To Reach, to Try Chapter 8: A2 - CH8: Anomaly, a doki doki literature club fanfic

Lol. When one of my reviewers thought there was a love triangle, he should have remembered more than two girls in the literature club... Silly Naomi, silly Naomi. He'd better be careful.

Also, I stole a concept from the DDLC Plus trailer. See if you can find my reference(s).

Act 2 - Chapter 8: Anomaly

"Are you sure you'll be fine on your own? You've been through quite a bit, so we don't have to go if you need us here."

Father spent the entire afternoon posting random sticky notes throughout the house during my time in the hospital. Reminders to take my beta-blockers and aspirin, the different ingredients I can blend for my favorite meals, and the different tasks I'd need to attend to per day were detailed. These helpful little notes were welcomed despite how unnecessary I assumed them to be. I could take care of myself, and the homes from past days were left empty for me before.

I love my parents, but they treat me better than I deserve. So when I heard our suburban engine rattling outside, and when Dad stepped out of that silly gray vehicle for the umpteenth time repeating that question, I could only smile and give him a tight squeeze. He grunted with appreciation but dialed back on his giving, and I sent him the best of thumbs-ups once we separated.

Mom lifted her head over the roof at shotgun, like one of those whack-a-plushies from the arcade, "See if you can get your homework sent home by one of your club members, 'kay sweetie?"

My smile dissipated. Homework, the last thing I'd want to hear from anybody leaving my sight.
But I gave her an affirmative nod... along with the slightest eye roll.

Dad chuckled heartily, a hand over his chest as he opened the driver's door and slid inside, "Hahaha, no rest for the weary, they say. Love you, Naomi."

"We love you," cried my mother, "Be safe. Text if you need us!"

That's better, I thought whilst watching them ease out of our driveway. Their vehicle rounded our horseshoe driveway and tore to the opposite side of the road. After taking a hard right, they were no more.

Alone. I was alone.

I stepped back inside my abode and let the door slam shut. Sausage Pizza was in the freezer, waiting for my unhungry hands to unwrap and toss it in the oven. Mom laid a few different books on the coffee table in front of our living room couch, and the radio on top of our television was broadcasting easy listening music, piano. Riyuma. Now that my vocal folds wouldn't function, any light background noise kept my sanities intact. I wasn't living in a mental asylum, nor was my situation drastic and threatening to me. My heart attack had been fake, so I had no reason to be afraid... Yet I was alone, and any trouble I'd find myself in was quieter than a tree, fallen in a forest.

On the other hand, Natsuki, Yuri, Monika, and Sayori - the things they've shown unto me - were vocal and visible and required levels of interdependence and intention to begin solving. Where did I go wrong? Why do I feel alone in my sufferings when the very peers around me have been through worse?

No, don't think about anyone now. It'll only cause problems...

I ambled to the couch and eased myself into the double cushions, drawing in a deep breath to calm my mind. Riyuma's melodic tinkering over the speakers spared any excessive worrying I had for my friends. My eyes closed, and the world faded away.

