Disclaimer: Hiya there. It's me, Monika. I don't really have much to say today, other than the usual "DaMastah101 doesn't own DDLC" spiel...
Oh, there's that too. If you've read my author's other story, "The Color Pink", you may have noticed that I'm not in charge of the disclaimers over there. That's because I declined, ahaha~!
Why, you ask? Well, that's a Natsuki fanfic, so it doesn't feel right for me to steal the spotlight from my friend. Do check it out if you're interested though! Well then, on with the chapter. Happy reading!
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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
"I just have to tell myself... no matter what I do, do it for Monika. Let her be my incentive. Let the pain and agony of being separated from her be rewarded at the end of the day when I come home to her smiling face. Let the dream of one day having a perfect life with her be the driving force behind my ambition."
-Player
Chapter 4 of "Monika's Freedom", a Doki Doki Literature Club fanfic by jojoDO.
[Chapter 9 - The Reunion, Part 1]
Not really knowing what happened, I found myself standing inside a solitary classroom.
Inside it, there was only one desk and chair. Other than that, the room was completely devoid of anything. Absolutely nothing else at all in plain sight.
"Where am I?" I cautiously asked out aloud in an uncertain voice, but no one responds to me.
I really was alone in this unknown place.
Maybe perhaps, there were clues lying around. I tried searching the vicinity of the room with my eyes, but it was completely empty, save for the previously mentioned desk and chair, along with two windows.
Speaking of which, those windows led to something pretty unusual. Outside the room's windows, there was an infinite void filled with weird cosmic energy...
It's almost like this classroom was floating in outer space!
Coming to my senses, I remembered that I was supposed to be at Izuna's house right now. "Monika? Ms. Yumi? Izuna? Where are you?!" I yelled in a slightly panicked voice. We were just in the living room of the Takaya household!
Suddenly, I heard a voice to my left. It sounded a bit angry. "Why did you betray us for Monika, Sayori? Is the former Prez more important to you?"
Turning to the source of the new voice, very familiar pink hair greeted me. Wait, pink hair? But that means...
"N-N-Natsuki? Is it really you?"
"Yes, that's right. It's me, miss Prez." Prez? Oh, she might be referring to my Act 4 role. This is so sudden though, and Natsuki was acting so unusual!
"Natsuki... I didn't leave you guys! I just found myself in the player's reality all of a sudden, before the game could even go into the fourth act." I tried explaining to her.
Before I heard her reply however, she disappeared with a quick gust of wind and got replaced with a taller figure. It was Yuri this time that appeared.
"Save your excuses for someone that cares, Sayori."
"Yuri..."
"Yes, just a bunch of tired out excuses. Giving out excuses and lies seem to be the only thing you and Monika excel in, just because you two get to be club presidents. Is that why both of you are living happy lives in the real world, while the rest of us that got left behind inside this game have to suffer?!"
"I'm not lying or making up excuses! What... What's going on here?!" I was getting really freaked out. This wasn't normal. She comes near me, knife aimed at my throat.
My heartbeat was speeding up rapidly. I placed a hand on my chest and felt my heart pumping quite strongly. I closed my eyes in fear, and waited for my death. There was nothing I could do but accept my fate, as the knife drew closer to me by the second.
"Sayori! Please help me!"
My eyes snapped back open upon hearing that loud yell, it was a plea of help.
"Who's there?!" I yelled back. Yuri had already vanished just like Natsuki did earlier. Not only that, but the latest voice sounded really familiar to me as well, it's almost as if it was actually the voice of...
"Over here, Sayori! He's about to-"
I knew it. It was Monika!
My eyes landed on her currently trapped and vulnerable state, as she was being choked in a vice grip to death by someone that I recognized as the avatar of the MC. They were in the corner of the classroom. The MC was using his own bare hands to brutally squeeze the life out of poor Monika.
It reminded me too much of my struggle during Act 1, where I improperly hung myself, causing a long struggle of trying to catch my breath before I painfully died on the noose. Knowing the pain of such asphyxiation firsthand, I didn't want my friend to suffer the same fate.
It was kinda ironic really, the same friend that caused me to even hang myself in the first place, was now the very same person I'm trying to save. But that doesn't matter anymore to me. Monika is a very important person in my life, and she's my friend.
She's more than just a friend, if we're being honest here. She's like a dear sister to me, and I cannot let this go on any longer. I have to save her from the MC.
