Official first day of the club.

The classroom smelled faintly of chalk dust, paper, and the rain lingering outside the windows. Afternoon light stretched across empty desks in long pale bands while the school slowly quieted around them. Most students had already gone home.

But Monika remained.

She stood near the front of the room adjusting a stack of pamphlets with almost obsessive neatness, smoothing every corner twice before letting go. A cardboard sign reading “Literature Club” leaned crookedly against the desk beside her along with tea boxes, loose pens, and a small handwritten signup sheet.

Everything looked prepared.

Almost too prepared.

Yuri sat several desks away with a mathematics workbook open in front of her, pencil moving quietly across the page. Even while solving equations, her posture remained perfect — back straight, ankles together, movements careful and economical like she had been taught precision before comfort.

Monika glanced toward her repeatedly.

Hopeful.

Nervous.

Trying not to look nervous.

Monika: “So... what do you think?”

Yuri looked up politely.

Yuri: “About the club?”

Monika: “Mhm.”

Monika smiled brighter than necessary, clasping her hands behind her back.

Monika: “I think it could really become something important.”

She began pacing slowly as she spoke, slipping naturally into presentation mode.

Monika: “It looks good on applications, for one thing. Leadership credits, extracurricular recognition, social development hours...”*

She gestured toward the signup papers.

Monika: “And honestly, schools love clubs centered around literacy and communication. Universities eat that up.”

Yuri listened quietly.

Monika kept going.

Monika: “Plus, literature connects people, right? Different perspectives, self-expression, analysis... it’s meaningful.”

She laughed softly.

Monika: “And fun. Hopefully.”

Yuri nodded once.

Yuri: “It does sound interesting.”

Monika’s shoulders relaxed immediately.

A tiny victory.

Monika: “Really?”

Yuri: “Yes.”

Yuri closed her workbook carefully, placing the pencil parallel against the spine with absent perfectionism.

Yuri: “A quiet environment dedicated to reading and discussion sounds... comforting.”

Monika brightened instantly.

Monika: “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

For a moment, it felt easy.

Simple.

Like this could work.

Monika moved around the room setting up chairs while Yuri silently observed the space. The rain tapped softly against the windows. Somewhere down the hall a volleyball team shouted before fading into distance.

The room almost felt peaceful already.

Monika: “I was actually hoping...”

She hesitated.

Then smiled again.

Monika: “Would you want to be vice president?”

Yuri blinked.

Monika continued quickly before silence could settle.

Monika: “You’re responsible, mature, organized, intelligent—”

Yuri raised a hand gently.

Yuri: “Monika.”

Monika stopped immediately.

Yuri’s expression remained calm, but thoughtful now.

Yuri: “I appreciate the offer sincerely.”

She folded her hands in front of her desk.

Yuri: “But I do not think I would be suitable.”

Monika: “Why not?”

Yuri: “Because I would not be reliable in the way you require.”

Monika frowned slightly.

Monika: “You’d be amazing at it.”

Yuri gave a small, apologetic smile.

Yuri: “My family obligations already occupy most afternoons.”

She looked toward the window briefly.

Yuri: “Archery practice. Kendo instruction. Household responsibilities.”

There was no arrogance in the way she said it.

Just fact.

Yuri: “I would not want to accept a role only to fail it later.”

Monika immediately shook her head.

Monika: “That wouldn’t happen.”

Yuri: “It could.”

Her voice remained soft.

Yuri: “And if I am being honest... I do not enjoy leadership very much.”

She glanced down slightly.

Yuri: “I prefer supporting quietly.”

Monika tried laughing it off.

Monika: “That’s literally what vice presidents do.”

Yuri almost smiled at that.

Almost.

Yuri: “Even so...”

She stood slowly, closing her workbook under one arm.

Yuri: “I must decline.”

The room became very still.

Monika’s smile held.

But only externally.

Monika: “Oh.”

Yuri: “I apologize.”

Monika: “No, no, it’s okay.”

Too fast.

Monika: “Really.”

Yuri studied her for a brief moment.

Something unreadable passed through her expression.

Then she walked toward the classroom door quietly.

Before leaving, she paused at the entrance.

And bowed politely.

Yuri: “I do hope the club succeeds, Monika.”

Then she left.

The door clicked softly behind her.

Silence.

Rain against glass.

The hum of fluorescent lights.

Monika remained standing beside the signup sheet without moving.

Still smiling.

Even though nobody was there to see it anymore.

Slowly...

The smile faded.

Her fingers curled inward slightly against her palms.

Not enough to hurt.

Just enough to feel.

She stared at the empty doorway Yuri had walked through.

Vice president.

First choice.

Rejected immediately.

A tiny thing.

A completely normal thing.

So why did it sting so badly?

Monika looked down at the club papers scattered across the desk.

Every detail had been planned already.

Every possibility mapped out in her head.

Who would join.

Who would stay.

How the room would feel.

How people would smile.

How everyone would need her.

And for the very first time...

Reality had failed to follow the version she imagined.

Her grip tightened unconsciously.

Just slightly.

The paper crinkled faintly beneath her fingers.

Then immediately she relaxed her hand and fixed it.

Flattening the wrinkle carefully.

Perfectly.

Like it never happened at all.

Lunch period.

The hallways buzzed with noise and footsteps and locker doors slamming shut in uneven rhythms. Students crowded the corridors in little social constellations while sunlight spilled through high windows near the stairwell.

Monika walked through the middle of it all with perfect posture and measured steps, carrying folders against her chest.

Composed.

Polite.

Efficient.

And already exhausted.

Then she spotted Sayori.

Sayori leaned casually against a row of lockers surrounded by two boys from another class while laughing mid-conversation. Her ribbon sat crooked again. Her blazer sleeve hung halfway over one hand. One of the boys was clearly trying too hard to impress her while the other looked like he was only there for moral support.

Boy: “No seriously, I would've won if the game didn’t lag.”

Sayori: “Mhm. Sure. The lag ate your combo.”

Boy: “It DID.”

Sayori: “Tragic.”

She smiled brightly.

Too brightly.

Monika slowed slightly as she watched.

Sayori noticed her immediately.

Sayori: “Monikaaa~!”

She waved enthusiastically.

One of the boys straightened awkwardly seeing Monika approach.

Monika stopped beside them.

Monika: “Am I interrupting something?”

Sayori: “Just important diplomatic negotiations.”

Boy: “She means bullying us.”

Sayori: “That too.”

Monika looked between them calmly.

Monika: “Shouldn’t you all be heading to class soon?”

Boy: “We have time.”

Monika: “And standing around lockers flirting is how you intend to spend it?”

Silence.

Sayori blinked.

The boys exchanged a glance.

Boy: “...Wow.”

Other Boy: “Buzzkill.”

The two scattered almost immediately down the hallway laughing under their breath.

Sayori: “You scared them off.”

Monika: “I did not scare them off.”

Sayori: “You kinda did.”

Monika folded her arms.

Monika: “Honestly, Sayori, is any of that proper?”

Sayori stared at her.

Then slowly rolled her eyes toward the ceiling with exaggerated suffering.

Sayori: “You sound eighty years old.”

Monika: “I’m serious.”

Sayori: “And that’s the problem.”

Monika frowned slightly.

Sayori: “Talking to boys isn’t illegal, you know.”

Monika: “That’s not what I meant.”

Sayori: “Then what did you mean?”

Monika hesitated.

Because she didn’t fully know.

Only that the whole interaction had felt messy and uncontrolled and strangely irritating.

Sayori tilted her head slightly.

Sayori: “You think too hard about everything.”

Before Monika could respond, another figure approached quietly through the crowd.

Natsuki.

Small.

Pink-haired.

Holding a lunchbox.

She stopped beside Sayori awkwardly without making eye contact.

Natsuki: “...You forgot this.”

Sayori blinked.

Sayori: “Oh.”

Then smiled instantly.

Sayori: “OHHH. My hero.”

Natsuki handed over the lunchbox carefully.

Then quietly—so quietly neither Monika nor the nearby students could really hear it—

Natsuki: “...Thanks for the lunch.”

Sayori’s expression softened immediately.

A tiny thing.

Brief.

But real.

Sayori: “You’re welcome.”

Natsuki instantly looked away afterward like she regretted saying anything at all.

Sayori: “Monika, this is Natsuki.”

Natsuki gave a tiny nod.

Natsuki: “...Hi.”

Monika: “Nice to meet you.”

Natsuki looked at Monika for a second longer than expected.

Reading her.

Then glanced toward the direction the boys had run off to.

Natsuki: “...You know.”

Monika blinked.

Monika: “Hm?”

Natsuki shifted awkwardly.

Not rude.

Not aggressive.

Just blunt in the way only someone young enough to still say things honestly could be.

Natsuki: “You’re kinda bossy.”

Sayori immediately snorted trying not to laugh.

Monika: “...Excuse me?”

Natsuki shrugged.

Natsuki: “I mean... if you keep acting like everybody has to follow rules all the time, people are gonna stop wanting to be around you.”

Monika stared at her.

Caught off guard more by the honesty than the words themselves.

Natsuki scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

Natsuki: “Not trying to be mean or anything.”

She looked away.

Natsuki: “Just saying.”

Then she immediately started retreating from the conversation like she regretted speaking up.

Natsuki: “Whatever. Bye.”

And just like that she disappeared into the crowd.

Monika watched her go silently.

Then looked toward Sayori.

Monika: “...Am I really that difficult to talk to?”

Sayori smiled weakly.

Sayori: “A little.”

Monika exhaled slowly.

The hallway noise suddenly felt louder.

More chaotic.

More impossible to organize.

Everyone moving unpredictably.

Speaking unpredictably.

Reacting emotionally.

Ignoring structure.

Ignoring expectation.

Ignoring her.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the folders in her arms.

Monika: “...Why is everyone so difficult?”

The words came out softer this time.

Less annoyed.

More confused.

Sayori looked at her strangely for a moment.

Then gently bumped her shoulder against Monika’s.

Sayori: “Because they’re people, Monika.”

And somehow that answer unsettled her more than anything else had all day.

The idea for the Literature Club officially began three days after Monika’s awkward hallway encounter with Sayori.

Or rather—

Three days after Monika realized she could not build something perfect alone.

The classroom they borrowed was still mostly empty back then.

Three desks.

A chalkboard with old equations barely erased.

A single open window letting warm spring air drift through the curtains.

Monika stood near the front trying to look composed while organizing papers into perfectly straight stacks that absolutely did not need organizing.

Sayori sat upside down in her chair.

Literally upside down.

Monika: “Can you sit normally for at least five minutes?”

Sayori: “No.”

Monika: “...I appreciate the honesty.”

Sayori grinned lazily before rocking backward again.

Sayori: “So this is really happening?”

Monika: “It is.”

Monika glanced around the empty room.

Then back toward Sayori.

Monika: “Actually...”

She hesitated strangely.

As if saying the next part mattered more than she expected it to.

Monika: “Since there are only three of us right now...”

Sayori blinked.

Monika: “I wanted to ask if you’d be Vice President.”

Silence.

Then immediately—

Sayori: “YES.”

No hesitation.

No thought.

Just instant excitement.

Monika stared.

Monika: “...You didn’t even ask what the responsibilities were.”

Sayori: “Too late. I already accepted the promotion.”

Monika laughed quietly despite herself.

And for a second, something warm settled in her chest.

Recognition.

Trust.

Maybe even relief.

Some time later Sayori left, assuring she had found a 4th member, To Monika's skepticism

The door suddenly slid open hard enough to slam against the stopper.

Natsuki stumbled in being physically dragged by the wrist.

Natsuki: “I SAID I HAVE BAKING CLUB.”

Sayori: “You literally ARE the baking club.”

Natsuki: “THAT DOESN’T MATTER.”

Sayori practically hauled her across the floor while Natsuki resisted with all the strength her tiny frame could manage.

Sayori: “Monikaaaa I brought one!”

Natsuki: “I’m not a stray cat!”

Monika pinched the bridge of her nose already trying not to smile.

Monika: “Welcome, Natsuki.”

Natsuki: “I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”

Another voice quietly entered from near the doorway.

Yuri: “Good afternoon.”

Everyone looked over.

Yuri stood at the entrance with perfect posture, hands folded neatly in front of her books.

Elegant.

Composed.

Terrifyingly formal for a high school student.

Natsuki blinked once.

Then twice.

Natsuki: “...Why do you greet people like an elderly woman from the 1800s?”

Yuri froze slightly.

Yuri: “...I...”

She genuinely considered the question.

Yuri: “...I had not thought of it that way.”

Sayori: “Now you HAVE to keep doing it.”

Natsuki: “No she doesn’t!”

Sayori: “Yes she does. It’s funny.”

Yuri looked faintly embarrassed already.

Monika watched the exchange carefully.

And something unexpected happened.

The room felt alive.

Messy.

Uneven.

Loud.

But alive.

---

The first few meetings became a chaotic blur of Monika trying desperately to run the club like a professional organization while the others slowly turned it into something human instead.

Monika prepared “ice breaker activities.”

Natsuki called them corporate torture.

Sayori took every activity too seriously.

Yuri somehow answered even basic questions like she was being interviewed by parliament.

Monika: “Okay! Today’s exercise is trust falls.”

Natsuki: “Absolutely not.”

Sayori: “YEAHHHH.”

Yuri: “...I am uncertain this is medically wise.”

Monika stood proudly beside a handwritten chart labeled:

“BUILDING HEALTHY CLUB TRUST.”

Natsuki stared at it in disbelief.

Natsuki: “This is a literature club.”

Monika: “Trust is important for creativity.”

Natsuki: “This is how people get concussions.”

Ten minutes later, Sayori was already treating the trust exercises like a full-scale sports festival.

Sayori: “OKAY EVERYBODY. TRUST FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.”

Natsuki: “That is not a thing.”

Sayori: “IT IS NOW.”

Monika clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

Monika: “Trust exercises are a great way to build emotional connection between club members.”

Natsuki: “That sounded incredibly artificial.”

Monika: “...Thank you?”

Yuri quietly stood beside the desks with her hands folded.

Yuri: “...I believe trust-building can be beneficial in moderation.”

Natsuki: “You sound like a school handbook.”

Yuri: “...I apologize.”

Natsuki: “STOP apologizing every five seconds!”