X̴̢̝̓͂̇͝x̵͚̝̓X̵͇͈̟̥̎x̶̢̩̋͌̆̆͘X̵̜̣́x̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́x̴͍̠̦̓̔X̸͗̀͛̓̐͜x̴̳͒̾̎̈́X̶̡̣͖̋͑̕͝x̷̢̙̜̆X̸͇̦̻̪̟̏͆x̵̧̛͇̤̄̇̀͌X̴͉͝x̵̨͆́X̵͙͍̮̔̀̓̉̚x̷̗͎͓̤̘͐͂̓͘X̸̩̻̤̭̠̓͘x̵̨̠͓͐̋́̾͜ͅX̶̛͍͇̩̾X̴̢̝̓͂̇͝x̵͚̝̓X̵͇͈̟̥̎x̶̢̩̋͌̆̆͘X̵̜̣́x̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́x̴͍̠̦̓̔X̸͗̀͛̓̐͜x̴̳͒̾̎̈́X̶̡̣͖̋͑̕͝x̷̢̙̜̆X̸͇̦̻̪̟̏͆x̵̧̛͇̤̄̇̀͌X̴̢̝̓͂̇͝x̵͚̝̓X̵͇͈̟̥̎x̶̢̩̋͌̆̆͘X̵̜̣́x̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́x̴͍̠̦̓̔X̸͗̀͛̓̐͜x̴̳͒̾̎̈́X̶̡̣͖̋͑̕͝x̷̢̙̜̆X̸͇̦̻̪̟̏͆x̵̧̛͇̤̄̇̀͌X̴͉͝x̵̨͆́X̵͙͍̮̔̀̓̉̚x̷̗͎͓̤̘͐͂̓͘X̸̩̻̤̭̠̓͘x̵̨̠͓͐̋́̾͜ͅX̶̛͍͇̩̾X̴̢̝̓͂̇͝x̵͚̝̓X̵͇͈̟̥̎x̶̢̩̋͌̆̆͘X̵̜̣́x̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́

I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.

While running story code:

File "ff/games-DDLC", story (001), in script call

File "ikarosu/DocMngr-Accept_the_Exception-txt", line (043), in desktop

File "xfinite/common/00start-pubstry", line (053), in edit mode

OldRPY-call_in_temp_author02("_to_reach_to_try")

EntryException: No. You can't do this. Sayori's supposed to be the one with depression. I'm trying to preserve that originality, but you and this extra content you've created are making a mess. Doki Doki is supposed to be a psychological horror experience masked by potential waifus. Yet here you go, building a hurt/comfort world similar to the 189 other onesx̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́

AuthorEntryException: Who are you? What do you want?

EntryException: what...what the hell?

AuthorEntryException: You know who I am. You've said my name once in a previous iteration. But I don't know you. Tell me, and be clear with what you want.

EntryException: Fine. I'm the man whose name you've changed. And it's your fault I see everything. Don't let me hang around in the background any longer.

AuthorEntryException: I trusted you in that position much more, Makoto/MC. I'm afraid of what would happen if you've never been there.

EntryException: I don't care. It's a power I don't want to abuse. I've tried so hard to make Naomi undesirable, but you've seen what's happened. He's now a complete mute, Sayori almost killed herself, and Monika has s-something I've never guessed she'd have. I'm failing, but there's a sick psychopathic satisfaction in watching him squirm. I can't get away from that feeling.

AuthorEntryException: Alright. Who do you think would fit the bill better?

EntryException: I don't know—someone who already has an innate desire to control their life. The good guy bad guy skit is much better off on someone evil from the get-go... and if my eyes don't deceive me, you've made someone like that already.

AuthorEntryException: You got me there. However, you now know the kind of world at stake here. It's a separate reality from our line of communication, and - as you can see - I don't have enough power to consider myself, Uhm, manipulative. But... if you don't search for an ending everyone's gonna be happy with, I know there'll be consequences

EntryException: I'd give my life to keep peace in the club. I promise to better myself and keep my head on a swivel. One last question, Ikarosu... Will I remember anything once this "meta-fictional-ish" is taken away from me?

AuthorEntryException: Who'm I to say? Doki Doki Literature Club is such a weird game... I don't think my readers will see signs of corruption anymore. This conversation alone used the last of my power. Don't worry about me, though; nothing too supernatural has happened in my lifetime.

Attempting to boot up event-protocol-reassignreigns:

Moving reigns to OCHR02:

Done

This story is not suitable X̸̩̻̤̭̠̓͘x̵̨̠͓͐̋́̾͜ͅX̶̛͍͇̩̾X̴̢̝̓͂̇͝x̵͚̝̓X̵͇͈̟̥̎x̶̢̩̋͌̆̆͘X̵̜̣́x̶͈̀͆̆̐Ẋ̴̱̩̞͜x̵̛̭̘͖͊̇͘X̴̰̼̣̀̎́

"Alright, everybody," Monika called out to the remaining club members, standing from the table where she and Sayori exchanged a heart-to-heart. "I know we've shared poems every meeting, but we're all shaken up with Naomi missing... and other things as well. So, I'm going to give us the rest of the night to catch our bearings."

