Chapter 3 Tomoko

As me and Naomi arrived at school I saw the hustle and bustle of students just trying to get to their classes. Of course it was the same thing day in and day out never changing. Me and Naomi went our separate ways as we went to our classes.

Hopefully Tomoko shows up with this information and isn't playing me for a fool here or telling a lie. I thought as the teacher droned on about the current subject, some students fell asleep or just didn't care. Thankfully the bell ringed and I got a text from Tomoko again.

T: "Meet me on the third floor in the old abandoned clubroom I have the information."

MC: "I'm on my way."

After sending the text I made my up the stairs to the third floor and towards the abandoned clubroom. I opened the door to the clubroom where I saw a girl with black hair with some pink in the front. Sitting at the teachers desk. So this must be her. After closing the door that got her attention. "Your here good." said Tomoko getting up from her seat.

"Now then,my name is Tomoko and as I said before in my text to you last night I have some information about Natsuki's death and the disappearance of her father." she said pulling out an envelope.

She handed to me. As I opened it I saw images of her father,and images of Natsuki's dead corpse. "Why did you take photo's of Natuski on that night?" I asked. "lets just say it pertains to a certain person who bullied her." said Tomoko coldly.

I wracked my brain trying to think as to who it could be. "I was also aware of your coma as well." she added.

"You see, after Natsuki's funeral I decided to find out what her father was up to, and as it turns out he decided to leave the country, since he would be the number one suspect in his own daughters death. However with him gone the case went unsolved." said Tomoko.

"I have to ask, Are you some private detective or something?" I asked confused. "No,but this peaked my interest because Natuski was part of a literature club" added Tomoko.

Yeah I remember there was some problems with the festival as well,since Monika was pissed about me, Natsuki and Sayori not showing up. Sure it was important to her and all but there was some problems Sayori was going to hang herself , and Natsuki well she had problems of her own. I thought back to that day in the hospital during the festival.

"Either way though,I know an important piece is missing." said Tomoko with serious expression. She walked over to the window and gestured for me to follow. "Besides her funeral,her father didn't even care or show emotion let alone show up at his daughters funeral,however he did pack up in hurry and left the country." lamented Tomoko. How and why did she get this information about Natsuki's father. I have to know this important event "Just what was this missing important event?" I asked.

"Your attempted suicide,why?" she asked narrowing her eyes at me. And that's when it came back the rainy day, the day I tried to end my own life to be with Natsuki.

"I didn't know what I was thinking, with Natsuki gone and my heart still broken I decided to try and end my life right and there just to be with her in the afterlife." I said sadly. "I guess things happened the way they did." said Tomoko relaxing a bit. With the envelope in hand I tucked into my book bag for review later. Looks like I may need to go over this with a fine tooth comb.

"There is one more thing I forgot to mention and that's the school it's self" added Tomoko going back to that serious expression again. "It doesn't make much sense as to why the school wouldn't bring on a counselor when it came to both Natsuki and Sayori, let alone any other doctors" yeah, there should have been a counselor or someone to help Natsuki.

"Thanks for the information Tomoko, I get the feeling that we will be seeing more of each other" I said. Tomoko turned around to look at me. "You bet we will,plus I still have more information but this was what I could only grab before dashing off." she said. After that we both left the empty club room and it was back to our regular school day.

It was boring as ever and I got to meet up with Yuri and Monika. Yuri was looking more shy than normal. Normally Yuri would have her face buried in a book but then again. I shook off the question for the moment and just wanted to get through the day.

After the final bell rang school was over,and this time now that I got the information from Tomoko I think this time around tonight when Naomi is asleep I'll head towards Natsuki's old house and see what I can find there.

I don't want Naomi getting involved in this at all,Tomoko already is involved. Either way I have homework to do. Before me and Naomi could leave I saw Yuri running towards me with homework from my classes.

"Here,some of your teachers are concerned that you didn't attend their classes and wanted me to give you your homework." said Yuri after a few minutes of breathing. After taking my homework I stuffed it into my book bag and left with Naomi. Screw the homework!,finding out about what happened last year is more important than this.

MC's house.

After entering my house I decided to head upstairs and off load the envelope that Tomoko gave me. I'll look at the photo's later. I've got homework to do. Pulling out my history homework I got started on that. Thankfully I managed to lock the door after I entered my room. Naomi likely doesn't have as much as I do. But I could tell that Yuri's look was of concern, but it's not like it mattered much.

Hours later.

After finishing my homework I was able to take a break finally. Time for the next diary entry I thought as I took out the diary and opened to the next page.

Monday November 15th, 2017

The day of the Festival I was about to do it wasn't I?

The rain clouds they wouldn't go away.

I was ready to end it all right then and there.

But you saved me and got me the help I needed.

It was okay we missed the Festival because you had more important people to look after.

I wonder how Natsuki got that black eye let alone those bruises.

I guess one of us will find out soon huh.

I hope she's okay,

Sayori.

I remember that day, that was the day I saved Sayori from ending her life right then and there. I had to be with her on the day of the festival. Sure me, Monika,and Yuri all meet up and all that. But it's not like the old days in the literature club anymore.

But we do meet up to talk about the good old days of course what meeting would be complete without having Sayori on speaker phone. Sometimes I find it hard to let go of the past. Even when I look at Naomi it's like she reminds me of Natsuki. Putting the diary back in the drawer, I decided to turn in for the night. After changing back into my sweat pants I climbed into bed and closed my eyes.

4 hours later.

