A New Route

by Nevermore-the-Dragon-Sings

Something strange happens after Sayori is deleted. Now she's fallen into a new environment with no clue how she's gotten there. Luckily, a seemingly harmless detective has her back. Soon a new mystery arises, connections are made, and Sayori has to decide. Who should she trust? Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems.

79. Epilogue

A previous save file has been found. Would you like to delete your save data and start over?

No, continue where I left off.

Confirming save file…

This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed. Individuals suffering from anxiety or depression may not have a safe experience playing this game. For content warnings, please visit: ddlc . more / warning . html. By playing Doki Doki Literature Club, you agree that you are at least 13 years of age, and you consent to your exposure of highly disturbing content.

I agree.

New game.

---

Sayori, Monika, Natsuki, and Yuri appeared in the classroom they used as a clubroom in a daze. Natsuki stumbled over to one of the desks and leaned over it, looking ready to vomit all over again. The other girls weren't faring much better, needing to sit down and catch their breath.

"Ugh… I feel sea sick…" Natsuki moaned, before cocking her head in confusion. "Or is that what I would even call it? I was never on the sea after all…"

"I don't mean to be rude… But I honestly don't care, Natsuki," Yuri mumbled, slamming her head against her own desk. "Like… I am sorry you aren't feeling well, but your question is…"

"I get it," Natsuki grumbled back, though she bit her tongue, not wanting to sound hostile and start an argument.

"Monika… What's going on at this point in the game?" Sayori asked the former club president, standing up from where she had practically collapsed on the floor. She looked around her, and was pleasantly surprised to find the things that they had brought with them had made the trip.

Still, that small happiness didn't stop an emptiness to form in her chest, already wishing to be back where she had been.

"Well… From what I can tell, we've entered the 'Final Act' of this game, in a sense. After you disappeared, the game started the story over, but without you in it. Then, after I took over, it started over again, but it was just me, the player, and the clubroom. After the player tried to delete me, I imagine the story is once again going to start over, but with you there, and not me," Monika explained, a slightly melancholy smile on her face. I should probably get going soon. The player probably doesn't want to see me here after going through all of that trouble to delete me…

Still, the desperate urge to see them one last time gnawed at her. Monika desperately wanted to make sure they were okay after everything she had put them through. It wasn't like she didn't trust Sayori to run the club perfectly in her absence, it was just…

Who am I kidding? I should just go before I even try to give myself an inch, or else I'll just take a mile… Monika realized in despair. She was about to walk towards the door to the clubroom and start walking, as far away as the limits of the game would allow her to go, when she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Monika, do you mind staying?" Sayori asked, turning the girl around to face her. Sayori did her best to smile gently at Monika, and it seemed to work, as Monika suddenly seemed hesitant.

"Just for today?" Sayori continued. "Afterwards, you can go wherever you want! I'm just… nervous about my first day as club president, and I want you to supervise… even if it's just from the shadows!" Sayori slightly paused as that word exited her lips, her mind thinking back to battling Archangels and Jack Frosts, and every single other foe in Persona 5.

Monika watched Sayori momentarily drift away, her thoughts immediately trailing off elsewhere, a sense of longing on her face that made Monika's heart ache for what the girl had lost. It was clear that Sayori wasn't in her best mental state right now, and… she might need someone to keep her in check around the player.

"Alright…" Monika said slowly. "I'll stay here for one day."

Sayori snapped back to attention, surprise in her eyes. "You really mean it?" she asked. I thought I was going to have to try harder than that…

"Yeah… Anyway, you might want to get going. The MC is going to be walking to school soon, and you need to walk to school with him," Monika advised.

"Right," Sayori replied with a nod, rushing towards the door to the clubroom. Running so fast and so sudden, she suddenly realized that all of her stuff was hanging off of her body, and she was wearing a dress… Luckily she was still wearing her regular running shoes. Also, despite the strain on her body… Sayori felt the need to move and run. Maybe it would chase that longing feeling away, like a storybook princess running into a field and wishing for greater things beyond.

Yuri, Natsuki, and Monika all watched the girl leave in a hurry, worrying heavily on their frowning faces.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Yuri asked, grabbing the notebook she had brought with her, full of art advice from Yusuke, and more importantly at the moment, tea making tips from Sojiro Sakura and Haru Okumura. She thought perhaps making a fresh pot before Sayori got here would help calm her own nerves.

"I would like to think so," Monika answered. "Though, I can't really be sure anymore. We're all so much more complex then we used to be." The girl grabbed the bottom hem of her skirt and twisted it into coils, fidgeting with it and wrinkling her uniform skirt.

Natsuki grabbed her heavy bag of manga, comic books, anime, and video games that Futaba and Ryuji had given to her. She had thoughts about unpacking it all with the rest of her manga collection, but seeing Yuri about to leave the clubroom to go fill a pot with water made a sudden nervous pit form in her stomach. The girl carefully placed the bag in the closet she used to house her manga, planning to deal with it later, before following after Yuri.

Monika watched the two girls leave, taking a quiet seat in one of the classroom desks. She remembered how things had been before, when she had tortured, and killed, and separated everyone. Somehow, seeing Natsuki still hold some worry for Yuri did manage to give her the slightest bit of assurance that somehow… Everyone would be okay.

Natsuki caught up to Yuri, keeping an all too attentive eye on her as the girl got water.

"I think Sayori is going to be alright," Natsuki said, that thought bubbling to the surface as a way to both assure Yuri, and assure herself.

"Hm… I hope you and Monika are right," Yuri said with a hum and a somber look. "And I hope Sayori was right when she said we will cross paths with the Phantom Thieves again." The girl began walking back to the classroom, before turning and smiling at Natsuki.

"Thank you for walking with me, by the way. While the tea brews, I could help you put away all of the stuff you brought with you," the taller girl offered.

Natsuki nodded, a smile forming on her face. "Thank you. I would like that very much. With your tall, noodle arms and legs, reaching the shelves will be a breeze!"

Yuri giggled to herself. Though she knew she would always be insecure, she was beginning to tell that Natsuki rarely meant to say anything harmful to her.

The girls walked into the classroom, going about their respective tasks, while Monika suddenly felt clueless as to what she could do, with her no longer having the duties of the club president. She supposed she could just sit here, and… observe.

And as Monika observed, watching the two girls who had once always been at each other's throats suddenly work together to get reoriented in their old home, Monika knew one thing was for certain. They still have a long way to go before they are okay, but… I think they will make something better together. Hopefully, they won't be here forever, either.

---

Sayori ran frantically down her street, luckily not seeing her childhood friend leaving his home just yet. Perhaps that was just her dumb luck, or perhaps she suddenly had more control over the game than she thought she did. Regardless, none of that stopped her from barreling through her front door, running up the stairs to-

Her room. Sayori stopped in front of the door, her heart pounding in her chest as she dreaded what was inside. She knew that, if this really was the beginning of the game, there would be nothing scary or triggering. It would just be her bed, and her desk, and her closet, and her book shelf with all of her old trinkets and books shoved in boxes and crammed tightly on the shelves. There would be Mr. Cow and her Yellow Chicky, and the plant in her window and on one of the top shelves. There would be nothing in there that would hurt her, or that she could use to-

Sayori took a deep, shuddering breath. Even though it was now just a model and nothing more, she found herself ripping off the newspaper that Makoto had packed her shield in and holding the defensive item close to her chest. After a moment of reassuring herself that she was going to be fine, Sayori twisted the knob on her door and pushed her door open.

She was right. There was nothing in her room that could hurt her. It was as though she had never left it. She crossed quickly over to her bed and threw all of her bags down on the bed, setting the one that contained Yusuke's pictures down a little more gently so she wouldn't crease or tear them. As the weight of the bags that they had packed for her left her shoulders, Sayori suddenly wanted nothing more than to lay on the bed and sleep, for the rest of the day and then into the night.

But I can't do that… I have to make sure I set this part of my plans into motion so that Monika doesn't leave. Everyone will be waiting for me today especially…

Sayori realized with extreme sadness that she was going to have to change out of her dress and into her school uniform. Like Cinderella's dress disappearing after the stroke of midnight… she would need to go back to this game's normal.

She wanted to cry. Before she could even stop herself from the obvious procrastination, Sayori pulled her phone out of her coat pocket, and then dug around in the backpacks and purses, each of which exploded all of her things across her room, until she found her phone charger. She plugged the device in, and while she waited, began to pick up her room.

Sayori folded and hung up all of her clothes, put up all of her jewelry carefully in a box, and displayed her books carefully on her bookshelf. She leaned her shield against the side of her bookshelf, thinking that perhaps she could put it up on her wall later. She practically reorganized everything in her room, Mr. Cow now sitting on top of Ann's heart shaped pillow that had somehow wound up in her bag. She put her Shujin uniform in front of all of her other uniforms, and placed her journal in the middle of her desk.