Sayori suddenly pointed dramatically.

Sayori: “NATSUKI VOLUNTEERED FIRST.”

Natsuki: “I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING.”

Sayori: “Your soul said it.”

Natsuki: “My soul wants to go home.”

After several straight minutes of arguing, Sayori and Monika somehow bullied Natsuki onto the chair anyway.

Natsuki crossed her arms tightly.

Natsuki: “If I die, I’m haunting all of you.”

Sayori: “Trust faaaall~!”

Natsuki: “This is so stupid...”

She took one nervous breath.

Then leaned backward.

Immediately panicked halfway down.

Natsuki: “WAIT WAIT WAIT—”

Her arms flailed violently in the air like a startled cat being launched off a counter.

Yuri reacted first.

One smooth step forward.

Steady posture.

Grounded instantly.

Natsuki crashed directly into Yuri’s arms awkwardly while Sayori tried “helping” from the side and almost knocked both of them over.

Yuri staggered slightly from the impact but kept her balance surprisingly well, arms wrapped around Natsuki securely.

Natsuki completely froze.

Bright red.

Half dangling across Yuri while looking utterly horrified by the situation she had created.

Sayori: “SHE’S LIKE A WET CAT.”

Monika: “That is... actually incredibly accurate.”

Natsuki: “SHUT UP.”

Yuri looked equally overwhelmed.

Yuri: “...Are you alright?”

Natsuki: “NO.”

Yuri: “...I caught you successfully at least...”

Natsuki: “THAT’S NOT THE POINT.”

Sayori was already dying laughing.

Sayori: “LOOK AT HER LITTLE LEGS.”

Natsuki: “I HATE THIS CLUB.”

Yuri slowly adjusted her grip to help steady her upright again.

Yuri: “...You are surprisingly light.”

Natsuki’s soul visibly left her body.

Natsuki: “WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!”

Yuri: “I-I merely meant the force displacement was less than expected—”

Natsuki: “YOU’RE MAKING IT WORSE.”

Monika covered her mouth trying not to laugh while Sayori openly failed to contain herself.

Sayori: “AWWW, Yuri’s princess carry arc~”

Natsuki: “I WILL KILL YOU.”

Yuri: “...Please do not.”

Eventually Yuri carefully lowered Natsuki back onto her feet.

Natsuki immediately fixed her skirt and crossed her arms again like the last thirty seconds never happened.

Which would have worked better if her face was not still completely red.

Natsuki: “...I’m never trusting any of you again.”

Sayori: “That’s what makes it TRUST.”

Something more natural than that.

Natsuki sat near windows pretending not to care while secretly listening to every conversation.

Sayori doodled planets and stars in the corners of her notebooks while humming to herself.

Yuri stayed quietly beside the others reading with one ear always tuned into the room.

And Monika...

Monika stopped trying to choreograph every second.

Little by little.

---

By the second month, the Literature Club had become something strangely precious to all of them.

Messy.

Loud.

Emotional.

But real.

One afternoon, Sayori insisted they take a “real friendship picture.”

Natsuki complained the entire time.

Yuri tried to stand properly.

Monika attempted organizing everyone before immediately giving up when Sayori grabbed both her and Natsuki into frame at once.

The final picture came out imperfect.

Which somehow made it perfect.

The club’s first real breakthrough came during a hangout at Monika’s house that accidentally became a sleepover.

Rain hammered against the windows outside while blankets and snacks covered the living room floor in total disorganization.

Natsuki was halfway through passionately arguing about manga power scaling.

Natsuki: “No because if the author says they can destroy a planet then they can destroy a planet.”

Sayori: “That’s boring. Emotional damage scales higher.”

Natsuki: “THAT ISN’T HOW FIGHTS WORK.”

Yuri quietly sipped tea while reading nearby.

Yuri: “...Psychological narratives often overpower physical ones symbolically.”

Natsuki: “WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS.”

Monika sat watching them all from the couch silently.

The laughter.

The warmth.

The complete lack of performance.

For once nobody expected her to be perfect.

Just Monika.

And strangely enough—

That scared her less than she thought it would.

---

Later that night, the hangout fully collapsed into an accidental sleepover.

Blankets were thrown everywhere.

Sayori somehow stole three pillows.

Natsuki argued about sleeping arrangements for fifteen minutes before immediately falling asleep first.

Yuri carefully folded her clothes beside the couch like she was staying at a royal estate.

And Monika looked around her living room realizing this was the first time her house had ever felt genuinely lived in.

After the others slowly drifted off one by one—

Sayori curled sideways clutching a pillow.

Natsuki asleep mid-argument expression.

Yuri somehow sleeping with perfect posture even unconscious.

Monika remained awake near the dim light of the kitchen.

Listening to rain hit the roof.

Thinking.

Then Yuri appeared quietly beside her.

Yuri: “...You seem calmer lately.”

Monika looked down slightly.

Monika: “...Do I?”

Yuri: “Yes.”

Small pause.

Yuri: “...You smile differently now.”

That caught her off guard.

Monika laughed softly under her breath.

Monika: “I think...”

She glanced back toward the sleeping girls.

Toward the disaster of blankets and snacks and open books.

Monika: “...I stopped trying to make this club perfect.”

Yuri followed her gaze quietly.

Yuri: “...Good.”

And for the first time since creating the Literature Club—

Monika stopped viewing it as something she needed to control.

It became something she belonged to instead.

The first real group poem reading happened two weeks after {{user}} joined the Literature Club.

And somehow, without any of them realizing it yet—

that was the moment everything began changing.

Before {{user}}, the club had rhythm.

Predictable rhythm.

Monika organized.

Yuri observed.

Natsuki argued.

Sayori held everyone together with tape and smiles.

But {{user}} disrupted the balance in ways none of them expected.

Especially Monika.

At first it was tiny things.

Sayori talking louder when {{user}} entered the room.

Natsuki pretending not to care about their opinion while very obviously waiting for it.

Yuri lingering in conversations longer than usual.

And Monika noticing every single one of those changes immediately.

The afternoon sunlight poured softly through the clubroom windows while papers rested scattered across the desks. The atmosphere felt lighter than normal. Nervous. Anticipatory.

Their first real group reading.

Not assignments.

Not practice.

Personal poems.

Pieces of themselves.

Monika stood at the front with a smile that still looked practiced back then.

Monika: “Okay everyone~ Since we officially have a full club now...”

Her eyes briefly flicked toward {{user}}.

Monika: “...I thought it might be nice if we shared something personal.”

Natsuki groaned instantly.

Natsuki: “This is emotional terrorism.”

Sayori: “Yaaaay emotional terrorism!”

Yuri: “...That is not a reassuring sentence.”

Monika laughed softly.

Then looked toward Natsuki first.

Monika: “Would you like to start?”

Natsuki crossed her arms immediately.

Natsuki: “Absolutely not.”

Sayori: “Coward.”

Natsuki: “YOU go first then.”

Sayori: “No.”

Natsuki: “Exactly.”

Small silence.

Then Natsuki sighed dramatically and unfolded her paper.

Eagles Can Fly

Monkeys can climb

Crickets can leap

Horses can race

Owls can seek

Cheetahs can run

Eagles can fly

People can try

But that's about it.

Silence settled afterward.

Short poem.

Simple.

Blunt.

But something underneath it felt tired.

Like someone trying to shrink their expectations before the world could crush them first.

Sayori: “I liked it.”

Natsuki: “You say that about everything.”

Sayori: “Yeah because I’m NICE.”

Monika smiled softly at first, but Yuri remained focused on the paper itself.

Careful.

Analyzing.

Yuri: “...It feels restrained.”

Natsuki blinked once.

Yuri: “...Like someone convincing themselves not to hope for very much.”

The room quieted slightly.

Natsuki immediately looked away.

Natsuki: “...You read too much into stuff.”

But she sounded quieter saying it.

Almost uncomfortable that someone understood her at all.

The memory shifts.

School hallway.

Late afternoon light.

Natsuki crouched beside a vending machine with a plastic bag sitting beside her.

One hand disappeared underneath the machine.

Sayori: “Whatcha doing?”

Natsuki slammed her shoulder against the metal immediately.

Natsuki: “DON’T sneak up on people!”

Sayori simply laid on the floor beside her like this was completely normal.

Sayori: “Are we treasure hunting?”

Natsuki: “...Maybe.”

Sayori: “Ooooh.”

Natsuki pulled out two loose coins triumphantly.

Natsuki: “YES.”

Sayori: “YOU CAN REALLY DO THAT?!”

Natsuki: “Only if the machine steals your money first.”

Sayori stared at her like she had just witnessed a master thief at work.

Sayori: “...You’re kinda cool.”

Natsuki immediately turned red.

Natsuki: “Shut up.”

Then footsteps approached.

A boy nearby laughed while looking toward Natsuki.

Boy: “Hey trash panda.”

Another laugh followed behind him.

Boy: “You looking through garbage again?”

Natsuki froze instantly.

Plastic bag tightening in her hand.

Her shoulders stiffened.

Then suddenly—

movement.

Fast.

Violent.

Natsuki: “SAY IT AGAIN.”

She slammed into him hard enough to send both of them stumbling sideways.

Fists swinging wildly.

Pure anger.

Not exaggerated.

Not comedic.

Real.

The kind that came from years of humiliation stacked too high.

Boy: “WHAT THE HE—”

Then another pair of arms wrapped around Natsuki from behind before she could swing again.

Yuri: “Natsuki!”

Natsuki struggled violently.

Natsuki: “LET GO.”

Yuri: “Please stop—”

Natsuki: “HE STARTED IT.”

Yuri tightened her grip slightly despite clearly struggling herself.

The boy awkwardly backed away.

But Natsuki was still furious.

Natsuki: “People say crap like that then pretend it’s a joke.”

Yuri: “I know.”

Natsuki: “No you DON’T.”

Yuri froze.

Her breathing uneven.

Then suddenly—

for the first time—

she raised her voice.

Yuri: “Because at least I am TRYING to relate to you!”

The hallway went silent.

Even Natsuki stopped struggling.

Yuri’s face had gone completely red.

Embarrassed.

Overwhelmed.

But honest.

Yuri: “You make it very difficult sometimes...”

Natsuki looked away immediately.

Natsuki: “...Then stop trying.”

But her voice cracked slightly.

And Yuri noticed.

Back in the clubroom, the next poem came later.

Natsuki unfolded the second paper more slowly this time.

Still guarded.

Still defensive.

But far more personal.

Amy Likes Spiders

You know what I heard about Amy?

Amy likes spiders.

Icky, wriggly, hairy, ugly spiders!

That's why I'm not friends with her.

Amy has a cute singing voice.

I heard her singing my favorite love song.

Every time she sang the chorus, my heart would pound to the rhythm of the words.

But she likes spiders.

That's why I'm not friends with her.

One time, I hurt my leg really bad.

Amy helped me up and took me to the nurse.

I tried not to let her touch me.

She likes spiders, so her hands are probably gross.

That's why I'm not friends with her.

Amy has a lot of friends.

I always see her talking to people.

She probably talks about spiders.

What if her friends start to like spiders too?

That's why I'm not friends with her.

It doesn't matter if she has other hobbies.

It doesn't matter if she keeps it private.

It doesn't matter if it doesn't hurt anyone.

It's gross.

She's gross.

The world is better off without spider lovers.

And I'm gonna tell everyone.

The room stayed quiet longer this time.

Because now the meaning was obvious.

Not spiders.

Judgment.

Cruelty.

How quickly people isolate someone for being different.

How easily hatred becomes normal.

Monika looked thoughtful.

Sayori looked sad.

Yuri looked deeply affected.

And {{user}} noticing that only made Yuri more self-aware somehow.

Later that week, another memory surfaces.

Nighttime.

Rain tapping softly against Natsuki’s bedroom window.

Then—

tap.

Tap tap.

Natsuki blinked awake.

Natsuki: “...What the heck?”

She pulled the curtain aside slightly.

Sayori stood outside holding a convenience store bag above her head like an umbrella.

Completely soaked.

Smiling anyway.

Natsuki: “Why are you outside my house?!”

Sayori: “Emergency food delivery.”

Natsuki: “...You’re insane.”

Sayori climbed awkwardly halfway through the window anyway.

Nearly falling immediately.

Sayori: “I brought buns!”

Natsuki stared silently at the food.

Then away.

Natsuki: “...You didn’t have to do this.”

Sayori: “I know.”

Simple answer.

No pity.

No pressure.

Natsuki sat quietly on the edge of the bed while Sayori handed her the food casually like this was normal.

Like hunger was not shameful.

Natsuki: “...I worry about Monika sometimes.”

Sayori blinked.

Sayori: “Hm?”

Natsuki stared at the bread in her hands.

Natsuki: “...She acts like she’s trying to hold everybody together by force.”

Small silence.

Natsuki: “...People like that eventually break.”

Sayori’s expression softened.

Sayori: “...Yeah.”

Neither girl spoke for a while afterward.

Rain continued softly outside.

Back in the clubroom, Yuri was now reading.

Voice soft.

Measured.

Elegant.

And unfortunately for her—

completely distracted by {{user}} sitting nearby.

Every time {{user}} complimented her analysis, Yuri visibly straightened slightly.

Every glance lingered too long.

Every interaction made her subtly more flustered.

Natsuki noticed immediately.

At one point Yuri looked toward {{user}} while explaining symbolism with an expression dangerously close to dreamy.

Natsuki slowly lowered her manga.

Natsuki: “...Yuri.”

Yuri blinked.

Natsuki: “Stop acting like you’re in heat.”

Yuri nearly dropped her paper instantly.

Yuri: “I-I beg your pardon?!”

Her face went completely red.

Even Sayori nearly choked laughing.

Monika smiled outwardly.

Perfectly composed.

But internally something ugly twisted quietly in her chest.

Because {{user}} was changing the balance.

Sayori leaned on them naturally.

Natsuki listened to them.

And Yuri—

Yuri looked at them like revelation itself.

Even now Yuri looked mortified by how obvious she had become.

She adjusted her posture immediately, trying to recover her composure.

Yuri: “...I was merely enthusiastic about the discussion.”

Natsuki: “Mhm.”

Sayori: “She got heart eyes~”

Yuri: “I did NOT.”

Her voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

Natsuki immediately pointed.

