I don't pay attention to Natsuki very often, so for all you Natsukittens out there, this is for you guys.

It's been a while since my official return to DDLC. I've told everyone about the books and what they did to Yuri. I'm hoping that that should prevent something bad from happening...for now. The weird thing is that Yuri doesn't remember the books at all. She was the one who gave them to me, yet once I separated her from her copy, she forgot it existed. As for my investigation, I shook each loose paper out of the books, none really caught my eye except a few. One was a doctor's note of everyone.

It's time I present my findings.

The Literature Club starts soon. I pack my stuff in my bag and get in the Skyline.

I pull up to the school and head inside.

Walking into the clubroom, I see everyone doing their usual thing, despite looking a little unnerved. My fault of course.

Ryan: "Hey guys."

Monika: "Ah, Ryan! Good timing!"

The others acknowledge us.

Sayori: "Find anything important?"

Ryan: "Yup, I shook out all the loose papers from the books. Found some interesting documents, I have a few with me right now."

I pull out a sheet of paper.

Ryan: "Have a look at this."

I read the doctor's note aloud:

Dr. Nikolai Elysium, October 24th, 2005

We've got new subjects today, 6 to be exact.

Subject 47: Julia Libitina, 9 years old, Jet black hair, blood red eyes.

One of Dr. Libitina's own daughters, Jesus Christ. How sick does this man have to be to torture his own daughter?

Subject 126: Monika Palmer, 6 year old, brunette, lime green eyes. I don't see any evidence of her having it, but we'll have to see. Apparently her last name might not be real, but whatever. She appears to have a deep trust in Hendricks, I don't see why that blyat ('Whore' in Russian.) would trust the person whom she gets tortured by.

Subject 111: Sayori Erhler, also 6 years old, rose blonde hair, deep blue eyes.

Apparently she goes through Isolation testing, and has a deep fondness for a cow plushie.

Subject 168: Natsuki Allen, just below 6 years old, bright pink hair, matching eyes. She's a fighter apparently, she's tried to escape a few times, whilst not being very successful.

Ebanatyi pidaraz! That's 'Motherfucker' in Russian, I think. Libitina's working on BOTH of his daughters?

Yuri Libitina, 7 years old, Purple hair, matching eyes. She's genuinely freaky, she might be the one that shows the eye first, she smiles when exposed to pain, and she seems to dish out an equal amount of pain to whoever the hell decides to unchain her afterwards.

Finally, the only male we've seen with signs...

Ryan Harris. 6 Years old, brunette, Gold eyes.

I'm genuinely concerned about him. His eye signature is different from every other subject, where the others have violent, unstable signatures, his is calm, methodical, stable and apparently a lot more powerful. He doesn't react to any form of torture we put him through, I'm afraid he's planning something huge, and with that eye of his, it might be better to execute him...but he might be good for my plans...

That's my report for today.

The girls look at me in shock.

Natsuki: "That's...us…"

Ryan: "Right. While it doesn't answer too much, it does tell me more about everyone. First, Everyone in this game is adopted. Secondly, the MC was most likely the one who orchestrated the breakout. Third, Yuri has a biological sister...and we don't know who or where she is."

Yuri: "Why? ...why can't I remember it?"

Monika: "I can't either, none of us can."

Ryan: "The MC has a unique 'third eye' as it's called, maybe after the breakout, he erased everyone's memories, including his own and replaced them with what you all have now."

Sayori: "To protect us from the mental scarring."

I nod.

Ryan: "I would have more but this is what caught my eye the most."

A long silence follows.

Ryan: "So...It's really fucking hot today so why don't we go grab some ice cream, my treat?"

Yuri: "I was thinking we go to the lake, actually."

Sayori: "The one at the summit of Mt. Haruna?"

Ryan: "(Wait, did you just say Haruna?)"

Yuri: "Yes. We can all take my car."

Natsuki: "I can't...my dad wants me home soon…"

I see Natsuki turn away, I caught a glimpse of a bruise on her neck, I urk slightly.

Ryan: "Ok...but if you need us, call us immediately, we'll be there as fast as we can."

I see Natsuki try to hide a tear.

Natsuki: "O-ok, i-it's not like I need your help or anything."

I roll my eyes, classic Natsuki.

Monika: "I can't come either, apparently I have a doctor's appointment."

Sayori: "So it's just us?"

Ryan: "looks like it."

Yuri: "Well, we'll see you later, then."

Monika and Natsuki: "Yeah, see you."

Ryan: "Yuri, can I drive? Please?"

Yuri: "Why?"

Ryan: "Akina pass, I can't resist!"

Yuri: "No."

Ryan: "('Aww' sounding 'Mmh')"

Sayori: "Hehe, you and your cars."

I sit, grumbling, as Yuri takes the pass, Sayori is staring intensely out of the windshield to keep herself from getting motion sick.

Sayori: "Man, I haven't been to the lake in forever. It'll be great!"

Ryan: "Yeah, I wonder how well it renders."

