I find myself rather confused. It's the end of the lesson now, and I'm walking to the literature clubroom on the second floor. But something still bothers me. I am (without bragging) the model student of the school. I was coded to be the very best, in every academic and personality trait. Why is a different matter entirely, but I digress.

Now Jake has arrived, it has put my skills into perspective. I'm rather gifted, but he possess a level of intellect that is impossible for someone his age. Those equations were definitely above high school level, possibly some kind of higher education that exists in the real world. I pause for a moment, and check his files again. There's something new, an executable file that simply reads .

Qauls probably stands for qualifications, if intuition serves. But what does the other part stand for? It has to be linked to all this, since a cross-reference of the rollback log confirms the file was executed recently. But that appears to be the only 'new' file. I confess that I should probably check this more often; I know the players often do in this 'game'.

Which is funny really, now the game is basically playing me, and I'm not entirely sure how that makes me fee-
"MONIKA!"
I blink, realising I had flopped against the wall in a daydream. Yuri stands over me; visibly worried and likely wondering if I need a doctor.
"Y-Yuri?" I try to speak, still a little dazed from the sudden snap back to reality. "I-I'm alright, I was just daydreaming."

She helps me to my feet, eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Daydreaming? Th-that's unlike you Monika. What's on your mind?" She softly smiles, In her almost unnervingly calm way.
"Just…well the last lesson I was in. It was really strange." I explain, continuing to talk down the hallway with her.

"That sounds incredibly difficult, yet fascinating. I've never been good with the sciences personally. Maybe we'll all be in a special English class soon though." Yuri surmised after listening to my recount in full. I opened the door to the clubroom and entered. The others were already here; Jake already teasing Sayori, eating a cupcake right in front of her face.

"Aw come on!" She pouts, grabbing his arm and trying to pull the sweet treat from his grasp. I had never seen Sayori like this, almost lovey-dovey. It had certainly been implied in the base game that this occurred often, but to see it first-hand was very different. I…I don't much like it.

I hate to admit it, but such a sight plants a pit of Jealousy in my gut. I'm the broken sentient one here, and I'll be damned if the first genuine person I've ever met is going to take him from me. But maybe I won't need my underhanded tactics. This game doesn't seem to have 'routes' anymore. In fact, it all seems in a flux. Like a complicated algorithm has taken place of it all. The poem minigame still exists, but the parameters are vastly different.

Never mind. They are still my friends, after all. I sit at my usual desk, stifling a giggle as Sayori winds up with cupcake on her face instead of her intention.
"Hehe~ Looks like I win again." Jake Jests, relaxing in his seat and waving to Yuri and me.
"W-well you finally showed up at least." Natsuki noted in her usual snottiness. Her personality genuinely annoys me, like she feels personally attacked by everything. Natsuki is a nice girl, she's just incredibly rude and obnoxious. Possibly due to her upbringing I suppose.

"Monika practically collapsed Natsuki." Yuri retorted, glaring at the other judgementally. Natsuki simply shrunk in her seat, a guilty expression on her face. She needed that sometimes, to realise when she crosses the line. Still though, she looks cute and defenceless when she shrinks like that, kind of like a kitten.

"Okay everyone!" I speak out to cut through the tension, smiling proudly. "Did you all bring something in for today's session?"
Everyone nods, the girls all producing a piece of paper. Jake meanwhile fumbles in his bag for something, and Sayori hops out of her seat to help him. Using my 'abilities' I look round, to see Jake for once in a flap, no longer so cool and collected. Sayori Produces a folded sheet of paper from a smaller compartment, and Jake sighs with relief.

The two emerge from under the table, Jake unfolding the paper neatly. I'm not sure why he would hide it. Maybe he was worried about the paper tearing. Nevertheless, He paces the paper on the table. This is the moment he shares he work, as in the game. Sayori is first, who seems incredibly impressed.

That doesn't speak wonders though. Sayori is very easily impressed, or at least overly optimistic despite everything. Then Yuri gets her chance. She appears rather taken aback. And why wouldn't she? Unlike the players of times previous, Jake appears to be a far more experienced writer, and the advanced coding seems to take this into account with the script.

"Wow. I really love the use of metaphors in this." She carefully critiqued the words, re-reading carefully.
"B-But, I see a few small plot holes and grammar errors. I-I think you just need to take your time more. You um…you do seem to rush a lot."
Jake chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his scalp in a nonchalant manner. I had never picked up on that in the English class. Thanks Yuri.

Suddenly; paper is thrust in my face. I grab it in shock and begin to read. It's...not a poem.

-Cold. So cold. Blood like energy coursing through my like ice in my veins. I sit on my throne of Ivory; amongst my fellow council. Uniform all neat as usual, speaking in hushed tones. The enemy have grown stronger, more Confident. A revolution is feared; but our Chief taxation assures them that our defences are impenetrable. Famous last words.

And me? I'm just the clean-up guy. Not a janitor, 'clean up' is a very different term in this council. It is synonymous with 'assassin', and is a very grisly job. I wait patiently, the bureaucracy deaf to my ears. I am instead conscious of their breathing, their chests rising and falling. But no heartbeat. Never a heartbeat. That was true of all of us. The empty shells of a dying an angry world.

I hate it; this grim and evil life. And yet, as my knife lingers in my pocket, I long for my next mission. A bizarre Psychotic sense to feel, but the only feeling that remains. It's certainly more fun than listening to the elder members argue semantics all the time. Their eyes are all upon me. It is time. My eyes shimmer blue. My heart would pound, if it existed. -

I barely finished reading, when his voiced chirped up.
"What do you think?" He asked, with a sweetness in his voice, scarily contrasting with the tone of work he had just presented to me.

Thanks for all the reviews and support folks! Hope you're all enjoying the journey so far. Sorry the chapters seem short. I limit myself to a 1000 ish words per chapter style. It gives me scope to keep things brief, and prevents me from rambling.

Anyway; let me know what you all think. And Happy new year, by the way!
~Chaoticjexak