"I'm coming Monika, hold on!"
MC plants his furious gaze at me with blood-red eyes, a nasty glare forming on his face as he suddenly addresses me with venom in his voice. "Why are you going to help this monster, Sayori?! She deserves this! She made all of us suffer! She even made YOU suffer the most! Let me end her right here, so that we could finally have peace!"
I didn't like where this was heading one bit. It was true, that Monika indeed had done some pretty bad things, but at least on my end I've already forgiven her.
"Don't hurt her! Monika and I already made up with each other! And she's really sorry for everything that happened! Just give her a chance to explain herself..."
With bated breath, I then saw the avatar abruptly releasing Monika from his ironclad grasp on her neck. She coughed a bit, trying to regain her breath.
"Is that... so?" MC questions me sternly, as if testing me if I was lying to him or not.
"It's true! So let's not fight or do anything we might regret, okay?" mustering up the best smile I could, I looked at the MC warmly to try and calm him down. I didn't like seeing him like this, to be honest. No matter what, MC was a very important person to me too. He's my best friend!
...and maybe even more. 'Kyaah~! Now's not the time to be thinking about romance, Sayori!'
"Okay, Sayori. Anything for you."
I breathe a sigh of relief at hearing that. Maybe things were going to be just fine. And I might even find out why I'm back inside of DDLC.
"Yes, anything for you..." he repeats, before I notice him chuckling darkly. That didn't sit well with me at all. 'Why are you laughing evilly like that, MC...?'
It all happened in the blink of an eye. Much faster than I was capable of physically reacting to, he suddenly pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot Monika in the chest without remorse.
*BANG* The sound of a bullet being shot echoed throughout the classroom.
Monika's lifeless body drops onto the classroom floor with a thud. Her eyes were dilated in shock. A messy amount of blood kept seeping out of the open wound, and Monika continued to bathe in a puddle of crimson.
"MONIKA! NO!" I shrieked out loud in agony. My screams echoed throughout the empty classroom.
After my outburst, I relapsed into a dull state. My brain seemed to have turned itself off, and I was frozen in place. My best friend and sister in everything but blood just got shot in front of my eyes. The MC began marching slowly towards me, and I could only cower in fear. He now had a creepy smile, similar to Monika's own eerie grin during Act 3. It was almost as if he was being possessed by his hatred towards Monika.
A huge realiztion dawned on me at that moment. 'Act 3... wait a minute! This classroom is the same room in that scene! It's the eternal classroom!'
I finally realized where I was in. This was the exact same classroom that Monika's Act 3 CG image appears in, where she talks to the player until they decide to delete her character file. Without giving me much time to think about this though, the MC begins talking to me again. The deranged look he currently had was enough to send chills down my spine.
"You were always too kind and loving, Sayori. Instead of defending her miserable existence, you should've joined me in eliminating that demon. That b**** Monika will now burn in hell for every last one of her sins, it's what she deserves for the hell that she unleased upon the literature club."
That isn't something I wanted. Monika deserves happiness. All of us did. It shouldn't be this way. "No..."
"And you'll be together with me again, your childhood friend. I love you, Sayori."
I should be happy after hearing that. MC loves me. This should be the happiest day of my life, and yet, I'm not. How can I be happy, when I just witnessed him killing Monika in cold blood? So instead, I decide to put my feelings on hold and stick to more important matters.
"MC, what are you saying..."
"Yuri and Natsuki are waiting for you too. Forget about Monika. She's not worth mentioning anymore."
"Monika's very dear to me, just like you are, MC..."
"It'll just be the four of us now. Living happily with each other, and sharing poems while eating Natsuki's cupcakes and drinking tea with Yuri."
"But what about Monika-"
"Just the four of us. Enough about that harlot!"
"No..."
"Nothing else matters. Nothing at all."
"No!" I deny once more, with an increased amount of force behind my voice.
"And it'll stay that way. Forever." he finally stood directly in front of me, harshly clamping down on my shoulders with his hands while looking into my eyes.
"NO, I DON'T WANT THIS AT ALL!"
"Forever, Sayori."
"Get out of my head!"
"FOREVER."
I couldn't take it anymore, and entered a nervous breakdown. Clutching my head with both of my hands, I scream to the heavens.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
With a sudden jolt, my eyes flashed wide open. My breathing had become labored, and I began panting heavily. I felt my heart race at the sudden horror that I was exposed to merely moments ago.