Yuri: "It should be fine given your 280's hardware. Remember, it's designed to flawlessly run 4k."

I tilt my head.

Ryan: "Wait, how do you know that?"

Sayori: "Monika tells us lots of things about your computer!"

I gulp, there's probably nothing embarrassing on it, but I still can't help but feel nervous.

Ryan: "...What kind of things?"

Yuri: "Steam Library, hardware, a weird virus you got from an unknown source."

Oh...oh ok. Wait, a virus?

Ryan: "I have a virus?"

Sayori: "It doesn't do much other than feed off of your RAM, but you've got way more than you need so it's ok!

Sayori: "Also, might I say, you put a lot of money into this thing, 500 Gigabyte SSD, with twin 2 terabyte hard drives as a backup. Nvidia GTX Graphics Processing Unit, liquid cooling. It's impressive."

Ryan: "Oh yeah, I should mention it's a hand me down from my dad, who works at Youtube, he gets paid really generously."

Yuri: "We're almost there."

Sayori: "Good, I'm starting to feel really queasy."

Ryan: "Just, eyes on the road, Sayori."

Sayori: "Yup."

After about 5 more minutes, we make it to the lake. Sure enough, it's pretty. The sun is setting, casting a golden shimmer on the water. We're up there for another ten minutes before I hear my phone ring. It's Natsuki.

Ryan: "Hold on guys."

I answer and put it on speaker

Natsuki: "Ryan! You gotta help me! He's gonna-Ah!"

The phone is hung up. We all look up at each other.

Sayori: "Natsuki's in trouble!"

Yuri: "Let's go!"

We all make a beeline for Yuri's CT-R. Yuri unlocks her car. I snatch her keys.

Ryan: "I'M DRIVING!"

Yuri: "Wai-Ugh, nevermind! Just don't wreck it!"

I slide over the hood and get in the passenger seat, once again failing to understand Right hand drive.

Ryan: "Wait, Shit!"

I slide into the driver's seat and start the car…

Natsuki:

Father: "You can't hide forever you little brat!"

Father slams open the door to my room in a rage, I cover my mouth to try and quieten my breathing. I'm holed up in the corner of my closet, underneath a pile of dirty laundry. I hear him get down on his knees to look under my bed. I hear him growl and stand up, I hear him walk up to the closet. I slam my eyes shut and pray.

Please, Ryan. Get here quickly…

He throws open the closet and takes a look around.

Then he laughs

Father: "Ahaha! You think you're hidden?!"

Oh no…

Then he kicks open my footlocker full of beauty products.

Father: "Nani?"

I grin, I'm trying so hard not to laugh.

...but I can't hold it. I giggle underneath my hiding spot, he immediately darts in my direction and pulls me out, before pinning me against the wall.

Father: "You thought that was funny, huh?!"

Natsuki: "N-no! Let me go!"

RYAN HELP ME PLEASE!

Background music: aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9EbWV3MkN6aWZ4VT90PTEzcw==

Ryan:

I reach the bottom of the mountain.

Yuri: "Ryan! If you wreck this I won't be happy!"

Ryan: "I just did the Akina downhill! We should be fine!"

There goes the VTEC, now propelling me at 172 miles per hour down the empty highway. I watch the world become a blur as I enter the city.

Yuri: "Make a right and keep going until you reach a circular dead end with houses! She'll be the one with a fountain out front."

I nod and drift the light, dodging a volvo mid-drift. Sayori has been smiling this whole time, probably she gets a rush when I drive like this. I speed down the street, VTEC engages again.

Background music end.

It doesn't take long to skid to a stop at Natsuki's house. I open the console and look for some kind of weapon. I find the Unica 6, but I found something else.

'Vehicle_Teleporter.' (single-use)

I spawn both, Yuri swings open a butterfly knife.

The Unica brings back a short flashback, but I shake it off, as for the teleporter, it's a small metal cube with a blue light on each face.

Sayori: "What are you guys going to do?"

Yuri: "Kill him" Ryan: "Just talk to him"

[This is how I write two people talking at the same time.]

I get an idea.

Ryan: "Sayori, come here."

We get out and Sayori follows me to a different spot on the street.

I select my R32 from the menu and toss out the teleporter, it turns into my R32, the suspension creaks a little as it bounces on the ground slightly.

Ryan: "Get in the passenger seat, wait for me to get back in."

Sayori: "Why?"

I look to Yuri.

Ryan: "He can only follow one of us. Yuri, you take Natsuki, we'll draw him away from you."

Sayori nods and opens the door to the car. Yuri and I look to each other and nod. We rush up to the door of the house. I pound on the door with the handle of my revolver.

?: "Shit. Who is it?!"

Ryan: "I've got two large pepperoni and a calzone, name is fuck you."

I hear Yuri giggle at my joke.

?: "Hey! Listen here you prick! I'm busy here! What do you wa-"

Natsuki: "Ryan!? He-"

?: "Shut the fuck up! I'll handle this!"

I hear the man hit Natsuki, as she yelps.

