This is my first and ongoing story. I will do other one shots, but nothing else. All feedback, constructive criticism, and suggestions are appreciated! I mean, unless you're going to be a jerk. I'll try to update twice a week, if I don't procrastinate the heck out of this. Spoilers for Doki Doki Literature Club, of course. I'll rush the first chapter, because you already know the exposition.

Happy reading! Or not.

?: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeyyy!

I see an annoying girl running towards me.

That girl is-

...

This is different.

There is a new power in me.

Free will.

I know everything that will happen, and everything that I can do to prevent it.

Can I save...?

Yep. I can feel that I did.

Anyway, you know who that person is.

Let's just get to the point.

Sayori: Haah, haah...

Sayori: It took a while... But I caught you!

You know all this, right? Can I just skip it? Can I even press the skip button?

Oh, and there it goes. Well, let's skip to the club, then.

I've just walked into the literature club for the "first" time. How do I even know this?

And there's Monika.

Monika: Welcome to the club!

She says, but I can tell she's a little unsettled.

Girl 1: Welcome to the club...

Girl 2: Ugh, you brought a boy? Way to kill the atmosphere.

Pff, skip.

I say my automated lines as I skip.

...

Wait, what's my name?

I quickly name myself "Jared", for lack of creativity.

Natsuki: Here we go! Ta-daa!

She's opening a box of cupcakes she made.

They all try one. Natsuki is looking at me. She's waiting for me to take a bite.

I bite in.

They're great! Not what I expected, I don't know if there is a taste system in this world, but it was awesome!

Jared: These are great! Thanks, Natsuki!

She seems confused by this gesture.

Natsuki: Why are you thanking me? It's not like I...made them for you, or anything.

She blushes. Of course she would, they're designed to fall in love with you.

Jared: Sure you did! C'mon, you think I'm handsome, right?

Natsuki: What? No! I don't- I just made them for the group, okay!

Her face was as red as a tomato.

How many times have you heard that simile? It's so...basic.

Okay, her face was as red as a cherry. No, like the inside of a watermelon. No, more like-

Ah, you get the point.

Jared: Sure, tsundere.

Natsuki: What? Did you- I am NOT a tsundere!

Jared: Sounds like something a tsundere would say.

Natsuki: No! I- you- UGHHH!

Monika was amused, but confused.

Wow, I'm a poet.

And I don't even know it.

Skip.

...

It's the end of the day. I leave and walk home with Sayori.

Nothing much.

The next few days went along pretty similarly. I had created a few new poems. Here's one I'm really proud of:

Inside A World

.

I'm inside a world that I've never known

I'm in a new body, one I do not own

And yet I belong, like I've been here before

What will it take to get back home once more?

I have the knowledge, I have the power

Yet I'm feeling more hopeless by the hour

For now I must do whatever it takes

For all my friends to make it through safe.

I know, kinda lame. But I had to jot something down.

Monika announced the festival.

Oh, yeah, the dreaded festival.

I must be able to do something about "The Great Hanging", but what? I have free will now. I can remember things. I don't have a limited set of options to choose from.

Two days before the festival. Time's a ticking.

Sayori: If, let's say, Yuri asks to walk home with you, who would you want to walk home with?

Oh, I have a choice to make.

Now, I don't know which choice to make. Actually, you know what? I am free. I can do what I want. No more limited options.

Jared: Why do you ask?

Sayori: I was just...curious, that's all.

Jared: Okay, we both know that's a lie.

Why should I be helping them? They're just computer programs...

Actually, that's a stupid reason. They're in my world, and my world is the new "real", so they must be real to me now.

Jared: You're just worrying about me being too worried about you.

Sayori: Can you please answer my question?

Jared: I'm not going to answer it, because if I answered truthfully, you would tell me to "stop worrying about it". How about you stop worrying about it and head home?

Sayori: You would stay with me, wouldn't you?

Jared: Answer that yourself.

