MoNatSaYuri: "That should do it…"
I finish filling the night sky with white dots that look like stars.
"'Looking back on it,'" Sayori began. "'It probably would have been easier if I used paint instead of white chocolate.'"
Looking at the banner as a whole, it's very pretty and natural-looking.
Yuri: "I think it came out better than expected."
Yuri: "I'm really happy with the results."
"'It's an odd sensation.'" Yuri joked. "'I don't think I've ever experienced anything other than stress before.'"
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah, me too."
MoNatSaYuri: "Are you going to add the lettering now?"
Yuri: "Ah, not yet…"
"'I still need to make actual words instead of drawings of big titted anime girls.'" Natsuki joked.
Yuri: "It needs to dry first."
MoNatSaYuri: "That's true, but won't that take a while?"
"'Man, if only we could command the transitions.'" Monika joked.
Yuri: "Well…"
"'Quick, to the DeLorean!'" Sayori joked.
Yuri: "Perhaps it would be best to leave it here, then have you bring it in the morning."
Yuri: "I can do the lettering in the classroom before our event starts."
Yuri: "Is that okay?"
"'Well, considering how we put it on my bed…'" Natsuki said.
MoNatSaYuri: "That's totally fine."
Yuri: "Wonderful."
Yuri: "In that case…"
Yuri: "I don't think there's anything more for us to do here."
MoNatSaYuri: "Phew."
"'Oh, thank god!'" Monika cried in a deep voice. "'For a second, I was worried I'd need to do more work!'"
Yuri: "Ahaha."
Yuri: "You say that like you're glad it's over."
Yuri: "Was I wrong to assume that you were at least enjoying yourself a little bit?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah, no, it's not that."
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm just glad we managed to get everything done."
Yuri: "I see."
"'It's much easier now that the lights aren't flickering.'" Sayori joked.
Yuri: "I am, too."
Yuri: "I was a little concerned about time…"
Yuri: "I need to start making dinner soon."
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah…"
MoNatSaYuri: "So you don't have any time left?"
I was secretly hoping we would have extra time after finishing the work…
Yuri: "Well…"
Yuri: "…"
Yuri thinks to herself.
Yuri: "I-I think it would be too irresponsible for me to wait much longer…"
"'MoNatSaYuri, will you marry me?'" Monika joked in an impression of Yuri.
Yuri: "I'm sorry!"
Yuri: "I was hoping there would be more time as well…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It's probably my fault."
MoNatSaYuri: "Sorry for being such a slow worker."
Yuri: "No, it's not your fault at all."
Yuri: "And…the important thing is that we got everything done, right?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah…"
Yuri: "So…"
Yuri: "I shouldn't be disappointed…or anything."
"'I knew I should have worn the sweater with the cleavage.'" Monika joked.
Gathering all her things, Yuri seems to look a little downcast.
I understand why.
It sounded like she rarely gets the opportunity to spend time with friends in a relaxed environment.
But that doesn't mean this isn't the last time it can happen…
*Scene changes to MoNatSaYuri's house.*
Once Yuri packs up, I walk her out the front door.
Yuri: "Thank you very much for having me today."
MoNatSaYuri: "No problem, I'm glad I was able to help."
MoNatSaYuri: "Just let me know if there's anything else you need me to bring tomorrow."
Yuri: "I will."
Yuri: "Well, then…"
Yuri fidgets.
"'You leave here often?'" Sayori joked in an impression of the purple-harried girl.
Yuri: "I guess…I'll see you tomorrow."
MoNatSaYuri: "Wait-"
I kind of say that without thinking.
MoNatSaYuri: "About today…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It's fine that we didn't have as much time as we wanted."
MoNatSaYuri: "Because we can do this again."
MoNatSaYuri: "Whenever you want, you can come over, or we can go out somewhere-"
MoNatSaYuri: "Ah, I forgot you don't like going out much-"
As I stumble over my words, Yuri simply smiles bashfully.
MoNatSaYuri: "Anyway…"
MoNatSaYuri: "You know what I'm trying to say, so…"
Yuri: "You're very thoughtful, MoNatSaYuri."
