The Right Balance

Me: Thanks for all the wonderful feedback!

Disclaimer: I don't own Doki Doki Literature Club

Chapter 4: Monika

School dances were very public and open events. Hundreds of hopeful couples crowded together amongst the decorated gymnasium, dodging the wrath of stern chaperones and bending the rules surrounding proper behavior with lowered hands and quick kisses.

The annual event was not for everyone, however. Sayori was far too anxious in large crowds. Natsuki hated dances in general. Yuri suffered from deep shyness. But Monika? Confident and talkative Monika? She felt right at home.

Of course, she would only attend such an event with the right man on her arm.

"Will you marry me?" Monika asked, taking Anon's hand and getting on one knee. "I promise to make you very, very happy."

"..." Anon chuckled nervously. "Eh...Monika?"

"Yes, my love?"

"We're in the middle of class…"

Blinking, Monika looked around. Much of the class was staring wide-eye at the spectacle. Even the teacher, in the middle of writing some passage from a novel on the chalkboard, paused. Monika giggled. She had been daydreaming about her beloved and forgot they were in class. She acted on impulse. He was just so cute, sitting there chewing on his pencil and appearing bored. She just had to ask. "My bad…" She glanced up at him with hopeful, shining emerald green eyes. "So is that a yes? I don't have a ring for you yet, but a quick trip to the jewelery store can fix that!" She had plenty of money at her disposal. Buying some expensive engagement ring was of no consequence to her.

"Shouldn't I be the one proposing?" Anon asked, amused.

"This is the 21st century, Anon. Women have a right to propose to the man they love," she chided lightly, but nevertheless gave him a pretty smile. "I promise you will be a satisfied husband. I will provide for you and make sure you never have to work a day in your life."

"This is some serious role-reversal," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'm very flattered, Monika, but perhaps we're a tad bit young to get married?"

"We're both eighteen. That's old enough."

"We're still in school."

"So?" Her smile would not be daunted.

Anon sighed.

"We've never even had a proper date…"

"Oh, I'm so glad you brought that up!" She grinned. Somehow, Anon felt as if he had just fallen perfectly into a trap. "We can easily remedy that. Will you go to the school dance with me, Anon?"

"The dance?" He repeated. "I don't know how to dance."

"Excellent!" She threw her arms around him, nearly making him tumble from the force of her hug. "Neither do I! We can learn together! Oh, it will be so romantic!" She placed her hands on both sides of his face. "What do you say?"

Thinking it over for a brief moment, Anon shrugged.

"Sure. Why not? I'll be your date." Before she could cheer, he added, "But let's hold off on the marriage for a little bit, okay? I'm not saying no. Just give me time."

Slightly deterred, Monika still mentally cheered. One out of two requests achieved wasn't bad in her opinion. "Great! I've already taken the liberty of signing us up for dance lessons! Thirty minutes after school, Monday through Wednesday, until the dance. It'll be fun!"

"Wait. You signed us up before I even agreed to go?"

Monika patted his head gently, as if he were a child.

"My beloved, I knew you would agree!" She giggled. "You love me too much to say no, right?"

Anon smiled.

"True…"

"Great!" With that, she kissed him passionately. Leaving him slightly dazed, she pulled away with a dreamy smile. "Hmmm...Anon's kisses…" She shivered. They were addictive.

"Monika?"

"Yes, love?"

"You should probably get off my lap."

"What if I don't want to?" She wiggled her hips daringly in his lap, making him groan. She smirked. He was so cute to tease!

"Suit yourself. I just hope you don't mind an audience," he joked, gesturing all around them with his arms.

"Oh, yeah…" Monika glanced around the classroom, staring annoyingly at their fellow students who were openly gawking at the daring and intimate sight. "Them."

"Monika, you should really get back to your seat," the teacher, finally mustering up his nerve, spoke authoritatively. "You are disrupti-" Monika glared at the teacher. It was filled with so much hate and fury, the man visibly recoiled underneath the harsh stare. "Um…" The man tugged at his collar. "N-Nevermind! C-Carry on. Class, eyes forward on the board!"

Monika nodded in satisfaction.

"That's what I thought." She turned to her future husband, expression morphing into one of pure, beautiful elation. "So will you marry me?"

Anon chuckled.

"I thought we discussed this, Monika."

"You said 'Let's hold off on the marriage for a little bit, okay?'" She repeated with a wink, mimicking his voice perfectly. "It's been 'a little bit.' So should I start booking a florist?"

