Shujinkou's eyes unapologetically darted back and forth. He couldn't help it. In front of him were two people who looked the same, acted similar and shared the same name. There were two Monikas and he didn't know how to react or what explanation for how such a scenario came to be.

The only difference between the two Monikas was their attire. The one he met today was in a white dress while the one he always knew was in her pajamas.

"So…" the pajama-clad Monika played with her thumbs. Her focus briefly shifted to Shujinkou before returning to her lookalike. "I'm sorry; I don't really know what to say here."

"I can't blame you. Seeing yourself is kinda distressing," the other Monika sympathized.

"Myself? So, you wouldn't happen to be a long lost twin?"

The other Monika shook her head."No, I was kinda confused at first, but after coming here I think I understand what's going on here."

She raised her index finger and smiled. "I'm in another reality."

Shujinkou and Monika blankly stared at the self-proclaimed visitor from another reality.

"I know it sounds crazy but that's what makes the most sense in this situation," she said.

The Monika in her nightwear turned towards Shujinkou. There was no sign of judgment on her face and she calmly asked, "Do you believe her, Shujinkou?"

"Do I?"

"You spent all day with her? What do you think?"

"Well…" Shujinkou awkwardly scratched his right cheeks as he recalled the abnormalities that he decided not to think too hard about.

When he actually thought about it, it was still strange how when they first met, the other Monika seemed to have no idea who he was. Then there was her brief silent when he mentioned Sayori; that was strange too.

She also asked him questions and made comments that seemed like she was not from around here.

But even those facts combined don't exactly lend credence to the other Monika's assertion of being from another realm of existence.

But at the same time, there was the undeniable fact that throughout the entire day he spent with her, the other Monika sounded and acted very similar to the Monika he knew.

"My head hurts…" Shujinkou moaned. "But, the thing is, not only do you two look and sound alike, but you two also act alike. I honestly think it would be cool if this was a multiverse thing, but what other reasons would there be if it wasn't that?"

"None that are pleasant…" Monika weakly replied.

"Probably involves stalking, facial surgery, and eventual taking the original's life," the other Monika added.

The two exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention back to Shujinkou.

"You two had the same idea?"

The two nodded their head in near unison.

"Well, I don't mean to say this in a narcissistic way but if the Monika I spent all day with was trying to be the one I know, wouldn't she have known who I was already? Not to mention, she seemed overall confused to a lot of things in the first place."

"I was," she confirmed.

"Um… What's the last thing you remember before ending up at my house?"

"The last thing…?" The other Monika closed her eyes. "I remember darkness, horrid sounds then decimation. One of the last things to happen to me… It felt like I was suddenly grabbed and forcibly torn into a million little pieces. I remember feeling betrayal after all that I went through to be with someone. But I also remember that despite that, there was one emotion that I couldn't stop feeling. Other than the message I left behind, I remember some of the last words I directly said.

I still love you…"

To say Shujinkou and Monika were a "little" taken aback from such a dark story would be an understatement.

The other Monika opened her eyes. "I honestly thought that was it and that something worse that the darkness would be my fate and yet… I'm here. I have no idea how, but I am."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. Despite wanting this to be a multiversal thing, he knew deep down giving into that bias would not yield good result. Also, considering the circumstances, that being the case would not be a good thing for the Monika he just met today.

But at the same time, with the evidence he has and just by hearing her explain herself. "… I believe you."

"You do?" the other Monika's face lit up with surprise.

"Yeah… I know it sounds crazy, but… I don't know. It's just that I have a strong feeling that you're being honest."

"Huh," the other Monika flashed him a warm smile. "You really are interesting… Shujinkou."

A sudden realization came to the young man the moment she said his name. "Now that I think about it, you didn't know my name all day, didn't you?"

"Nope. It was a little stressful using every other method of referring to you despite you being friends with the other me."

"There's two versions of me…" Monika weakly chuckled as she cradled her head. "This is too much to take in."

"You believe me too, other me?"

"Yeah. When I look at you, it's like looking into a mirror."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek, it was kinda weird that they both accepted a multiverse explanation so easily, but this was a strange situation.

Not to mention kinda cool. He chuckled. "Well, I have to get home and get ready for school tomorrow."