Natsuki let out a loud laugh. "Yeah, right." The girl said as she wiped away a tear. "This idiot, thought-full?"
Yuri takes a step closer to me, then briefly squeezes my hand.
Yuri: "I kind of like that about you…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Well…"
How am I supposed to respond to that?
"'According to all known laws of aviation,'" Sayori began. "'There is no way a bee should be able to fly.'"
But I don't even get a chance to, as Yuri suddenly pulls back.
Yuri: "S-Sayori-?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh?!"
"'You like Sayori more than you like me?!'" Natsuki joked.
Sayori: "Ah…"
Sayori: "H-Hi, MoNatSaYuri…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori-!"
"Sayori?" Yuri joked.
"Yuri?" Sayori turned to the purple-haired girl.
"'Yuri?'" Natsuki asked in an impression of MoNatSaYuri.
"MoNatSaYuri?" Yuri asked.
"MoNatSaYuri?" Sayori followed.
"'Sayori?'" Natsuki asked.
"Sayori?" Yuri repeated.
"Monika." Monika added.
Once again, she was met with silence.
MoNatSaYuri: "Just now, we weren't-"
Sayori: "Ehehe~"
Sayori: "It's okay, MoNatSaYuri."
Sayori: "I just stopped by to say hi~"
"'Well, that and to let you know you left the sink running.'" Sayori joked.
"'Oh no, not again!'" Natsuki yelled.
Yuri: "U-Um…"
Yuri: "Well, it's nice to see you…"
Yuri: "I'm sorry, but I'm already on my way to leave!"
Sayori: "Aw, really?"
Sayori: "That's too bad…"
Yuri: "I'm sorry…"
Yuri: "But we'll all be together at the festival tomorrow, so…"
Yuri: "So that's fine, right?"
Sayori: "Of course!"
Sayori beams.
"'I'm blinded when one strikes my eye.'" Natsuki joked.
"'And after all the money I spent on candles.'" Yuri bemoaned. "You can make lights like that?'"
"'Look, it can either be a poetry reading or a disco party.'" Sayori joked.
Yuri: "Y-Yeah, so…"
Yuri: "I'll see you tomorrow!"
Clearly embarrassed, Yuri hurries off.
Sayori waves goodbye after her.
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori-"
"Sayori?" Yuri joked.
"Yuri?" Sayori turned to the purple-haired girl.
"'Yuri?'" Natsuki asked in an impression of MoNatSaYuri.
"No, not again!" Monika interrupts. "We've already done that joke twice."
MoNatSaYuri: "I thought you didn't want to come over today!"
Sayori: "Ahaha, well…"
Sayori: "I tried staying in my room…"
Sayori: "But my imagination was being really mean to me…"
"'It kept trying to convince me that hotdogs were scientifically classified as sandwiches.'" Sayori joked.
Sayori: "So I had to come here and see it for myself."
MoNatSaYuri: "See what?"
MoNatSaYuri: "What are you talking about?"
Sayori: "You know…"
"'Which anime girls you put on the banner.'" Sayori joked.
"'They're called 'waifus.''" Natsuki joked.
Sayori: "How much fun you were having with Yuri."
Sayori: "And how close you were getting to her."
Sayori: "It makes me…really happy…"
Sayori: "That you've made such good friends."
Sayori: "That's all that matters to me."
Tears start to fall down Sayori's face.
Sayori: "That's all that matters to me-!"
Sayori: "Why am I feeling this way, MoNatSaYuri?"
Sayori: "I'm supposed to be happy for you."
Sayori: "Why does it feel like my heart is splitting in half?"
Sayori: "It hurts so much…"
Sayori: "Everything hurts so much…"
Sayori: "This would be so much better if I could just disappear!"
Sayori, Natsuki, and Yuri all turned to glare at Monika, who leaned back in her chair as she shrugged. "Hey, don't look at me." Monika quivered. "She's the one who said it."
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori, don't say that!"
Sayori: "It's true, MoNatSaYuri!"
Sayori: "If I wasn't here, then you wouldn't have to waste your sympathy on me!"
Sayori: "You wouldn't have to put up with me being selfish!"