"Monika?" He asked tiredly.

"Yes, Anon?"

"How about we just kiss?"

She perked up.

"Excellent suggestion, my love!" They kissed. She inwardly squealed. He didn't outright say no! She was definitely getting the engagement ring after school!

Anon surveyed the empty classroom.

"Monika?"

"Yes, darling?"

"There's no one here," he pointed out. "Is this the wrong classroom?"

"Nope!" She gestured to the room number. "305 C. See? Right room!" She clapped her hands. "Let's start dancing!"

"Where's the dance instructor? Or, better yet, the other students? There has to be others who need the practice."

Giggling, she tapped him lightly on the nose.

"Oh, you're so cute when you play detective! Should I be Watson?" She donned a brown hat along with magnifying glass seemingly out of nowhere. Anon glanced around her, trying to find where she could have possibly produced such props, but discovered nothing. "Looks like we have another case, Sherlock," she said grimly, adopting a rather cute British accent. She searched around diligently for clues. "Any theories?"

"Is this roleplaying?" Anon furrowed his brow. "I feel like this is roleplaying. You set this up, didn't you?"

"I have no idea what you're referring to, Sherlock." She winked. "Help me look for clues, okay?"

He smiled.

"Sure thing...Watson." Dutifully, he searched around the room, scouring through the boxes and around the ancient school desks which littered the abandoned classroom. Monika was not too far behind him, always double-checking his search areas and 'accidently' touching him with wandering hands, which always followed with plenty of giggles and saucy smiles from the pretty brunette. Finally, however, he opened a compartment to one of the old desks and found a...clue? "Is this…?"

"Find a clue, Sherlock?" Monika asked, peering over his shoulder.

"I think so…" He held up the 'clue.' A pair of black, lacy panties that he had definitely seen before. "Monika, are these yours?" He turned around, eyes widening as she lifted up her skirt, confirming his suspicions. "Oh...They are. And you're not wearing them."

"I think you deserve a reward for being such a great detective, Anon," she said seductively, blowing him a kiss.

"..." Blushing, he nodded vigorously. "I agree with you wholeheartedly."

Not much got done in the name of practicing for the school dance that afternoon.

"Anon?" Natsuki asked, glancing up from her manga.

"Yes, Natsuki?" He asked, hugging the cute bundle of pink hair close to his chest as she rested in his lap. They were in the club room, enjoying the silence of reading time, where Natsuki relaxed in the most comfortable spot in the world: his lap. Combine that with her beloved manga and she was in heaven.

She grabbed his hand. Curiously, she ran her fingers over a silver band he wore.

"Why are you wearing an engagement ring?"

"Oh, this." He flexed his fingers ponderously. "Monika gave it to me. I guess we're engaged now."

"You guess?" She raised an eyebrow.

Anon laughed.

"She was very persuasive. She wouldn't stop hounding me until I put it on."

"..." Natsuki narrowed her eyes at the beautiful ring. So that was how the club president would play it? Fine. It looked as if the 'Anon is Everyone's Lover and Cuddle Buddy Treaty' was under threat. Two could play at that game. "I guess that means I'll have to bake a lot more cookies and cupcakes."

"Why? Did another grocery store decide to purchase them?" He asked, clueless.

With a fire in her pink eyes, Natsuki threw her manga to the side and grabbed his shoulders. Roughly, she crashed her lips against his with enough force to leave the young man stunned. Rebounding from the shock of being kissed so suddenly, he returned the gesture eagerly, kissing the pink-haired beauty with all he had. By the time she pulled away from him, gasping for air and blushing, Natsuki's eyes were glazed over with desire and lust. "In order to buy you an engagement ring, I'll have to start saving up more money. Hence the reason I need to bake more."

"I'm sorry? Engagement ring?"

"You better believe it, lover boy." She flicked his forehead. "You think I'm letting Monika marry you first? Nope. No way. Sorry."

"Um, I don't think the engagement is serious…"

Natsuki shook her head.

"Don't care. This means war."

"What's going on over here, you two?" Monika asked, smiling kindly at them. Anon gulped, certain some sort of fight would brew. Natsuki growled at the president challengingly. "Oh, my. Are you alright, Natsuki? You seem upset."

"What is this?" Natsuki demanded, grabbing Anon's hand roughly and showcasing the engagement band.

Monika giggled.

"Oh, just for show, Natsuki." She patted the cute girl's head. "Nothing serious, I assure you. Just wanted to get Anon used to the idea."