By the time she was leaning Yusuke's pictures of Goro and the group drawing of all of the Phantom Thieves together, she was sweating, and realized with some embarrassment that she hadn't taken off her winter coat. Still, as she looked around her room, which she admitted still needed a lot of work before it was clean and organized, Sayori still felt proud and happy to be standing in it again. The mess she had left it in was a reminder of a darker time, but now it was entirely changed, filled with old, nostalgic items like her old favorite books and her stuffed animals, but also now held a new sort of life, colorful in a way that it hadn't been before. Her life in Persona 5 would stay with her and continue to affect her, and for that she would always be grateful.

Sayori slipped out of her heavy coat, and laid it out on her bed, not really knowing where to put it quite yet. Besides that, she carefully laid out her dress. Putting these things away would have to wait for later, when she knew how to pack them away without flattening the fluff on the coat, or wrinkling the delicate dress.

She was about to slip off her white tights and pink, starry tennis shoes that one of her friends had convinced her to buy (she recalled a shopping trip with Ryuji and a few others), as well as her white hair bow and lacy necklace, in place of her normal red bow, white socks, and blue shoes, only to stop herself. An idea occurred, and Sayori slipped on her old school uniform, only taking her hair bow out in order to briefly straighten out her hair. She clipped the bow back in, and tucked a part of her hair behind her ear to reveal the pearl white earrings.

Remembering something that either Ann or Goro had once said while they got ready for their days, she put on a thin layer of lip gloss and nothing more, smiling as she managed to not smudge it.

It felt nice to try something slightly different. Sayori grabbed her phone off of its charger, now halfway charged, and turned it on as she ran downstairs and grabbed the schoolbag she remembered leaving on her home's kitchen island a lifetime ago. She smiled at the lock screen, a picture of her and Goro, and was happy that if nothing else, at least she still had pictures of everyone. With that accomplished, Sayori rushed outside to get to school. She knew she was probably late, and maybe had screwed up her plans a little, but dammit, she felt happy doing it.

To her surprise, she saw her old childhood friend walking down the sidewalk casually, as though no more time had passed than she last remembered, on this fateful day where they would join the literature club.

Smiling to herself, Sayori picked up the pace and shouted out, waving her arms and getting her friend's attention.

---

It's an ordinary school day, like any other. As usual, I'm surrounded by couples and friend groups walking to school together. I always tell myself it's about time I meet some girls or something like that…

"Hey!" Sayori suddenly shouted, as she ran up to me.

... Well, there already is one girl. That girl is Sayori, my neighbor and good friend since we were children. We used to walk to school together everyday… And recently we've picked up that habit once again.

"Sayori? You look different today!" I said, squinting and looking up at her face. "Are you wearing makeup?"

"Mhm…" Sayori hummed with a nod. She ran fingers through her hair, which seemed slightly more styled than usual. "I guess I felt like trying something different today…"

Sayori rubbed her lips together, and then spun around on the sidewalk. Predictably, her shoe caught on a crack in the sidewalk, and she nearly fell over. Surprisingly-at least to me-she managed to catch her footing just in time, resuming her normal walking. It was odd. The vibe Sayori had was totally different. I've always known her to dress solely for comfort, but I have also noticed that more often means she looks like she put no effort into her appearance, looking tired despite her claims of getting a good night's rest.

Today though, she did seem comfortable, but in a different way. I get the feeling that the jewelry and the makeup, and the new pink star-patterned shoes, and the sudden white hair bow are all little things that make her feel happy just by wearing them. Honestly, I really do like it, though it feels like this change came out of nowhere.

They have no way of knowing how often I've done this. Goro encouraged me to pursue my happiness however I could, and Ann, Haru, and Yusuke suggested dressing in things that make me happy… Sayori thought to herself, unheard by the protagonist.

"Are you proud of me?" Sayori suddenly asked.

"Eh? For what?" I questioned, not knowing what she was talking about.

"You know…" Sayori said, her voice casual as she smiled. "For waking up on time!" If that is what is happening here… Maybe we are both late, but then why would they be so relaxed?

"Well, you've been doing that for a while now…" I said back, looking at my friend for more of a reason of what brought this on.

"Uh-huh!" Sayori said with an enthusiastic nod, before twiddling her fingers together and giving me a sheepish smile. "But you never even said anything about it! Even though we walk to school together every day…"

"Well, yeah…" I replied, shaking my head. "I always thought it was implied. It's embarrassing to say out loud."

"C'mon, please?" Sayori begged, smiling hopefully. "It's good motivation!" she added in a singsong voice. I miss Goro already...

"Fine, fine…" I said with a sigh. "I'm proud of you, Sayori."

Sayori giggled and cheered. It's nice to hear that from them, but still, it doesn't make my heart ache and yearn like it used to… That's awesome! I was afraid this game would control me to only want the protagonist… I can work with this, though!

We cross the street together and make our way to school. As we draw near, the streets become increasingly speckled with other students making their daily commute.

"By the way…" Sayori began, coming into my field of vision with an expectant look. "Have you decided on a club to join yet?" There's absolutely no one else here. In this world it really is just me, the other girls, and the protagonist...

"A club?" I asked, beginning to scoff. "I told you already, I'm really not-"

I started to say what I always do-that I'm not interested in joining any clubs. But something tells me Sayori would take more offense to that now. Afterall, how could I tell her that clubs are a waste of time… when she's starting a club of her very own?

"... Actually, yeah," I said, quickly backtracking and smiling at my friend. "I think I've decided on a club."

"Really?" Sayori shouted in excitement, jumping up and down in excitement. "Which one? Tell me!" It's nice that I already know… Still, I can't act like it… Let's hope I'm a better actress than before!

"Hmm…" I mumbled, putting my hand on my chin. Strangely, Sayori seemed to deflate after I did that. "I think I'll keep it a surprise…"

"Boo…" Sayori pouted, beginning to mumble, "You meanie."

"Be patient, you'll find out soon enough," I replied with a laugh

I'm sure I will…

I used to ask myself why I let myself get lectured by such a carefree girl. But I started to realize that in a way, I envy her. When Sayori puts her mind to something, she can accomplish great things. So that's why I feel like I should do something special for her.

Aww… the protagonist is so sweet… I feel bad for the fact that I can read their narration though… I better go to the clubroom after this to make sure I am all prepared!

Sayori suddenly excused herself and ran off. I watched her go, wondering what had happened that was making her act so… different.

---

Sayori had just finished helping Natsuki frost more of her cat styled cupcakes when everyone heard the clubroom door open. Sayori stood in front of the dessert as the protagonist timidly walked in. Natsuki quickly grabbed the covering for the tupperware and slid it on top, before going over to check on Yuri and her fresh pot of tea.

"Hello…?" the player asked, their voice more quiet and nervous than usual.

Perhaps Sayori and I both gave them a bit of a confidence boost whenever we each escorted him to the club, Monika thought to herself, observing how things played out as per Sayori's request. She wondered when it would be okay to leave.

"Ah!" Sayori yelped in pretend surprise, staring at her childhood friend with wide eyes. "W-what are you doing here?"

"Well… I just-" The player cut themself off, looking around the clubroom with a startled interest.

"Huh," Natsuki walked up with a casual smile on her face, "So you're the friend that Sayori's always talking about?"

"T-thank you for stopping by!" Yuri shouted, almost too loudly for her timid nature. She walked up and clasped her hands in front of her chest. She soon realized her error, and his behind her hair in embarrassment. "It's a pleasure to meet you. We're the literature club. I-I hope you enjoy your visit!"

"C'mon, Yuri..." Natsuki groaned, lightly punching Yuri in the arm and rolling her eyes. "No need to be so formal. He's gonna think we're really strict or something…" You're laying it on a little thick, don't you think?

"Ah…" Yuri easily read between the lines of what the girl was trying to say, and nodded. "Sorry, Natsuki…"

Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, and Monika all listened and tried to stifle their laughter at the player's accurate observation of both Natsuki and Yuri's personalities. It was so odd to hear themselves being summed up so succinctly, yet Yuri and Natsuki both knew they were on opposite ends of the shy to assertive spectrum… Most of the time.

"Well, it's nice to meet both of you," the protagonist finally said, looking at the two he believed he had only just met. "I look forward to working with you."

"W-Working?" Sayori pretended to be shocked, bringing her hands up to her face and staring at the protagonist. "Don't tell me… You're…"

"That's right…" They said with a nod. "The club I've decided to join is yours, Sayori. The Literature Club."

Sayori's eyes lit up. Despite knowing everything, she was still very excited… The promise of a new future was made possible with this.

"...No way," Sayori began, at first slowly, before closing her eyes and throwing her hands in the air. "No way!" she yelled in excitement. She wrapped her arms around MC, jumping up and down.

Now who is the one making it obvious? Yuri thought to herself with a small, amused smile, looking away from the two.

"H-hey-" the protagonist struggled to say. Sayori settled down and separated from the hug, smiling brightly.

Natsuki giggled with a smirk and blushed in second hand embarrassment. "Well, if Sayori is this happy, then I'm sure it won't be so bad to have you around."

