Here's some cut and/or altered content from Act 2.
Lost Dialogue 1: Originally after the end of Order's Appeal, Shujinkou would have spent the day with Monika. What's most interesting about this piece of unused dialogue was a certain parody that lies within.
Later that night…
Shujinkou laid spread across his bed. All that was on his mind was his last conversation with Mali and her interest in him.
Suddenly, he heard his phone ring. Without even confirming the number, Shujinkou brought it to his ear and answred. "Hello?"
"Hi, Shujinkou's ear," he heard a bright voice respond.
Surprised, Shujinkou brought to phone to his face and watched Monika giggle at him.
"Guess, you weren't paying attention to what call this was, huh?" she said.
"Sorry. I was kinda lost in thought," Shujinkou apologized.
"I know. You were like that since Kiyoko's. I was wondering what was on your mind."
"Oh. It's nothing much, I was just thinking about what Mali is going to do from now on."
"I can understand why you seem anxious after all is said and done. In fact, now that I think about it, you've really had it tough the last few days."
"I guess…"
"Hmm… You know what you need."
"The power of teleportation?"
"No... You need to do something that simple to get your mind off all the stress."
"The power of teleportation would immediately take away all my stress."
"Maybe something that can be achieved in reality. Um… I got it. Why don't we watch some movies at my place?"
Shujinkou wordlessly stared at his phone screen. Though he appeared to be calm on the outside, the inside of his mind was in disarray.
"Simple and stress-free," he wondered as he paced back in forth in an office filled with doppelgangers.
"Is what Monika suggested really stress-freeish?" one of the doppelgangers asked.
"Well, it's not the first time I went to Monika's… Why would it shock me into this scenario?" Shujinkou wondered aloud.
"It is simple, main me," one of the doppelgangers approached him. He was wearing a distinctive green jacket and sported a unibrow. "Monika's trying to lure you into a wormhole and spew you into an alternate universe!"
Shujinkou blankly stared at his counterpart before turning towards the other doppelgangers. "Any other hypothesizes?"
"I have one," another doppelganger approached Shujinkou, this one wearing glasses and a long blackcoat. "You have been shocked into this scenario because of three separate factors: girl, movie and her house. Put that all together and that equates to a date."
"Are you saying Monika's asking me on a date?" Shujinkou questioned.
"A date? With you?!" suddenly a cloud of ash appeared in front of him. From it appeared a red horned version of himself. "Like anyone would ask you out on a date."
"…You must be the aspect of my personality I have a bad habit of indulging," Shujinkou said.
"Looking down on yourself?" Science Shujinkou asked.
"Yeah."
"And that's what I'm usually here for?"
"Huh?" Shujinkou turned around, his eyes widening with shock the moment they landed on Sayori. "Sayori!?"
His childhood friend smile as she adjusted her halo. Her angelic wings sparkled as they slowly flapped back and forth.
"How are you here?" he asked.
"I'm not. I'm your sense of self-worth and overall positivity," she explained.
"But shouldn't you be a version of me?" he further questioned.
"You looked down on yourself for so long that you don't have a positive doppelganger," Devil Shujinkou snickered.
"Ouch. But wait, I'm a lot more positive now so…"
"You say that and yet, there's no positive Shujinkou," Devil Shujinkou pointed out. "Could it be that you still…?"
"Um, Shujinkou…!" Angel Sayori swiftly thrust her hand over Devil Shujinkou's mouth. "Aren't you getting sidetracked?"
"She's right, main me," Science Shujinkou agreed. "You are currently spacing out during a call."
"Wait? Time isn't flowing differently like before?" Shujinkou asked.
"That was just your imagination trying to comfort you," Science Shujinkou explained. "You were spacing out in front of Yuri back then. Anyway, we go through all of this just so you can know that this is not a date nor do you need to feel nervous about such a proposition."
"Got it," Shujinkou nodded. "Hey, Science me."
"Yeah?"
"Why is a science version of me telling me this? Shouldn't a 'common sense' version of me to give me advice?"
"I don't know. You're the daydreamer. I'm just one piece of a reference to the clever metaphor used to personify the abstract concept of thought you saw from SpongeBob and that other various forms of media use."
"Oh."
"Oh?" Shujinkou glanced down at his phone to find Monika curiously staring at him. "Oh what?"
"Oh, umm… Sorry, I was just lost in thought. What were we talking about?"
"Movies at my place."
"Right. Yeah, that sounds like fun. What kind of movies should we watch?"
"I'll leave that up to you."
"Just my suggestions?"
"Mm-hmm. I told you before that I don't want you to think that you can't have an opinion on anything. Besides, this is for you so it should be something you like."
"That makes sense."
"Don't be afraid to bring anything you want," With a wave goodbye, Monika ended the call.
"Anything, I want…" Shujinkou mumbled.
The next day, Shujinkou walked into the kitchen and found his mother with goggles over her eyes.
"What's with the goggles, mom?" he asked.
"Those bubbles look like they're just waiting for its chance to jump out at me," Hiro sheepishly replied.
Shujinkou glanced over his mother's shoulder. In front of her was a pan with bacon in the center. The grease slathered all over the pan was consistently bubbling as if it was trying to escape.
"Oh…" he sympathized. "It's one of those days, huh?"
"Either that or it's the new bacon I bought," Hiro chuckled as she adjusted her goggles. "I kind of feel like an experimental tester right now."
"You do kinda look like one with those goggles on," Shujinkou smiled as he agreed.
