*Scene fades to black, before fading in on a notebook spread across a table.*
"Alright, first word goes to-" Natsuki began as she reached for the die.
"Actually, hold on…" Yuri interrupted before counting off on her fingers. "We had a Natsuki poem, then we had a Yuri poem…"
"Heh, a yuri-" Natsuki chuckled before her eyes widened. "Oh, wait, you mean we almost hit all the girls, right?" Yuri nodded to the pink-haired girl. "So we should write a Sayori poem and complete the set!"
"Uh, guys…" Sayori began. "Don't I… Head home after we share poems on the fourth day?"
"… Oh yeah, you're right." Natsuki said as her and Yuri's grins faltered. "But this is the last chance we have to write a poem for you."
"Don't worry, it's okay, guys." Sayori said with a brush of her hand. "It's not your guys' fault the number gods weren't in my favor."
"Uh, yeah, funny story about that…" Monika said, glancing away from the group as all attention turned towards her. "I might have… Sabotaged this playthrough a touch…"
"… What?" Natsuki asked with a scowl.
"We-well, you see…" Monika stuttered nervously. "I was… Experimenting with the game's coding a little before we started our playthrough, and one of the things I was messing with was the poem minigame's score system. But then I… Never set it back to its proper code. The way it usually works prevents a tie by giving everyone a unique score for each word, and the funny thing is that-"
"Monika." Natsuki stated, scowling at the brunette as she leaned towards her. "Who actually won the first minigame?"
"… Sayori…"
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Natsuki yelled, causing Monika to jump back in her seat as Yuri facepalmed.
"Can't you just let me be happy?" Sayori asked.
"Hey, I didn't mean to!" Monika rebutted. "I'm sorry."
"You better have fixed it!" Natsuki yelled.
"Don't worry, I already reset it." Monika stated. "It works fine."
"Goddamn it…" Natsuki grumbled as she placed her head in her palm. "We are going to get so many angry comments about that… Well, since this is the last time we're writing a poem for Act 1, and since she had her win stolen from her," Natsuki once again leaned towards Monika as she raised her voice, causing the brunette to wince. "We're gonna let Sayori choose the first word."
"I want Monika to click it." Sayori requested, causing the brunette to let out a sigh.
"Okay, how are we starting this?" Monika asked as she reached for the mouse.
"Shame."
With another sigh, Monika selected the word, and Sayori's chibi jumped with joy before Natsuki picked the die back up. It rattled across the desk before Natsuki sent a scowl at Monika. "Oh, look at that, it's Sayori again."
"I'm tempted to go with shame again…" Sayori said, hovering over the word in thought before shaking her head. "Nah, let's go sadness." With that, the ginger selected the new word before Natsuki threw the die.
"Okay, Yur, your turn."
"While I'd love to keep this theme going…" Yuri muttered to herself before clicking a word. "'Imagination.'"
"'Shame, sadness, imagination…'" Natsuki recited before throwing the die. "And it's you again, Yu."
"Hmm…" Yuri hummed as she looked over the words. "'Existence.'"
"'Imagination's existence,' eh?" Natsuki asked as Yuri selected her choice, furiously shaking the die in her hand before throwing it onto the table. "And my turn…" She quickly looked over the words before selecting her choice with a grin. "'Strawberry.'"
"'Shame, sadness. Imagination's existence. Strawberry.'" Sayori recited as Natsuki snatched the die. "Kinda shoots the tone, don't it?"
"Yep, that was the idea." Natsuki said before throwing the die. "Oh look, me again… 'Skipping.'" After selecting her word, Natsuki picked up the die and threw it back onto the table. "And back to Sayori."
"If she wins this game…" Monika muttered to herself as Sayori looked through the words.
"'Adventure'" Sayori read as she clicked the word.
"'Shame and sadness, imagination's existence. A strawberry skipping through adventures.'" Yuri attempted to recite, almost bursting into laughter as she reached the end. "Nope, no way to say it with a straight face."