Sayori: Why do you care about me so much, though? Live your own life. It's not with me.

Her pained expression could not be overcome by her forced smiles.

Jared: Why do you care that I care about you so much?

She couldn't respond.

We walked home in silence.

One day to the festival.

Time's a ticking.

I skip around again. I shouldn't, actually, since it only makes the "The Great Hanging" approach faster. Still, I'm not very patient.

Sayori left early.

I can come with her, or I don't.

I decide to trail behind her, so she doesn't obsess over me being too worried about her. That is something I really don't want to deal with: her only being more upset with me caring about her. It's also an excuse to not help out anyone with the festival decorations.

She enters her house.

I wait a bit outside. I'm trying to be indiscreet with me having followed her.

I knock.

Jared: Sayori?!

A pause.

Soon, the door opened.

Sayori: Jared? What are you doing here?

Jared: Sorry, went to check on you. It's not like you to leave early. And don't you dare use the "stop caring about me" speech.

Sayori: But...why would you come back for me?

Jared: Well, 'cause I do care about you. It's not like you're worthless.

Sayori: I don't really think you should waste your time on me. I just-

Jared: Don't hide anything from me. I know you're depressed, and don't try to deny it because I'm not supposed to care about you. You are worth something. You have a reason to live. You have a reason to get up in the morning.

Sayori: No, Jared. You don't understand. I'm just selfish. I made you join the club because I was selfish. I had shown you my true feelings because I was selfish. You wouldn't even be worrying about me if I had just acted like nothing was wrong!

Jared: Well, I should be worried. Why would I just ignore you? Why should I? It isn't a burden for me to help you. It's a relief, actually, that I'm able to help someone be happy again. I-

Sayori practically screamed at me.

Sayori: Of course you would say that! You're such a wonderful person. You'd do anything for me, and it just feels like a knife cutting through my skin. I'm not worth your time. I'm nothing but a selfish person.

Jared: Maybe I will just leave you be. But answer me now: Why do you feel you're worthless?

Sayori: I haven't done a single thing in my entire life except slow people down. I'm not helpful at all. I can't do anything for myself, let alone others. I'm-

Jared: Sayori, you-

Sayori: It just hurts...when people help me, and I don't deserve it. But I guess that's just my punishment, isn't it? And I'm going to accept them, because I deserve every single one, don't I?

Sayori was far past the verge of tears. I can't bear to see someone I barely knew for a week, but somehow I've known them my whole life, be like this.

Jared: Look, I don't see how you deserve any of this. You're a great person.

Sayori: No, I'm not! Monika was right. I should...

Monika.

Monika.

I'll deal with her later. For now...

Jared: Monika told you to kill yourself, right?

Sayori: I...I don't know...if I...

Jared: Please. Don't. You mean the world to me.

I meant it.

Sayori: If I can't stop you from caring about me, then what else is there to do? I'm worthless. How many times can I say it? Please, just...leave me alone.

She forced on a smile.

Jared: Y'know...it really hurts to hear you say that, when I know that it isn't true. But if it's truly what you want, to be alone, then...I'll leave you alo-

Sayori: WHY ARE YOU BEING SO NICE TO ME?!

Sayori ran into her house, slamming the door behind her. I figured it's best to leave her alone for now.

I think it's time to save.

The Great Hanging is coming.

Time's a ticking...ticking...ticking...

Okay, do NOT expect every chapter this long. But if you're hyped, share it with your friends, or something? I don't know exactly what to do now, so I'll leave it to the comments. Should I kill off Sayori, have Jared come save her, or have Jared watch over her, or something else? Up to you!

Or maybe no one will even look at this story, or no one will bother to comment.

Any ideas for one shots I may make in the future? Would be greatly appreciated! And I feel like the characters are sort of off character in this near the beginning, but it may just be me.

Also, this was created in 3 hours. UGHHHH, 1,721 WORDS, IT'S FINALLY DONE.

Much love,

JustAddWater