"If I look at the photo gallery in your phone, would I happen to find pictures of wedding dresses?" Natsuki accused. "Or floral arrangements?"

"Nope! Just pictures of this cutie sleeping!" She ruffled Anon's hair fondly. "And maybe one or two of him in the shower~!"

Anon's eyes widened. "Wait. You took pictures of me in-"

"Moving on!" Monika smiled reassuringly. "You and the other girls have absolutely nothing to worry about, Natsuki. It's not like I'm planning on kidnapping Anon, taking him far away to some perfect tropical paradise and marrying him in secret. I assure you, the thought never even crossed my mind. You're just being paranoid."

"Why is there sunscreen in your bag, Monika?" Sayori, drawing the attention of the group, asked suddenly, rummaging through Monika's bag. "You're never outside," she questioned, waving the bottle around curiously.

"I thought we talked about looking through other people's belongings, Sayori," Monika said, a sweet, innocent smile gracing her face. "Punishment might be in order for breaking the rules of the Club, Ms. Vice President."

Sayori chuckled nervously.

"Hehe...Sorry, Monika. I was just looking for snacks…" She fished out a pamphlet. The blue-eyed girl tilted her head cutely. "Why do you have a brochure for tropical destinations? And…handcuffs? And a receipt for a silver band with a tracking device built-in with a range of over two-hundred miles?"

All eyes fell on the blushing brunette.

"Tell me there isn't a tracking device in this band, Monika," Anon said, looking at her sternly.

"Fine." Monika giggled. "I won't!"

"Monika…"

She sighed. She could tell Anon was upset. He rarely used that tone when addressing any of them.

"Okay, okay. Fine. There's a tracker in the ring...But only for your protection!" She jumped atop a desk, addressing her club members. "Girls, I would like you all to imagine this awful scenario! Female members of other clubs, those desperate to steal our beloved Anon away from us, kidnapping him and forcing him to attend their clubs! And they wouldn't stop there! No!" Her emerald eyes were hard as stone. "They would take away his perfect innocence! His perfection, his sanctity, his-"

"I can never again be defined as 'innocent' after everything I've done with you all," Anon pointed out.

"Nevertheless, they wish to steal him from us!" She continued. "I fight off their inquiries and requests for this wonderful creation of the divines every day! Can I be blamed for taking preemptive measures to ensure his safety?"

"..." Very slowly, Natsuki nodded. "You know what? She may be psychotic, but she has a point. Who are they to try and steal Anon away from us? N-Not that I care about the dummy or anything..."

"Anon is ours," Sayori said darkly, uncharacteristic of her normal, bubbly demeanor and cheer. "We will fight armies to keep him."

"Eh...Girls?" Anon laughed nervously. They were starting to crowd around him.

Yuri emerged from her quiet corner, originally content to let the drama play out while she peacefully read her book, but was inspired and roused by Monika's passionate speech. Brandishing a very large, threatening knife, Yuri smiled sweetly. "They will know pain the likes of which they could never even hope to fathom. I will slice them into pieces not even the best forensics team could identify."

"I'm glad you girls are on board!" Monika cheered. From out of nowhere, she pulled out a katana. "I say we go over to the other clubs and attack until none of them are left! Who's with me?"

"I am!"

"Me!"

"M-me!"

"Great! Onward to vic-OW!"

"Ow!"

"Owie!"

"O-ow!"

All four girls clutched their heads. Anon nodded solemnly.

"Sorry. I hate to hurt you girls, but what you were suggesting amounted to a massacre. How about we just go back to reading and forget all about this? I'm not going to get kidnapped or anything of the sort. I'm safe and sound. I promise." Pouting, the girls nonetheless heeded his advice, though there were mumblings of future reprisals and revenge against all those who dared to try to steal him from them. "And Monika…"

"Yes, my very handsome, very dear fiance?" She asked, smiling and portraying the absolute definition of innocence.

He pointed at the silver band on his finger.

"I'll still wear a ring, but how about you get one without the tracker?"

"Tehe...Sure thing!" At least he still didn't know about the tracking device in the sneakers she bought him. A girl could never be too careful when it concerned the man she loved.

The night of the dance arrived quickly. After several dance lessons (real ones) and plenty of practice, Monika was reasonably confident in their abilities to dazzle the dance floor.