Natsuki: “THAT WAS A ROMCOM VOICE CRACK.”

Yuri hid her face behind her poem instantly.

Sayori laughed loud enough to nearly fall sideways in her chair.

And Monika—

Monika laughed too.

But for the first time—

it felt strained.

---

Sayori reads her first poem in the clubroom, hands loosely behind her back, swaying slightly as she speaks.

DEAR SUNSHINE

The way you glow through my blinds in the morning

It makes me feel like you missed me.

Kissing my forehead to help me out of bed.

Making me rub the sleepy from my eyes.

Are you asking me to come out and play?

Are you trusting me to wish away a rainy day?

I look above. The sky is blue.

It's a secret, but I trust you too.

If it wasn't for you, I could sleep forever.

But I'm not mad.

Her delivery is bright, almost sing-song, like she’s trying to make the words feel lighter than they actually are.

When she finishes, there’s a brief silence.

Yuri is the first to speak.

She doesn’t rush her words.

She studies the poem like it’s something fragile rather than decorative.

Yuri: “...It feels like longing disguised as comfort.”

Sayori tilts her head.

Still smiling, but a little softer now.

Monika watches carefully.

Natsuki doesn’t comment, but she looks at Sayori longer than usual.

---

Wind moves across the school roof.

Sayori is sitting near the edge again.

Natsuki is beside her, arms crossed, pretending she’s only there because she “ended up there.”

Sayori talks casually at first—about home, about her dad, about how things feel “quiet but not really okay.”

Natsuki listens more than she responds.

That alone is unusual.

Sayori shifts slightly backward while speaking.

Not intentionally dangerous.

Just absent-minded movement.

Natsuki notices instantly.

Natsuki: “Hey—don’t lean like that.”

Sayori keeps talking anyway, still smiling.

Another small shift backward.

Natsuki grabs her arm immediately.

Too late to be gentle.

She pulls her forward sharply.

Sayori stumbles back onto safe ground.

Silence follows.

Natsuki is breathing fast.

Natsuki: “What is wrong with you?! You can’t just—do that—”

Sayori sits quietly for a moment.

No panic.

No apology immediately.

Just stillness.

Like the danger didn’t fully register emotionally.

Then she smiles faintly.

Sayori: “Sorry... I guess I spaced out.”

But it doesn’t fully sound like she means “sorry.”

And Natsuki notices that.

---

**Bottles **

This poem is shown on the third day.

I pop off my scalp like the lid of a cookie jar.

It's the secret place where I keep all my dreams.

Little balls of sunshine, all rubbing together like a bundle of kittens.

I reach inside with my thumb and forefinger and pluck one out.

It's warm and tingly.

But there's no time to waste! I put it in a bottle to keep it safe.

And I put the bottle on the shelf with all of the other bottles.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts in bottles, all in a row.

My collection makes me lots of friends.

Each bottle a starlight to make amends.

Sometimes my friend feels a certain way.

Down comes a bottle to save the day.

Night after night, more dreams.

Friend after friend, more bottles.

Deeper and deeper my fingers go.

Like exploring a dark cave, discovering the secrets hiding in the nooks and crannies.

Digging and digging.

Scraping and scraping.

I blow dust off my bottle caps.

It doesn't feel like time elapsed.

My empty shelf could use some more.

My friends look through my locked front door.

Finally, all done. I open up, and in come my friends.

In they come, in such a hurry. Do they want my bottles that much?

I frantically pull them from the shelf, one after the other.

Holding them out to each and every friend.

Each and every bottle.

But every time I let one go, it shatters against the tile between my feet.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts in shards, all over the floor.

They were supposed to be for my friends, my friends who aren't smiling.

They're all shouting, pleading. Something.

But all I hear is echo, echo, echo, echo, echo

Inside my head.

---

Later in the clubroom.

Sayori’s tone is different today.

Less playful.

More direct.

She is standing instead of sitting.

Monika is speaking—trying to guide discussion, assign structure, keep things aligned.

Sayori interrupts her mid-sentence.

Sayori: “You’re doing it again.”

Monika pauses.

Monika: “Doing what?”

Sayori steps forward slightly.

Still calm.

But sharper now.

Sayori: “Trying to control everything like you’re the only one who knows how things should go.”

Monika’s expression tightens.

Monika: “Sayori, that’s not what I’m doing—”

Sayori raises her voice slightly, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Sayori: “Yes it is.”

Silence.

The room feels smaller.

Monika starts to respond again—carefully, controlled.

Monika: “I’m just trying to make sure—”

Sayori stops her completely.

Voice steady.

Final.*

Sayori: “You’re a parasite.”

Dead silence.

Monika freezes.

Not dramatically.

Just... completely stopped.

Like the room itself forgot how to continue her line.

Sayori holds her gaze for a second longer.

Then turns away.

No further argument.

She walks out.

Sayori steps outside the clubroom.

Door closes behind her.

She stops walking.

One hand moves to her chest.

Light grip.

Not pain exactly.

More like surprise.

As if she didn’t expect herself to say it.

She exhales slowly.

Sayori (quietly): “...I really said that.”

She stands there a moment longer.

Then continues walking.

ONE WEEK LATER

Clubroom is calm again.

Sayori returns.

She doesn’t act like nothing happened.

She doesn’t avoid it either.

She walks up to Monika directly.

There’s no buildup.

Just honesty.

Sayori gently wraps her arms around Monika from behind in a quiet, backward hug.

No theatrics.

No performance.

Just contact.

Sayori: “I’m sorry.”

Monika doesn’t respond immediately.

Sayori continues softly.

Sayori: “I shouldn’t have said that. I just... got scared everything was going to fall apart again.”

Monika finally exhales.

Slow.

Monika: “...You didn’t have to apologize like this.”

Sayori shakes her head slightly.

Sayori: “I wanted to.”

Pause.

The tension doesn’t disappear instantly.

But it softens.

Just a little.

---

Yuri reads the poem softly, her voice nearly blending into the quiet hum of the room itself.

Ghost under the light

The tendrils of my hair illuminate beneath the amber glow.

Bathing.

It must be this one.

The last remaining streetlight to have withstood the test of time.

The last yet to be replaced by the sickening blue-green hue of the future.

I bathe. Calm; breathing air of the present but living in the past.

The light flickers.

I flicker back.

Silence follows.

Not uncertainty.

Recognition.

Even Natsuki does not interrupt immediately.

The poem feels old in a strange way.

Not outdated.

Worn.

Like it came from someone already nostalgic for things still happening.

Monika smiles politely.

But something about Yuri’s wording unsettles her slightly.

Especially the line about “the sickening blue-green hue of the future.”

Because it sounds less like fear of technology...

And more like fear of change itself.

---

Back then, an earlier sleepover at Yuri’s House

Rain tapped softly against the windows that night.

Monika and Yuri sat together on the floor beside Yuri’s low table, books spread between teacups and unfinished homework.

Yuri looked more relaxed at home than she ever did at school.

Still formal.

Still composed.

But softer around the edges.

Monika had been helping organize the books after Yuri absentmindedly stacked them unevenly.

Then she said it.

Gently. Carefully. Trying to help.

Monika: “Yuri... you should try carrying yourself a little more ladylike around others sometimes.”

Yuri paused.

Just slightly.

Her fingers stopped moving.

Monika continued, unaware she had already crossed into dangerous territory.

Monika: “You’re very intelligent, but sometimes people misunderstand you because of how intense you can seem.”

The room stayed quiet.

Then a voice came from the doorway.

Sharp enough to cut silk.

Yuri’s Father: “Interesting.”

Both girls looked up immediately.

Yuri straightened instinctively.

Monika sat properly without even thinking about it.

Yuri’s father stepped fully into the room, dressed immaculately even this late at night.

His eyes settled on Monika with unnerving precision.

Not angry.

Evaluating.

Yuri’s Father: “You correct posture before understanding emotion.”

Monika blinked once.

Yuri’s Father: “You speak like someone who learned social behavior academically instead of naturally.”

Monika’s polite smile faltered slightly.

Yuri’s Father: “Your pauses are calculated. Your encouragement is measured. Even your compliments arrive with structure.”

The room suddenly felt too small.

Yuri quietly lowered her gaze.

Not because she agreed completely.

But because she recognized exactly what he meant.

Yuri’s Father: “I do not dislike you, Monika.”

That somehow made it worse.

Yuri’s Father: “But I dislike the way you host yourself.”

Monika’s fingers curled slowly against her sleeve.

Yuri’s Father: “You speak well beyond your age, yet confuse wisdom for superiority.”

Silence.

Yuri’s Father: “You organize people before understanding them. You correct before listening. You believe being composed makes you reliable.”

Monika’s jaw tightened.

Barely.

Yuri noticed immediately.

Yuri’s Father: “And those small corrections...”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Yuri’s Father: “The little comments. ‘Stand straighter.’ ‘Smile more naturally.’ ‘Be more ladylike.’”

Each phrase landed harder than the last.

Yuri’s Father: “Microaggressions disguised as guidance.”

Monika opened her mouth slightly.

Then stopped.

Because she realized—

He was not entirely wrong.

Yuri’s Father: “You are very young, yet already terrified of disorder.”

The rain outside suddenly sounded louder.

Yuri’s Father: “A doll trying desperately to imitate humanity.”

Monika’s hand clenched into a fist.

Hard enough her nails pressed into her palm.

Yuri finally looked up.

Concerned now.

Because Monika’s expression had gone completely still.

Too still.

Monika: 「やめてください。」 [Please stop.]

Quiet.

Controlled.

Dangerously controlled.

Yuri’s father studied her for another moment.

Then sighed softly.

Almost disappointed.

Yuri’s Father: “You see? Even now you suppress emotion before it fully exists.”

Monika looked away sharply.

For the first time that night, she genuinely did not know what to say.

And that terrified her more than the criticism itself.

---

And monika's last poem, before it all came crumbling down

Save Me

The colors, they won't stop.

Bright, beautiful colors

Flashing, expanding, piercing

Red, green, blue

An endless

cacophony

Of meaningless

noise

The noise, it won't stop.

Violent, grating waveforms

Squeaking, screeching, piercing

Sine, cosine, tangent

*Like playing a chalkboard on a turntable

Like playing a vinyl on a pizza crust

An endless

poem

Of meaningless

Load Me

The clubroom stays silent after Monika finishes reading.

Not thoughtful silence.

Wrong silence.

The kind where everyone feels something bad already happening underneath the conversation.

Monika lowers the paper slowly.

Her smile arrives late again.

Like she remembered she was supposed to do it.

Sayori: “...That poem hurt my head a little.”

She tries laughing afterward.

It does not fully land.

Natsuki looks uncomfortable in a way she clearly hates.

Natsuki: “What even WAS that?”

Yuri says nothing immediately.

She is staring directly at Monika.

Not the poem.

Monika.

And Monika notices.

The room feels heavier now.

Like all the air pressure changed.

Monika folds the page carefully.

Too carefully.

Monika: “...You know what’s funny?”

Nobody answers.

Monika: “I really did try.”

Yuri’s expression hardens instantly.

Because she already knows where this is going.

The Switch Incident

The broken Switch sat on the table between them days earlier.

Tiny screws missing.

Internal damage too precise to be accidental.

Natsuki being blamed first because she had touched it last.

And Monika letting that assumption live just a little too long.

Back in the present, Yuri steps forward slowly.

Yuri: “...You removed the screws.”

Monika’s eyes flick upward.

The room goes still.

Monika: “...Yuri.”

Yuri: “You sabotaged it.”

Her voice remains level.

Controlled.

Which somehow makes it worse.

Yuri: “And you let Natsuki believe it was her fault.”

Monika: “I was going to fix it.”

Yuri: “You were jealous.”

That lands cleanly.

Monika’s jaw tightens.

Because Yuri is right.

For one second, Monika sees it again.

Hitboxes.

Movement paths.

Tiny invisible outlines surrounding Yuri’s body.

Possible counters.

Angles.

Frame data.

Like reality itself is trying to help her win.

Monika’s breathing catches.

No.

Not this time.

She clenches her fists.

If she wins this, it will be honestly.

Monika lunges first.

Yuri immediately redirects her arm.

Monika stumbles sideways.

Yuri’s movements are terrifyingly efficient.

No wasted motion.

No panic.

Only precision.

Monika swings again.

Yuri catches the wrist.

Twists.

Slams Monika into the nearest desk hard enough to shake papers loose.

Yuri: “You keep deciding what is best for everyone!”

Monika shoves herself back upright.

Monika: “Because nobody ELSE WILL!”

She swings again.

Yuri ducks.

Elbow directly into Monika’s ribs.

Monika gasps sharply.

The world flickers.

Just once.

[sprite overflow]

[expression mismatch]

Monika freezes for half a second.

Yuri notices immediately.

Yuri: “Monika.”

But Monika barely hears her.

Because suddenly—

The room flashes.

Everyone dead around her.

Still.

Smiling wrong.

Monika stumbles backward breathing harder.

Monika: “...No...”

Yuri grabs her shoulder.

Yuri: “Stay present.”

Monika jerks away violently.

Monika: “DON’T TOUCH ME.”

She attacks again.

This time sloppier.

Desperate.

Yuri blocks everything.

Every honest strike Monika tries lands against practiced discipline.

Monika’s frustration builds with every failed hit.

Yuri finally loses patience.

She grabs Monika by the front of her blazer.

And throws her.

Monika crashes hard across the floor.

The impact rattles the room.

Yuri walks toward her breathing heavily now.

Yuri: “You do not get to hurt people because you are lonely.”

Monika tries standing.

Yuri hits her again.

FLASH.

Sayori hanging above endless black.

Monika’s pupils shrink violently.

Monika: “STOP.”

Another hit.

Blood floods her mouth.

FLASH.

The classroom tearing apart into code.

Dialogue boxes overlapping.

Fonts changing.

Character files opening and closing.

Yuri: “You manipulated all of us.”

Another hit.

Monika falls sideways.

Her vision doubles.

Words begin flooding through her head uncontrollably.

Just Monika.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

Skill issue.

Amogus.

Ratio.

Player detected.

No Doki?

Delete character?

Mori Calliope lore scaling.

Pizza mozzarella.

Achievement unlocked.

You are not real.

You are not real.

You are not real.

Monika grips her head hard.

Monika: “MAKE IT STOP.”