Sayori: "Monika was right…"
Sayori: "I should just…"
"Did you actually tell her that bleach was an antidepressant?!" Yuri asked.
"I'm sorry!"
"Sorry doesn't cut it!"
MoNatSaYuri: "Monika…?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Monika was right about what?"
Sayori: "…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori…"
MoNatSaYuri: "What I said before is true."
"'The statement after is false.'" Yuri joked.
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm not going to let this continue."
"Really wish we could say the same." Natsuki groaned. "But… Oh god, how much longer do we have left in this act alone?"
"We're getting pretty close to the end now." Monika stated.
MoNatSaYuri: "Caring about you like this isn't the burden your mind is making it out to be."
MoNatSaYuri: "It's something that makes me happy."
MoNatSaYuri: "It's something that I wouldn't trade for anything else."
MoNatSaYuri: "So, even if it takes an entire lifetime…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I'm going to be by your side until you don't feel any more pain."
Sayori: "B-But…"
Sayori looks away.
I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her.
Sayori: "I'm scared, MoNatSaYuri…"
"Well, this is a horror game." Monika shrugged. "But we haven't really gotten to the scary parts yet."
Sayori: "I'm really scared…"
MoNatSaYuri: "What are you scared of, Sayori?"
Sayori: "I'm scared that…"
Sayori: "That I might like you more than you like me…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori…?"
Sayori: "It's true, isn't it?"
Sayori: "I was weak and started to like you too much…"
Sayori: "I did this to myself."
Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori: "I like you so much that I want to die!"
Sayori: "That's how I feel!"
Sayori: "And…and…"
MoNatSaYuri: "That's enough, Sayori…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I don't want you to hurt anymore."
I slide my hand down Sayori's arm and squeeze her hand in my own.
MoNatSaYuri: "Do you remember how I said I always know what's best for you?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Do you still believe me?"
Wordlessly, Sayori nods.
MoNatSaYuri: "Even if you don't understand all of your own feelings…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I know what you need the most right now."
MoNatSaYuri: "And that's what I'm going to give you."
*Scene fades to black*
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori…"
[I love you.]
[You'll always be my dearest friend.]
"Alright, Sayori," Natsuki began before gesturing to the screen. "Would you like to pick your poison…? Er, uh…" Natsuki recoiled, reaching for her tie as she glanced around the room. "That came out-"
"No, it's alright." Sayori said as she moved the cursor between the two options. After a moment, a sigh slipped through her teeth before she selected the first option.
*Scene fades back in on MoNatSaYuri's house.*
MoNatSaYuri: "I love you."
Sayori: "Eh-?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Those are my true feelings."
"'Just ignore the fact that I just had a maybe date with Yuri that almost ended in a kiss.'" Natsuki said.
"Actually, that reminds me." Sayori began. "Your route ends pretty much the same way. How come you were about to kiss him when you're a-"
"I wasn't gonna kiss him." Natsuki stated. "I was going to rub some flour off his ear."
"… Oh…" Sayori said. "… I sure overreacted…"
MoNatSaYuri: "So…there's no way you could like me more than I like you."
MoNatSaYuri: "I should have realized it sooner."
MoNatSaYuri: "But spending time with everyone at the club…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Making new friends…"
MoNatSaYuri: "And having fun with you every day…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It helped me realize that you are truly the most important person to me."
MoNatSaYuri: "That's why I'll accept any of your burdens."
"'Oh, good, cause I'm really behind on my taxes.'" Yuri joked in an impersonation of her friend.
MoNatSaYuri: "As long as we continue like this every day…"
MoNatSaYuri: "With you by my side…"
MoNatSaYuri: "Then I know we'll both be happy."
Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri…"
*Scene changes to CG of Sayori hugging MoNatSaYuri.*
Suddenly, Sayori wraps her arms tightly around me.
Sayori: "MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori: "Is this…really okay?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Yeah."
"'Yeah.'" Sayori proclaimed in a dull voice, nodding her head up as she spoke.
I hold Sayori in my arms and pull her closer.
MoNatSaYuri: "You'll never have to let go of me again."
Sayori: "I love you, MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori: "I want to be with you forever."
MoNatSaYuri: "Me too."
