A/N: Whew, another chapter that was a little late. Anyway, I'm glad all of you enjoy this chapter. It's kind of a mixed bag of emotions in this chapter. Fun, comedic, serious, and heartwarming? I don't know. I'll let all of you judge me and the story based on how I wrote this chapter. Anyway, enjoy and I have to give some shout outs to DarkHazen who has thoroughly enjoyed the story so far. I'm glad you enjoy it so far. Anyway, on to the story if you haven't skipped on yet!
Tridon stood outside his house with his phone in hand, "That girl shouldn't be so late." Tridon sighed and put his phone away, "We planned this last week."
"Tridon!" Sayori yelled in between breaths. She stopped in front of him and took a deep breath, "Sorry. I overslept."
"Should I set your alarm?"
"My alarm went off. I just slept through it."
"No. I'll be your alarm. I'm gonna wake you up in the morning."
"That's if you wake up on time."
"I wake up earlier than you idiot." Tridon felt Sayori grab his wrist with tremendous force and backed down, "I'm so sorry my sweet childhood friend."
"Good!" Sayori smiled and released her grip, "Now let's have a day of fun and excitement!"
"Yeah!" Tridon cheered, "We're gonna play at the arcade until we're purple!"
"I love being purple!"
After travelling downtown, Tridon and Sayori arrived at their signature arcade: The Capercade Gamehall, "The Capercade Gamehall." Tridon said in awe, "We've been coming here since it opened in middle school."
"Nearly 7 years of mindless fun on machines that may or may not work!" Sayori exclaimed, "Come on dude!" Sayori grabbed Tridon's hand and dragged him inside. They burst through the door to see a man wiping off one of the machines, "Randy!"
"There are my two loyal customers." The man, Randy, chuckled and walked over to the two, "Same thing as usual?"
"All day pass!" They yell in unison.
"Already got them ready." Randy reached into his pocket and handed them two cards, "Man, it's gonna suck when you guys graduate and stop coming here."
"Hey." Tridon scoffed, "That doesn't mean we'll stop coming."
"Yeah dude." Sayori agreed, "We can't go to any other arcade. Us being here gives us what little of our childhood we have left."
"I don't think childhood counts when you're in middle school." Randy explained, "But I get what you mean." Randy smirked and looked at the two, "So when did you two start going out?"
They both looked at their hands and saw that they were still together, "Gross." They both pulled their hands away and wiped them on their clothes.
"Aw come on. You guys are practically perfect for each other."
"I'd much like my body parts to be part of well... my body." Tridon explained, "If I was a masochist, I would date Sayori."
"And if I wanted to be around an idiot all the time... well..."
"You do that now." Tridon intervened, "But if we dated, it would just be weird. I'm pretty sure all friendships get weird when one person has feelings for the other."
"Yeah." Sayori agreed, "Being friends now is much better than being a couple. We would have to think about Valentines' Day on a whole other level, marriage, kids, and who knows what else."
"Exactly." Tridon smiled and wrapped his arm around Sayori, "It's a lot more fun if we head to our favorite arcade, hangout, and horse play like we usually do."
"Yup!"
"Well," Randy chuckled and whispered, "if you two do get together and get married, don't forget to hit me up as a bachelor."
"Right." The two looked at each and ran off to enjoy their day at the arcade.
Around an hour or so later, while Sayori and Tridon looked around for their next game and overheard two familiar voices.
"Natsuki, why did you want me to come with you again?" The first voice asked.
"Because. I don't wanna be seen alone here. I've seen some creepy guys come here before." The other voice, Natsuki, answered, "Besides, I know you secretly like games Yuri. Don't deny it."
"I played that game once Natsuki." The other voice, Yuri, retorted, "I don't like games like that."
"That's Natsuki and Yuri." Tridon commented. They turned the corner to see the two standing by one of the machines, "Natsuki? Yuri?"
"Oh guys!" Natsuki yelled, "Oh man. I forgot you guys were gonna be here this weekend."
"I mean. Yeah." Sayori confirmed, "But you two?"
"I needed someone to come with me and Yuri is really the only person that I could ask."
