Our Reality (Doki Doki Literature Club!)

A Sudden Meeting

"Shujinkou... Shujinkou..."

Sometimes snapping back to reality can be a bit jarring for Shujinkou. There are times when he is so deep in his thoughts that returning was equal to slamming the breaks to a fast moving vehicle and still colliding with whatever you were trying to avoid. But that wasn't the case this time. It was almost as if the emotion of shock has left him entirely.

Firmly back in the real world, Shujinkou turned away from the open window and looked up at his teacher.

"Shujinkou, it's time to leave," the teacher said.

Confused by that short sentence, the surprised student looked around the classroom only to find empty seats.

"Sorry. I was caught up in my thoughts," Shujinkou apologized.

"That's nothing new, but..." now wearing a worried expression, the teacher silently stared at their student. "Is there something wrong?"

"Not really," Shujinkou answered. "Why do you ask?"

"It just seems like you've been... not with us recently," his teacher said.

"It's nothing. I've just been thinking a lot," Shujinkou said.

"Okay, but if you have any issues, just remember you can tell me," his teacher reminded him.

All Shujinkou could reply with was a silent nod before gathering his things and leaving the classroom. He didn't really see the point of discussing his issues with anyone else. His father has confirmed that he basically doesn't want anything to do with him, causing him to feel as terrible as he did long ago.

Pain was the obvious outcome of such a scenario, but it was also accompanied by confusion. If his father didn't want him, why did he bother a poorly attempted father/son day? The only answer he could come up with was that it had to be beneficial to Jomei.

"I'm being stupid," Shujinkou sighed. "Sure that whole thing was a shock but it's not like things are any different."

Despite those words, Shujinkou eventually stops in the middle of the hallway, wearing a very pained expression on his face.

"I just gotta get over it," Shujinkou declared. "...Easier said than done. Just like last time..."

"LOOK OUT!"

Shujinkou quickly turned to his left and was greeted with a force so strong that it knocked him off his feet. He reflexively covered his forehead as he searched for whatever it was that hurt him. His eyes soon found themselves glued to a small spherical figure.

"A basketball?" he said.

Suddenly a hand obscured his view of the ball, prompting the injured male to look up at its owner.

"You okay?" they asked.

Shujinkou could do nothing but stare at the individual in front of him. Their fair skin, golden yellow eyes and matching hair tied back in a ponytail only made his confused mind even more confused. Was she the one who threw the ball?

"Hey, are you there?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh, thanks," accepting her hand, Shujinkou was easily lifted up to his feet.

"Sorry about that," the girl chuckled as she reached down for the basketball. "I was showing the team a trick and the ball kinda flew out here."

Shujinkou silently stared at the girl, who in turn silently stared into his eyes. To him, it was like they were trying to read one another. Getting another good look at her, she didn't exactly look like the kind of person that had the strength to do what she accidently did to him. But he also knew that one should never judge a book by its cover.

"Man and I thought you only spaced out in class, Shujinkou," the girl grinned.

"Huh? How do you know my name?" Shujinkou asked.

"Well, we are in the same class," the girl answered with a casual shrug.

"We are?" Shujinkou asked.

"Yeah," the girl nodded. "I sit right behind you."

That was news to her fellow classmate. Of course, he couldn't really verify that claim since he never really had a reason to pay attention to any of his other classmates and they seldom ever interacted with him.

"Sorry. To be honest, I don't really pay that much attention to the others in my class," Shujinkou apologized as scratched his right cheek.

"Eh, no point in apologizing," the girl shrugged. "I'm Kiyoko by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Kiyoko," Shujinkou said.

Without averting her gaze, Kiyoko gently placed the basketball on her right index finger and spun it.

"So, where are you headed to?" she asked.

"I was just on my name to the Literature Club," Shujinkou answered.

"The school has a literature club?" that was the first time Kiyoko heard anything about the Literature Club, a fact that Shujinkou was not too surprised by.

"Well, yeah..." Shujinkou answered, scratching his right cheek once more.

"Hm..." Kiyoko silently stared at Shujinkou as she continued to balance the spinning ball on her finger. "Never pegged you as the literature type."

"Neither did I..." he awkwardly chuckled.

"Ah well. To each their own," Kiyoko shrugged.

"Kiyoko!"

The two students turned their gaze towards the open gym doors and noticed a group of girls waiting with anxious expressions.

"Gotta get back to work," Hiyoko's gaze returned to Shujinkou. "See ya later."

"Right," Shujinkou awkwardly grinned.

With a simple smile, Kiyoko raised her left fist and directed it towards him. Following her example, Shujinkou awkwardly raised his right fist and tapped it against hers.

The two fists soon part and Kiyoko ran into the gymnasium. Shujinkou thought she was just running up to her teammates, but she kept running and running until she finally launched herself off the ground. It was like watching a rocket taking off for its mission.

He watched the girl he just met glide through the air and slam the basketball in the basket on the opposite side of the gym.

"Whoa..." that was all the stunned boy could say at such a sight. That was the first time he saw someone his own age effortlessly perform a one-handed slam dunk. "That was awesome!"

He continued to watch as Kiyoko dropped down and turned back to him with a surprised expression. It soon turns into a grin and was followed by a wave goodbye, giving him a much needed reminder that there was somewhere he needed to be.

"Oh man, I'm late!" Shujinkou exclaimed as he rushed down the hall.