The sound of soft knocking shattered the total silence in Sayori's house. Sayori took her earbuds out and lifted her head off the couch, turning her attention to the front door. The window to the right offered a view of the clear orange sky outside. It was rather late, too late for any normal visitors. Not that Sayori ever got visitors much.

Regardless, she wasn't about to turn them away. She yawned, stood up, and stepped over to the door. Once she opened it, she was greeted to the sight of MC, dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans. Her heart skipped a beat, though she was far from upset to see him here.

"Oh, MC!" she greeted lovingly, outstretching her arms to offer a platonic hug. He accepted it, though rather weakly. Sayori briefly wondered if there was something wrong, but her happier thoughts drowned out that worry, for now.

"Yeah," MC said, fidgeting around ever so slightly. "Listen, can we talk in your room? There's something I really need to discuss with you."

There was a rather serious look in MC's eyes, not that Sayori doubted her best friend's words for half a second. Nevertheless, something about that look made her heart sink a bit reflexively. She took a step back, gestured inside, and followed him once he entered.

"I have some cookies somewhere in the kitchen," Sayori offered, always trying to make other people feel better. "Would you like anything?"

MC shook his head, offering her a halfhearted smile. "Nah. I appreciate it, though."

"Are you sure?" Sayori tilted her head. "They're double chocolate chiiiiiiiiiiipppppp~."

MC only shook his head. "I just want to talk," he said. Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, however, he came to an abrupt stop. "This isn't a bad time, is it?"

Sayori shook her head rather rapidly, perhaps too rapidly to seem normal. "No! No! Not at all. You're my best friend, anytime is fine," she assured with a grin.

There was something about Sayori's grins that could make anyone smile, and smile MC did. He entered her room and took a seat on her bed. "Good. I'm sorry for springing this on you, but, er, I don't feel like I have anyone else to turn to."

Sayori tilted her head, giving him a knowing smile as she realized, or at least, thought she realized where his uneasiness was stemming from. "Ah, you need help with a date idea for Monika, do 'ya?"

Ever since MC asked Monika to the Holiday Dance six months ago, the pair had been a happy couple throughout the second half of senior year. It was a tradition for them to have a date night every Saturday, and sometimes, MC would want to take her someplace special, or maybe buy her a small trinket as a gift. Too bad he had no idea what girls like, but it was hard for Sayori to blame a man that tried as much as he did. Anyway, Sayori, the caring best friend she was, always had advice for him when he was out of ideas. Of course, maybe it pained her that he was buying these gifts and having these dates with Monika just a teensy bit.

OK, maybe more than a teensy bit. The truth is, Sayori had crushed on MC for as long as she could remember. She had tried so hard to get his attention during those awkward middle school years, but all her efforts flew right over MC's head. Eventually, those efforts declined until they stopped altogether. The love, however, never faded. That was why she took a special vow: if she couldn't have MC, then that was alright, but she would always be there for him in the way that a best friend could be, and maybe, just maybe if he changed his mind. . .

"Yeah, that's kinda what I want to talk to you about," MC replied rather glumly, jolting Sayori out of her thoughts. "Monika and I, er, well," the words seemed to struggle to leave his throat. He turned his gaze downward. "We're no longer an item."

Sayori's smile faded, her eyes suddenly overcome with a glimmer of genuine concern. "What? MC? What happened?"

"That's why I'm here," MC said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Sayori watched intently as he tapped on his text messages and brought up his most recent conversation with Monika.

"You should read this," he said as he passed her the phone. "The whole thing. I don't want you to hear my story; I want you to hear the story. You know what makes people tick better than I do. Can you tell me what I did wrong?"

And so Sayori did. What she saw was an astronomically long series of text messages between Monika and MC. She scrolled down, noticing that the text messages grew in hostility with each exchange, until Monika's final message simply read:

MC, I'm so sorry, but I just don't think things between us will work out. This scholarship, this school, it means too much for me to give it up. I don't want you to hate me, but I have to do this, for my own sake. Please understand that this has nothing to do with you, but I think it's for the best if we just break up.

The sad realization set in. As selfish as it may have been to think such thoughts, Sayori was honestly surprised that she wasn't happier to hear such news. "So, she just left you? Just like that?"

