Sun's Rise

Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life/Mystery

A semi-canon prequel short story following the deuteragonist of The Rising Night (TRN) in his reluctance to reach out in the world and stop being a NEET.
(No prior playthrough of TRN is required before reading, this tells its own series of events.) 

The dawn of a new school year, marked by the cool April breeze, brought forth a fresh wave of students all eager to catch up with old friends, or in a rush to learn the layout of the school and find their homeroom classes - and in that same great clutter of students was a now third year highschooler. The front gates stood tall before his resigned eyes, for he knew the inside held many more demanding lessons and trivial syllabi to push through. 

“Only one year to go.” As meaningless as those words were to hear, his own indolence brought it to the forefront of his mind anyway. 

“One year to go until what...? The end of highschool? Like that’s something to look forward to…“

Thoughts such as those littered his mind, distracting him to a point where he’d already passed by his homeroom class number he’d been searching along the hall for. Upon realizing his mistake, he mentally facepalmed and pivoted himself in the correct direction. If he'd had an audience watching him at this very moment, they would've surely pointed and laughed at him by now. "He went an entire hall off course? Hah! What an idiot…" Unexpectedly, however, this abrupt change in orientation had led him straight into the path of another student. As quick as he was to notice this mistake, there was unfortunately little he could do about it: he and the other student had met for the first time, colliding head to head. Just another thing for the audience to point and laugh at him for... great!

“Woah…! I-I’m so sorry about that… Are you alright?” 

The student, whose dark colored hair now ran over her face, hesitated to respond with anything more than a slight shade of crimson lining her face and an initial gasp upon collision. Looking at the girl for a moment revealed her distant gaze, and in trailing it, he came to discover a thick book with its red cover lying upwards about a meter away. He took the book in hand, closing it to prevent any damage to the pages, and handed it to the girl. Her eyes finally met his.

“I really do mean what I said… I just went the wrong way, and turned too fast for you to notice! None of the pages were creased, if that counts for anything…”

He laughed nervously to himself, and the student returned in kind - apologizing profusely for her own lack of awareness. The scene ended as abruptly as it had begun, and the two students parted ways. Walking down the hall, he couldn’t help but curse his own lack of awareness. If only he had the reflexes of a superhuman to prevent such a fatal, socially irredeemable mistake! The "audience" must surely be comparing him towards the common trope of a bumbling idiot right about now, but at least in their case they get the girl... He turned back, hoping such a trope could fall upon him. But alas, she was already long gone...

Hours passed since then. Everything had been typical of a first day of school, and yet something felt missing to him… or rather, someone. Sat in the lunch courtyard, his gaze wandered from entrance to entrance with no luck.

“Heh, did she finally decide to give up on me? Either that, or she’s still filling her tray with food… Anything’s possible with that girl.”

Little did he know, ‘that girl’ was standing just over him - a fact he wouldn’t come to realize until his vision was entirely covered by two slender hands. He knew he was no target of bullying, and of course deduced he wasn’t being kidnapped - no sane kidnapper would have such a citrusy scent attached to them after all, so there could only be one possible suspect…

“Guess who~!” she playfully announced.

The suspect was none other than Sayori, his best friend since childhood. Many would look upon this scene in envy, “A NEET like him already in a relationship? Childhood best friends?? That’s not fair, it should’ve been me!”, but he could only question the reasoning behind their alleged jealousy. Alleged for the fact that there’d never actually been a time where such words were ever said about his friendship with her. In his eyes, Sayori was akin to a caring sister of which he’d never had being the only child he was. This was more important than any other type of relationship in his eyes. Ever since they were little, his father had been across the country on various business trips, rarely ever stopping by to visit, and his mother gone. There was also his uncle… To say the least, they haven’t gotten along in some time, and it’d been forever ago that they last talked. There'd been a time where his uncle had taken care for him when his father couldn't, but after bad decision after bad decision he decided to disassociate from his uncle entirely - even if he'd cared for him deeply. He believed he knew better than a person like his uncle, and thus has only ever shared animosity towards him and his life choices since... On the other hand, Sayori was in a slightly similar position to his own in being an only child with an absent mother. Her father has since acted as a caretaker for the both of them in place of his uncle. Although her father had been exponentially caught up in work over time, further lessening the time he shares with the two, they’ve always stayed together as a sort of ‘sudo-family’. He looked up to Sayori's father more than he ever did his own or his uncle, and that only strengthened the bond he had with her.

