A small gust of air laced with vanilla scented freshener flooded my senses as I closed the door behind me.

Noise from the television was the first thing I could hear as I looked into the living room. Only to find the room empty and the television still on, with a documentary on World War 1, judging by the infantry uniforms on the soldiers.

Hmm. Where are the girls? This is the first time I'm coming home to silence like this…usually Monika's waiting for me to come home like an expectant puppy, smiles and all.

I take a few steps towards the hallway to look into the kitchen, only to find it empty as well.

Huh. Did they go out somewhere? If they did, I'm sure Monika would at least leave a message or something...

"Just please keep this a secret from Cecil for now."

...Huh?

Was...that Monika? It sounds like it came from the bedroom…

"O-Oh, of course. I won't tell him."

Wha...Sayori?

The hell's going on in there?

Before I could even open my mouth to call out to the girls, muffled voices from the other side of my bedroom door could be heard if listened close enough.

Quietly tiptoeing, I move closer towards the door, as to better hear their conversation.

"This is really important, Sayori. This has to be done right, and I'm putting a lot of trust in you."

"Don't worry, Monika. I promise my lips are sealed."

"Are you sure? You're not really that great a liar…"

"You just said you're trusting me, and yet you're doubting me?"

"I-I only want to make sure you know what you're doing, it's just really important to me. I'm sorry, and...thank you, Sayori."

"Of course! It'll be our little secret from him."

…

…I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

First the anonymous messages telling me Monika's lying to me, then I find out she is keeping something from me!

Good god, and just when I thought the girls disappearing off the face of the internet was the worst to happen…

At that moment, I began to hear small, faint footsteps approaching the door. My body tenses as I go into a small panic of what to do. The only thing I can do right now is make it look like I just entered through the door.

I gulped whatever saliva was stuck in my throat as I nervously watched the bedroom door open to Monika as I acted like I was taking my shoes off after just walking inside.

"Alright, he should be home any moment." she says to Sayori, still looking within the room. "I'm going to get started on dinner so he-" She freezes the moment her eyes meet me in the doorway, smiling as if I had been gone for days. "O-Oh! He's already here!"

She immediately and excitedly hops towards me, leaning herself into me as soon as I was within reach. "Welcome home, Darling~" she playfully sings before puckering her lips to me, standing on the tips of her feet to compensate for our height difference.

But as the picture perfect homely scene played before me, I found myself hesitant towards her advances. Words became lost to me as my emotions and instincts clashed with one another.

I didn't know whether to accept the loving gesture as it was…

...or to see it as a kind of diversion. Like a lie of some sort.

I blink twice to bring me back from within my thoughts to see Monika still expectant of a kiss back.

Awkwardly, I returned the gesture with a quick, hesitant peck upon her lips to appease her. This seemed to have worked well, as I am greeted with a warm smile and a tight embrace.

"You must be exhausted from having to work late again. I'll let you relax and put your feet up while I get started on dinner." she said as she took my coat. "I even put on a World War 1 documentary, because I know you like the history and all."

"Y-Yeah, sure…thanks." I reply as she releases me, gives me a peck on the cheek, and starts on her way towards the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Sayori steps out of the bedroom, and freezes like a deer on the road once our eyes meet.

"U-Uh...Welcome back." Sayori said, a nervous smile running across her face.

At that moment, I debated with myself whether I should try and press Sayori for an answer or two.

I know she's keeping something from me, but how am I supposed to know if she's not just as confused as I am? Doesn't really sound fair now that I think about it…

I reply with a smile. "Good to be back. Okay day so far?"

"Y-Yeah, so far…How was work?" she weakly asked.

"Ehh, it was whatever." I reply as I step into the living room. "Had to stay after this week as well, but it's over with, and I'm just glad it's the weekend." I said as I loosened my tie.

I could hear a small giggle from her at my statement. "Well, at least there's that." She said as she joined me to reside within the living room.

At that moment, Stevie resurfaces from his usual hiding spot from behind the couch to greet me as soon as I sit down. Immediately, he greets me by asking for attention by rubbing against my legs.

