I apologize for the delay everyone. After the complications I ran into in the last chapter, I decided that from this chapter moving forward, I would be writing this story while playing Doki Doki Literature Club Plus to make sure the script is accurate. I also decided that I would buy myself the new game for Christmas, hence why I needed a month's extension.

~Behind the DDLsCenes~

"You're sure you fixed the game this time?" Natsuki asked as the title screen came up.

"I downloaded an entirely new version," Monika began explaining. "Merged our character files, and imported our save data. So yes, I'm certain."

"You know, I just noticed something." Sayori said.

"Hm, what?" Yuri asked.

"Look at my pose in this image." Sayori said before the camera zoomed in on the pose the ginger was striking.

"A-huh."

"Now look at Natsuki." Sayori said as the camera cut to a close-up of the pink-haired girl's blushing, pouting face. "… Are you staring at my butt!?"

"In my defense," Natsuki began. "You're the one who put it on display."

"Oh my god…" Sayori groaned as she placed her hand on her head.

"If it makes you feel any better, it's definitely worth staring at." Natsuki said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You know, I'd be a little more accepting of you being into girls if you stopped perving on us!" Sayori said with a bright red-face

~Jump-cut~

"What's up, bitches!?" Natsuki cried into the camera. "It's ya girl, Buffsuki69, and today I'm joined with Yuri…"

"Salutations." Yuri stated.

"Sayori…"

"Buenos días!" Sayori, ever cheerful, enthusiastically waved her arm in the air.

"And Ursula the Sea Witch!"

Monika let out a groan as the girls around her began the chorus of, 'Poor Unfortunate Souls.' "You're getting way too much mileage out of that, '-Ika' pun."

"Yeah, whatever." Natsuki shrugged as she turned back to the camera. "So in last… What's it been? A month? Two? Whatever, in the last episode, we were discussing preparations for the school festival after Sayori went home during poem sharing."

"The one time the poem's for me…" Sayori grumbled.

"We now return you to your irregularly scheduled catastrophe in the making." Yuri said.

Natsuki: "Sounds more like you're just making excuses for MoNatSaYuri to-"
Yuri: "W-What are you saying?!"

"'I'm saying it sounds like you're making excuses for MoNatSaYuri to work with you.'" Sayori joked. "'If you let me finish.'"

Yuri: "It will be extremely meticulous work…"
Natsuki: "And baking isn't?"

"'Especially how I do it.'" Sayori added. "'I don't go by weight or volume. I take it grain by grain.'"

Natsuki: "Just what do you think-"
Monika: "Guys, guys!"
Monika: "Let's settle down for a moment…"

"'In this economy?'" Yuri joked. "… Yeah, I don't get it either, I don't know much about economics."

Monika: "In the end, I think it's up to MoNatSaYuri to decide how he'd like to contribute."

"'Well, then, I'd like to help by staying home and playing video games.'" Natsuki joked.

"'Let's keep me as far away from this as we possibly can.'" Sayori added.

Monika: "Besides…"
Monika: "He hasn't really gotten the chance to spend any time with me yet, you know?"
Monika: "So I'm sure he's interested in-"
Natsuki: "You literally just said-"
Yuri: "I-I'm surprised as well!"
Monika: "Sorry, sorry!"
Monika: "I was just saying, though…"
Natsuki: "Jeez…"
Natsuki: "Can we just settle this already?"
Monika: "Yeah…"
Monika: "MoNatSaYuri, you're okay with this, right?"

"'I mean, not really.'" Natsuki said. "'We joked about making me the schedule board in the last episode, right?'"

Monika: "In the end, it's up to you."
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Of course."
Natsuki: "Hmph."
Yuri: "Very well…"
Monika: "In that case…"
Everyone looked straight at me.

"'Except for Natsuki, who perpetually gives everyone a side glance.'" Yuri joked.