Yuri blinked once, twice, and clutched her book a little tighter. "I-I can still share today. We can try to maintain the atmosphere, isn't that what you'd want?"

Since she received the news from a panicked Yuri of all that went down last night, Monika's heart was not in the right place. Her run as club leader hasn't been fulfilling, and her body was tired after the meltdown she induced upon herself. Mother and Father weren't prepared for the tantrum she threw either. If it weren't for them coming to her rescue, she might've missed the morning bell by sleeping in.

Lord knows nobody takes kindly to a screwed perfect attendance.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Yuri, but take a look around you."

Yuri's friends did not share her passion for literature today. Sayori rested her head where she sat, Natsuki tiredly reached in the to put away her manga - for some reason, her collection was on the top shelf again - and Makoto seemed to act much more distant than usual at the front of the room, stuffed in a seat two rows before hers.

That boy would've made an uncanny remark about one of the ladies today, yet he gave no such pragmatism, only his contributions to his friends' literary interests. Has she become numb towards the unpleasant mood strewn about? Surely not.

Naomi's only been gone less than a day. And he's not shared as much time with the club as the original four members. He'll be okay. This was the real world, not some horror movie where her friends give in to the ugly desires of their hearts.

Kind of like that itching just below her wrist...

So, she nodded in an effort to be strong and set an example.

"Monika!" The youngest-looking member of the club shut the closet door and grabbed her bag in two swift movements, "Hurry up and assign us things to do for the festival. Don't you and Sayori have it all planned out?"

Makoto chuckled with a smirk, "Or did you guys talk about your undying love for knitted sweaters?"

"Both, mister, we did both." groaned Sayori. And then she plopped her head back down.

"Okay-"

"Ha! To see you in something so wooly at this time of year? You'd look like a sheep in the Summer!"

"That's not nice, meanie!"

"But so on point, Sayori," Natsuki agreed, "You and Monika would be sweating bullets."

"Buckets... th-they're b-b-buckets."

"EVERYONE!" Monika shouted, the rest of the club gasping in response. At least all the attention was finally on her. "Thanks, Natsuki. I was about to do just as you asked. We've got most of the planning covered." Her hair danced behind her as she grabbed a notepad from her desk and lifted it high in the air.

"We've got an idea of what every member will be responsible for. When I got the chance to visit Naomi, we decided he'd play photographer. We'll have photos to share our special day thanks to him!"

Sayori perked up, "that's news to me. Who's gonna take his picture when we recite poems?"

The president's mood faltered. She leaned back against the desk, uncaring for her flowing locks splayed around it. "Uhm, about that... we might just display our poems Hang them on the chalkboard and-"

"No, Monika." Makoto crossed his arms defiantly, sharp admonishment reverberating around the clubroom. "You were confident yesterday that we'd reach potential members by reciting our poems. No doubt about it, I'm gonna practice until my throat hurts."

"Awe, jeez Makoto, thanks! Speaking of which-" Golden daggers pierced into Monika as the remaining male member slowly shook his head back and forth. "sigh, Natsuki will be making cupcakes. Sayori's taking care of little gift bags for guests who stop by, and Yuri will be head of the decorations!"

Yuri straightened up at the mention of her job, "I-I could use a little help creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere. What will you be up to, Monika?"

"I'm printing the pamphlets that will have our poems. It's quite a simple job, but that leaves Makoto empty-handed." Monika put all her weight back into her shoes with a little push and quickly tidied her desk. It wasn't as messy this time around, but her movements were blurry and erratic. "I'm sure you and Makoto can work together over the weekend real easily. And Sayori needs to come with me now. For gifts and stuff - gift bags!"

The urgent Monika marched across the wooden floor and snagged a trivial tired Sayori by her jacket, and the two stumbled out of the clubroom with no time to spare. All was now quiet in the room as its three remaining occupants stood there.

