Last updated: 08/01/2017, special thanks to SPOODEY for proofreading this chapter!
Chapter 9: Rollback
A loud buzzing noise is resounding in the world. It comes from everywhere, even from the deepest part of my inner ear. It's grizzling, unsettling and urging. It urges us to do something before the world ends. At the same time, pixelated boxes are appearing on top of the whole scene, but especially on top of Natsuki and Yuri. It is as if these boxes are rectangular black holes sucking off the neighboring colors.
Nonetheless, the density of boxes is still low, and the sound, although very unnerving, isn't unbearable.
We're not past the turning point yet.
I'm sitting on the sofa with Monika on my left side. Yuri and Natsuki are in front of us and their expressions are a mix of confusion, doubt and in the case case of Yuri...jealousy and...horror?
I'm holding tightly Monika's hand. I just told her what my best bet of salvaging the situation was. Now it's up to her. Only she can make her lie real or, if she fails, make the characters realize the fakeness of this world and likely crashes the simulation.
Monika: "More information?! No, we should do the contrary!..."
Natsuki alternates her regard between Yuri and us. Yuri's right hand is squeezing her chest while her left hand is pressing her left cheek. She says while shaking her head:
Yuri: "That-that...FEELING! So...mething is WRONG! Just like this morning!"
Natsuki worriedly calls Yuri:
Natsuki: "Yuri! What's wrong…!?"
And then turns toward me and Monika:
Natsuki: "Monika, [Player], the heck are you talking about? 'Drug', 'simulation'?"
The glitches around Natsuki are stabilizing while the ones around Yuri are increasing.
Everything is happening too quickly to leave me enough time to analyze the situation. Besides, I'm busy enough trying to keep my composure.
Monika: "Uh...Okay you two! Let's calm down! I promise there's a rational expla…"
Monika's voice is interrupted before she can finish her sentence:
Yuri: "Ahahahahahhahhahahahha..."
Yuri suddenly starts to laugh in a crazed voice while clutching her head.
Natsuki and Monika are too astonished to speak.
But I can understand what is happening.
Yuri is similar to how she was at the end of Act 2 in DDLC.
Natsuki calls Yuri with a voice full of worry while hugging Yuri's left hand with both of her hands. She is still confused about her memory and distrustful of me and Monika but Yuri's distress takes priority.
Natsuki: "Y-Yuri..!"
The glitches are slightly decreasing.
Monika turns toward me.
Monika: "[Player]! Do you know what's happening to Yuri?"
I know, but I can't say too much or else it will increase the risk of Natsuki or Yuri understanding the truth of this world. I try to give her a hint.
[Player]: "'yuri_self_harm_level = 11'."
I see in her eyes she understood the hint.
Yuri: "Ahaha...I'm losing it, am I not? I...I feel like something is taking control of me!"
Yuri's expression becomes slightly less crazy. She is furrowing her eyebrow and her mouth is curved into a grimace.
Monika: "That's because of the drugs! Natsuki, Monday I mistakenly gave you drugs instead of aroma to make your cupcakes and then…"
Natsuki quickly turns to Monika with a very reproachful expression. With a voice full of anger, she interrupts Monika:
Natsuki: "The hell! You gave us drugs? What the f*ck did you do Monika…!"
She then looks at me.
Natsuki: "And [Player] why do you keep talking about simulation and 'yuri_self_harm_level'?"
I almost decided to speak up...but I gave up. I don't believe I can defuse the exploding situation. I will probably make it even worse.
Monika: "Natsuki, please believe me! It was a mistake I swear! I really thought it was aroma for food. I didn't do it on purpose. I only learned it last night from my father. He also told me the drug caused memory losses and amplified existing psychological problems."
Yuri is strangely silent. For better or for worse, she isn't panicking or trembling anymore. Her expression is creepily neutral.
Natsuki now looks less angry and seems more willing to discuss.
Natsuki: "Ok fine. I still don't remember well you giving me aroma...That drug may explain it...But... Monika, stop saying bullsh*t."
She glares at me and Monika. Her emotion seems to shift to sadness and disappointment.