"And that's me again…" Natsuki said as the die fell to the table before she began looking through the words. "'Puppy.'" She said with a smirk as she clicked the word.
"Okay, now you're just trying to set me off." Yuri accused the pink-haired girl as she rolled the die.
"And that's me again." Natsuki said with a chuckle as she looked through the words. "How's about, 'pure.'"
"Can't wait to see what this comes out as." Monika commented as Natsuki grabbed the die again.
"Another for Sayori." Natsuki said before the girl began scanning the list.
"… 'Daydream.'" Sayori said as she made her choice.
"'A strawberry skipped through adventures. A puppy's pure daydreams.'" Monika recited as Natsuki threw the die.
"Well Yuri, here's your chance to get things back on track."
"… Oh, why bother with anything too out there?" Yuri sighed. "'Breath.'"
"'A puppy's pure daydream breaths.'" Monika joked as Natsuki rolled the die again.
"And back to me." Natsuki chuckled. "'Games.'"
"The daydream breaths games?" Sayori asked.
"I guess." Natsuki shrugged before throwing the die. "And back to Yur."
"… 'Breathe?'" Yuri asked before shaking her head. "No… 'Unending.'"
"Alright." Natsuki said before throwing the die. "Back to Sayori."
"… 'The puppy's pure daydreams breath games and unending passion.'" Sayori recited as she selected her word.
"And back to…" Natsuki recited before throwing her die. "Yuri."
"… 'Crimson.'" Yuri said.
Natsuki furiously shook the die in her hand before dropping it back to the table. "… You again." Natsuki stated.
"'Judgement." Yuri read as she clicked the word.
"Oh, one of us is facing judgment alright." Sayori said as she sent a scowl to the club president.
"Again, I'm really sorry." Monika said as Natsuki threw the die.
"And that's Sayori." Natsuki said before Sayori scanned the list.
"… 'Rose.'" Sayori said as she clicked the word.
"The crimson judgment rose.'" Natsuki recited before throwing the die. "And Yuri again."
"'Fester.'" Yuri said as she clicked the word.
"I just like to imagine MoNatSaYuri has the worst case of bipolar disorder every time he sits down to write a poem." Monika said as Natsuki threw the die again.
"And back to Sayori." Natsuki said.
"… 'Alone.'" Sayori said as she clicked the word.
"'The crimson judgment rose festers alone.'" Natsuki recited before throwing the die. "Alright, Sayori, send us home."
"… 'Excitement.'" Sayori said before clicking the final word.
*The list disappeared from the notebook, and Sayori's chibi jumped up in joy as the screen faded to black.*
"So what was it again?" Natsuki asked as she put a hand to her head. "'Shame and sadness. Imagination's existence. A strawberry skipping through adventures while a puppy's pure daydreams breath games and unending passion. The Crimson judgment rose festers alone in excitement.'"
"… Not as good as the last one." Sayori stated. "That 'Doki-doki,' really made all the difference."
*Scene opens on the clubroom.*
Monika: "Aw, man…"
"'I left the sink running, didn't I?'" Sayori joked.
Monika: "I'm the last one here again!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Don't worry, I just walked in too."
"'So we tied for last place.'" Sayori said. "'At least we're losers together.'"
"I'd rather be a loser on my own, thanks." Natsuki snarked.
Yuri: "Were you practicing piano again?"
"'No, I was trying to figure out the best way to crush you guys with one.'" Natsuki joked.
Monika: "Yeah…"
Monika: "Ahaha…"
Yuri: "You must have a lot of determination."
Yuri: "Starting this club, and now picking up piano…"
"'Throwing your back out as you did so.'" Yuri added.
Monika: "Well, maybe not determination…"
"'I'm just really bad at managing my time, but I don't want to cut anything out.'" Sayori joked.
Monika: "But I guess passion."
Monika: "Remember that the club wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you."
"Don't bother, I already know the joke you're all going to make." Monika stated as the club gave her a glare.
Monika: "And I'm super happy that you're all willing to help out for the festival, too!"