But of course, I'm going with-
[Natsuki]
[Yuri]
[Monika]
[Sayori…]

"Alright, same rules as before…" Natsuki said as she reached for the die. "From top to bottom…"

"You know, it just occurred to me that while we were fixing everything," Sayori said as Natsuki rolled the eraser caps. "We probably could have gotten an actual four-sided die for this."

"And that's a two." Natsuki said as she selected the second option.

MoNatSaYuri: "Well, I'll probably be the most useful helping out Yuri…"
Yuri: "M-Me…?"
Natsuki: "Are you serious?"

"So, Natsuki," Sayori began. "If you're a lesbian, how come you were so adamant on getting MoNatSaYuri to bake with you?"

"Because I can count the amount of people who share my interests on one hand." Natsuki said as she held up a fist. "I wanna bake with someone, okay?"

Natsuki: "Why would you-"
Monika: "Natsuki."
Monika: "I can already tell you're about to say something mean."

"Well, yeah, that's my thing." Natsuki said.

"She's the grumpy one." Sayori joked.

Natsuki: "N-No…"
Natsuki: "I was just saying-"
Natsuki: "Ugh…"
Monika: "So, you'll be helping Yuri then, MoNatSaYuri?"

"'What? No.'" Natsuki began joking. "'I was just saying I think that the yuri genre could be the fix for this whole thing.'"

MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah."

"Yeah." Sayori said flatly with a nod of her head.

MoNatSaYuri: "That's what I'm going to do."
Yuri: "I'm glad."
Yuri: "I have a bad habit of overthinking these sort of things…"

"'And I have a bad habit of underthinking these sort of things.'" Sayori joked in her MoNatSaYuri voice. "'Together, we'll make the perfect team.'"

Yuri: "So I think your assistance will be very useful."
Monika: "That's great to hear."
Monika: "Natsuki, will you be able to handle the baking yourself?"
Natsuki: "I mean, yeah."

"'It's as easy as going to the store and forking over ten bucks.'" Natsuki joked. "'On that note, can I borrow ten bucks?'"

Natsuki: "I already said I would be fine."
Monika: "Okay, okay…"
Everyone can tell that Natsuki is feeling a little sour.

"'On the plus side,'" Natsuki began. "'Now nothing can stop me from adding…' Actually, wait, what kind of prank can I put in my cupcakes?"

MoNatSaYuri: "So…is that everything we need to go over?"
Monika: "Yeah, that should be about it."

"I could do aphrodisiac, but…" Natsuki muttered before shaking her head. "No, that would just get weird."

Monika: "Are you guys excited?"
Yuri: "Well, 'excited' may not be the right word…"

"'I'd prefer…'" Monika began before leaning into her microphone. "'~Aroused~'" The brunette shook her head as she leaned back. "Wow, it's hard to imitate Yuri and do a sexy voice."

Yuri: "But I suppose I'm looking forward to it a little bit."
Monika: "Do you feel the same way, MoNatSaYuri?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Me?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah, I guess you could say I'm interested to see how it'll turn out…"
Monika: "That's good enough for me!"
Monika: "What about you, Natsuki?"
Natsuki: "…"

"Maybe… Fruit punch?" Natsuki said before shaking her head. "No, how would that even work?"

Yuri: "Natsuki!"
Natsuki: "What?"
Natsuki: "Why is everyone yelling at me?"
Natsuki: "I didn't even do anything…!"
Yuri: "N-no-!"
Yuri: "That's not what I mean at all!"
Yuri: "A-Ah…"
Yuri anxiously glanced between everyone in the room.
Yuri: "I-I'm sorry for this!"

"'She then proceeded to throw off her clothes and make out with me.'" Monika joked.

Yuri: "I don't really know why MoNatSaYuri picked me…"

"Because the die told us to." Natsuki said, holding the eraser caps up to the camera.

Yuri: "And also…"

"'I have no idea how to decorate!'" Yuri joked.

