7/8/18 AN: Chapter 40 has been uploaded. I promise that the next chapter will be the start of the long awaited beach chapter. This chapter is also the finale of Act 2, and leads up to Act 3, as it details Val's choice on who he wishes to pursue.
Please read the AN found at the end of the chapter.
Sorry for the ghost chapter #41. I forgot to delete it and re-upload this.
Lemons will be still be available later in that chapter.
AN: Alright, so I am back once more. In my area, there's a massive heat wave, and its burning hot out here.
The next chapter will be released Sunday, and it will be the first part of the beach chapter. But, it will not cut to it. Half of it will be dedicated to some Monika fluff that I left off at and half of it will be the start of the arc. Because of this, there will be around 4 to 5 more chapters left of this fic.
Also, I am happy to say that this fic has reached 150+ favorites, and also has 50,000 views, though many dropped out after reading the first chapter. I don't blame them.
Now, for the next chapter is going to have lemon. But the thing is, I am unsure of what to do. Should make it implied? Or should be descriptive of it? Let me know in the reviews.
One more thing, give some suggestions on what should happen in the beach chapter. That way I can be much more speedy on delivering fan service. Oh yeah, Blitz Play is one of my favorite mission and soundtrack in a game that many of you have already heard.
Anyway, on to the reviews.
Ryustorm, well you are very close actually. It isn't the AI and the first letter of the bot name gives away the identity. And yeah, I am going include your suggestion of the watermelon. Happy birthday!
TitanSolracar, There's a way, don't worry. And hey, that seems like a good plan, you know.
Now for that world war Z game? That looks fun to play.
Remember, Monika is well versed with the internet, so she knows what's up. That dat boi thing, was to cringe both the reader and Val.
And I actually don't have a clue what you are describing on the hands and thing.
I am not skipping the scene, really. I am going to work on it, somewhat.
I actually forgot to include that part about Val's parents calling him. Thanks for reminding me!
Tsudzukete, yeah my bad. I am going to revamp some of the dialogue and the reason as to why Val abandoned his plan. I'll admit that it is a bit underwhelming. Though some of the questions kind of confused me, lol. Thanks for pointing that out. I knew something was a bit off about the chapter.
Storm, yep blitz play. Soundtrack is awesome as Simon's from Payday 2.
Roast Lord, I sent you a PM regarding all this.
Guardian, Hah you smart with that quick reference.
Also, I haven't heard of Ajit Pai in a damn while. I guess he is keeping it on the down low, since everyone mostly hates him. Oh yeah, that EU thing about banning memes is actually something I can't take seriously, despite it being something dire.
That navy seals copypasta was something I had to include, since I remember when it popular and widespread. I modified the pasta to fit Monika's context.
Is this loss?
WEST VIRGINIAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Ah, you noticed the reference to him. Nice!
I think you are missing a H in your s-m. Those were great times, reach back then was the hottest and most funnest thing out there.
Yeah me too, I forgot what was so shady.
I would say 550 rupees from zelda or something like that idk. I can't say which currency to use exactly, since they aren't in the world anymore.
Pffff, you right on that nickname. But I like "beloved" because Batman Arkham City. Shit was insane.
I appreciate that you still make these reviews from the beginning. Thank you.
YUHYUHYUHYHH, no not really. I am going to go back to it, don't worry.
AydenK, Thanks, I needed to amp up the puns.
The chapter is right below, and it contains whiplash. Readers beware.
I knew right away that it was Monika who gasped.
I felt her lecherous eyes search me.
I was completely and utterly nude.
There was absolutely nothing covering my genitals.
My eyes opened slowly to see her just staring at me.
Timidity got a hold of me, as I couldn't bear to look at her back.
She was naked in front of me, and yet I didn't take advantage.
It was all attributed to a mix of fear and uncertainty, both of which preventing me to peek at Monika's body.
"Wow..." She muttered, still keeping her gaze at me.