"Over a text," MC remarked bitterly. "I don't understand, Sayori. I thought we were meant to be. I really thought she was the one. Now, she's leaving me. I guess she has good reason to. Maybe I'd do the same if I was in her shoes, but every time I try to reason to myself, I just can't understand it.

Sayori placed a hand on MC's shoulder. "This wasn't your fault, MC. Please don't blame yourself for something Monika wasn't prepared for."

"Well, when we first got together, I thought everything was going to be so perfect," MC explained. "She truly loved me for who I was, or at least acted like she did. Now, she's not even returning my calls. She won't even try to explain herself to me," a quick, reflexive anger passed over his face, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived. "I feel so hurt by this.

"MC, I-"

MC sighed. "I guess I should have seen this coming," he muttered just loudly enough for Sayori to hear. "Monika's too good for me, and I should have know she was going to leave me from day one," he paused, then drew a deep breath. "Still, it hurts to know that she went all this time, all these months, and then she dropped me without even trying to make it work."

Still behind him, Sayori wrapped her closest friend, her dearest love, in the tightest hug she could muster. With her ear pressed up against his back, she felt the steady beat of his heart. For a heartbeat, it was somewhat slow, almost melancholic.

"I understand your pain, MC," Sayori whispered softly. More than you realize, in fact. "But you should know that this couldn't have been an easy decision for her, either. Monika's never been the type of girl to play with a boy's heart. I think she really loved you, I mean that. It's just. . . Well, life likes to mess with our plans sometimes, you know?" she giggled quietly, a rather weak attempt to make him smile. Of course, it did nothing to lift his spirits.

She wanted more than anything to mend that pain. He had tried so hard to help her when in the fight against depression. He had shown her that she was important, that people cared about her, and that she really mattered to him.

And she loved him. She wanted more than anything for this embrace to last forever. She would have confessed right then and there, but she felt that to be just a little bit selfish, not to mention in poor taste. That was what she told herself, at least. In reality, her own fear of rejection was very real. She knew he cared deeply for her, but did he harbor those same feelings? Sayori doubted that ever since that time she awkwardly tried to hold his hand in 7th grade. She was the girl next door, the childhood friend. The boy hardly ever goes for the childhood friend.

A warm liquid touched Sayori's hand, snapping her out of her own thoughts. She opened her eyes to find MC crying, though he manage to hold back the choking sobs.

"I don't blame her," he said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "All I'd do is get in her way. Girls deserve better than guys like me, all of them do."

Sayori swallowed. She had to say something, for she knew those self-hating thoughts had to be cut off at the roots before they consumed his mind. She settled with a truthful, if vague, statement.

"You know, I bet there's a girl out there willing to give up anything just to be with you," she informed, offering him a sad smile.

For the briefest of moments, he returned it. Through his tears, there was a genuine thankfulness for those words. Ultimately, however, said thankfulness soon returned to despair. His frown returned, and he turned his attention back to the window. Staring out at the dusky skies, it seemed as though he was searching for a sign that such was the case.

"If that's true, then I've probably driven her away already with my relationship with Monika," MC reasoned. "I don't think it is, though."

Sayori sighed, shaking her head. As much as she wanted to tell him the truth, his words affirmed that tonight was simply not the night to know. She didn't want him to think that she was with him out of pity, however untrue that would actually be. In fact, what MC needed now more than anything was some cheering u-

The thought hadn't even finished before a sudden idea sprang into her head. Perhaps there was a way for her to make all of this OK, and she was more than happy to give it a try.

"Hey, MC," she spoke softly as she tapped him on the shoulder.

MC acknowledged her with a wordless, slow nod.

"I know you're sad right now, and I don't want you to be sad," Sayori began, never particularly known for eloquent language. "I think I have some money saved up in my piggy bank. Why don't we go have some fun at Farmland tomorrow?"

MC tilted his head. "Farmland? As in, the amusement park, Farmland? Sayori, no, that's too expensive."

Sayori shrugged. "I don't mind, MC. Besides, we haven't been to Farmland since middle school. Don't you want to ride Barnstorm again? I know I do!"

MC smirked. "You chickened out last time, remember?"

Sayori giggled nervously. "Yeah, that's right. Well, I'm a big girl, now! I think I can take it."

MC's smile remained, though there was still a strange, downtrodden aura about it. He turned away yet again. "Sayori, I don't want you spending so much money on me. Just having you be with me is enough."