Natsuki: "Aaah, I can't wait for the festival!"
Natsuki: "It's gonna be great!"
"'I just love a good train wreck!'" Natsuki joked.
Monika: "Eh?"
Monika: "Weren't you complaining about it just yesterday, Natsuki?"
"'Actually, I'm not Natsuki.'" Sayori joked with an impression of her pink-haired friend. "'I'm her twin, Defsuki!'"
Natsuki: "Well, yeah."
Natsuki: "I'm not talking about our part of the festival."
Natsuki: "But it's a whole day of school where we get to play and eat all kinds of delicious food!"
"'I hear the anime club is putting on a recreation of Goku's fight with Frieza.'" Monika joked.
"'That'll give me a great excuse to miss the poem reading!'" Natsuki added. "'... And not go home.'"
MoNatSaYuri: "You sound a bit like Sayori all of a sudden…"
"'She found some extra enthusiasm to give me.'" Yuri joked, impersonating Natsuki.
Natsuki: "Monika! Do you usually have fried squid?"
Monika: "Squid…?"
"'Cause I'm a real sucker for it!'" Sayori joked in an impression of Natsuki.
Monika: "That's a pretty specific thing to look forward to…"
Natsuki: "Oh, come on."
Natsuki: "Are you saying you don't like squid?"
"'You've got to be squid-ing me.'" Sayori joked.
Natsuki: "You, of all people?"
"'Did you not like the Ten-tickles they gave you?'" Sayori asked.
Monika: "Eh? I didn't say I don't like it."
"'In fact, when you put a plate of them in front of me, I get a little shell-fish.'" Monika joked.
"Boo, we're making squid puns." Sayori remarked.
Monika: "Besides, what do you mean by 'you of all people'?"
Natsuki: "Because!"
"'You and krakens are both horrible monsters!'" Natsuki said.
Natsuki: "It's right in your name!"
Natsuki: "Mon-ika!"
Monika: "Eh?!"
Monika: "That's not how you say my name at all!"
"It is now, Mon-Ika." Natsuki said with a smirk.
Monika: "Also, that joke makes no sense in translation!"
Natsuki: "…?"
Monika: "Ah…never mind!"
Monika: "Let's just focus on our own event for now, okay?"
Natsuki: "Ehehe."
Natsuki: "Fine, fine."
Natsuki: "Your reactions aren't as funny as Yuri's or Sayori's, anyway."
"Insinuating that I was a lesbian because of my name wasn't funny then and it's not funny now." Yuri stated.
Yuri: "Excuse me…"
"'I have an… Inkling that something is amiss.'" Yuri joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "Where is Sayori, anyway…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Oh, there you are."
Sayori is sitting at a desk in the corner of the room, looking down at nothing.
I walk over to her.
MoNatSaYuri: "Hey, Sayori."
I waved my hand in front of her face.
Sayori: "Eh-?"
MoNatSaYuri: "You're spacing out again."
Sayori: "A-Ah…"
Sayori: "Ehehe, sorry…"
"'I was trying to think of a squid joke.'" Sayori joked.
Sayori: "Don't mind me."
Sayori: "You can go talk to everyone else."
MoNatSaYuri: "Huh…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Is everything alright?"
Sayori: "O-Of course!"
Sayori: "Why wouldn't it be?"
"'Because you're never one to ignore a discussion about food.'" Natsuki said.
MoNatSaYuri: "It just feels like you're a little off…"
"'Turn around, let me see your power switch.'" Monika joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "Sorry for assuming things."
Sayori: "Jeez, you worry too much about me."
Sayori: "I'm fine, see?"
Sayori shows me a big smile.
"'The picture she put over her mouth falls off, revealing a big frown.'" Monika joked.
"'I'm honestly surprised I didn't notice sooner.'" Yuri added.
Sayori: "Don't let me distract you from having fun with everyone."
MoNatSaYuri: "Well…alright."
MoNatSaYuri: "If you say so."
I worriedly glance at Sayori before turning back to everyone else.