Monika: "What...No! It's the truth I promise! I understand it's difficult to believe...but you know I wouldn't lie to you, would I?"
Natsuki: "...Then explain that. How come you still remember what happened Monday even though you ate the cupcakes too? And more importantly, what are you two talking about since earlier...It looks like you're plotting something to me. Come on, spit the truth!"
Checkmate. There is no way we can salvage this now…
Uh...I should do something! Anything!
[Player]: "Natsuki, I...I mean, we are NOT plotting anything! What Monika said is true. She told me that this morning. And about her memory, well, the drug affects each person in different ways…"
Yuri interrupts me with a calm yet, awfully dreadful, voice:
Yuri: "[Player] please stop. There's no need to defend that bitch, she's manipulating you..."
She then stares at Monika with her eyes filled with insane jealousy.
Yuri: "Like us. I have been wondering why she got so close to you overnight. Why Natsuki and I got like that...and why Sayori is absent..."
Her mouth distorts in a crazy grin.
Yuri: "You drugged us! Just to get close to him, didn't you MONIKA!"
Drops of blood are falling down from her eyes!
Monika: "No...you're all my friends! I would have never done that! I didn't know it, please Yuri, remember the times we spent together! You know I would never hurt you!"
Yuri seems to hesitate for a moment.
Yuri: "...I...No. Don't play dumb. Don't imagine I didn't miss the slutty glances you gave to [Player] yesterday! Hm, I wonder what you told him last week to make him join the club?"
After a short pause, she continues.
Yuri: "But you had to find some way to get him closer and to make us unattractive...So you put drugs in our cupcakes!... But don't worry, I can imagine how you feel...I mean, [Player] is so kind and cute! I feel like my heart is going to explode whenever I think of him!"
She slowly seems to reach something hidden in her skirt.
A knife?!
Natsuki: "Wait Yuri! You're not yourself! Don't do anything harsh!"
Monika: "...So that's how you feel. You don't know what I'm capable of."
Monika's voice is menacing. It doesn't seem like she wants to negotiate any longer.
Monika, you're not going to hurt them, are you…?
Just after, we hear the entrance door being opened.
Sayori: "I'm back! [Player], Monika are you here?"
Her question is answered when she notices us. She has a bag that looks filled with medical supplies. On one hand, I'm glad Sayori is safe. On the other hand, she really didn't come at the right moment.
Sayori: "Natsuki? Yuri? I'm so happy you came! So…"
She remarks Yuri's and Natsuki's grave expressions.
Sayori: "Wait...Yuri, are you alright? You don't look so good…"
Yuri: "Sayori, stay where you are. I don't know what she told you but that bitch lied to you. It's all her fault!"
Natsuki: "No! Yuri, stop! Please! Monika, I'm sorry for blaming you! ...I can't let this continue. I didn't want to believe that dream but...there's something I have been hiding too!"
'That dream'? Could it be…?
Sayori looks between me, Natsuki, Yuri and Monika. I see she is carefully checking my right arm with her eyes. We wait for Natsuki's explanation.
Natsuki takes a deep breath and explains:
Natsuki: "Last night, I had a really weird dream...In that dream, someone like 'God' talked to me. I think...he wants us to kill each other! He must be the one behind all our problems!"
Silence. Nobody says anything for several seconds. I and Monika are exchanging glances.
Natsuki must be the one they talked to. They must have given her a letter.
Natsuki: "I know right! It looks crazy, but it...I...I'm dead serious! I didn't want to believe it at first too but Yuri, Monika, [Player]...you're suddenly acting so weird...I...I don't want anyone to get hurt!"
Glitches are once again increasing. The buzzing noise is becoming louder and louder at the same time.
I'm doing my utmost, despite my anxiety and tiredness, to understand this phenomenon.
This is bad. It won't be long until Natsuki understands this world is a simulation! If that happens...would it really crash the simulation? According to the increasing gravity of the glitches yes...but why? Characters are supposed to believe the world is real. We could say the world exists solely for the sake of the characters. If they don't believe in it anymore, the placebo effect will cease to exist and nothing will be created anymore. The world will lose its raison d'être. That's it! I have got it! I must tell this conclusion to Monika!