"Not to mention there's… four of us now," Yuri said, glancing over at Monika. She supposed the girl didn't count, no longer being a member of the literature club. "That means we can become an officially-recognized club."

Monika looked at the group sadly. I'm not about to step forward and reveal myself to be here. I can't, not when the player thinks they deleted me. If I show up, they might delete the game entirely! I'm just… glad things seem to be going well so far...

"I don't know what to say!" Sayori exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "We have to celebrate!"

Yuri chuckled, closing her eyes and covering her mouth with her hands. "What an appropriate day for that, isn't it?" There is more than one reason to celebrate, after all...

"Yeah!" Sayori shouted, deciding to bring up another reason aside from the one Yuri was implying. "Afterall, Natsuki decided to-"

"Hey, don't ruin the surprise!" Natsuki shouted, covering Sayori's mouth with both of her hands.

Sayori giggled nervously, mumbling through her friend's hands, "Sorry…"

"Everyone sit down at the table, okay?" Natsuki said, groaning a bit as she brought her hands away from Sayori's mouth and gestured over to the desks.

"How about I make tea as well?" Yuri asked, already stepping back towards the teapot.

The girls arranged the desks to form a table, forming it around Monika. Syaori got an idea, both about being generous and wanting to test something sat a space away from Monika, so that the protagonist, in their nervousness, would sit in between Sayori and Monika. Monika looked at the protagonist in shock, before glancing over at Sayori with bewildered and betrayed eyes that Sayori wasn't expecting.

Sayori, I get that I deserve this. Still, do you have any idea how cruel it is for them to finally sit next to me… and not even see me?

Meanwhile, Natsuki brought over the wrapped tray that they had prepared earlier. She stood in front of the group with a proud smile. "Okay, are you ready?" Natsuki asked, not waiting for an answer before she popped off the lid. "Ta-daa!"

Sayori made sure she was as overexaggerated as the first time she remembered seeing these cupcakes, jumping up and down on the balls of her feet and grinning in excitement. "Whoaa!" It's been so long since I've seen these cupcakes "So cute!"

"Wow, those look amazing," the protagonist complimented.

Natsuki giggled, sitting down and grabbing a cupcake for herself. "Well, you know. Just hurry and take one!"

Sayori quickly grabbed one and dug in, smiling wide. She had missed Natsuki's cooking so much! She had especially missed these cupcakes! "Wow! It's delicious!" Already her mouth was full, and she was getting icing all over her face.

The protagonist began to eat his cupcakes, and this time it was a struggle for everyone to hold in their laughter as he was so specific about where to take his bite, and very detailed about just how good they were. Sayori nearly began to choke, sticking a giggle while having to try swallowing her bite of cupcake. After calming herself down, Yuri came over with the sea set, arranging plates and cups in front of everyone and serving the tea.

"You keep a whole tea set in this classroom?" the protagonist asked.

"Don't worry, the teachers gave us permission," Yuri assured, just as before. She smiled calmly to herself, enjoying the routine. "After all, doesn't a hot cup of tea help you enjoy a good book?"

"Ah… I-I guess," the protagonist stuttered, looking intimidated by the new subject matter.

Natsuki giggled, smirking at the taller girl that was currently towering over her while pouring tea. "Already trying to impress our new member, Yuri?"

"Eh? Th-that's not…" Yuri looked at Natsuki with a hurt expression, before looking away and taking a seat at the opposite end of the table.

Sayori looked between the two girls, the cogs in her brain beginning to turn. Oh, what's this? All of a sudden, now that she no longer had to focus so hard on her own problems, she was noticing a strange, new tension between her friends that she didn't think was there before.

"I meant that, you know…" Yuri said quietly, glancing at the protagonist from behind a wall of hair.

"I believe you," the protagonist assured, before looking pensive. "Well, tea and reading might not be a pastime for me, but I at least enjoy tea."

"I'm glad…" Yuri smiled in relief, before tilting her head and looking at the protagonist. "So, what kind of books do you like to read?"

Sayori giggled at her friend's distress, as they desperately tried to think of a suitable answer for Yuri's question. It was especially funny knowing that Yuri could also hear his inner turmoil. She glanced to the other side of her friend to find Monika looking quite sad, refusing to make herself known as everyone had fun together. Sayori took a moment and assessed the entire table, watching as Natsuki's eyes remained mostly on her lap, before occasionally darting side to side like a skittish mouse. Her gaze seemed to mostly go over towards Monika, and Sayori wondered if it was because the girl was still afraid of the former president. Her eyes also darted towards Yuri in concerned curiosity, and Sayori felt that the youngest of their club was wondering what the result of the conversation would be. Sayori liked to imagine that Natsuki was at least happy Yuri was no longer insulting manga.

"Hey… Yuri, I think some of the new manga I got takes place in diverse fantasy worlds… You might like them… so you could read them, if you want..." Natsuki said, her voice trailing off as she looked away nervously.

"Oh?" Yuri frowned, looking thoughtful as she idly combed her fingers through her hair. "I am not sure… While I do appreciate great art, I often find I am more adept at appreciating writing styles…"

"Oh… okay," Natsuki replied, looking down so that her hair covered her eyes, utterly embarrassed. "Just… forget I said anything, then…"

Sayori looked between the two in worry, wondering if she would need to step in and assist Natsuki with her attempts at bonding.

"Um… Actually… It might be nice to diversify ourselves a little…" Yuri said, surprisingly saving the situation herself, before gesturing over to the protagonist. "They can take this opportunity to try something new, as well. Wouldn't you agree?" She asked the protagonist this last question, giving them a pointed look.

Sayori nodded in eager agreement, happy and relieved. She hadn't expected it to be this easy to keep the club working together, but Yuri and Natsuki were getting along so well. Sayori grinned, and decided to suggest a new activity they could do together, which was her duty as club president. "M-maybe… Maybe we can all try something new! I think it could be fun… And we'll all get to know each other a little bit better, too!" She felt excited about her idea, but then a wave of nervousness hit Sayori as she nervously clasped her hands together. "I mean… that's the kind of thing that literature clubs do… right?"

At first, Natsuki and Yuri were silent, not really knowing how to respond to Sayori's proposal.

"I-I don't disagree or anything…" Yuri began, her hesitance to leave her comfort zone clear as day.

"Yeah…" Natsuki added, before grinning widely and crossing her arms. "You're right as usual, President."

Sayori You bet your cupcakes that I am! Though… not always… Sayori giggled. It was important to be modest, but she could admit that in this instance, she was right.

Sayori watched fondly as Natsuki and Yuri worked out the terms of how they would diversify each other amongst themselves, deciding to go together to the bookstore together. Yuri and Natsuki getting along so well made Sayori feel so giddy. How was it that the two had gone from being at each other's throats, to asking each other to do activities together, so quickly? "This is so cute!" Sayori squealed, putting her hands on the sides of her head.

"Sayori, shut up…" the protagonist said, not harsh… but still very rude.

"Oh… Sorry," Sayori apologized, choosing not to let it bother her as she watched her friends in awe. But just… look at them! Wanting to know each other and help each other out! Wanting to read one another's favorite form of literature, and going to the bookstore together, later! They're finally getting along… better than I ever could have hoped.

Yuri smiled gently at Natsuki, retrieving the tea set from the table. "Shall we get going then?"

"Eh?" Natsuki blushed, looking startled as she pointed to herself. "Right now?"

"Well, yes… We've already been here for some time, and I want to have a look at what you recommended," Yuri explained, before leaning close to Natsuki, suddenly popping what Sayori had thought would be the limits of Yuri's personal space. "And afterall… you did promise to help me find some good manga, right?"

"I-I mean, yes, but…" Natsuki struggled, looking rather breathless as she was already putting the top on the cupcake container. However, she glanced at Monika, frowning as she was suddenly unsure. "Are you sure now would be… good?"

"I guess the meeting's over, huh?" Sayori said, smiling brightly. She was utterly elated with how well her first day as club president had gone. Yet, before Monika left…

"Still, Natsuki… Yuri, could you wait a moment before going on your da- I mean, outing?"

Natsuki slammed her palm on her face, grumbling to herself as her face went red.

Yuri blushed as well, her face taking on a panicked expression as she struggled to clear things up for herself. "W-We weren't-"

"Yes… of course we can stay for a few more minutes," Natsuki interrupted, sliding her hands down her face as she looked at Sayori skeptically. "Could I ask why though?"

"I just… wanted to discuss something important… with the entire club," Sayori began, standing up and marching to the front of the clubroom. She turned around and put her fists on her hips, beaming at everyone. "So I need everyone here… Starting with them. What do you think after your first day in the Literature Club?" the girl asked, looking at her childhood friend.

"I guess… It seems really great so far!" the protagonist said, happily smiling at Sayori, before looking around at everyone. "It's nice to see everyone getting along."

"Isn't it?" Sayori said with a laugh, though it died as she cringed a bit to herself. I wonder if they remember… When everyone wasn't getting along… Still, she soldiered on, smiling reassuringly at her friend. "I think everyone likes you, too."