His pushy attitude towards head scratches slightly put me at ease as I picked him up into my lap and obliged him in doing so.

"Well, someone missed you." Sayori said with a slight passive-aggressive tone in her voice towards the blind cat. "I couldn't find him all day."

"Yeah, he's kind of skittish like that." I replied, stroking Stevie across his back. "Frank comes by at least twice a week, but this puffball still scurries and hides whenever he is over."

That much is at least true. I don't know what happened between him and his previous owners, but thinking about it makes me feel glad I'm able to put him at ease above others.

Kind of a win-win, because I feel just as comfortable with him around. His fur is just way too fluffy to not want to pet.

I looked over towards Sayori, who had a longing look on her face as she watched Stevie enjoying his daily dose of head-scratching.

"Do you...want to hold him?" I ask, offering the relaxed cat to her to hold.

As if I was reading her mind, her eyes flash back to me, only to look down towards the floor. She waves her hand nervously in a dismissive manner at my offer. "O-Oh, no, don't worry about me. I don't want to interrupt time between a pet and their owner…"

I gave off an incredulous look at the words laid before me. No way she was fooling me.

"Oh, come on. You've been around him for almost a week, I'm sure he's lightened up to you by now." I say as I pick up the living furball off my lap, offering him to her. "Here, I know you want it."

"N-No, really, I'm-" she muttered, interrupted by my placing of Stevie onto her lap, who only looked slightly confused at being moved.

I was actually kind of surprised he was so well-behaved about it.

"Here, you gotta get right here, below the ears." I say as I show her his favorite petting place. "Just do that, and he's putty in your hands."

Hesitantly, Sayori raised her hand to touch Stevie, who remained near unfazed by two humans he cannot see touching him. After only a moment of scratches in just the right places, he openly relaxes and splays himself all across her lap. "See? He may be blind, but he's still a cat." I continued, crossing my arms. "Therefore, a glutton for affection." I finish as I witness her face lightening from its somber tone.

She really likes that cat of mine. I've been noticing all week how she'll try and get whatever time she can with him before he retreats to his secret base.

At the same time, her behavior around him suggests she still doesn't know much about an animal like him. Makes me wonder if in whatever world she came from, if her "family" even had pets.

Nonetheless, it's great to see a smile on her face, considering everything known about her. I've been noticing her mood getting progressively worse as the week went on. In fact, I don't think she's taken a shower in days…hopefully this'll put a little more color on her face.

While this wholesome scene plays before me, a waft of a familiar scent tickles my nose.

Jesus. Monika almost cooks just like my mom.

I rise from my seat, leaving Sayori and Stevie with some alone time while I make my way towards the kitchen, following the seductive scent like a cartoon character.

There, I find the same heart-warming sight I've seen every day for almost an entire week.

Good god, she still looks great in that apron. She made a good call asking me to get it for her.

While I'm staring, Monika turns her head from the stove, smiling once she realized I had entered the kitchen. Once she then realized I was staring, though, her face flushed in flattered embarrassment. "Yep…" she said, unsurprised. "I knew you were going to look at me like that when I picked this one out…"

"W-Well, it was, uhm…a good choice." I reply back, only increasing the smile on her face. "You look really good in it."

"Well…" She replied, giving a little spin to show herself off. "If you're happy with it, then I'm happy with it!"

She then looked back toward the stove at her hard work. "I got a good start, so dinner will be ready in about a half hour." She said, looking over her cooking. "Did you want anything in the meantime to hold you over then?"

"Oh, uh, I'm fine for now…" I replied.

"Really? Not even…" She said in return, as she raised her hip and placed her hand on her waist in a suggestive manner. "…me? As a snack?"

Her flirting definitely has lost some of its bite over me, but damn, does she go the extra mile sometimes.

"Well, you know what they say about snacking before dinner..." I say in return in a cheeky attempt at flirting back.

"Oh, absolutely." She agreed, before suddenly grabbing my tie to lower me down to her level. "But there's nothing wrong with a little something to...'get the appetite going'...is there?"

Sweet fucking lord, she's good. Makes me wonder who really wears the pants in this relationship sometimes...

