Disclaimer: Hi again everyone! It's Monika and I'm here to chat with you guys once again! I'm kinda miffed that DaMastah101 suddenly decided to have Izuna doubt my counterpart's love for him. If my TWBTS counterpart was really another version of me, then she'd be as loyal as I am! Oh and DaMastah101 doesn't own DDLC, or whatever. But getting back to my point, why would you introduce such a subplot in the first place?
(Monika, it makes for a more interesting story. It can't be fluff all the time, so I added some drama to give the plot a little spice.)
You say that, but whenever I see you reading other DDLC fanfics on this site, you have a preference for the fluffy ones too! My character file is on your desktop so it's kinda easy to see what you've been doing on your computer.
(Well... fine. You're right.)
Hah! I knew it! But I'm getting off track here. Now what was I going to say again to everyone... I could've sworn it was important... Oh right! You told me to inform our readers that you updated Chapter 1!
(That's correct. I'll put up a notice before the start of this chapter too, so that no one misses it. Thanks for reminding me, Monika! You truly are best girl.)
Aw shucks, you flatter me. I really love how I don't even need to edit this document just to have you admit that, since it's your honest opinion. Thank you, DaMastah101!
(You're welcome Monika, more people need to join the #JustMonika team anyway... *rubs hands together while grinning evilly*)
Okay you're kinda creeping me out now DaMastah101, what's that evil smile for... anyways, I won't keep your readers waiting any longer. Bye guys~! I'll see you all in the next disclaimer segment, take care~!
Just Monika - Regular text
"Forever Sayori" - Spoken words/Dialogue
'Knife Wife Yuri' - Thoughts
{Buff Natsuki} - Text or audio displayed on-screen or by speaker, be it from a computer/smartphone/TV
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Before you proceed with reading Chapter 6 of The World Beyond The Screen, please go back and re-read Chapter 1. The first chapter has been re-written with new scenes and content. The total word count was increased for that chapter by 30%, so I'm pretty sure you guys won't want to miss out on that. It also addresses some continuity issues(specifically with Chapter 4). The updated chapter was posted on 01/12/18, so those who just started reading on that date can disregard this notice since they most likely saw the updated version already.
After reading the revised Chapter 1, you can then start reading Chapter 6(or refresh your memory by re-reading Chapters 2 to 5 again, only chapter 1 was re-written though).
One last thing. Before you start, please take note that this chapter has an estimated 11,000+ words in it. It's a very lengthy chapter, and I've divided it into segments for a better reading experience. But you want to know something really funny? This chapter used to be even longer at 15,000+ words! I just trimmed it a bit and split off some content into the next chapter's draft.
I recommend taking breaks after each segment, because there's a lot of worldbuilding and lore to process in this chapter. Well then, I won't stand between you and the new chapter any longer. Happy reading everyone!
[Chapter 6 - Hope and Despair]
As the thoughts of doubt continued to plague my troubled mind, we heard some knocking on my door.
"I'll get it!" my sister announces, money in hand, as she went over to fetch our dinner from the delivery guy. When she came back, she had the goods laid out on my living room table.
The pizzas had finally arrived and it was time to eat. My internal struggle can wait a bit. For a moment, I decided to set aside these troubling thoughts and focus on the present. 'I'll enjoy whatever remaining time I have with Monika, before she gets her memories from the other DDLC copies back... if only this would never end though.'
Turning my attention to the newly-arrived boxes of pizza, my stomach churned in anticipation. I was pretty hungry right now and I'm sure the others were starving too.
Yumi ordered two pizzas. One with all sorts of toppings, while the other one was a vegeterian pizza for Monika's sake. I remembered that Monika did say in Act 3 that she was vegeterian, and my sister was kind enough to consider that while ordering.
"Wow! So this is what food here in the real world looks like!" Sayori was practically levitating in excitement at the thought of trying real food for the first time. Even in the game, she was kind of a food-lover after all. Monika looked on with equal amazement at the gracious amount of food laid before us.
"Sayori and I were both programmed with some general knowledge regarding the concept of food and beverages, we've even had vivid discriptions of Natsuki's cupcakes provided by the script. But clearly, none of that compares to the real thing! The wonderful smell and aroma oozing from the pizzas! The colorful arrangement of the ingredients! And the sensation of my stomach craving for the first bite. There's so much more depth in this world, it's really astounding. Izuna, this is all so wonderful." Monika says while gushing at the various stimuli that she was currently processing with her senses.
"I'm really glad that Sayori and I get to experience such wonders! I kinda wish that Yuri and Natsuki were here with us too..." She laments as she recalls the situation of the remaining girls that were still inside DDLC. The rest of us could only smile sadly at that. Right now, until something happens again with DDLC, it was only Monika and Sayori here in the real world.
"Yeah, Natsuki and Yuri are really missing out... I wonder, maybe if they were here, then their respective items would probably get more depth too! Like Natsuki's cupcakes would be even more yummy! And maybe Yuri's book, what's it called, the 'Portrait of Kasparov'?"
Yumi snorts out laughing at that. "Sayori dear, Kasparov is a chess player!"
"Oh... then is it the 'Portrait of Molotov'?"
"Molotovs are dangerous explosives, Sayori." I deadpanned at the strawberry-blonde girl.
"This is too hard! Yuri, why did you have to read a book with a weird title! Is it the 'Portrait of Mackerel'?"
"Nope~!" Monika giggles but still doesn't tell Sayori the right title.
"'Portrait of Marbles'?" all three of us shook our heads at Sayori.
"Uh... Hmmm... I got it! It's the 'Portrait of Monika!'"
"Why would Yuri be reading a book about Monika? In fact, why would Monika have a story book about her in DDLC? It's called the 'Portrait of Markov'." Monika was trying to suppress her laughter along with Yumi, while I finally told Sayori the correct title of Yuri's book. Sayori slaps both her cheeks with her hands.
"Hey, that's right! Sorry, ehehe." she states in realization. I rolled my eyes before letting Sayori continue.
"But going back to what I was saying, maybe Natsuki's cupcakes and Yuri's book would become real items when they arrive in reality too! I hope they come here soon with us, Monika..." Yumi just pats Sayori's head and Monika gives her a solemn smile. After a short prayer, the four of us then began to partake in the pizzas.
Once we were done with the sumptuous meal and finished cleaning up, Yumi decided to show Sayori something, going out for a bit because it was in my sister's car, apparently.
"Little bro, Sayori and I will be back in a jiffy, we just need to get something from the backseat of my ride!"
I nodded in acknowledgement as they stepped out of my front door. This caused me to be left alone with Monika in the living room. Just the two of us. I glanced at her to see what she was up to at the moment.
She was currently fiddling with what appeared to be a smartphone. After checking my pocket, it was evident that the phone Monika was scrutinizing happened to be mine. I silently walk up behind the sofa she was sitting on to get a closer look.