But the conversation has already dispersed, with everyone back at their usual activities.
Maybe I should ask Monika if she's noticed anything about Sayori recently…
"For some reason, I doubt that would be much help." Yuri noted.
Since they've been preparing for the festival, they must be spending a lot of time together.
I timidly approach Monika, who is shuffling through some papers at her desk.
Monika: "MoNatSaYuri! What's up?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Hey, this might sound a little strange, but…"
"'If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about it?'" Sayori asked.
MoNatSaYuri: "Have you noticed anything up with Sayori recently?"
Monika: "Anything up with her…?"
"'Well, I did see her give something that looked strangely like a heart to Natsuki.'" Monika said. "'And I don't mean a Valentine's Day heart, like an actual, beating, human heart.'"
"'I would have brought it up sooner, but I was more surprised Natsuki didn't run away screaming.'" Yuri added.
Monika: "In what way do you mean?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Maybe I'm reading into it a little too much, but she seems a little downcast today..."
Monika: "Oh? You think so?"
Monika: "I can't say I've noticed anything about her…"
"'I also can't say I didn't not never wouldn't hadn't didn't do nothing.'" Sayori joked.
Monika peers across the room at Sayori, who is idly dragging a rubber eraser up and down her desk.
"'She better not have drawn on it again.'" Monika said in her voice for the player character.
Monika: "Maybe there is something on her mind…"
Monika: "But I'm surprised I'm not the one asking you, MoNatSaYuri."
Monika: "You certainly know her a lot better than I do."
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah, but she's never really like this…"
MoNatSaYuri: "She's always talked to me about things that bothered her."
MoNatSaYuri: "But this time, when I asked her, she was really dismissive."
MoNatSaYuri: "…Sorry, I know it's not your problem!"
MoNatSaYuri: "I just wanted to ask if you knew anything, so I'll drop it now…"
Monika: "No, no…"
Monika: "It's important to me, too."
"'Now I know my plan is working!'" Natsuki said in an impersonation of the club president. "'Muhahahaha!'"
Monika: "I mean, I'm also friends with her…"
Monika: "And I also care about the well-being of my club members, you know?"
"'I want to make sure they're all horrible.'" Natsuki joked.
Monika: "Maybe I'll try talking to her myself…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh? Are you sure about that…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "It seems like she wants to be left alone."
Monika: "Are you sure?"
Monika: "Maybe she just has a hard time bringing it up with a person of interest…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Person of interest…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "What do you mean by that?"
Monika: "I'm saying that maybe the thing on her mind is you, MoNatSaYuri."
MoNatSaYuri: "Me…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "How on earth would you come to that conclusion?"
"'I mean, we only grew up together,'" Natsuki began. "'And spent every day together, and practically shared a house, and a bed… And bath… And there was that one time we used the toilet together…'"
Monika: "Well…"
Monika: "I probably shouldn't say too much, but…"
"'I peer into her and the other club members minds at night.'" Yuri joked.
Monika: "Sayori talks about you more than anything else, you know?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh…?"
Monika: "She's been so much happier ever since you've joined the club."
Monika: "It's like an extra light was turned on inside of her."
MoNatSaYuri: "What?"
"'She's been just as dim as always.'" Natsuki joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "No way."
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori…is always like that."
MoNatSaYuri: "She's always been full of sunshine."
MoNatSaYuri: "It's not any different now than it always has been."
Monika: "Ehehe."
Monika: "You're so funny, MoNatSaYuri."
Monika: "Have you thought that maybe you've always seen her as so cheerful…"
Monika: "…because that's just how she is when she's around you?"
"'When you leave the room, she turns into another Natsuki.'" Monika joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "…"
Monika: "Ah…I said to much."
Monika: "I'm sorry…what do I know, anyway?"
Monika: "I didn't mean to jump to conclusions, so you should just forget about what I said."
"'Will do.'" Sayori said as she held her hand up to her head, before acting like she was turning a key. Shaking her head, Sayori cocked an eyebrow at the screen. "'Hey, this might sound a little strange, but if Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about it?'"