Natsuki focuses her attention on Monika and to a lesser extent, on me.
Natsuki: "Monika, you saw them too, right? I know you did. 'God' told me he talked to another member of the club and gave them a letter...It's you, isn't it?"
Shit! Monika now knows there should be TWO letters! Goddammit, it's getting worse and worse! If the world doesn't crash, then Yuri will kill someone...If not, Monika will discover my letter!
Glitches are getting denser. I can now see vertical and horizontal black lines crossing the world. It looks like they are representing a cartesian coordinate grid. It's getting difficult to hear the other characters.
This is it. This is the end.
Monika: "I don't see what you're talking about…"
I whisper as quietly as possible to Monika:
[Player]: "The world is about to be destroyed! We must divert Natsuki's attention!"
She whispers me back:
Monika: "I know! I...I keep trying several console commands but...I can't find anything to get us out of this predicament. "
Natsuki: "[Player]...you know it too...Maybe he talked to you...or maybe Monika told you. Now that I think about it...You said something about 'simulation' and math earlier…"
F*ck, f*ck, f*ck...I don't want...I don't want to let it end like this!..I can't...I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
Damn it! Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Out of nowhere, I pulled Monika into a hug. Without leaving her the time to respond, I swiftly kiss her lips. It doesn't last more than one fraction of a second. I don't even take the time to enjoy the softness of Monika's lips. I don't feel any shyness, affection, love or embarrassment. All of that doesn't matter in the slightest in front of the impending doom of the world.
Everyone is astonished. Especially Monika and Yuri. A expression of pure rage distorts Yuri's face. She takes a knife out of her skirt and rushes toward Monika.
The glitches are once again decreasing. The grid is fading.
I expected Yuri's reaction. I knew it would happen. But I had to do something to take the characters' mind off the reality of this world. Taking the risk of being stabbed is better than the risk of everyone disappearing.
Yuri takes one step. Only two are left until she can reach me or Monika.
I immediately get up and bring my left arm close to my chest. My heart is beating like crazy.
Yuri takes a second step. She screams in a bloodthirsty voice:
Yuri: "MONIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
I ready myself to catch Yuri's arm…I don't know if I can make it, but I have to try!
But before I even attempt to catch her arm, a table appears between me and Yuri! It falls down on the top of the already existing table between the sofa and the TV. The new table is an exact copy of the other table.
I'm too confused to do anything. So are the girls. Yuri even dropped her knife.
What the hell?
I hear Monika's voice behind my back.
Monika: "I won't let you hurt him."
I look behind me and see her glaring very threateningly at Yuri.
Did she just spawn the table?
I remember Monika's words: "I can read them, create new files, or even delete them but I can't edit existing files!" and "Really? Hm...I didn't tell you yet but I can actually open a python console. Maybe there's a command I can execute?".
Then...can she create any object in this world using console commands?
Natsuki: "What the hell?"
Yuri: "Tch. I knew you had some powers Monika."
Sayori: "I'm...not hallucinating, I'm? Just now, a new table appeared…?"
The coordinate grid is reappearing...even more clearly than before.
It's now really difficult to see or hear what is going on…
No…
Natsuki: "I understand it now. Why you talked about simulation earlier...This world isn't real, is it?"
Colors are fading to a mix of black and white and everything is getting more and more pixelated.
Natsuki: " Why I can't remember what happened before yesterday...Why such crazy things happen one after another...Why...Noo...How could I not notice it before…?
My senses are being overwhelmed. I can barely hear anything. The overly complicated glitching noise is overbearing. I can even hardly see where I'm now.
Natsuki: "It's so...empty…! This place...my house...there's nothing! Even my family…"
At this point, everything is black and white. Everything is made of pixelated boxes that are increasingly becoming smaller and more numerous. Absolute dread is filling me. I'm paralyzed by fear. I understand death is only a moment away.