Yuri: "Your cupcakes are the best cupcakes I've ever had!"
Yuri: "They go really well with my tea!"
Yuri: "And nothing I do for the event will compare to that, so…"
Yuri: "So…"
Natsuki: "I get it, I get it."

"'I am pretty amazing.'" Natsuki shrugged.

Natsuki: "I'm kinda surprised, though…"
Yuri: "W-Why?"
Natsuki: "Um…"

"'Don't focus on the boobs, don't focus on the boobs!'" Sayori joked.

Natsuki: "Well, I'm the one acting immature…"
Natsuki: "I already know that."
Natsuki: "But you're trying to cheer me up all of a sudden…"
Yuri: "I-I know I'm not really good at it…"

"You can say that again." Natsuki began. "Right now, I just feel sorry for you."

Yuri: "I'm sorry if I said something bad!"

"'You better be.'" Natsuki said. "'How dare you say my cupcakes go well with your tea? The two flavors don't mix at all!'"

Natsuki isn't the only one surprised.
Monika and I are also taken aback by Yuri's words.
When she already has trouble with words, trying to cheer someone up must be far out of her own comfort zone.
But I begin to understand.

"'It's all an overly-elaborate plan to take over the club!'" Sayori joked.

Yuri was trying to sound like Sayori.

"'My first clue should have been that her voice raised an octave.'" Monika joked.

Even if it didn't work perfectly, I can tell that she tried to say something Sayori would say at a time like this.

"Actually, at this point my mouth would just be watering at the thought of cupcakes." Sayori stated.

Because Sayori always helps everyone smile and feel good about themselves.
Natsuki: "No…"

"'Sayori doesn't do that at all.'" Natsuki joked. "'Not intentionally, anyway.'"

Natsuki: "I kinda appreciated it."
Natsuki: "I'm sorry…for making a big deal out of nothing."
Natsuki: "But I'm going to say this."

"'I'd like to borrow some of your lemons to sneak into my cupcakes.'" Natsuki joked.

"'Do you mean lemons as in the fruit or lemons as in the genre?'" Yuri asked.

Yuri: "…?"
Natsuki: "You better bet that my cupcakes are going to be the best part of the whole event!"

"'They'll be so good, people will think we're the baking club!'" Sayori joked.

Yuri: "Ah…"
Yuri: "…I believe you."
Monika: "Yeah!"
Monika: "I hope to see everyone do their best."
Monika: "But with that…"
Monika: "There's nothing more for today."
Monika: "So I guess it's time for us to head out."
Natsuki: "Alright, let's get out of here, then."

"~Closing time.~" Sayori sang. "~Turn all of the lights down and let you out into the world.~"

Everyone packs up their things.

"And themselves apparently." Sayori joked at the scene of the empty clubroom.

I start to follow Monika and Natsuki out the door as they chat between each other.

"'Look, I'm telling you,'" Natsuki began. "'If I put squid ink in the cupcakes, they'll-' No, that's not it either."

"… That better not have been another pun." Monika sighed.

Yuri: "U-Um-!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh?"
I turn around.

"'Yuri is still in front of me.'" Sayori joked.

"'I turn around again.'" Natsuki added.

"'Yuri is still in front of me.'"

"'I turn around again.'"

"'Yuri is still in front of me!'"

Yuri: "Sorry…"
Yuri: "I realized I don't have any way of contacting you this weekend…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Oh, you're right."
MoNatSaYuri: "I can't believe that slipped my mind."
MoNatSaYuri: "Should I give you my phone number?"
Yuri: "I think…that would be the best way, yes."

"'As well as your email address.'" Monika stated. "'And street address, social media account, zodiac sign, date of birth, weight, and blood type.'"

MoNatSaYuri: "Alright, then…"
Yuri and I exchange phone numbers.
Yuri: "Okay."
Yuri: "Then, I'll be stopping by your house on Sunday…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh?"
MoNatSaYuri: "My house?"