In an attempt to steer the conversation, I tilt my head to see past her to see a half-way boiling pot and an empty skillet, each with their own respective steam trail rising. She seemed to have noticed me seeing this, letting go of my tie in return.

"We'll have to go shopping again soon, I was only able to make Chicken and Rice for tonight." She said before walking towards the stove, placing a lid on the boiling pot,l.;.

"Yeah, we can do that over the weekend…" I say as I approach Monika, whose smile grew with each step I took. "Uhm...did you want me to head out and pick something up for you to eat? Doesn't seem fair for you to just have 'Rice' from 'Chicken and Rice'..."

Her already slightly red cheeks grew redder as my words seem to have set off a bomb in her head. "O-Oh, y-you don't have to worry about me! I-I'd hate for you to have to take off after you just got home…" she sheepishly said.

She then grew a cute smile on her face as she moved in close for another hug, bringing her face closer to mine.

"It's really sweet that you would do that for me, though. I love how thoughtful you are…" she said as she rested her face into my chest.

As the wholesome scene played before me, I couldn't help but think about that one message from my mysterious contact:

"Your new "girlfriend" may be keeping something from you."

But when I look at her loving every second with me, something in my heart tells me I can still trust her! She's basically been my unofficial wife for the past week for God's sake!

I know what she's done to the other girls was horrible, which she still hasn't brought up to Sayori, but I can't help but feel the sympathetic side of me taking over…

After all, what she's done will be reversed once the other girls show up, so it's like what happened never did!

...

...At least, that's what I want to think.

Even if the others would be free from the confines of a fabricated world, it still doesn't excuse the actions themselves.

She practically erased them from existence without regret, and tore apart the world she lived in just for a chance to be alone with me. It's like someone killing another in your name…

...But...I can at least trust her a little, right? I know she wants the best for me, since she goes so much out of the way to please me…

I still don't know how the hell she made that coffee on Sunday, when I didn't have a coffee machine, nor coffee to brew. Every time I ask her, she says she just waves it off as unimportant…

But I can still at least talk to her, can't I? I should be able to get some kind of answer without revealing too much…

I wasn't sure of what I was going to do, but I knew it had to be something quick.

"U-Um...hey, Monika?"

She turns her attention back to me, eyes raised. "Yes?"

"You...um...wouldn't lie to me about anything...right?"

Her expression flattens for a moment before changing into a look of concern.

"N…No? Of course not, dear…" She replied slightly confused. "Where is this coming from, Cecil?" She says, her voice returning more hurt. "Of course I wouldn't lie to you. Why are you asking?"

"W-Whoa, I was just-"

"What, do you…think I'm keeping something from you?"

What the hell's with this totally opposite attitude? She's totally taking the wind out of me in this conversation!

"S-Sorry, I didn't think this would upset you this much…"

"I'm not upset, it's just…" She says while looking to the floor, hurt from my words. "I don't understand why you would be asking me this. I love you with all my heart, why would I lie to you?"

Being put on the spot for an answer, my body tenses with anxiety, as I find myself at a loss for words. "I...it's just...u-uh…"

Her face lowers to a sad and hurt tone. "Do...do you not trust me?"

"N-No, I-it's not like that, it's just..." I stammer.

There I was, standing in front of a saddened and hurt Monika while I'm at a complete loss on what to say.

I just can't come up with words to say about my mysterious contact. I need a way out of this without causing any more suspicion.

Suddenly, as I was completely unsure of what to do, four words popped into my head.

Four words I thought I'd forgotten and gotten over already.

"Of course I lied."

…Shit.

…I was kind of hoping not to tell her about my...previous engagement with…"dating"…

Either Monika is being truthful and rightfully hurt, or she's going on an offensive type of defense with her words, taking the wind of the conversation with her.

Maybe I shouldn't be asking about this yet. Whatever she's holding from me won't come out if she's going to get this defensive over the slightest doubt over her honesty.

So, maybe I should, er…"diffuse'' the situation with something else so that I'm not sleeping on the couch tonight.

…Er, at least like a boyfriend in trouble would.