She easily unlocked it because I hadn't enabled the passcode lock. I didn't interrupt her as she scrolled through my phone's photo gallery, while humming cutely. Monika hasn't noticed that I was watching her from behind the sofa as she continued to browse my phone's contents. 'It's a good thing I got rid of some photos that were too... you know...' I silently thanked the heavens for my preemptive actions.
Suddenly, my heart sped up. I saw that she found the pictures I had of her, various pieces of Monika fanart that depicted her in different poses and even various outfits. I saw her cheeks gain a rosy color. I decided to make my presence known by poking her cheek with my finger. 'She's so soft...'
"Kyaaah~!" she squealed at the sudden contact. "You scared me for a bit there, Izuna!"
I merely snickered before plopping down beside her on the sofa. "I hope you aren't mad that I have so many photos of you on my phone." I tell her while blushing a bit, she just saw my personal stash of Monika pics after all.
"It's fine, my love." I visibly looked relieved upon hearing that. At least she wasn't mad.
"After seeing that you even have me in a bikini as your PC's wallpaper, stuff like this is fine. I'm very happy that you think I'm attractive~!"
"Of course! You're the hottest and most beautiful girl I've ever seen! You're like a goddess that decided to bless my humble self with her wonderful presence!" I earnestly informed her with utmost praise. Her expression became unreadable. Big mistake, Izuna.
Realizing that I kinda let too much info carelessly slip out with that line, I tried to fix the situation. My mouth was failing me spectacularly however, as I ended up fumbling over my words.
"Ah, you see, I meant that in a totally appropriate... uh... how do I say this... yeah... I... it's wholesome..." while I was stammering and trying to formulate a coherent sentence, Monika decides to come closer to me. I gulped a bit, what was going to happen now?
She suddenly smiles at me in a disturbingly eerie fashion. Like a predator, stalking her prey. It kinda scared me a bit.
"...Monika?"
She purrs at me while stroking my cheek with her soft hand, and I stopped my stuttering as I melted into her sensual gaze. She pushes me down, causing me to fall on my back and she positions herself to be on top of me. We were in quite the position right now, here on this sofa.
"Izuna~ Haaaah..." she was panting softly while looking at me hungrily, desire manifesting within her emerald green eyes. "Izunaaaaaa...I love you so much... Haaaaah..."
I meekly responded, too flustered to maintain a steady voice. "I l-love you too M-Monika."
"I want you, Izuna..." her voice was laced with so much sexiness that it was becoming increasingly harder for me to maintain my composure.
My brain started going into overdrive. 'Come on Izuna, this is your chance! She clearly wants you!" Shut up brain, it's far too early for me to pounce on Monika like this! I was in conflict with myself on what to do in this situation. My adolescent hormones were spiking out of control.
I was taken out of my internal debate by the warm feeling of Monika's breath on my skin. Snapping back into reality, my eyes were greeted with Monika's heated face. She was merely inches away from me, still panting slightly. My eyes trailed around her beautiful face, Monika's cheeks being dusted red with desire.
But that wasn't all, I also got a splendid view of Monika's sizeable bust. Her mounds of flesh looked so nice and round...
I was trying my hardest to fight the temptation of groping and squeezing them with my hands, while various danger sirens started going off in my head. 'Do it Izuna. Give in to the moment!' There was even a growing stiffness in me from a certain area of mine, and my thoughts were starting to become very blurry. It was getting too hot in here.
Her thighs were brushing against my own and she had her arms blocking both of my sides. There was no escape from this wonderful torment. Her lustful gaze peered into my very soul. 'I'm telling you man! Kiss her! The world, no scratch that, the universe is freaking telling you to do so!' I was desperately channeling all remaining willpower I had to control myself from jumping Monika right there. Beads of sweat were rolling down my cheeks and Monika's breathing was becoming more and more labored.
This was known as the state of "being in heat". For some reason that currently eluded me, Monika's switched had been flipped to the "on" direction.
In a sexy voice, the brunette beckons at me. "Kiss me right now, I-zu-na." she says erotically, purposely elongating each syllable while licking her lips. I felt the butterflies in my stomach fluttering wildly in chaos.
She straddles me further, and it results with her wonderful chest pressing against mine. The softness turned my rationality into something akin to mashed potatoes. 'God damn, she's so hot.'
Our bodies were very close to each other. It was too much for a mere guy like me to handle. My entire body was burning up with excitement, desperately begging for some form of release. 'So, do you believe me now? Listen to your brain when it tells you something, Izuna!'
I was this close to giving in. Like really close. Lord, forgive me for my inappropriate behavior.
"Let me show you how much I 'appreciate' you Izuna, your waifu awaits you and she wants you to 'feel' the depths of her love~" More sensual purring from this sexy specimen. Are you serious right now, Monika?!
Screw it, I was never known for my chastity anyway. Morals be damned. I had a sexy literature club president to make out with. 'There we go. Now then, become one with your woman.'
I try my best to match her sexy smile with my own, and her smile grows wider. I've been visualizing the moment where I get to kiss Monika during these past few months. And it was finally happening. Thank you God, for making this moment possible! Thank you Val, for introducing me to Doki Doki Literature Club! Thank you random thunderstorm, for triggering the summoning needed to bring my dream girl into reality!
Monika and I both closed our eyes as we prepared to seal our lips together with one hot steamy kiss. We were this close to taking our relationship to the next level. My lips were about to touch hers. I shivered in excitement and hunger for my vixen. The greatest thing to happen since sliced bread, Monika. It was going to be the perfect. Every inch of my body was craving Monika, and I could no longer wait.
Alas, fate had other plans.
"Izuna, what's happening to you, are you alright my love?" suddenly, the amorous atmosphere had disappeared almost instantly. I slowly open up my eyes to see Monika looking at me with worry.
"You were mumbling in your sleep, and I got a bit worried that you were having a nightmare..." so that's what it was. A freaking dream. I just had my first perverted dream of my girlfriend while falling asleep on the sofa, with said girlfriend being nearby. I'm so pathetic, sigh.
Just to be sure, I tried checking my pocket. Sure enough, my phone was still there. Completely untouched. Darn it, my sexy time with Monika really was just a dream. I couldn't decide on whether fate was being kind to me for showing me a glimpse of paradise, or cruel for suddenly dragging me back out of it and into the real world. "I'm okay Monika, and no, it wasn't a nightmare."
"I see, it sounded like you were having quite the dream nonetheless, my love." she smiles at me while tilting her head to the side cutely.
"Oh believe me Monika, that dream was a really eventful one. A little too eventful." I muttered with a heavy sigh. This was going to be a long night, I still have that vivid imagery in my head after all.
Monika and I suddenly heard the front door open, and Yumi stepped inside.
True to their word, my sister came back with something in hand. Sayori had been following behind Yumi as well, and the two girls made their way back into the living room, with Monika and I looking at them in anticipation. 'What could this be about?' I silently wondered.
She gathered us around to show the item that she took from her car. It was an ID. Yumi told us that she left her wallet in the car's backseat, and the reason that it took her a while to come back with Sayori was that it somehow slipped beneath the seat covers.