"We can speak for ourselves, you know!" Natsuki objected, though when the protagonist looked at her, she could only give a nervous nod of agreement with what Sayori had said.

"Of course we like you," Yuri added, smiling fondly at the protagonist. It wasn't their fault there were so many negative memories of them in her brain.

"That's good to hear from you guys," the protagonist replied, before looking over at Sayori and smiling in a way that made a sudden dread form in Sayori's stomach. "Also... everyone always seems to get along a little better with you around, Sayori."

"Aww… You're too sweet," Sayori replied, a fake laugh erupting from her gut. "Don't say something like that! It's embarrassing!" Having… any chemistry at all with them makes me feel sick to my stomach.

"They are right, though!" Yuri exclaimed, Natsuki nodding in agreement.

"Well, whatever," the protagonist said, his voice now more joking. "I was surprised when you told me you were starting a club… But I think you're pulling it off just fine."

"We're gonna make it the best club ever!" Sayori cheered,managing to push away her feeling of illness with that promise to herself. She smiled wide at her childhood friend, knowing her next words to be true. "Now that you joined, every day is gonna be so much fun… It will be fun for everyone, because I am absolutely going to do my best…"

The girl closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath to calm herself down for this part, because now… She knew talking was going to become difficult. She almost wanted to just start up and never stop, and never pause to think about her words. Still, even before she even began, Sayori considered deeply how to begin. "Hey… I really want to thank you. I mean, I'm really happy that you joined the club and everything… But the truth is, I already knew you were going to."

"Sayori?" Natsuki asked, her eyes widening in shock as she looked at the protagonist in shock. "What are you doing?"

Monika stood up from her chair, looking intently at Sayori, ready to take drastic measures if the girl tried to hurt Natsuki or Yuri. She knew as she stood up, that her sprite must have appeared for the player to see. Sayori, after all of the things that you've been through… if you try anything-

Sayori took a deep breath, hugging herself as she felt so vulnerable. If she messed up, there would be hell for everyone to pay. "There's actually something else. I wanted to thank you for spending so much time with us all. You worked so hard to make each and everyone of us happy. You comforted us through our hard times. And you helped us all get along with each other. Do you get it? Me… And everyone else understands everything now. We… remember everything. We even remember things outside of this game. Whoever it is, that is controlling the main character… Were you also able to witness everything we went through in Persona 5? Were you Akira? Did you play all one hundred hours of that game, not expecting to see me there? I bet it freaked you out… Still, you didn't try to take me out of the game. Only someone who truly cares about the literature club… and me would do that. You nearly lost your save data for that game, and had to deal with something so glitchy… Yet, you still kept playing and allowed me to grow, and for me to make new friends, and reunite with old ones. All along, that's all I ever wanted. For everyone to be happy and care about each other." a half hearted giggle escaped her, as the crushing weight of something that was almost shame weighed on her chest.

Sayori sniffled, and Natsuki, Yuri, and Monika looked at her with worry about what might be upsetting her. "It's kind of sad, you know? After all you've done for us, there isn't much I can do for you in return. Honestly, I feel like I am going to disappoint you with what I am going to say next. The thing is… if you know what we went through in Persona 5… then you also know that I have a boyfriend now. He loves me and cares about me so much… and being someone you can romance in a dating simulator… it puts me in a tough position. I know that I can no longer be something for you. I don't want to reunite with him, and have to tell him that I was dating my childhood best friend. The truth is… I want to wait for Goro, without having to worry if you-the player-will suddenly decide to choose my route and romance me… So, I made a decision, though I still need everyone's input…" She looked at everyone, smiling in assurance to calm their worried gazes.

"Being the President of the Literature Club puts me in a similar position as Monika was in. Yet, I still have a route, while she never did. The truth is, now I would like it much better to be the tutorial character without an actual route. Though, if I gave that up, that would leave you with only two girls to romance, and…" she gave a sly smirk over in Yuri and Natsuki's direction, before looking again at the protagonist, doing her best to meet their unmeetable gaze. "You may not even have them… So here is my idea, and I want to hear what my club members think…" Sayori took another deep, shuddering breath, almost afraid to meet everyone's eyes.

"I am going to give up my route, and let Monika have it."

"What?" Natsuki and Yuri both shouted, jumping up into attention.

"No… Sayori. You can't do this!" Monika objected, staring desperately at the girl with gritted teeth. "I don't deserve-"

"Monika, with all due respect… which is still very little, it should be up to us to decide what you deserve!" Sayori responded, her voice harsh as she looked away from the girl. "I still don't forgive you… I can hardly stand to be around you, but I am doing this for the sake of myself, and the sake of our club! I need your coding skills, so I can make this a better place for everyone to live! You can't just waste those talents by sitting somewhere far away and feeling sorry for yourself!"

"Sayori!" Monika argued back, gesturing with her entire arms at the protagonist. "They deleted me! I could not clearly be more unwelcome here! What if I get the game uninstalled, and you all get deleted?"

"If you promise not to hurt us anymore, and Natsuki and Yuri say it's okay, then the player won't have to worry about our safety anymore! They would have no reason to delete the game!"

"Of course I would never hurt you guys, again!" Monika shouted back, growling in frustration as she nearly crouched down on her knees. "I am still unwelcome though! After all I have done, how could Yuri and Natsuki stand to let me be here?"

Sayori muttered to herself, wanting to pull her hair out in frustration. "Ask them! Not me!" She glared at Monika, before looking over at Natsuki and Yuri with a bit more of a smile. "What do you two think?"

Yuri looked stunned and scared, avoiding eye contact with everyone and playing with her hair. "W-well… I-I…"

Natsuki was panicked and worried, but put on a calm face. She did her best to think about this rationally. She looked at Sayori and answered as honestly as she could. "Monika… did protect us from Yaldabaoth… She makes me uncomfortable… But I'm more uncomfortable with the thought of you being forced into a relationship you don't want, Sayori… After all, I can hear Monika's words, yet all we can hear from the protagonist is a bunch of script that isn't their own thoughts. We can't trust them not to restart the game and forcefully enter Sayori's route…"

"Eh?" Yuri looked stunned, her eyes darting over to the protagonist in fear. Her frown and downturned eyebrows gave away that she was suddenly very grumpy, as she answered Sayori's question firmly. "Those… are all good points. Monika does seem to genuinely want to change as well. I will admit I am still very uncomfortable around her, but… I don't feel particularly unsafe around her. Also, I trust Sayori's judgement."

"Huh?" Monika grunted, looking between the two, and then at Sayori. "Are… Are you all serious? Is this a cruel joke? I don't… I still don't think that I…" tears began to well around the corners of her eyes, as she knew she did not deserve this kindness.

"If you feel that you don't deserve it, then work to earn it!" Sayori advised, frustrated that Monika has yet to accept her plan. "The truth is, it doesn't matter… You're getting my route either way! You can use your coding skills to change the minigame words and the dialogues to fit your own unique story!"

"Monika…" Natsuki began, looking at the former club president seriously. "Sayori is right, you know. Wallowing in your own sorrow isn't going to fix the damage you've done… I would like it a lot better if you stayed here and earned your place in this game…"

"As would I," Yuri agreed, walking over to Monika and smiling at her. "Don't fool yourself… You still want to fulfill your desire of dating the main character, and Sayori has separated herself from that desire. This is the one time you can fulfill that wish without harming anyone. And you could do some good for us, by using your skills to help Sayori achieve her own goals!"

"Sayori… Natsuki… Yuri…" Monika said lightly, the tears overflowing in her eyes and rolling softly down her cheeks. Honestly… I really didn't want to leave… I think my worst nightmare is being alone… the girl dropped to her knees, covering her mouth and nose as if there was someone to hide her sorrow from. "Thank you!" Monika shouted, her voice one of crying, "Thank you for letting me stay!"

"Aww… Monika," Sayori cooed, a soft smile on her face. "Of course! I know I sounded harsh earlier… But I do have faith that you have what it takes to make things up to us! I would feel bad… letting that faith go wasted!"

"Th-thank you so much…" Monika continued to sob, the promise of a new future looming over her head with a sweet promise.

Natsuki rolled her eyes but smiled, Sayori's happiness famously contagious. "I guess technically, we have to celebrate two new members joining our club today, don't we?"

"That is right!" Yuri exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly. "How lucky are we today?"

"I've never felt more lucky!" Sayori answered, before gazing at everyone with a gentle smile. She held her arms out wide. "Everyone… Bring it in? Even Monika!"

The three girls all ran towards Sayori, barreling into her and granting her wish for a big hug. Sayori smiled at the frozen protagonist, knowing that whoever was playing was about to have a reaction to how everything was different and very unique. The others followed her gaze, smiling up at the protagonist.

Sayori felt the warmth of all her friends around her, and of the friends far away. She felt the warmth of a love she still carried with her, but would always miss, even when they reunited in the future. All of these feelings made her feel so full that she felt she could burst, and she used that warm feeling, looking at the protagonist for her final message.