Monika: "I'll try to talk to her, so try not to think about it for now."
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Alright…"
Monika smiles meaningfully.
"He doesn't mention how her eyebrows scowl." Yuri quipped.
I know she said to forget about it…
"'But I can't remember what.'" Sayori joked.
But I already know that I won't be able to get her words out of my head.
Monika stands up from her desk and walks across the room to where Sayori is sitting.
I watch her kneel down next to Sayori and gently talk to her.
But she's keeping her voice so quiet that I can't hear her from here.
"It's probably something like, 'Bleach is a great anti-depressant.'" Natsuki said, and she grimaced to herself as everyone glanced at her. "… Okay, that joke might have been a bit too dark."
I sigh and sit myself down.
I know Sayori told me not to worry about her, and to have fun with everyone else…
But that's impossible to do when she's behaving like this.
Exactly how much do I care about her, that I'm letting this weigh me down so much?
"I'd say you care about as much as anyone would." Monika said.
Now it feels like I'm the one behaving out of the ordinary…
"I know we've made this point a few times now, but again, compared to when this game started..." Yuri stated.
But there's nothing I can do besides wait for Monika.
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the Clubroom*
"'And now the lights are broken again.'" Monika joked. "'Great, just great.'"
…
Monika: "Okay, everyone!"
After some time passes, Monika calls out to the clubroom.
Monika: "Why don't we share our poems now?"
Before I know it, everything is back to normal.
Everyone goes to retrieve their poems, and I do the same.
I make eye contact with Monika, and she smiles at me.
I wonder what she was talking about with Sayori…
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the Clubroom*
Who should I show my poem to first?
[Sayori]
[Natsuki]
[Yuri]
[Monika]
"Okay, let's see who the lucky girl is." Natsuki said as she reached for the die, before throwing it across the table. "And it's me." Natsuki said before clicking her name.
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the Clubroom*
Natsuki: "…"
"'The worst part is this isn't even as much of an acid trip as the last one.'" Natsuki joked.
Natsuki: "…This one's alright."
MoNatSaYuri: "Alright?"
Natsuki: "Well, yeah."
Natsuki: "About as good as yesterday's, anyway."
Natsuki: "I see what you're going for, but it's not really my style."
"'I was never really a fan of a poem that read like the writer was falling down a flight of stairs while writing.'" Yuri joked.
Natsuki: "I mean, that's fine."
Natsuki: "I'm mostly just glad that you're trying a little bit."
MoNatSaYuri: "Well, of course I'm at least trying."
MoNatSaYuri: "Why are you so emotionally invested in my poems, anyway?"
"'Cause this is the closest I'll probably ever get to being high.'" Yuri joked.
"'Figuratively and literally.'" Monika added.
MoNatSaYuri: "Isn't that more of a compliment to me?"
Natsuki: "…Eh?"
Natsuki: "N-No! Gross!"
Natsuki: "It's not like I care!"
Natsuki: "It's just that one of us in this club has to make sure you're not slacking off."
MoNatSaYuri: "Really?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Well, what if you ended up just scaring me away?"
"'Then it can go back to just me and my three-way.'" Natsuki joked.
"Wouldn't it be a four-way if I'm here?" Monika asked. "Actually, never mind. I already know what you're going to say."
Natsuki: "That's-um…"
Natsuki: "…It's not like you would actually do that."
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah, you're right."
MoNatSaYuri: "It's kind of fun to hang out here, even if I have to put up with you."
MoNatSaYuri: "Guh-!"
Natsuki's elbow connects with my stomach.
Natsuki: "Oh?"
Natsuki: "Maybe I won't mind scaring you away after all."
"'Can this marriage be saved?'" Yuri joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "I was…just joking…"
Natsuki: "Oh, I know!"
Natsuki: "Don't worry, I was too."
"'I used my ACME gag elbow.'" Sayori joked.
Natsuki: "Ahahaha!"
MoNatSaYuri: "…"
How the hell do you call that a joke?