I raise my head to look Monika in the eye to speak to her. "I'm sorry…I just feel a little unsure because of something that...happened in the past…"

Her face softened into a more softer, concerned look as I spoke. Almost like a sudden mood swing, she went from confrontive to empathetic.

"I may have stretched the truth last week when I said I never had a girlfriend…" I said, parting my eyes to the side in slight guilt.

Her head reels back slightly in shock, as her brow furrows to match. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that...there was this girl that I had known a few years ago, and-"

At that moment, I was silenced by a finger to my lips. One look at Monika told me she was no longer upset, rather empathizing with me instead.

She then cupped my cheek in her hand, as she looked me in the eye with hers. "Oh, Cecil, I'm so sorry, my love... I never would have thought you were hurt by another girl... It's no wonder you were so skeptical at first!"

…Yes, that's why. Not because you're a wonder of science and life that crossed over from a fictional reality to our own, but because I have trust issues.

...I mean, I do, but…still.

Also, "never would've figured"? Man, even my own girlfriend thinks I can't get a girlfriend…

Monika continues, as she brings her head down in guilt. "I was just having so much fun being able to live a life alongside you, I forgot you still had a lot of adjusting to do, and when Sayori came after for whatever reason, it might have been too much for you to handle at once…"

…Well.

Now I feel guilty for stretching the truth like that...she's pouring her heart out to me, while I keep a secret of my own...

Feeling just a little more understood over the situation, I feel my cheeks start to burn. "W-Well…I…"

Once again, I am interrupted by Monika silencing me with a finger to my lips.

"It's alright, my sweetie. I'm not jealous of this girl or anything, especially if she's the reason you're not completely opening up to me!" She confidently stated. "We can talk about it when we have a chance to be alone tomorrow night. Just you and me, and you can tell me everything." She then raises her arms, bringing her hands together and resting them on the back of my neck, pulling me down to look into her emerald green eyes. "Now, go to the living room, put something on TV, and I'll announce dinner once it's done."

My mind went completely blank the moment she grabbed a hold of me, as I merely nodded in confirmation.

"One more thing, too." I hear her say. "If there's anything on your mind, don't be afraid to talk to me about it. I'll try and help as much as I possibly can."

She then releases my neck, and grabs my still wrists, guiding them so that my arms wrapped around her slender lower back.

"I'm no longer bound to what my life was before. I can be here for you now. Whenever, and wherever." She says, as she looks softly into my eyes. "The border between our realities can no longer keep us apart. I can see you, hear you, and thank whatever cruel god is out there, I can touch you!" She said as she tenderly stroked a hand against my cheek.

She then squeezed me even tighter, burying her face into my neck.

"And…whenever I need it…you can touch me in return…hear me in return…love me…in return…"

Christ, she has a way of tugging on the heartstrings…makes me feel like I've only been focused on my own feelings…

After a moment, she raised her face from my chest, and then lovingly kissed my cheek once more before releasing her grasp on me. "I love you Cecil…nothing will ever change that. Now, go find something good for us to watch. I want some quality snuggling time after waiting so long for you to come home." She says, before turning back around to tend to her cooking.

In return, I turned around and faced the doorway out of the kitchen.

I thought to confront her, but once she started returning with questions, I just lost all of my confidence…

Defeated, I make my way back towards the living room, joining Sayori on the couch.

After planting myself next to her, my mind still swirled with thoughts as I watched her enjoying her time with Stevie.

I still don't know what's going on, or how any of this came to be.

The only person who knows what's going on with these girls wants to be kept a secret.

I just might have to start preparing for the other girls soon.

To top it all off, Monika just might be keeping something from me about everything after all.

I'm not sure if I should keep Natsuki and Yuri a secret, but I don't even know when they would even show up…plus, as I've yet to do for Sayori, we'll need to go shopping for new clothes, as well as finding a place in the apartment for them to sleep, adjusting the budget plan for more hungry mouths and electricity...

I guess if push comes to shove, I can just sleep on the floor…

…

…

…

...God, this is going to drain both my wallet along with my sanity...