AN: Someone messaged me asking about the inconsistent nature of MC, sometimes he remembers what happened, sometimes he seems confused. That is intentional I promise! On with the show! Suggested Music for this Chapter: My Confession :)

Cody walked down the steps, reflecting on the conversation and subsequent session with the crying Monika. He grinned lightly, reminding himself he needed to write down his notes on the issues he'd have to help fix before it all faded. First of all though, was the little bundle of sunshine waiting on the bench outside.

Approaching quietly, he noticed that Sayori seemed to have dozed off in the few minutes he'd been inside. A small smile lighting his features up as he went to quietly sit beside her, not uncomfortably close, but close enough that he could catch her if she fell over...casually draping his arms on the back of the bench, she made a soft sound and slid slightly over, till with a soft fwump, let her head rest on his shoulder. Cody stiffened a bit, not wanting to disturb her, till with a start, he realized she was crying in her sleep. He gently slid his arm over her shoulders, squeezing her lightly as he whispered her name quietly, "Sayori?" He smiled, seeing her blue eyes open slightly, blinking as she sat up, bleary eyes turned toward him after a moment, looking through him before they seemed to focus on him, before the rest of her senses caught up. Namely touch...realizing she was close. Very close. And his arm was wrapped around her.

She let out a muffled rep as she wiped a sleeve across her face, springing up and away, cheeks burning as she laughed nervously. "C-cody! Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep...how long was….er I mean….are you all set up with the club? Where's Monika?" She spewed out her words in a rush, stammering her way through the shyness that had clutched her heart.

Raising his hands in a placating manner, Cody spoke, "Easy Sayori, yeesh, catch your breath. Yeah we got it taken care of, and Monika went home. I just saw you dozing here and figured I'd make sure you didn't fall over…" he grinned and pointedly did not mention putting his arm around her to hold her while she slept on him. Nope.

"Okay...er...are you ready to walk home?" Sayori recovered quickly enough to offer a hand to her still-seated childhood friend. After a stretch, he took it, and she pulled him up, blushing as she realized how warm his hand was, blinking as he held on a bit longer than was probably necessary, before they separated….a tiny smile gracing her lips. Again, he was just being nice, right? Even though that little ray of sunshine poked through the rain clouds, they'd be back.

"Sounds good!" Cody grinned as they began walking home, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets as Sayori practically skipped alongside him...Cody reflected as they walked in comfortable silence, except for Sayori incessantly humming a soft, peppy tune. His memories of the Club-That-Was were fading faster than expected, but he did remember one critical moment. Turning to the strawberry brunette, he grinned. "So, Sayori...uh, I know it'sits been a while, would you like to come over, work on our poems together? I have a few questions about the club, and since you're the Vice President…" he trailed off, subconsciouslysubconciously holding his breath...the hook was baited…

Sayori stopped, frowning faintly for an instant before schooling her features to give Cody a curious look. "You want to..hang out with me?" She nodded, a sad smile breaking through. "I'd like that." she spoke softly, voice barely above a whisper. "Cody…" she started….as she realized they had come to a stop in front of their homes. "Why are you suddenly being so nice.." she swallowed harshly. "I...I know I haven't made the effort to reach out to you in months...I've been a terri-"

Cody swiftly flicked her in the forehead, breaking her train of thought, eyes prickling with his own unshed tears as her hands flew to her forehead with the wince from his flick. "Don'tDont even go there. I'm the one who quit being a good friend. After...well..y'know. I just...withdrew. Games, anime, and school. I stopped talking to my friends, and my most precious friend." he smiled at her. "So..don'tdont ever think you're a terrible friend. And you did reach out." he holds his phone up. "After the accident...you texted me multiple times a day. Then after a couple months, once a day…." he bowed his head. "And I was too much of a cowardly prick to respond." he stiffened as suddenly his world was warmth and strawberry brown hair….Sayori clinging to him like a lifeline as she whispered positive things to him, shaking as she began to cry uncontrollably.

