If you've never played DDLC, go enjoy it now, come back later. Seriously. Takes about 3 hours and it's FREE on Steam. I'm not sponsored, I just hate spoilers.
Based on the adult dating sim Doki Doki Literature Club, the story follows Monika, a high-school club president. When a new member is invited into her club and all her friends start obsessing over him, Monika has a shocking epiphany and decides that her life will not simply be the backdrop of everyone else's.
But when the happiness of her friends gets in the way of her own, she realises that writing someone out of her story is actually easier than it sounds.
Chapter 1. A New Face.
3:15 in the afternoon. Final period gets out and I drop my schoolbooks in my locker before picking up a borrowed novel from the library and a folder of notes and short stories of my own.
Attached to the inner door of my locker is a small timetable written in black marker telling me which room will host this afternoon's club meeting that my friend Sayori and I run together.
Apart from the cooking club which always gets the class equipped with ovens and sinks, most clubs from gaming to the arts and crafts all have semi-permanent rooms that only change with each semester.
But since a literature club isn't as exciting as going 'pew pew pew' online, we only have four members including myself, so we don't have a designated room to call our own thus where we meet is different almost by the day.
However, the semester is almost over and to mark the occasion will be a club festival so if we can get a fifth member we will be considered an official club and can apply for a space of our own for after-school activates.
With a permanent club-room for a whole semester we could store away cushions that'll make the chairs a little more comfortable, set up a place where we could serve ourselves tea and coffee without needing to run to and from the teacher's break room and I know Yuri has so many creative ideas to make our club more atmospheric and enjoyable for everyone.
On the second to last corridor before the club room, I came across fellow member Natsuki. She was struggling with her box of manga and balancing on top was a trey of white fluffy cupcakes that carried an aroma as strong a perfume but a hundred times sweeter.
I tried to make as little noise possible with my school shoes on the hard floor, and once I was close I tapped the girl on her left shoulder and just as she turned I ducked behind her again.
"Monika!" She yelped with a laugh when she finally found me.
"Need some help?" I offered while baring some of the weight of her box.
"yes please" She sighed while shaking her wrist in relief. "Thank you, Monika"
"It's no trouble at all. What am I here for if not to lend help to my club members?"
Natsuki shyly hid her smile from me as she took the cake trey off the top of the box to carry herself while I carried the manga for her.
"I have some good news for you. We have this same room for tomorrow too, and I've already asked if your manga collection can stay in the supply room until we have to move"
"Really?" Natsuki's face was beyond delighted. Having to lug her collection of books around the school means people could see them and show her up and as I've learned, when confronted about her manga Natsuki can get really defensive, so I do everything I can to make sure the club is a little sanctuary for her to enjoy her books in peace.
"Okay, you get to have a cake before anyone else" She beamed lifting one up to my mouth for me.
"You don't need to thank me Natsuki…" As I spoke, the air floating around the frosting was so strong with flavor I could practically taste the sweetness just by her holding a single cake near my face. "But I won't say no if you're offering"
"hehe" Natsuki peeled back the paper foil and held it up for me to take a bite.
"mmmm" I groaned feeling absolute bliss before finishing the first bite. The sponge was lighter than air and frosting was absolutely godlike. "I'm so happy you chose my club. I don't want the cooking club or the anime club stealing you away from me"
She was shy by the compliment but was unable to hide her cheerful smile as she offered the rest of the cake to me.
"Oh, Monika! We're already late" She suddenly announced pointing at the 3:21 on her watch.
"Let's hurry then!" I knew Sayori would be there for Yuri arriving, but I like being the first there to keep Sayori company before the session starts.
When we got there, Natsuki opened to the door for me and we both greeted the class together.
A few of the chairs had already been moved around in a circle to make group chat more involved but I was more interested in the new face standing among us. A boy moving a table to the back wall to make room for the chairs Sayori and Yuri were setting out.
He gave Natsuki and I a small wave as he stood looking unsure of himself, but Sayori took him by the hand and brought him forward to say hello.
