she’d wait for him. He sighs; he’s not actually upset. He’s. . .well, he doesn’t know. But he’s not mad.

    Sure enough she comes running up, pausing to huff and puff, smiling sheepishly. Morp rolls his eyes and nudges her shoulder, quipping, “I almost left, y’know?”

    Something drops in her expression, but it’s gone soon enough. She blows a raspberry, “meanie!”

    With a laugh they link arms and hurry up to school, chatting about everything under the sun.

brrrrrrrrrng!

  Morp sits back with a sigh; the day is finally over.

    Of course, that only means-

    “Moooooorp!” 
    
    Sayori flops dramatically onto his desk. “You need to pick a cluuuuuuub,” she whines, then pouts at him from atop the desk.

    Sayori had been weirdly insistant on him starting a club since the beginning of the year - he wasn’t sure why. He was fine with her being his only irl friend, but she’d been. . .mother-henning about his lacking friends department.

   He’d tried to argue that he had his online friends.

    She’d only put her foot down harder.

   So he’d relented. Well, he’d agreed to try. Truth was, he wasn’t particularly motivated. There was the manga club, but there were no girls there, and he should want to join a club and meet girls, right? At least that’s what the upperclassmen always talked about. And anyways, he was picky about his manga.

    He knew Sayori was the Vice President of the newly-made Literature Club - he had considered it more than once. After all, it would make her happy. Plus, he could work on his homework or something. But. . .

    Well, Morp wasn’t shy exactly, but he was . . .apprehensive about meeting new people.

     He shifted awkwardly. “Well. . .”

    Sayori leaned in closely, eyes wide. “You haven’t decided yet???”

     “You see-“

     Sayori slides off the desk, pumping a fist. “That’s it! I won’t let you become a lonely NEET,” (where does she even get the idea?), she points at him and dramatically declares, “today you’ll join the literature club!”

    Morp can feel sweat beginning to bead on his face. “Um-“

    “Nope!” She slaps a hand over his mouth. “You’re not getting out of this! Plus, Natsuki made cupcakes,” she adds on, a twinkle in her eye.

    Morp relaxes slowly. Contemplates. Then licks Sayori’s hand, causing her to remove it with a shriek. “Fine, but I’m only checking it out. No promise I’m gonna join, but I’ll check it out, okay?”

    But he knows based off of Sayori’s smirk, that he’s probably already sold his soul.

    And all for a cupcake.

Chapter Text

    Morp’s first impression of the literature club is that there sure is a lot of girls in it.

    Second is that it’s more casual than he would have thought.

    Sayori cheerily introduces him to the other members: shy Yuri, a specialist in novels and description; agressive Natsuki, manga-enthusiast, encompassing simple yet powerful, and recently, a baker; and lastly, Monica, who is a poet that enjoys stylized wordplay - and is also the President.

    They’re all talented and have specialized interests, obviously, but as soon as the club ‘begins’, everyone seems to just go off and do their own thing. Morp doesn’t have an issue with it - it feels like a safe space. Yuri makes tea, and Natsuki shares some scrummy neko cupcakes. 

    Sayori reveals her devious streak, that she had ‘tricked’ Morp into coming, as well as Natsuki to make the cupcakes. Truth was Morp had kinda expected it, and while Natsuki is flustered, she didn’t seem all that surprised either. But they left Sayori to her victory.

    While Morp has no issue with the club being more like a safe space where each can indulge in their own literacy preferences, it makes for a disjointed effort to immerse Morp in their own particulars. Yuri is full of passion for novels, Natsuki wants to monopolize the fellow manga-lover, even Monika has an intensity to her.

    Thankfully Sayori is quick to rescue him, and come up with her own suggestion. “Why don’t we focus on what each of us likes, one at a time? So we can all share with each other!”

   It’s a sound idea. But-

   “You know, Sayori dragged me here but I never said I was gonna join.”

    Silence.

    Then-

    Chaos.

   “Hey!” Morp shouts. Then smiles, as they quiet down.

