Blue eyes, coral-pink hair, and charms enough to captivate anyone at any time: these were the traits that made Monika adore that radiant ball of sunshine. Never in a million years would she fathom that the clueless yet cute personality would woo her, but look at her now: alone in the literature club, on her computer, with a cheeky smile and a rosy blush. Thankfully for her, the person she admired was clueless when it came to love, which enticed Monika to teach her more. Yet there was one problem: the dreaded "Friend Zone."

It's not that a future with Sayori halted her. If fact, that's the best possibility she desired, but the fear of rejection prevented the lovestruck girl. Every heart-to-heart, every confession: they ended up with copious stammers and detrimental doubts that revolved around the end of their friendship.

Courage is what she needed: this, and this characteristic only is the term she strived on, and the lone way to accomplish this required practice.

Monika meddled on her computer till a folder that contained assorted photos popped up, and the third file zoomed to fit the entire screen; With the image open, a deep inhale, followed by an exhale, populated the room-

"Sayori... Over the years, I've relished every moment, every chat, and every poem we've shared; I want you to know that I l-lo-" Tears descended the girl's green eyes and landed onto the keyboard.

The newfound wallows concluded the silence that the figure occupied; within this period, the literature club's front door opened, and the cries that derived from the upset concealed the user's identity and gave them an advantage.

With delicacy, Monika glanced behind her with haste as she felt a tap on her right shoulder, "... Can you not give me a heart attack? My tears have to seep into this keyboard, and a dead me can't do that..." She laid her head on the tear-soaked keyboard.

"If you compel the ones who wish to give aid, then you're destined for failure."

"Great quote; have you heard the one that goes, 'I'm already a disappointment and don't need assistance?'"

Yuri sighed at the attempt before the computer screen in front of her lit up with a photo of Sayori. As an inference occupied her mind, the yandere turned the computer back off, grabbed a piece of paper, and wrote on it in that order.

Monika sulked towards the wall: away from her clubmate, and waved towards darkness. At least till a nearby slam grabbed the attention of the broody girl.

With patience weary, the lone female in the room swiped behind her to strike her friend but failed- instead, she grabbed a note that took the girl's place and read from it. 'If you want to force the ones who help, go ahead; failure accepts you.' appealed to the holder's eye in bright blue ink.

The room, now filled with silence and darkness upon the yandere's departure, matched the tone that resided onto the sheet. Not only did she feel purposeless, but the pent-up wrath held within drove helpful assistance away.

Without any advice, any help, or anyone for that matter, Monika's dismay plagued her into a depression-

"Ah, the literature club, my favorite time of the day!" The thoughts from the girl with green eyes halted, and her ears perched up upon the muffled but ecstatic voice from outside; there's no way she could let Sayori see her in these conditions. In an attempt to conceal the tears shed and obscure her grief, Monika slid from her seat and hid under the desk.

With no notice, the door slammed open, bounced from the wall, and closed itself as the figure who was outside, entered the room. Once inside, the footsteps of the familiar voice packed items onto the floor and waltzed towards the other end of the classroom.

Fear encumbered the sheltered girl beneath the desk as she lifted her hand into the crevice of her computer to grab the crumpled-up note; with all her hope into an escape plan, she pitched the piece of paper onto the other side of the room. As expected, the eyes of the familiar voice caught a glimpse of the note, yet did the opposite the girl imagined as they dashed closer towards the thrower's whereabouts-

"Found you!" In all its glory, Sayori clutched her friend from their space and embraced them.

The one-sided hug ceased as the club president compelled her vice away. Not with hesitation, not with reason, not even a response came from the other side. In astonishment, the dorodere endeavored for another hug; yet the act of kindness terminated within arms reach of her friend.

After several attempts, the messy hair-styled girl huffed and sat down at her seat; her emotionless friend, on the other hand, grabbed the note that served as a distraction and threw it out.

Sayori jumped from her seat and made way towards the trashcan, "If you want to force the ones who help, go ahead; failure accepts you." The note, now uncrumpled by the hands of the curious girl, embarked sadness to the other individual in the room.

Monika turned around: face soaked with tears, hair scuffled up and emotionally resonated, "Maybe Yuri was right... If someone offers aid, they might be able to help..." A voice of dejection emitted in front of the dorodere before it started to trail away from her-

"Looks like she didn't tell you that my stubbornness won't allow me to leave you, did she?" Hands embraced Monika's hips as Sayori rested her head on her shoulder. With no response, the girl whose lower half was restricted tried to escape the comfort of her friend yet failed by several nuzzles on her left cheek.

Not a moment too soon, sentiments and prideful thoughts flooded the tenants of the clubroom, apart from a slight giggle or two from the cute moment they shared. It was at this moment, no these moments-

The terrible yet impactful quote from Yuri; her arrogance towards the blue-eyed companion she held dearly; the compassion that somehow prevailed the negativity- Today's events made her realize that rejection was an experience one undergoes: Relationships aren't always happy-go-lucky, and that was a chance she had to take.

The newfound courage that Monika strived for radiated within her coexistence, "She didn't tell me about the miraculous persistence you have." The pressure on her lower half ceased, and a newfound chuckle filled with authentic passion abraded the heart of the dorodere.

What seemed like a dreadful end interchanged into a cheerful one- well almost; only one more issue remained-

"I know this is sudden b-but... Would you g-go..." Monika's optimistic companion turned around as she stammered; before the friend could ask, the words shot out of the nervous individual's mouth, followed by relief from the companion.

"As long as I don't have to pay the bill, I'd be more than delighted to get some ice cream!" Sayori's face expressed the sheepish look that the pony-tailed girl favored.

While the appropriate words she wanted to say didn't come out, the sense of satisfaction and courage filled the lonely heart of her's, "The price doesn't matter when it comes to you." A hearty smile, with a hand; held out for another hand, wavered for Sayori to link arms with Monika.

Hand in hand and arm in arm, the two sought after for a frozen treat. What happens next, nobody knows. Yet, something renewed for the two friends: the path of romance began reconstruction. Though the passage is cruel, dark, and tedious, she didn't care- as long as her ball of sunshine lit the way for her- she had everything she needed.