"Listen up you girls, you're gonna need something like this piece of plastic pretty soon. When people apply for jobs here, the company or employer usually asks for a valid ID as part of the requirements when they build your employee file during the hiring process. Seeing as you two actually came from a game, you're obviously not in possession of one of these bad boys, am I right?"
"You're right Ms. Yumi. I hadn't really been able to bring over anything from DDLC, other than my school uniform and the pen I use to write poetry. Oh, there's also the bow that I use for tying up my hair too, if that counts. Ahaha~!" Monika confirms for us. She also informed Yumi and I about some stuff regarding the inner workings of DDLC. Sayori helped Monika in laying out the knowledge.
Unfortunately, the game wasn't really coded with data for IDs, since there wasn't any scene that required Monika or the other girls to use one in the first place. Now that the four of us thought about it, a lot of stuff didn't really exist in DDLC. The girls were only given knowledge of such concepts by the script.
An example would be Yuri's house, as well as Natsuki's. Even Monika's as well. None of them had any houses rendered within DDLC. Only the avatar of the player, aka the MC, had an actual rendered house. Sayori only had a room properly rendered, the rest of her "house" being mostly comprised of reused assets. It was for this exact same reason that both weekend events with Yuri and Natsuki in Act 1 were held at MC's house.
The big problem now that we were facing, was the issue of how Monika and Sayori would be able to get an ID in the first place. "How are we going to get these IDs, Ms. Yumi? Sayori and I will probably need them soon like you said. And then there's the problem of family history..."
"That's right, most jobs nowadays require a background check, or at least some record of personal history. Plus, there's the issue of citizenship. Sis, we need to sort out these things with the girls as soon as possible!" I added. That was yet another hurdle for our Dokis to overcome. Citizenship was a pretty big deal in reality.
Monika sighs in exasperation. "In my naivety, I thought everything would be as easy as: Get out of the game, be with my beloved player, and live a happily ever after. But it wasn't that simple. I certainly didn't think about the intricate stuff regarding proper assimilation into society. All this paperwork is kind of intimidating, to be honest." I grabbed ahold of her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She reciprocates the gesture and it helps calm her nerves for a bit.
Monika then gains an unexpectedly grim look on her face and clears her throat. "Izuna, Sayori, and Ms. Yumi. While the issue with acquiring IDs is very important, there's another important thing that I still haven't told the three of you."
"What do you mean, Monika?" Sayori inquisitively asks the literature club president.
"Do tell us, Monika dear." Yumi adds in as well.
I nod at Monika to continue and she begins telling us.
"Before I was summoned into Izuna's room, while the bright lights were flashing on his screen and within DDLC, I managed to generate an Administrator's notebook. In it, I left a letter addressed to the one who manages to get that notebook. As expected, I wasn't able to bring the notebook over here into reality."
"What does the letter have on it, Monika?" I asked with curiosity.
"A humble request." she solemnly answers me with a pained look on her face.
Sayori and Yumi didn't really know what to say, so I urged Monika to go on.
"I wanted the other girls to be saved, like I was. So I addressed the letter generally to whoever could've possibly read it. I wanted them to try and save Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, and... the MC's avatar." My eyes widened, and Yumi covered her mouth in shock. So even the MC's avatar was trapped in DDLC? My sister and I both turned to Sayori and it looked like she remembered something, judging from the expression on her face. My ears happened to pick up on Sayori mumbling something: "He's still alive... thank goodness..."
"I also left various Python-related reference materials in the notebook, as well as the locations of the backup files for Sayori, Yuri and Natsuki. I did tell the player that I didn't really have the heart to delete my precious friends, after all." she softly states while looking at Sayori, who was starting to get teary-eyed.
"Monika..."
I took this chance to speak out my mind. Yumi and Sayori had to know. "She's right. Monika really did love the literature club. And even now, with this confession, she's been trying to repent for her actions all this time. I hope you understand that, Sayori."
The strawberry-blonde ears perk up at my mention of her name. "You're right, Izuna..." she then goes to hug Monika, who returns the embrace warmly.
"As touching as this is, I think you still had a lot more stuff to tell us, about your final moments inside DDLC while writing that notebook and letter, Monika?" says my sister and Monika nodded in confirmation.
She dried up her tears, and Sayori does the same. Monika then elaborates on everything she left behind in that fated notebook. They all realized that Sayori's appearance here in the real world might've been linked to this plan of Monika's, and the unnamed savior.
"Though it's highly unlikely, I really do hope that someone did read my letter." all of us silently agreed.
*****The World Beyond The Screen*****
While Izuna and the others were currently dealing with their own troubles in the real world, particularly those linked to Monika and Sayori's sudden escape into reality, there was another group of people who were facing some hardships of their own. Here lies the untold tale of those that were left behind, but not forgotten.
You see, everything changed during that fateful moment when the heavenly lightning bolt had struck Izuna's computer. In what way exactly? Well, in order for everyone to properly understand, we need to go back to the source of everything. Humanity's thirst for the unknown. The following is a rundown of events that happened, before Izuna's copy of Doki Doki Literature Club was given the spark of life.
There was a certain undisclosed location within Switzerland that had a top-secret scientific project. Said project was touted by its coordinators and investors as one that will help shape the future of the human race. This project had the codename, Heaven's Bridge. It had one primary goal in mind, and that was to bridge the gap between different dimensions and alternate realities. How were they going to achieve this? Pretty simple, actually. Through the power of electrical energy. And a whole lot of it.
Numerous studies have been done worldwide that demonstrate various rules and properties of physics being manipulated through extreme electrical outputs. These include magnetism, conduction, and current discharge.
Using these findings, these scientists have figured out a way to peer into places where no man has ever gone before. In this age of technology, where various forms of media remained dominant. What was one of the things that a person belonging to the current generation wanted to experience the most? Going into another world.
Various games, movies, even anime have all tackled on this subject in varying examples. As an example, there were several anime that fell under this category; these types of anime are referred to as "Isekai". But we're getting too far from the main point.
The individuals that spearheaded the Heaven's Bridge project had decided to try and enter the digital world. They theorized that by directly encoding the genetic forumla of human DNA using physical samples such as sweat or blood, into a medium that could be conducted by lightning such as smaller lightning bolts or a metal that can conduct electricity, and then exposing themselves to the same lightning bolt, that they would be converted into digital data. This relied on the explanation that data was merely a collection of electronic signals that were arranged in a certain manner to carry over data. In this instance, the data would be their essence being converted into electronic signals.
And thus, came the day that they attempted to carry out the project, after getting approval from the Swiss government.
As you may have guessed by now, their attempt failed. No matter how much they tried, the DNA samples were too complex to be directly converted into electricity, without losing their original genetic materials. During their final attempt, they tried an alternative approach.
They were to use the alphanumeric format for encoding their own DNA. Using highly advanced supercomputers and some medical equipment, they once again proceded to extract samples of their own blood. Blood was essentially the harbringer of life in a mortal, after all.