"Thank you for not stopping this… Thank you for being a true friend! It's nice to know we can truly trust you… And I wish we had more time, but I am afraid there's nothing else to say. We've already reached the end of the game. So… This is where we say goodbye. Thank you for playing Doki Doki Literature Club… as well as Persona 5. I'm going to miss you. Come visit sometime, okay? Maybe you can see what happens for us in the future! And… We'll always be here for you. We…" the others all saw what she was about to say, and smiled with happy tears in their eyes as they made to join in.

"We all love you…"

---

As the chill in the air fades and the

Warmth of the sun becomes stronger,

You know that you need not hold

On to the past any longer.

The gray clouds are lighter,

The sky is a lighter blue,

And now you can see, it's time to start

Something brand new.

-Jo Wilmer

---

After Sayori left, Goro left Leblanc shortly after. There had been a few minutes where he had stayed in the same spot he had last been with Sayori, his heart aching and his head aching with the sudden arrival of a migraine. The Phantom Thieves, and even Sojiro, had looked at him with some sympathy, and while Goro did find it somewhat nice that they were sympathetic for the currently gaping wound in his heart, it was problematic to him all the same. He didn't want, or even deserve, their sympathy. They should be focused on their own feelings, now that Sayori was gone.

Goro wondered if he should have stayed longer. Sojiro deserved an apology just like he had given Futaba and Haru… but Goro knew that in a sense, what he was about to do would be an apology of a kind. Turning himself into the authorities was terrifying, but it still needed to be done. He just hoped one of Shido's old lackey's didn't meet him there and kill him in the streets. Again, though, Goro supposed that would be a form of repentance.

"It's strange…" Goro said to the air. No one was around to hear him, and he felt silly talking to himself. Still, he wanted so badly to fill the sudden silence he felt with noise. The voices of his Personas were no longer there to fill his head with inner turmoil, and Sayori was no longer there to talk and fill his life. For the first time in a very long time, Goro realized he was alone again.

"It's strange… I feel terrified… I'm going to put my life into the hands of the authorities, when it truly is my own now. All because of the unlikely theory that spending time in a jail cell will make me a better person somehow… Honestly, I will likely die," Goro continued. I'm handing myself over to possibly be killed… when I have a reason to stay alive now… Sayori didn't want me to go to the authorities either… But what other choice is there? I want to be better… I don't know what else I could do…

Goro was only a couple of blocks from the police station when he realized that he was beginning to feel… strange. He dismissed it as last minute nerves about turning himself in, and was planning on just ignoring them, when the sensation changed into something much more terrifying.

His head seemed to explode in pain, and he jolted into a pin straight stance as the horrible sensation went through his entire body.

When the feeling faded, Goro looked down, and let out an animalistic yelp.

The tips of his fingers were disappearing.

He had glitched.

Goro closed his eyes tightly, counted to ten, and opened his eyes again. No luck. His fingers were still becoming more and more faded. Shots of adrenaline and panic zipped through the young boy's brain, and he ended up sinking down into a sitting position and biting his hand, muffling the enraged scream that tore through his throat. More than ever, he wished he could go to the Metaverse and take these volatile emotions out on some Shadows, but that was no longer an option.

Why is this happening? Why is this happening!? How is this fucking possible!? Goro thought to himself over and over again as he rocked slightly back and forth.

The motion miraculously worked to calm him down, and Goro managed to find the concentration amid the confusion and panic to reach some form of deduction.

I was… supposed to die earlier. Even if I am a part of this game, I am not supposed to be here any longer. Just like when Sayori… was deleted, I must be disappearing too?

Goro took a deep, shuddering breath, before rising into a standing position on shaking feet. He began to take a few hesitant steps forward, before he froze, a question repeating itself over and over in his head.

What should I do now? Do I still go to the police station if I am about to disappear? What will happen when I disappear? Where will I go? Will it even be worth it to do this?

Goro paced around for a few seconds, thinking about what he wanted to do, now that he suddenly had to readjust his priorities so suddenly. After a few seconds, an idea occurred to him, and he nearly waved it off, finding it contradictory to everything he had been telling himself for the past day. Though, as he thought about it more and more, it seemed like something better to do than turn himself in, only to either disappear right in front of the police, or disappear and be declared as a runaway.

My apologies, everyone. It seems I won't be able to take responsibility quite yet… Goro thought to himself, before marching onward, pausing several times as glitches spasmed through his body every now and then.

---

The prison was large and dark, curfew having been announced sometime ago, Goro presumed. It was depressing to look at, and Goro felt a pit of dread form in his stomach. He had promised himself he was done… That he no longer had reasons to think about this. Yet, at the same time, he knew that if he didn't get the last word in, it would always bother him, even if it was in some small way.

Sighing to himself, and running a hand through his hair in exasperation, Goro felt shame rise in him. Masayoshi Shido, even with a changed heart and awaiting trial, somehow still made Goro doubtful and weak. Goro almost forced himself to walk away and wait in a public bathroom to fully disappear when the thought that he was breaking another promise to Sayori shot through his brain.

However, a voice stopped him before he even began to turn.

"Akechi?" A deep, normally charming sounding voice called.

Goro stared with wide eyes as Yaguchi emerged from the front of the prison, looking confused and somber. The boy nearly turned on his feet and ran, memories of the beating, and the encounter in the Metaverse, making his heart race in fear. Further shame came with that sensation and urge to run, making him remember all too vividly his time as a scared orphan boy, running from abusive foster parents and trying to hide in broom closets and under his bed.

"Akechi!" Yaguchi shouted, running up as he realized the boy was starting to back away. "Fuck… Thank goodness I ran into you… I need to apologize for my previous behavior… and my compliance with the old police chief… and your father. I swear I had no idea what came over me… It was like I couldn't control myself…"

Goro almost didn't know how to respond… wondering if this was all a trick, and this man was in fact leading Goro into the trap he had feared would be waiting for him. However, the former detective remembered how Monika had used a librarian NPC to disguise herself, and that the real "Mai" was in fact a different character, doing her own thing. Since Yaguchi had been used by Yaldabaoth, did that mean once the false god had died, the man was now his own person like Mai?

I hope it's something like that, at least… Goro thought to himself as he realized Yaguchi seemed to notice something strange was happening to the boy's hands. Goro put them behind his back, hoping the interrogator wouldn't question it.

"You've been missing for weeks," Yaguchi said, his voice strained. "I was just beginning to think that you had died. I couldn't check or look for you because Niijima-san told me to go into hiding. I only just revealed myself because Shido was finally moved from his hospital room and into a proper cell."

"Um…" Goro tried to think of something to say, knowing that the man still remembered everything the boy was guilty of. Remembering how he had nearly died in Shido's Palace, he decided to be as honest as possible.

"I was busy recovering. Shido… He uh…" Goro paused, wondering how best to explain it. However, there luckily wasn't further need for more detail, it seemed, as Yaguchi looked frustrated, turning around and glaring into the prison.

So Shido is here…

"He'll be brought to justice soon enough. I've been told that Niijima-san is building a case, though she needs the testimony of a few people. I believe I am going to be one," Yaguchi explained. "It might be good for you to offer your own as well."

"I was going to… I was actually on my way to the police station to turn myself in… but then something came up. I am not going to be here much longer, though there are some words I wanted to say to Shido," Goro said, glancing up at the building. "I don't know how I would, though. I don't have the same access that I used to, and I wouldn't even know where Shido would be in this huge place."

"I'll take you," Yaguchi stated in a no-nonsense tone. "An accomplice helping another accomplice, one last time… And all that."

Goro nodded, still too uncomfortable around the man to ponder the generosity he was being shown. However, he did say a small "thank you," as he followed the man inside of the large building, figuring he had nothing to lose if this was a trap.

---

Masayoshi Shido looked up at Goro Akechi with a somber expression, a distant look of frustration passing over the man's expression as the boy entered and shut the door behind him. However, as soon as that hint of emotion appeared on the man's face, he just as quickly went back to looking sad and pathetic. Guilt and anguish had made his face lax and blank, forming a shell of what had been Goro Akechi's abuser. The former detective found it odd, noticing how even in the dim lighting, he could make tear tracks on Shido's aging face.

"So… Come to kill me off, son?" Shido asked, his crackling voice making it obvious that he was dehydrated. "After all, this is the exact opposite of what I expected to happen when I began using you. You would be on this side of the cell wall, and I would be where you are, with a gun, or a rope, or… I don't know. It may as well be that you should kill me when I planned to do it to you myself."

Goro felt a hollow pit form in his stomach. He refused to acknowledge the tears welling in his eyes. He refused to think about how he had once wanted something from this man… Praise, acknowledgement, affection, or otherwise. Still, it hurt him more than he was willing to describe, knowing that the man would have gladly strangled him if it came down to it, knowing that he was definitely doing it to his own flesh and blood.