Natsuki: "They...don't EVEN HAVE FACES! AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The boxes then becomes uncountable series of zero and one.
Before everything comes to an end, I feel someone very dear to me hugging me from behind. I faintly hear three last words.
Monika: "I love you."
I love you too Monika.
This was my last thought.
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Next chapter: Limbo
Answers to the review of Chapter 8 as of 28/12/2017
Since I didn't get any complain about answering reviews inside each chapter, I decided to do it again! Well, next time, I will answer some of them directly by pm.
Simply Guardian, *think*. Hmm, sure, don't worry, I won't give up this story.
KS0ne, Game Theory is really famous, huh? I watched their videos on DDLC weeks ago and I have been reading most theories on /r/DDLC since mid-October. While I agree with MatPat on some points, I disagree on others. So if you're wondering whether I'm going to include Project Libitibina inside this story...The answer is no. Theories are just that, theories. Besides, the plot is really complicated enough as it is already.
davidgoyena, thanks! I hope this chapter was even more awesome! It was supposed to be but I fear my poor writing skills didn't manage to accomplish this goal.
Guest, ah I'm jealous! It's so difficult for me to get goosebumps! Basically, only music and emotional memory can do it.
ProudlyAmericanNinja, I guess this chapter was full of revelations. Monika opening the console command...the memories of the characters and the possibility of modifying them...Wow, so much happens every chapter! That's why I really can't do any timeskip.
TellerHusky2000, thanks :) But well, I have got to force myself sometime or else nothing would be done!
Restless Universe, good guess! Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong? One thing is sure: you won't find out before a while. By the way, I'm following your story, A New Chance and it's interesting! It's another take on being transported to DDLC. I didn't take the time to leave a review yet (too many things to do…) but I should do it soon.
Kunal.19, ehehe, I hope you liked this chapter too.
YuriGagarinSpace, I read your other review, I even sent a pm. Your review is one of the factors that made me decide to post the answers at the bottom of each chapter instead of the beginning. It still looks a bit untidy but at least, readers can jump directly to the next chapter. There should be new characters. Like Natsuki's father. Probably. I guess you will see? The thing is, the world of DDLC is blank and empty. Everything except from what was shown in the original game is undefined. Kind of like in quantum physics. So it makes sense that there are so few characters. The pacing is something I have been thinking the whole week. With the current speed, it will take a while before we reach the festival (if we ever reach it ehehe). But at the same time, like I said earlier, I can't skip anything. Each discussion is very important. Lot of things are happening but that's normal in my opinion. Realistically, lots of things can happen in 10 minutes. Don't worry about your long review, or your ideas, they make me really happy!
Tunak23, great! May I suggest you to try the mod Monika After Story then?
Ruberforumfree, ehehe I feel you fellow reader (͡ ͡ ͜ つ ͡͡) . I won't hide I have been browsing fanfiction DOT net and AO3 for lemons. Unfortunately the rating of this story is T so… As there are 'gods' in this story, technically anything can happen at any moment. But such things won't happen because...Well I shouldn't explain yet.
ZerliaVriqa, "Thank you for recognizing Monika's thighs" I see you are a man of culture as well ;). In my case, I'm not a beginner at programming. In fact, I already made games in Python, C#, C++ and Matlab so when I'm writing about programing in my story, I use actual python or ren'py functions. Try googling renpy . rollback(). In your case, I suggest you not to write explicitly the commands. You should instead just describe their effects, eg, "Monika imputed some python commands and suddenly I found myself in another classroom."
Arinator, if my story was written by someone else and if I was reading this story then I would wish player to stay too :(
Antoine, wow, you dropped a review for each chapter! I'm going to pm later later this week.
Darkling41, roger!
One last thing: SHOUT OUT to Ak-Asche and their story "An Exception Has Occurred"! It's M rated DDLC fanfiction and it's really good! It's about what would have happened after Act 1 had the the game not restarted. The depiction of the main character's emotions, and the other character's, is particularly successful imo. Then there are other stuffs happening in the background. But I will say no more. If you are looking for darker DDLC fics then please take a look at their story!