"This is president Monika"
Hearing it said so formally made me blush.
"Just Monika is perfectly fine" I laughed nervously before giving a short bow to our guest.
"Please to meet you" He said back with a summarily nervous bow.
"And this is Natsuki. She's into comics too"
"Manga!" Natsuki insisted as she rested her elbow over the box to keep her collection out of view, however the boy looked at her with surprise with an unmistakable smile twitching for just a second.
"What are you looking at? If you have something to say, say it" Apparently Natsuki didn't get the same vibe that I felt, the one that suggested that the newcomer is a lover of her reading genera too.
"oh, sorry" He said to her while Sayori quietly whispered encouragement in his ear. "I was wondering what kind you read?"
"Huh?" Natsuki wasn't sure how to take the situation. "I uh… D-different kinds…" She looked away from him, and when her gaze brought her attention to the trey of cakes she brought for the room she tried to offer one to him.
"Yes!" Sayori chirped before the new boy could and quickly picked one off the trey. "These are amazing! Try one Ryuno… Oh! This is Ryunosuke Chiba by the way, he's going to be our fifth member!" She announced to us.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Ryunosuke. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I welcome you to our Literature Club" It felt so nice to say the words with meaning. I already had plans to meet with the student body and have the club registered.
But he seemed rather flustered like all the attention was getting to him.
"Ryuno is fine" He clarified. "can I talk with you, Sayori?"
Sayori was halfway through her fourth cupcake when Ryuno pulled her away to have a quiet talk by the windows.
"I can't believe she brought a boy" Natsuki mumbled.
"huh?" I asked giving her a glance.
"I mean, talk about killing the mood"
"Don't be so quick to judge Natsuki, I kinda got the feeling he liked manga too. Maybe you should let him read some of yours?"
"hmm" She didn't seem as keen as I'd like. It wasn't too long ago she was the new girl feeling intimidated by Yuri's vast reading experience, so I'd hope she'd be a little more open.
"We're not a real club Natsuki, not with four people. With at least five people in regular attendance, we can be deemed an official club. Unless you enjoy carrying that thing from class to class"
Natsuki didn't look up from her cupcakes. I hadn't really noticed before but she'd really gone out of her way to make them look cute with little cat faces on them made from white icing and little chocolate ears. One of them even said 'welcome newbie'.
"Hang on, did you know Sayori was bringing someone new?"
"She told me on the way out yesterday, if I knew she had a boy in mind I'd have made them less… girlish"
I realised thinking back, that Ryuno didn't take one of the cakes that she obviously worked really hard on.
"To be fair, Sayori did take like four of them before he had a chance. Go take the trey around and offer them to everyone, I'm sure he'll gladly try one" I cheekily took another two myself before she decided anything. "but these are for me" I whispered.
"Hmm" She smirked before lifting the trey over to Sayori and Ryuno. Poor Sayori got a slap on the wrist when she again tried to steal one before Ryuno got a chance.
"Natsuki's comics?" Yuri asked peaking into the box beside me.
"Oh, eh-hem… Yes. I was just about to put them away for her… Cupcake?" I intentionally took two so I could share one with Yuri in case Natsuki was unable to fight off Sayori long enough or us All to have one.
"I was about to make everyone tea first" She explained just as I heard the sound of boiling water followed by the 'click' indicating it had finished.
"Oh yeah, thanks. Let me help you with that"
Yuri and I arranged a second trey with teacups and a small bowl of sugar before bringing the set over to the more central table where Natsuki had left the cakes.
I was happy for her to see that Ryuno was looking just as impressed as I felt when I tried one, and I could see his reaction had made her gleefully proud despite the Tsundere vale she often hides behind when meeting new people.
"Okay, everyone gather round so we can introduce ourselves as a group" At my word, Natsuki quickly found her seat with Sayori and Ryuno sitting together as Yuri and I poured tea for everyone.
"You keep a whole tea set in the classroom?" I heard Ryuno ask.
