Author's Notes: Hey everyone, AnotherAnonymooseWriter here. So sorry for missing out last week's chapter, it has been a little bit hectic the past few weeks. I also was struggling on how to approach this chapter, since I wrote this a few times, but didn't like it. So, I had to come up with this, and I'm pretty satisfied. I do have some good news though (or bad news, you decide). This story is coming to an end soon! Assuming I don't add any more chapters than planned, this story should end with the next next chapter (2 chapters from now). And with that, please enjoy Chapter 36 :)

(Tuesday, 6:00AM; House; Akihito's PoV)

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Ugh… another day to wake up, another day of school. I wish school wasn't even a thing. I bet every single other student would agree with me, even the nerds and teachers' pets. Well, no use in complaining. I get out of my bed and do my morning routine.

After my morning routine I head downstairs to grab a quick bite for breakfast. After my small breakfast, I pack my bags and head outside. I meet Sayori and Natsuki and head to school with them.

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

Finally, another day of school finished. Now it's time to head to the club. Once I arrive at the club, I notice someone missing. Yuri. My thoughts are interrupted by Monika greeting me.

Monika: "Hey Aki!"

Aki: "Hey Monika. Where's Yuri?"

Monika: "She went to the restroom."

Aki: "Ah, gotcha."

I head to my normal seat, but I almost trip on something on the way. I look down to see that someone placed their bag on the floor.

Aki: "Hey, whose bag is this?"

Monika: "I'm… not sure… maybe it's Yuri's?"

Aki: "Hmm… okay. Well, just be careful. I almost tripped over it."

Monika: "Alright."

I head to my seat and pull out my phone. I didn't move the bag to save Yuri the trouble of trying to find it. A few minutes pass, and Yuri enters the clubroom… with her backpack.

Yuri: "So sorry for being late! I was taking a test, and I guess I went a little over the time."

Monika: "That's fine, you didn't miss anything. You can just take a seat for now."

Yuri: "Very well."

Huh, that's weird. Monika said Yuri was in the restroom. I guess she just wanted to say something about her absence. But then why didn't she just say that Yuri is late? And even more, whose backpack is this? Something doesn't add up here. I look over to the backpack to see whose it is. It doesn't seem like it belongs to anyone here.

As I'm trying to make out whose backpack it is, I see Yuri walking right where the backpack is. Oh no, she's gonna make the same mistake I did! I try to call out to Yuri to warn her, but it's too late.

Aki: "Yuri wait!-"

Yuri: "AH!"

THUD

Yuri falls and her sleeve rolls up, revealing… cuts?! What the fuck?!

Aki: "Yuri! Are you okay?!"

Everyone rushes over to Yuri, who frantically tries to roll up her sleeve, but is too late. Everyone has gathered around her, and seen the cuts.

Sayori: "YURI WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Yuri: "N-nothing!"

Natsuki: "YURI I SAW THOSE SCARS! THOSE DIDN'T LOOK NORMAL!"

Yuri: "I-it's n-nothing! I-I swear!"

I notice Monika not saying anything, and then I connect the dots.

Aki: "Alright, Yuri? We're taking you to the nurse. Right now."

Yuri: "N-no!"

Aki: "I'm not taking no for an answer, Yuri. We are going to go. Now."

I grab Yuri's other arm, which hopefully doesn't have any cuts, and try to lift her up.

Yuri: "P-please!"

Aki: "YURI THIS IS SERIOUS!"

Yuri: "I-I'm not going!"

Aki: "If you're not going to the nurse, then you better explain those cuts on your arm to everyone, right now. Tell us we shouldn't be concerned."

Yuri: "B-but-"

Aki: "It's either telling us not to be concerned, with a valid statement, or going to the nurse. No other option."

Yuri stays silent. I know she's undergoing a lot of anxiety, and I feel really bad for pushing her, but this story has to end. I'm done with the hiding and dodging.

Yuri: "F-fine…"

Aki: "Fine what?"

Yuri: "I-I'll… tell you all."