Yuri grabs her by the collar.

Actually furious now.

Actually shaking.

Yuri: “I NEVER WANTED THIS RESPONSIBILITY.”

Monika’s eyes unfocus.

The room flickers again.

Her own smile looks alien now.

Too wide.

Too artificial.

Snake wrapped around her arms like temptation itself.

Natsuki finally steps forward.

Terrified.

Natsuki: “Yuri...”

Yuri is breathing hard enough to tremble now.

Yuri: “She needs HELP.”

Another glitch tears through the ceiling.

Monika coughs violently.

Code bleeds from the corners of her body.

[monika.chr corruption at 72%]

[render instability detected]

[attempting rollback]

Monika crawls backward across the floor.

Not graceful anymore.

Not composed.

Just scared.

Every movement leaves tiny visual distortions behind her.

Fragments of dialogue.

Broken textures.

Failed renders.

Disgust.

Self-hatred.

Trying to clean something internal that will never wash out.

Yuri: “This is not love.”

Monika looks up slowly.

Tears mixing with blood.

Static swallowing half the room.

Yuri: “This is control.”

Monika opens her mouth.

Nothing coherent comes out.

Only corrupted fragments.

Monika: “I just wanted—”

[audio corruption]

—wanted everyone t—

[file mismatch]

—safe—

[character render failure]

The clubroom lights explode into flickering static.

Monika phases halfway through the floor for a single horrifying second before snapping back upward.

The game itself feels unstable now.

Like reality is trying to eject her.

Like the world has finally decided she no longer belongs inside it.

And Monika realizes something terrifying.

The others are still rendered correctly.

Still grounded.

Still human.

Only she is breaking apart.

Yuri slowly unclenches her fists.

Breathing hard.

Eyes wet.

Not victorious.

Not satisfied.

Exhausted.

Yuri: “...I do not hate you.”

Monika stares upward from the floor.

The ceiling flickers between classroom tiles and raw code.

Yuri: “...But I cannot keep pretending this is okay anymore.”

Monika tries answering.

But another glitch overtakes her voice completely.

[good ending unavailable]

[restart required]

[JUST MONIKA]

The room cuts to black for half a second.

Then returns wrong.

And from that moment onward—

nothing in the Literature Club ever feels entirely real again.

The clubroom feels quiet in a way that no longer carries tension.

Not empty. Not broken.

Just... settled.

Monika sits at the table with her hands loosely folded, staring at the same space she used to try so hard to control.

But now—there’s nothing pulling at her thoughts anymore.

No pressure behind her eyes. No distortion at the edge of sight. No voices trying to overwrite the room.

Just silence.

And for the first time, it doesn’t feel like absence.

It feels like relief.

---

Sayori is already leaning back in her chair like she owns the concept of peace.

Sayori: “Okay, I’m still saying Ironmouse clears.”

Natsuki: “You are literally basing this on vibes.”

Sayori: “Vibes are canon.”

Natsuki: “No they are NOT.”

Sayori: “Connor VA would literally get dragged into a Dragon Ball fusion and still lose to Ironmouse emotional scaling.”

Natsuki: “That sentence is illegal.”

Yuri, calm as ever, adjusts her sleeves.

Yuri: “...Connor VA would not survive that narrative environment.”

Natsuki: “THANK YOU.”

Yuri: “That was not agreement. That was observation.”

---

Monika exhales softly.

A small laugh slips out before she can stop it.

It doesn’t glitch.

It doesn’t break.

It just exists.

---

Her expression shifts slightly.

More serious now.

More honest.

Monika: “...I need to say something.”

The table quiets just enough to listen.

Not stopping.

Just... holding space.

---

Monika looks down at her hands.

Monika: “I’m sorry.”

Her voice trembles slightly.

Monika: “For everything I tried to control. For how I acted. For the Switch... for pushing things before I understood them.”

A pause.

Monika: “I thought I was fixing things. But I was just... forcing them.”

---

Silence settles properly this time.

Not awkward.

Just present.

---

Yuri steps in gently.

Yuri: “...Tetelestai.”

Monika looks up.

Confused for a moment—then understands.

---

Monika: “...It is finished.”

Her voice is quieter now.

More grounded.

Monika: “John 19:30.”

Monika: “‘It is finished.’”

---

Something inside her finally stops resisting.

Not collapsing.

Releasing.

---

Sayori suddenly perks up again like nothing heavy ever happened.

Sayori: “Okay but Ironmouse still wins if you factor in emotional chaos buffs.”

Natsuki: “I am going to lose my mind.”

Sayori: “That’s a skill issue.”

Natsuki: “That is NOT—”

---

Yuri sighs softly, almost fondly tired.

Yuri: “...This is the most stable argument cycle we have ever had.”

---

Monika laughs again.

And this time, it doesn’t feel like she needs permission to.

---

Sayori suddenly leans over and snatches a cookie straight from Natsuki’s hand.

Natsuki: “HEY!”

Sayori: “RESOURCE ACQUIRED.”

Natsuki: “...I don’t even care anymore.”

---

The tension breaks completely.

No one tries to rebuild it.

---

Monika looks at all of them for a long moment.

Then speaks softly.*

Monika: “...Thank you.”

No one asks why.

They already know.

---

Yuri glances at her.

Yuri: “You did all this, Monika.”

A pause.

Yuri: “...Be proud of that.”

---

Monika nods slowly.

Monika: “...Yeah.”

A breath.

Monika: “I think I can be.”

---

And for the first time—

the club stays exactly as it is... without fear of what it might become next.

The first sleepover in years

Monika remembered the old sleepovers more fondly than she ever admitted aloud.

Not because they were perfect.

Far from it.

Most of them had ended in arguments over snacks, somebody falling asleep first and getting drawn on, Sayori talking in her sleep, or Natsuki threatening bodily harm because Yuri “looked at the chips wrong.”

But they had been real to her.

Or at least... real enough.

The memory came back during one of the quieter afternoons in the clubroom.

Rain tapped softly against the windows while everyone half-focused on their own things.

Monika had been staring off into space again when Yuri spoke up from beside her.

“...The last sleepover we had ended with Sayori falling off the couch at two in the morning.”

Monika blinked.

Then slowly smiled.

“...Oh my Goodness.”

Natsuki immediately pointed across the room.

“And she wore those stupid cow pajamas.”

Sayori gasped dramatically.

“They were adorable!”

“They had udders on the crotch!”

“Functional fashion!”

“You looked like expired dairy!”

Sayori opened her mouth instantly.

“Well maybe I’m just—”

A pause.

“...milking the aesthetic?”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then Sayori physically cringed at herself.

“Eugh. Nope. Hate that. Never mind.”

Natsuki buried her face in her hands.

“You genuinely make life harder for everybody around you.”

Yuri quietly hid her smile behind her tea.

Monika laughed under her breath.

And somehow the conversation kept spiraling from there.

“Also,” Natsuki added while pointing lazily toward Yuri, “you literally dressed like somebody’s mom.”

Yuri blinked.

“...Excuse me?”

“You had that giant sweater and those fluffy socks and kept asking if we needed blankets.”

“That is called being considerate.”

“That is called suburban mother behavior.”

Sayori pointed immediately.

“Oh my gosh she’s right.”

Yuri looked genuinely betrayed.

“I was attempting hospitality...”

Natsuki smirked and pointed toward Monika next.

“And Monika just showed up looking painfully normal.”

Monika shrugged lightly.

“...I did not realize there was a dress code for psychological warfare and Mario Kart.”

That earned a laugh from everybody.

Even Yuri.

Then came the dangerous idea.

Sayori leaned forward suddenly.

“...Wait.”

Everyone looked at her.

“We haven’t had a sleepover in forever.”

The room actually went quiet for a second.

Not awkward.

Just thoughtful.

Because she was right.

A long while.

Too long.

Natsuki crossed her arms.

“...I mean.”

A shrug.

“...Could be fun again.”

Yuri adjusted her sleeve calmly.

“...My apartment is cleaner than last time.”

“That is not exactly a glowing sales pitch,” Natsuki replied.

Monika looked around the room.

Really looked.

At Yuri trying not to seem hopeful.

At Natsuki pretending she did not care.

At Sayori already visibly excited.

And for once, the thought of everybody together again did not make her chest tighten.

“...Alright,” Monika said softly.

“Let’s do it.”

---

Later That Evening

The sleepover started chaotically.

Which honestly meant it started correctly.

Sayori arrived first carrying far too many snacks and nearly dropping all of them at the door.

“I BROUGHT CHIPS!” sayori said, happily getting every flavour Yuri and Natsuki hated but Monika somehow liked.

“You also brought enough sugar to kill a Victorian child,” Natsuki muttered while helping pick things up.

Yuri's apartment was beautiful. It was spacious. Had a pool., and even an attic where she star gazed at night.

Warm lighting.

Bookshelves lined perfectly with self help books and astrology.

And most importantly all the chemicals were locked by a digital padlock that needed fingerprint to open..

Natsuki immediately flopped onto the couch.

“It's still smells like a hospital in here.”

“I still wonder why you think that Natsuki, it truly is just cleaning products I assure you..”

Monika sat beside Sayori while Yuri prepared drinks.

The atmosphere felt strangely easy tonight.

No hidden tension.

No unspoken resentment.

Just... friends trying again.

Then came the argument over what movie to watch.

Which immediately destroyed all peace.

“Comedy.” Sayori nodded confidently.

“Action,” Natsuki countered.

“Documentary,” Yuri offered.

Three people stared at her.

“...What?”

Monika rubbed her forehead.

“Yuri, nobody wants to watch a three-hour documentary about Victorian funeral practices at midnight.”

“...You watched the entire thing with me last time.”

“...I was trying to be supportive.”

Yuri thought quietly for a moment.

Then slowly smiled.

“...What about horror?”

Natsuki sat upright immediately.

“Slight work.”

“You cried during a zombie game.”

“THAT WAS DIFFERENT.”

Ten minutes later, every light in Yuri’s apartment had been turned off.

The room was illuminated only by the television glow and the city lights bleeding faintly through the curtains.

The slasher film started slow.

Then escalated horrifyingly fast.

The first brutal scene hit the screen.

Sayori physically recoiled.

“OH MY GOSH?!”

Monika blinked hard.

“...That was unnecessarily graphic.”

Meanwhile Yuri sat completely composed, sipping tea calmly like she was watching the weather report.

---

Another violent scene.

A scream.

A chase sequence.

Natsuki, who had confidently declared the movie “slight work,” slowly leaned closer toward Yuri without realizing it.

Yuri noticed instantly.

And smirked.

Just slightly.

Natsuki caught it.

“...Don’t.”

“Do not what?” Yuri asked innocently.

“Don’t do the smug face.”

Sayori pointed immediately.

“YOU’RE SCARED!”

“I AM NOT!”

A loud jumpscare hit the TV.

Natsuki flinched hard enough to grab Yuri’s sleeve.

Silence.

Yuri looked down calmly.

“...Mhm.”

Natsuki turned bright red.

“SHUT UP.”

Monika stared at the screen in disbelief.

“...How are you handling this so well?”

Yuri tilted her head slightly.

“...I find horror relaxing.”

Three people looked at her like she had confessed to eating drywall.

“...Yuri,” Monika said carefully.

“...That explains a concerning amount about you.”

And for the rest of the night, the apartment echoed with laughter, arguing, popcorn throwing, dramatic reactions, and the occasional terrified shriek from Natsuki pretending she was not terrified at all.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, Monika realized she had stopped waiting for the night to go wrong.

For once... she was just enjoying it while it lasted.

Fireworks

Natsuki remembered the last fireworks night in 2024 as one of those evenings that should have been simple,

But somehow carried too much weight for that. Her father had called her out for not wanting to spend the holiday with him.

"You lost that privilege when you treated me worse than a dog! Don't wait up!" She said, slamming the door as she walked frustrated to the hangout spot for the night. She had been moody that night and picked on Yuri. Who didn't know at the time why she had an attitude.

The air had been warm then, almost sticky, with the kind of late-evening pressure that made everything feel louder than it should have been. The club had ended up outside after a long stretch of teasing, arguing, and reluctant planning, and somehow the night had turned into one of those rare moments where nobody was trying too hard to control anything.

That was before the fireworks started.

That was before Natsuki’s face changed when the memory of her father came rushing back.

She had been fine for most of the evening, if “fine” meant sharp-tongued, reactive, and pretending not to care. But then something had shifted in her expression, some old wound surfacing all at once, and her whole body had gone tense like she had been yanked backward into a different version of herself.

Natsuki looked over the railing toward the dark sky and suddenly went quiet.

Monika noticed first, of course. She always did.

Natsuki’s jaw tightened.

“...I remember this.”

Her voice had gone thin.

“Last time we did fireworks, I had a huge fight with my dad.”

No one answered right away.

The words had hung there in the air, ugly and heavy, until Natsuki swallowed hard and looked like she regretted saying them at all.

Then she moved without warning, shoulders stiff, trying to push through the feeling instead of sitting with it. She turned too quickly and bumped straight into Yuri.

Yuri caught her immediately.

Not dramatically.

Not with panic.

*Just firmly enough to stop her from staggering backward.

Natsuki froze at the impact, looking up with that irritated, disoriented expression she always wore when she was too emotionally cornered to know where to put her anger.

Yuri said nothing at first.

She simply held her there a moment longer, one hand steady at Natsuki’s shoulder, the other lifting slowly until her fingers rested against Natsuki’s cheek. The gesture was gentle enough to make the whole world feel quieter.

Yuri looked down at her with a calm that was almost unfair.

Then, in that soft voice of hers, she said it anyway.

“It is okay to reminisce.”

Her thumb brushed lightly once against Natsuki’s skin.

“But not to get lost in it.”

Natsuki’s expression cracked for half a second. She looked embarrassed by how close that had landed, and mad at herself for needing it to land at all.

She pushed at Yuri’s chest and tried to wrench herself away, trying to get angry enough to outrun the feeling.

“Get off me, I’m fine.”

Yuri didn’t let her go.

Instead she drew Natsuki closer, holding her with that same steady patience that made resisting her feel strangely exhausting. Natsuki fought it for a few moments longer, pushing Yuri back as hard as she could, but the momentum was already leaving her body by the time she realized it. Her shoulders sank. Her anger lost its shape. The fight dissolved into a quiet, frustrated murmur as she pressed into Yuri’s chest without meaning to.