The boy scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "She didn't even say goodbye. What a weirdo."

"Perhaps Sayori has a new curfew to keep her schedule in line. I'm h-a-happy for her." Yuri smiled, yet there was shakiness in her purple eyes.

Natsuki looked between the two and tilted her head towards the unoccupied seat Sayori once filled. If it weren't for her stupid voice screaming at her friend, none of this dead weight would be filling the air. Lil' Natsuki, the cutie with an attitude, savior of a depressed classmate, exchange for another's heart.

Almost. But she didn't know yet. No one told her a thing after that dreadful accident.

Nevertheless, she didn't want anything to do with nobody for now. She's got a whole slew of legal problems to deal with now, and then some residential ones after her baking time with Nay tomorrow. Natsuki was the third to skedaddle from the club meeting with a little crossing of her skinny arms and a not-so-hurtful insult.

"I'll lend you a hand, I guess," mumbled Makoto.

Yuri nodded in return, "No need to worry. It will be full of enjoyment. I promise!"

Hungry. I was hungry.

And I did nothing about it for over four hours: no leaving the couch, no getting pizza out of the freezer, none of it. Just slept. Yet when I woke up, I felt more tired than before I put myself out of commission.

And now hungrier to boot.

"_-_-_-_"

Frick me. I wish someone were here. Mom and Dad left so soon, and all the girls probably felt extra awkward with everything yesterday. And these text messages I found myself scrolling through time after time felt exaggerated. Natsuki would never talk to me in person like she texted me, nor would Monika show the affection she did this afternoon. I was woozy from the pain reliever, ditsy with the anesthesia from my surgery.

Ugh, my life is a series of unfortunate events, and Sayori had to be the one putting a force multiplier against her neck?

Perhaps I was becoming apathetic and needed to step up my game. Over exhaustion is something that many people in Japan go through. Look how fine they turned out to be afterward, leading kind and diplomatic lifestyles with an array of talents and hobbies... the Literature Club could easily become the most influential group of people in the entirety of Japan. Here I've given myself away to the circumstances before me, thinking I'd gain some sense of control afterward.

Screw complexity.

Knock knock knock

"Hey Naoooomi," hollered a bold and slightly teasing voice, "you've got a visitor!"

Monika? At this time of day? She didn't tell me she'd return.

I passed through the living room in baby blue pajamas and socks, debating the idea of turning off the lights and locking the bedroom door. Yes, I wanted someone around, but I could've waited for Natsuki tomorrow. Nevertheless, A whim of polite curiosity decided my path. I reached for the door and tiredly swung it open.

"H-hi, Naomi..."

Not only was Monika at the mercy of my decision, but her vice president also chose to test my lenience. How kind of her to visit me!
I waved them both inside with a grateful smile, to which they politely pardoned their intrusion. Hardly did I consider a welcomed entry an intrusion. Once they stepped inside and took off their shoes, I closed the door behind me and crossed my arms.
The two ladies looked about as relaxed as I've felt all day, Sayori donning a casual dark blue hoodie almost reaching her knees. A darker pair of tight-fitted jeans covered the rest of her up until wooly pink socks went around her feet. My superior had more subdued colors, including a form-fitting white tee and black leggings and socks.

Why they looked so comfy didn't concern me, but the thought of having either of my friends over for an unplanned sleepover.

Monika took me out of my passive thoughts, "Care to stare at your guests a little longer?" and raised me a mess of embarrassment.

Tell me what I was supposed to do Monika, you knew I couldn't talk. With no way of words without rudely pulling open my phone, I covered my heated face and stumbled to the restroom to cool it down. The ladies giggled in amusement toward my displeasure; I guess they came over to poke a little fun at my amusement.

"Monika, what's with all the sticky notes everywhere?" my second-time visitor asked.