"Please don't think less of me you two..." Yuri pleaded.
"Why would we?" Tridon questioned, "If anything, I think it's cool you would like games." Yuri looked up at Tridon with a pink blush on her face, "We overheard you girls and I think it's without a doubt awesome if you're into gaming."
"W-Well..."
"I got Yuri to try out a fighting game I had and she was instantly hooked." Natsuki laughed, "I think it's been a few days, but she's pretty good at the game."
"It's the only game I have a chance to play." Yuri explained quietly, "I don't own my own game system or have a pc to play online with. So from to time, I would come here to play it..."
"What is it?" Sayori asked.
"It's that game with Marvel characters fighting Capcom characters." Yuri answered.
"Marvel Vs Capcom?!" Tridon exclaimed, "Oh man. I used to play that so much back in the day. Nobody really plays Ultimate or the base third game, but I love it."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah." Tridon and Sayori joined the two in front of the UMVC3 machine and and Tridon placed his card on the machine, "How about we play some matches? I bet it'd be fun."
"A-Alright..."
Tridon and Yuri played a few matches which ended with Tridon on the ground in sulking defeat, "Wow." Sayori started, "I did not think Yuri would be that good."
"I'm sorry Tridon." Yuri apologized, but Tridon held his hand up, "Huh?"
"You are a true master that I must follow!" Tridon took her hand and stood on one knee, "You must teach me your ways oh wise one!"
"T-Tridon..."
"Quit being weird!" Natsuki got behind Tridon and delivered a german suplex to him.
"Guack!"
"Thanks Natsuki." Sayori gave Natsuki a thumbs up and added, "I was about to do that."
"No problem." Natsuki fixed her skirt and sighed, "He was being weird in a public place."
"Why can't I be myself?" Tridon questioned while his head was in the ground.
"Because yourself is stupid." Natsuki answered while offering him a hand, "Come on."
"It's fine. I can get up myself." Tridon kipped up and stretched his back. He turned to Yuri who shied away from him, "Still though. For you to be good enough to counter and do some unique combos in a short time is pretty amazing."
"Really?"
"Of course. It took me months to even be above, below average."
"Oh. Thank you Tridon."
"No problem. I'll have to get some spars with you in this game. Maybe some other weekend."
Yuri smiled and nodded, "I'd love that!"
Sayori watched happy for the two, but felt something else. She was confused at the feeling but shot it down, "Hey guys, if you're up for it, we have an all day pass. How about it?" Natsuki and Yuri happily nodded while Sayori pumped her fist in the air, "Whoo-hoo!"
Later that day, they were all heading out of the arcade with the sun already setting, "Whoo!" Tridon stretched and laughed, "I can't believe Yuri and I actually won that air hockey match."
"I agree." Yuri nodded, "I thought for sure we were going to lose."
"You guys got lucky." Sayori puffed and laughed, "But don't worry. We'll get you two next time!"
"Haha..." Tridon softly laughed before noticing something in the distance, "U-Uh..." Tridon stammered a little, but it was too late. What he was looking at was another person. Tridon looked away while they walked past them, "Please don't notice me..."
As he said this, the person called out, "Tridon? Sayori?"
"Damn it..." Tridon turned around and was met with a dark blue-haired girl, "H-Hey Erica..."
"I haven't seen you two in so long." The girl, Erica, hugged Tridon, but he didn't return her hug, "Aw come on Tridon. Can't hug your ex-girlfriend?"
"Ex?" Yuri and Natsuki question in unison.
"Yes." Erica shot a very accusing, hostile glance at the two before asking, "Who are you two?"
"They're my friends Erica. Look, I don't have time to reconcile with you at the moment."
"Oh I understand. You should call me some time dude. It's been too long." Erica waved them off and walked off.
Tridon shook his head and walked past the girls, "I'm heading home..."
"Tridon!" Sayori called out, but Tridon didn't pay her mind.
He continued walking until he bumped into Monika, "Monika?"
"Oh hey Tridon." Monika greeted, "I thought you were hanging out with Sayori today?"
"I uh..."
"Tridon!" Sayori called out again and noticed Monika, "Monika?"
