(Monday, 8:15PM; Aki's House; Monika's PoV)

Everyone has finished their Secret Santa, except for me, and through the process of elimination, I know exactly who gifted me.

Aki: "I guess you're last Monika, and I think you can guess who the gifter is."

Monika: "Yep, let's see what you got me!"

I unwrap the gift, and see that there's a small box. I open it up to see… a ring?! I stare at the ring, stunned, with a loss of words.

Aki: "Oh no, do you not like it?"

Obviously Aki says that in a teasing tone.

Monika: "I-its… its beautiful…"

I start cry a little, but happy tears this time.

Aki: "Ah dammit, don't cry!"

Aki then comes up to me and hugs me. Everyone's looking curiously at us, since I haven't revealed what Aki got me yet.

Aki: "Alright, show everyone the gift, or they're gonna die out of curiosity."

I then slowly reveal the ring to everyone, who then wears the same stunned expression as me.

Natsuki: "Wow, you didn't have to make our gifts look bad!"

Aki: 'Hey, that wasn't my intention! I knew Monika wanted this so I got it for her, that's all."

How did he know that I was looking at this ring?

Monika: "H-how did you know?"

Aki: "Well, remember we went to the mall the other day?"

Monika: "Yeah?"

Aki: "Well, if you recall I took a mini break, and left you alone for a minute. Once I came back, I saw from a distance that you were eyeing this one. So, I got it."

Monika: "I-is that why we went to the mall?"

Aki: "Maaaaybeeee?"

I smile through my tears and softly punch Aki's shoulder.

Monika: "I knew something was up…"

Natsuki: "Okay, we're done with this right? How 'bout we chill for a bit here while you two get a room?"

Monika: "I'm sorry Natsuki… I just really love the gift."

Natsuki: "Yeah yeah, whatever."

We all stand up and split into small groups. Aki and I were talking, and the others were talking amongst themselves. In the middle of our conversation, Aki suddenly looks like he's in a lot of pain. He clutches his chest in an attempt to reduce the pain, but it doesn't seem to do much.

Aki: "M-Monika…"

Monika: "Aki?! What's wrong?!"

Everyone turns their attention towards Aki. He looks like in an insane amount of pain.

Monika: "Aki, say something!"

Aki: "M-my… chest-"

After trying to speak, he suddenly falls on the floor.

Monika: "AKI!"

I get on the ground to check on Aki. I shake him around, but he's not responding.

Monika: "SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

Sayori gets her phone and calls 911.

Sayori: "Hello?! Please help, our friend just fainted and they seem to be unconscious!"

Sayori listens to her phone for a few more seconds before hanging up.

Sayori: "They called an ambulance, it should be here soon."

I keep trying to help Aki wake up. I shake him around a little more, and more violently.

Monika: "Get some water!"

Sayori runs to the kitchen and gets a glass of water. I dip my hands in the cups, and splash water on Aki's face. I try multiple times, but he still isn't waking up. I hear a knock on the door and Sayori rushes to open it.

Paramedic: "Did someone call an ambulance?"

Sayori: "Yes, please help us!"

Sayori then directs the paramedics to where I am. I step away from Aki, and they carry Aki into a stretcher. They take Aki inside the ambulance, and the four of us follow.

Paramedic: "Woah woah woah, only two people can come in the back."

Monika: "Okay, me and Sayori will go. Natsuki, Yuri, go in a taxi."

I then hand some money to Yuri to pay for the taxi. Sayori and I then get in the ambulance, and we head to the hospital. On the ride, I'm heavily crying, while Sayori is trying to calm me down.

So many thoughts are rushing through my head. What happened? Is everything going to me okay? Is Aki's chest pain from that one day related to this? Just before he fainted he said something about his chest, did it come back?

We eventually reach the hospital, and the paramedics open the back door. Sayori and I get off the car, and the paramedics rush Aki into the hospital. Sayori and I follow behind them until we reach a room. One of the guys stops us and tells us that we can't go any further, and he tells us to sit in one of the benches nearby.

