Chapter 7: Harumi



Around this time, Sayori was quiet. This was like in the pre-update, in which she asked you questions about your relationship with her. You first called for her attention.



“Hey, Sayori…”



“…Oh, sorry! I was spacing out.” She said.



“Ah, no wonder…”



“Um… I was wondering about something earlier… like how it seems that almost everyone wants us—,” she began to blush, “I-I mean, y’know… like Miss Watanabe calls us the “couple in crime” and—,” she was fumbling her words.



She continued and asked the familiar question. “So… let’s just say that one day, Yuri asked to walk home with you…”



“Huh!?” You said.



“What would you do?” Sayori questioned.



You complained. “What kind of question is that? Your kind of putting me in a spot here…”



“Ehehe…” Sayori just giggled.



Unlike before, the first option for this question was different. It says, “Yuri has Yuka.” The second option was much the same, being “I would still walk home with Sayori.” You pick the first option.



“Well, Yuri has Yuka to walk with. Why are you so worried about it? Clearly, Yuri has friends closer to her than I am.” You responded.



The worried smile that Sayori had would change into that of realization. All forms of worry that were bothering her dissipated. “Oh... Ooooooh! You are right! Yuri probably does walk with Yuka every day. Why didn’t I realize that earlier?”



“Yeah… and since Yuri has a friend like Yuka, she probably has some wealth of her own. I don’t think she’d be interested into walking with peasants like us.” You said.



“Eheh, I don’t think they’re snobbish. Although, they might wanna’ keep away from us for the sake of their hygiene!” Sayori joked around. You couldn’t help but laugh. Then she is reminded of what Natsuki said. “Do you think it’s true?”



“What is?” You asked.



“That Yuka and Yuri are… romantically together.” She said.



“No, no… it can’t be. They’re just close friends. Can’t people just be friends?” You replied.



“I don’t knoooow~. They might be doing something intimate at the moment!” Sayori assumed.



“Don’t be so immature, Sayori.” You groaned. “Oh, that reminds me.” You pull up the two extra club forms. “I have to give these to them.”



“Oh, right! Maybe they left school just right now. They shouldn’t be too far away from us.” Sayori said.



“That pocket watch we found this morning did belong to Yuka too, so it’s safe to assume that they would also take the same path to school as we do.” You said.



“…Look! Over there!” Sayori pointed at something.



You turn your head to where Sayori was pointing at. It was Yuka and Yuri standing next to each other, looking at the sky.



“Well, what a coincidence, they’re right there.” You began to approach them.



“Wait, Riko! Don’t you think this will interrupt their moment?” Sayori asked as she followed.



“Quit it, Sayori! They’re just close friends.” When you said it this time, you weren’t so sure yourself. You just wanted these extra forms off you.



“Hello Yuka, Hello Yuri.” You said when you arrived at their spot. The music had changed to a soothing piano tune.



“Hiiii~” Sayori greeted after.



“Oh, Riko, Sayori! Hello!” Yuri did not expect you to come over with Sayori.



“Ah, greetings.” Yuka greeted back, bowing as she always does when she’s around Yuri.



“Sorry if we’re interrupting your intimate moment with each other…” Sayori said.



You scolded. “Sayori, don’t—!”



“Hm? Intimate?” Yuka was confused. “About what?”



“I think they’re talking about us standing here to enjoy the sunset.” Yuri said, smiling. They did not get what Sayori was implying at all.



“I suppose…” Yuka said.



“Yeah, yeah! We are talking about the sunset.” You said, trying to keep the discussion away from romance. It was indeed late into the afternoon. You look at the sun yourself. “Yeah… it’s indeed quite the view.”



“Mhm… I’m receiving many ideas for a poem simply from it. It’s just so beautiful.” Yuri closed her eyes, smiling more.



“That’s why you’re standing here…” Sayori said, looking at the sunset as well.



“So what made you come here?” Yuka asked.



“I’m here to give you the forms for the club, just like you suggested when you came.” You hand over the forms to Yuka and Yuri.



“Ah, yes.” Yuka nodded. “Thank you.” She takes the forms from you and hands one to Yuri.



“There’s been also plenty of other information regarding the club.” You added.



“What might it be?” Yuri asked.



You tell the two about the changes made to the club. Sayori’s still there, looking at the sunset.



“Ah, I see…” Yuri said.



Yuka smiled. “It seems that Miss Watanabe truly does get the work done. She does not mess around at all.”