"Hey there Sayori. Natsuki? Yuri?" She looked at the group and puffed her cheeks out, "And why wasn't I invited?"
"Look Monika," Tridon explained, "I'm sorry, but something came up." Tridon attempted to walk off, but was stopped by Natsuki.
"Now wait a second idiot." Natsuki confronted Tridon who avoided her gaze, "What was that? Who was that?"
"Yes Tridon." Yuri intervened, "If it's something that's bothering you, you have to tell us."
"What happened?" Monika quickly asked.
"Girls," Sayori interrupted, "I told you that it's not good to talk about."
"No Sayori." Tridon held his hand up and sighed, "I can at least tell them who that is at leas and our relationship." Tridon took a moment to recollect himself. He looked at the girls and started, "That girl is my ex-girlfriend from 1st and 2nd year. We dated for that long."
"That long?" Yuri questioned, "I've never seen her at school though. Why haven't we seen her?"
"She doesn't go to our school. Anymore that is."
"Anymore?" Monika questioned.
"At some point, she dropped out because she had to marry some rich, corporate prick. Look, I'm fine with her, I just don't like how our relationship ended." Tridon sighed and looked away from, "Sayori knows what happened, but we promised each other not to talk about it in full. I'll reveal that much, but that's about it."
"That's..."
"Hey." Sayori interrupted, "It's why we don't dwell on the past. We try our best not to think about it." Sayori ran over to Tridon and jumped on his back, "I mean, if he was still hung up on it, he wouldn't be this stupid idiot we know now."
"Yeah. Exactly." Tridon agreed, "Look, I'm sorry for acting weird. From time to time, when I'm reminded of it, it does hit me hard, but I learn to cope with it." Tridon shook his head and smiled, "Since we still have some daylight, why don't we go do some karaoke?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Oh!" Sayori exclaimed, "I know the perfect place."
"So do I!" Tridon agreed, "Come on!" The two ran off leaving the 3 behind.
"Girls," Monika began, "someone who isn't hung up on it still can act like their world is crashing down on them." Natsuki and Yuri nodded in agreement, "He's still hung up on it and it's affecting him pretty badly."
"We shouldn't bring it up." Yuri offered, "If it only triggers him when he sees that girl or when we talk about it, then we shouldn't bring it up."
"Yeah." Natsuki agreed, "He's been fine ever since he joined the Literature Club this past Monday. Let's just keep that vibe."
"Right."
"Come on slowpokes!" Tridon called out, "Or am I gonna have to do some killer dances out here until you catch up."
"Oh no you don't!" Sayori yelled. This was followed by a Tridon screaming like a girl. The girls laughed and ran over to them.
A few moments later, the club sat in one of the rooms at the karaoke place. Tridon looked through the list of songs and scratched his head.
"What are you gonna sing?" Sayori wondered, "Don't let it be something stupid."
"It won't. It's gonna be by Justin Timberlake!" Tridon selected the song Mirrors by Justin Timberlake, "One of my favorite songs."
"He sings it in the shower." Sayori commented, "I caught him one day singing it, but you'll be surprised at how well he sings. He sounds almost exactly like Justin Timberlake."
The girls watched Tridon perform the song and were immediately enamored with him. Tridon's voice to them spoke to their hearts and at that exact moments, the girls' feelings for him grew even more. Especially Monika who practically had hearts for eyes while he sang.
Once Tridon finished he coughed and cleared his throat, "High notes hurt..."
"Nice job dude!" Sayori slapped his back and laughed, "You still got the skills."
"We haven't come to this place in a while and I haven't sang in a while." Tridon commented, "When was the last time came here?"
"I think last year." Sayori answered, "When it was my birthday."
"That's right." Tridon nodded and handed the mic to her, "There you go dearest friend."
"Thank you dearest friend."
After more moments of singing later and it was almost 8:30, "Oh man." Sayori stretched and yawned, "I didn't think were gonna be here for that long."
"Yeah." Tridon agreed, "My throat kinda hurts from singing so much."
"Maybe you should stop singing songs with high notes." Monika laughed and smiled at Tridon, "Still, you have an amazing voice."