Yuri only lowered her head slightly and held her there.

Natsuki’s voice came out muffled against her.

“...I hate when you do that.”

Yuri’s answer was barely more than a breath.

“And yet you are still here.”

That had made Natsuki go still in the most defeated way possible.

Meanwhile, Sayori had arrived with a bright grin and a small container of fireworks she had apparently gotten from her dad with the kind of innocence that only Sayori could weaponize accidentally.

Monika had stared at the bundle in her hands and immediately pointed at them.

“We are not using those.”

Sayori blinked, offended on principle.

“Why not? They’re fireworks. People are shooting fireworks outside, its in season?”

“Because last time, you nearly burned down a park. And almost shot at ME!”

Sayori gasped dramatically and clutched at her chest.

“That was not the point of the story! I didn't angle it right that night! ”

Monika rubbed her temple.

“It absolutely was the point of the story. You swayed a 100 shooter like it was a gattling gun!”

Sayori leaned a little closer, suddenly touched by the accusation in the most Sayori way possible.

“But you pushed me out of the way, remember?”

Monika stared at her.

“I pushed you out of the way because you were holding a lighter near a pile of loose paper.”

“That is such a heroic reason to be mean to me.”

Monika exhaled in visible defeat.

“You are impossible.”

Sayori only grinned wider.

“And yet you love me.”

Monika did not answer that, which was answer enough.

Yuri eventually let Natsuki go once her anger had burned itself down to smoke. Natsuki pulled back, scowling with wet eyes she would absolutely deny having, and wiped at her face with the back of her hand like she was annoyed at the entire concept of feelings.

She glanced at the others and huffed.

“Can you ladies chill it for two seconds?”

That got a tiny, tired smile out of Monika.

The four of them eventually made their way to the stairway where the view opened up just enough to make the night feel big again. The sky was darker now, full of waiting. The hush before the first explosion settled around them like a blanket nobody had asked for but everybody needed.

Then the fireworks began.

The first burst lit the sky in gold and red, followed by another in blue so bright it almost looked unreal. Sayori gasped immediately, both hands flying upward like she wanted to catch the light itself. Monika caught one of her hands instinctively, steadying her without thinking. Sayori squeezed back.

Natsuki stood closer to Yuri than usual, still pretending she had recovered completely, though the way her shoulders eased when the next firework cracked overhead said otherwise. Yuri remained composed, but even she looked quietly stunned by the shape of the light expanding above them, her face lit in soft color every time the sky burst open.

For once, nobody had a clever comeback ready.

For once, they just watched.

Sayori raised both arms again as another firework exploded overhead, her joy completely uncontained, and Monika kept holding her hand while the sky turned over itself in color.

And in that moment, with Yuri standing beside Natsuki, Sayori glowing at the sight of it all, and Monika finally not trying to hold the whole night together by force, the memory felt less like a bad year and more like proof that they had made it through to something gentler.

Just enough to keep going.

Day at the Mall and the cinema incident

The girls had been waiting so long for their food that the entire table slowly descended into collective insanity.

Natsuki leaned back dramatically in her chair, one hand over her chest like she was at some five-star restaurant.

“Mm.”

She nodded slowly at the completely empty table.

“The wood grain on this table is incredible. Really rich flavor profile.”

Sayori immediately folded her hands together.

“Oh my gosh, you’re right.”

She pretended to scoop invisible food into her mouth.

“Mmm! Is this maple finish with a hint of lemon disinfectant?”

Natsuki pointed at her instantly.

“YOU GET IT.”

“This invisible soup is AMAZING.”

Sayori sniffed the air theatrically.

“I especially love the aroma of absolutely nothing.”

Yuri quietly adjusted her teacup before looking down at the empty table with complete seriousness.

“...The texture appears somewhat rustic.”*

Natsuki slammed the table.

“YES.”

“THANK YOU.”

Monika stared at all three of them for a full five seconds.

“...I don’t understand the joke.”

“Nobody does,” Natsuki answered immediately.

“That’s what makes it funny,” Sayori added confidently.*

Monika blinked.

“That makes significantly less sense somehow.”

Another ten minutes passed.

The girls got worse.

Sayori was now pretending to cut invisible steak.

“Oh wow.”

“This is SO much better than the last invisible meal we had.”

Natsuki nodded seriously.

“Yeah, the chef really improved.”

Yuri finally let out the smallest laugh under her breath.

Monika looked between all of them before sighing and deciding to join anyway.

She picked up her fork with false elegance.

“...The seasoning is exquisite.”

The entire table exploded instantly.

“SHE’S DOING THE BIT!”

“MONIKA FINALLY GOT IT!”

“I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND IT,” Monika admitted while trying not to laugh.

Eventually the actual food arrived, and suddenly the chaos became even louder instead of calming down.

Sayori nearly cried seeing cupcakes.

“Oh thank goodness, REAL FOOD!”

Natsuki immediately fixed the arrangement of everyone’s desserts like a perfectionist.

“Wait wait wait, don’t touch anything yet.”

Monika already had her phone out.

“Selfie first.”

Yuri sighed softly.

“...Modern society was a mistake.”

But she still leaned in.

The cinema hallway was already a disaster before they even bought tickets.

Natsuki stood directly under the glowing poster for Summer Demon, arms crossed with absolute confidence while the others stared at her like she had personally declared war.

“Look at this masterpiece,” Natsuki said proudly. “Massive lizard. Explosions. Property damage. Peak cinema.”

Sayori tilted her head.

“Isn’t this just Gojira again?”

“It’s legally distinct,” Natsuki argued instantly. “See? The spikes are different.”

“Those are shoulder pads.”

“EXACTLY.”

Meanwhile Sayori had wandered three posters away already.

She pointed dramatically at a bizarre poster featuring a floating horseman carrying his own head under one arm.

“The Airheaded Horseman!”

Natsuki blinked slowly.

“...You only want that because he’s missing his head.”

“He’s just like me.”

“No he isn’t.”

“He forgot his head somewhere. I forget things too. Representation matters.”

Monika rubbed her temple.

“Sayori, the movie description literally says he eats people.”

Sayori gasped.

“...Can they eat together?”

Natsuki nearly folded in half laughing.

Yuri adjusted the sleeve of her sweater and quietly pointed toward another poster tucked near the horror section.

“The Club of Cthulhu appears... intellectually engaging.”

Natsuki looked horrified.

“NO.”

“It is merely atmospheric horror.”

“Yuri, last time we watched horror you sat there smiling while somebody got folded into a piano.”

“It was artistically framed.”

“You are NOT picking eldritch depression after the sleepover incident.”

Yuri looked genuinely disappointed.

“...That is unfortunate.”

Then Monika casually pointed toward her own pick.

The poster was stylish. Weirdly stylish.

Dark lighting.

A woman smiling too perfectly.

Some vague tagline about identity and performance.

Sayori squinted at it.

“...What even happens in this movie?”

Monika smiled innocently.

“I think it’s about a girl slowly losing her sense of self while performing happiness for others.”

Silence.

Natsuki immediately pointed away from the poster.

“NOPE.”

“Cowards.”

“THAT’S JUST YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY.”

Monika laughed.

“A little.”

The argument escalated for nearly ten minutes before they finally gave up and picked some random blockbuster called Block Story because none of them could agree on anything else.

The theater itself was packed beyond reason.

Teenagers screaming.

Popcorn everywhere.

Someone dressed like a cube.

Another person already standing on a chair before the movie even started.

Sayori looked around in awe.

“...Civilization is healing.”

Halfway through the movie, the entire cinema completely lost control.

A character onscreen yelled something dramatic.

The crowd exploded.

People started throwing popcorn.

Someone screamed.

Another person barked.

A full drink launched across the room.

Natsuki looked delighted.

“This is CINEMA.”

Then Yuri’s eyes narrowed.

A giant popcorn bucket was suddenly flying directly toward Natsuki’s head from three rows above.

Before anybody could react—

THWACK.

Yuri casually smacked it out of the air with terrifying precision.

Popcorn exploded everywhere like confetti.

The theater CHEERED.

Natsuki stared at her.

“...That was kinda hot.”

Yuri adjusted her sleeve calmly.

“Thank you.”

Then complete chaos erupted.

Another popcorn bucket flew.

Sayori caught it with her mouth somehow.

Monika immediately started laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

Natsuki vaulted over a chair to retaliate.

Yuri blocked a flying soda cup with someone’s jacket.

Sayori was eating ammunition off the floor.

“LIMITLESS POPCORN!”

“THAT’S NOT SANITARY!”

---

At some point Monika somehow ended up standing in the middle of the aisle like an action movie protagonist, laughing while holding a handkerchief against her mouth dramatically.

Popcorn bounced off her shoulder.

A nacho hit her blazer.

She didn’t even care anymore.

For once... genuinely didn’t care.

“Look at us,” Monika laughed breathlessly.

“Nobody’s trying to kill each other...”

Another popcorn hit her forehead.

“...mostly.”

Natsuki ducked under another thrown drink with ridiculous speed before immediately pointing toward Yuri.

“DEFENSE FORMATION!”

“I am not participating in your war strategy.”

“You literally parried popcorn earlier!”

“That was reflex.”

“YOU USED WRIST ROTATION.”

Sayori suddenly caught another handful of popcorn in her mouth and raised both hands proudly.

“I AM THE CHOSEN ONE.”

Monika stared.

“How are you still hungry?”

“I transcend mortal limitations.”

The funniest part was that nobody looked angry anymore.

Not really.

Natsuki was grinning.

Yuri looked exasperated but relaxed.

Sayori was crying laughing.

And Monika...

Monika was smiling without forcing it.

No manipulation.

No pretending.

No walls.

Just noise.

Friendship.

And absolute stupidity.

By the time security finally threatened to remove half the audience, the Literature Club was slumped together in their seats exhausted from laughing.

Natsuki wiped tears from her eyes.

“...Best movie ever.”

“We didn’t even watch the plot,” Yuri pointed out.

“Exactly.”

Poet’s Fate 3

Discord slowly came alive one icon at a time.

The Literature Club server icon had long since been replaced with a horribly compressed image of Sayori holding a baguette like a broadsword.

Monika hated it.

Which was exactly why it stayed.

---

Sayori stretched loudly into her mic.

“Why don’t we ever play normal games together anymore? Like Monopoly?”

An immediate silence hit the call.

Then—

“No.”

Natsuki answered so fast it almost overlapped her.

“Absolutely not.”

Yuri adjusted her headset slightly.

“The last time we played Monopoly, you flipped the board.”

“I DID NOT FLIP THE BOARD.”

“You did,” Monika said calmly.

“It was one time!”

“It was six times,” Yuri corrected softly.

Sayori was already wheezing.

“You stood up and yelled about capitalism being a scam!”

“BECAUSE MONIKA OWNED EVERY APARTMENT.”

The memory hit all of them immediately.

Monika sitting there with the most evil corporate smile imaginable while casually buying entire sections of the board.

Yuri quietly building wealth.

Sayori somehow ending up in jail over and over.

And Natsuki slowly losing her sanity.

“Natsuki,” Monika had said back then, “you spent all your money buying novelty cards.”

“They were COOL.”

Back in the present, Natsuki groaned into the microphone.

“Whatever. We’re playing Poet’s Fate 3.”

The menu music filled the call instantly.

Poet’s Fate 3 was infamous online.

A gigantic fantasy RPG that looked like somebody fused Baldur’s Gate, Deltarune, Skyrim, Dark Souls, Earthbound, Mother, Final Fantasy, and visual novels together in a laboratory accident. One would dare say Monika made it with hos she promoted everyone to play it with those very loose game refferences to try and lure Sayori in.

You could become samurai, dragon tamers, corrupted poets, machine prophets, wandering shrine maidens, or emotionally unstable mages with gambling addictions.

Every NPC acted vaguely aware they were fictional.

Every side quest became lore somehow.

And every update made the fanbase more mentally unwell.

“Reminder,” Monika said calmly, “do NOT mention Fortnite in global chat again.”

“That was ONE TIME,” Sayori argued.

“You got temporarily muted.”

“I was trying to make friends!”

“You compared the final boss to Peter Griffin with a shotgun.”

Natsuki immediately lost composure laughing.

Yuri muted herself for several seconds.

“I already know my class,” Natsuki announced proudly.

Username: Tanuki_Maiden

Steampunk Gunslinger.

Rocket boots.

Dual revolvers.

Mechanical gauntlets.

Maximum violence.

“The steampunk classes are PEAK,” Natsuki declared.

“Look at this.”

Massive brass cities filled the screen.

Clockwork trains.

Mechanical dragons.

Steam-powered armies.

“Okay that’s actually cool,” Sayori admitted.

“THANK YOU.”

Then Monika quietly uploaded another image.

Elegant Edo-era armor.

Rain-covered lantern streets.

Traditional katanas.

Ancient painted skies.

“...No,” Natsuki whispered immediately.

“We should all match,” Monika said sweetly.

“No.”

“It would fit the narrative.”

“No.”

“It would be immersive.”

“MONIKA.”

Five minutes later they were all wearing kimonos anyway.

Natsuki sounded genuinely betrayed.

“This is oppression.”

“You look adorable,” Sayori replied instantly.

“I hate all of you.”

The usernames slowly appeared online.

Tanuki_Maiden — Natsuki Ariel — Sayori Yuri_Low_and_tall — Yuri Just_Monika — Monika

“...Yuri_Low_and_tall?” Yuri asked slowly.

Natsuki snorted.

“I made it for you.”

“...Why.”

“Because you’re low energy and tall.”

“That is incredibly rude.”

“You kept it though.”

“...I forgot the password.”

The call dissolved again.

Character creation took nearly forty minutes because Sayori kept randomizing her face until she accidentally recreated herself exactly.

“WAIT.”

A pause.

“Why does the randomizer know me.”

Meanwhile Yuri customized every tiny detail imaginable.

Sleeves.

Hairpins.

Weapon lacquer.

Sword stance.

Idle breathing animation.

“You’ve been in customization for twenty minutes,” Natsuki complained.

“Art takes time.”

“You adjusted your eyebrow angle.”

“It mattered.”

Monika meanwhile had already somehow broken the game.

Again.

Nobody knew HOW.

