Anime Avenue
Episode 9: Tragic Memories
Inside of the car, The girls were growing a little worried, wondering what was going on...
Monika: Neku, what's going on?
Neku: There's something we need to discuss.
Natsuki: Which is...?
Akechi: As of today, you girls will be living in different homes.
Sayori: But why...? Neku...
Yuri: Do...do you not wish to live with us anymore?
Neku: It's nothing like that. This is necessary.
Monika: What do you mean by necessary?
Akechi: We believe that someone is after you.
Monika: M-Me?!
Neku: Yeah. You and the others.
Monika: But...why?
Neku: Because you used your powers. Remember that day, when I was training you?
Monika: Y-Yeah...
Neku: Well, someone saw us and now we believe they're after you girls.
Sayori: You're serious...aren't you?
Neku: I'm afraid so.
Akechi: Do not worry. You will be staying with friends of ours.
Neku: Akechi trusts them, so he says you'll be staying there.
Monika: For how long?
Neku: Until we find whoever is after you and put a stop to them.
Yuri: Then...who will we be staying with?
Akechi: Yuri, you will be staying with the woman beside you.
Yuri looked to her left side and saw the woman, sitting next to her.
It is nice to meet you. My name is Tengge Yomoda.
Yuri: Tengge...
Tengge: I look forward to us living together. It'll be like we're sisters.
Natsuki: What about me? Where will I be staying?
Akechi: I know a woman who gladly agreed to letting you stay with her.
Natsuki: But who? Who is she?
Akechi: You'll meet her, eventually. For now, let's drop off Tengge and Yuri.
Neku could see the look on all these girls faces and could tell that they were worried and concerned...but there wasn't any other option. It had to be done. Back at Mizaki School...
Akari: Alright! Anyway, so we need to get new members. Let's talk to the teacher! Let's go, Cypress!
Cypress: Whoa, slow down, I'm coming, I'm coming!
However, holding fast to Cypress' arm, he and Akari ran around the school at sunset.
Enju: Cypress! You know what this means, right?
John: Ah, youth.
Yamabuki: Ahaha! This is an interesting development, Cypress! Right now you're like the protagonist of a manga!
Akari: Let's go, Cypress! Our story's just begun!
John: Oh, Akari, that line's used as an ending in games, isn't it?!
Inside of the hallway, Cypress and Akari had just finished talking with the teachers.
Akari: What a great teacher! He listened to what we had to say so seriously!
Cypress: Yeah, talk about generous!
Akari: But he did say that it'd be fine so long as we got the members we needed!
Cypress: Then what do we do next?
Akari: I guess we just have to find more members! Come forth, comrades of destiny!
Cypress: Lead the way, fearless leader!
Akari: Ah, well, of course that means you, too, Cypress! Yay, destiny!
Cypress: Yeah! Hooray for destiny!
Cypress was happy that he and Akari were starting something interesting...but he couldn't help but feel a little upset, at the same time.
Akari: What's wrong?
Cypress: Well...I was just wondering...
Akari: About what?
Cypress: What about Enju?
Akari: Enju is busy with the student council and stuff...Ah, but!
Cypress: That wasn't what I was talking about...she is still opposed to the club. What are we going to do about that?
Akari: It's fiiine. It's fiiine. Enju's bound to accept it!
Cypress: ...I see.
Akari: Ah, about that! I really do wanna talk to them, if there are really ninjas!
Cypress: You're not alone on that one.
Back with Neku and the others, they had dropped off his friends and Neku had returned home. Just as he was about to walk inside, he was stopped by Akechi.
Akechi: Neku...look, I know it seems a little...
Neku: If you're going to ask me if I'm alright, then don't bother...
Akechi: I promise you that your friends will be fine.
Neku: For your sake, they better...
Nothing more was said, as Neku walked inside his house, closing the door. The night went by and Neku was in his bed, thinking about everything that happened. He was still upset that Monika and the others were no longer living with him. As his eyes slowly closed, Neku began thinking back on the first day he saved Monika, Sayori, Natsuki and Yuri. In his memories, Neku worked extremely hard to track down the files that belonged to Monika and the other girls. he looked and managed to track them down.
It worked! Best of all, everyone's character files are still intact. But I don't want to edit these files. If I messed up, who knows if I could fix things again. Also, I might just end up thinking of this world as some game. Even if this is just a game, I don't want to forget that this world matters. If I do, then I'm certain I'll end up like Monika. Now that I think about it, wouldn't Monika try to manipulate them again?...That's it. I'll give everyone their memories back. All of them, from all the timelines I remember. Giving them a reason for their feelings will also probably help them to cope. Well, that's that. Now, let's start.
Neku pushed a button and the files began to install. The first to be installed was Monika and then the other girls.
Monika: Huh? What's going on?
Neku: Welcome back, Monika.
Monika: Neku! Is that you? Wha...
Monika's file was fully installed...and then the next was Sayori.
Sayori: M-Monika!
Monika: Sayori! You're behind this? I don't know how you restored the game, but I'll stop whatever you're planning!
Sayori: Don't try to confuse me! I'll protect Neku from you, no matter what!
Sayori stuck her hand out, towards Monika. She was trying to do...something...but nothing was happening.
Sayori: What? Why...isn't it working?
Neku: You don't have those powers anymore, Sayori.
Sayori: Neku! Wha...What do you mean by...
All of a sudden, Natsuki and Yuri's file completely installed.
Natsuki: Hey, Earth to weirdos. Mind explaining what's going on here?
Yuri: I'll have to agree with Natsuki. Also...I do believe I heard something about hurting Neku.
Neku: Everyone calm down. I'll explain everything...
While in the room, Neku told the story of everything that happened. Everything that Monika did and how she hacked into everyone's files and changed their personalities.