“Monika? Ah, nevermind…  I doubt I’ll ever talk to a cool girl like her again now that we don’t share any classes together, am I right…?”

She mouths the sound of a wrong buzzer, confirming the obvious. “Guess again…! Also, I’m sooo gonna tell her you said that, ehehe~”

“Wait, huh? Sayori, what do you mean you’re gonna tell her…?” I respond in confusion.

While he and Monika had shared classes last year, he'd only ever mentioned her around Sayori. It was news to him that the two ever became acquainted… He's soon broken out of his thoughts by the high pitched sound of a correct buzzer, and a pair of hands removing themselves from his eyes.

“Correct! I took a look around at some of the new clubs, and when I decided on one to join, it turned out Monika was the president…!”

“Hold on, hold on… You were looking for a new club? And Monika was… huh…? I thought she was a part of the Debate Club?” was the only response he could think of. She’s a fairly popular girl within the school, and a large part of that is, or ‘was’ now, her involvement in the Debate Club. And she just left…? 

“Uh huh, she and I are now the head president and vice president of the Literature Club! Pretty ‘cooool’, right?”, she answered.

“I- Huh- Wh-What do you mean, you’re the ‘vice president’?”

With her answer only came more questions. ‘Vice president’, and for all things a 'Literature Club’? Since when was Sayori that interested in literature…? His questions would soon find answers after a conversation spanning the entirety of our lunch period. He was only just wrapping up his tray of food when Sayori asked out of the blue:

“Would you pleeease join our Literature Club?”

He hesitated at first. Literature isn’t a subject he ever thought to invest himself in. Sure, he didn’t hate it, but to join a club centered around it? He simply wasn’t sure… There’s only three members currently, so it wasn’t a big club at least. However, he believed that’d only make his presence there all the more noticeable - and he was horrible at literature. To pass on the inevitable mockery that would come as a result of his sad attempts to write a story of any kind, he declined her offer. Although clearly dejected, she came to understand that the subject matter simply isn’t as much of his interest as it is her own. Not long after, the bell signifying the end of lunch officially marks the unfortunate end to their conversation. 

A month passes, followed by another without anything ever straying from the ordinary. He continued to attend his classes, always refusing the odd club invitation flier he’d receive on some event to occur that day, and always stated that his club of choice was the one that let him go home the soonest (aka None Of The Above). Summer was on the horizon, and so too was his ambition to stay home with a controller in hand, and video game loaded onto the TV. In his eyes, he never had much time to do that with all the homework assignments he’d need completed by the day after next. But in reality, there was a part of him that knew it was his procrastination which led the assignments to take as long as they did to be completed… The specifics didn’t matter, though, he was growing tired by the week with what homework was assigned to him, regardless. One day, having only slept an amount of hours that could be counted on a singular hand, he found himself dozing off during class. His teacher, likely unaware or unconcerned, had never called him out on it. It was the perfect nap… That is until a loud CRASH came upon his desk, violently jolting him out of his stupor.

“I said wake up already! Jeez, I don’t care if you’re new to this class, but the first thing you should learn is that this is my–”

After hearing ‘new to this class’, he had shifted focus off of the displeased student entirely, and onto the clock. His napping session had somehow led him into the next class period… 

“Shit!” he exclaimed, rising out of his seat without a moment to spare.

“H-Hey, I’m not done talking to you…!”