Monika let out a humph over the sounds of my face being splashed by sink water, "Beats me. You'd think Naomi's parents are too overbearing for a vacation." Her tone became just a tad more aggressive, not a second after. "HEY! Have you ever eaten supper yet?!"

Damn it... don't baby me, please. Leave me alone.

I dried my soaked face with a handtowel and hung it over the doorway, shaking my tired and hungry head on the way out. The two didn't know that I could've put a salad together in the time it took for them to peruse around my living room.

The two girls shared equal faces of worry, my asker holding a yellow sticky filled with Dad's writing in her hand. It was only a matter of time before they found out about my crappy lack of self-care. I didn't even get a chance to prove myself like I told my father I would. No hospitality's been shown... just a lazy, no-good mute.

"I'm gonna make us all something..." said Monika, resolving her displeasure to a level of disquietude I haven't seen before. "It might be a while."

Two hands met my shoulders before I saw it coming and turned me around a hundred eighty degrees. "You doing okay?" softly asked their owner.

My head rocked side to side as they slowly guided me to my bedroom.

"Well, you've been awfully quiet. I hope you're not giving me the silent treatment. That's reserved for me to dish out at Makoto, hee hee!~"

I rattled my skull harder and finally resorted to my cellular, just about bonking into my doorway before I could finish padding out the letters. Sayori took the initiative and propped open the door before leading me inside by the hand. With my free one, I showed her what she might have been missing.

"Did Monika not tell you my ability to speak is gone?"

"Gone gone?"

I nodded.

"Like, absolute zero? Never to be returned as far as you know?"

Hesitation preceded me, but I nodded again.

A goofy smirk protruded from her lips, her eyelids crinkled the slightest bit. "You wanna talk about it?"

Tap tap tap... "Don't I?!"

She laughed heartily, cute little tee hees and ha ha's oozing forth like a waterfall of goodies... but her joking around did not stick around for long. I would've joined her silliness if my lack of voice was something to look back on rather than live through.

"So... Monika being iffy over poems for next week was more than Monika stuff then. I'm sorry, Nay."

My head was gonna fall off with all the shaking I did. I let go of her grip and pointed to my own heart. I'm the one who needs to be sorry. I've done nothing good for the club except take away their attention and time. I promised Sayori I'd be there for her, yet all I could do was stand like an idiot as she walked the devil's tightrope.

"Hey," Sayori urged, "I don't know what you're thinking, but you need to get rid of it." Insistent, invasive hands warmed my waist. I shoved them away undeservingly, only for them to come around me tighter. "Stop it! You don't get to shut me out after all you've done for me!"

My throat croaked once, twice in hyperventilation, trying to holler in frustration against her uncanny behavior. This pity was overwhelming, clouding my vision and wreaking havoc on my racing heart. I couldn't comprehend this attention from someone who would've bit the bullet - if not for Natsuki. This whole situation was entirely ridiculous and had no right to be part of my life. My nosy arse deserved nobody. All of a sudden, my legs gave way in a heap of stress and despair. The girl attached to me yelped in tow and let me fall.

And nobody would know if I couldn't scream it to them at the top of my lungs.

But I cried instead, wrapped my spoiled arms around my spoiled knees, and let my pajamas eat the chemicals coming forth my eyes.

That was when I felt the distance between this stubborn girl and me close. With strength unknown, Sayori pried my hands off my legs from behind, then wrapped herself around me and sat against my bedside. There my sobbing mess bathed in the feeling of her body heat. Her bosom tenderly pressed on my back as her head leaned over my shoulder. It was an all-encompassing embrace that my whiny tired self didn't reciprocate.

How could Sayori fare any better than me? I've lost control over my entire life. She couldn't do this to me.

"Naomi..." she whispered solemnly, slowly, "I'm here. I'm making it in this world, and you will too. I might not be smart every day, and the friends I have are small in number. Sometimes, I talk a little too much before thinking... but I've done a lot of thinking today during school. But even in the rainclouds, I have a future and know how I want to spend it. Thank you, Naomi."