    “I’ll do it - I’ll join the literature club.”

Chapter Text

   Monika decided they shall start with poetry, an executive decision as club president, of course.

    No one is unhappy with the suggestion though, save Morp, who barely writes anything comprehensible for any of his actual classes. But he’ll try, for the club.

    . . .seems like ‘for the club’ is going to become a common saying.

    So, after parting ways with Sayori, and finishing his homework, he clears his desk and sets a notebook down on it.

    It was a gift from Sayori - his new poem journal, as she called it. It’s covered in chibi dogs with a dark gray background. Cracking it open happens to crack a smile as well, because on the inner cover is a short note, followed by two columns of words.

    Hey, Morp! I just knew you would join :3 I went ahead and put some words for you with suggestions from the others, to help give you ideas! It’ll be lots of fun, I promise! ~Sayori <3

  . . .well, if she was gonna go to so much trouble.

    Filled with determination, Morp uncaps his pen and-!

    Half an hour later he’s flopped on the desk, groaning.

    Why is this so hard???

   It’s mostly a mishmash of words at this point; he’s not to sure how poems go. They rhyme, right? Unless they’re free form, or something? 
  
    He looks down at his poem and frowns. Ugh.

If on a sunny day

I walk your way I say,

what a great beautiful May.

The sun sky clouds sky so blue 

with fluffy clouds too,

I have to say good day to you.

  Morp sits back with another groan. It’s. . .well it’s words on a paper. You have to start somewhere, right? 
  
   He squints at his work, as though it’s existence offends him. (It does.)

    Whatever. Close enough.

   Morp is dragging his feet as Sayori pulls him to the literature club, the next day. She’s chattering happily, either ignorant or ignoring Morp’s dour mood. He’s filled with something akin to dread.

    He’s, thankfully, not accosted upon entering. All the girls give him a quick greeting, which he returns - Sayori quickly grabs Monika’s attention to discuss some club stuff, leaving Morp to awkwardly fidget, unsure what to do.

    Natsuki is in the back, rummaging in the closet (presumably looking for her manga). Morp, being a fan of manga, makes as if to join her, but stops when he realizes that Yuri stood up, and is fidgeting.

    “Did you need something, Yuri?” He asks.

    “I-uh-um-here!” She thrusts something towards him, hiding her red face. 
  
   Gingerly, Morp takes it. It’s a pristine, new book. The Eye Of Markov glares at him.

    He takes a quick glance at the synopsis, and hides a grimace. It’s. . .really not his kind of book, if he were to read books. There’s a sinister aura to the story. But. . .

    “I really appreciate you thinking of me,” he says honestly, “I’ll definitely give it a try.” After all, he’s not promising to finish it. And it wouldn’t hurt to try, right?

    Yuri is quick to anxiously explain, “I just- I thought maybe you’d like to branch out? You don’t- you don’t have to finish it, obviously, if you don’t like it. It’s just one I started recently and-“

    Morp laughs kindly, “it’s okay Yuri, really. Like I said, I appreciate the thought.” He makes sure to give her a warm smile. She peaks out from under her hair, a little soothed.

   A loud clap breaks their attention. “Okay! Poem time!” Monika trills.

    Well, since he’s already here. . .

   Morp slings his backpack off his shoulder and takes out his poem book. “Uh, here I guess.” 
  
   Yuri trades him her own pristine paper. Morp reads it and, well, is definitely wordy. Descriptive? Although he knows it’s metaphorical he can’t quite place what it is about, and Yuri is happy to explain.

    On the matter of his own poem, she commends his first attempt. “I appreciate that you didn’t rewrite it to hide your mistakes - you’ll be able to look back on and see how you’ve improved. It also shows you’re thinking about your word usage.”

    “Huh, not too bad,” this, from Natsuki, “it’s simple, but way too literal for me. But hey, it’s a first attempt.” She shrugs, oddly, well, neutral. Considering her tsundere attitude yesterday, he’ll take it.