Still, she was a bundle of nerves and excitement as she carefully checked her hair in the mirror. Placed into an elaborate french braid with large bangs framing, along with her ever-present white bow adorning the brunette locks, she admired her handiwork, rather proud of nearly an hour's worth of preparations. A beautiful red dress, shimmering under the lighting of her bedroom, with two straps which merged into one around her neck. Enough cleavage exposed to draw every gaze, but there was only one gaze she was interested in obtaining.

The dress flowed down to her ankles, nearly see-through from her knees to her feet, along with red heels which took hours to learn how to properly walk in, let alone dance in. Clinging around her waist and hips, it certainly enhanced her jaw-dropping curves. She had seen the effect the dress had on her when she walked; Anon wouldn't be able to resist her!

And when he came to her doorstep, looking absolutely ravishing and dashing in a black jacket and matching trousers, along with a silver tie and gelled dark locks. She grinned when his eyes widened, drawn to her form and drinking in the pleasant sight. With ruby-colored lips, she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Don't you look so very handsome," she whispered. "I'm having a hard time not ripping this jacket you right now~!" She teasingly tugged on his clothing for emphasis.

"You're beautiful, Monika." Blushing, the young man kissed her cheek, eliciting a blush of her own. "You always look beautiful, of course, but...Wow." He winked. "Aphrodite herself would be jealous."

He was so handsome and charming! She really should pray more often. Only some being of divinity could create such a perfect specimen of man. "Oh, you are really making it hard for me to not whisk you away to some private island~!" She gushed, smiling dreamily at the thought.

"Huh?" He asked eloquently, tilting his head. "What was that?"

"Nothing!" She patted his arm reassuringly. "Shall we, darling?" She interlaced her arm with his, saddling up to his side.

"Of course."

While the rest of the couples openly gawked at the attractive duo taking center stage on the dance floor, Monika ignored every last one of them. Her attention was focused solely on the young man in her arms, gliding her across the dance floor effortlessly as weeks of diligent practice finally paid off. She was weightless in his arms, spun around elaborately and elegantly. Stunned students and faculty alike could hardly fathom the dancing skills on display, watching as the couple maintained perfect synch, their minds becoming one as limbs extended with every graceful movement.

What was Anon to her? As they locked gazes, emerald meeting gold, she pondered over his addictive mark on her life.

What did she expect long ago when Sayori promised to include her childhood friend in their club? She certainly did not expect to fall so in love with him, finding it impossible to live her life without him. The moment she laid eyes on him, a clueless expression written on his face as he surveyed their club for the first time, she knew she was hooked. There was a caring and unique quality to his golden gaze. Not a hint of malice, or disgusting teenage hormonal lust, were carried in his gentle stare. When he looked upon them, his lips settling into a welcoming smile that melted her heart, she felt...Enthralled. No. much more than that. What she felt could hardly be described with words alone.

Her parents had died when she was very young. They were ridiculously wealthy, so a trust was created to provide her with everything she could possibly want until she reached eighteen. Butlers and nannies were paid with money set aside by the trust since there was no immediate or trusted kin to entrust with her care. Now, she had accessed to the hundreds of millions in funds, and was technically the honorary chairwoman of several multinational companies.

While she held very little interest in the world of finances and business, far more content to tinker with computers and all manner of electronic devices, Anon had ignited a fire inside of her. The years of loneliness, fostered under the care of well-meaning but distant caretakers, came to the forefront of her conscious when she met him. From that day, she knew she wanted...No, needed to be with him.

It could have been his handsome looks which drew her interest. It was a definite possibility. It could have have been his kindness or his infinite patience. It could have been the care he showed every single one of them, treating them like princesses even with their myriad of emotional troubles. He accepted their uniqueness, embraced their quirks and made it his mission to ensure they were happy.

She should have been jealous. Him pampering and kissing the other girls certainly caused a stirring in her emotions, but she was overall happy he divided his attention equally among them. Sayori, Natsuki, and Yuri were her best friends. They were practically her sisters. They loved him deeply. She couldn't possibly hurt them by attempting to take him for herself. That would be wrong. There was enough Anon for all of them. Why would she ruin beautiful friendship by being selfish.

Still...There were moments when her more...obsessive qualities took hold. There were times when she wanted to fly him and her away to some faraway land, marry him and have a dozen of his children, all the consequences be damned! There were moments of blinding anger when some female stranger, no doubt after his affections, flirted with him shamelessly. She often dreamed of ripping their heads off and painting the walls red with their blood, all the hussies who dared to touch their Anon.