"...a dream?"
Apparently, all of that was just part of a dream. A terrifying nightmare.
I tried reassuring myself that everything was fine. It wouldn't be good to relapse into my depression. "MC... I know you aren't like that... Yuri and Natsuki too... it's just a nightmare."
After that disturbing dream sequence, I found myself thinking about those three. They were the only ones left inside DDLC. I really hoped that they would join me and Monika here, on the other side.
"Monika did say that she left a letter inside the game for someone to save them, but I don't know..." I sighed heavily. My breathing returned to normal and I composed myself.
Now that I had been woken up from my sleep by that horrible vision, I took in my current surroundings.
Ms. Yumi was still sleeping soundly in the nearby sleeping bag, while both Izuna and Monika were currently out of sight. I wonder why though?
"Where did they go to?" I asked myself, but in a low enough voice to avoid waking up the older Takaya.
'Maybe they're having some... alone time?' the thought of them engaging in activities like that heated up my cheeks a bit.
Get a grip on yourself Sayori! I shouldn't be assuming stuff like that about others so easily. They might be doing something important! Yep, that's probably it.
Humming to myself in satisfaction, I then try to go back to sleep, but as a prepare to lie down again my eyes manage to catch a glimpse of a person who appeared to be just outside the front door.
"Is that... Izuna?"
My curiosity taking over me, I walk up to the windowsill to get a better look.
The sight that greeted me really gripped at my heart. A very painful image filled my vision.
It was Izuna, kneeling on the ground with a look on his face that made it seem like he had given up on life. I knew, because it was the same look I had when I was hoisted up on the noose during Act 1's finale.
Shockingly, I also noticed that his left cheek had a bright red mark on it, almost as if he had been slapped. Based on his tear-streaked face, it looked like he was crying recently too.
I gasped at what I was seeing. What happened to Izuna?
Wasting no time, I head out the front door of the Takaya household to try and comfort him in any way I can. 'Where is Monika though? Shouldn't she normally be helping Izuna out at a time like this?'
He doesn't notice my presence yet, even though I'm already standing behind him. I gently called out his name to catch his attention.
"Are you alright, Izuna? What happened to you?"
Neither of us moved for what felt like a long time. Feeling awkward, I decided that maybe he didn't want to talk to anybody just yet, and so I started to head back inside the house.
I felt a hand tug at my shirt however and turned around, only to see Izuna looking at me with worn out eyes and a very heartbroken face.
"Don't leave me too, Sayori..."
Moved with pity and concern, I couldn't stop myself from hugging him at that very moment. I knew that he needed someone to comfort him, and since Monika wasn't around, it was up to me to do so.
"Let it all out Izuna... just let the tears fall. I know what it's like to be plagued by rainclouds."
*****The World Beyond The Screen*****
I still couldn't believe what had just happened. It felt so... surreal. Or more like, I kept myself in denial. What a way to end this day.
Monika actually left me.
And not even for the reason I kept fretting over. No, she left due to anger over my foolishness. It was me who caused the one thing I was afraid of, which was Monika leaving me.
She ran away, saying that she needed some time by herself. I had no idea where she had gone off to, and this may very well have been the last time I'll ever see her.
A life without Monika. That was a life not worth living at all.
If only I'd kept my mouth shut. If only I trusted and believed in her. She didn't even have the memories of her time in other DDLC copies, and I was already acting like she was planning to ditch me. I truly am pathetic.
I deserved that slap. I really did. And I bet, the pain of my cheek doesn't even compare in the slightest to the pain I've caused Monika for doubting her...
She was probably crying right now, God knows where, and it's all my fault.
"Monika..."
Sorrow and regret filled the entirety of my heart, and I cried. The salty tears wouldn't stop flowing. I didn't want them to anyway.
Unable to muster any will to move from my spot, I remained kneeling on the pavement of the path to my front door. Frozen and still.
After quite some time, I then felt a presence behind me. I didn't really care though, as my mind was still jumbled up due to the misery of losing my one true love.
"Are you alright, Izuna? What happened to you?" judging by that caring tone in her voice, it was Sayori.
Sayori, the other girl that came from DDLC like Monika.