"You headed somewhere, Shujinkou?"
"Yeah. Monika invited me to her house to watch some movies."
Lost Dialogue 2: Just dialogue and a plot I decided against at the time I wrote this.
"Fuyu?" Shujinkou curiously stuck his head in the office. Looking around, he noticed Rei quietly sitting on the couch. "Rei?"
Shujinkou awkwardly walked to the couch as Rei slowly waved at him.
"Hey, Rei. Have you seen Fuyu?" he asked.
Shujinkou followed her gaze to the Fuyu's desk and scratched his right cheek the moment he found her head resting on top of it.
"She's sleeping?" he thought.
Just then her phone's alarm went off.
"Eat my Four Swords, Ganon!" she yelled as she woke up.
"Which one?" Shujinkou smiled as he asked this.
"Ah…!" Fuyu's cheeks grew bright red as she slid back into her seat. "What are you doing here, Shujinkou?"
"I wanted to tell you that Mali said that she would stop pulling pranks. I tried to tell you over the past weekend but Rei showed me that you were pretty busy."
"Yeah…" Fuyu yawned. "Anyway, do you believe her?"
"Well… She did seem to mean it this time. But I'll still keep an eye on her if you want."
"You would have done that even if I didn't, right?"
"I wouldn't really know."
"Mm. By the way, sorry for putting that task on you. I would have done it myself but…"
"I get it. I don't mind helping you while you're swamped with presidential stuff."
(Section never finished.)
…
"Wow. I'm never the first one here," Shujinkou said with amazement.
"Sorry to disappoint," Monika stood from behind the teacher's desk. "I got here first."
"Oh… Wow. I'm never the second one here."
Monika giggled. "So, what do you think about clubs competing in the Sports Festival?"
"It sounds fun. Why?"
"Just a little ironic how it was announced after what I said the other day." A sad smile crossed the club president's face. "Hey, Shujinkou… Do you think that I'm holding the club back?"
"Huh? No. Why would you think that?" Shujinkou questioned.
"It's just that… I talk about wanting the club to expand and yet I'm not really doing anything to help with that. I haven't really been advertising the club and I even shut down your poster that I'm sure you worked really hard on."
"But isn't that just because you're worried about what would happen if people found out if this was your club?"
"And that's the other thing… Isn't that kind of a selfish reason to do so? Stunt the growth of the club just because of my own personal reasons?"
"I don't really think that the other think you're selfish for being worried. Honestly, I think they'd rather be without people who would join just because your name is on the club."
"That is true."
"But don't just take my word on it, ask the others."
Later…
"Of course we don't think you're selfish, Monika," Sayori assured her. "Plus, it's not like we haven't had new members without your influence."
"If it makes you feel better, it's 1/3 the mostly likely reason that would have led me away," Shujinkou added.
"I honestly didn't really mind the small amount of club members," Yuri said. "I don't really think the me from earlier this year could have handled it."
"Not to mention that I didn't come to join a Monika groupie club," Natsuki added. "95% of the school already is one anyway."
"So then, what should we do about the Sports Festival?" Monika asked.
"I say we go together as a club and show them what the Literature Club is made of!" Sayori suggested.
"How is a sports festival going to do that?" Natsuki pointed out.
"Um… We draw people in by impressing them first then wow them with alliteration and onomatopoeias."
"Other than that issue, there's still the matter of how we're woefully undermanned," Yuri pointed out.
"We could ask the others if they could join us for the event," Shujinkou suggested.
"Oh yeah. Rei's pretty athletic," Natsuki thought back to how Rei performed during the Royal Rumble.
"Kiyoko's pretty athletic too," Shujinkou added as he thought back to his first meeting with Kiyoko. "I saw her make a really cool slam dunk once."
"And while you're at it, you can ask all three if they can join the club," Sayori enthusiastically suggested.
"Can Fuyu even join a club?" Natsuki wondered aloud.
"I don't think it's written anywhere, but it's highly implied that a student president doesn't so they don't get distracted from school or they're responsibilities," Monika answered.
"I don't about joining full time, but I do know that Fuyu definitely deserves to do something fun since she's been swamped with work lately," Shujinkou said. "With all that said, I guess I'm volunteering myself to be a club/sport scout."
…
The next day…
"You want me to join the Literature Club for the Sports Festival?" Kiyoko asked.
"Yeah. Just for the festival," Shujinkou reaffirmed. "Though Sayori did extend a full time membership."
"I don't really know about the full-time part but sure I'll join you guys."
"Really? Just like that?"
"Why not? Sounds like fun."
Lost Dialogue 3: This is like an altered continuation of the plot in Lost Dialogue 1. I ended up not using it because I couldn't feasibly think of any reason to justify the ending.
Shujinkou took a bite out of the sea-salt ice cream presented to him. "So, you were here the whole time making sea-salt ice cream with Mom?"
"Not the whole time," Monika answered. "I just happened to be in the neighborhood after visiting Sayori. You weren't here and one thing led to another."
"Oh. But, if you were just passing by to say hi, why didn't you just call me."
"Because it wouldn't e the same as in person."
"Oh." Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. "Monika doesn't seem mad at me either…"
"Why would I be mad at you?" Monika curiously questioned.
"Wha?! Well, yesterday and everything…"
"Oh that? That's not really anything to be upset with you about. You were just trying to help out. Besides, I wouldn't really be in a position to be mad anyway."
"How come?"