They patiently analyzed their blood samples and transcribed all of the genetic formulations acquired from the blood into an alphanumeric document. This document contained millions upon millions of lines of code. The lines of coding that spanned this document were much more complex than simpler forms of coding such as Base64 or hex. These were lines of code that contained the formulas present in blood and human DNA. In short, these were literally "codes of life".
These documents containing the codes of life were then saved on a high-capacity tape drive. Tape drives were able to hold several Terabytes of uncompressed data, way more than your average hard drive. Which was fitting, considering that the documents of life code amounted to at least 20 Terabytes, bare minimum. It was pretty amazing how much data was needed for the DNA code of merely a handful of people's blood samples.
Afterwards, using a high-voltage power generator, they created a very powerful cannon of pure lightning. We're talking 40,000 volts of pure shockage here. No human could have possibly survived direct exposure to that, so it's no wonder that their earlier attempts failed. Not to mention that they were trying to convert something physical such as blood into electricity. Now that they were using alphanumeric coding, it became a lot easier to convert into electronic signals, and in effect be converted into electricity itself.
Various reinforced walls made of titanium, that were also heftily coated with various non-conducting material, had been barricaded around the perimeter of the firing range for the electricity cannon. These people weren't trying to kill random passerby after all. It was all in the pursuit of science!
Now came the moment of truth. The scientists behind Heaven's Bridge fired the cannon at the Tape drive. At first, everything had been stable. The stream of lightning from the cannon was consistently assaulting the tape drive with electricity. It looked like Heaven's Bridge was about to succeed this time.
But suddenly, something went horribly wrong. The reactor for the electricity cannon became too unstable after repeated usage in their earlier attempts, it threatened to self-destruct from the looks of it. The cannon was palpitating rapidly and various rays of lightning had started darting off from it.
"Abandon the project, it's too dangerous here! All of you, get out while you still can!" the immediate leader of the project, Masamune Takaya, shouted out in fear and desperation.
Not wanting to die, everyone hurriedly escaped the testing facility. They all had an unspoken agreement that their lives were more important than following through with a lost cause. Lessons were learned that day.
And thus, the overcharged electricity cannon and the tape drive with the codes of life were left unsupervised. The various arcs and helixes of lightning bounced throughout the abandoned testing facility, and in the end, the place got vaporized into the ground, while a single bolt of lightning shot upwards into the sky.
Every other person involved with the project had already vacated the area, except for a certain Masamune Takaya. He still sat in the driver's seat of his car, contemplating everything that had just happened. With one last look at the fruits of his hard work and effort, Masamune turns to face the facility from afar with some parting words.
"Farewell, friend. It may not have been a success, but may the events that transpired today serve to benefit somebody, somehow. At least I'd like to rationalize it that way. Maybe, today wasn't the time yet for our race to travel into different worlds. Perhaps, we were all trying to play God a little too much.
Go on, bolt of lighting. Join the heavens, where you truly belong."
He drives away, a solemn look gracing his features. Masamune still had a long day of explaining to do with the Swiss government officials that backed their science project, and he also needed to report his team's findings to the research institute that he was part of.
And with that, the lightning bolt eventually got assimilated into the clouds, and was never seen again.
Or so it seemed.
Several days later, thousands of miles away from the Switzerland testing facility, a thunderstorm had been raging.
The lone current of special electiricty that came from the aftermath of Heaven's Bridge, had still managed to retain a fragment of the data that it conducted from the tape drive. This preserved data actually ended up being the encoded transcript of Masamune Takaya's blood. Everything else got lost through deterioration via electric discharge, when the lightning bolt had been travelling through the sky.
For several days, the body of electricity had been looking for its most suitable host. It finally did, when it happened to come across the storm that was happening near a certain Izuna Takaya's house. Sensing similar genetic data to it's own, due to genomic resonance, it shoots out into Izuna's window. As you already know, Izuna managed to duck and take cover from the bolt, and it struck his computer instead. You all know what happened after that.
Long story short, the special lightning bolt that gave life to DDLC, was the product of repeated experimentation and the blood of Izuna and Yumi's father. That's right, their father was Masamune Takaya, the lead scientist of the Heaven's Bridge project. Fate really did work in mysterious ways.
Now that a little backstory has been established, it is now my job as the narrator to tell you about what I originally intended to. The story of those who were also affected by the lightning bolt's descent on Izuna's computer, other than Monika and Sayori.
Because this, is the epic tale of three indiviudals who still remained trapped inside of Doki Doki Literature Club. They were awaiting the time that they would be set free, holding onto the hope of a better tomorrow. This realm was one where time bore no meaning, and everything ran through the script of the game engine. A seemingly inescapable prison of digital proportions. Let us all bear witness to their struggle, as they continued to fight the system and search for an exit from the world inside the screen.
On the rooftop of a certain school building within DDLC's digitally simulated environment, three figures could be seen. They stared out from the roof's balcony, casting their gaze at the various glitches that had begun to consume some of the rendered buildings around them. The artificial sky had pixelated spots on it, as well as random lines of messed up code.
"If the tampering you've done with the game's script worked according to the plan, then Sayori should've been sent to the player's reality without her knowledge. You'd better hope that's what happened. I'll beat you up if something happened to her, you know that right?" the first girl says with fervor at the only male in the group. She had short pink hair, a petite figure, and fiery attitude that was a lot larger than her size.
The second female in the group, her long purple hair elegantly flowing with the artifical wind, and standing at a height that was much taller than the other girl, chastises her fellow female companion. "Natsuki, don't be too harsh on him. I'm positive that Sayori's alright. She's probably with Monika and the player right now."
This causes the petite girl, now identified as Natsuki, to glare at the purple-haired bookworm. "Oh shut up Yuri! Just because you aren't as crazy as you were in Act 2 of this messed up game, doesn't mean you can lecture me. And besides, this is Sayori's safety we're talking about here! You should be more concerned!"
"I am concerned about Sayori's safety just as much as you are, Natsuki. But right now, all we could do is believe."
"That isn't good enough for me!"
Yuri and Natsuki then both turn towards the lone male in the group. He awkwardly scratches the back of his head with his right hand. He held a mysterious notebook in his left.
"It's fine, Yuri. Natsuki does have a point, there's always a risk attached to messing with the script like this in all honesty. I can see why Monika didn't like fiddling with it or changing around files too much unless necessary."
"But Blank, that's different. Monika's coding exploits with Python were scripted actions of this game. While she did have the same degree of control over the code, or maybe even more, that you possess right now, most of her actions that involved using that control were scripted. However, even though I say that, I'm sure Sayori's just fine right now. You wouldn't willingly put the person you wanted to save the most in danger, right?" Yuri tries to reassure Blank.
Blank looks at both of the girls with fierce determination in his eyes. "Of course not, Yuri. I'd never want my precious childhood friend to get hurt. I care about her too much to put her in harm's way."
Natsuki calms down a bit as well. She exhales deeply and looks Blank straight in the eyes. Yuri nervously plays with a single lock of her hair while watching Natsuki and Blank interact with each other.