Sayori and I follow his orders and sit on the bench. Once again I'm crying a lot, and Sayori is trying to calm me down. She's crying too, but not as much as me. Around ten minutes later, Yuri and Natsuki come towards us.

Yuri: "W-what happened?!"

I can't bring myself to speak, I keep on crying.

Sayori: "They took Aki into that room over there…"

Sayori then points to one of the rooms.

Yuri: "Oh dear…"

Sayori: "I called Aki's mom and told her about all this as well."

Yuri: "What did she say?"

Sayori: "She said she's taking the next flight home. She should be here by tomorrow."

Yuri: "O-okay…"

No one says anything for a while.

Yuri: "I-is Monika okay?"

Monika: "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M OKAY?!"

Yuri jumps at my sudden outburst and hides behind her hair.

Monika: "I-I'm so sorry Yuri… I didn't mean to snap…"

Yuri: "I-it's okay…"

Suddenly, a doctor comes out of the room from where Aki was.

Doctor: "Are you all the people who brought uh… Akihito? Akihito Yamada is the full name."

Sayori: "Yes, that would be us."

Doctor: "Is his parent or legal guardian present at the moment?"

Sayori: "No, his mother lives abroad, but will arrive tomorrow."

Doctor: "I see. May I ask how you four are related to Akihito?"

Sayori: "We're all school friends of his."

Monika: "A-and…"

Doctor: "Hm? Did you say something, ma'am?"

Monika: "I-I'm his… g-girlfriend…"

Doctor: "I see…"

Sayori: "Is everything alright, doctor?"

Doctor: "Well, I can't disclose much details to anyone other than the parent, but I can tell you that your friend is safe and out of danger for now."

Sayori: "Oh thank god…"

Doctor: "May I ask what happened?"

Sayori: "We were having a Christmas party at his house when suddenly he fainted. I don't know many details, but you can ask Monika here."

Doctor: "Monika? Who would that be?"

Monika: "T-that would be me…"

Doctor: "I see, you said you were his girlfriend, correct?"

Monika: "Yes…"

Doctor: "Can you tell me what happened?"

Monika: "W-well we were just talking… when suddenly he clutched his chest in pain. He said something about having chest pain a few days ago… do you know anything about that?"

Doctor: "We have found the reason for the chest pain, and it is the same reason he fainted today. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose those details to you. They would have to be told to the parent, who you said is coming tomorrow."

Monika: "Okay… thank you doctor…"

Doctor: "No problem."

Monika: "U-um… can we see him?"

Doctor: "We are still checking on him, but we will soon move him to another room where you will be able to visit him."

Monika: "Okay…"

Doctor: "Well, it was nice meeting you four. I will have to return to check on your friend, and we will let you know when you can see Akihito."

The doctor then returns to the room where they're treating Aki.

Yuri: "U-um, Monika?"

Monika: "Hm?"

Yuri: "I-I have to return home soon, may I leave?"

Monika: "Oh I completely forgot, yeah you are all free to return home."

Yuri: "T-thank you…"

Natsuki: "I need to head home as well. Bye Monika."

Monika: "Take care Natsuki."

Yuri and Natsuki then leave the hospital to head to their homes.

Monika: "You can head home too, Sayori."

Sayori: "It's okay, I'll stay. I know you're going to stay here because you care for Aki. I'll be here just to make sure you don't go too crazy, ehehe."

Monika: "Ahaha, okay. What will your parents say?"

Sayori: "I live alone, so it's okay. Plus, I care about Aki too. He may be your boyfriend, but he's been my best friend since childhood. I care about him as much as you do, although not in the same way."

Monika: "Okay. Hey, what did Akira say when you told her about Aki?"

Sayori: "Well, she was extremely worried as you can imagine. She then said she's coming here right away, and she's taking the first flight she can. She should be here by tomorrow morning."

Monika: "Okay, thank you Sayori."

The doctors from Aki's room come out with a stretcher. I can see Aki for a glimpse, asleep. I try to get a better look, but one of the doctors stops me and tells me to wait until they transport him to the other room. Around ten minutes later, the same doctor that spoke to us before came up to us.