Shujinkou stood on his feet and walked towards the door before an important fact popped into his head. He turned back and asked, "Um… How are others supposed to refer to you two when together?"

"That's a good point," Monika glanced at the identical guest.

Mm-hmm. Everyone's going to be confused if we just refer to each other as Monika and 'Other' Monika," the identical stranger remained silent for a while before a smile filled her face. "We can be like Dr. Suess. I'm Monika #1 and you're Monika #2."

"That sounds kinda weird in practice…"

"Okay. Then how about you can be called Monika and I'll be Monika Prime when we're in the same room?"

"Like comic books with multiverse crossovers?" Shujinkou asked.

"Mm-hmm," the other Monika nodded her head.

"That sounds good," Monika accepted. "Oh, what about living arrangements, do you have a place to stay?"

"Not really…" Monika Prime weakly chuckled. "I was kinda banking that I didn't run into myself and stay here."

"Well, Claudette's not here for the night, so you can stay in the guest room tonight.

"Claudette?"

"She's my cousin. Don't you have a Claudette where you came from?"

"As far as I know right now… No. But I'll still graciously accept your offer."

"Wait, Claudette's your cousin, Monika?" Shujinkou asked.

"Mm-hmm."

"Oh." Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. He didn't understand why but what just happened was comparable to a big reveal being ruined.

He then shook his head, wondering where such a strange thought came from.

"Anyway, I'll see you two later," Shujinkou said as he reached for the door. "'night."

"'night," the Monikas replied in unison as they watched their guest leave.

Once they were alone, Monika prime turned towards her counterpart. "So, Shujinkou… Is he your boyfriend?"

Such a question was all it took for her other self's cheeks to grow bright red. It was almost funny how easy it was to spur such a reaction.

"No," Monika denied, trying to keep her calm. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, he did go along with almost everything I asked of him no questions asked," Monika Prime answered. "Including buying me this outfit with no signs of annoyance."

"No, Shujinkou is just really thoughtful like that."

"Hm…" Monika Prime recalled the day she just spent with Shujinkou. How he tried to cheer her up when she was feeling down nor never complained about her stealing the day away from him. "So, what's his story?"

"'What's his story?'" A quizzical look crossed Monika's face.

"Shujinkou said you two were in the same class last year, but you two didn't become friend until this year and that was after he joined the club."

"Right, we did become friends after he joined the Literature Club."

"So, why did Shujinkou join the club?"

"To rekindle his friendship with Sayori."

"I see… And did he ever bond with one particular club member more than the others?"

"No. I don't think Shujinkou thinks of any of us in that way."

Monika Prime closed her eyes and nodded her head. So he's that type of p-

A sly smile flashed in her face before she opened her eyes.

"Changing topics, are you sure you're okay with all this? There are really a lot of other possibilities that make more sense than the truth, as tedious or mentally unstable as they may be."

"No, I'm fine. It's just going to be a little hard getting used to having another me around," Monika assured herself.

"You know, I don't really know how long I'll be here. How are you going to explain there being two of you?"

"Um… "

That was a good question. There was only so long the fact that two of the same person running around could be hidden. Compounding matters even further is that Monika Prime does not exist in this reality, meaning she has no legal documentations of her own and sharing would eventually bring unwanted attention.

"I don't really know," Monika admitted. "I guess the best we can do for now is not let too many people know that there are two of us."

"Probably for the best," Monika Prime agreed. "Hopefully I can get a better handle on my situation before something happens."

"Well, until then make yourself at home," Monika said with a smile.

"If you insist," Monika prime replied with a smile.

The two stared at each other. There was only one thought going through their heads as the contemplated their natural reactions.

This really is going to take a while to get used to.

…

The next morning, Monika knocked on the door to the guest room.

"Come in."

Opening the door, she was greeted with the sight of her other self lying on the floor. Monika Prime's tired eyes were glued to the ceiling.

"Are you okay?" Monika asked.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

"You look kinda tired."

"Well, I didn't get much sleep last night… Closing my eyes for too long is really… uncomfortable. So instead I spent last night reading."

"Really? Reading what?"

Monika Prime turned towards her counterpart and giggled. "Secret."

"Oh." Monika playfully scratched her right cheek. So this is what it's like to be on the other side.

She then watched as her other self stand up and approached her.

"Monika, do you think I could ask you for a big favor?" Monika Prime asked.