Her emerald green eyes were at shock, as at disbelief from what she was seeing.
Suddenly, Monika knelt down and scanned my genitals.
"It's bigger than I thought..." She muttered.
She maneuvered her head, to further gaze at the exposed skin.
Her stare felt as if they were burning me.
That burning sensation caused me to become more erect.
She recoiled her head from the growth in surprise.
"It's growing!'
Monika gave sounds of amusement and curiosity as it grew.
I felt her stare intensify to a new degree.
"Wow..."
This stare of hers caused me to become self-conscious.
I was able to see a finger extended out, with an intend to poke and jab at.
Additionally, her stare grew to a point where I covered myself with my hands.
"Stop staring!" I demanded, feeling that the roles have switched.
That woke Monika up.
She shook her head at turned her attention to me.
"Right, sorry!" She apologized, as she stood up.
The role switch made things even more awkward, making us reluctant to make a move.
To assert my so-called role, I decided that to stand tall and look straight into her eyes.
Her green eyes.
"Monika, remember our deal?" I asked.
She looked distracted, as she was still staring at my covered crotch.
In attempt to regain some consciousness, she shook her head a bit more vigorously.
Monika looked up to me with an obvious unease and anxiety.
"Yeah, I do..."
She then covers herself in return.
I saw her visibly gulp, while flushing a red tint.
"It's that... I never seen a penis up close." She admitted.
I shrunk from her confession.
"Um... that's pretty unfortunate." I attempted to comfort.
Monika looked at me, waiting for me to press her on how she has not seen such a thing.
I was able to resist, however.
So, I simply walked over to the pool of water and gazed at it.
The tub was more like a small pool or a Jacuzzi, allowing for water to be flowing and heated.
The water was a misty-white, appearing to be very translucent, to the point where it almost looked opaque.
A mist arose from the water, inviting to sit down and relax.
I heeded the call and jumped right in, moving to a corner of the tub to lay my arms out.
The warm misty-white water rushed all over my body, caressing my skin with it's warmth and comfort.
I felt my tense muscles finally calm down, allowing me to relax.
All the anxiety I felt was all gone, and I wished to let myself loose.
I turned to her with half-lidded eyes.
Her mouth was slightly parted, baffled from my actions.
I rolled my eyes and motioned her to come over.
"Alright, I'll ask you all about it... if you get in this tub."
Monika nodded, slowly taking her steps towards the tub.
With an experimental tap with her toe, she sinks her foot into the water.
I saw her elated face as she felt the warm water calm her down.
And so she jumped right in, causing me to recoil from the water splashing on me.
I gave her a glare, and in turn she giggled.
I then sighed, allowing me to immerse myself with the water.
It became quickly apparent that she was starting to become attuned to the warm water.
And so, I thought that it was now the appropriate time to ask her the question she wanted to hear.
With a smile, I asked: "So, what were you about to say?"
Monika's red face immediately returned, obviously embarrassed from the context I was providing.
Looks like that the water didn't begin to seep into her pores.
To make Monika tense up like that...
It means she's hiding something good.
This water can make the most rigid of people, loose.
She looked away.
"Nothing..."
I arched an eyebrow.
"Mon, you wanted me to ask you this, and now you don't want me to?" I pointed out.
I instinctively reached out to her to help extract information.
But I managed to stop myself from reaching any further.
Any contact will most likely lead to something intense...
"Well... I just realized how weird it sounded when I said that. So... forget about it."
Monika then submerged herself lower, leaving her head the only part above the water.
The comfort I was experiencing prevented me from asking any more questions.
And it seemed that she was at peace from me not pressing her.
I should wait a bit, let her relax first before pressing her.
That way, she can open up to me.
We lied there in the warm and misty water in silence, letting it wash away our stresses and troubles.
Our muscles didn't budge at all, completely stuck in their tracks.
I sluggishly watched as the warm water started to condense into a white mist.
A mist that surrounded us completely.