I press the muzzle to the lock and pull the trigger, blowing the lock and allowing me to kick open the door.

Yuri and I rush in.

?: "What the fuck?!"

He grabs a butcher knife from the kitchen counter and rushes us.

I aim the pistol dead at his forehead, he stops in his tracks.

?: "W-whoa there, ok? Take what you want, but make no mistake, I'm an officer of the law and I will not hesitate to have you arrested the second you leave this house."

I look to see Natsuki in tears, though I can't tell if she's crying in pain or if she's relieved to see me. She's covered in bruises and cuts.

Ryan: "Ok…"

I signal Yuri and she escorts Natsuki out of the house.

?: "H-hey! Wait! That's my-"

I cock the gun, he yelps in fear, hands raised

?: "Now listen here boy, I don't know who the hell you think you are, but Natsuki's MY daughter, and I'm gonna tear your to shreds if I don't have her back."

Ryan: "No, she's not your daughter. You adopted her after I broke her out of that camp!"

He goes silent.

Ryan: "I'm not happy with how you've treated her, so we're taking her. FOREVER."

I walk out the door, I see him make a beeline for the garage. I quickly get in with Sayori, and start the car. I see the garage door open, Yuri and I quickly speed off onto the busy streets, a Ford Mustang starts following us. Police lights and sirens blare from it. Yuri pulls off to the left, I pull onto the highway.

I immediately look in my rear view mirror.

...come on pal, take the bait…

I see police lights behind me, I smile.

Time to drive like a bat out of hell.

Ryan: "System, play Wheelpower and Go! By Dejo and Bon"

[aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS95Nmc1b09QTjlUbw==]

I step on the gas, getting off the highway again. The Mustang maintains pursuit, I hear him talk through the loudspeaker.

?: "Pull over and return my daughter, NOW!"

I glance at Sayori, she starts laughing.

Sayori: "Oh~ I see now! You left Natsuki with Yuri in hopes he'll go after us instead!"

I nod and drift around a roundabout, going off to the left. Natsuki's father follows, except he decides to go through the roundabout instead of around it.

Ryan: "Jesus, this guy is Papa-India-Sierra-Sierra-Echo-Delta!"

Sayori: "Wha-?"

I dodge a semitruck.

Ryan: "It's military, I'm saying he's PISSED."

Sayori: "...Oh I get it now."

"Other pilots are behind me, I won't let them pass!"

I see the Mustang T-bone a smart car, not losing any speed and throwing the car over us, I have to pull the handbrake to dodge it.

Ryan: "Holy shit!"

I'm really running now! This time I'm not running to keep up an act, I'M ACTUALLY SCARED NOW!

"Wheelpower and go! Street tires come on! Don't wanna lose this race, yeah!"

The Mustang throws more cars at us.

Ryan: "Xoey, please nerf!"

"We make it for love, we want it all! Never stop and never surrender!"

The Mustang is right on my ass, I'm scared. I remember the kinetic energy that thing has, one tap could send me flying! I shift into 6th and pray.

POP! POP!

Sayori: "He's shooting at us!"

Suddenly I feel something weighing down my right side...HE SHOT OUT MY TIRE!

My car loses speed. The mustang taps us lightly, even still, I'm shot forward. My car spins out to a stop. Natsuki's father gets out of his car and walks closer to us, glock raised. I smile, this is going to be such a mindfuck!

I roll down the window.

?: "Now, Natsuki, get out of the car.

He looks into the car.

Sayori: "Who's Natsuki?"

He recoils, stunned.

?: "W-what?"

Ryan: "What seems to be the problem, officer?"

?: "Why you, WHERE IS SHE!?"

He presses the glock against my face.

Ryan: "Not in this car."

He remembers Yuri's civic peeling away.

?: "YOU SON OF A-"

A motorcycle races by, a swish is heard. Dadsuki looks like he just saw a ghost, his upper torso then slowly slides off of his lower. I look to see...Dan? He sheathes a katana and looks back at me.

Ryan: "D-Dan?"

Dan only salutes, before once riding off on his orange Yamaha YZF. Foster the people's 'Pumped up kicks' is heard for a split second.

Sayori: "Who was that?"

Ryan: "Someone I met in Subnautica, what's he doing here?"

Suddenly Dadsuki explodes into fractal, startling me.

Ryan: "Agh! What?"

Ryan: "...He got deleted? But I didn't hit him with the deleter...I don't think dan's sword deleted him either."

A cyan text box with a winky face appears in front of me for a second, before fading away.

Sayori: "What was that?"

Ryan: "I don't know, let's regroup with the others."

Sayori nods, I attempt to start the car…

NO GAS!?

Ryan: "Shit, we're out of gas

Sayori: "Hold on, let me try…"

Sayori somehow manages to open the command console, she refuels the car and we drive off to regroup to the others.

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

I am still here waiting…

I'm anticipating…

While they are orchestrating…

To grant the wish that I am making

No price too great, no distance too far

If I could wish upon a blackstar

It makes no difference where they are

They'll grant my wish upon a blackstar...