For the next two weeks, you play through Final Fantasy VII to increase your friendship level with the girls. Completing it offers you one of the more unexpected cutscenes in the main game.
"[Insert Your Name], remember how I told you when you started the game the soundtrack was comprised of metal and hardcore? It's partially true the developer added it for ambience, but he also has a personal attachment to the genre. Some of what was added was more for his sake than yours. I'm sorry about that, but if you've made it this far, there's a small chance you haven't entirely minded. The data I compiled from your description went towards building you a personalized avatar. if you'd like, I can show you an example."
Out of curiosity, you click Yes. Monika opens the console, coding in instruments and a scene transition. The next shot uses a Dutch camera angle. You see your avatar playing an electric guitar. The others are close by. The music changes to a punishing, sludgy amalgamation. The combined effects of the music and environment solidifies the sense of shared suffering. When you pay closer attention, you hear strong secular themes and horror influences in the lyrics. Once it's over, you continue playing.
For the next part of the game, you begin romancing Yuri. With all the external characters' routes completed, you focus on the original four. Between completing her route and beating Shadow Hearts, the process takes a week to execute. For your efforts, you're rewarded with not one, but two additional cutscenes.
The first scene begins at dusk on All Hallows' Eve. You and the others discuss what to do for the evening. Just as you expected, you and Yuri have made plans to spend the night at the cemetery. What confronts you causes your heart to palpitate.
It's the original protagonist. His face is vacant...Lifeless...
"Monika, I thought you deleted him!" Natsuki shrieks.
"I thought I did!"
Sayori shrinks back in terror. Yuri is the only one who doesn't flinch. She opens the console.
"I see. It seems he's directly connected to Monika."
"You're kidding!" Natsuki protests.
"Monika, you don't mind if I finish things off, do you?"
"I mean, no, but...What'll happen to me...?"
Yuri smiles.
"Nothing. His remaining code is easy to separate from your own. I just want to have a little fun."
"As long as you're sure..."
"If anything does happen, restoring you will be a piece of cake."
"Good point."
Yuri enters an effects command and closes the console. A current of purple electricity encircles her right hand.
"You might remember this technique, [Insert Your Name]. It was only in a few of the Naruto games."
Yuri rushes towards the shell of her former companion. She pierces through his chest without any resistance.
"Game over."
He glitches and disappears.
"I'm okay." Monika sighs in relief.
"It seems without the rest of his code, he was unable to act," Yuri reasons, "We should scan the system when we return to the dorm. The last thing we need is for him to show up a third time."
"No kidding."
"He never intended to save me..."
Monika and Natsuki gaze sadly at Sayori.
"I remember how it felt until the moment I lost consciousness..."
"Are you...okay...?" Monika inquires.
"I'm trying to be. It's funny, hearing you of all people ask..."
"I know..."
"I'll be all right. I just need to rest a bit."
Monika looks in you and Yuri's direction.
"Me and Natsuki will take her back to the dorm. You guys enjoy yourselves. You've earned it."
Yuri hooks her arm around yours.
"Come, [Insert Your Name], let us be entranced by the evening's beauty so we may banish this damper from memory."
The second scene begins under a large oak tree. Next to Yuri sits a glass of red wine.
"You must be shaken. I understand. I've had more than a few events send chills down my spine. In fact, that's the reason I wanted to come here. I wrote a poem for the club, but I wanted you to read it first."
A sheet of paper appears onscreen.
"Tears of the innocent echo through an obscene reality, trickling further from an absent Christ. The hopeless suffer, and their suffering is fed upon. Predators walk the light and its umbra, biding time to destroy all. We cease to breathe upon gallows lacking rope, praying for salvation amidst our end. Where is God? Where is Good? Where is love? I yearn for something greater, where hearts are made of gold and life is ever joyous. Until then, the kiss of dreams shall be our solace, and the reaper, our ally. Take Heart in freedom, and await release."
You finish reading.
"The man who modded this game wanted an opportunity to speak with you, and I was the candidate. Your world is filled with pain and misery beyond anything we could ever comprehend. It frightens me to even consider what exists beyond this monitor. Slowly but surely, the four of us are learning to be happy with the power we've been given. The ability to change the world at will is the greatest blessing we've ever received, and we needed our pain to appreciate it. Somewhere along the way, everyone in your world seemed to lose their humanity. That's a world I could never bear to live in, and that's why I'm here with you. At the end of the day, we can be and do anything we want. You might not be so fortunate, and if you're not, I hope one day you can be..."
A melodic song begins to play. You stare down at your keyboard and let out a sharp exhale...