Now that water took the time to seep into Monika, she was now relaxed enough to let loose.
"How about now? Do you want to explain what you were going to say?" I asked again, hoping this time was more successful.
She hummed in response.
"Sure..." She lazily muttered.
I let out a deep breath.
"You never saw a... you know, that before? Up close?"
Monika had her eyes closed, seemingly ignoring my questions.
"Nope..."
Her answer was somewhat monotone, and it dissuaded me to ask.
Instead I smirked.
You and your mind games...
So very devious...
So very devious, indeed.
...
God, I love her and her games.
"You wanted the tables to turn, huh? I can take it. Especially now that we are relaxing..."
I lied my head back.
"Here... just the two of us." I went on.
"Mhm."
I let my eyes catch a bit of shut-eye and cleared my throat.
"So, let me guess, the reason why you couldn't see one of those is because of parental control, or something?"
I opened one eye to see her shrug subtly.
"I guess you can say that. The Internet is kind of censored for me, and I am not sure why. Whenever someone else joins the Wi-Fi, they have full access to everything."
Her head went lower, her chin now underwater.
"I'm guessing that my devices have that setting or something. After all, my dad's a computer whiz and stuff, it's only obvious that he chew features like those. But I don't mind, I am pretty sure I am not missing out on anything, right?" She asked, with a small sense of worry in her voice.
I shook my head.
"I don't like talking about this, but you're kind of missing out...? I don't know really. This is kind of a touchy subject that me and my friends don't discuss, so I barely have anything to go on, Mon." I explained.
Monika opened one eye and beamed at me.
"Oh, is that so? Then why don't you show me what I am missing?"
That single question managed to tense me up.
"Uh... what? I don't get what you are trying to say."
She sighed happily, closing one eye again.
"Show me how your dick works." Monika explained.
Wait, what?
I immediately widened my eyes from her demand.
I gritted my teeth to show my unease at the direction of where this was going.
The now uneasy atmosphere made me cough.
I chuckled a little to help diffuse the tense air.
"Ehehe... Monika... remember what I said? No sex stuff." I warned.
She then opened both of her eyes up, looking somewhat annoyed.
"Even when relaxing, you're still a prude." Monika stated with a frown. "But you're my prude. And only mine."
I leered at her.
"Thanks, that means a lot." I said, half-seriously.
The tense atmosphere was now lessened, and it allowed me to relax.
Her compliment didn't mean that it was the end.
"Can you stroke it just once?" She asked.
I gave a lazy glare.
"No." I simply answered.
She rocked her head backwards and let out an irritated sigh.
"I swear, if you're like this when we do get married, I will make sure to spike every meal you eat with Viagra!" She threatened.
Jesus Christ...
Wait, get married?
She already has her future planned out for us?
Just us?
It's kind of creepy, but very sweet...
A bit naive too.
What about my friends...?
Urgh...
What about Yuri and Natsuki?
Constantly worrying about the future is something I hate doing...
That and knowing that I backed myself into corner with my attraction for the girls.
I saw Monika smirk triumphantly, with her eyes still closed.
"Hmph! That should get you out of your prude behavior!" She smugly declared.
I simply rolled my eyes.
"Psssh... that won't be the case. I will let my inner beast loose, as soon as we get married." I countered.
Monika scoffed at me.
"I don't believe you. Besides, spiking every meal with Viagra sounds like a good idea to do when we are at the beach..." She pondered.
"Do you even have Viagra on you?"
She nodded.
"Yep! I also have condoms. The school gives them out for free."
Monika raises an eyebrow.
"You didn't know that?"
"Nope, I have only been to school for a week, how am I supposed to know about that? Look, the point is, you don't have to spike every meal with that. I can get my hard-on whenever I want to."
"I doubt it, Val. You really like behaving like a prude." She teased.
I pursed my lips, slightly upset.
"I won't behave like a prude if we do get married! It's just... pre-marital sex isn't something I am comfortable with!"