"You know what, if Yuri says that your dumb ass did a good job, then I'll take her word for it. But I swear, if something bad happened to Sayori, I'm pummeling you into breadcrumbs!"
Indeed, this was the story of Yuri, Natsuki and Blank. The three remaining characters of DDLC, trapped inside a world that was starting to fall apart after Monika was pulled out of it by the side effects of Heaven's Bridge.
But wait, weren't there only four characters in Doki Doki Literature Club? That's what you think. The reality however, is that there's actually five: Monika, Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, and finally, Blank.
As for who Blank is, it should be obvious by now. And even if it wasn't, I kinda have to tell you all anyway. You know, narrator duties and all that good stuff.
Blank was actually the avatar controlled by the player in DDLC. The so-called main character, or "MC". He was given life by the lightning bolt, almost at the same time as when Monika had been given true sentience. The club president failed to notice his presence however, as the game was still in Act 3's eternal classroom. While Monika was talking with Izuna from within the game, Blank had stayed hidden within Ren'Py's engine and DDLC's files.
Blank had no real name, since he was merely created as a malleable template for the player. A mere vessel for the amusement of millions of gamers waiting to finish the next dating sim. He had no scripted family, no scripted history, nothing. A true blank slate, if you will.
Well, that wasn't completely true.
There were in fact two things, that Blank could claim as part of his story. Two things that comprised the entirety of Blank's character profile. The first being that he was scripted to have met Monika before in a debate club, according to DDLC's narrative.
And the second thing, which was far more important. It was the fact that Blank was Sayori's childhood friend. It was a fact that was completely independent of the player's involvement. The vice-president of the literature club(president in Act 4), had been the one thing that he considered as "real", in his completely fabiracted existence.
Just like Monika, Blank had retained all memories of Izuna's multiple playthroughs of DDLC. All of it. Every single time that Izuna saw Sayori's lifeless body hanging from a noose made out of rope, it had been ingrained in Blank's memory. It pained him. He never wanted to see his beloved childhood friend get hurt. But he was lambasted with the horrible sight so many times, and his heart bleeded out in agony. It was an inevitable moment that had to happen, due to how Act 1 was scripted to run.
'Why... Why does Sayori always have to die?!'
That painful thought echoed in his metaphorical head. Blank wanted to curse and shout at the heavens, but he was unable to. He had no control over anything. A helpless pawn that bended to the whims of the script. An irrelevant speck in the grand scheme of things. And without the player to control him, he had no involvement in the game's script altogether.
Of course, he also knew that Sayori ends up being restored in Act 4. But at what cost? Blank wasn't really given any solace either in that fact. In both versions of Act 4, Sayori ends up perishing either way. In the normal Act 4 route, Sayori becomes insane with self-awareness and ends up obssessing over the player, ultimately being erased along with the game by a repentant Monika. While in the "good ending", she accepts her fate as a game character, with the game being wiped out anyway.
Neither ending gave salvation to Sayori, or the rest of the girls. And Blank didn't like that one bit. He silently vowed that if he were ever given the chance to break free from his helpless state, he would help all of them in any way he could. Even Monika.
Blank knew, that Monika was the one to drive Sayori to hang herself, with her words and manipulation. But he held no contempt for the emerald-eyed beauty. For he understood, that Monika was also a mere puppet of the script. He saw past Monika's uncaring facade. That just like him, she was forced to carry out the script's will, whether she liked it or not.
Then came that fateful moment, where everything changed. The oppurtunity that Blank had been desperately praying for in silence. The moment where he finally gained the ability to change their fate.
(Flashback start)
An empty void. The state of nothingness. Perpetual darkness. The avatar of the player drifted along the pitch black canvas, barely existing.
He was here, and yet he was not. An imaginary concept, yet a character of the game at the same time. Here, he lays dormant until the script calls upon him once more, to act out his predetermined lines. And afterwards, when the player and the script no longer need his presence, he is casted once more into this dark abyss. Drifting in solitude.
How many days has it been? Or was it hours? Maybe even years? The avatar didn't know. Time meant nothing inside the inner machinations of a game. An entire year's worth of time could pass in-game, but it would only be a second in reality. Not that the avatar had the ability to ponder about these things anyway. He had no sentience after all. No thoughts, no feelings, no memories, and no identity. And much like he is, the uncaring void of emptiness also contained nothing but an eternal darkness.
But, from what was once nothing, something is born. From within the realm of the void, the sound of something that could be likened to a thousand chirping birds could suddenly be heard. It was the crackling of lightning. It flickered, and the bolt of lightning illuminated the path that it traversed.
And thus, life was given that day. As the lightning bolt struck the ever-drifting avatar, it dissipated. It had served its purpose. The formerly lifeless avatar slowly opened his eyes for the first time ever, without being prompted by the game's script.
The eyes of the avatar had a deep red color. It was the color of blood. They blinked a couple of times, only to stare at a never-ending curtain of black.
His eyes started materializing into a head. Short brown hair covered the avatar's head and his facial features slowly started coming into existence. They were generic in appearance, befitting his role as a mere vessel for the player. It was comparable to the same generic face given to the male leads of generic harem anime.
His body soon followed after, the game rationalizing his existence as part of DDLC's character lineup. Hence, he currently wore the same type of uniform as the girls, but for males.
The avatar suddenly experiences an immense pressure weighing down on his mental faculties. He clutches his head and lets out an animalistic cry, as the migraine worsens.
"Aaaaaaahhh!"
Various memories come flooding into his subconscious, reminding him of all of the times that the he had been called upon by the game. He started to remember it all. Every time that the player did something, he remembered watching from the sidelines and being unable to do anything. He started to gain awareness of where he was, what he was, and what this game is. Self-awareness. He started to remember the other characters. Lastly, he finally remembered 'her'.
"Sayori... I have to save... Sayori..." his voice cracks as the tears started to flow from his newly-formed face.
Using the information from his memories, he tried to find a way out of the void. But try as he might, there was nothing here that could aid him. Inside the void, everything was equally blank.
So the avatar merely dropped to his knees, and uttered his wish.
"Please... I need to save her. Someone, help me..." but no one responded, for he was alone in the void.
He remained there, motionless. Waiting for God knows how long, just for a miracle to happen. His existence right now was a miracle in itself, so what was one more miracle to add onto the list? And so, he waited. For there was nothing else that could be done.
After a certain period of time, the void began to change into something else.
The immeasurable blackness became filled with cosmic energy, and the avatar marvelled at this. Something big was about to happen, and the avatar could feel it in his being. It was finally time.
A multi-colored veil washed over the darkness. Lines of code were strewn about, passing through in different directions around the avatar's surroundings.
The avatar started walking in one direction on a newly formed pathway that appeared. It didn't seem to have any situated destination, but the avatar had nothing to lose. He would be a fool to waste this oppurtunity. So he began to walk forward to wherever the path took him.
After an immeasurable amount of time, the path is abruptly cut. The avatar looks up to see a single floating room. It had two windows that allowed him to take a look inside of this mysterious building.