The girl, whose hair was as bright pink as any Shojo manga cover he’d ever come across, tried to step in his way. Her small stature, however, was easy enough to pass by that her attempt was futile. He could only offer the girl a passing apology as he left; it’s not like he had much time to spare anyway, he was already severely late. Fortunately, many of the students had already arrived at their classes, leaving the corridors empty enough to sprint down. It’s not advised to do so, and if he’d been caught he’d surely receive repercussions for doing it, but there was no staff in sight - a lucky scenario to say the least, and one he never wished to be in again. The upcoming class on his schedule was none other than English, and his teacher was the type to start lessons as early as the students walked through the door. Such a ruthless endeavor to encourage students to never arrive to her class late proved out of his favor as he would have a lot to catch up on. Finally arriving at the class in question, and with the door just within an arm’s length away, he stops… On the door sits a brightly colored flier with a collection of cupcake and book stickers adorning the border, all to advertise “The Literature Club!”. 

“Oh, right. It’s that club Sayori talks about every now and then…” he thought.

However, thinking was a luxury he didn’t quite have at the moment. His teacher, realizing his presence just on the other side of the door, had called to him in a booming voice. He was in for one hell of a lecture…

Hours passed at a snail's pace. Well, not really; time is linear, and doesn’t speed up nor slow down for anyone. But to him, these hours at least felt slower than ever. The final bell announcing to the whole campus that school is finally out brought him joy, and off to the exit he went with haste. Passing by the waves of students moving both to and away his destination, he moved through the crowd like a fish in the sea.

“Oh, long time no see!”

And just like a fish in the sea, he felt a looming presence just behind him. Is it a shark? No, it can’t be… Ultimately dropping the ocean metaphors and rhymes, for lack of a real reason to continue comparing our protagonist to a fish anymore, he slowly brings himself to turn towards the familiar voice. 

“H-Heeey, Monika…! Long time no see, ahaha…”

“Hah! That’s a way to respond to ‘a cool girl’ you doubted ever talking to again~ ” she teased.

Never mind, she was most certainly a shark - and he the fish. "I need to get out of here!", he could only wish. In his debate to book it now while he still had the chance, he realized upon closer inspection that she didn’t look at all concerned about what he’d inadvertently told Sayori what he thought of her. However, said inspection also revealed a stack of fliers in her hand that looked similarly colored to the one he saw just earlier that day. Unsurprisingly, she approached him whilst pulling a single flier from the many. 

“I’m sure Sayori’s already told you about the club. But just in case you’d wanna read more on it, you can take this!” She says handing over a flier of which he reluctantly takes - not for a lack of interest, but because he’s already read it and is unsure how to tell her he doesn't need it.

“We’ve only got four members at the moment, so you won’t have to worry about any hurdles trying to talk to me~ Hahah!”

“Ahaha, y-yeah sounds good…” he responded.

They’ve only got four members? Last time he asked Sayori, they had three. To think only one person joined in the span of three entire months, with her as the president no less… A pathetic excuse for a conversation ensues for the next minute before he awkwardly pulls away from it, flier loosely in hand. It’s only when he reaches the comfort of his own home that he finally sets it down atop the dining table, unsure of what else to do with it at the moment. A part of him considers joining, after all Sayori and Monika are there. She also mentioned during their conversation how the other members have been curious about him for a while now, which made him feel guilty for not even considering giving it a shot… 

“Summer’s coming around soon, which means a several month long break from school… If there’s any better time to think it over, it’ll be around then!” he tells himself as he folds the flier into a small square before placing a nearby vase halfway over it to serve as a paperweight, thus leaving it for another day…

Only half a month later, and the Spring quarter of school finally comes to an end. Every last student is set free to their own devices, and he of course wastes no time getting back home as quickly as possible. Yet upon arrival, the scorching sun had parched him enough to seek water immediately. Lazily grabbing a bottle from the fridge that had been stored inside some time ago, he subconsciously looks over towards a lone vase in the center of the dining table.

“Huh, when did that get there?” he thought to himself before removing it from the table, moving it back to its original resting spot by a couple family photos in the living room. 