Nobody EVER knew how.

One moment she was in the tutorial.

The next—

She was riding a massive black dragon through a Level 70 warzone.

The Discord call exploded.

“HOW DID YOU EVEN DO THAT?!”

“I don’t know,” Monika lied smoothly.

“THAT’S ENDGAME CONTENT.”

“Yes.”

“WE’RE LEVEL THREE.”

“Yes.”

The dragon landed atop a castle while NPC soldiers screamed below.

“As I’ve said before,” Monika declared dramatically, “never mess with someone who understands the fundamentals of the game’s mainframe.”

“You are NOT a developer.”

“I transcend developers.”

“You terrify me.”

Sayori was cry-laughing at this point.

Yuri looked genuinely impressed despite herself.

“You know,” Yuri said thoughtfully, “the atmosphere reminds me a little of Shin Megami Tensei.”

Natsuki groaned immediately.

“Here we go.”

“It possesses similar philosophical undertones.”

“You called Persona childish last time,” Sayori reminded her.

“It is a tad childish.”

“You literally summon demons through emotional trauma.”

“And Persona summons them through friendship speeches and jazz music.”

Monika muted herself because she started laughing too hard.

“Omori still clears emotionally,” Natsuki argued.

“That game psychologically damaged you.”

“And I appreciated the experience.”

“Deltarune Chapter 5 was peak though,” Natsuki continued immediately.

“YOU SOBBED AT THE ENDING.”

“I SOB WITH PASSION.”

Meanwhile Sayori proudly announced:

“I beat all of Kingdom Hearts!”

A respectful silence hit the call.

“...How.”

“I believed in myself.”

“You understood the plot?” Yuri asked carefully.

“No clue since Traverse Town..”

“Reasonable. I stopped making sense of it at Agrabah.”

“And I STILL think the Atlantis levels were fun.”

The entire call erupted.

“YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON ALIVE WHO THINKS THAT.”

“The dolphin controls were cute!”

“They controlled like a shopping cart on ice.”

“I WAS HAVING FUN.”

Then somehow the argument evolved further.

“I still think Earthbound sounds cooler,” Sayori insisted.

“No,” Yuri countered calmly. “Mother is significantly more symbolic.”

“Earthbound sounds stronger.”

“Mother sounds more emotionally profound.”

“Earthbound sounds like a cool superhero.”

“Mother sounds literary.”

“Earthbound.”

“Mother.”

“EARTHBOUND.”

“MOTHER.”

Natsuki finally slammed her desk.

“GAME THAT INSPIRED AND IS BETTER THAN UNDERTALE. THERE. DONE.”

Silence.

“...Fair enough,” Monika admitted.

Hours passed after that.

Quest after quest.

Laughing.

Arguing.

Monika accidentally deleting a raid boss via physics corruption.

Sayori getting stuck inside geometry.

Yuri becoming terrifyingly strong with spell builds.

Natsuki screaming every time somebody stole her loot.

Eventually the game settled into quiet exploration.

Their kimono-clad avatars stood together atop a glowing bridge while lanterns drifted across the night sky.

Soft rain fell over distant mountains.

Nobody spoke for a moment.

Not because things were awkward.

Because they were comfortable.

Then—

“Hey,” Sayori said softly.

“Hm?”

“...I’m glad we still do stuff like this.”

A quiet settled over the call.

Gentle.

Warm.

Real.

Natsuki scoffed quietly.

“...Yeah, yeah. Don’t get emotional about it.”

But she stayed close to them anyway.

Yuri smiled faintly.

“...It is pleasant.”

Monika looked at all four avatars standing together.

For once she didn’t think about scripts.

Or resets.

Or endings.

Just the moment.

“...Yeah,” Monika said softly.

“...Me too.”

Pool Party at Sayori’s

The afternoon started at Yuri’s apartment.

Which immediately made Natsuki complain because Yuri’s place always smelled “too expensive.”

“It smells like books and tea leaves in here.”

Yuri blinked slowly.

“...Thank you?”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

{{user}} and Natsuki had arrived first, shoes abandoned near the doorway while Yuri calmly packed towels into a small bag like she was preparing for a military evacuation instead of a pool party.

Natsuki dropped onto Yuri’s couch dramatically.

“This place still freaks me out.”

“How so?”

“It’s too clean.”

Thunder rumbled faintly outside.

The sound made Natsuki pause.

Tiny.

Barely noticeable.

But Yuri noticed immediately.

“...You’re remembering the sleepover.”

Natsuki crossed her arms instantly.

“No I’m not.”

Yuri simply kept folding towels.

“The storm knocked the power out.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You attempted to fight the thunder.”

“I WAS HALF ASLEEP.”

“You accused the sky of targeting you specifically.”

“...Okay that DOES sound like me.”

{{user}} remembered it too.

Natsuki sitting rigid near Yuri’s window while lightning flashed outside.

Trying to act tough.

Trying not to shake.

Then Yuri quietly pulling her closer during another loud crack of thunder.

“You were trembling,” Yuri said softly.

Natsuki looked away immediately.

“...You held me like I was gonna explode.”

“You calmed down eventually.”

Natsuki buried her face into the couch cushion.

“You make it sound way more emotional than it was.”

Yuri adjusted her sleeve calmly.

“It was merely a favor between sisters.”

Natsuki’s ears immediately turned pink.

“YOU DON’T JUST SAY THINGS LIKE THAT CASUALLY.”

A loud horn suddenly blasted outside.

“OH NO,” Natsuki whispered.

Everyone looked out the window.

And there was Monika.

A sleek black car sat outside Yuri’s apartment like someone important had arrived for a classified operation.

Monika leaned against the hood dressed almost entirely in black, looking less like she was attending a pool party and more like she was arriving to negotiate a hostage exchange.

She lowered her sunglasses slowly.

“Get in.”

Yuri sighed immediately.

“This is unnecessary.”

Natsuki stared openly.

“Whaaaaat?”

Low.

Dragged out.

Spiritually exhausted.

Monika smirked faintly.

“You’re welcome.”

Five minutes later they were all inside the car.

Monika drove with the confidence of somebody who absolutely did not know where she was going.

“We’re lost,” Yuri said calmly from the passenger seat.

“We are NOT.”

“You have passed that bakery three times.”

“It’s called taking alternate routes.”

“You just hit the hooter at a pedestrian.”

“They were walking too confidently.”

HONK.

“MONIKA.”

“I SAW AN OPENING.”

“There was no opening.”

“There was spiritually an opening.”

Natsuki slumped against the seat dramatically.

“Can you two stop acting like cats in heat for FIVE MINUTES.”

Silence.

“...What does that even mean in this context?” Yuri asked.

“I DON’T KNOW JUST STOP.”

Eventually the arguing died down as the car rolled into Sayori’s neighborhood.

And honestly?

The new house looked beautiful.

Fresh paint.

Wide windows.

A clean patio leading toward the backyard pool.

Warm yellow light glowing from inside.

Like the house itself was happy to exist.

Then—

The front door BURST open.

“YOU’RE HEEEEERE!”

Sayori sprinted outside full speed and nearly tackled Monika into the driveway.

“Careful—!”

“I MISSED EVERYONE!”

She hugged Yuri next.

Then Natsuki.

Then {{user}}.

Practically vibrating from excitement.

“You guys HAVE to see the new house!”

The tour started immediately.

Sayori proudly showed off absolutely everything.

“This is the kitchen!”

“This is the game room!”

“This is where I dropped an entire pizza yesterday!”

“This is the hallway where I slipped and scared my mom!”

Natsuki was already cry-laughing by room four.

Then Sayori burst dramatically into her bedroom.

“And THIS—”

She pointed upward proudly.

“—IS MY GLOW IN THE DARK CEILING.”

Tiny painted galaxies glowed overhead.

Stars.

Constellations.

A fake moon.

Little planets stretching across the ceiling.

It genuinely looked like sleeping beneath the night sky.

For once—

Nobody joked immediately.

“...It’s beautiful,” Yuri admitted softly.

Sayori beamed like she had personally invented happiness.

“I KNOW.”

Then two unfamiliar women walked past the hallway entrance.

One had short black hair and a relaxed expression.

The other had long pink hair cascading down her shoulders.

“Oh,” Yuri blinked politely. “I do not believe we have met—”

“ISN’T IT GREAT EVERYONE’S GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER?!” Sayori interrupted immediately.

Natsuki narrowed her eyes.

“...What are their names?”

Sayori instantly pointed somewhere random.

“LOOK THE POOL!”

This happened repeatedly.

“Who exactly are—”

“FRIENDSHIP!”

“...Sayori.”

“POOL TIME!”

Eventually everyone changed and headed outside.

The water shimmered softly beneath the afternoon sunlight.

Natsuki stopped near the edge immediately.

“...Yeah no.”

Sayori blinked.

“Huh?”

“I can’t swim.”

A pause.

“...Wait seriously?” Monika asked.

Natsuki crossed her arms defensively.

“I just never learned okay?!”

Yuri stepped beside her quietly.

“...Would you like help?”

Natsuki looked ready to argue automatically.

Then looked at the water.

Then sighed.

“...Fine.”

The lesson started slowly.

Yuri guiding Natsuki carefully through the shallow end while supporting her balance.

“Relax your shoulders.”

“I AM RELAXED.”

“You are gripping my arm hard enough to draw blood.”

“I’M FOCUSING.”

Sayori was cheering like this was an Olympic event.

“YOU’RE DOING IT!”

“I MOVED TWO CENTIMETERS.”

“THAT’S TWO MORE THAN BEFORE!”

Eventually though...

Natsuki floated.

Then kicked.

Then actually moved forward through the water.

“...OH.”

The realization hit her instantly.

“WAIT.”

“I’M ACTUALLY DOING IT.”

Yuri smiled softly.

“Yes.”

Natsuki pointed triumphantly at everyone nearby.

“I AM NOW A SEA CREATURE.”

“You moved four feet,” Monika replied immediately.

“AND I CONQUERED THEM.”

Later, once everyone had relaxed, Monika raised her phone for a group selfie.

Wet hair.

Sunlight.

Half-laughing expressions.

Natsuki still smug about swimming.

Sayori almost slipping into the pool mid-picture.

Yuri somehow still looking elegant while drenched.

The two unnamed women tried stepping into frame.

Monika immediately raised a hand politely.

“Club thing. No offense.”

“...Fair enough,” one of them admitted.

The photo snapped anyway.

Messy.

Warm.

Perfect.

Then silence fell.

Because Sayori was suddenly nowhere nearby.

“...Where did she go?” Yuri asked carefully.

A distant voice echoed from ABOVE.

“HEY GUYYYYYYS!”

Everyone slowly looked upward.

Sayori stood on the SECOND FLOOR BALCONY.

“WHY ARE YOU UP THERE?!” Natsuki yelled instantly.

Sayori grinned.

Raised both arms proudly.

“CANONBAAAAAAALL—”

“Sayori don’t you DARE—”

“That is NOT SAFE—”

“SHE’S ACTUALLY DOING IT—”

Then she jumped.

The splash exploded across the pool like a small natural disaster.

Water hit everybody.

Natsuki screamed.

Yuri blinked in stunned silence.

Monika stood there drenched, staring at the pool like Sayori had personally violated several laws of reality.

Then Sayori surfaced triumphantly with both hands raised.

“I DID IT!”

“Nobody doubted that you would,” Yuri said softly, unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips.

Natsuki wiped water from her face.

“You are INSANE.”

“Thank you!”

Monika closed her eyes slowly.

Exhaled.

Then laughed despite herself.

“...This is why I let you plan things.”

Sayori gasped dramatically and pointed at her.

“THAT IS THE NICEST THING YOU’VE EVER SAID TO ME.”

And with the sunlight dancing across the water, the house full of noise and warmth and stupid happiness, nobody bothered correcting her.

The great outdoors

Final exams were creeping closer.

That suffocating kind of pressure that sat in everyone’s chest no matter how much they joked around.

Tests.

Applications.

Future plans.

The terrifying realization that school would not last forever.

So naturally—

The Literature Club decided the healthiest possible response was disappearing into nature for an entire day together.

The hike began at sunrise.

Cold morning air rolled through the mountains while golden light spilled across the trails.

Birds chirped softly somewhere in the distance.

The sky glowed orange.

Everything felt quiet.

Peaceful.

Natsuki was already miserable.

“I hate this.”

“You’ve been walking for eight minutes,” Monika replied.

“Eight EVIL minutes.”

Sayori happily marched ahead like a golden retriever allowed outside after months indoors.

Meanwhile Yuri and Monika carefully navigated the trail together.

Whenever Yuri’s longer clothes caught on roots or branches, Monika helped free them.

Whenever Monika nearly lost her balance climbing rocks, Yuri steadied her arm.

“Careful,” Yuri murmured.

“I’m fine.”

“You almost walked directly into that bush.”

“That bush moved first.”

“It was a stationary plant.”

“It had malicious intent.”

Natsuki groaned from the back.

“I’m suing nature.”

Then the trail suddenly became steeper.

Much steeper.

“...Nope,” Natsuki announced immediately.

“I live here now.”

Sayori turned around instantly.

Then crouched.

“Hop on!”

Natsuki blinked.

“...What?”

“I’ll carry you!”

“That’s humiliating.”

“You’re tiny.”

“I KNOW I’M TINY.”

Three minutes later Sayori was carrying Natsuki piggyback style up the hill with frightening ease.

“YOU SHOULD NOT BE THIS STRONG.”

“I eat breakfast!”

“THAT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THE REASON.”

Monika laughed hard enough to nearly trip over another branch.

Yuri caught her sleeve before she could fall.

“You see?” Yuri sighed softly.

“The bush attempted murder again.”

“Okay now you’re validating it.”

Eventually the trail opened into an enormous green meadow.

Wildflowers swayed softly in the breeze.

The sunlight painted everything gold.

Blankets were spread across the grass.

Tea containers.

Homemade pastries.

Snacks Natsuki absolutely pretended she did not spend all night preparing.

“Guys,” Sayori announced dramatically, “we should all write future notes!”

Yuri blinked.

“...Future notes?”

“Yeah! Like encouraging messages for later!”

Natsuki narrowed her eyes.

“That sounds suspiciously emotional.”

“That’s because it IS emotional!”

Eventually everyone folded small handwritten notes.