    Sayori gasps, eyes lighting up. “Morp! It’s so good! Serious and honest, just like you!” And, well, he can’t argue with her, he guesses.

    Monika takes. . .a long time to read it. He knows because he was puzzling over her own poem; free form and a general feeling of displacement. By time he’s done with her’s, she’s still looking at his paper, oddly.

    She’s quick to smile when they trade back. “Well, it’s certainly a start! Take the time to think about everyone else’s styles you’ve seen, while you find your own - just a little ol’ writing tip from me.” She winks, grinning. Morp shuffles a little and nods his thanks, unsure what to say.

    With that the club is over; they clean the room and head their separate ways, Sayori skipping alongside Morp.

    And the other girls taking a moment to look back and watch them.

Chapter Text

    His second day of poetry writing isn’t any easier.

   He runs his hands through his hair, frustrated. It’s just words!! Why is it so hard?!

   Morp sits back with a sigh and closes his eyes. The girls made it seem so easy. 
  
   He thinks about their poems; Monika, mysterious and disjointed, her words like a snake who hid in foliage with a confusing pattern.

   Yuri, deep and nuanced, poetry flowing like a dark river at night with unknown treasures at its bed.

   Natsuki, who spoke her mind on paper both simply and deeply, not mincing her words but filling them with meaning all the same.

     Sayori, whose writing was hopeful and gentle, with a hint of melancholy, which. . .had been a bit of a surprise, to be honest. She had always been upbeat, since they were children. Granted, they hadn’t been as close during middle school, having only really reconnected the past year. What had changed?

    Unbidden, Sayori’s twinkling eyes come to mind. She had been really happy by his poem yesterday, wasn’t she? Even with the mistakes. In fact, they had all been kind, despite the fact that he was way out of his depth. He could. . .he could do this, for her at the very least. Who cares if his poem isn’t perfect?

   Morp sits up and gets back to work.

A changed day

clouded skies turned gray;

raindrops plop from

heavy leaves 

but still it doesn’t matter

if when sunny skies hide,

because even in rain

your company still shines.

    The next day at the club, Morp is taken aback when Yuri B-lines straight for him.
   
    “Morp!” She gasps, looking panicked, quickly bowing. “I must apologize, I had no idea that the story would go into such sensitive topics, nor that the main genre was not in fact mystery, and I-“

   Morp shared a look with Sayori, raising a brow. She just shrugs.

   “Um. . .Yuri? Could you, maybe, slow down? I really don’t understand what you’re apologizing about. . . “

   “I-“ She stands up straight, flustered and clearly still fearful. “The, uh, the-“

   “Hey,” Morp hesitantly reaches out, but pulls himself back; he’s not sure if touch would panic her more, “just, take your time, alright?”

   Yuri nods, leaning on her knees for a moment and taking slow, deep breaths.

   Sayori pats Morp on the shoulder. “I’m gonna go check with Monika, okay? You guys take your time.” She gives Yuri a pat as she walks past.

   When Yuri composes herself, she stands up straight. “I, the um, book I got you? That I had only recently started as well? Well, I got so caught up in the story that I progressed quite far, and it seems that it was not a mystery about sisters as I had originally inferred, but instead is actually a horror novel focused on some, quite distressing topics. I was unsure where you were at in the book, or even if that was a genre you were okay with. So I - I feel I must apologize, for giving you such a novel without checking properly.”

   Morp takes a moment to just. Process that. 

  She thought he would be upset that she got him a book he might be uncomfortable with? Or at least, not like? 
 
  . . .okay he can kind of see why she’d feel bad, but honestly, he hadn’t even started it, so no harm done.

   Morp makes sure to word it nicer than that though - he can tell Yuri really takes words seriously. 