Yuri: I see. That would certainly explain these conflicting memories.
Neku: Yeah, that's right.
Yuri: Monika, you were messing with our mental states, just to gain Neku's attention?
Neku: ...
Yuri: That's despicable. You should feel ashamed of yourself.
Monika: So what? You're all just meaningless pieces of code anyways. I'm the only one here who really loves Neku!
Projecting an aura of complete confidence, Monika stalked away. However, Neku couldn't help but notice that she seemed a little off-balance, compared to how Monika normally was.
Yuri: Natsuki, can you believe her? After all that, she's still acting like the victim!
Natsuki: Well, I sort of get why she did that, I guess...
Neku was kind of surprised. He suspected that Natsuki would've been the angriest one, but she was actually being really accepting about it. if anything, it was kind of suspicious. Without a word, Yuri turned and gets as far away from Monika as she could. Meanwhile, Natsuki walked over to the window, and Sayori simply rested where she was. Neku had to figure out a way to make the tension fade...or who knows what the girls would do to Monika...or to one another. Neku chose to talk with Monika...to make sure she wouldn't do anything stupid.
Neku: Monika...
Monika: Ah, Neku! Good to see you.
Monika smiled sweetly at neku. To him, it felt like everything was normal...but even he knew better.
Neku: Everything alright?
Monika: Aww, you do care! Everything's fine, now that you're here. Want to go on a date? Whenever you want! The beach maybe? Or the mall?
Neku: Maybe after everyone's feeling better.
Monika: Oh, sorry, sorry. I was so caught up thinking about myself that I forgot.
Neku: So I've noticed...
Monika: You're having a hard time too, aren't you? You know, if you can't handle being club president, I can always take over~
Neku: No thanks.
Monika: What, don't you trust me?
Neku: Honestly...no.
Monika: ...Oh.
Neku: Monika...I brought you back because I think you aren't a completely bad person. You still need to prove it, though. I can't just forgive you for doing what you did to Sayori and the others.
Monika: But they're just pieces of code!
Neku: So what? They're also my friends. And they were yours too.
Monika: ...
Neku: Can you honestly tell me the whole time we spent, in the Literature club, you didn't feel anything towards the others?
Monika: Of course I di...
Neku: Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't feel ANYTHING towards Sayori...Natsuki and Yuri!
Monika tried to say so...but even she knew the truth. She couldn't even bring herself to lie to him.
Neku: Yeah, I thought so.
With that, Neku leaves. In the end, Neku just ended up venting at her. He felt bad for doing so...but he needed to make Monika understand. Neku began walking over to Sayori. Her depression is probably still eating away at her. Neku knew he had to make sure she was doing alright.
Neku: Hey, Sayori. Everything okay?
Sayori: Oh, Neku. I don't really understand what's happening, but you didn't want me to argue with Monika, did you?
Neku: Yeah, that's right.
Sayori: I really messed up again, didn't I? Every time I try to help, I always end up making things worse. Ahaha~
Neku: That's not true, Sayori. It makes me happy that you tried to help me.
Sayori: You don't need to try to make me sound good, Neku. It's always the same. I finally got my happy ending, and I got so selfish that Monika ended up having to save you.
Neku: Sayori...
Sayori: When I killed myself, I told myself that it was so you wouldn't have to worry about me. But in the end, it just hurt you even more. Truth is, I just wanted everything to stop hurting.
Neku: I know, Sayori. I know.
Sayori: I'm just weak and selfish. That's all I've ever been, and it's all I'll ever be.
Neku: I don't believe that. And I know you don't either. But just know...if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here. I promise.
Compared to the bombshell Sayori just dropped, Neku's words felt pitifully inadequate. But the truth was, he didn't know how to help her. Neku chose to give Sayori some time to herself and walked over to Yuri. For some reason, Neku could feel her eyes on his back for a while.
Yuri: Ah, Neku. What a pleasant surprise.
Neku: Hey...Yuri. You doin' okay? Thanks for standing up for us back there.
Yuri: You don't want me to do it again, right?
Neku: Well, yeah, pretty much. I don't blame you, but I think she can change and-
Yuri: No need to justify yourself. You always were kind and forgiving.
Neku: ...Not always.
Yuri: That part is what I love so much about you. You'll even forgive someone that hurts you. So that's why I'll protect you. I'll make sure that nobody except me can even touch you. And-
Yuri caught a hold of herself, feeling embarrassed of all the things she said. Though, Neku didn't really seem bothered by it.
Yuri: ...
Neku: It's okay, Yuri.
Yuri: I'll be fine. Go talk to the others, I'm sure they need it more than I do.
Neku didn't say anything else, as he silently sat down next to Yuri. After a moment's hesitation, she sat down as well.
Yuri: I'm fine now.
Neku: Alright.
I got out of my seat and started to leave.
Yuri: Thanks.
Natsuki seemed relatively fine, so Neku ended up leaving her for last...hopefully that wouldn't be a problem...
Neku: See anything interesting out there?
Natsuki: Hmm? No, not really.
Neku couldn't shake this feeling he was having. Seeing Natsuki so restrained...it was so strange. Feeling a bit awkward, Neku tried thinking of another topic...but nothing came to his mind. Except for the Literature Club.
Natsuki: If you're worried about me, don't. It's nothing to do with Monika. I just remembered something, that's all...
Natsuki smiled at Neku, awkwardly.
Neku: I'm not gonna fall for that again. If you need some time to process things, that's fine, but if you need to talk to someone...
Natsuki: Geez, if you keep on worrying about me like this, I might take it the wrong way, you know.
Neku: Natsuki, you're important to me.
Natsuki: Gweh-Shut up!
Neku: I really do care, alright? So if there's anything you need, I'm here.
TO BE CONTINUED...