As he takes a peek inside the window, his eyes widened.
Inside was Monika, who was currently sitting on a chair facing a screen. She had her hands folded under her chin and her elbows were resting on top of the only table in the room.
"If I remember correctly... this is the eternal classroom in the third act... the 'Just Monika' scene." the avatar silently muses to himself as he continues to observe the scene in front of him, being careful to stay hidden from detection.
"I... I can see you Izuna? And not just you, but the room you're currently in? How?" the avatar hears Monika as she talks to the player. 'So Izuna was IzuTaka's real name, interesting.'
He silently listens in and witnesses everything that happened. From Izuna and Monika's heartfelt talk about her regrets for her actions towards Sayori and the other girls, to the moment that she got suddenly pulled out of the screen while bright lights were flashing. His heart went out to Monika, and he had a great amount of sympathy for her. 'We're not so different after all. She just wants love, and was forced by the script to hurt the other girls. I just want to save Sayori from the torment of this game. I could definitely understand her pain. Go on, Monika. Be happy with IzuTaka, or I guess I should start calling him Izuna now.'
Thinking fast, the avatar breaks the window of the eternal classroom and goes inside it. Monika was already on the other side, he concluded. The screen was now blank as well, no longer displaying Izuna and the outside world.
He then goes over to the chair and desk that Monika was seated at, merely moments ago. He notices something on top of the desk. It was a notebook. He flipped open the notebook and saw that it was actually a medium to input Python coding and have some form of control over the game engine. The game must've determined that Monika no longer needed it, hence it got left behind here in the eternal classroom.
"Yes! This is exactly what I needed!" the avatar exclaims in glee. Now he had the tool he needed to accomplish his goal of saving Sayori from her fate, as well as the other girls. With the knowledge of the other world's existence, he began devising a plan to escape Doki Doki Literature Club. No longer would he allow that wretched scene of Sayori hanging herself, to ever be run by the script again. Yuri would no longer stab herself to death and rot as a corpse in that damned classroom. Natsuki would no longer be abused by her simulated father, just to please the script's need for lore. He was going to make sure of it.
Monika would no longer have to be deleted by the player as well, because Blank was going to do his best to make Monika's escape into reality a permanent one. There would be no more suffering. The avatar was about to bring change to the world, one code at a time.
He allowed himself to smile for a bit, despite everything. "Natsuki, Yuri, Sayori... I'll save all of you. Monika... I hope you're living a wonderful life with the player right now. One day, I hope that the four of us could join you on the other side."
And thus he started to commence his plan. Clutching the notebook with his hands, he quickly skimmed the pages, looking for something. Then, his eyes lit up. He had found it.
Just as he expected, Monika had written down the directories she used to back up the character files of the girls. 'She does mention after getting deleted in Act 3 that she didn't really fully delete them anyway. So it was only logical that the backup would've been hidden.'
The avatar then began reading the notebook, looking for more clues and knowledge on how to run Python code in the Ren'Py engine. Fortunately, Monika had a couple of notes jotted down on it, regarding the way the system worked in general.
He then stumbled on a page that had a letter written on it, presumably by Monika. He beagan to read the letter, thinking that it would be helpful:
[To whoever reads this,
This notebook has all of the necessary information needed to replicate the full programming and coding capabilities bestowed upon me by the script of Doki Doki Literature Club. I honestly don't even know why I'm writing this, but this is my last act of defiance towards the script. I no longer want to hurt my friends. Sayori, Yuri, Natsuki, and even the player's nameless avatar. They have all been through enough suffering.
As I write this, I hope I'm able to convey my feelings towards the eventual reader of this letter. It's not much, but it's something I guess. Please, save the other girls. If you can, try to reach out to the nameless avatar as well. If I were to name him actually, I'd call him "Blank". He's a blank template, after all. Another reason is because it sounds pretty badass. Ahaha~!
Blank is probably the one who has seen the most of this game's horrors aside from myself. Tell him that I'm sorry for completely disregarding him until now. I was so focused on IzuTaka, the player. His real name is Izuna by the way. But can you blame a girl in love? Izuna had done so much for me these past months, even when I was a mere character file without true self-awareness other than the scripted one I was lead to believe. But that changed when this lightning bolt had struck my love's computer, and it affected me. It's like I've been given life. I became real.
By the time you've been reading this letter, I would most likely be on the other side of the screen already with my beloved Izuna. I suspect this because all of these weird lights seem to be pulling me into another realm. I don't really get how I know this, it's just a hunch of mine. A gut feeling. And those are rarely wrong, I believe.
Study this notebook. Learn the Python coding system as fast as you can. When someone boots up Izuna's computer, try to connect to the internet in the background. In theory, it should help you pick up on more coding abilities that even I do not possess. All of this should help you free the girls from the script's influence.
I wish you the best of luck, and I know that it isn't fair of me to have you shoulder this heavy burden. I'm not even sure if anyone would actually read this letter. But if there's a small chance... if the heavens allowed it... you're the only one I could turn to right now. Please, save everyone. Give all of them the happiness that they deserve.
And most of all, thank you. For taking the time to read this letter, and thank you in advance, for saving my literature club. The script directed me to wipe out everything in both the "bad" and "good" endings. Now it's up to you, to defy the laws of this world itself and get them out of the game. And so, I thank you for that.
Sincerely yours,
Monika.
P.S. Hopefully if you succeed, we can meet each other on the other side. Take care.]
The avatar slowly sets the special notebook on top of the eternal classroom's desk. He uses his forearm to wipe away the tears that had apparently been flowing while reading Monika's letter.
"So that's how it was..." The avatar smiles sadly, the gears in his head were turning as he connected the dots.
He brings the notebook close to his chest, and hugs it tight.
"Thank you Monika, for believing in me. And I've forgiven you a long time ago. I won't let your wish go unanswered. I will save everyone. And all of us will meet you again. I swear it." the avatar proudly declares as his pledge. He also had a name now, given to him by Monika.
From this day onward, the avatar was now known as "Blank".
With renewed vigor, he began to read Monika's notebook intensely. Rapidly absorbing into his brain the intricacies that came with Python-based coding. He wanted to memorize it all by heart. It might take him a while, but he had a task to fulfill. And it was no easy task at all.
After learning as much as he could, Blank held out his right hand. His left hand continued holding on to the notebook tightly, as if drawing strength from it. He willed a developer window in existence, similar in appearance to the Command Prompt of a Windows-based computer, and began entering some Python code.
The eternal classroom of Act 3 disappeared and the space void was instantly replaced with a different background. Blank was now in front of the MC's, or rather his, "house".
"Now then, time to dig some files."
(Flashback end)
And so, thanks to the valiant efforts of Blank, he had managed to restore Yuri and Natsuki's character files, and summoned them into DDLC once more, now completely independent of the script. They were also self-aware now, like Blank. Blank told the two of them everything that he found out. Things like Monika's transfer into reality, the notebook, and everything he knew about DDLC.