"I..I dont deserve...I..you..you shouldn't worry about

It'sIts not your fault! I..I should've been a better friend...you-" Sayori cried into Cody's shirt as he wrapped her thin shoulders in his arms, blinking at the rather sudden meltdown, her words tearing strips off his soul. What was going on...she was depressed, sure, but the feelings of worthlessness at -this- level only came after Monika edited her file to increase her depression to the maximum value…

"Sayori...no..I...you were, and still are...absolutely amazing. You're my

. That means more to me than anything." he spoke right next to her ear, feeling her freeze as he did, he pushed on, knowing he had to nip this right here and now. "Sayori….how long have you felt like this…?" he had maneuvered them while they were embraced, and with a gentle push, she sat on the bench on his house's front porch, sliding down to sit beside her as her arms slid from around him to wring her hands in her lap.

"For...as long as I can remember...it feels like…" she grit her teeth, biting back a sob as she turned her blue eyes upward, darkened by her tears and the rainclouds behind them. "I…" she trailed off. "I have…" She couldn't say it. She just couldn't get the words out….hanging her head as she thought to herself, in a harsh biting voice. 'Stupid. Worthless Sayori. How could anyone want to be your friend...you're a weakling who can'tcant even stop feeling sad to comfort your so-called best friend!' She shook her head, as the thoughts compiled, weighing her down further, until Cody spoke.

"You have depression...Sayori. You've struggled with this...a long time, haven't you?" he reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. "I am so sorry...I..if I had been there more.." he hung his head as she gasped, one hand wiping her face as she squeezed his.

"No! I...you had nothing to do with it! Really!" she panicked, her heart clenching as he blamed himself for her weakness, until she was struck to the core by the expression on his face...and the look in his honey tinted eyes. "Cody…?" she trailed off.

"Sayori...I should have been there. I may have not been the...original cause...but..abandoning you definitely didn't help." he swallowed harshly. "Come on. We're going to go inside…" he stood, pulling her up. "We're having a sleepover. Like when we were kids...and we're going to talk about this." he nodded confidently as her cheeks began to burn...his hand clutching hers...had interlocked their fingers….a slightly shocked, somewhat dopey grin piercing her depression...this..this felt good. Almost like they were holding hands...almost…

"..Alright...Cody." she bit her bottom lip, chewing it gently...as she gently clutched at his hand, before following him inside….she still didn't know exactly what had changed in her friend, but she was definitely pleased with the results….even if she didn't feel worthy to be his friend….he made her feel wanted. Feel like he was happy having her around...even if it was only for now…. She slipped off her shoes, as she looked around the room. Same as it was always. His living room, with its large, squashy blue couch and oversized television set beckoned to her...as she glanced into the kitchen...Cody's parents were never home, much like hers, but they took good care of them both..a nice house, an expansive budget…"Are..you sure I wont just..bring you down?" she spoke in almost a whisper as he squeezed her hand, still not releasing her.

"Sayori...we're going to get you some help as soon as we can. And you couldn't bring me down even if you tried." he turned and smiled...it was a calculated gamble, but with how accelerated her depression had become, he had to try -something-. "I'm holding hands with...the girl I think I am starting to..like...like." he spoke softer and slower the longer that sentence went on, but the message came across loud and clear. If the smiles and hugs were a sunbeam, this was a full on tropical sunshine that drove the rainclouds far away, Sayori's heart swelled as she listened.

"You..l-like..like….me?" she whispered, eyes welling with fresh tears...of a completely different sort. Even as the whispers of self loathing and sadness tried to speak up, for now...they were burned away like raindrops in the summer sun. for this one, perfect moment, she felt like she was a winner. She had her best friend back. He -liked- her...and she had a chance at happiness….realizing she needed to do -something- to change the subject before she burst from shy excitement…"So...p-poems?" she tilted her head.

Meanwhile

Emerald eyes, peering at scrolling text, gradually understanding less and less as it grew intensely more complex...long, dainty fingers folding together as she leaned forward on the desk she sat at. "...Sayori…...is now real?" she whispered in shock...as she swallowed, tears trailing down her cheeks. "She's..like...me...He...He really can do this...he's already changed so much...butt..he's still going." she leaned forward, resuming the vigil she had on the code…

AN: Woo. We got a kinda-confession from the MC. Not the definitive, desperate I love you, but a teenager telling a girl he likes her for the first time...while both are snotty, teary eyed wrecks. When better! Next time, we write poetry, see MC's plan, and what's going on with Monika spying on the code?!