"Thanks Monika. That actually means a lot coming from you." Tridon chuckled and looked at everyone, "I think all of you sang well tonight. Sayori and I don't do karaoke all the time, but the it's always fun when we come here."
"We should all come back here again!" Natsuki exclaimed, "That is if my dad lets me. He's pretty strict."
"Well, how about on Tridon's birthday?" Sayori offered, "It's next month."
"Really?" Yuri asked inciting a nod from Tridon and Sayori, "Well, I think that should be fine."
"I normally don't do much for my birthday though." Tridon retorted, "I don't like celebrating my birthday."
"Why not?" Monika wondered.
"It's just not my thing. Haha, but if it's with you girls, I guess it can't be that bad." Tridon smiled and stretched, "Well, Sayori and I will walk with you 3 back to your homes. It's a little late to leave you girls on your own."
"You don't have to do that." Monika offered, "We'll be fine on our own."
"Nope. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't accompany you 3 on your way home. However, Sayori is a early sleeper and a late riser, so she might fall asleep midway through."
"I won't fall asleep. I'll stay up!" Sayori exclaimed.
However, a few moments later, she was being carried by Tridon as she had fallen asleep, "I told you girls she would fall asleep." Tridon chuckled as the girls arrived at Natsuki's house, "Here you go Natsuki."
"Thanks you guys for being with me on the way home. My dad is strict and a worry-wart, so I appreciate it."
"No problem." Tridon smiled, "Good night."
"Good night."
Next was Yuri. Tridon noticed no cars were visible in Yuri's driveway and asked, "Yuri, do you happen to live on your own?"
"Yes." Yuri answered, "I started to live on my own last year. You and Sayori live alone too, right?"
"That's right. Although, we've been living alone for quite a while." Tridon responded, "I think maybe around middle or early high school."
"That's pretty neat." Yuri shyly played with her hair and asked, "Do you think you two could show me the ropes of living alone?"
"I guess." Tridon turned to Monika to ask, "What about you Monika? Do you live alone?"
"I do and I've been living alone since the summer, so I'm even more inexperienced."
"Alright. I'm not doing anything with Sayori next weekend. How about I help you girls get adjusted to living alone."
"We'd appreciate it." Both Monika and Yuri quickly respond.
"Alright." Tridon looked back at Sayori who started snoring, "We'll have to hurry up. Uh, Monday, I'll need your girls' number. I don't have them and I'll need them so we can set up a time."
"I can give it you now!" They both yelled causing Sayori to slurp some slob that was running down her face and proceeded to rub her face in Tridon's back.
"Gross..." Tridon commented, "Just tomorrow girls please? I wanna get this weirdo back home so she can stop slob on my back." The girls nodded slowly and Yuri waved them off before walking to her house.
Once they approached Monika's house, "Here you are Monika."
"Thank you accompanying me home Tridon."
"No problem."
The two stood their for a moment in the lukewarm, summer night in silence. Cicadas and crickets filled the nightly air and their awkward silence.
"Well uh..." Tridon started, "I'll see ya' Monday."
"Wait Tridon..." Monika stopped Tridon, but he held up his hand, "Huh?"
"I'm sorry Monika, but today has been a little hard on me and I think Sayori too. I'll get your number from her and I'll text you some time later. I gotta go."
"O-Oh..."
"Sorry Monika."
"It's okay." Monika sent Tridon a warming smile and sighed, "I understand that girl earlier must've triggered something. Have a safe night okay?"
"Thank you Monika. Have a good night."
Monika watched Tridon walk off with Sayori still sound asleep on his back.
"Writer," Monika softly started, "I hope this story doesn't hurt him too much or cause any harm." Monika looked at the sky and continued, "Actions like these show someone who is completely broken. I don't know. Just promise me that in the end, his suffering ends. I like how you wrote him and all, but it's all for nothing if he doesn't recover from whatever tragic past you gave him."
Monika, stop being so sentient. Look, I understand and I hope people reading do too. This is suppose to be a normal, vanilla story, but my stories aren't complete if there is a lack of drama. Trust me, in the end, he'll be fine.
"I will end you if you hurt him."
Whatever...