Doctor: "Okay, we put your friend in another room. He's still sleeping but you can visit him. Please do not wake him up."

Monika: "Yes sir."

He then leads us to the room where Aki is. Upon arriving there, I can see that Aki is sleeping, and an IV pouch is connected to his arm.

Doctor: "You guys can look at him, but please don't wake him up. Let him wake up on his own."

Monika: "Do you know when he will wake up?"

Doctor: "It might be a few hours, but if you catch him waking up, then you can talk with him."

Monika: "Okay, thank you doctor."

Doctor: "I'll leave you two be."

The doctor then leaves the room. I walk up to Aki to take a closer look at him. There doesn't seem to be any cuts or anything on him.

Sayori: "Hey Monika?"

Monika: "Yeah?"

Sayori: "How long do you plan on staying?"

Monika: "Until Aki wakes up or the doctor tells me to leave."

Sayori: "Are you sure?"

Monika: "One hundred percent."

Sayori: "Okay."

I bring up a chair next to Aki's bed, and I gently hold his hand.

Sayori: "Monika, the doctor said to not disturb him!"

Monika: "I'm just holding his hand, don't worry. It's not even the one that's connected to the IV."

Sayori: "If you say so…"

I stay next to Aki for another hour, before trying to sleep. It seems like Sayori started sleeping on the bench.

(Monday, 1:00AM; Hospital; Monika's PoV)

I'm having a hard time sleeping. For the past few hours I've just been resting my head on Aki's bed, and trying to sleep. I'm about to sleep when Aki suddenly shoots up.

Aki: "W-where am I?! What is this place?!"

Monika: "Aki it's okay! Calm down, I'm right here!"

Aki: "W-what's happening?!"

Monika: "Aki it's me Monika! Calm down!"

Aki: "M-Monika? W-where am I?"

Monika: "You're at the hospital. Don't worry, you're safe here."

Aki: "W-what happened?"

Monika: "We were at the Christmas party when you suddenly fainted. We took you to the hospital and you've been resting here ever since."

Aki: "Y-you stayed here for me?"

Monika: "Of course silly!"

Aki takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down.

Aki: "Okay, I think I'm okay now."

Monika: "There's no need to worry, I'm right here."

Aki: "Where are the others?"

Monika: "After we admitted you into the hospital, Yuri and Natsuki went home."

Aki: "What about Sayori?"

Monika: "She's-"

Sayori: "I'm right here."

Monika: "D-did we wake you up?"

Sayori: "Kinda, but it's okay."

Sayori then comes up to us.

Sayori: "How are you feeling Aki?"

Aki: "I'm okay. How come you guys stayed here this late?"

Monika: "Well, I wanted to be with you until you woke up."

Sayori: "And I stayed here so that Monika wouldn't freak out."

Aki: "Did she?"

Sayori: "Not really, but there were a lot of tears."

Monika: "Don't tell him that!"

Aki: "Aww, you cared about me. You must've been really worried, huh?"

Monika: "Of course I was! You literally fainted in front of my eyes!"

Aki: "Heh, sorry to make you worry."

Monika: "Well, at least you're okay now."

Aki: "Yep."

We stay silent for a few minutes.

Sayori: "Sooo, now what?"

Aki smiles a little, before looking at me.

Aki: "Monikaaaaaaaaa…"

I see where this is going.

Monika: "What is it Aki?"

Aki: "I wanna sleeeeeeeeeep…"

Monika: "Ahaha, you're just repeating yourself on purpose aren't you?"

Aki just simply smiles back.

Monika: "Alright, we'll all get some sleep."

Aki: "Thaaaaaaank youuuuuuuuuu…"

Sayori goes back to the bench and begins to sleep again. Aki lays down on his bed, and I rest my head on his bed and hold his hand.

Aki: "Heh, you're trying to steal my bed?"

Monika: "I'm gonna sleep right here whether you like it or not."

Aki: "Alright alright, I won't stop you. Good night, Monika."

Monika: "Good night, Aki."