"'Is now a bad time to mention I live in Sayori's closet?" Monika joked.

Yuri: "I-Is that a problem…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "No, not at all…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I just thought I would be the one going to your house, since I'm the one helping you."
Yuri: "Ah, I suppose that makes sense…"

"'But it's gonna be kind awkward,'" Natsuki said. "'I kinda live in Sayori's shed.'"

"'Oh, well howdy neighbor.'" Sayori joked.

Yuri: "But, if you don't mind…"
Yuri: "I think I would prefer going to your house."
MoNatSaYuri: "Alright."
MoNatSaYuri: "In that case, it won't be a problem."

"'Note to self:'" Sayori began joking. "'Clean. And actually do it this time.'"

I decided not to press Yuri for a reason.
It's not like it should matter much either way, so I'll just need to make sure my room is clean.

"'As well as the kitchen.'" Sayori said. "'And living room. And bathroom. And front yard. And wow I really let the place go, didn't I?'"

MoNatSaYuri: "I hope I manage to make myself useful in some way…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm not nearly as creative as you are."
Yuri: "Don't underestimate yourself, MoNatSaYuri."

"'I mean, if I can sum up your poems in one word, it's creative.'" Yuri noted.

Yuri: "I think that we'll make a very productive team."
Yuri: "Even if you only chose me because you felt bad or something…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Wait…!"
MoNatSaYuri: "You don't actually think that, do you?"
Yuri: "…"
Yuri: "I…don't know."
Yuri: "It's difficult to come up with any other reason you may have chosen me…"

"It was the boobs." Natsuki said. "It's always the boobs."

MoNatSaYuri: "You're forgetting the one reason with the most common sense!"

"Again, the boobs." Natsuki joked.

MoNatSaYuri: "I chose to help you because that's what I want to do."
Yuri: "B-But…"
Yuri thinks to herself with an extremely tense expression.
MoNatSaYuri: "Yuri…you're overthinking this."
MoNatSaYuri: "You wanted me to point out when you're overthinking, right?"
Yuri: "Eh…?"
Yuri: "I…didn't realize…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm telling you, I want to."

"'I mean, it's either that or help Natsuki.'" Sayori began joking. "'And the last time I tried getting a glass of milk, I almost burned the house down.'"

MoNatSaYuri: "That's all there is to it."
MoNatSaYuri: "Do you believe me?"
Yuri: "I…"
Yuri thinks really hard again.

"'Let's see, people normally have trouble making eye contact when their lying.'" Yuri said.

"'Oh no! He doesn't have eyes!'" Sayori added.

She looks straight into my eyes for a long while.

"Wait, he does have eyes!?" Natsuki yelled.

"Oh, no, I just drew those ones on the night before." Sayori stated.

Yuri: "…I believe you!"

"'No one can lie with eyes that stupid!'" Natsuki joked.

"And thus, Yuri chooses Good Cop." Monika stated.

As if it took her tremendous effort, Yuri finally says that and relaxes her expression.
Yuri: "And I'm really looking forward to Sunday."
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I am too."
After that exchange, I make my way out the door, and Yuri follows.
*Scene changes to residential area.*
I can't believe this!

"'What the hell was I thinking!?" Natsuki yelled. "'I don't know the first thing about decorating!'"

Yuri is going to be coming to my house on Sunday…?

"'Wait, did they mean this Sunday, next Sunday…'" Sayori began before gasping. "'Or last Sunday!?'"

My anxiety shoots through the roof.

"'Mom and Dad are gonna kill me when they see that hole!'" Sayori joked.

"'On the plus side, we can finally get started on that skylight.'" Natsuki added in a calmer tone.

Even though I've gotten pretty used to handling her at this point…
There's no telling what might end up happening when we're outside of school.

"'What if she's like… A nudist or something!'" Natsuki said.

"And there we are." Yuri said. "We've made it this far without a sexual joke from Natsuki."