Sayori: "…"
I feel Sayori's grip around me weaken a little bit.
Sayori: "What is this…?"
"It's called a hug." Yuri stated. "I've never experienced one myself, but I've heard about them through stories and songs. It's a practice conducted in friendships or familiar relationships where-"
MoNatSaYuri: "Sayori…?"
Sayori: "I'm supposed to be happy right now…"
Sayori: "I always thought this would be the happiest moment for me."
Sayori: "But why…?"
Sayori: "Even now…"
Sayori: "Why won't the rainclouds go away?"
"Because the forecast predicted rain for the rest of the week." Monika joked.
Sayori: "They're not going away at all, MoNatSaYuri…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It's okay, Sayori…"
MoNatSaYuri: "It might take some time for things to get better again."
MoNatSaYuri: "But no matter how long it takes, I'll be there every step of the way."
MoNatSaYuri: "That's all that matters right now."
Sayori: "O-Okay…"
Sayori: "I…trust you…"
*Scene changes to MoNatSaYuri's house.*
Sayori and I slowly release each other.
MoNatSaYuri: "So…"
MoNatSaYuri: "I guess that makes the festival tomorrow…our first date, huh?"
Sayori: "Ehehe…"
Sayori: "What are you saying?"
Sayori: "I don't want to think about those things, you know?"
"'I mean honestly, who would want to go out with you?'" Monika joked in an impression of the ginger. "'I mean, I like you and all, but not in a boyfriend-girlfriend sort of way.'"
Sayori: "I want everything to be the same as it always has been."
Sayori: "Even if we really are…a couple."
Sayori: "I don't know if I could handle anything more right now…"
Sayori: "It's really new and scary to me."
MoNatSaYuri: "I understand."
MoNatSaYuri: "We'll go at whatever pace suits you best."
Sayori: "Hey, MoNatSaYuri…"
Sayori gazes at me once again, smiling sadly.
Sayori: "Even if I get really, really sad…"
Sayori: "This is the best thing for me…right?"
MoNatSaYuri: "Eh…?"
I don't really understand what Sayori means by that.
MoNatSaYuri: "Are you saying that this is making you feel sad, Sayori?"
Sayori: "I-I don't know…"
Sayori: "I don't understand what I'm feeling."
Sayori: "It felt like a bunch of thorns when you told me you love me…"
"'Well, if you want,'" Natsuki began in her MoNatSaYuri voice. "'I could go back and choose the other option.'"
"'But you didn't save on it.'" Sayori stated.
"'Eh, I have a skip key.'"
Sayori: "But that's why I want to trust you."
"'I'm a masochist.'" Yuri joked. "'The thorns, they hurt so good!'"
Sayori: "You know what's best for me…"
MoNatSaYuri: "…Yeah."
MoNatSaYuri: "I do."
MoNatSaYuri: "That's my promise."
I say that, but in reality, I've never felt more uncertain when it comes to Sayori.
I know that I love her, and she loves me.
But I'm having as much trouble understanding Sayori's feelings as she is.
Even though I can comfort her…
I keep wondering if I should be doing something more, or something different.
I know these thoughts will continue to plague me until things are back to the way they were.
Is that what Sayori meant by not wanting anything to change?
I don't know.
But I know that I'll give it everything I've got.
Sayori is the most important person to me.
And I'll do whatever it takes to have a happy future with her.
*Scene fades to black*
"Alright, I'm calling it here." Natsuki said as she began saving.
"Now?" Monika asked as she glanced at the recording. "We're only about halfway into our usual session, we still have another twenty minutes to fill."
"I'm kind of emotionally drained after all that." Sayori admitted.
"Plus, we did have that fifteen-minute break." Yuri noted. "So I think our usual hour to record is just about up."
"If you all say so." Monika shrugged as the screen faded to black. "Depending on how I edit these videos, we're probably gonna have a short one."
~You did, but it's not that much shorter than the others~
I apologize for how short this chapter came out. I have something planned for the end of Act 1 and I didn't want it to get cut down by trying to fit it into this chapter. I don't remember how long the final day was, but a part of me worries I might need to split it between this chapter and the next one if I tried that.