That seriously hurt.
Well, maybe it was funny to her…
"Haven't you ever heard of slapstick?" Natsuki asked.
…I guess that's kind of the point.
I should really just watch my mouth around Natsuki.
Natsuki: "Anyway…"
Natsuki holds her poem up out to me like nothing even happened.
*A piece of paper appears on the screen, showing Natsuki's poem.*
I'll Be Your Beach
Your mind is so full of troubles and fears
That diminished your wonder over the years
But today I have a special place
A beach for us to go.
A shore reaching beyond your sight
A sea that sparkles with brilliant light
The walls in your mind will melt away
Before the sunny glow.
I'll be the beach that washes your worries away
I'll be the beach that you daydream about each day
I'll be the beach that makes your heart leap
In a way you thought had left you long ago.
Let's bury your heavy thoughts in a pile of sand
Bathe in sunbeams and hold my hand
Wash your insecurities in the salty sea
And let me see you shine.
Let's leave your memories in a footprint trail
Set you free in my windy sail
And remember the reasons you're wonderful
When you press your lips to mine.
I'll be the beach that washes your worries away
I'll be the beach that you daydream about each day
I'll be the beach that makes your heart leap
In a way you thought had left you long ago.
But if you let me by your side
Your own beach, your own escape
You'll learn to love yourself again.
"Remove the… Chorus, for lack of a better term, and it's not that bad." Yuri stated.
Natsuki: "Yeah…"
Natsuki: "I felt like I kept writing about negative things, so I wanted to write something with a nice message for once."
Natsuki: "Besides…the beach is awesome!"
"Eh, not really a fan." Monika shrugged.
"Yeah, it's covered in sand." Sayori began. "And sand is coarse, and rough, and gets everywhere."
Natsuki: "Kinda hard to write anything negative about the beach."
"Itchy sand." Monika suggested.
"Littering." Yuri stated.
"Sunburn." Sayori said.
"Jellyfish stings." Monika added.
"… I like the beach, okay?" Natsuki asked.
MoNatSaYuri: "So you decided to write about the beach first, and then came up with the message later?"
Natsuki: "Yeah, well…"
Natsuki: "It's only because of what happened yesterday."
Natsuki: "I mean, after Yuri and I realized we kind of wrote about the same thing…"
"Multiple times." Yuri remarked.
Natsuki: "She wanted to pick a topic and have us both write about it, or whatever."
Natsuki: "Ugh…you can really see her doing that, too."
"Oh, don't act like you wouldn't have suggested it." Yuri said.
Natsuki: "Making us write about a simple topic, then trying to impress me by coming up with something all fancy."
"I wanted to see how we'd each approach it." Yuri stated. "Don't tell me you didn't want to see the contrast between our poems put on full display."
Natsuki: "Well, it's not like I care."
Natsuki: "I just did it anyway."
Natsuki: "I mean, I guess mine ended up being kind of metaphorical too…"
Natsuki: "…But there's nothing wrong with doing that once in a while!"
Natsuki: "At the very least, it was good practice."
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the Clubroom*
Who should I show my poem to next?
[Sayori]
[Yuri]
[Monika]
"'Though it has nothing on my ninja practice!'" Sayori joked.
"Okay, and next up is…" Natsuki said before dropping the die. "Sayori."
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the Clubroom*
Sayori: "…"
Sayori: "This is your best one so far."
"It's amazing to see how our opinions on these poems change as soon as you remove the poem game mechanics." Sayori said, remembering her earlier comment on the poem.
As I have mentioned in a previous chapter, I've been using the Game Grump's playthrough of this game to copy the narration and dialogue. Excusing my earlier mishap with the poem scoring mechanic (In case you hadn't heard, it should have been Sayori, but everything else was accurate,) and the order the girls share their poems, this is the first time I've had to break away from their playthrough. For this chapter, I used a playthrough of the third day of the Sayori route, so if any of the dialogue doesn't line up correctly (As a dedicated route and jumping from one to another can have minor script differences), I apologize.