"Well, I already kissed you once and that was to hide a secret. You were going to do it for something a lot more altruistic."
"Oh."
"But anyway, I didn't come here to talk about that. I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask me what?"
"Want to come over my house tomorrow?"
"Come over?"
"Mm-hmm. I'm in the middle of preparing a surprise for you."
"A surprise? …Monika, you wouldn't happen to be using the same tactic I used on Mali, are you?"
"Of course not. I have nothing to gain from this."
"Mm… Okay then."
"Hi, Shujinkou," Monika greeted. "Come on in."
"Hey, Monika," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he walked inside. Suddenly, his eyes slightly widened with surprise when he found a picnic set up in the middle of the living room. "Is that a picnic?"
"Surprised?" Monika giggled.
"Yes…" Shujinkou answered.
"Well, I was actually planning on having the picnic out but it looks like it's going to rain all day so… here it is."
"But… Why a picnic in the first place?"
Monika silently gazed into his eyes. "You've kinda been through a lot lately so… I thought, 'Hey, why not give Shujinkou something nice to experience.'"
"That's… really nice," he said.
"Can't let you be the only one to do nice things," Monika said with a gentle smile.
She led him to the picnic and picked up a remote. "Since we can't enjoy the beauty of nature, then we get to enjoy the benefit of household conveniences. Up for a movie?"
"What kind of movie?" Shujinkou asked.
"Have you ever heard of 'The Truman Show'?"
"Yeah. I watched it in class as a kid once."
"Want to watch it again?"
"Sure."
…
"That's right; I used the spare blanket as the sheet…" Monika recalled.
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. It was clear what he needed to do.
"I guess I could sleep on the floor with nothing," Monika suggested.
"What?" Shujinkou exclaimed. "You can't sleep on the floor. This is your room."
"But I can't let you sleep on the floor without any basic sleep necessities."
"But…"
"Shujinkou, if our positions were reversed, wouldn't you suggest the same thing?"
"I guess, but I still wouldn't really be comfortable with that. Especially on a night like this…"
Monika remained silent for a moment. Her cheeks faintly grew red as she glanced at her bed then back at Shujinkou.
"We could share my bed," she suggested.
"…A-Are you sure about that?"
"Well… It's not like I have to worry about anyone trying anything."
"…Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay."
The two silently approached opposite ends of the bed and slid into it, their backs facing each other.
"Kinda funny, isn't it?" Monika suddenly said.
"What's funny?" Shujinkou questioned.
"The first time you came over, I made a joke about you spending the night. And now you're pretty much forced to do so."
"Life can be funny that way sometimes."
Silence once again intervened into their conversation.
"Hey, Shujinkou…" Monika said.
"Yeah?" he answered.
"Did I make you feel guilty about what almost happened the other day?"
"Um…"
"Thought so…"
"Um…"
"I know I…"
"I'm kinda mad at myself for that."
"Huh? Why?"
"It wasn't fair when you were just doing what you usually do? The whole thing was just… Uncomfortable."
"Monika…"
"But thanks to you we got a clubroom because of the guy who thought he had nothing to offer the club."
Shujinkou heard the covers shift. Curious, he turned over and found himself face to face with Monika. She remained silent as her eyes peered into his.
"Hey, Shujinkou, remember how I said that I wished that we could have been friends last year?"
"Yeah," he replied.
"I think it was worth waiting until this year."
"I'm still shocked you wanted to be friends with me last year."
"Cause of the school idol title."
"Kinda, but also because it was last year's me."
"You were definitely a lot more distant back then, but you were still the same deep down."
Lost Dialogue 4: I had said in Afterword #4 that "Expanding the Club: Rei" would have been a 3rd person chapter instead of a mostly 1st person one. This is was what I wrote before I made the switch.
"Sayori, I am not sure about this…" Shujinkou said as he paced back and forth in his bedroom.
"But you're the one who said that you need to practice," Sayori pointed out, still lightly jumping on his bed.
"I know but…" Shujinkou awkwardly scratched his right cheek as he glanced at his friend. "I'm just not sure about this."
"C'mon, let's just give it a try," Sayori insisted.
"Alright."
Shujinkou cleared his throat as Sayori covered her left eye with a nearby eye patch. "Okay… Snake-"
Sayori immediately burst out in laughter over his mistake.
"Sorry. Um, anyway, we, well Sayori and Monika were talking, and were wondering if you would like to join the club, Big Boss."
"Shujinkou!" she laughed even harder than before. "You're doing this on purpose."
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Shujinkou chuckled. "I mean you're wearing my Big Boss eye patch."
"I thought it would help me get into character more," Sayori explained as she removed the eye patch. "Rei has her hair covering part of her face."
"I don't know about this, Sayori. Rei has a whole mysterious air to her and it's not so much I'm worried about fumbling my words; I'm more worried what happens after.
I mean we pretty much asked her once and she didn't join. Maybe she doesn't have any interest and she expressed it by leaving. That was how she did things when we first met."
"But she wasn't use to us back then. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to ask her a second time more directly."
"I guess not."
…
The next day after school…
Shujinkou made his way to Rei's classroom and caught her just as she was walking out.
"Rei," he called.
The silent girl turned her attention to Shujinkou and slowly waved at him.
"Um… I guess I'll just come out and ask…" Shujinkou anxiously scratched his right cheek. "So… Would you like to join the Literature Club?"
Rei blankly stared at Shujinkou in response. It was as if she was analyzing him and waiting for his next move.