"What about the boob thing?" Sayori asked.

"Well, without a joke that's too sexual." Yuri corrected.

More than that…she told me she was looking forward to it.
Is this the chance I have to make something happen between us?
…Or is it too early for that?

"I was going to let the sex joke pass, but…" Natsuki began, gesturing to the screen. "I think the game's making them for me now."

Only time will tell…
But until then, I won't be able to take my mind off it.
I seriously can't wait!
*Scene fades to black before fading back in on the residential area.*
It's already Sunday.

"'We all completely forgot about the leap year!'" Sayori joked.

I've been getting increasingly anxious about Yuri's upcoming visit.
I keep telling myself there's no reason to be nervous, but it doesn't help much.
Yuri is clearly an introvert and also an intimate person in general.

"'One slip up, and she could become a hobo-kimo.'" Sayori joked.

"You mean Hikikomori." Natsuki corrected before turning to face the ginger. "'Hobo-kimo?' What?"

There's no doubt that she'll open up a little bit when it's just the two of us.
Meanwhile, we've even been texting occasionally.

"'She somehow managed to develop a complete language using only emojis.'" Natsuki joked.

She was extremely apprehensive at first, but it wasn't long before I was already learning more about her.

"'My phone is now filled with her entire life story.'" Monika joked. "'I'm pretty sure she mistook it for her diary.'"

But putting Yuri aside…
I haven't heard a thing from Sayori since she left club early the other day.

"'And after all the crap she gave me about becoming a NEET.'" Natsuki joked.

It's not like we text each other all the time or anything…

"'Unlike with Yuri.'" Monika joked.

But I've been worried about her in the back of my mind.
Between what Sayori said, and what Monika said…

"'And what Yuri said.'" Natsuki joked.

"'And what Natsuki said.'" Yuri added.

"'And what I said.'" Sayori continued.

Is it really okay for me to put Sayori's feelings aside when she might need me?
*Scene changes to Sayori's house.*
I decide to visit Sayori before Yuri comes over.
Rather than asking, I simply tell her "I'm coming over", much like we've done in the past.

"Did you just put that punctuation mark outside of the quotation marks?" Yuri asked, an annoyed twitch overtaking her eye. "Why would you do that? It looks jarring and wrong."

Once I reach Sayori's house, I knock on the door before entering it myself.
Again, we used to play so often that we've made it a habit to simply enter each other's houses like we were family.
*Scene fades to black.*
The house is quiet.

"'Three quiet…'" Sayori said. "'Which is worse than too quiet.'"

Sayori isn't anywhere on the first floor, so I assume she's up in her room.

"'Or at least, I think she's not here.'" Monika joked. "'Did she forget to pay the electric bill again?'"

It's already strange of her to not run down and greet me.
I head up to her bedroom, where I finally find her.
*Scene changes to Sayori's room.*
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori?"
Sayori: "Hi MoNatSaYuri~"
I sit down in her room.
Sayori forces a smile, but it's easy to tell that she's different.
There's a minute of silence between us.
Sayori: "You haven't come over like this in a long time, have you?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah… I guess you're right."

"Okay, I know the music wants me to treat this as a tender scene," Yuri began as she pointed to the screen. "But the formatting of these sentences is distracting me. Sometimes the ellipses have a space between them and the next word, sometimes they don't. It's starting to bother me."

MoNatSaYuri: "It has been a long time."
MoNatSaYuri: "Not much has really changed, has it?"
Sayori's room is as messy as it's always been.

"Really? It doesn't look that bad." Natsuki said as she made the textbox disappear. "Actually, wait, did you stuff your homework under your bed?"

I also recognized the same stuffed animals and wall decorations that she's had for years now.

"'Mr. Cow silently sits by Sayori's bed.'" Natsuki joked. "'I give him a silent wave.'"

"I didn't name him Mr. Cow." Sayori stated.