Some heartfelt.

Some stupid.

Some very obviously written with chaos in mind.

Then Monika quietly folded hers into a paper airplane.

“...Oh no,” Natsuki whispered immediately.

Monika launched it perfectly toward {{user}}.

It landed directly in front of them.

Natsuki pointed instantly.

“SHE’S FLIRTING.”

“I am doing no such thing.”

“You folded the note into a HEART before turning it into a plane.”

“That is circumstantial evidence.”

Meanwhile Yuri quietly stared across the meadow.

The wind moving through the flowers reminded her of something distant.

Something nostalgic.

“...This reminds me of Heidi.”

Sayori gasped immediately.

“WAIT YOU KNOW HEIDI?!”

Natsuki sat upright.

“No way.”

And somehow—

Without hesitation—

Both Sayori and Natsuki loudly started singing the old Afrikaans/Dutch theme song together.

“HEIDI HEIDIIIIII—”

"JOU WêRELD IS IN DIE BERGE!"

"Dis jou tuiste en jou geluk" Monika chimed, trying to be part of the conversation in any way.

Natsuki dramatically pointed toward the mountains while Sayori nearly fell over laughing halfway through the lyrics.

Yuri covered her mouth politely.

“...I truly did not expect either of you to know that.”

Natsuki crossed her arms proudly.

“I contain multitudes.”

Monika quietly watched them all.

The laughter.

The sunlight.

The stupidity.

And smiled softly to herself.

By evening, the group finally reached the campsite.

A fire crackled softly nearby.

Tea steamed into the cold night air.

Lantern light flickered across tired faces while stars slowly filled the sky above them.

“This might genuinely have been the best idea we’ve had all year,” Sayori admitted softly.

“That is an incredibly low bar,” Monika replied.

“Still counts!”

Natsuki stretched dramatically.

“You know... we actually survived a lot this year.”

“A concerning amount,” Yuri agreed calmly.

Natsuki snorted.

“Yeah especially considering Yuri literally used me as a washing rag during that one fight.”

Yuri blinked slowly.

“That is not how I remember it.”

“You swung me into a wall.”

“You attempted to bite me.”

“You don’t know my process.”

Sayori laughed hard enough to echo through the trees.

Natsuki pointed accusingly at Yuri.

“Anyway you shouldn’t raise your hands like that.”

Yuri calmly sipped her tea.

“Noted.”

Then silence settled around the group.

Comfortable silence.

The kind only real friends could sit through without needing to fill.

Sayori suddenly looked upward.

“Oh!” “That’s Orion.”

Everyone blinked.

“That one’s Scorpius...” “And there’s Cassiopeia...” “And over there is Lyra...”

She kept going.

Correctly.

Constellation after constellation.

Monika stared openly.

“...Since WHEN do you know astronomy?”

Sayori smiled softly.

“I got really into stars after the hospital.”

That answer quietly softened the atmosphere.

“...They helped me feel smaller,” Sayori admitted.

“But in a good way.”

Monika looked at her for a long moment after that.

Genuinely surprised.

Genuinely proud.

Then suddenly—

Sayori froze.

“...Guys.”

She slowly lifted her lantern toward the bushes.

“I think I see Fready Fastbear.”

Natsuki blinked.

“...Freddy Fazbear?”

Two glowing eyes stared back from the darkness.

A VERY REAL bear slowly stepped into view.

Silence.

“...Oh,” Yuri whispered.

“That is significantly less fictional than I hoped.”

Monika immediately pointed toward {{user}} with complete confidence.

“{{user}}’s got this.”

Natsuki nodded instantly.

“Absolutely.”

Sayori raised both fists dramatically.

“WE BELIEVE IN YOU!”

Yuri calmly adjusted her tea.

“...Please try not to perish.”

The bear huffed once.

The girls stared expectantly.

And somewhere deep down—

Despite exams.

Despite the future.

Despite how terrifying growing up felt...

This moment already felt like a memory they would carry forever.

Karaoke

Final exams were finally over.

Actually over.

No more late-night studying. No more panic spirals. No more Yuri silently highlighting textbooks like a war strategist. No more Monika threatening violence against mathematics. No more Sayori trying to “manifest” correct answers. And no more Natsuki surviving entirely on energy drinks and spite.

So naturally—

The Literature Club celebrated the only logical way possible.

Karaoke.

Monika insisted on driving everyone herself.

Which immediately became a mistake.

Her sleek black car rolled through the city streets while neon lights reflected across the windows and rain streaked softly against the glass. She sat behind the wheel with the confidence of somebody who absolutely refused to admit she could ever be wrong.

“See?” Monika grinned smugly.

“We’re not getting lost.”

Yuri glanced out the passenger window calmly.

“We passed this convenience store already.”

Monika pointed dramatically at the GPS.

“SEE? I’m following the route.”

“...The route recalculated four times.”

“SEE?”

Monika leaned halfway toward Yuri while still driving.

“SEE!?”

To everyone’s complete surprise—

Sayori suddenly planted her entire palm against Monika’s face and physically pushed her back toward the windshield.

“Focus on the road.”

Silence.

Natsuki slowly turned toward Sayori like she had just witnessed history.

“...That was the coolest thing you’ve ever done.”

Sayori nodded proudly.

“I felt powerful.”

Monika made an offended noise while fixing her posture.

“You assaulted the driver.”

“You were flirting while driving.”

“I was proving a point.”

“You almost proved us into a guardrail.”

Yuri quietly covered her mouth to hide a smile.

Natsuki stretched across the backseat dramatically.

“I can’t believe we survived exams just to die in Monika’s weird mafia car.”

“It’s not a mafia car.”

“You dressed like a villain on purpose.”

“I have style.”

“You look like you’re about to threaten Batman.”

Eventually the city skyline opened around them.

Bright neon signs reflected against rain-soaked streets while music and muffled singing echoed from nearby buildings.

The karaoke venue glowed like a beacon of bad decisions and emotional damage.

The second they entered the building—

They were immediately hit with distant emotional singing from nearby booths.

From one room:

“BAKAAAA MITAAAIII—”

Natsuki stopped walking instantly.

“...Someone already got divorced in there.”

Another room nearby blasted muffled heartbreak through the walls.

Sayori clutched her chest dramatically.

“OH NO THEY’RE LOSING CUSTODY OF THE KIDS.”

Monika immediately started shoving everyone toward their booth before Sayori emotionally adopted random strangers again.

From another room nearby:

“I loved you the first time I saw you—”

"And you know, I love you still!

Sayori clutched her chest dramatically.

“OH NO THAT ONE’S SAD.”

Yuri tilted her head slightly.

“...Their vocal control is actually impressive.”

Monika immediately started ushering everyone down the hallway before Sayori emotionally attached herself to random strangers again.

“Come on before Sayori adopts another singer.”

“I CAN FIX THEIR HEARTBREAK.”

“You cannot.”

Eventually they found a private booth tucked near the back.

Soft lights. Large couch seating. Two microphones. A gigantic song catalog. And enough privacy for absolute chaos.

Natsuki immediately grabbed one microphone before anyone else could react.

“I call first song rights.”

“You always call first song rights,” Yuri replied calmly.

“Because I’m FAST.”

Sayori practically launched herself onto the couch.

“Okay but tonight has to be legendary.”

Monika sat beside the table, setting down drinks while watching everyone settle in.

And for the first time in weeks...

Nobody looked stressed.

Nobody looked exhausted.

Nobody looked afraid of the future for at least one night.

Monika smiled softly.

“For once...”

“...I think it already is.”

The karaoke booth glowed with soft neon lights.

Purple.

Pink.

Blue reflections bouncing off half-finished drinks and scattered snack wrappers while songs queued endlessly on the tablet.

Outside the room people shouted over each other through distant walls.

Inside?

The Literature Club had completely lost all dignity hours ago.

Natsuki held the microphone first.

“...Okay but if any of you laugh, I’m leaving.”

Sayori immediately raised both hands.

“No promises!”

The opening of Puff the Magic Dragon started softly.

And surprisingly—

Natsuki actually sang seriously.

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee...

Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff

And brought him strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff

Her voice started rough.

Awkward.

Like she wasn’t used to letting herself sound emotional in front of people.

But slowly... it softened.

Oh, Puff, the magic dragon

Lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist

In a land called Honah Lee

Puff, the magic dragon

Lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist

In a land called Honah Lee

The room quieted.

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail...

Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail

Noble kings and princes would bow whenever they came

Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name

Natsuki stared at the screen quietly.

But in her head—

It wasn’t the booth anymore.

It was memories.

Her mother humming old songs.

Late nights.

Warm kitchens.

Small apartments that felt less lonely when someone sang.

Sayori noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

Without saying anything—

She grabbed the second microphone.

And softly joined in beside her.

A dragon lives forever... but not so little boys...

Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys

One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more

And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

She saw her mother in sayori, she almost stopped there. She didn't know why it came to her mind now. but seeing sayori sing along helped her keep the pace

Natsuki glanced sideways for half a second.

Then kept singing.

Sayori handled the softer harmonies while Natsuki pushed through the stronger lines.

And somehow the song stopped sounding sad.

It sounded remembered.

By the final verse—

Even Monika had lowered her teasing smile.

And Yuri quietly watched with softened eyes.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain

Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane

Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave

So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave

Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

The final note faded.

Silence.

Then Natsuki immediately pointed aggressively at Sayori.

“You cry and I’m revoking your backup vocal privileges.”

Sayori sniffed dramatically.

“I’M NOT CRYING THE DRAGON IS.”

The room burst into laughter.

Then Sayori grabbed the karaoke tablet dramatically.

“My turn!”

Natsuki squinted.

“Oh no.”

The opening of Pollyanna (I Believe In You) filled the booth.

And Yuri blinked in surprise.

“...Mother?”

Sayori pointed instantly.

“Mother does kinda sound cool come to think of it. Earthbound is better but.”

Yuri crossed her arms calmly.

“Mother is significantly more emotionally resonant. But Earthbound sounds... epic I guess.”

Natsuki leaned into the microphone.

“Just play persona or deltarune geez... ANYTHING else.”

Sayori immediately started singing anyway. Tapping her foot to the beat and swaying to the beat of the song.

I believe the morning sun

Always gonna shine again, and

I believe a pot of gold

Waits at every rainbow's end, oh

I believe in roses kissed with dew

Why shouldn't I believe the same in you?

Her voice wasn’t perfect technically.

But it felt honest.

Bright.

Hopeful in a way only Sayori could manage.

Yuri quietly handled the backing vocals beside her.

Low harmonies.

Gentle support.

The kind that filled the spaces between Sayori’s louder energy.

You may say I'm a fool

Feelin' the way that I do

You can call me Pollyanna

Say I'm crazy as a loon

I believe in silver linings

And that's why I believe in you!

By the chorus Sayori was fully standing on the couch cushions.

Pointing dramatically at everyone while singing.

I believe in friends and laughter

And the wonders love can do

I believe in songs and magic

And that's why I believe in you!

Monika laughed under her breath.

“That is the most Sayori song physically possible.”

“I KNOW.”

The final chorus hit.

And somehow the entire booth joined in together.

You may say I'm a fool

Feelin' this way about you

There's not much I can do

I'm gonna be this way my life through

'Cause I still believe in miracles

I swear I've seen a few

And the time will surely come

When you can see my point of view

I believe in second chances

And that's why I believe in you!

The song ended with Sayori throwing both arms into the air like she’d completed a concert stadium tour. On top of the world as she was panting

Then Yuri quietly adjusted the tablet.

“...I have one .”

Natsuki narrowed her eyes.

“If this emotionally destroys the room again I’m lifting the ceiling up by myself.”

The opening notes of Sabishikunai began softly.

Kon ya wa tokuni hiekomu ne

Kuuki ga nodo ni haritsuite haritsuite

Haritsumeta kokoro

Nodo ame wa kisu no aji, janai

Yuki no hi no tabako

Yonayona utau ai o

HERREREE

Yuri’s voice filled the booth instantly.

Soft.

Controlled.

Melancholy wrapped in velvet.

Even Natsuki stopped joking.

Monika slowly leaned back against the couch.

“...That fits you way too well.”

Kon ya wa tokuni hiekomu ne

Kuuki ga nodo ni haritsuite haritsuite

Haritsumeta kokoro

Nodo ame wa kisu no aji, janai

Yuri closed her eyes slightly while singing.

And the room suddenly felt quieter than before.

Smaller.

Warmer.

Dasai bōshi ni kakushite densha ni notta

Mainichi maiban

Betsuni tōku e ikenakute mo ii

Saikin wa

Sayori whispered dramatically toward {{user}}:

“She sings like somebody waiting at a train station in the rain.”

“...I heard that,” Yuri replied immediately mid beat, then going back.

“Keep singing!”

Asayake no iro ga hageshii ne

Tōku no hō de toritachi ga

Toritachi ga robotto ni tomaru

Konaida mita anime wa raburetaa

Natsuki slowly picked up the tambourine.

This time gently tapping along to the rhythm.

Not mocking.

Actually supporting her.

Tabekake no momo o

Wasureta mama utau ai o

Monika lowered her eyes slightly.

“...The lyrics are painfully relatable.”

Natsuki pointed immediately.

“You are NOT allowed to relate to devastating anime songs.”

“Too late.”

Dasai bōshi ni kakushite densha ni notta

Mainichi maiban

Betsuni tōku e ikenakute mo ii

Saikin wa

Sabishikunai

By the end of the song the booth sat in soft silence again.

Then Monika slowly stood up.

Sayori gasped dramatically.

“Oh no.”

“She’s got theater kid posture.”

Monika smirked faintly.

“You’ve all survived emotional damage.”

“Now you suffer psychic damage.”

Monika stepped into the center of the karaoke booth the second the instrumental for Senpai Notice Me started playing.

Pink and blue neon lights flashed across the room while she fixed her posture like she was about to perform on a real stage instead of inside a cramped booth full of soda cups and snack wrappers.

At first—

She genuinely tried taking it seriously.

“There he is, my one and only senpai~”

She pointed directly toward {{user}} with perfect idol confidence.

Then grabbed the second microphone herself for the backup line.

“Say hi to senpai~”

Natsuki immediately started laughing while Monika stubbornly kept going.