The silence wasted no time creating an awkward atmosphere between them. Once again, Shujinkou found himself in the same situation he always ends up in whenever he converses with Rei.
Just as the awkward silence was becoming unbearable, Rei suddenly raised her hand and waved it before disappearing into a sea of students.
"I'm not good at this recruiting thing…" he sighed. "Then again, it's like I said before, I may be closest to them, but we're not that close. I honestly have no idea what Rei thinks of me or the others."
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he started his trek to the new clubroom.
"Rei… When I first met her, she seemed pretty emotionless, but there were was a very subtle spark of it during lunch. Ever since then, even though she doesn't change her expression that much, she interacts a lot more without saying a word.
I just wish I could find a way to talk to her without coming off as rude or patronizing."
A sudden realization immediately caused him to stop in place.
"I said this before… Plus, this is just like what Kiyoko said yesterday. It's literally been hi and bye," he noted. "I don't know how I can learn to talk to her, but I know that nothing's going to change if I just keep walking off sulking."
Filled with determination, Shujinkou rushed to the President's Office. The moment he arrived, he found Rei reaching for the door handle.
"Rei," he called.
The silent girl once again glanced at Shujinkou and slowly waved at him.
"Um…" he anxiously scratched his right cheek. Once again he was deprived of speech. "Maybe I should have planned a little before rushing here…"
That thought was soon followed with Shujinkou slapping his cheeks. "Get a hold of yourself! That would have just led to the cycle continuing! I just need to… I need to… find something to…"
Tired of thinking the same thing, Shujinkou allowed his instincts to take over.
"Rei, would you like to go somewhere you'd like?" he asked.
The second those words left his lips, Shujinkou felt like the strangest person on the planet.
"Who asks that?!" he chastised himself.
The young man felt so embarrassed he found it impossible to maintain eye contact with her. Suddenly, he heard what sounded like rustling though several sheets of papers, giving his curiosity the strength to overpower his embarrassment. He glanced up and was immediately met by a pamphlet Rei presented to him.
"'Flora's Botanical Garden'?" Shujinkou read aloud. "Is that somewhere you want to go?"
Rei blankly stared into his eyes. After a minute of complete silence, she slowly nodded her head.
"O-Okay," That was Shujinkou could muster up the strength to say. For the first time, Rei directly responded to him and he was floored. "Just let me tell the others."
Shujinkou reached down into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He sent a quick text to Sayori and turned back to Rei. "So… Ready to go?"
Rei silently glanced at Shujinkou then began to walk down the hall.
"Huh," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he followed her.
The ensuing journey was
"So this is what a real botanical garden looks like," seeing all the vines entangling anything they could brought out a chuckle out of Shujinkou. "I kinda expect to hear someone shout 'Jyuron!'."
From the corner of his eyes, Shujinkou noticed Rei kneeling next to a bush filled with flowers.
"I thought she was just interested in the one flower near Granny Hisa's place, but she must really like this stuff," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. "Me, however, I'm totally out of my element here."
He then approached Rei and kneeled down next to her. "Red Roses. Makes you think of the old rhyme."
The silent girl simply glanced at him before standing up and walking to another sight. Most of their visit there was spent in silence. Those only words that were said were those that Shujinkou thought aloud. It was awkward, but it was also nice at the same time.
Once Rei was done sightseeing, she proceeded to head for the exit.
"Hey, Rei," the silent girl turned around just as Shujinkou presented a pin of a white lily. "It's a freebie they're offering."
Rei blankly stared at the pin and slowly accepted it.
"It's still light out. Is there anything else you wanted to do?" Shujinkou asked.
Rei blankly stared at Shujinkou.
"Now that I think about it, Fuyu said Rei didn't get out much until recently," he recalled. "Not to mention, I've only seen her do things others do. Maybe she's like me in that regard. I never voiced my own ideas of what to do until recently and at first opportunity, I only voiced one. Monika took over after that. Maybe I should do the same with Rei."
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. "Hey, Rei, do you want to (section not finished.)
…
"Here we are," Shujinkou said as he watched Rei walk up to the front door. "So…"
Rei glanced back at him. He expected her to wave but instead she just stood in front of him motionless.
"Um… I guess I'll see you later," Shujinkou turned to leave. The idea of asking her to join the club did come to mind but he decided against it.
"…nice…"
"Huh?!" that one word caused Shujinkou to freeze in place. He slowly turned around and found Rei staring at him. "Rei?"
"…Shujinkou is… Nice…" Rei slowly repeated.
Shujinkou was at a complete loss for words. Without saying another word, Rei slowly waved goodbye and walked into her house.
Shujinkou found himself alone in the dark, shocked by what transpired.
Lost Dialogue 5: Just an alternate opening to Chapter 92: Reditus
Later that night, Shujinkou and Sayori laid spread across the ground and gazed up at the stars.
"Hey, Shiko?" Sayori suddenly said.
"Yeah?" Shujinkou replied.
"Do you think there's anything out there?"
"Who knows? If there is, I hope they're friendly."
"Mm. Hey, Shujinkou?"
"Hm?"
"Shujinkou?"
The young man blinked twice. No longer was in a forest staring up at the stars; now he in a school classroom.
"Whoa," Shujinkou said.
"Hey, Shujinkou," the young man turned around to find Kiyoko balancing a pencil on her hand. "Haven't seen you that spaced out since the beginning of the year."
"Oh, yeah, I was out there. It was like I was living another life for a moment and it all came about from me trying to forget about what happened last night for a moment."