"Really? Then what do you call him?"

"Shoes." Sayori replied before Natsuki burst into laughter. "A bit morbid, now that I think back on it."

Sayori: "Ehehe~"
Sayori: "If you came over more often, it wouldn't be such a mess."

"Hang on," Yuri began. "Are all those plants dead?"

"Worst part is they're all fake." Sayori said.

MoNatSaYuri: "That's because I end up cleaning it for you…"
Sayori: "How come you suddenly wanted to come over today?"
Sayori: "Aren't you supposed to see Yuri today?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah, but…"
MoNatSaYuri: "…Wait, how did you know that?"
Sayori had already left by the time we decided that last meeting.

"Oh, I thought it was saying Sayori just left the room." Natsuki stated.

"YOU ONLY SAW MY AFTER IMAGE!" Sayori yelled.

Sayori: "Monika told me."
Sayori: "It's only natural for her to keep me informed about the festival preparations, right?"

"'Yeah, that's exactly what happened.'" Monika said. "'I didn't break into your room last night and read through your text messages or anything."

"Don't make me out to be like you." Sayori said flatly.

MoNatSaYuri: "Ah, that's true…"
MoNatSaYuri: "But what about you?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Aren't you going to be helping Monika today?"
Sayori: "Of course!"

"'I just decided to sleep in a little.'" Natsuki began. "'I still have time, it's only eleven 'o'clock-OHGODIT'SELEVEN'O'CLOCK!'"

Sayori: "But I'm just helping her online."
Sayori: "We didn't plan to meet up or anything."

"How do you help someone print pamphlets online?" Yuri asked.

"Monika is very bad with printers, so I was texting her the instructions." Sayori said. "She got a paper jam involving her hair."

"You didn't need to add that last part." Monika grumbled.

MoNatSaYuri: "Ah, so it's just me and Yuri, then…"

"'Well, and Natsuki doing who knows what.'" Monika joked.

"Oh, that reminds me." Natsuki said before placing her hand on her chin. "Cupcake pranks, cupcake pranks..."

Sayori: "Yep~"
There's more silence between us.

"'Or there would be, if this piano would shut up!'" Sayori yelled.

"'Sorry, just getting some practice in.'" Monika joked.

"'Aren't you printing pamphlets?'" Sayori asked.

"'Oh, you mean this isn't the printer?'" Monika replied.

Sayori stares in a random direction.
Everything about her behavior is really uncharacteristic.
I finally get to the point.
MoNatSaYuri: "I just…wanted to see how you were doing."
MoNatSaYuri: "After you left on Friday."
MoNatSaYuri: "When something's wrong, you can't hide it from me!"
MoNatSaYuri: "I know you too well."
MoNatSaYuri: "So…"
Sayori smiles, shaking her head.
Sayori: "That's no good, MoNatSaYuri."
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh?"
Sayori: "Why can't it just be like it's always been?"

"Because this is a dating sim." Natsuki stated. "The relationship kinda needs to change eventually."

Sayori: "This is all my fault."

"'If only I were less attractive.'" Natsuki joked. "'Then you wouldn't have a crush on me.'"

Sayori: "If I didn't get so weak and accidentally express my feelings…"
Sayori: "If I didn't make that stupid mistake…"
Sayori: "Then you wouldn't have been worried about me at all."
Sayori: "You wouldn't have come here."
Sayori: "You wouldn't have even been thinking about me right now."

"'You wouldn't be asking yourself if that plushie behind Shoes is authentic Angry Birds merchandise.'" Sayori joked.

Sayori: "But this…is just my punishment, isn't it?"
Sayori: "I'm getting punished for being so selfish."
Sayori: "I think that's why the world decided to have you come over today."
Sayori: "It just wants to torture me."

"'Look, Sayori, I get you're going through something right now,'" Monika began in her MoNatSaYuri voice. "'But you're making this kind of awkward because I just wanted to show you this picture of Natsuki as a turkey.'"