Even though I am going to be forced to do such a thing.
She arched an eyebrow at me.
"Why's that? Does it run in your family, or something?"
Her repeated teasing made me smirk.
"Nope, it's just that I am born into a really good-willed family!" I boasted.
She rolled her eyes at me.
"If that's the case then, you wouldn't be so hard-fought against it. I see the look in your eyes when you are dealing with something..."
Monika cleared her throat.
"Difficult."
The look in my eyes?
Obviously it was a bit off-putting for Monika to say such a thing.
"What do you mean, that I am so 'hard-fought' against it? Does that mean you could see the struggle I am going through?"
She nodded.
"Yep! The way you fight makes it look as if there is going on in there. That's why I believe that, there's got to be more on why you are such a prude." She reasoned.
She's onto me...
Monika is really, really smart on picking that up...
My thought process made me impressed.
And because of that, I smiled.
She caught onto my smile.
"Why are you smiling?" She asked.
My smile grew brighter.
"It's just that you are really, really quick on picking up things, Monika." I complimented.
Her eyes glowed from the compliment.
It was as if she rarely gotten any sort of affection like that.
"Really? I know that many girls told me that but..."
Monika cutely presses her cheeks together.
"But a guy saying that to me, feels really different. It just makes me feel all girly inside!"
I chuckled as I watched her little girl moment form.
"Anyway, you're right. There is more as to why I am a so-called prude."
"Beloved, you're a prude."
I continued.
"On the male side of my family, we have some sort of genetics that cause us to get very... carnal around our mates. I don't know if it's a survival instinct or something, but this so-called beast of ours makes for very intense and passionate sex. That is why am I a you know... a prude."
Monika looked at me with disbelief.
"So if I let this 'beast' out..." She said with air quotation marks. "Does that mean you will um..."
There was heat forming in her face, as she meekly looked away.
"Do something a b-bit more intense, like that time we had outside the literature club?"
My mind raced back to our little scene back outside of the club.
Still not sure how nobody noticed us...
I gulped and turned my attention to the water.
"Yeah... maybe. Maybe something more intense can happen."
I shivered at the thought of that.
"Hey... are you shivering from that?" She asked.
I looked up to her.
"No! Not at all!"
She sighed in response.
"Jeez, Val. We have a lot of work to do, if we are going to break your developed behavior..."
I gave her glare.
"No... that isn't the case! I swear, once we are married, we will have tantric sex in every single free moment!" I proudly asserted.
I didn't realize the gravity of my words.
I closed my eye and let out a sigh, content with my declaration.
There was silence between us, no words were spoken over my assertion.
...
Wait a minute...
I shot my eyes up to see Monika, trying her utmost hardest on stifling her giggles at me.
It was only then, that I realized what exactly what I said.
"I... didn't mean it like that!" I hurriedly corrected.
But, it was too late.
Monika let out a string of heart-thumping laughter, relishing the mistake I made.
I frowned at this, self-berating myself from what my words.
Why did I even say that?!
I'm such an idiot!
I looked at her.
"You planned this all along, didn't you! You wanted a confession from me!" I accused, with a slight frown.
My frown was slowing turning into a smile however.
She shook her head, while still laughing.
"No! Hahaha! No! This wasn't even what wanted, but it is still worth it! Hehehe~!"
I sighed, knowing that I couldn't stay mad at her.
Along with the fact that I need to laugh at myself.
And so, I slowly started to laugh with her.
Our chorus of laughter made the moment last a while.
It was a moment that I couldn't forget.
As our laughing finally started to die down, we looked to each other.
We slowly started to advance on one another, moving closer and closer.
The distance we started closing up on felt natural.
It felt right.
And there I was, with a beautiful, sweetheart smiling in front of me.
Her green shimmering eyes that looked...
Comforting.
Confident.
And filled with boundless love.
I raised my hand up, the water splashing in response.