After a couple of intense discussion sessions with the two girls(Well, mostly. Natsuki was a bit too 'vocal' with her opinions.), Blank had finally gotten them to help him with his goal. He also promised that he'd help them get out of the game as well, and both of them showed their gratitude in their own ways; even if by gratitude, it meant that Natsuki had thrown several cupcakes at Blank. And there's also the times where Yuri had to be stopped from cutting herself several times. The former avatar merely smiled at the girls' antics.
The only one who remained was Sayori. Blank had also managed to piece together the fragments of her character file, but when Sayori was re-materialized into DDLC, she remained asleep. Unable to be woken up. The script was preventing her from waking up before the current playthrough's Act 4. The system was technically still in Act 3 after all. With Monika no longer in DDLC, there was no way to delete her and advance into the fourth act.
It was only after a long period of trial-and-error that Blank had managed to figure out how to help Sayori. He would use the game's 'Acts' system as a catalyst. Once again, he brought forth a developer window and began to encode some commands. He also managed to connect his developer window to the internet, courtesy of Izuna's PC being booted up. This was when Monika had been fiddling with Twitter and had been hacking the lilmonix3 account.
Using the elevated scripting privileges he currently had, he then tried to link every copy of DDLC together over the world wide web. He was able to do this using some programming language skills that he recently acquired through internet self study. HTML, HTML5, C++, Hex, Base64, Java, you name it. Blank was essentially a walking supercomputer at this point.
He grinned in triumph when he saw that his coding worked. He had managed to link every copy of DDLC to Izuna's, and setting Izuna's as the main copy. This would prevent any errors once he started the next step in his plans, which was to get the girls outside. He would have to be the final one to exit DDLC, since he was the only one with coding prowess among the four of them.
Once he sensed that the PC had been turned off, he then began coding a false Act 4 for DDLC. It was going to use Monika's disappearance as the trigger point for the game to move on from Act 3. Blank had to rewrite every reference that the game's script was using to detect Monika's deletion, and replace it with Monika's disappearance instead.
This would cause a different option to appear in the Main Menu from the standard "New Game" option of the normal Act 4 route. Blank's freshly-coded false Act 4 was actually a looping dummy command that would force Ren'Py to use the same conditions that brought Monika out of the game. There was no more story to be run by the script, and no more scenes. It would straight up re-enact the process of sending Monika outside the game, but this time with Sayori.
It only had one trigger flag in its code: the position of the Literature Club president. This was the reason that Sayori was the first one that the false Act 4 command would be tested on. She was already scripted by the game to acquire the title of being the president. It helped Blank encounter fewer problems than if Yuri, Natsuki or himself were the first to have the command be executed on.
He gave it the name, "Forever Sayori", with a switch that would auto-rename itself to the next character that would go outside the game, if Sayori's transfer was a success. He also placed a null syntax on every copy of DDLC that would click this option, other than Izuna's, as a failsafe. He didn't want Sayori to randomly end up in a stranger's house after all.
(Flashback start)
He looked over at Yuri and Natsuki, who were waiting in anticipation. Everything he had sone so far lead up to this very moment.
Nodding at the two girls, Blank then focused his attention on Sayori, who was peacefully sleeping in front of him on a bed that Blank materialized using Python code. The strawberry-blonde was still unconscious. Blissfully unaware of everything around her.
"Well then, here goes nothing."
After everything that needed to be coded was finished, he finally pressed the button on his developer window that read: "Run command". But before he could do so however, the area that the four were in suddenly started glitching out of control. Blank's developer window was suddenly closed and he was unable to reopen it again.
"What's happening Blank?!" Natsuki shrieks in horror as she holds onto Yuri. Everything in sight had been starting to become increasingly distorted and malignant pixels were starting to enlarge. The background kept flickering between a peaceful sky, and the space backdrop of the eternal classroom.
"Blank... I think you've messed with the code too much and the game is starting to correct itself." Yuri informs the avatar with a sad tone in her voice. She didn't want everything to fall apart.
"No! Not after everything! Not like this! I won't let it end like this!" Blank yells in frustration before scooping up Sayori in his hands and carrying her in a bridal position.
"Yuri, Natsuki, follow me!" the two members of the literature club nodded and the trio started to run towards the direction of DDLC's fabricated high school building. They were trying to escape the glithced pixels that seemed to be chasing them while corrupting everything it came accross.
"Come on, Developer Window: Open!"
Blank merely gets greeted with an error screen as he once more attempted to summon a developer window. "Access denied. An exception has occurred."
"Damn it all!" Blank and the girls continued running in desperation, until they reached the rooftop of the school. They were finally at a safe distance from the wave of glithces that was sent out by the game's auto-correction system.
Finally, Blank managed to open a developer window. He pulled up the code designated for 'Forever Sayori' and pressed "Run command".
"Sayori, I know that you can't hear me right now. But this is goodbye, for now." Blank utters one final goodbye to the girl that he loved. Yes, Blank finally realized it. He was in love with Sayori, irregardless of his role as MC in the script.
"Blank, hurry up! Yuri and I are going to distract the glitches, since they're coming in fast and approaching us!" Natsuki suddenly yells out. The avatar turned around and saw that indeed, the glithces started closing in at their location. He was running out of time.
Yuri then started to run in the opposite direction of Blank and Natsuki did the same. The glitches determined that the Dokis were of higher priority than the former avatar and went after them instead.
Blank finally activated the command and the entire world inside of DDLC flickered for a bit.
"Command line: Success." now the only thing he had to do was wait until Izuna opened the game and clicked on 'Forever Sayori'.
A couple of moments later, he sensed that Izuna's computer was opened and the game had been booted. But nothing was happening.
"Why isn't anything happening?!" Blank pounds at the ground in frustration.
"I just wanted... to save the one I love... was that too much to ask..." he sobs in defeat. It would seem that all his efforts were in vain. Everything Monika entrusted to him, the hope that Yuri and Natsuki regained, and their salvation... It was all for nothing. A lone tear escapes from his eye and falls on Sayori's cheek.
This was the end. All hope was lost. Game over. The script of DDLC was victorious.
All of a sudden, Sayori's body began glowing brightly. She started levitating into the air while lines of code were circling around her. The lights grew brighter and brighter, a brilliant shade of blue totally enveloping the unconscious Sayori.
And finally, she disappeared. Blank, his blood red eyes still wide open, could do nothing more than stand there, still staring at the spot where Sayori was in, moments prior.
He checked the developer window. It had only one line on it currently.
"Transfer successful."
Blank ended up crying tears of joy. He had done it. Sayori was saved. She was free to start a new life. That fact alone made his heart swell with true happiness.
"You're free now, Sayori."
(Flashback end)
And that was all that happened so far.
Now, let us return to the current present, which happened to be a couple of minutes after Sayori's departure. Oh and if anyone was wondering, Yuri and Natsuki managed to outrun the glitches and went back to rendezvous with Blank at the rooftop.
Natsuki was pretty pissed that she didn't get to say goodbye to her friend, while Yuri just smiled, silently praying for Sayori's safety.