For the most part, she kept her obsession under control. He put up with it, of course, always smiling and lavishing her with attention. If she had to guess, she probably was the first girl in their group to pursue a more...physical relationship with him. They didn't discuss what they did with him privately in their spare time (which was protected under the binding treaty they all agreed upon), but Monika was fairly confident her and Anon had progressed both physically and romantically farther than he had with the other girls.

And while he would never give her a definitive answer, always dodging it or changing the subject, she was nearly certain she was his favorite…

"We have an audience," she whispered, giggling happily as he spun her around and skillfully executed another maneuver.

"Probably all staring at you. You're stunning," he replied, grinning and pulling her to his chest as the song ended. They stared into each other's eyes. The gym was alive with applause at the performance, but it was all ignored in favor of each other. "I'm just your partner, trying to look halfway decent in the presence of such beauty."

"Don't think so little of yourself," she chided him, pecking him on the lips. Her eyes carried a serious glint. "You are the most important human being on this planet. I think that carries some significance."

"I think you put me on too high a pedestal," he joked.

"No. There's no pedestal high enough to be worthy of you, though I very much keep trying to find one." Another song. This time, however, very slow and melodic...She scooted closer, pressing her bosom against his chest as she interlocked their fingers. "One last offer," she muttered, swinging her hips with the slow music, placing his hands on her hips, lower than the rules stated. "Will you hear me out...one more time?"

"Go ahead, Monika."

The way he said her name, a whisper of desire and affection, mixed with unbridled lust, made her knees weak. She knew, if ever there was a chance to convince him, make him fully hers and hers alone, this was the moment.

Did that make her evil? Selfish for wanting him all to herself? For temporarily believing she could burn the bridges of friendship and sisterhood she shared with her fellow female club members and be perfectly happy so long as she was with him? Fine. She'd accept it. In that instance, she would burn in Hell for an eternity if it meant she could wake up every morning in his arms.

"Marry me," she asked, lips mere inches from his own. Her stunning green eyes dared him to tell her no. "Marry me and become fully mine. We will travel the world together. Each week will be a new adventure. Tropical paradise in the Caribbean? Winter wonderland in the Alps? You decide, love. We will go wherever you please."

Softly, she kissed him. It was a very tender kiss. Chaperones were all around them, but none dared to interrupt the touching moment, even if it did violate several rules.

"And everyday, we will make love," she continued, smiling seductively at him. "Until we're too tired to even blink. We can have as many children as you want. They'll grow up with loving and attentive parents."

"I would probably spoil them rotten," he commented, smiling softly.

She giggled.

"They'd have you wrapped around their little fingers. Definitely." She nuzzled his cheek. She inhaled. He smelled wonderful. "We'll settle down on a nice property. Plenty of space for the kids to play."

"With a pool?"

"Olympic-sized," she added, knowing his love for swimming.

"..." The gears were turning in his head. She knew he was processing everything she had said. He was tempted. She could see it in his eyes. Out of all the times she asked him, she knew this was the closest he was to losing his resolve. "I'm...I'm sorely tempted to accept your offer, Monika…"

"But?" She asked, a sad smile on her face.

"But only if that perfect future includes Yuri, Natsuki, and Sayori." He sighed. "Please, forgive me. All of you deserve so much more, but I couldn't bear to choose. I love all of you too much."

His heart was far too big. How wrong of her, to force such perfect kindness and love to be focused solely on her. She wasn't bitter. She wasn't even upset. If anything, him refusing her offer proved just how amazing and wonderful he truly was. "I think that's why we all love you, Anon," Monika murmured, laying her head against his chest. "You love all of us, for both our beauty and our quirks. We don't deserve you."

"Monika-" A finger on his lips silenced him.

"But that's okay." She flicked his nose playfully. "We have a whole lifetime to properly earn your love. In the meantime…" Digging her fingers into those gelled locks of his, she kissed him. Their tongues briefly touched, generating sparks of desire and wants that most certainly didn't belong on a dance floor. "...you'll forgive us for taking advantage of your love, right?" She blinked her mesmerizing green orbs at him rapidly in a coy fashion. "You're not getting rid of us. We will always be by your side."

Anon smiled. He hugged her close, swaying with the music and burying his face in her soft locks.

"You know what? I wouldn't have it any other way."

Me: Hope you enjoyed! Monika was a tad bit more challenging to write than the other girls (their problems and quirks are more easily distinguishable than hers), but I'm overall satisfied with how the chapter came out.

Anyway, next up is the final chapter! See you then!