The smell of bacon wafted through the air, as Hiro placed a small plate in front of her son. Normally, he would respond with a thank you and dig in, but instead, he just remained silent.

His eyes were vacant as he tapped his right index finger against the kitchen table.

"What's wrong, Shujinkou?" Hiro asked.

Life returned to his eyes as he looked up at his mother. "Mom… Do you ever feel like you haven't really done much lately?"

"A lot lately to be honest…"

Sullen looks crossed their faces as they recalled what they did the last few days. They were uneventful for the most part.

But that feeling in itself was strange to Shujinkou. Sure, he assumed everyone had moments where they felt like that, but this felt like the equivalent to the spotlight shifting between actors.

Contemplating the different and somewhat foreign emotions inside him, Shujinkou wondered if a sense of narcissism was growing inside him. But even that didn't seem like a proper conclusion.

Stop! Stop! Shujinkou violently shook his head then slapped his cheeks. I just need to go somewhere to clear my head.

The young man informed his mother of his indistinct plan and stuffed the three slices of bacon into his mouth as he headed for the front door.

The moment he stepped through he noticed a familiar figure's back turned towards him. Though surprised, he smiled an approached her. "Hey, Monika."

She turned around and stared at him with confused eyes.

Shujinkou could only scratch his right cheek as the person he has gotten to know so long looked at him like she didn't even know him. In the past, he wouldn't have thought much of that. Why would she even try to know him back then? But now, it just seemed strange, unless this feeling was the result of his possible growing narcissism.

Maybe she's just setting me up for a tease. Shujinkou didn't say a word as he waited for something that never came. Unless I did something wrong again…

But just as the awkward atmosphere reached its zenith, Monika smiled. "I was just in the neighborhood and decided to stop by and say hi."

"Oh…" Shujinkou scratched his red right cheek. The way Monika looked at him and her reply said seemed a bit flirtatious. But something even more strange diverted his thoughts.

As if his mind was looking for something else to focus on, he took note of Monika's attire."How come you're wearing you're school uniform, Monika?"

"Hm? Oh," she twirled around as she gave her attire a quizzical look.

Comparisons to Yugi Muto always wearing his school uniform was all Shujinkou could think about until Monika's attention returned to him. She giggled and asked, "Think you can do me a favor?"

…

Shujinkou patiently waited outside a clothing store. His tongue brushed against the spherical top of a blueberry snow cone as he pondered the favor Monika had asked of him.

"Do you think you could loan me some cash?"

That didn't seem like something she would ask him, but then again, it's not like there has been a comparable situation.

Friends let friends borrow cash now and then, right?

The entrance doors slid open after that thought. Monika walked out in a familiar whit-

I thought Monika already had that outfit.

But before he could question his own memories, she turned towards him.

"Sorry to impose. I promise to make it up to you."

"You don't really need to do that," Shujinkou insisted as he presented another blueberry snow cone. "Here."

"Oh, thank you," Monika smiled as she accepted the gift.

She licked the top and let out a dreamy sigh.

"Hey…" Monika looked back up at him. "Where you doing something before I showed up?"

"Not really. I was just trying something different and just go wandering around."

"Really? Mind if I wander around with you?"

"Not really. Um, is there anywhere you would like to go?"

"Hm…" an interested smile crossed Monika's face.

…

"This is a really nice park," It was subtle, but Monika's eyes sparkled with marvel as she took in the surroundings.

The grass and sites of water sparkled under the rays of the sun and the lively guests only increased the appeal.

"Have you never been here, Monika?" Shujinkou asked.

"Not really," she giggled.

In the past, that would have been shocking for Shujinkou to hear. But it wasn't like he was one to talk about going out anywhere.

"By the way, do you remember when we first met?" Monika asked.

"When we first met? We were in the same class last year…?"

"So you do remember," a relieved smile crossed her face.

"But sometimes I think that doesn't count."

"You think?"

"Yeah. But that's probably because my brain is subconscious connecting that to when we first actually became friends."

"Yeah… I guess if you look at it that way. So, what would you consider when we first met by those standards?"

"When Sayori led me to the club with cupcakes."

"Sayori?" Monika remained silent for a moment. It was brief but noteworthy. But she suddenly giggled, pushing that silence to the back of Shujinkou's head. "That really was the Sayori thing to do."

"Yeah, she can be manipulative at times, but she uses those powers for good."

"Mm-hmm. Monika nodded her head in agreement. "So, what were you doing before suddenly deciding to get out and about?"

"Um…" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he recalled what he spent his morning doing. "I was reading the first few volumes of Yu-Gi-Oh."

"Oh, before all the duel monster cards took over?"

"Yeah."

"Did it ever bother you that the one game became so important to the plot?"

Shujinkou shook his head. "Well, I really like all the card duels, but I do kinda miss those times where it was a multitude of games. Also, kinda wasn't a fan where the card game was shoved into parts that it wasn't in."

"Like the dungeon dice game Yugi was forced into?"

"I also wasn't a fan of how they gave a moment Yugi had to win on his own to Yami Yugi in the anime. Wasn't bad, but I still prefer the original."

A quizzical expression formed on Monika's face. "Do you usually prefer the original to the adaptation?"

"It's really circumstantial. Sometimes adaptations give a chance for more character development or fix plot holes the original does. But then sometimes, adaptations go in there own direction."

Shujinkou crossed his arms as he tried to think of an example to his point.

The Rosario+Vampire anime was like that. It adapted a few elements and some of the first chapters but it's pretty much its own thing with the characters. I kinda wish they adapted the manga chapters, but the original anime episodes are some nice original stuff. Overall, I think yhey could have of worked as some breather episodes while still adapting the original source material."