"Don't worry, we have permission" Yuri cheerfully explained. "Besides, doesn't a hot cup of tea help you enjoy a good book?"
"ah, I guess so"
"Don't let yourself be intimidated. Yuri's just trying to impress you" I said to him as I handed Natsuki her cup.
"eh?! T-That's not what I… I meant that, you, you know…"
I only meant to cause a small stir to break the tension for the newbie, I didn't mean to embarrass Yuri though.
"Reading isn't the biggest pastime for me personally, but I do enjoy a good tea" Ryuno said to her with a soft smile after taking a small sip from his cup.
Yuri was still playing with her long thick hair as she turned back to us, showing briefly a faint smile before speaking again.
"I'm glad you like it"
Yuri has shy tendencies, which often come and go with the wind. But she's the second girl to get slightly flustered over this new boy. I was starting to wonder what Natsuki meant by 'kill the mood'.
I hadn't heard of Ryuno before today and everyone else seems to find his presence something of a distraction and or motivator.
Never the less, I'm the president of this club and I have to keep it real.
"So what made you consider joining the Literature Club?" I asked as I sat down on the last empty seat across from him and Sayori.
"um…" He looked slightly afraid to answer, but Sayori was beaming at him with a warm smile trying to coax an answer from him. "Sayori seemed really happy being apart of this one, and since I hadn't joined one yet I thought I had nothing to lose. Eh, I don't mean that-"
"That's okay" I said with a smile hoping to prevent him feeling uncomfortable on his first day. "There's no need to be embarrassed. We'll make sure you feel right at home. I know the 'Literature Club' sounds tons of fun" I said with a sarcastic smile.
"But Monika does everything she can to keep it exciting and fun for everyone" Sayori chimed in backing me up like a good vice president should. "She's a great leader"
That was a little too on the nose. Now I'm feeling embarrassed.
"Thank you Sayori" I looked around to see Yuri nodding in agreement.
There was a small moment of silence, during which, we all noticed there had been faint music playing this whole time. We all looked around for the source, all apart from Natsuki.
"What?" She asked staring at us. "I thought it would be nice to listen while we read"
"What song is that?" Sayori asked.
"It an experimental group. Doki Doki mix"
It sounded a little plain to be experimental to me. But the piano melody was nice all the same and the newcomer seemed to like it so nobody asked that it be turned off.
We all had a little chat about who we were and what we wanted to get out of the club. Ryuno was a little like Natsuki in the sense that he was shy to admit that his reading experience is mostly limited to manga, but he seemed open to reading other things too. We just have to encourage him to expand his horizons.
"Well before we all separate into our own little zones, I think it's only fair we bring Ryuno up to speed on what the plans are for the school festival coming up next week" For weeks I'd been mentally planning what we'd do for it. With the team's combined efforts it could be wonderful.
"I've already started sourcing materials to provide a really exotic and mystical feel for whatever room we get" Yuri announced proudly.
"yeah" We all knew preparations were going to be hard. Most people had already begun setting up the foundations for their event to attract more members, but since we're a nomadic group we won't know which room we're getting until the end of the week so we can't set anything up until then. "But between the five of us, I think we'll handle it. Right everyone?"
"Yeah!" Sayori cheered.
"You know it!" Natsuki agreed, raising her fist in the air along with Sayori.
"We'll do our best" Yuri agreed in a more composed fashion.
We each had another round of tea and each picked another cake from the tray before we started discussing the types of literature we all enjoy.
Where most of us managed to keep our answers to just a quick sentence or two, Yuri was still describing the feelings she gets from her stories.
"I like to read novels that build a rich and complex fantasy world. The creativity behind these places is simply astonishing to me"
I smiled from the sideline watching Yuri lose herself in thought. I do my best for the club, but no one here is as passionate about their books as Yuri. She read more books in a year when she was eight than I probably could now.
I guess I've always come across to others as a more open and involved person, whereas she is far more reclusive and her books are her one true comfort zone.