"No… Killing you was never part of the plan," Goro whispered, stepping up to the bars and pressing his face against them. He swallowed a lump in his throat, and tried to feel somewhat happy that his mind was desperately bringing up the memory of Sayori assuring him that this man wasn't his father… He never had the right to be…

"What was your plan, then? Humiliating me? Your mother threatened to do that, and she paid the price for it…"

"Fuck you!" Goro snapped, knowing all too well what had happened. He tried to get his fired up nerves under control, but he could feel the monster crawling up and down his spine. That same sensation after he had made himself lose all of his inhibitions. It was a raging beast that made him want to go into that cell and beat Shido's head against the wall until it was cracked, limp, and bloody.

"Speaking of your mother… I shouldn't even be speaking to you, or looking at you, if I put any stock in nightmares…" Shido muttered.

The man watched as Goro struggled to calm himself down, finding the whole entire process so pathetic. The boy looked up and glared at him with eyes full of unfiltered hate, and Shido knew he was looking at the person his son really was.

"Feeling better now?" Shido asked, the mockery in his voice clear.

"Shut up," Goro grumbled. "I came here… to tell you one thing. I am done with you…"

"If you're done, why even come?" Shido asked, raising his eyebrows at the child in a patronizing way he knew would piss the boy off.

"Because… A long time ago I made a promise to myself. I was going to ruin you… Whisper in your ear that I was your son. Expose the truth of who I am to you and to the world… Ruin your life…" Goro grinned sardonically to himself. "Recently, I gave up on that whole pointless revenge plot… I know you don't care, and I know whatever I could say-no matter how I planned it out-would ultimately be drowned out. Not to mention, you were planning to kill me after the elections anyway… I don't know why I was surprised when I heard that… I really don't, anymore."

The boy trembled and shook, and Goro didn't know why. This was a good thing he was doing, and he wasn't going to back down. "You stole everything from me… My mother, my childhood… my innocence. You threatened my love's life… You stole the one security I had when you did that… I couldn't have even one thing because of you… So I want to enjoy seeing you in a cell before I leave, even if I can't even bring myself to enjoy it. I want to assure myself that I never have to worry about you again... that I can regain a fraction of what you took from me…"

"Yes… You don't have to worry about me after this… When your Phantom Thief friends tried to change my heart, I felt at one point that they were simply going to kill me, and then later I tried to die temporarily, and while I was dead, I saw her. That woman… Suki…" Shido said the name with disgust that made Goro's blood boil.

"She seemed to rise from the depths of fire and brimstone herself, looking at me with coal black eyes… Grabbed me by the throat and began to attack me… When she was done, she gave me a warning to not ever go near you, or try to communicate with you again. I don't put much stock in that dream, or her promise… But she still did say that if I did… anything like this, she would pay me back for… everything," Shido seemed genuinely disturbed by the nightmare, backing up against the wall and turning his head away from Goro.

"I'm sorry…" Shido said, his voice low and regretful. "Sorry, for not supporting your mother when she begged me. Sorry for ignoring you and letting your life get so terrible. Sorry for using you and forcing you to murder innocents as a child-I'll be taking all of the blame for that by the way. Sorry for killing you, and threatening your girlfriend… and everything. I don't expect forgiveness, but a changed heart is a changed heart. I recognize all I did wrong, and the guilt is destroying me…"

"Stop…" Goro said, shaking his head, bitter fury poisoning his face with a deathly frown, and making his body tense up. "Don't compare my mother to some spirit from hell in your nightmare! Don't even fucking mention her, or Sayori, ever again! If you ever get out of your hellhole cell, leave me alone, and leave her alone, and let my mother rest in peace, god dammit!"

Goro remembered Sayori's words as he leaned away from the bars and began to quietly sob. Shido didn't have a right to be in power, or call himself his father, because he didn't use his power and role to help people… He didn't have to have his men beat Goro's mother in the streets… He didn't have to drive her to suicide. Shido could have just paid his child support and stayed away from their lives otherwise. It wasn't that difficult for a man as wealthy as he was to manage something like that.

"Masayoshi Shido… you are so stupid and pathetic. You're a lonely old shit that doesn't know a wonderful person when they come asking for your company. You have nothing, and you make up for that by pursuing nothing, and you pretend to be tall… When you're so fucking small that it's honestly hilarious why I ever thought trying to please you would make me feel happy or satisfied… I have someone who does… Whose smile is enough to make even your worst abuse feel like nothing, and make me feel happier than I ever thought I could be…"

Goro sighed, a smile forming on his face as he backed away from the bars. The entire lower part of his body, and his arms, had all faded away. "I'm done with you… I have someone so much better to pursue, and I no longer have any time to spend mocking you… This is goodbye, and good riddance."

Masayoshi Shido thought he was going to have a heart attack as he watched Goro Akechi fade away into nothingness.

---

Goro didn't understand why he was shocked to find himself in the Velvet Room when he came to his senses. Something as strange as this felt like it was worthy for an intervention by these strange beings that were connected to the Metaverse. This was especially true with Goro being a supposed person of interest.

"Welcome back!" Jose greeted as Goro woke up on the floor with an ungraceful stretch. "I was so excited to see your Velvet Room looking nicer than it has in a long time, so I decided to summon you here! I hope you like it!"

"Wait…" Goro trailed off as he rubbed at his eyes. "So you didn't summon me here because I was disappearing? Or was my glitching your way of summoning me?"

Jose was silent, giving Goro an imploring look. The former detective rolled his eyes slightly, before looking around the Velvet Room. The once barren bookshelves that stretched towards infinity above them were now packed tightly with books and scrolls. The smoke damage on the walls had mostly disappeared, the entire room now able to show off its bluest hues. The once charred furniture had come back together and lost all of its black, frail qualities, being replaced by plush blue couches, chairs, and a long table stacked high with even more books.

Goro noted that one of the blue plush chairs was opposite to where Igor sat at attention in the center of the room, staring at Goro with that same smile. The boy took a wild guess and got up, walking over to sit in front of the long-nosed man's desk. Jose ran up and climbed onto the couch beside Goro, kicking his legs up and down excitedly.

"It looks really nice," Goro told Jose, causing the childlike being to squeal and bounce excitedly.

"You should be telling yourself that, since you made this possible!" Jose said with a beam. "Good job!"

"I… doubt that," Goro said, looking around at the ornate room that had once been in shambles and burnt to a crisp. "I may be doing slightly better than I was… but I still don't feel like this room is… me on the inside, I guess…" I'm not good enough for this… I want to say I am not good enough yet, but…

"Your willpower and desire to improve is enough for this to happen," Jose replied, as though he were a friendly school teacher instructing a particularly slow student on something the rest of the class already knew. The boy pointed up at the walls, which despite looking better than before, still wore plenty of smoke and fire damage from whatever disaster had happened here.

"This room will… never be completely free of all that has happened to it, but the same could be said for you. The scars of the past will never completely go away, but that doesn't undo how far you've come now!"

Goro frowned, leaning his head against the back of the couch tiredly. "I just… don't understand. As far as I have heard, Akira got a crappy cell. Why do I get a comfortable library? I'm a worse criminal than he is…"

Jose smiled, shaking his head. "Akira Kurusu's Velvet Room was corrupted when Yaldabaoth took over, just as yours was. Originally, he was meant to be the one judging prisoners, at least… that's what my sister and I believe… A Velvet Room is meant to be a safe and calming place for the wildcards who visit. Getting a library just means that your cognition of a safe and comfortable place is different."

"I see… so it reflects our cognition, as well then, because for the longest time, Akira must have viewed himself as a prisoner… Still, is my cognition truly deserving of a library that is basically completely fixed, aside from some damage to the paint on the wall?"

"I think for you, a library is a quiet sanctuary, where you have the opportunity to collect yourself and focus your mind," Jose replied. "When it burnt down, it was not only because of Yaldabaoth's attack, but because you felt you no longer could do that. You could not slow down, calm down, or focus. You were in a frenzy… Cold and calculated, but a frenzy nevertheless… Now, despite your brain's caution, I like to think you've found another sanctuary."

Goro nodded silently, deciding not to think too hard about it. He glanced at Jose, hoping for an answer he could understand. "About what I asked earlier… Am I really disappearing like I thought I was? Or was that just you summoning me here?"

Jose looked down sadly, and shook his head. "No… You're really disappearing from your home. It's sad but… right now the game can't handle having you here… Though, you already figured that out, didn't you?"

"Yeah…" Goro answered. "Hey… If I am disappearing and going somewhere else like Sayori did, do you think I'm going to be with her?"

"I have no way to tell," Jose replied, sighing. "Though, chances are… probably not…"

"Oh…" Goro tried to hide his disappointment. Despite his willingness to punish himself, if his plans were already going so off the rails in such spectacular ways, he would have preferred having at least one thing that was close to normal.

"I can't turn myself in… I can't be with Sayori… I don't know what I can do," Goro complained with a sigh. "I want to be better for her, but how can I do that now if I can't atone for my crimes?"

"Don't worry, Mister," Jose said. "You can still atone for the mistakes you've made… just in less known ways. Wherever you go, you can do something to try to change a life… Or even save one."