Aki: "Thank you. And remember, we're not gonna laugh at you, make fun of you, ridicule you, or anything like that. We're your friends, and we're concerned for you."

Yuri: "I… I've been… c-cutting myself for sometime now…"

Yuri slowly rolls up her sleeves, for both arms, and reveals her many cuts. We all listen to Yuri open up about her self harming habits. We don't interrupt her, and let her go at her own pace. This is a big thing to open up about, and seeing how Yuri is normally, I can only imagine what she's going through.

Yuri: "I-I don't know why I do it… it just… g-gives me some feeling… to keep doing it… like an addiction. W-whenever I feel super anxious… or feel pressured… I just feel the need to… cut. I can't control the feeling…"

Yuri stops talking, indicating that she's finished. Then, I slowly muster up the courage to speak to her.

Aki: "D-do you mind if I ask you something, Yuri?"

Yuri simply nods slowly.

Aki: "Have you… talked to anyone about this before?"

Yuri shakes her head to indicate a "no".

Aki: "Have you tried to seek help?"

Yuri once again shakes her head.

Aki: "Would you… like it if we helped you talk to someone about it?"

Yuri doesn't shake her head or say anything.

Aki: "You don't have to give us an answer now. You can let us know anytime. Whether it may be through a text, a call, in person. And it doesn't have to be to all of us. Whatever is comfortable for you. But I want you to seek help. Can you do that for me?"

Yuri looks up and meets my eyes. She slowly forms a small smile on her face, all while tears are streaming down.

Yuri: "T-thank you f-for caring Aki… n-no one's ever d-done that for m-me…"

It pains my heart when Yuri says that. The fact that no one besides me has even asked Yuri about all this is depressing.

Aki: "N-no problem…"

I don't realize that I'm crying until Yuri points it out.

Yuri: "A-Aki? A-are you… crying?"

Aki: "I… guess I am… I'll be fine…"

I then get up and head towards my desk to pick up my bag.

Aki: "I'm gonna head out early… sorry."

Monika: "Wait! I'll come with you-"

Aki: "Sorry Monika… but I wanna be alone for a bit. I'll call you later."

I leave without saying another word. On my walk home I'm flooded with thoughts. I don't know whether I should be feeling depressed or angry. I'm depressed because of Yuri's situation, and no one caring to help her out.

But I'm also angry at Monika for pulling that whole stunt. She took my terrible idea, that too knowing I was fully against it, and putting Yuri on the spot.

That's mainly the reason why I didn't want Monika to come with me. If she was here I'd be yelling at her with a bad mindset, and I'd probably go too far. I need to go home and calm down first.

Once I arrive home, I head straight to my bedroom. I change out of my uniform and go towards my bed. I don't even bother to do my homework first. A little nap is what I need.

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

RING RING RING

I'm jolted awake by my phone ringing. I only got like half an hour. I pick up my phone to see who's calling. What the…

Aki: "Hello?"

Monika: "Hey, are you okay?"

Aki: "Yeah."

Monika: "Can I come over for a bit?"

Aki: "Any specific reason?"

Monika: "Just… please?"

Aki: "Alright."

Monika: "Thanks."

Monika then cuts the call. Great, now I have to try and not blow up while Monika's here. She's most likely coming over because I was crying in the club, and I left suddenly.

Well, I can't really do anything about it now. Might as well look like I wasn't sleeping. After about 10 minutes, I hear the doorbell ring. I head up to the door and open it.

Aki: "Hey. Come in."

Monika: "Thanks."

Monika comes inside and we head toward the living room.

Aki: "Alright, you're here. What do you need?"

Monika: "I just wanted to make sure you were okay, since y'know…"

Aki: "Yeah, sorry for leaving early."

Monika: "I'm not worried about that, it's the fact that you were in tears when Yuri opened up. What happened there?"

Aki: "Well… when Yuri told me that no one has helped her, it struck something in me. I don't know why, it just made me depressed, and this made me cry and leave."

Monika: "Oh… I see… how come you didn't want me to walk home with you?"