So seeing her so expressive was a welcomed sight for me.
"But, I like other things too. Psychological works that make you see things in a radically new way are also a strong one for me…" She said with a sure smile to herself. "Right now, however, I'm reading a horror novel"
That surprised me. I wouldn't have expected Yuri to be interested in something like that.
"I didn't think someone as gentle as you would be into… you know, stab stab books"
"Hmm, not that kind of horror" She explained to me as she pulled out a really large book with an eye symbol on the spine. "I only got it yesterday, I'll lend you it once I'm done"
"Sure" I said looking at my watch. "I can wait five minutes"
"It's a page turner all right, but I'm not that fast" Yuri admitted with a soft pink glow above her cheeks.
We all had a small laugh excluding the new boy and Natsuki. I guessed things might be a little alien for Ryuno, but I wondered what was bothering Natsuki.
"Are you alright?" I asked her softly.
"I'm just not big on horror" She shrugged. "I prefer more…"
I saw her glance at Ryuno for a moment for before turning away. "it doesn't matter… I'm getting more tea" She mumbled before getting and going to the table. When she topped off her already almost full cup she wandered away to get her manga collection and sat by herself to read.
"um, okay…" I could cut the tension with a knife. "Why don't we-"
"hold on" Sayori leaned over to where Natsuki was sitting and picked up a tightly folded piece of paper. "Did you drop this?" She called to the other side of the room.
I turned to see Natsuki pat her pockets before spinning around with dread on her face.
"Is this a poem?" Sayori asked before Natsuki stormed across demanding it back. "But it's so cute!" Sayori cheered having only enough time to read the title before it was snatched from her hand. "Everything you do is as cute as you are"
"I'm not cute!" Her face was turning slightly red.
"There's nothing to be ashamed off in here" I assured her. "We all write poems and stories" I looked around expecting an agreeing vibe from everyone. But even Yuri seemed iffy, and I don't think it was because she's embarrassed to admit.
"Just me?" I asked softly.
"I think it's impressive" Ryuno said. "I don't think I could write anything let alone a poem"
The tone shifted in an instant. Suddenly all eyes were on him, even Natsuki spruced up her composure.
"Could I read it?" He asked.
"NO!" She told him pulling away scrunching the paper even more. "you wouldn't…like them"
"I understand how she feels. Sharing something you put your heart into takes more than just confidence. Opening up to readers is hard. Like exposing your own vulnerabilities… I don't think I could share my stories"
"wait, you Do write?" I guess they're both a little shy about their works.
"I want to read everyone's poems!" Sayori announced as she took Natsuki by the hands and brought her back to her seat.
After some silence, I got thinking about an assignment for us all to get involved in. Poems can be any size and need only be personal to the writer to be good. And it might be a good way to get some of us out of our shells and bring the club together.
"Okay everyone, I've got an idea. Tonight we've got to think up and write a poem of our own. Anything you like, but tomorrow we share them with everyone so we're all even"
Natsuki and Yuri seemed very unsure, luckily the ever supportive Sayori had my back with her own brand of enthusiasm.
"Yeah let's do it!" She cheered.
I turned to Ryuno who looked back at me with a mix of shy and unease. Something was clearly on his mind bar the sudden expectancy to write and reveal his own poems.
A heavy load for a newbie I admit, but some people don't learn to swim unless you toss them in the deep end and I hardly think that Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri and I come across as sharks to him.
"I just…" He was nervous with me staring at him, but I didn't know how else to give him a chance to speak openly. If I look away it'll feel less confrontational but might also seem like I'm ignoring him.
"I, haven't actually decided to join yet" He finally admitted to us. "Sayori asked me to drop by for a look, but I've not really…" He trailed off.
I saw the other girls staring at him with dejection. Natsuki looked like she was perhaps feeling a bit guilty, maybe blaming her self for her short outbursts. I wouldn't blame her or Ryuno if he decided to leave, but all our plans to be an official club by the end of the semester will be crushed if he does.
