(Monday, 4:00PM; School; Akihito's PoV)

Wow, the school day went by so fast. Now it's time to head to the club. Upon arriving at the club, I see that everyone else has arrived.

Monika: "Hey Aki!"

Aki: "Hey. What's the plan for today?"

Monika: "Nothing much, you can just chill for today."

Aki: "Alright."

I take a seat at a nearby desk, and begin to browse my phone. Maybe I can do some reading on it. After a few minutes, Monika gets up from her desk, which is really the teacher's desk, and heads towards the back of the room. I guess she's gonna try and talk to Yuri, since she's usually seated at the back of the room.

I can't really see what they're doing without looking like I'm stalking them, and they're out of hearing distance, so I'm stuck with my own curiosity. After a few moments, both Monika and Yuri head back towards the front of the club and out the door into the hallway.

Once they leave the room, I retreat back to my phone, only to be interrupted by someone tapping my shoulder rather aggressively.

Aki: "What is it?!"

Sayori: "Why did they go out?"

Aki: "How am I supposed to know?"

Sayori: "I don't know, don't you have some sort of telepathy powers with your girlfriend?"

Aki: "Sayori, that's not how a relationship works."

Sayori: "Well she would've at least told you what she was doing!"

Aki: "Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but she didn't. I have no idea why Monika and Yuri went out just now."

Which is a complete lie, but I can't have her knowing the whole plan.

Sayori: "Are you suuuure?"

Aki: "Yes. I am."

Sayori: "But are you suuuure?"

Aki: "Yes I am suuuure. Happy?"

Sayori: "Hmm… if you say so…"

Sayori then leaves and heads back to her normal spot. I shake my head and retreat back to my phone, only to be interrupted by the sound of the clubroom door opening. In comes Monika and Yuri. Monika then turns towards me and motions me to come outside to talk. Is this gonna be a repeat of the Natsuki situation?

I follow her command and head outside the clubroom. We head to the end of the hallway, where we spoke last time when we were finding out about Natsuki's situation.

Aki: "Alright, what did she say?"

Monika doesn't answer, and just simply stares at me. Her face doesn't show any emotion at all. No sadness, no happiness, nothing.

Aki: "Uh, you there? What did Yuri say?"

She still doesn't say anything. What's going on with Monika?

Aki: "Monika? What did she-"

Monika: "Nothing."

Aki: "What do you mean?"

Monika: "She didn't say anything."

Huh?!

(Monday, 4:00PM; School; Monika's PoV)

Ah, another long day of school finished. Now it's time to head to the club. Everyday I try to get there early, but alas I am always beaten. Entering the room, I see Natsuki in her usual spot reading her manga.

Monika: "Good afternoon Natsuki!"

Natsuki: "Hey Monika."

Monika: "What're you doing?"

Natsuki: "Same thing I've been doing ever since I joined this club."

Just then, Sayori enters the clubroom, with Yuri behind her.

Monika: "Hey guys!"

Sayori: "Hi Monika! How was school today?"

Monika: "Same as usual, how about you?"

Sayori: "Pretty good!"

Monika: "How about you, Yuri?"

Yuri: "It was rather well today."

Monika: "That's good to hear! Well, we're not doing anything today, so you guys can just chill for sometime."

Sayori and Yuri then go to their usual spots. A few minutes later, Aki comes into the room.

Monika: "Hey Aki!"

Aki: "Hey. What's the plan for today?"

Monika: "Nothing much, you can just chill for today."

Aki: "Alright."

Aki then takes a seat at an empty desk. Maybe this is a good time to talk with Yuri. I get up from my desk and walk up to Yuri. It seems she's really into her book, so I tap her shoulder lightly to get her attention, while not scaring her. She then looks up from her book and wears a smile upon seeing me.

Yuri: "Greetings, Monika."

Monika: "Hey, you mind stepping out with me for a minute?"

Yuri: "Is there something important?"

Monika: "Yeah, I need to discuss some future plans with you."

Yuri: "Shouldn't Sayori be the person for that since she's the vice president?"

Dammit, she has a point.

Monika: "Yes, I know. But this is a… surprise for her! Which is why she shouldn't know about it."

Yuri: "I see… okay, we can step out."

Monika: "Great!"

We both then head out of the clubroom and into the hallway.

Yuri: "So, what's the surprise for Sayori?"

Monika: "Yeah, about that… I may or may not have lied."

Yuri: "Lied? But for what?"

Monika: "...Yuri we need to talk."

Yuri: "About?"

Monika: "I'm really concerned about you, Yuri. I know I saw something that day when you tripped. Can you please talk to me?"

Yuri: "Monika, I told you on the phone that I don't have any of these scars you are talking about. Why are you persistent about this?"

Monika: "When I was on the phone with you, you sounded very nervous and hesitant about my questions."

Yuri: "That's because I'm not used to being confronted. And you know I get nervous all the time, so why is it such a shock to you?"

Monika: "You don't act that way around me and the club! You're always comfortable when we're with you!"

Yuri: "But you guys have never confronted me like that before, and as I said earlier I'm not used to being confronted, thus making me act that way."

Why is it so hard to get through Yuri?! I bet if Aki was here he'd be able to get Yuri to open up.