You nod in agreement. You turn to Sayori and snap your fingers in front of her face.



“AH! Hey!” Sayori frowned. “Why did you do that!?”



“You were spacing out again.” You answered.



“Was not! I was enjoying the sunset.” She pouted.



“Oh, look at you two… we’ve just met yesterday but seeing the two of you together is such a cute sight to see.” Yuka said, smiling.



“Maybe Miss Watanabe is right, you two are the infamous “couple in crime.”” Yuri chuckled.



“Really?” Sayori said. It looks like she really wants it to be the case.



“Hey, hey… let’s not go too far with our assumptions.” You corrected them. “Maybe…” You said, just to mess with Sayori.



“Uwah!” She blushed.



“It’s also nice to see you two spend time together as well.” You said. “It’s almost as if you two were made to be with each other.”



“Oh?” Yuri said.



“Mhm! Yeah! You two really get along. I hope it’s always going to be that way.” Sayori added.



“Why, thank you!” Yuka appreciated what she said.



“We hope so as well.” Yuri said.



“And I think you’re missin’ someone from this picture!” Said a prideful voice. Someone had just entered the conversation without notice. The peaceful piano track had stopped playing.



“Huh?” You didn’t know who this voice belonged to. When the dialogue for that voice popped up, it belonged to a “Prideful Voice.”



“Who was that?” Sayori was surprised by this as well.



Suddenly, a tall girl with red hair would wrap her arms behind the necks of Yuka and Yuri. The usual, casual music would begin to play again. It was the basketball girl from earlier. She was definitely a new character.



“Ah!” Yuri squeaked as she is pushed down.



“Excuse me—! What did I say about—” Yuka didn’t like the way the girl was restraining her. “Do you mind!?”



The tall girl let’s go of Yuka and Yuri. “Oops! Sorry!” She laughed a little. “I forgot that you’re not my teammates.”



“W-Wah! Wah! Wah! WAH! Y-You’re… You’re that…” Sayori was shaking at the sight of this girl.



“I’m that what?” The girl with red hair asked, smirking as she leaned forward with her arms on her hips.



“You’re that girl we saw winning over a group of boys in 1-v-1 matches in basketball.” You said, completing Sayori’s sentence.



“YEAH!” Sayori exclaimed.



“Hell yeah, dude, you betcha’ I am.” The girl said with pride, pumping her fist on her chest.



“Oh, you’ve seen her around.” Yuka said.



Yuri would introduce the new girl. “Riko, Sayori, meet Harumi. She’s a friend Yuka and I met in middle school.”



Harumi pointed a thumb at herself while winking. “Aaaand the best female athlete in school!”



Among all the female students in the visual novel, both old and new, Harumi has to be the tallest one there. If Yuri is 5’5 as Dan Salvato himself said, despite being unofficial, Yuka looks to be 5’8 and Harumi has to be a good 5’11. Aside from her height, Harumi was busty, even more than Yuri. The school PE uniform she was wearing was very tight on her body. She had long, slender legs, lean arms, and a fit waist. Her red hair was long enough to reach her rear and her bangs spread from the center of her forehead. She was built to be an athlete and she’s definitely not the girl you want to be cucked by.



Harumi stood up straight, looking down at you and Sayori.



“So who are these two? And why are they so short?” She chuckled.



“Uwah… s-so tall.” Sayori was amazed by the height of the girl.



You were speechless. While it was reasonable that Miss Watanabe, who seemed to be 6 feet, to be tall as she is for being an adult, Harumi would be taller than a lot of boys her age.



Yuka groaned. “Not everyone can be as physically blessed as you, Harumi. As tall as you are, it doesn’t make up for your grades.”



“UH! We don’t need to mention that, hehe! As long as I’m passin’, it’s fine! Right?” Harumi said, scratching the back of her head.



Yuri smiles a little. “It’s certain that you have a future in sports.”



“Well, duh! What sort of team wouldn’t want to pick me up!” Harumi said.



“That still doesn’t exempt you from doing good in high school, Harumi.” Yuka shook her head slowly.



“Eh, whatever.” Harumi said with a relaxed tone.



Yuka just sighed.



“But seriously, who are these two?” Harumi asked.



“Ah, yes. Harumi, this is Riko.” Yuri introduces you.



“Nice to meet you.” You tell the abnormally tall girl.



“And this is Sayori.” Yuri continued.