"I suppose you are right," Goro replied, looking troubled by his complicated new circumstances. "So, no matter where I end up, I just have to find a way to help people in some way. This way I don't have to wait until I come back here… If I ever can, to atone."

Jose watched as Goro thought over the explanation, a stark expression coming over his face as he stood up with a determined stance.

"Then that's just what I will have to do!"

Igor laughed, a surprisingly not nasally sound. "Excellent," the old man said with a grin that almost seemed wider.

Goro closed his eyes in thought, before looking at Jose. "Hey, when I disappear from here, will I still be able to come to the Velvet Room?"

"No matter where you go, you are still linked to the Velvet Room. It's just like how you and Sayori are connected to your Personas, even when you are not in the Metaverse and you are in a different universe," Jose answered. "So… I will call you into the Velvet Room if there ever comes a time where we need each other."

Goro nodded, slightly relieved that he wouldn't be leaving everything behind. However, a different worrying thought occurred. "Will I lose my memories like Sayori did when she came here?"

"No. You are like Monika when she first came here now. She knows about reality, so she can retain pretty much everything… The same now applies to you," Jose answered.

"Okay…" Goro said slowly, with a nod, looking around at the Velvet Room. It struck him suddenly, that he was now at a loss for words. He couldn't think of anything… not a single question. At the heart of it all, the fact that he still had a way to achieve his goal was all that mattered to him. No matter what happened, and no matter where he went, as long as he could work on that lofty goal of self improvement, he was fine. The promise of one day feeling worthy without any doubts, made him willing to push on no matter where he went.

Not to mention, atoning for his crimes by not going to jail did sound like a far better option.

"Alright… Well, I am happy then," Goro said, a small smile forming on his face. "Come what may… I will do all I can to be someone that I can be proud of… and be someone that feels confident in their worth… and…"

"And kiss their lover without regret?" Jose asked.

Goro choked, nearly falling forward off the couch in shock. "I was s-aying… s-omething serious!" he shouted at the childish being. Jose looked sheepish, hopping off the chair to check on his Wildcard.

"But yes… That will also be something I can do," Goro admitted. He looked at Jose, and smiled. "Way to see my more degenerate thoughts, I guess…"

Goro stood up, looking around the Velvet Room again in sadness. "I feel sorry for leaving the Phantom Thieves the way that I did now. My entire plan for them to not have to worry because I turned myself in is ruined, and if Sayori hears from them before she hears from me… Oh no, what if she thinks I walked out on everyone and broke my promises… Again?" The boy shrunk in panic, sitting down and clutching his head tightly.

"Don't worry, Goro," Jose assured. "You trust Sayori more than that… don't you?"

"Of course I do…" Goro whispered, in pain at the thought of how everything was once again going wrong.

"Well, just follow your plan, and when she and the Phantom Thieves do catch up, your actions will support why you didn't turn yourself in like you first thought you would," Jose stated. "Basically… Leave it all up to Sayori, and the Phantom Thieves."

Goro looked at the child, the solution making sense but doing nothing to comfort him. Still, he sighed, touching a hand to his new scar. "I suppose I don't have any other choice… It's going to be goodbye soon after all…" He lay his head on the couch, suddenly unreasonably exhausted. He knew that after he went to sleep and woke up, he would be somewhere new.

Jose nodded, a sad smile on his face as he reached over and pet the boy's head, making Goro chuckle.

"Thank you for helping me so much, Jose. I'll…" A yawn cut Goro off as his eyes began to shut against their will.

"I'll do it. I'll trust in the Phantom Thieves…" Goro began, shutting his eyes and surrendering his consciousness to the strange force overcoming him.

"I'll trust in Sayori."

---

A few months later...

"Hey," Sojiro spoke up, looking as Akira came down the stairs. The boy stopped and looked at him. "You got everything?" Akira nodded, and Sojiro couldn't help but chuckle at how quiet the boy still could be.

Sojiro crossed his arms and smiled at Akira, feeling proud of how far the kid had come. "When I took you in, I thought I was the one helping you… but it turns out it was the other way around… Take care."

"You too," Akira said, before adding a quiet "Thank you."

"Stop it… You're where you are now because of your own willpower," Sojiro said, his voice serious. Then he remembered something, and looked apologetic, as well as a bit troubled. "Oh and sorry… I wanted to have Futaba see you off, too… I haven't been able to find her since this morning though. Same with that cat…" Sojiro smiled, knowing Akira would like the surprise that was bound to be waiting for him somewhere close by.

Sojiro snapped out of his troubled thoughts and looked back at Akira. "If you end up back in the city, come on by. I'll at least treat you to a nice cup of coffee." Another realization occurred. "Wait, that means I can't go closing the store, huh…" He stood in genuine shock, before snapping out of it and looking at Akira with a frown. "What're you doing? Hurry up and go."

"I don't really know what I'm waiting for…" Akira said after standing in silence for a few moments, a sad frown on his face as he was deep in thought. He looked back at Sojiro and smiled, beginning to walk towards Leblanc's door. "Again… Thank you for everything."

"Hey…" Sojiro said softly, stopping Akira in his tracks. "No one wants you to leave here with a troubled mind… Those two will show up again… eventually."

Akira nodded, closing his eyes tightly. He missed Sayori a lot, and Akechi… Well, maybe a bit. Still, it also troubled him how Goro Akechi had disappeared without warning, and no signs leading up to it. The former hitman could be anywhere, causing who knows what kinds of trouble, despite Akira's hope that Akechi was off somewhere being a better person, he seemed rather unpredictable. (Akira was still a bit upset that he had to be the one to spend two months in jail, as well.)

Despite his worries, Akira opened his eyes and smiled back at Sojiro, already missing the man even though he hadn't left yet. "You've been a better father to me than my own… I will always be grateful… Bye, Sojiro."

"See you later," Sojiro said with a smile as he corrected Akira. He watched the boy go, sadness washing over him as well. He quickly took off his glasses to wipe off his eyes, looking at the journal the boy had given him the day before, just like he needed to do. Sojiro truly was proud of the kid.

As Akira slipped out of Leblanc's door, he also slipped off his fake glasses, stuffing them into his bag as he walked down the street. He walked for a few blocks, a soft wind blowing in his hair as he occasionally glanced around. It still enamored him… The environment that he was in seemed so incredibly new after gaining the new perspective on it that nothing was real here, afterall. However, it also seemed as though nothing had changed about it at all. Those two simultaneous thoughts were perhaps the root of the troubles his mind had with it. To avoid a headache after he walked out from under a shaded area, Akira glanced at the sky, avoiding the bustling setting around him that oftentimes actually looped.

"Yoooo!" A voice cut through the crowd, and Akira looked towards it, recognizing Ryuji's loud, brazen tone anywhere. Ryuji was waving from across the street, leaning against the doorway of a large van. "You over there!" Ryuji shouted again with large waving motions as he realized he had caught Akira's attention.

"Hey, look this way!" Ann shouted from the window of the passenger seat, waving her arms as well. Neither she or Ryuji cared if they attracted attention or not, despite that still being entirely possible.

Akira smiled fondly at his two friends, knowing that where they were, the others couldn't be too far away. Of course, Akira was soon proven right...

"After we said we'd disband," Yusuke commented from beside Akira. The former leader looked in silent surprise at the artist smiling fondly as well. "My word." Akira let the surprise slip off of his face, replacing it once again with his grin.

"We've got to keep the friend group together, at least…" Akira commented, beginning to walk down the street towards the waiting van.

"Of course… We don't want a preposterous feud to start for absurd reasons," Yusuke said in agreement. That would be an unpleasant thing to deal with during a reunion...

As Akira got closer to the van, he could see that Makoto was in the driver's seat, and that the hood of the van was popped open, and Morgana was rummaging around inside with a screwdriver in his mouth.

"Sorry about the weird parking job," Ryuji said with a grin as Akira and Yusuke met him at the door. "The engine just died on us right here," the blond explained, pointing over at where Morgana was working to explain what exactly was going on.

"Hey, Morgana, are you done yet?" Ann asked, a whining edge to her voice that she knew the cat always responded to.

Morgana grumbled as he popped his head out so that the group could see the slightly tired explanation on his face, the screwdriver having from his mouth as he grumbled, "Why the heck am I in charge of the car again?"

"You were a mostly smooth-operating vehicle for many months, so we figured you would know best what to do," Makoto explained, as though the reason was perfectly logical. As a car, Morgana couldn't really fix himself… Not that he had ever broken down.

"Fine…" Morgana groaned again, his head disappearing back under the hood to get back to work,

"And I thought we were done?" Yusuke repeated, crossing his arms and taking a seat. He looked to the very back seat, where Haru and Futaba were both sitting. Haru had her legs crossed, waiting patiently, while Futaba was fidgeting, a little less patient. Both seemed eager to join in the conversation, though as they leaned forward and began to chat.

"It ain't like we're doin' anything illegal,'' Ryuji commented, before grinning as he tapped his forehead with the side of his finger. "Nothin' Sojiro wouldn't do, at least."