"What happened last night?"
"Uh…" Shujinkou anxiously scratched his right cheek.
"Can't talk about it?" Kiyoko asked.
"I don't know if I should."
"Okay," Kiyoko shrugged.
Meanwhile, Mali rocked back and forth on a tree branch as she continued to eat her peanut butter sandwich.
"Wonder what potential Senpai is spending time with right now?" she wondered aloud.
"Mali," the first year glanced to her side. Her eyes slightly widened with surprise as she watched Monika effortlessly climb up the tree and perch herself near her. "Hi, Mali."
"Ms. School Idol, how'd you find me?" Mali questioned.
"Well, Shujinkou mentioned something about you talking about no one looking up or down and my first guess of where to look was luckily right."
"Ah, so Senpai's learning." Mali giggled. "So, what does Ms. School Idol want with me?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"About?"
"Just the way you've interacted with us."
"Huh? But Senpai already talked to me about that."
"He did? Oh, well, I'll just get to the part he probably didn't get to."
Mali's eyes lit up with interest. "Like…?"
"Well, just the way you've been interacting with Shujinkou for starters," Monika answered.
"What's wrong with the how I've been interacting with Senpai?"
"Well, when you first met him, you strung him up on a tree and appeared to have framed him for taking pictures of the girls' locker room."
"I gave him a way out," Mali interjected.
"Then you flustered him in front of his friends, and then pressed your breasts against him at Kiyoko's place, and then you teased him with a kiss," a saddened look fell on Monika's face as she recalled that last moment. "Though… I'm pretty sure we upset him more there."
"What's Ms. School Idol getting at?"
"Well, overall, after failing to get the reaction you expected from him after you tried to get rid of him, now it seems like your trying your best to see if you can get a rise out of him."
"What? Why would I want to get a rise out of Senpai?" Mali asked with innocent eyes.
"I don't really know. Why would you?" Monika asked with a knowing smile.
"I don't know. I just find Senpai and his innocence interesting."
"I understand. Well, how about we switch to another topic."
"Like what?"
"Pretty much the same thing, but the effect it has on the others."
An interested smile formed on Mali's lips. "What do you mean?"
"The fact that not only are you teasing Shujinkou to get a rise out of him but the fact that you're also doing it in the way that strikes an emotional chord with me and the others."
"Why would what I do strike an emotional chord with you and the others?"
"Because you know that we have feelings for Shujinkou."
"Eh?" Mali's giggled. "And I was starting to think no one there knew."
"I can't say for the others, but I knew," Monika replied with a slight shrug.
"As expected from Ms. School Idol. You're perceptive."
"Thank you. But still, what you've done was pretty harsh."
"Probably."
"I know that probably doesn't bother you. I mean, the only reason you stopped pulling pranks right now is because it would be a risk you spending time with Shujinkou."
"If you didn't hear me say that, than I would have asked, 'Am I really that transparent?'"
"But still, I don't think I have to tell you how it makes me feel the way you've treated my friends."
"Mmm…" (Section never finished.)
Lost Dialogue 6: Should have known I would have forgotten something for Afterword #4. I mentioned there that I had a few potentials for the 100th chapter and one I did not mention was a party at Shujinkou's house. Somehow I would have tried to get every character and available relative to show up in one chapter.
"We should celebrate," Sayori suggested.
"Celebrate what?" Shujinkou asked.
"Celebrate the posting of our first official club poster."
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek and briefly glanced at Monika.
"Um, Sayori… Didn't Monika post a poster that made you learn about the club?"
"That's different, Shujinkou. That was a flyer," she replied.
"Which doesn't compare to the poster you made," Monika added.
"So, that's why we should celebrate," Sayori continued.
"Celebrate how?" Yuri queried.
"Um…" Sayori contemplated that question. A bright smile stretched across her face, prompting her childhood friend to imagine a light bulb glowing over her head. "Let's have a party!"
"A party over a poster?" A look of complete disbelief fell on Natsuki's face.
Her eyes filled with suspicion and she opened her mouth to retort with-
Know what? Never mind. Natsuki shook her head. She already knew anything she said to Sayori would be easily countered and ignored.
"So, where are we going to have this party?" she asked.
"Um…" Sayori crossed her arms and slightly tilted her head.
"I think we all know where we should have it," a knowing smile crossed Monika's face as she turned her attention to Shujinkou.
"M-My house?" he replied. Though he tried his hardest, his response was laced with a sliver of surprise.
"Yeah, that's makes sense!" Sayori furiously nodded her head in agreement. "We can party all day and night like the old days!"
"All day and night…?" Shujinkou silently gulped. Was Sayori really suggesting-?"
"An all day slumber party at Shujinkou's house!" Sayori excitedly declared.
She was… Every other thought in his head vanished as he tried to fathom why Sayori was trying to suggest a sleepover at his house. I can't have a sleepover with so many girls in my house. It's too unbalanced.
"Is that really a good idea…?" Yuri started playing with her hair. "I mean a sleepover at a boy's house…"
"We all slept over at Granny Hisa's place," Sayori recalled.
"That doesn't really count," Natsuki flatly replied. "Boys and girls were still separated."
"But the second time, Shujinkou and Kiyo shared a room. So there already was a mini co-ed slumber party."
Hearing that, Shujinkou's mind flashed with an image of Kiyoko walking into their room with nothing but a bathrobe. Though faint, his cheeks grew red as he tried to push back the memory he was sure his doubts pulled out for him.