Sayori felt her heart skip a bit, and she suddenly became aware of just how warm her cheeks were. He really knew how to make her feel special, even when he didn't realize it. Still, she was determined to make tomorrow his special day. It didn't even matter if he would ever love her like she loved him; all she wanted was to make him happy again, just like he did to her when the rainclouds were too much to deal with alone.

And also, now she really wanted to show him she was brave enough for Barnstorm.

"C'mon, MC," she tried once more. "Let's go tomorrow: No Monika, no drama, and no worries. Let's have fun, let's be kids again just one more time. Please? Pretty please with cinnamon on top!"

MC turned to her, and Sayori deliberately tried to make the cutest pleading face she could muster. It must have worked, because MC ultimately smiled.

"Alright," he sighed. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to have something to take my mind off of Monika. Are you sure you want to spend all this money, though? Tickets cost a lot, you know."

Sayori giggled. "I know, but Mr. Pig has a lot of money in him."

MC chuckled. "Never say it like that again."

"Ha! I got you to laugh!" Sayori declared triumphantly. "That's the spirit, MC."

MC shrugged. "Lucky try."

"Lucky, my foot! Admit it, I gotcha good."

MC's smile grew, and Sayori beamed. He was so precious, so meaningful. Poor Monika, she had no idea what she just gave up. All was silent as the pair stared into each other's eyes, seemingly reminiscing countless childhood memories together. With school over, those simpler times would soon have to come to an end, but they wouldn't tomorrow.

"So, I guess I'll have to get up bright and early to wake you up on time?" MC inquired with just a hint of playfulness.

"Not if I wake up first, silly," Sayori hummed happily.

MC snorted. "Yeah, like you'll ever get up early. You act like I don't know you well."

"It takes effort to be this cute," Sayori backfired. "Girls need their beauty sleep, MC."

MC rose from the bed, and though there was still a little sadness in his actions, Sayori could tell that she had done a lot to cheer him up.

"Thanks, Sayori," MC uttered. "Really, thank you. It means so much to know I have such a good friend watching over me."

I can be more than just a good friend, if you want.

But she did not speak those words. There was a time and place for everything.

"You've done the same for me," Sayori insisted with a genuine, sweet smile. "If you want to stay a little longer, I don't mind."

MC, however, shook his head. "I don't think that will be necessary. I won't lie and say I'm back to normal; there's still a lot of questions and doubts. I don't want to ruin your day by throwing a big pity party, though."

Sayori frowned pitifully. "Oh, MC, it's no trouble at all. I'm supposed to be here for you. What kind of friend would I be to tell you to suck it up?"

"Natsuki," MC chuckled.

"Well, Natsuki can be a big meanie sometimes," Sayori reminded. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?"

Please stay. I want to hug you some more. I love you.

MC nodded. "I'm sure. And don't worry, I won't be so down in the dumps tomorrow," he assured with a half-smile. "I'll save the terrible thoughts until after tomorrow."

It was clearly intended as a joke, Sayori knew that. However, the tone in which he spoke it in did not bring invoke any smiles. She merely nodded her head, accepting the fact that he was not going to budge on this issue. She rose from her bed, walked over to MC, and threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me all this," she told him. "If you feel those nasty thoughts creeping in again, you tell me. And try not to blame Monika too much. I know she hurt you, but I don't think she would ever do this if she didn't have a very good reason, right?"

"Y-yeah, of course," MC muttered. A period of silence followed. "You can let me go now, if you want."

Sayori became blatantly aware of the fact that she was holding MC just a little too tightly. She obliged at once. "Oh yeah, sorry!"

He smiled. "All's well. See you tomorrow."

"See you then," Sayori responded as he turned away and walked out of the room. She waited a little longer until she heard the front door close, then turned to Mr. Cow. He was her prized possession, one that MC had won for her at Farmland back when they were just little kids. Because of this, there was a certain comfort he gave her whenever she cuddled him at night, as if a small piece of MC was always with her.

She hopped back onto her bed, and took a moment to gaze out at the dusky sky ahead of her. She was thinking, wondering, hoping.

She was going to make sure MC had the time of his life tomorrow.

She was going to make his day special.

And she was going to show him how much she loved him.

But first, that required her to wake up early, an accursed idea, by her standards. Nevertheless, she was determined to do it for him. So, she grabbed Mr. Cow, lied her head on his soft belly, and tried her best to embrace dreamland.