Sayori: "Ehehe~"
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori!"
I grab Sayori by the shoulders.
MoNatSaYuri: "What on Earth are you saying?!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Are you listening to yourself right now?"
MoNatSaYuri: "I know something happened to you."
MoNatSaYuri: "There's no other explanation for you to be like this."
MoNatSaYuri: "So tell me, already…!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Until I know, I won't be able to stop thinking about it!"
Sayori: "Ah…"
Sayori: "Ahaha…"
Sayori gives me an empty smile.
Sayori: "You really put me in a trap, MoNatSaYuri."
Sayori: "But…"
Sayori: "You're wrong."
Sayori: "Nothing happened to me."
Sayori: "I've always been like this."
Sayori: "You're just seeing it for the first time."
MoNatSaYuri: "Seeing what?"
MoNatSaYuri: "What are you talking about, Sayori?"
Sayori: "Ehehe~"
Sayori: "You're really just going to make me say it, aren't you, MoNatSaYuri?"
Sayori: "I guess I have no choice this time."
Sayori: "The thing is…"

"'I'm really struggling to figure out how to make this scene funny.'" Sayori joked. "'It's just too hard to make jokes during this.'"

"Eh, boner I guess." Natsuki shrugged.

Sayori: "I've had a really bad depression my whole life."

"'I love you-WAITWHAT?!'" Monika joked.

Sayori: "Did you know that?"
Sayori: "Why do you think I'm late to school every day?"

"'Because you can't afford an alarm clock?'" Natsuki joked.

Sayori: "Because most days, I can't even find a reason to get out of bed."
Sayori: "What reason is there to do anything when I fully know how worthless I am?"
Sayori: "Why go to school?"
Sayori: "Why eat?"
Sayori: "Why make friends?"
Sayori: "Why make other people put their energy and caring to waste by having them spend it on me?"

"Because I made cupcakes." Natsuki said.

Sayori: "That's what it feels like."
Sayori: "And that's why I just want to make everyone happy…"
Sayori: "Without anyone worrying about me."

"Do I need to give you another hug?" Natsuki asked the ginger.

"Maybe later." Sayori replied.

MoNatSaYuri: "…"
I'm in shock.
I can't even figure out how to respond.
How is it possible that Sayori kept this from me the entire time that I've known her?
Did she really want so badly for me to just not think about her?
MoNatSaYuri: "…Why, Sayori?"
Sayori: "Eh…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Why is it that you've never told me about this?"
MoNatSaYuri: "It almost feels like I've been betrayed as your close friend."

"Nice one, dude." Natsuki scowled. "Nice one."

MoNatSaYuri: "Because if I knew, I would have done everything I could to support you!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Even if there's only so much that I could do…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I would have tried a little bit harder to make every day a little better for you."
MoNatSaYuri: "That's why I'm your friend!"
MoNatSaYuri: "All you had to do was tell me!"
Sayori: "You don't understand at all, MoNatSaYuri."
Sayori: "Why do you think I didn't tell you?"
Sayori: "Because if I told you, then you would have to waste effort caring about me instead of doing more important things."
Sayori: "I don't want to be cared about."
Sayori: "It's bittersweet, when people try to care about me."
Sayori: "It feels nice sometimes."
Sayori: "But it also feels like a bat being swung against my head."
Sayori: "Ahaha~"
Sayori: "That's why I wanted so badly for you to make friends with everyone else…"
Sayori: "Helping everyone be happy together is the best thing for me."
Sayori: "But then, I discovered something else, too."

"'I'm pregnant, MoNatSaYuri.'" Monika joked. "'And Shoes is the father.'"

Sayori: "Seeing you make friends and get closer with everyone in the club…"
Sayori: "It feels like a spear going through my heart."
Sayori: "So, that's why."
Sayori: "That's why I decided the world just wants to torture me."