"So, if they can have a slumber party why can't we?" Sayori insisted. "Besides, females outnumber the males in this situation so no one can really complain about a boy being around."
Natsuki crossed her arms as she pondered what they were just told. Not to mention it's Shujinkou. It's not like he's going to try anything. I would just need to make sure that Papa wouldn't find out.
She sighed and finally answered, "Fine, I'll go along with this." (Section never finished.)
…
"A sleepover at your house?" Fuyu adjusted her glasses as she continued to shoot a confused look at Shujinkou. "Like a co-ed one?"
"Yeah, except I'm the only co-ed," he answered. "That's not an issue, isn't it?
"Not really. It doesn't bother me and my mother approves of co-ed events. However…"
Fuyu looked past Shujinkou. He followed her curious gaze, but he already knew who it was directed at.
Sitting on a couch not too far away was Rei. She used to have a somewhat vacant stare when she wasn't verbally called, but right now her visible eye was-
I think she's waiting? Shujinkou scratched his right cheek, wondering if his guess was right.
He was getting a little better in reading the subtle differences of her silent stares, but he wasn't always sure.
"Do you want to go, Rei?" Fuyu asked.
Naturally not saying a word, Rei simply nodded her head.
With a smile, Shujinkou did the same.
"Hey, Shujinkou…" the young man looked back at Fuyu. She whispered, "Did something happen between you and Rei the other day."
Shujinkou could feel his joint lock up as his mind immediately flashbacked to the moment Rei first talked to him. "Why do you ask that?"
"Because she's been responding to things she would use to just answer with her stares."
"Well… Hasn't she been doing that little by little this school year?"
"Yeah, I guess…" Fuyu sighed and looked down at her papers.
"So…" Shujinkou anxiously scratched his right cheek. The awkwardness in the atmosphere was almost suffocating. "Are you going to come?"
"Yes, I'll make sure that I'm available to attend."
Her voice was surprisingly cold. Did the work on her desk force her to shift into "President Mode"?
"O-Okay… See you later."
Shujinkou turned around and walked to the exit, waving goodbye to Rei as he passed by her. The silent girl waved back until her finally slipped through the doors.
Fuyu didn't look up. She didn't want to show her dejected and regretful face.
…
Shujinkou patiently waited in front of the gates in front of Kiyoko's home. He was in no rush, but also found it peculiar she has yet to respond.
Maybe she isn't home.
Just as he finished that thought the doors opened, granting him access inside. Shujinkou walked through the entrance and further into the small estate his friendly acquaintance owned.
He approached the door to her home but it opened before he could knock on it.
"Hey, Kiyo-!"
His cheeks immediately grew bright red as he beheld a sight he witnessed before. Kiyoko was standing in front of him with nothing but a towel covering her body. Droplets of water fell from her the purple edges of her golden hair and the bottom of the only thing keeping her from walking around exposed.
"Hey, Shujinkou," she greeted. "What's up?"
"Um…" he immediately looked away and scratched his right cheek. "I was just… There's an all day and night party at my house and I wanted to know…"
"Sure, I'll go."
(Section never finished.)
…
Shujinkou was in the middle of walking to the clubroom until he noticed a familiar figure looking out one of the hallway windows.
"Mali."
The first-year student turned around. She looked him right in the eyes before staring back out the window. "Hey, Senpai."
Shujinkou didn't know what to say. There was no maliciousness or fake innocence in her response. It was just a normal, somewhat monotone greeting.
(Section never finished.)
…
(Gap in events)
"Claudette?" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he stared at the woman in front of him. So she was her cousin.
The blonde woman soon approached him and silently analyzed his entire being. "So you're Shujinkou."
"Y-Yeah." (Section never finished.)
Lost Dialogue 7: This was an alternate opening sequence to Chapter 100. I changed it when I decided to make Monika Prime's true identity the twist at the end.
I can still remember the darkness, the horrid sounds and the 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 together. 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…"
I thought that was it and that something worse that the darkness would be my fate and yet… I'm home?
It can't be. None of this looks familiar.
No, the street looks familiar, but something still feels off. This was where…
The sound of a door opening swiftly brought a stop from that memory. Shujinkou stepped through the front door to his home. He whistled the opening verse to "Yura Yura" before noticing Monika standing in his path.
"Hey, Monika," he greeted. "What are you doing here?"
Silence was his only response.
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.
Maybe she's just setting me up for a tease. Shujinkou didn't say a word as he waited for something that never came. Did I do something wrong again?
But just as the awkward atmosphere reached its zenith, Monika smiled. "I was just in the neighborhood."
"Oh, you were visiting Sayori?" Shujinkou questioned.
Monika shook her head. "No. You."
Lost Dialogue 8: Just an unused scene for Two Meta Part 3.
Kiyoko stretched her arms. "Well, I think I'm going to try and squeeze in a nap before the next class. See ya, Shujinkou."
"See ya."
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as he glanced down at his sketchbook.
"Shujinkou."
"Hm?" the young man looked up to find Yuri standing next to his desk. "Hey, Yuri."
"Are you okay?"
"Huh. Why do you ask?"
"You have that distant look in your eyes."
"I just kinda have a lot in my mind. It's nothing bad though."
Yuri simply stared at Shujinkou.
"That's good."
The young maiden noticeably fidgeted as she diverted her gaze.
"Ah… Shujinkou…"
"Yeah?"