"That's a pretty rational and positive way to look at it," Monika complimented. "I bet you don't lose your cool so easily when discussing such a view on internet forums."

"I don't usually do that kind of stuff…"

"You don't? How come?"

Shujinkou anxiously scratched his right cheek. "It just seems so easy, because you're not in person, to unintentionally anger people because you didn't properly explain or realize how your comment looks until after it's posted."

"You shouldn't really let such a thing keep you from expressing your own opinion. If something like that happens you can clarify after the fact."

"I know, but still it seems kinda…"

"Intimidating?"

"Yeah…"

"That's understandable. But just remember that what's intimidating is usually a vocal minority. The majority most likely respectfully agree or disagree with your opinion, they just don't reply. When you're scrolling through a multitude of comments, people usually don't feel like stopping to reply to every comment."

"That's true."

"Also, you have to remember that you're not entitled to get a response."

"No, I never feel that way. Though I have felt a bit irrelevant.

"Never feel irrelevant. You expressed your opinion and that should be an accomplishment in itself some times."

"That's a pretty positive way to look at it."

"Positivity begets positivity. You're pretty positive despite your slight hesitant nature."

"I'm trying to do better."

Monika slightly giggled.

"So, try it out on me."

"Huh?" Shujinkou's head instinctively tilted to emphasize his confusion.

"Try and express your opinion to me."

"But I don't really have a problem expressing my opinion to you Monika," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. Though the old me would of…

"Well, try and imagine I'm a random stranger on the internet that made a post about how Yami Yugi was a clear villain at the start."

"Yami Yugi?"

"He sets everyone on fire."

"He only did that twice and the second time the antagonists lived. Honestly the only person where the punishment was worse than the crime was when he blew up a student. Plus, I'm pretty sure he's aware that he's betting more than just his life…"

"Oh, that bothered you?"

"Not really. I just remember as a kid thinking that Yami Yugi is also putting Yugi's life in danger when Yugi wasn't aware of him yet. I didn't hate him for it, I just thought it was weird that no one even lampshaded it."

"Well, he is the King of Games. Is there really any doubt he'd win?"

"Not really, just one of those times where thinking too hard almost ruined something for me."

"We all moments like that. Shouldn't let it keep you from enjoying something, especially a work of fiction," Monika snapped her fingers and smiled. "Monika's life lesson for the day."

She then stepped in front of Shujinkou and extended her hand towards him.

"Um…"

"Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Anywhere really. There's something I want to see but we still have a lot of time to kill. Do you have any other ideas of where we could go?"

"Well…" A few ideas did pop into Shujinkou's head, but he wasn't entirely sure if it would allow enough time to pass by. Guess I'll wing it.

…

After an entire afternoon of winging it, Shujinkou found himself leading Monika to one final destination.

"It really is amazing how a mysterious singer can stay so popular."

Shujinkou turned around and just as Monika gently removed her headphones from her ears.

"Really wonder when her identity will be revealed or leaked," she continued.

Monika then tucked her phone away and looked around. They were already halfway up a small hill.

"Is this the place?"

"Yeah. Kiyoko told me about it," Shujinkou answered. "Said it was a good spot for some downtime and that it has a view."

Once at the top, the two perched down and stared into the distance. It isn't easy to find a spot to watch the sunset without getting far into nature, but this spot was perfectly positioned to fit such a task.

No building truly blocked the solar object they wanted to see.

"I can see why it was highly recommended," Monika said.

"Yeah, I guess it's about location and not height sometimes," Shujinkou agreed.

"Life can be unexpected. Trust me." Monika replied with a smile.

But something was different about this one. It seemed to be hiding an emotion that was its antithesis.

"Hey, Monika?"

"Yeah?"

"Um…" Shujinkou lowered his head and mentally prepared himself for what he was about to do it. If it worked, it worked. If it didn't, it will be pretty awkward.

"Are you okay?" Monika worriedly asked.

Shujinkou quickly raised his head with the goofiest smile he could muster. Seeing such a face out of nowhere, Monika couldn't help but burst into laughter.

It worked. Shujinkou sighed, relieved that his impromptu plan was successful.

"You're really funny," she said, still chuckling.

"I have my moments, intentional or unintentional."

"Well, I think you still have a knack for changing the mood to a more positive one."

"Really? I don't really think about it."

"And a humble… And the reason the dinosaurs went extinct."

Shujinkou awkwardly scratched his right cheek and weakly chuckled. It was kind of embarrassing to think back to how into an arcade game he was when they were wandering around earlier.

"I was going for the high score…" he said.

"I could tell," Monika giggled. "Remind me to stay on your good side."

She then turned her attention to the descending celestial object.

"Really interesting."

"The sun set?"

"Nope."

"Huh?"

Monika turned towards him and flashed the confused young man a knowing smile. But all that did was confuse him even more. But like other moments like this one, he accepted it.

The two continued to watch the sun descend until the stars over their head was fully revealed.

…

"Thanks for walking me home," a knowing smile filled her face. "And thanks for today."

"No problem…" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. He didn't mind escorting Monika home but he found it strange that she insisted so much.

"Um…"

Shujinkou's eyes searched for something to focus on before they caught a glimpse of glimmer of light. Her house of was lit up. Is someone home?

He then heard the familiar sound of a doorbell singing though the inside. He was shocked by the sudden sound and surprised that Monika was the one to hit it.

But before he could question her reason for doing so, the front door opened and he was greeted with another, more potent shock to his psyche.

"Hi, Shujinkou," Monika warmly greeted.

"Monika?!" he exclaimed.

It was as if all logical sense of the world vanished. Shujinkou exchanged confused glances with both Monika's before exchanging on final one with the Monika he spent the day with.

She didn't say a word until a calm smile formed on her lips.

"To be continued," she said.