"Well, I mean, she's kinda right." Natsuki said, glancing at the brunette next to her.

Sayori: "Every path leads to nothing but hurt."
Sayori: "Ahaha~"

"'Stop laughing!'" Monika shouted in her MoNatSaYuri voice. "'This is supposed to be a tender sad moment.'"

"'The let's players already ruined it.'" Sayori stated.

MoNatSaYuri: "You're right that I don't understand…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I don't understand your feelings at all, Sayori."
MoNatSaYuri: "But I don't need to understand."
MoNatSaYuri: "Whatever it takes for me to help you stop hurting…"
MoNatSaYuri: "That's what I'll do."
Sayori: "No, MoNatSaYuri."
Sayori: "There's nothing."
Sayori: "Nothing at all."
Sayori: "The only thing that could have helped is if everything could be like it always was."
Sayori: "But I was selfish."
Sayori: "I finally showed you what a horrible person I am."

"Oh yeah, you are definitely getting hugs after this." Natsuki said.

Tears streak down Sayori's face.
Sayori: "I made you join the literature club because I was selfish."
Sayori: "And I was punished by my heart hurting in a way that I couldn't understand."
Sayori: "And now you came here and I made you hurt, too."
Sayori: "I'm just weak and selfish."
Sayori: "That's all I am."
Sayori: "And that's why I'm going to accept these punishments."
Sayori: "Because I deserve every last one…!"
Without thinking, I once again grab Sayori's shoulders.
This time, I pull her into a tight embrace.

"Oh, hey, look at that, he beat me to it." Natsuki commented.

*Scene fades to black.*
Sayori: "A-Ah-"

"Oh, he meant that kind of embrace…" Natsuki joked.

Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri."
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori."

"Yuri." Natsuki said.
"Natsuki." Yuri replied.
"Yuri." Sayori repeated.
"Sayori." Yuri responded.
"Sayori." Natsuki chimed in.
"Natsuki." Sayori said.
"Monika." Monika joined.

Silence hung over the four.

MoNatSaYuri: "I don't care if you feel selfish."
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm really happy that you convinced me to join the club."
MoNatSaYuri: "Seeing you every day makes it worthwhile enough."
MoNatSaYuri: "If I make friends with everyone else, then that's just a bonus."
MoNatSaYuri: "But please never underestimate how much I care about you."
MoNatSaYuri: "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori isn't hugging me back.
Despite my arms being wrapped around her, Sayori's arms remain at her sides.
She starts sobbing next to my ear.
Sayori: "No…"
Sayori: "Don't do this…to me…"
Sayori: "Please don't do this…"
Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori: "I…"
Sayori barely manages to speak between her sobs.
I don't know if I'm doing the right thing.
But all I want is for her to know that I care.
MoNatSaYuri: "If you have it in you to call yourself selfish, then you have to let me be selfish too."
MoNatSaYuri: "No matter what it takes, I'll figure out what needs to change."
MoNatSaYuri: "I'll make these feelings go away."
MoNatSaYuri: "And if there's anything that you need me to do…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Then you'd better tell me."
MoNatSaYuri" "I'll get mad if you don't."
Sayori: "…"
Sayori: "I…don't know…"
Sayori: "I don't know…"
Sayori: "I don't know."
Gently, Sayori finally puts her arms around me in return.
Sayori: "I don't know anything."
Sayori: "It's all really scary…"
Sayori: "I don't understand any of my feelings, MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori: "The only time I'm not feeling nothing is when I'm feeling pain."
Sayori: "But…"
Sayori: "Your hugs are so warm…"
Sayori: "…And that's really scary, too."
*Scene fades back in on Sayori's room.*
Sayori lets me go.
As she does so, I let her go as well.
MoNatSaYuri: "The festival is tomorrow."
Sayori: "Yeah…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It's going to be fun, right?"

"I mean, with the disaster we have planned." Natsuki snarked.