After setting it down softly, he looked back at the table in confusion. Was he forgetting something? Wasn’t something there? He walked back over to the table, but found little more than a tiny leaf that had fallen from the plant inside the vase. As much as he could’ve sworn something was there, he ultimately gave in to his forgetfulness and continued his day as usual.

Days passed, and soon months. Summer break was to end in a matter of weeks. Over time, he couldn’t help but feel he was growing a little downcast. He’d only talked to Sayori a small handful of times over break, and the rest of that time was spent isolated in the comfort of his own home. That comfort, however, no longer felt as potent as it did when break first began. As much as he loved the lifestyle, he knew that only three more quarters of school remained. It was a blessing, and a curse. He’d be relieved of homework and teacher’s expectations, but the bitter coldness of reality would inevitably come in its wake. He had no ambitions of a career, and really no one to talk to in person outside of Sayori and her father on occasions. The loneliness set in hard, and eventually encouraged him to take a step outside for some fresh air. It’s not that the air outside would help much in any way, but seeing the many people along the way certainly helped to mitigate the feeling - if only a little. He began to envision himself in their shoes: He was a tired man in business casual holding a briefcase full of documents and on his way from the office whilst his wife awaited his return, and in the next a woman pushing a stroller with another kid walking beside her as she makes her way over to the grocery store. It didn’t matter who, he put himself in the position of everyone he walked by. A part of him hoped to run into Sayori by pure coincidence; Of course, such a coincidence wouldn’t occur. Sure, he could’ve simply called her and she would’ve come over in a flash, but something about that dissatisfied him.

“What’s the purpose of life if I’ll always have to keep reaching out for an answer?”

For whatever reason, he spoke out this question out loud on a whim, not fully knowing what he meant by it himself. Despite that, he got a very unexpected, and sudden response.

“That’s a stupid question, ain’t it? You haven’t reached out enough.”

Startled, he quickly turned towards the sound of the voice. A man sits alone on a bench just a couple meters behind him with a sandwich in his hands. Even though the sun’s already begun to set below the horizon, the man has on a colorful pair of sunglasses. As for attire, he wears a nicely fitted and colorful green suit, an outfit not very common around here - and especially not in this heat. It doesn’t take long for him to understand that the man in front of him is his uncle. He suppresses a scoff upon this realization…

“I ask for Sayori, and life gives me him…” he thought to himself.

“...There’s more room on the bench.” his uncle motions towards the other side with his open hand “You don't reach out to me anymore, so I'm surprised you came here... I’ve never known you as the pessimistic type. What’s got you talkin’ like that?”

“None of your business. We met by pure chance, I didn't come here.” He firmly states what he believes to be the obvious before strolling off in an attempt to ignore his uncle.

“Hoh? It might have been by pure chance, but that chance came for a reason."  He reasoned. "We're family. Any problem of yours is my business. And also, this seems like a good time to talk about this...”

The sound of paper being waved in the air causes him to stop in his tracks out of curiosity. In his uncle’s left hand is the unfolded flier he’d gotten about the Literature Club. Since when did he…?

“You say you’re reaching out, but you haven’t joined this club have you? You weren’t in a club in your first or second year, either. Are you just going to let an opportunity like this pass you by?”

“Who’s to say I haven’t been looking around? Not all clubs are for me.” he replies.

“Then is reality not for ya? I can already tell this is the first, and only club you’ve ever considered.” his uncle retorts with conviction. “If it wasn’t for the fact that miss Sayori’s in the club, I’m sure I wouldn’t have found this left folded up under the vase for weeks. If it was any other club, this piece of paper would be just that - nothing more than a piece of paper to throw out that same day.”

“That's not-” he attempts to respond, but is soon cut off.

“-You don’t have a wide range of interests, which leaves only two reasons why you’re not in a club:” 

Having finally set down his sandwich, his uncle holds up his right hand and puts up his index finger “One: the clubs holding similar interests to your own are all filled up and have no room for any newcomers. An unlikely scenario given how few people go to your school…” he proceeds to put up a second finger “Two: you don’t want to join a club, but still wanted to try considering the one miss Sayori’s in despite its uninteresting subject matter.”