Monika: "You know what? You're right. I'm sorry for doubting you, Yuri. Shall we head back now?"

Yuri: "Yes, we shall."

We then head back to the clubroom. Once we enter, Yuri heads back to her seat, and I motion Aki to come outside with me. He gets out of his chair, and we head outside to the spot where Yuri and I had our conversation.

Aki: "Alright, what did she say?"

I don't answer, I just simply stare at him. The audacity of him to assume she let out everything.

Aki: "Uh, you there? What did Yuri say?"

I still don't say anything to him.

Aki: "Monika? What did she-"

Monika: "Nothing."

Aki: "What do you mean?"

Monika: "She didn't say anything."

Aki: "Huh?! You mean she literally didn't say a word?"

Monika: "No, she spoke. But she dodged all my questions."

Aki: "How so?"

Monika: "She'd answer them in a certain way, so that it seemed like a valid answer without giving me a single ounce of info."

Aki: "Alright, tell me word for word what you both said."

I tell Aki the conversation Yuri and I had as per his request. He listens to the full thing thoroughly, without interrupting me once. Soon enough, I finish the whole flashback.

Aki: "Alright, that's where you went wrong."

Monika: "Huh?!"

Aki: "First of all, you gave up. You didn't push her."

Monika: "That's because she wouldn't give any answers!"

Aki: "Then you should've asked the right questions."

Monika: "What do you mean?!"

Aki: "From your questions, your main goal was to see why she was hesitant about talking, not finding out about her scars."

Monika: "They're the same thing!"

Aki: "Yes, in a sense, but you didn't ask enough."

Monika: "Alright then, tell me what I should have asked instead."

Aki: "You should have told her to show her arms to you then and there. If she resisted, then at least you can confirm that there is something she's hiding."

Monika: "But-"

I pause, thinking about what Aki said.

Monika: "I guess you have a point."

Aki: "Still, you did confirm that she is hiding something by dodging the questions."

Monika: "So my efforts aren't fully gone to waste?"

Aki: "They never were. It's just that you could have done better."

Monika: "Alright. Next time, you're asking the questions."

Aki: "You know I can't do that."

Monika: "Why not?"

Aki: "Well first, I don't know Yuri. So it'd be awkward if I were to ask her about something this serious. Second, in her mind I don't know about any of this. Sure, you asked to talk with me right after you talked with Yuri, but I doubt she'd think that far."

Monika: "I think she would. Based on her answers, she knows how to be a detective and how to dodge an interrogation."

Aki: "If that's the case then-"

Natsuki: "Yo! Can you guys stop making out and come back? You've been out there for like fifteen minutes!"

Has it really been that long?

Monika: "Alright, we're coming."

Aki: "And for the record, we were not making out."

Natsuki: "Whatever you say."

We shrug it off and head back to the clubroom. Once we both enter, Aki makes a return to his seat. Since we don't have any plans today, we can just end the meeting here.

Monika: "Okay everyone! You can all head home now. The club meeting has ended for today."

Everyone swiftly packs up and heads out the door. Aki stays back and waits for me to pack up my stuff.

Aki: "Same as yesterday?"

Monika: "Yep!"

I quickly pack up my stuff and we head out of the club and head towards Aki's house.

(Monday, 5:00PM; House; Akihito's PoV)

I pull out my keys and unlock the door to my house. Once the door unlocks, Monika and I head inside. Just like yesterday, we finish our homework first, helping each other along the way. After that, we sit on the couch and watch some TV.

Monika: "Should I call Yuri?"

Aki: "For?"

Monika: "You know…"

Aki: "Let's hold off for a bit. We tried twice with similar results. That too in a span of two days."

Monika: "So then how are we gonna get Yuri to open up?"

Aki: "If I'm being honest, I'm not sure. Asking questions doesn't seem to be working. My mind is giving me an idea that I do not like one bit."

Monika: "What would that be?"

Aki: "As if I would tell you. I don't want to get smacked again."

Monika: "I promise I won't hit you. The worst I'll do is yell at you."

Aki: "Sheesh that's even worse. No deal."

Monika: "Will you just tell me already?!"

Aki: "Okay fine… I was thinking of deliberately making her trip, hoping that the cuts would show again."

Monika: "Are you crazy?!"

Aki: "Here we go."

I expect Monika to lash out at me, but she doesn't say anything. She seems to be thinking about my psychotic idea. Wait a minute…

Aki: "Don't tell me you're actually considering doing that."

Monika: "Well…"

Aki: "Do you know how insane that idea is?!"

Monika: "But it's the only way we can find out!"

Aki: "Yeah, if you're high."

Monika: "Oh come on, there's no other option!"

Aki: "And to think I was the weird one."

Monika: "If we can't find any other idea, then we're going with this."

Aki: "Oh hell no, I'm not a part of this. Do you even know how this will impact Yuri? This is borderline bullying! We're literally embarrassing her in front of the club!"

Monika: "I haven't thought of it that way…"

Aki: "We'll leave it alone for now, and we'll think of a less crazier idea later."

Monika: "Fine."

We spend the rest of the evening watching random shows on the TV. Soon enough, Monika leaves to head back to her home. Heh, to think that her of all people would consider going with that crazy idea of mine. I don't even know how I thought of that, but I'm glad we're not going through with that.