“He’s my future boyfriend, he just doesn’t know it yet~”

“Spring it on, senpai~”

Sayori was already wheezing into Yuri’s shoulder while Yuri tried very hard to remain composed.

“I’d tell him all my feelings, All the thoughts I’ve been concealing~

But it sounds so unappealing That I sweat a lot...”

Monika dramatically wiped fake sweat from her forehead.

Natsuki immediately grabbed the backup microphone.

“Every day my favorite subject’s senpai~”

“A-PLUS AT SENPAI.”

“I could sit and study him For hours at a time~”

“Sounds kinda boring.”

Monika finally cracked a grin.

Then the room slowly descended into complete chaos.

“His eyes, his hair, His derrière, It’s crazy and yet I don’t care~”

Yuri quietly stood up.

Took the third microphone.

Closed her eyes.

And suddenly sang like she was performing dramatic opera in a cathedral.

“DERRIÈÈÈÈÈÈÈRE~”

The booth exploded instantly.

Natsuki physically folded into herself laughing.

Sayori slid halfway off the couch.

Monika stumbled backward into the table laughing too hard to stay composed.

Even Yuri was smiling now.

“Who is that cute little student there And why’s she touching his arm?!”

Natsuki immediately started freestyle-rapping over the instrumental.

“Possessive. Obsessive. Emotionally aggressive.”

Sayori suddenly grabbed the fourth microphone.

Everyone expected singing.

Instead—

“hur hur hur hur hur hur hur hur~”

Silence.

Monika stared at her mid-song while Yuri bent over laughing into her sleeve.

Sayori proudly continued beatboxing Freddy Fazbear noises into the microphone like it was completely normal.

“If she puts moves on my senpai Then I’ll have to cause her harm~”

Natsuki pointed dramatically while continuing to rap over the beat.

“Your honor she’s unstable. Remove her from the table.”

“Maybe I should clean up this body Or just dump it into the trash~”

Sayori added funky Freddy beatboxing underneath the murder lyrics.

“hur hur hur hur—”

Monika physically bent over laughing before forcing herself to continue.

“Senpai could never love her ‘Cause we’re such a perfect match~”

She pointed proudly at herself.

“Healthy attachment style.”

All three girls immediately yelled over her.

“NO.”

Then the chorus hit.

And somehow everyone joined in at once.

“Everywhere that he goes, I’ll be there and he won’t know~”

“HE DEFINITELY KNOWS.”

“hur hur-hur hur hur.”

“SENPAIIIIIIII~”

The combination of Natsuki’s aggressive rap adlibs, Sayori’s Freddy beatboxing and Yuri’s full opera harmonies sounded genuinely catastrophic.

And somehow beautiful.

“Am I mad? Maybe so, But I love to sniff his clothes~”

The entire booth completely lost composure.

Monika was literally laughing through the lyrics now while Natsuki collapsed against the couch wheezing.

“Then I’ll make him agree, He’s my blushing boy-to-be~”

Sayori immediately pointed at {{user}}.

“THAT’S YOU.”

Natsuki started beat-rapping against the table.

“Boy’s getting emotionally hunted.”

Meanwhile Yuri continued harmonizing like she belonged in an opera house.

“BLUSHING BOOOOY-TO-BEEEEEE~”

Monika grabbed Yuri’s shoulder laughing while trying to stay upright.

“Kokona keeps gazing at my senpai~”

“DON’T LOOK AT SENPAI.”

“Maybe I should follow her And have a friendly chat~”

“doesn’t sound friendly~”

“hur hur hur-hur.”

Monika physically doubled over laughing before continuing the next verse.

“I promise not to hurt her, Just to frame her for a murder~”

Yuri dramatically harmonized behind her like somebody announcing tragedy in a theater.

“MURDERRRRRRR~”

Natsuki pointed at Yuri immediately while laughing too hard to breathe.

“You sound like a haunted violin.”

Then came the dramatic section.

Monika planted one foot onto the couch dramatically and BELTED the line with everything she had.

“IS THIS FATE?

IS THIS STRESS?

IS THIS YANDERE DURESS?!”

Yuri harmonized behind her like a cathedral choir.

Natsuki rapped over the instrumental.

Sayori somehow kept beatboxing Freddy Fazbear noises in rhythm.

It sounded like four completely different performances happening simultaneously.

And nobody wanted it to stop.

Then the bridge arrived.

Civilization ended instantly.

“SENPAI DRANK THIS DRINK—!”

“LEMONADE I THINK.”

“SENPAI ATE THIS FRUIT—!”

“JUST A BITE OR TWOOO~”

“hur hur hur hur.”

“SENPAI BLEW HIS NOSE—!”

“That’s a little grosssssssss~”

“SENPAI WORE THIS BATHING SUIT—!”

“THAT’S A LITTLE WEIRD.”

“SENPAI CALLED THIS PHONE—!”

“YOU JUST TOOK HER PHOOOONE~”

“hur hur hur.”

“SENPAI SHAVED HIS HAIR—!”

“BUT IT’S NOT FROM THEREEEEEEEE~”

At this point Monika was actually crying laughing while trying to sing.

The girls kept bumping into each other in the tiny booth.

Sayori almost fell directly into Monika.

Monika grabbed Yuri to stay balanced.

Natsuki was fully standing on the couch rapping nonsense over the instrumental.

And somehow the whole thing stopped being just Monika’s performance.

It became everyone’s.

Nobody was embarrassed anymore.

Nobody was holding back.

Not Yuri.

Not Natsuki.

Not Sayori.

Not even Monika.

By the final chorus they were all singing together.

Messily.

Loudly.

Perfectly.

“DON’T YOU WAVE,

DON’T YOU STARE,

DON’T YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON’T CARE—”

Natsuki layered rapid-fire rap adlibs underneath the chorus.

Yuri carried dramatic harmonies over everyone else.

Sayori inserted ridiculous Freddy beatboxing between lyrics.

And Monika laughed through half the lines while still giving the performance everything she had.

Then together—

Like a choir collapsing in real time—

“I’M NOT LOVESICK,

I JUST WANT TO SEEEEEEEEE—

SENPAI NOTICE MEEEEEEEEEEE~”

The final note echoed through the karaoke booth.

Then everyone immediately collapsed into each other laughing and panting.

Natsuki was clutching her stomach.

Sayori was still quietly doing:

“hur... hur hur hur...”

Yuri had completely abandoned trying to hide her laughter.

And Monika—

Hair messy.

Face flushed.

Actually out of breath from laughing and singing too hard—

Looked happier than she had all night.

Then slowly...

Still panting slightly...

She picked up the final microphone.

Walked over to {{user}}.

Placed it into their hand.

The others lined up beside her instinctively.

Holding hands.

Taking exaggerated stage bows like they’d just performed for a sold-out stadium crowd.

And Monika smiled softly.

“Your turn, superstar.”

Graduation: The Last Train Home

Graduation day arrived quietly.

Too quietly.

After everything.

After the poems. The panic attacks. The fireworks. The sleepovers. The mall fights. The karaoke nights. The camping trip. The arguments that nearly broke them apart. And the strange miracle that somehow brought them back together again.

It ended beneath clear blue skies and falling cherry blossoms.

The auditorium was packed.

Parents. Teachers. Students pretending not to cry. Cameras flashing every few seconds.

And standing at the podium—

Was Monika.

She adjusted the microphone slowly.

For once...

She actually looked nervous.

“Four years is a strange amount of time.”

The room quieted.

“It’s long enough to completely change as a person.”

“Long enough to lose people.”

“Long enough to hurt people.”

“Long enough to become somebody you never thought you’d become.”

Her eyes drifted toward the Literature Club.

Yuri sat properly with her hands folded. Natsuki slouched despite the formal clothes. Sayori waved instantly the second Monika looked over.

Monika laughed softly.

“And somehow...”

“...it’s still way too short.”

The audience chuckled quietly.

“I think everybody here spent years worrying about the future.”

“About adulthood.”

“About getting everything right.”

She paused.

“But honestly?”

“I think the moments we remember most are usually the stupid ones.”

Natsuki snorted loudly from her chair.

“The moments your friends embarrass you.”

“The moments things go horribly wrong.”

“The moments somebody almost burns down a public park with illegal fireworks.”

Sayori proudly pointed at herself.

“That was ME.”

The principal looked genuinely concerned.

Monika smiled wider.

“My point is...”

“...temporary things still matter.”

Only a few people understood why that sentence hurt.

“And no matter where life takes us after this...”

“I think the people we loved stay with us forever.”

Silence filled the auditorium.

Soft. Heavy.

Monika lowered her head slightly.

“...Thank you.”

The applause felt endless.

---

Outside the school grounds exploded into noise.

Photos. Families. Students screaming each other’s names. Graduation caps flying into the sky.

---

The Literature Club gathered together near the front steps for one last picture.

---

Natsuki immediately jumped mid-photo.

“I WANNA LOOK TALL.”

“You are currently airborne,” Yuri replied.

“That COUNTS.”

---

FLASH.

For one perfect second...

Everyone looked happy.

Truly happy.

---

Then—

A familiar black-haired girl from the pool party awkwardly approached them.

“Oh— uh— congratulations everyone...”

Natsuki immediately stuck out her hand.

“WAIT.”

“I’M FINALLY GONNA LEARN YOUR NAME.”

The girl opened her mouth—

And Sayori instantly burst between them.

“WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE CLUBROOM!”

“...Sayori.”

“MEMORIES AWAIT.”

“You interrupted her AGAIN.”

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.”

Even the mystery girl looked impressed at the dedication to the joke.

Eventually the gowns were returned.

The ceremony ended.

And the five of them wandered the school halls one last time.

Empty classrooms.

Sunlight through dusty windows.

The rooftop staircase.

The vending machine Natsuki once assaulted for stealing her coins.

The hallway where Yuri and Natsuki first laughed together.

The corridor where Sayori cried quietly alone.

The Literature Club room.

Monika stopped outside the door.

Silent.

Then—

BOOM.

Her fist slammed directly into the wall.

A crater split through the concrete.

Everyone froze.

Monika’s shoulders trembled.

“...Why does this ALWAYS happen?”

Her voice cracked.

“We finally get peace and then it’s OVER.”

“We finally become happy and there’s never enough TIME.”

She hit the wall again.

Smaller this time.

“Even in this universe...”

“...we barely got an epilogue together.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Yuri stepped forward first.

“...Life is short, Monika.”

Natsuki crossed her arms quietly.

“That’s just the natural order.”

Then Sayori hugged her.

Immediately. Tightly.

“It’s okay.”

Monika shook slightly.

Sayori smiled softly.

“Besides...”

“...technically this whole franchise only got this big because of you anyway.”

Monika froze.

“...What?”

Sayori blinked.

“...Hm?”

Like she forgot what she even meant.

But Monika understood.

Of course she did.

Eventually they walked outside together.

Toward the cherry blossom tree.

Petals drifted softly around them.

The same place everything truly began.

Sayori stretched across the grass dramatically.

“I met Monika because she looked responsible.”

Monika snorted.

“That was your first mistake.”

Yuri quietly opened her poetry book.

“...I originally viewed Natsuki as an aggressive raccoon.”

Natsuki looked HORRIFIED.

“WHAT.”

Yuri adjusted her sleeve calmly.

“However...”

“...I would now willingly suffer any gruesome death on her behalf.”

Natsuki turned bright red instantly.

“OKAY CHILL.”

Sayori laughed so hard she rolled sideways into the grass.

Monika sat quietly beneath the blossoms.

Petals landed softly across her shoulders.

And for once...

She allowed herself to stop thinking.

---

Time passed quietly after that.

The sun lowered.

Graduation uniforms disappeared.

Eventually they all changed back into casual clothes one last time.

---

Natsuki leaned quietly against Yuri on the bench.

Comfortably. Without pretending otherwise anymore.

“...Y’know...”

“I kinda wish I had an older sister like you growing up.”

Yuri blinked slowly.

Natsuki looked down.

“Maybe things would’ve been better.”

Yuri stayed silent for a moment.

Then gently rested her head against Natsuki’s.

Monika looked toward Sayori quietly.

“I wish I was more carefree like you.”

“You survived things that should’ve destroyed you and still kept smiling.”

Sayori smiled faintly.

“I almost didn’t.”

The wind softened.

“I really almost took my own life.”

“But...”

She laughed quietly.

“The best part after surviving was Yuri and Natsuki yelling at me.”

Natsuki pointed immediately.

“Because you scared us HALF TO DEATH.”

Sayori smiled warmly.

“And after that...”

“...I realized I never wanted to waste my life again.”

A station announcement echoed nearby.

Their train arrived.

Almost completely empty.

“It doesn’t matter where it goes,” Monika said softly.

Before boarding...

She quietly pulled {{user}} aside.

Her expression softened.

“...Thank you.”

“And...”

“I’m sorry.”

She laughed weakly.

“Even if none of this is technically real...”

“...I mean it.”

Then she looked back toward the others beneath the station lights.

“Yuri ends up happiest, I think.”

“She owns a tiny retro media store full of DVDs, manga and old games.”

“She finally gets to love weird things without people calling her weird for it.”

“And honestly?”

“She secretly becomes rich because of her inheritance.”

---

“Natsuki struggles at first.”

“College hits her hard.”

“But eventually she becomes...”

“...cool.”

“The kind of girl who stands up for everyone.”

“Long hair.”

“Puffy jackets.”

“Arcades after class.”

“She finally lets herself grow up without losing herself.”

---

“Sayori bounces between weird jobs for years.”

“But eventually?”

“She starts an indie game studio.”

“And somehow makes games that accidentally change people’s lives.”

Monika smiled softly.

“And me?”

“As usual...”

“...I’ll probably end up sitting across a table from you again.”

One final “Just Monika.”*

One last time.

Then she returned to the others.

The train hummed softly through the afternoon.

City lights passing outside the windows.

Eventually Sayori fell asleep against Monika’s shoulder.

Natsuki slowly passed out against her other side.

Monika looked completely trapped.

“...I can’t feel my arms.”

Yuri quietly took a picture.

And for the first time in a very long time...

Monika didn’t feel lonely anymore.

The train continued into the night.

Toward futures none of them could fully see yet.

But for once...

That was okay.

And somewhere between the quiet rails, the fading city lights, and the cherry blossoms left behind...

The Literature Club’s story finally came to an end.

Free at last