Aki: "... I wanted to be alone."

Monika: "I get that, but I could've helped you!"

Aki: "I know but… I just needed some time alone."

Monika: "But-"

Aki: "I WAS MAD OKAY?!"

Monika jumps at my sudden outburst, and immediately stays quiet.

Aki: "How could you do that to Yuri?!"

Monika: "Do what-"

Aki: "Cut the bullshit! I know you put the bag there and made Yuri trip! Why would you go along with my plan even though I said it was a terrible idea?!"

Monika: "..."

Aki: "Well? Are you going to say something?"

Monika: "... there was no other way."

Aki: "Yes there was! We just didn't think of one!"

Monika: "Aki, it would've taken too long before we thought of something. We don't know how long Yuri has been cutting herself. We can't afford to waste days. That's why I did it. I'm sorry I went against your word and went with your idea."

After hearing Monika's monologue, I can't help but consider Monika's reasoning. I mean, in a way she's correct, but I can't say her actions are fully justified.

Aki: "It's… fine. I see where you're coming from, and I guess we would've been wasting days. But that doesn't mean your actions are fully justified."

Monika: "I understand. I know it was a bad thing to do, but-"

RING RING RING

We're interrupted by the ring of my phone. I pull it out of my pocket to see who it is.

Aki: "It's Yuri."

Monika: "Pick it up, it's probably important."

Aki: "Alright."

I answer the phone.

Aki: "Hello?"

Yuri: "Greetings Aki. Is Monika there?"

Aki: "Yeah she is. How'd you know?"

Yuri: "She told us she's going over to your place after the club meeting. Could you put the call on speakerphone?"

I put the call on speakerphone as Yuri requested.

Aki: "Alright, you're on speaker."

Yuri: "Greetings Monika."

Monika: "Hey Yuri. Any reason as to why you called?"

Yuri: "Yes. After Aki talked to me in the club about reaching out to someone, I felt as if you both were the best."

Aki: "Yuri, we're not therapists though. I mean we do help you out, but you need to talk to a therapist about this."

Yuri: "Yes, I am aware you two are not professionals, I wanted to call you two to let you know I've considered going to a therapist."

Monika: "Really? That's awesome!"

Yuri: "Indeed it is. And it just so happens to be the one Sayori is visiting."

Aki: "Wait, Sayori is going to a therapist?"

Yuri: "Yes she has. I thought she told you about it Aki."

Aki: "Why would she tell me?"

Yuri: "She told me that she went after you talked with her and she told you about her depression."

Monika: "S-Sayori has depression?"

Aki: "Yeah. I'll tell you the details later, back to the matter at hand."

Yuri: "Thank you Aki, but that was all. I simply wanted to inform you both about this."

Aki: "Well, I'm glad that you're heading in the right direction. And thank you for trusting us enough to tell us about this."

Yuri: "You're welcome. Anyways, I must leave now. Goodbye, Aki and Monika."

Monika: "Bye Yuri!"

Aki: "Bye Yuri."

I cut the call and put my phone back into my pocket.

Aki: "Well, I'm glad that situation is over with."

Monika: "Sayori had depression?"

Aki: "Yeah. According to her, it has been a very long time."

Monika: "When did she tell you?"

Aki: "The weekend of the festival, when we were making posters."

Monika: "Wow… that's a long time ago…"

Aki: "Yeah. But, I'm glad she went to therapy."

Monika: "Me too."

A moment of silence passes between us, thinking about our friends.

Aki: "So, wanna stay for dinner?"

Monika: "Ahaha, I wish I could, but it's a school night. Maybe during the weekend?"

Aki: "I'd love to."

Monika: "Well, I guess I'll head out now. Bye Aki!"

Aki: "Bye Monika. See you tomorrow."

Monika heads out and towards her home. Seeing as it's around 6, I figure I'll make something for dinner. Once I finish cooking and eating, I head to bed. I'm glad everything was resolved today. Even though Monika's actions were not the right thing to do, I have to admit it did solve the situation. With that, I think I can end a pretty good day overall.