"I was just wondering if…"
"Hi, Shujinkou."
A cheery voice interrupted that conversation. Monika soon approached his desk with a wave.
"Hey, Monika."
She then turned her attention to Yuri and flashed her an interested smile. "Hey, Yuri."
"Ah…" Yuri said nothing more as she stared into Monika's eyes. She couldn't understand why, but there was foreboding atmosphere around them.
"What's wrong, Yuri?"
"Ah... No. It's nothing."
"Hmm… By the way, where you two about to do something together?"
"N-No," Yuri instinctively diverted her gaze.
"Well, in that case, how about the three of us have lunch together?"
(Small gap in dialogue)
"Senpai!"
The three turned around to find Mali cheerfully waving at Shujinkou as she approached him.
"Hey, Mali," he replied.
"My, aren't we as popular as always, Senpai," Mali giggled.
"I wouldn't use that word to describe me…"
Mali glanced at Yuri then Monika. Her eyes were filled with curiosity as she stared at the visitor from another reality.
"I never realized Ms. School Idol was so devious," she said.
"Excuse me?" Monika replied.
But instead of elaborating, Mali's attention returned to Shujinkou. "Where were you all headed to anyway, Senpai?"
"Monika was showing us somewhere to have lunch."
"Just the three of you? Was someone trying to keep Senpai to themselves?"
"Eh…" Yuri's cheeks grew red as she started playing with her hair.
"Mali…"
"Just an observation, Senpai."
"You're really observant, Mali," Monika complimented. "You must be interested in psychology."
"Nothing major, Miss School Idol; I just pay attention to people. I could talk about it more during lunch."
"Hmm… Why not?" (Section never finished.)
Lost Dialogue 9: This is as far as I wrote for the Disneyland concept.
"Disneyland?" Monika shot her counterpart a surprised and confused look.
"Yeah," Monika Prime nodded her head. "I was just wandering around, passed by a stand where they would give away tickets and passes to a lucky winner and I was lucky enough to win a few for m, you two and the rest of your friends."
"Wow… That's pretty lucky," Shujinkou said.
"Mm-hmm," Monika Prime glanced at her counterpart. "Monika, want to tell the others the good news?"
"Huh? Oh. Sure," Monika jumped off the couch and proceeded to walk up a nearby set of stairs.
Once she was gone, Monika Prime turned her attention to Shujinkou.
"Hey, Shujinkou," she waved. "I didn't expect to see you."
"Really? I mean we did kinda go on a date yesterday. I'd be a really bad person if I didn't talk to you afterwards."
"Oh, I didn't mean talking, I meant in person."
"Ah."
"So… Any special reason why you came over?"
"Well… There is, but it's going to sound a little weird."
"You're saying that to the girl that's from another reality?"
"True. So, lately I've been having these weird visions/mental escapes/images going through my head."
"Really? Like what?"
"Um… Well the weird part is things like a daydream I had and a fangame. The uncomfortable ones were deaths."
"Deaths? Who did you see die?"
"Sayori, Natsuki and Yuri."
Monika Prime remained silent as she stared at Shujinkou. "…How did they die?"
"Um… Sayori hung herself, Natsuki's neck was extremely broken and Yuri stabbed herself to death."
"Wow… That's… That's upsetting."
"Yeah. And I was just wondering if you had anything like that happen to you; seeing these things in your head."
"Not really? So, that's why you've been spacing out?"
"Yeah… Um, does the phrase 'Just Monika' mean anything to you?"
Monika Prime's eyes widened as she processed what she just heard.
"Shujinkou… I think you've stumbled upon something you shouldn't have."
'I-I have…?"
"Just kidding," she giggled.
"Oh."
"I wouldn't really worry about these visions you've been having. I'm sure they'll go away soon enough."
"You think?"
"Most likely."
"Um… There's something else I should probably talk about with you."
"About?"
"Our date last night."
"Was it bad?"
"No it wasn't that. It's just that I kind of found out…"
"That the Literature Club is infatuated with you?"
"Huh? How-?"
"To be perfectly honest, it wasn't too hard to figure out."
"Just like Mali… Am I just oblivious…? Or was it denial?"
"I wouldn't say it was just those. If I had to guess, I would say, from your point of view, the other me and the others acted the same way around you throughout the school year so far. It's easy to just see it as them just getting used to you and spending time with each other is just hanging out."
"Yeah, that pretty much explains what isn't covered by denial and obliviousness…"
"You shouldn't be too hard on yourself, Shujinkou. Those kinds of feelings can be hard to interpret and that's not even going into how some unintentionally send mixed signals."
"I don't know… It sounds like an excuse for my denial. I mean I kind of thought about it, but immediately shut them down and… I'm starting to sound like a broken record at this point…"
"Well…"Monika smiled as she presented him with two tickets. "Hopefully this will give you a break from everything that's been happening to you. Says the girl who may have started it."
"You didn't start anything?"
"That's sweet of you to say, but I'm pretty sure things like this didn't start happening until I got here. So, consider this my way of making something else up to you."
"You don't owe me anything."
"Then consider this my invitation to go to Disneyland."
"Okay. One of them is for Sayori?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Thanks, Monika."
"No problem."
"Um…" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek.
"Have to go?"
"Not really."
"Well, you do have to deliver the ticket and ask your mom so, it'd probably be best if you started right away and not wait to the last second."
"That's true. So, I guess I'll go now?"
"Okay, see you later, Shujinkou."
"Yeah."