“H-Hi… Ha-Harumi…” Sayori would offer her hand for a handshake. “It’s very n-nice to meet you.” She was shaking a lot.



“It’s nice to meetcha'!” Harumi slammed her hand onto Sayori’s palm as she held onto her with a firm grip, shaking it in a harsh manner.



“ACK!” Sayori was paralyzed by the absolute physical power Harumi held within her.



“Hey… HEY! Be fragile.” You said.



“Ah, crap! Sorry!” Harumi let’s go of Sayori, bumping herself in the forehead lightly. “I’m used to doin’ that.”



“Harumi… I think you should be very considerate of others who aren’t as tough as you.” Yuri suggested.



“And perhaps you could use more appropriate language?” Yuka suggested as well.



“For the first suggestion, I’ll try! As for that second one, I’ll think about it.” Harumi said.



“I have a feeling that she won’t actually think about it…” You said to Yuka.



“And you’re right.” Yuka sighed again.



Harumi just laughed it off.



“Anyways, we’re all members of the Literature Club. That’s how we met these two.” Yuri explained. “Yuka’s our newest member and we’re hoping to welcome more.”



“Mhm!” Sayori said after she shook her head to shake the fear away. “You can join if you want!”



“Literature… Club? That sounds like a club for neeeeeerds!” Harumi mocked. Everyone seemed to be insulted by that comment one way or another.



“…You don’t need to be that honest.” Yuri said.



“I knew you were going to say that.” Yuka said.



“HEY! Don’t be mean!” Sayori pouted.



“Keep your comments to yourself.” You said.



“Sorry! I just don’t get the appeal to that type of stuff. Books or whatever are borin’. It’s not fun starin’ at words all day, unless it’s a news article! That’s funny to read sometimes.”



“That’s something I didn’t expect to come out of you.” Yuka commented.



“Yeah, yeah! But even if I wanted to go, I’d be absent a lot! I have basketball drills to go to, and sports in general are just more appealin’ to me.” Harumi continued.



“Awh…” Sayori was disappointed to hear that.



“Then again… the drills don’t start until the week after next week. Spendin’ more time with Yuka and Yuri does sound more appealin’ than sports too. And you two sound like fun people! Maybe I’ll stop by when I feel like it.” Harumi said.



“Yay!” Sayori cheered.



“The more, the merrier I guess.” You said.



“Just don’t cause a lot of commotion.” Yuka warned.



“Especially with a certain member there.” Yuri said, referring to Natsuki.



“Hmm… maybe.” Harumi smirked.



Yuka takes out her pocket watch. “It’s getting late, we should leave now.”



Yuri nodded. “Let’s get going then.”



“Oh, yeah! Almost forgot!” Harumi turns to Yuri. “Yo! I need help with homework again.”



Yuri crossed her arms. She didn’t like the idea. “You’re just going to copy off of me again.”



“Not this time! Trust me.” Harumi begged.



“…” Yuri thinks about it, turning her head to Yuka for a suggestion.



“She needs to learn her lesson, Yuri.” Yuka said.



“…Riko, Sayori, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Yuri said as she walked away.



“Farewell.” Yuka said as she bowed, following behind Yuri.



“…” Harumi just watched them walk away. “UH! I’ll see ya’ both later!” She began to follow behind them. “HEY! C’MON! DON’T ABANDON ME LIKE THIS!” All you could hear now is the faint begging of Harumi trying to get the supposed “help” from her friends slowly fade away.



“Hehehe… they’re truly a nice trio of friends to be with!” Sayori said.



“Yep.” You nodded in agreement as you began to head back home with Sayori again.



“Do you think Harumi will join the Literature Club?” Sayori asked.



“I doubt it. She doesn’t have the intelligence to do so.” You said.



“Hey, just because she insulted us a little doesn’t mean you have to do it back at her...” Sayori said.



“Sorry… couldn’t keep it in.” You apologized. “It’s just the way she acts is kind of rude.”



“Rude or not, I’m sure we can be great friends with her, just like with Yuka!” Sayori said with hope.



“Yeah…” You said.



As you and Sayori went home, you wondered how tolerable Harumi can be. She certainly is the type to be a jerk without noticing it herself. Yuri does look like she’s more open to socialize however, and Harumi is playing a part in it. It seems that much of the new content coming in is distracting Sayori from much worry as well. You just hope you won’t end up with the same, disappointing ending the pre-update gave you. As the current splash screen fades into black, the journal appeared on your screen. It’s mini-game time.