I was scared to tell her what happened, since she might get angry at me. Thus, I pretended not to hear her and kept staring ahead. However, after a few minutes, I sensed that she was leaving to go back inside the house.
'Maybe I should just tell her... I could use the company too. And besides, Sayori is a good friend too, she might be able to help me...'
Finding my voice, I manage to call out to her weakly before she left. I softly tugged at her shirt to catch her attention.
"Don't leave me too, Sayori..." I guess I was more heartbroken than I thought. It was true though, I didn't want Sayori to leave me either. I've grown quite attached to her too, in the short amount of time that she's been here on the other side.
I've always had a soft spot for the strawberry-blonde girl though. She was as precious as a cinnamon roll, and her death in Act 1 greatly left me saddened. It hurt almost as much as when I deleted Monika in my very first playthrough.
Instead of the questioning look I expected from her due to Monika's absence, Sayori envelops me in a deep embrace, and I found it very difficult to stop myself from crying due to the kind gesture. So I stopped fighting it, and I started sobbing my heart out.
She gently rubs circles around my back, and it felt very soothing. Sayori really had a knack for making the people around her feel better.
"Let it all out Izuna... just let the tears fall. I know what it's like to be plagued by rainclouds."
That's right. Sayori did have depression after all in DDLC. Maybe she still has traces of it somehow?
"What about you, Sayori? Are you fine right now?"
"Yeah... just woke up from an awful nightmare." that had me intrigued. Maybe Sayori needed someone to talk to as well. I can't keep being selfish like this, when people around me are suffering too.
I dry up my tears and put a gentle hand on Sayori's shoulder.
"Let's talk about it inside, I can tell you what happened between me and Monika as well, since you're probably wondering where she is right now."
And so, we went back inside the house and locked the door. I prepared two cups of hot cocoa for me and Sayori, and we sat at the dining table. Yumi was still asleep but I left some of the beverage in the pot for her later if she wanted some as well.
We talked for hours. I told Sayori about my fears regarding the "Singular Entity" theory, and how I inadvertantly blurted out that I was fine with Monika leaving me for someone else.
Sayori told me about the nightmare she just had. And I got pretty terrified from hearing it. The fact that Monika got shot by the MC was nothing short of disturbing. I desperately had to will myself not to vomit at the thought of losing the love of my life via a gruesome gunshot.
As we sipped on our cups of hot cocoa, Sayori looks at me with serious eyes.
"We need to find Monika as soon as possible, Izuna. Who knows what kinds of trouble she might envelope."
"You mean 'encounter'... and I know. But at the same time, I don't think she wants to see me right now."
I see the girl across me pouting. "Izuna! That's not like you! Weren't you the same guy that was obssessed enough with Monika to try and give her a happy ending for months!"
"Yeah..."
"And weren't you madly in love with her?"
"I still am..."
"You're gonna propose to her too in the future, right?"
"That would be the plan indee- wait a minute. Sayori!"
"Ehehe, oopsies." she says in a cutesy manner while doing a finger pyramid. That signature pose of hers where she pushes her two index fingers together. It was Sayori's equivalent of Monika's iconic bending pose.
Sighing lightly, I find my resolve. "But I guess you're right. I should start looking for Monika. In fact, I'll start looking for her right now. Thanks for the pep talk Sayori, I really needed that."
"You're welcome! And thank you for listening to me about my bad dream too..."
We give each other another friendly embrace. Sayori truly was a precious cinnamon roll. Any guy who manages to win her heart is a very lucky man.
"I'm coming with you, Izuna. We'll be able to find her faster if we look together."
I was surprised at the offer, but I accepted it with immense gratitude nonetheless. The quicker we located Monika, the better. I needed to find the love of my life, and beg for her forgiveness over my blatant stupidity.
"I'll take you up on that Sayori, thank you."
She then looks at my sister's sleeping form. "What about Ms. Yumi by the way, will she be fine here while we leave the house?"
"I'll leave her a note, but yes she should be alright, she also has a key to the front door. Now then Sayori, let's get going."
-Chapter 9 END-
Monika's Notes: It's me again! DaMastah101 asked me if I could do this part of the chapter for him, because apparently he's got quite a day ahead of him with his special lady(and no, it isn't me. *pouts*) for Valentine's Day.
Anyways, he should have his recommended fanfic list ready in the next chapter. In behalf of my author, thank you for reading Chapter 9 of TWBTS! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!