Shujinkou approached the stairs just as Monika walked down them.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, I got to go prepare for the trip."
"Okay, see you Shujinkou."
Shujinkou nodded his head and walked out of the house.
Once he was gone, Monika shifted her gaze to her counterpart.
"So, Disneyland?"
"Mm-hmm."
"So, how was your date last night?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yeah. You can tell me."
"Honestly, it was really nice. The only thing is… I can't really tell if there's something there. He seems to act the same like he usually would."
"I understand. Shujinkou doesn't show any signs of infatuation with anyone and any signs that are there would be hard to spot from his usual demeanor."
"Hm… Hey me, what would you say to
(Section never finished.)
...
I don't think that I have enough time left. Wasn't something like this made to give us a happy ending? So, I shouldn't… (Section never finished.)
Lost Dialogue 10: I said in Afterword #4 that Chapter 99 was a shortened, abridged version of a prequel story I never got around to finishing. Here's what I had for the original.
"Darkness, a lonely void where nothing exists. It's a place where those trapped by it desperately look for something to pull them out. Something genuine to fill the hole that brought them there…"
A girl was peacefully under the spell of sleep until its arch enemy reared its ugly head. Without even moving it let out sounds so loud there was no way sleep could keep its hold over its captive. The girl slowly opened her eyes and just as slowly reached out for her alarm. After stopping the source of the noise, she sat up and yawned.
"Alright, Monika, time to get to it," she said as she stood up and walked to her bathroom.
She turned on the shower, stepping into it once it was hot enough. The morning showers were one of Monika's favorite parts of the day. Feeling the warm water brush past her skin created a relaxing atmosphere where she could center her thoughts. Sadly, the moments could never last on the weekdays. Once she was thoroughly cleaned, she stepped out of her shower and proceeded with the rest of her morning schedule. She took care of her dental hygiene, slipped into her school uniform and tied her back as she walked downstairs.
"Wait…" Sensing something was wrong, she hurried back to her room. A relieved sigh parted from her as she glanced at her literature collection. "Almost forgot. Now what did I want to bring today…?"
Her eyes scanned through her selection until they locked on to what she was looking for. An eager smile crossed her face as she reached out and grabbed the fourth book in one of her favorite series, "Among the Barons".
"Can't believe I almost forgot this," she chuckled. "It would have driven me crazy all day."
She then proceeded to walk downstairs where her school bag was waiting. Monika carefully slipped her old paperback novel into her bag then walked into the kitchen to prepare a quick breakfast.
She was used to such a task, so she knew what she could make that would sustain her until lunch. Once done, Monika sat down at the nearby table and began to eat in the quiet household.
"I remember when Among the Barons used to be the most confusing in the Shadow Children sequence, at least for me. Considering Luke's position in the book, that confusion was definitely deliberate," she thought. Thinking back to when she first completed the sequence caused a giggle to escape through her lips. "I still didn't fully get it even after finishing."
Before she knew it, Monika had finished her meal. With nothing left to fulfill on her schedule she grabbed her bag and proceeded to school. The journey to class was always the same; once she arrived to school, she would switch her shoes while pocketing any letters found in her locker, said hi to anyone who greeted her and plopped herself down in her seat.
"Monika!" two hands suddenly plopped themselves on the school idol's desk. Following the hands up to their source, Monika found herself face to face with Kamiko.
"Hey Kamiko," Monika waved.
"Do me a favor and agree with everything I say later, okay?" Kamiko suddenly said.
"Why?"
"You'll find out," a sly smirk planted itself on Kamiko's face. Such an expression always made Monika feel uneasy.
"I can't guarantee that when you're like that…" Monika nervously chuckled.
"Fine, but I'm sure you'll end up doing it anyway," as a disappointed sigh broke through Kamiko's lips, her eyes wandered around until they found something that triggered the word "strange" in her head. "Another day passes by and he's still like that…"
Following Kamiko's gaze, Monika turned around to find the same student that always sits behind her. Like always, he appeared to be disconnected from reality.
"Is there a day where he's not like that?" she asked, her voice layered with slight annoyance. "It's really weird."
"Being to himself doesn't make Shujinkou weird," Monika argued.
"Right…" Kamiko rolled her eyes before walking out of the classroom.
The day proceeded as normal. Classes came and went and the school day eventually came to an end. As Monika filed all her things into her bag, she couldn't help but notice a book sitting atop of the desk behind her. She reached for the book and glanced up, noticing Shujinkou heading for the classroom door.
"Shujinkou!" she tapped his shoulder, prompting Shujinkou to turn around. The moment their eyes met, his curious expression was immediately replaced by a flustered variant. Instead of questioning the sudden shift, she instead presented the book she found. "You left this on your desk."
"Huh? Oh…" Shujinkou glanced at the book before slowly and awkwardly accepting it from her. "Thanks."
"Mm-hmm," Monika nodded her head with a smile.
It was at that point where an awkward silence decided to insert itself into their brief conversation.
"Um…" Shujinkou suddenly turned away from her as he scratched his right cheek. "I gotta… I gotta go home now."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, Shujinkou."
"Right…" Shujinkou proceeded to walk off leaving the young school idol to think.
"He sure does scratch his right cheek a lot," Monika thought as started her trek to her afterschool activity. As she got closer and closer to her destination, a sense of dread came over her. "Please don't too chaotic…"
She eventually found herself outside of the room used by the Debate Team and opened the door.
"And I'm telling you that-
(Section never finished.)