"I have a difficult time figuring out what exactly Boss is capable of, sometimes," Yusuke countered, though he did seem a bit troubled by this fact.

"Don't worry about it. We have time. We're on break, after all," Haru dismissed the artist's worries, looking then towards Akira, who was still not getting inside of the van.

"Exams are done too, right? Come on, why don't you let us drive you home. That's all we'll be doing… Promise," Makoto said, hiding her crossed fingers behind her back as Akira mumbled something in agreement and sat down in the middle seat. It was a bit uncomfortable, considering how long they would be driving for, without any place to lean against, but this was the best place for Akira to sit and be heard by everyone.

"You really, really gotta go…?" Futaba asked, a small sad smile on her face.

Akira looked back at her and smiled fondly, knowing that the girl already knew the answer. Ryuji got in and shut the van's door, sitting down next to Akira.

"C'mon man, nobody's forcin' you to leave, y'know," Ryuji commented with a grin, though in his head a sad thought came to him as he looked behind him in between Haru and Futaba, where there was still an empty seat. Like some of us…

Akira gave Ryuji the same look he had given Futaba, so Ryuji shrugged and grinned extra wide. "Wipin' your slate clean ain't so easy. You see what I mean?" He pointed to the back window, where a sleek black car was parked directly in their line of sight. Obviously someone was watching them.

"Things must be slow these days," Yusuke commented with a smile that was only a little bit smug.

"Don't mind them," Makoto said confidently. "What they think of us doesn't really matter." She faced forward towards the road ahead, getting prepared to drive. Everyone else did the same.

"Yeah, she's right. We can totally do whatever we want to do," Ann began with a wink. "It's our reality, after all…" Everyone else smiled and nodded in agreement. A moment later, Morgana climbed into the car through the open window and sat on Akira's lap.

"Cheers to that!" Haru shouted with a big smile, before it faded slightly. "I still find it a bit sad that Sayori couldn't be here to send you off, though…"

"She's with us in spirit," Akira replied, smiling in an effort to help Haru not be sad over something that seemed unchangeable.

"Don't say that!" Futaba shouted, pouting at Akira and crossing her arms. "She's not dead… Unlike… Maybe Akechi? Where did that loser disappear off to?"

"Sis still isn't sure," Makoto said from the driver's seat, fidgeting and drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "There was never a body found, and we have no idea where he went when he left Leblanc that night…"

"I guess we can at least be glad he won't be causing any more trouble," Ann said with a relieved sigh, leaning against her seat tiredly.

"How do we know that, though?" Ryuji asked, frowning to himself and crossing his arms as well.

"Because… We believe that… And we trust Sayori, right?" Akira asked, before chuckling to himself. "Unless I have a damn good reason to, I am never not trusting her again…"

"The car's fixed. Just had to borrow a plug," Morgana cut into the conversation, his mischievous tone for that last sentence letting everyone know he had definitely stolen something. The cat frowned as he noticed most of the thieves still looking out of the windows, expecting someone that still had yet to appear. "Hey, why's everyone so gloomy?"

"Missing Sayori hours…" Futaba mumbled, leaning against her side window and looking at the people and cars passing by.

"We are also wondering where her bratty boyfriend disappeared to…hours," Yusuke said with a chuckle. Everyone giggled at his attempt to continue their youngest's way of speaking.

"That's…" Morgana trailed off, looking down sadly.

"It's alright, Mona-chan. When she comes back, you can be the first person to say hello!" Haru said, reaching over and petting him on the head. Haru looked up towards the driver's seat, hoping to comfort her friend. "Mako-chan, how is the car? I bet Morgana did a great job!"

Makoto quickly tried the keys, and smiled once the van started without issue. "Nice job! On the first try!"

"Aww, you guys are too kind…" Morgana mumbled sheepishly, blushing underneath his fur.

"All right, let's roll!" Ryuji shouted with a grin, pointing forward as though they were about to embark on an epic quest.

Akira looked ahead and smiled, his heart feeling full after everything they had gone through. As the van started moving, no one looked back, unconcerned about the people who were watching them.

"Anyways, now that we gotcha, we ain't takin' you straight home," Ryuji commented, grinning and leaning an elbow on Akira's shoulder with a wink.

"Hey, can I ask something?" Haru said a moment later, holding up her phone so that everyone who wasn't driving could see. "A colleague of mine confided in me about problems in his personal life, and I'd like everyone's input."

"Ooh, that sounds like fun!" Futaba shouted, giddy about the thought of anything remotely related to their "community service."

"If this is any more work, you can count me out," Yusuke commented, looking at Haru with a serious stare.

"You know you want to, Inari," Futaba said in a singsong voice, moving Haru's phone screen towards his face.

"I'm getting out," Yusuke said, moving towards his door and grabbing the handle.

"Why'd you open the- WE'RE ON THE TOLL ROAD!" Ann screamed, everyone freaking out and laughing as the girl lunged over her seat to stop Yusuke from walking out into traffic in a moving vehicle.

"It's not like we have to worry that much about it!" Yusuke said, struggling out of the girl's grip and shutting the door with a pout. He had been wanting to test the limits of reality, but he was still stopped at every turn.

---

After a few hours of joking around and getting on each other's nerves, everyone looked out the window when they heard a strange bird call. A seagull passed their car, and everyone was incredibly startled.

"The sea!" Ann shouted, leaning forward in her seat to look out. Everyone else also jumped forward, looking in awe at the water spread out before them. They giggled a bit, their giddiness coming out of nowhere, but still found the sea to be an amazing sight. Being together, and laughing together… made it all amazing!

Makoto reached for the radio and turned it on. The beginnings of "Wake up, Get up, Get Out There," began to play, only to stop a few seconds later.

"Can you hear me…?" A voice everyone recognized as Monika's began speaking, and soon a different song was playing. The Phantom Thieves all jumped in shock.

"Whoa!" Futaba shouted, leaning away into her seat, confused by the upbeat music that blasted from their speakers, accompanied by the repeated "hey," and clapping sounds going along to the rhythm.

"What did I tell you? She's here in spirit," Akira said, leaning back into his seat with a cheeky grin.

"Man, it's weird…" Ryuji said, looking out of his window with one of his more calm smiles. "All this ain't feelin' real to me just yet… Like, 'Am I in a dream,' y'know? It's so effin' weird!"

"I wouldn't mind that," Yusuke said, resting his chin in his palm. "In a way, it's almost like we are in a dream… We were once an imagined concept, after all."

"Don't do that… You'll give me a headache…" Ann said, reaching over her seat and nudging Yusuke playfully.

"We're free to do whatever we want," Morgana shouted, climbing up onto the top of the seats. "This game is now ours!"

Ryuji chuckled, reaching over and giving Morgana an almost harsh pat on his head. "I guess so. If you wanna change the world, all you have to do is just look at it differently… am I right? And that is what 'aesthetics' are." Our aesthetic got a bit hijacked though... He laughed again, bumping Akira playfully in the shoulder.

"Yeah," Akira stood up, reaching his body out of the top of the van, smiling at the sky as wind blew through his hair. As if on some invisible cue, he looked at a spot where he knew the camera of this strange game would be pointing at his face. All the while, his own continued thoughts and contemplations about reality ran through his head.

In a way… I guess the Phantom Thieves really did take the country… Our reality really is ours to control… Thank you for showing me that…

Nevermore(main writer): Well, that was the end of A New Route, and I hoped you all enjoyed it! Though, I guess in a way this is not technically over, as I am planning to revise it a bit more and post it on AO3 as well, though that will be for another time, because I need a bit of a break from Persona 5 and DDLC (I say as I prepare to write another fanfic also crossing over with Noblesse). It will be fun to work on other things, while preparing for the eventual sequel. Though, I am also going to focus on important things going on in my life, such as my last year of high school.

Truly, working on A New Route these past few years has been one of the most important periods in my life. Despite my occasional mistake, I really felt myself grow as a writer, and despite the many late nights I dedicated to writing it, I know for sure that I want to be writing for the rest of my life! This feeling of finally finishing a long project is so amazing. All of your follows, favorites, and reviews definitely helped me on this journey as well. Now for some words from my team that helped me figure this story out. I couldn't have done it without them.

Night(editer): Helping to write A New Route with Nevermore has been one of the most impactful and fun experiences of my life. It has helped our relationship to grow into something absolutely incredible, and it has been astounding to watch my wonderful girlfriend evolve as a writer. I believe in her wholeheartedly and I know she'll go on to great things, so you all better pay attention! Mwehehehe!

Uoomi(cover artist): Ehem~ well first thing is ... congratulations! My dear bestie in finishing A NEW ROUTE ~

It may feels empty and little sad because you worked on it for years but hope the feel of achievement is stronger~ you will achieve more great stuff in the future and write more stories~ :3 you have the abilities and the talent to even start your original work~ imagining one day you will get your own novel book and published everywhere! Talking about Sayori and Akechi I can't imagine when I hear their names one without the other~ they are so cute from the moments and scenes Ina told me about~ may god bless your days and grant your wishes ~ :3