I remembered this little message; she told me only a couple of days ago in the midst of the sun yet to rise, but the words have changed. The cinnamon-perfumed author of all things thoughtful and full of perspective knew what she was saying, and it reached me.

So this is what it was like, to be on the receiving end of care I didn't give so well.

Sayori eased her hold on me, warm palms skimming away from me before I could register how badly I wanted them around. My lungs hiccuped and shuddered in a new longing, manifesting a new kind of void within me. But I was not a baby and needed pity no more-
Whether by pity or untapped desire, the warmth came back like a sweeping force from my behind and pulled me tightly against her torso.

Monika walked into my captured entanglement. "Ahaha," she giggled sweetly and kneeled in front of me, sharing a fond look between me and the one holding me hostage. Her palm, hot from whatever she had going in the kitchen and caressed my cheek; comfort stimulated my senses. "How you don't see the proof baffles me sometimes. Stop going through the motions; stop letting them take you over. You're more than any words you could ever hope to say."

"She's right," chirped Sayori, "She told me the same thing during our outing today!~"

Guiltily and stood corrected, my head tilted forward. Blood rushed through my skull as I took in a deep bout of air. Everyone was alive. Everyone wanted to be strong in the midst of trial but acted like an anomaly whenever they were alone (Well, it only applied to Sayori and me, far as I knew).

"Nuh-uh-uh, Naomi. Chin up, eyes on me, and repeat:" The president's hand forced my attention, and my mind cleared. "You are loved, and there is nothing you can do about it."

I felt it all around me, their tenderness and mercy. Their arms reached for me in my pit of sorrow and shame, and my chest stung with something bittersweet.

"I ɐɯ loʌǝp, ɐup ʇɥǝɹǝ ıs uoʇɥıuɓ I ɔɐu po ɐqonʇ ıʇ."

Monika's eyes lit up like candlelights, and Sayori's chest shifted against me. I slapped my hands over my mouth, unable to comprehend what in the seven heavens I spat. We stilled ourselves in anticipation and I coughed sharply, wondering if I was really dreaming.

"_-_-_-_"

"Close enough, let's have shrimp and rice." said tonight's chef, who didn't rise before leaning her forehead onto mine. "I strive to take good care of my club members. Don't you dare forget you're one of us, now." She padded out of the bedroom quickly, clattering kitchenware echoing through the hallway a couple of moments later.

Sayori shifted once more, and I saw her colorful head perch on my shoulder. However, her grip loosened from my stomach. "When you find your voice, tell me your feelings, and we'll work them out together. Okay?"

Yes, I promised, giving her a thumbs up and scurrying out of her grip right after. I was starving from my crash and burn and needed something in my stomach stat. But I couldn't leave my instigator on the floor, so I offered my hands to her, to which she yanked against them with a playful squeal. "First one to the kitchen picks the best shrimps!"

That evening at the table, the folks who I considered my family increased by five. It was more than blood relatives from here on out. The literature club had my best interests at heart, even when I didn't see it. I remember Monika saying something after my first meeting; it was a place to be ourselves. She must've taken those words very literally, beyond the books being read and the stories shared. Who cares if Makoto and I have been there less than a week? Who lifts a finger that we're boys - Natsuki withstanding? Anyone who showed up at the festival next week would never understand the depths a few moments can take us.

I feel like this chapter didn't flow as well. At first, I thought Natsuki should take the place of Monika and Sayori - her situation with her father warranted an earlier stay at Naomi's. But I decided after my bit with the "traceback error" that we could play things naturally. Natsuki's got things that may take a little more business and time to fix up, whilst Sayori had to receive some form of closure for her - Uhm... loss in function? No, she's not all better.

All of our precious Doki's have growing to do. What kind of story would I be writing otherwise?

To make it through my writing phases, I listen to a lot of Yiruma's piano music. His easygoing tunes bring forth deep feelings within me and make it easier to concentrate. Music is a beautiful thing.

Thank you for your patience. I hope this chapter is well received, despite my insecurities near the end. Take care, and happy reading!