He then unexpectedly pulls up a third finger “...Or, three: you just like having trash around and have a myriad of interests you’ll get to expanding upon… eventually. Maybe when you’re a week away from graduating, you’ll have broken away from your procrastination and finally considered the Anime Club a worthy place to be?”

He found himself at a loss for words, there’s not much he can say back to a man like him. While his voice carried a parental tone, and genuine concern for his future, he couldn’t unsee his life choices. He believed there was never any reasoning with someone like him… The delay in his response brought a lingering silence between them until the very point of dusk, leaving his uncle to break it by standing up from the bench.

“*sigh* I won’t tell you how to go about your life, you clearly don't care, but I will ask that you put in some effort for your own sake.” his uncle says folding up the paper before tossing it over in his direction “I was hoping to talk to you more about this myself, sorry. If you still don’t want to, then I’ll just leave it to her.”

"To 'her'...?" he questions whilst looking down at the tossed paper.

It rests on the floor only centimeters away. Before long, he relents; crouching down to pick it up without saying another word. Just as he was stuffing it in his pocket, however, he gazes back towards the empty bench; his uncle had already gone. Disdain made way for a tinge of guilt that welled up inside him at the sight.

Weeks passed by, and with it brought near the end of Summer as well as the start of the school year’s second quarter. Students flocked to school much similar to how they did the very first day; although unlike the first day, he now had a particular flier in hand. The gleam of the sun shone on the laminated cover of the flier and into his eyes, forcing him to take cover under a small amount of shade just so he could read over its contents once more. He hadn’t talked to Sayori for a few weeks by now, but the idea of joining that club weighed heavier on his mind than ever. Class after class came, and soon the end of the school day just like any other. Yet this time, he walked the path opposing his usual route, having made a note in his head of the exact room number already with the amount of times he’d read it over. Literature wasn’t his strong suit, and he knew that. Nonetheless, if he was to break out of his comfort zone and try something new, where better to take a step forward than the club that his childhood friend, and really his only true friend attended? The least he could do is try...

“Ah, you’re finally here!”

A familiar voice calls out to him as soon as he enters through the door. The sight in front of him, however, was very unexpected… In the middle of the room were 5 desks arranged together into one big seating area, and in the center were a batch of cupcakes as well as a tea set. 

“Huh…?” he thought to himself. “Was all of this set up for me? And what did she mean by ‘finally here’? Were they expecting me…?”

The person who’d first welcomed him was Monika, and soon came Sayori running up from behind her. As soon as she reached him, she softly grabbed onto his wrist and pulled it into the air as if she were celebrating. Then facing the rest of the clubroom, she introduced my name and announced to the room:

“...Our fifth member is here!”

“Huh, where? That’s news to me…” he thought, until he soon exclaimed “Wait a minute, I never said anything about joining…!”

In spite of his opposition to being called a real member, he never came to regret his decision. While the club sat idle with its mere five members for quite a few months, they gradually became a tight knit group; and in time, his interest in literature grew too. He still wasn’t great at it, but having that common interest alone gave him an outlet of people to converse with. The question he asked on a whim that night still seemed so distant from ever being answered, and yet the path towards it slowly became clearer too. 

A few months later, in the midst of Autumn, another student stopped by the club during the ongoing festival. It was only for a moment, yet his interest was undeniable nonetheless. His personality was very different from his own, and speaking to the student often made him question how he really felt about the people around him; but he could tell that deep down he too wanted an outlet of others to be around, even if his aloof personality made that fact hard to discern…

And when the time finally came just a week later, he was glad to have helped him open the door when he was still stuck in that same state of reluctance he was once in. At that moment, he couldn’t help but thank Sayori for being the reason he opened the door that day, and a part of him even thanked his uncle as well for being the nudge he needed to finally reach out…