I awoke again heavily breathing from the same nightmare only it felt real. Damn it MC, your beginning to loose your mind! Get a hold of yourself! I thought. Figures that this nightmare would happen the same way again. I would call Monika but I don't want anyone else involved. No I have to be the one to handle this,so much for getting some sleep. I suppose I may have to journey over to what was Natsuki's house. In fact that wouldn't be such a bad idea right now. This time I grabbed my phone thankfully it's charged up and ready. Checking the battery status thankfully it was 100% charged. Good at least I'll have my phone. Getting dressed, I headed down the stairs quietly in hopes I don't wake up Naomi here's hoping she doesn't wake up. Undoing the lock and opening I slipped out the door of my house. Once outside I closed and locked the door. Alright I think I know what to do. And I should know the way to Natsuki's house. As I began to make my way down the road I passed by Sayori's house and towards the end of the road Monika's house. More than likely she's asleep at the moment. After rounding several more corners I finally began to see Natsuki's house in the distance. Finally just a few more blocks.

3 hours later, Natsuki's house.

After making it to Natuski's I had flashbacks of that night December 30th, 2017 it was a Sunday if I remember right. After the abuse she got from both her father and someone else she couldn't handle it anymore and decided to take her life right then and there.

I was too late to save her that night. When I got to the house apparently it was unlocked but the door was closed. Well that's rather odd I thought as I entered the house. Apparently the house was still littered with various garbage bags full of food from various restaurants.

Hardly much has changed, no surprise there. I guess this house was condemned or something. Again no surprise I thought as I made my way up the stairs to Natsuki's bedroom. Upon entering it a few things were the same but one thing was different and that was the noose as it was removed. So I began to search around for any kind of clues.

On her nightstand I found a crumpled up piece of paper, it was her suicide note before she hung herself. Looking under her bed I found her phone, that's right she said it was cracked due to her dad. Taking the phone and putting it in my pocket I had an idea of what I could do with it. I also saw some pills on her nightstand and a empty bottle of wine underneath her bed.

It doesn't make much sense. And yet the evidence is right here. I thought while looking around the room some more,there was something else though the ripped up pieces of a manga. The first time I was in the house I was looking for anything to wake her up all the cupboards were empty in the kitchen and in the bathroom. It was hard to block out the flashbacks of seeing her dead corpse hanging from the noose that night. I had to get out of here.

Getting out of her room and back down the stairs I rushed out the front door. Turning around I saw the front of the house and there it was the night it all happened. God damn it Natuski I was trying to help you! Then Yuri just had to bully her! I'll need to confront her about this maybe ask what she remembers, if she remembers it at all. I thought. Looking up at the night sky I wondered if taking my life for the second time would really help? No it wouldn't,it would just hurt more people it's just not worth it. I could text Sayori,but she's likely asleep or perhaps Tomoko. Nah she would be asleep and texting her at night would be a bad idea. I decided to walk towards the bridge,where I couldn't take it anymore.

The Bridge

By the time I got there I had flashbacks of pushing past Monika after the funeral in an attempt to end my life just to be with Natsuki. Just what in the world was I thinking. I should have found a way to deal with these emotions, maybe stay at Sayori's house, or perhaps Monika's. Not try and end my life just because I saw Natsuki dead. Or even write in a journal all of my thoughts, feelings, anything to take away the pain.

It was also a rainy day as well,I remember it like it was yesterday, the one day I won't be forgetting. After this I think I need to get help because I fear I may try again and this time succeed. I closed my eyes and thought back to the time of me and Natsuki. Positive memories began flooding my mind from the day I helped her to the day I fell in love to the time we did it,to even the time we saw the snow fall. And our first kiss. Her death it's just something I can't stop thinking about. And yet … that was when I felt a finger tap on my shoulder as I opened my eyes.

"Figured I'd find you here" said Monika right behind me. Turning around I saw Monika dressed in a coat. "It's hard to let go of what nearly happened that day, isn't it?" asked Monika. "Yeah the day I nearly ended my life but I don't recall what happened there after." I said still stumped.

"Well you blacked out, and it's not like I was going to wait around for an ambulance to show up, so I dived in after you and brought you up to the surface to get you off to a hospital, the doctors told me you had a 30% chance of waking up from a coma." she said.

"Just what was I thinking" I said. "You weren't I remember that day when you pushed past me and dove into the water." said Monika starring off at the ocean. "The last thing I remember was seeing Natsuki's smiling face as I blacked out"

"By the way how did you keep Sayori from hanging herself that day?" I asked. "I was right there with her,hiding the rope and any sharp objects from fear of Sayori cutting her wrists or arms." said Monika sadly. No wonder when Sayori heard the news she likely cried her eyes out wanting to take away the pain.

"All I could do was just hold her and have her let it all out, of course I wasn't aware that she kept a diary of everything that happened from June15th,2017 up until December 30th, 2017." she said. "I guess before Sayori moved she left a letter."

"Yeah,she said that it was meant for your eyes alone and no one else." said Monika as she held back tears. And I could tell as well,because I had to choke back a sob of my own. That was when Monika got a better look at me underneath a street lamp and she saw the bags underneath my eyes.

"MC, are you alright?" asked Monika with concern. "No, no I'm not okay I've been having nightmares about Natuski night after night. It's the same nightmare but it gets worse and worse. Tonight I didn't scream like on the first night but I was able to get control of my breathing,which is what pushed me to go to what was Natsuki's house. I wasn't sure why" I said sadly.

"I'm not sure either but you seriously need to get some sleep,in fact I'll keep you company just no funny business." said Monika half serious half jokingly. "Alright no funny business." I said. And with that we walked back to my place and snuck in without waking Naomi. Monika locked the door behind us quietly.

We got upstairs where I took off my coat and shirt and put my keys on my desk. Opening my drawer I put Natuski's crumpled up suicide note in there along with her broken phone. I'll read it later when I get the chance. I thought as both Monika and me climbed into bed to be carried off to dreamland.