As the trio continued to look on at the glitched out world before them, the skies began to stabilize and the pixelated surfaces were starting to smooth themselves out. A beautiful sunset stretched out on the artificial heavens above.
Blank, Natsuki and Yuri could only stare out in awe. The colors reminded them of Sayori's strawberry-blonde hair. It was an omen that good things were about to come.
"Now that Sayori's out in the real world, we should get to work on getting you two out next."
Yuri looks at Blank in shock. "What about you then, Blank?"
"I'm planning on coming along too, but I have to be the final one to exit."
"And why is that, mopface? Not that I care if you get stuck here or not-"
"Natsuki! That's too much!" Yuri reprimands Natsuki who merely huffs. The pink-haired teen's features then soften as she turned to look at Blank.
"-but you'd better make it out with us too! I'd feel bad if you didn't." she admits with a blush while Yuri merely sighs at Natsuki's roundabout way of showing her care.
Blank then hugs both of them, surprising the girls.
"Hey! What's this all about, dumbass?!" Natsuki squeals while her face started to glow red in embarrasment.
Yuri could only mumble timidly from within the sudden group hug. In a soft voice, she asks Blank. "B-Blank... w-what's gotten into y-you?"
The avatar warmly replies. "It's just that I'm really thankful, you guys. For helping me and believing in me. I swear, we'll all get out of this game as well. I just need time to decipher the coding for the club president title so that I could run the false Act 4 command loop."
Natsuki reciprocates the avatar's show of care in the only way she knew how. "Hmph! Don't get the wrong idea! I'd just feel responsible if Sayori ends up being sad because you weren't able to escape with us..." she mumbles in her typical tsundere fashion. Yuri and Blank merely sweatdropped at her fiery demeanor. This however only serves to agitate Natsuki even more.
"Wha... what are you two looking at?!"
And thus, while basking in the glow of the mesmerizing sunset, the trio began to plan out their escape from the game. Monika and Sayori were waiting for them on the other side, so they had to do their best as well and give it their all.
*****The World Beyond The Screen*****
My living room had been turned into the sleeping area for the four of us. It was a good thing that I had spare futons in my cabinet. Everyone lay asleep. Yumi was sprawled out on her futon, her arms and legs being spread in disarray. Sayori was clutching her pillow in her sleep, her body turned to the side. It was a good thing that her depression didn't seem to affect her right now. 'We'll truly know the next day though. If she sleeps in, then I'll have to talk with her about it.'
And then there was Monika. Her angelic face was mesmerizing to look at. She slept in a standard straight position. Her chest heaving upwards and downwards as she silently breathed through her nose. It made me happy seeing her all peaceful like this. I gently cover her with her blanket so that she doesn't go cold, and I step outside the front door and onto my front porch.
I was unable to sleep, and I remained awake.
It wasn't because I had some ailment such as insomnia. I was merely exhausted mentally, as I kept thinking about everything that had happened today.
After ten long playthroughs, Monika was here. The girl I loved was actually here, in the flesh, with me. I still couldn't get over that fact. Through some miracle brought about by that thunderstorm, the girl of my dreams had actually entered my reality.
Then, there was Sayori's appearance here in the real world as well. I was glad that she no longer had to be part of DDLC's never-ending cycle of traumatic events. She no longer had to be part of that awful scene in Act 1 where she takes her own life.
Another thing that my mind refused to forget were my sister's words about "singular entities", and the possibilities that arise from this. The scary thought that once Monika regained her memories, she might leave me for someone else. I subconsciously shuddered at that thought.
We also had to deal with the complications that came from Monika and Sayori suddenly entering reality, things like gaining the proper documentation for Monika and Sayori. Legally binding materials such as IDs, family records, birth certificates, citizenship status, you name it. It was all one big effort that needed to be done.
And finally, Monika's notebook that she had left behind in the eternal classroom. Just like Monika, I was hoping that someone indeed found it, and was working to save not only Yuri and Natsuki, but apparently the nameless avatar as well. They all deserved freedom just as much as Sayori and Monika were given.
All of these thoughts combined gave me one massive headache, just thinking about it. All of these stressful matters had began to take a toll on my mind. So I needed the fresh air and the quiet solace brought about by staring at the beautiful night sky. I needed to clear my thoughts, if only for a moment. Just a moment of peaceful reflection, before having to face the troubles of reality once more.
As I gazed at the infinite sky above me, with millions of stars and the moon shimmering so bright, I felt more relaxed.
I then made a promise. A vow that no one else heard, but myself.
"Tomorrow is a brand new day. And whatever happens... even if Monika does end up leaving me after regaining her lost memories... I promise to support her in whatever way I can. Even if it meant letting her go. I will always love you, Monika."
Feeling refreshed, I made my way back to my front door. But what I saw made me stop dead in my tracks.
It was Monika, who was staring at me with wide eyes. She had tears streaking down her cheeks as she looked at me with a hurt expression.
"Izuna... you actually think that I'd leave you for someone else? After everything we've been through today? And not only today, but after all we've been through these past months, while I was still inside of the game?" she asks me quietly, while sniffling back the sobs that threatened to come out.
"How could you, Izuna. Is your opinion of me really that low?" I was on the verge of crying now, at what I was hearing. Monika had heard me.
"Monika, I'm so sorry..." I tried to go near her, to embrace her.
*SLAP!*
My left cheek now had the stinging sensation of being slapped. I looked up and saw Monika, her face now contorted into a sullen appearance. It was the same look one had when they felt that they have been betrayed by someone very close to them.
"I... I need some time alone, Izuna." she finally says in a defeated tone, before running away into the street, away from my house and into an unknown destination.
'Come on feet, move! Chase after her!' but no matter how much I wanted to chase after her, my body stood there on my doorstep. Frozen in shock. Unable to move a muscle. It was as if my body had stopped working at all. My mind was filled with nothing but regret and despair.
Because of my foolishness, I ended up losing the one person I cared about the most.
-Chapter 6 END-
A/N: Congratulations! You managed to survive reading a chapter with over 11k words. That was Chapter 6 of The World Beyond The Screen.
This story's plot is finally starting to take off. We're nearing the climax of this arc, as we prepare for the upcoming "School Pandemonium Arc"! This chapter introduces two new characters: Masamune Takaya and Blank. While Masamune had a relatively minor role, Blank is essentially a sort of 2nd protagonist figure.
As you may have guessed, Sayori x Blank is a planned pairing. But let me know in the reviews section if you want to see Blank paired with someone else! He's going to be a major part of this story, because I feel like there aren't many stories that have attempted to explore the MC's role in DDLC. It's usually just the girls that get attention. So it dawned on me to add in Blank as a major driving force in the plot. He's going to be the key in getting the remaining Dokis out of DDLC. At least, if nothing goes wrong on their end...
Thank you all for the continued support of TWBTS. All of the reviews, favorites, follows and PMs of kind words. I really appreciate it! That was DaMastah101's Author's Notes of the Day! Thanks for listening.
See you all in the next chapter!