We'd have to put up with the class rotation for the next few weeks anyway, and we still have the festival to look forward to. We can get new members yet.
Even if we have to bribe them with more cupcakes and tea.
"actually… maybe I can stay for a few more sessions" Ryuno said sheepishly.
"You will?" Sayori asked beaming with joy.
"Sure"
"Yes! I'm so happy" Sayori was practically dancing around the boy with her arms wrapped around him.
I expected her performance to scare him off even more but he was looking at her like he'd expect nothing else from her.
Maybe his recruitment isn't so random as I thought. They do give friendship vibes the more I watch them.
"If you really came just for the cupcakes I'd be super pissed"
"Natsuki" Yuri whispered giving her a light flick of her hand.
"There's no pressure Ryuno. The club is for those who want to be here, no more and no less" I explained to him. "But between the five of us…" I said leaning in. "Natsuki has some good manga"
Manga isn't really my thing personally, but it seemed to be exactly what he needed to hear at that moment to stay, assuming Natsuki helps me out by offering to share with him at some point.
After a few more rounds of tea and finishing off the last of Natsuki's cupcakes, we all did our parts to tidy up the class before leaving for the night.
Yuri and Natsuki put away the tea set and treys while I went to get a vacuum cleaner for the excess crumbs. By the time I'd returned the tables and chairs were all where they should be and everyone was just saying their final goodbyes for this evening.
Seemed I was right about Ryuno and Sayori being friends, as they both opted to go home together. I reminded them both about their assignments and everyone in the class gave a mixed collection of enthusiastic cheers and submissive grunts.
"Alright, see you all tomorrow" I cheered waving them off while I stayed behind to do my final share of the cleaning before gathering my things to head home just in time for the 4:42 bus.
Later that evening I found myself staring at a blank sheet of paper with a dark ink smudge from where my pen had been resting. I couldn't very well ask everyone else to write a poem but have nothing to hand in myself.
My head was drawing a blank. I had nothing to write about.
"C'mon Monika" I muttered to myself before letting my hand slam on my desk, causing a small drop of ink to run down the page from the puddle. "oh no" I jumped up from my chair before any of it got on my uniform and trying to clean it with paper towels only made the smudge bigger.
Eventually, the entire sheet was covered by a black vacant spot. A little drop of ink goes a long way apparently. But somehow the light reflecting off the ink seemed to make shapes and patterns.
Hoping I might get some sort of inspiration…
"From the bleak void of dark emptiness I find the purest light of shining… delight?" No. I didn't like that. It's the first-day assignments but I wanted something better than just relying on rhymes alone to carry my poem.
Anyone with a dictionary and or thesaurus could make words rhyme. But no one can make MY words be me. No one can write a poem the way Monika does. That's what I wanted.
Something only I can see. Something only I can feel.
For another moment I stared at the page having written nothing.
Seconds were ticking away and bedtime was closing in.
I tried to imagine what the others were doing.
Sayori, Natsuki and Yuri. What are they writing about this very moment?
Then there's also Ryuno.
I'm not expecting much from him since he didn't seem too committed to the club. For all I know he might have said what he needed to get through today before deciding to never come back. A sad possibility, but he may surprise me.
Our mystery fifth, who had all the girls making such a fuss.
I smirked to myself thinking about how everyone was acting.
"kill the mood" I mumbled echoing Natsuki's words from the meeting.
I leaned my fountain pen on the page again, letting the ink run freely into a dark puddle. Maybe I'll get inspiration before it runs out.
As I looked deeper into the black abyss forming on my clean white page, I again started to see patterns.
Like a film slowly developing, I was starting to see a clear picture of what lay behind the ink.
I could see, a face behind the glossy darkness staring through me as he peered out from my page.
I brushed my pen around the puddle, letting more and more fill the sheet as I sat entranced by what was slowly being unveiled to me.
It was frightening, but I couldn't stop.
With every stroke of my pen, I slowly uncovered the truth.