   He smiles. “Hey, no worries. I’m touched that you even thought of me and got me something in the first place, you know? Honestly, I hadn’t started it yet, and while I don’t usually do horror, I’m not against it either. So I really appreciate the warning and all the thought you put into this. I’m willing to still give it a try. I mean, if it makes me uncomfortable I can just stop reading, right? I’m not gonna blame you for the books contents, it’s up to me if I decide to read it or not, right? Same with you - if you’re uncomfortable, don’t force yourself to finish it, okay?”

   Yuri gives him a wide-eyed look, like she’s never considered not finishing a book before. There’s an awkward few minutes until she nods. “You’re - you’re right. Thank you, Morp. For your kindness.”

   Morp shrugs. “No problem. You seem to, I mean. . .” He rubs the back of his head. “Not to be too forward or anything, but you seem to worry a lot. If there’s anything I can do. . . ?”

   “Oh! No, no, but thank you. I’m just. . . not great with people, I suppose,” Yuri quickly says, fiddling with her hair. “I’m going to, ah, brew some tea.” She scurries off like a skittish raccoon.

   Soon after Monika is calling for them all to share poems, so he just lets that interaction go.

   Even though he gets the sense that there’s something going on with everyone here that he’s not quite getting.

Chapter Text

   Morp didn’t know what he had expected, but walking into some kind of screaming match wasn’t it.

   It was more yelling than actual screaming; but still, both Natsuki and Yuri’s faces were red, brows pinched, and he would swear he could see the beginnings of tears in both of their eyes.

   He knew that Natsuki and Yuri didn’t exactly get along on a good day, but it had always been playful ribbing. Nothing actually hurtful. Heck, they had been discussing tea and cookie pairings yesterday! 
 
   Honestly, he was uncomfortable, and he could feel Sayori tense up beside him.

   Where the hell was Monika?

   He caught sight of her a distance away, watching the argument with an unreadable expression. She was club president, shouldn’t she do something?

   But instead she just. Watched.

   Before Morp could muster up the resolve to intervene, Sayori took a deep breath and yelled, “Stop!”

   Both Yuri and Natsuki startled, turning to her wide-eyed.

   “Why are you guys fighting?” She looked beseechingly to one, then the other. “You guys are my friends! And I know you don’t always get along, but what reason is there to fight?”

   Natsuki, more assertive and quick to act, points a finger. “She-!”

   Yuri doesn’t hesitate for once, jumping in, “No, she-“ 

   It devolves into squabbling and shouting over one another, the argument starting to respark. Morp catches something about “show-off” and “forced cuteness” and. . .something about boobs? But he can’t make heads nor tails of it, except that the girls eyes flicker to him briefly.

   But Sayori is pretty quick, and she speaks rambled words much better than he can. “Hey!” 

  What follows is the most lethal chastising he has ever seen, followed by words of comfort and encouragement that leave Natsuki and Yuri in a whirlwind of guilty blushing.

   Morp can't help but whisper to Monika, "So that's why she's vice president."

   Monika merely nods.

   "Now," Sayori claps to redraw everyone's attention, "we should share poems, right Monika?"

   Monika takes her queue. "Right! Pair up and swap around everyone!"

   Natsuki makes a beeline for Morp; whether to distance from Yuri or because she actually wants to share with him, who knows?

   It's a usual swap, with Morp giving a polite compliment, and Natsuki giving a backwards one. But after, she seems hesitant to move on. It's at odds with her assertive demeanor.

   "Do you think. . ." Natsuki bites her lip and glances away. "Do you think she'll forgive me?"

   Morp isn't sure what to say. ". . . Yuri?"

   Natsuki glares at him. "Who else, idiot?"

   Morp just laughs easily. "Fair enough. I know I haven't been here long, but. . .Yuri doesn't seem the type to hold a grudge. And if you really feel bad about it, maybe do something nice for her?"

    The look Natsuki gives him is, well, he's not sure. Grateful, maybe even astonished?

   "You know what? Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks, Morp." He smiles. "Maybe you're not all that useless." It drops.

   Before he can sputter a comeback, Monika is snagging his attention, eager to share another abstract piece of hers.

   Morp is finding he actually quite likes the literature club.