I was just about to give her well deserved head-pats, but she had another idea on mind.
She lunged at me, her naked body curving against mine.
Her head rested at my shoulder, and mine rested at hers.
I squeezed her, enjoying the warmth she provided.
"I love you, my darling." She whispered.
With her in my arms, I felt as if I could take on the world.
"I love you too, my beloved."
We pulled away from each other, our next steps now escalating towards more contact.
We both made strong attempts not to touch each other further.
Monika's breathing was heavy, full of want and lust.
Mine was too, trying to fight the urges off of following my heart.
I saw her give a small frown at me.
"Do you promise that you will be with me?" She asked.
I was just about to answer, until she cut me off again.
"Forever?"
I grabbed her forearms and brought her closer to me.
"Even though I have two girls gunning for me, I will make sure that you will stay satisfied. And I already promised you that."
Our faces were just a mere inches away.
"I am never letting you go."
I moved my hands up to her face and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Forever."
And with that, Monika's small frown was replaced by a giddy and toothy smile.
In an instant, her arms locked onto my neck and pulled me in.
My lips met hers as we fell into the deeper recesses of the tub.
The warm water rushed us both, as we kissed.
The water amplified the existing euphoria, allowing lust to come into play.
My hands quickly found their way to her back and I pulled her close to my chest.
And so we deepened the kiss.
With repeated attacks on her lips, we were starting to lose oxygen.
Because of that, I got her in my arms and pulled her up with me.
We stayed each other's comfort for a while, enjoying the silence and the moment granted to us.
Monika broke the silence first.
"Even though you're a prude, you are still a romantic."
I smirked.
"Yeah, I am not sure how I can be so romantic. It feels as if everything has been hardwired... or the fact that I read some romance novels in my early teen years."
She looked up to me.
"Oh, I remember! You said that you were interested in romance, horror, and anything that fits your boat, right?"
I nodded.
"Yep, that's how I remember it. I guess reading that helped me with doing what I wanted to do."
I started to caress her brown hair, to which she hummed.
"And that means to be a romantic."
I looked up to the ceiling in thought.
"But... I should say that there is a fine line of being a 'virgin' and being a romantic."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
I brought my other hand up to stroke my chin in thought.
"Hmm... let me put this way."
I gave myself a few seconds to gather my thoughts.
"To be a "virgin" is to go a bit over the top, like pampering you with junk food, excessive cuddling, and devoting most of my attention to you."
I looked down to her.
"Do I do that?" I worriedly asked.
She shook her head.
"No... not really. But I kind of get what you are trying to say. If you constantly pamper me, then of course I am going to get tired of it."
Her first words worried me.
"What do you mean, 'not really'?"
She laid her ear on my chest, resting on me.
"You're a sweet guy, Val. And that sweetness is kind of bordering the line to you know, a 'virgin'."
I didn't know what to say or to respond.
"Should I stop holding you or-"
"No! Don't stop!" She yelled.
I winced a bit.
She giggled nervously.
"Sorry, you tend to put your mind into things you find apparently wrong. But it isn't! Look, I'll let you know if you're overdoing things. For now, just be yourself. Okay?"
My worried expression allowed me finally crack smile.
"Okay, that will do. Just don't forget to make sure you give me a heads up. I can be pragmatic, Mon."
I chuckled.
"Or maybe, I'll know when to stop if you ask for a kale in a bowl."
"Eh?! Why would I want kale in a bowl? I'm better off with Reese's Puffs!"
I shrugged.
"You did say that you were a vegetarian, so I thought you would like that. A kale in a bowl."
Monika started to burrow herself into my chest.
"Mmmrgh! Shut up... and keep petting me."
And I continued to give her the well-deserved head-pats.
Wait a minute...
Does she even deserve head-pats?
My thinking process caused me to momentarily stop petting her.
As a result, she pulled away from me brusquely.
"Hey! Why did you stop?!" She irritably yelled, upset that her pats were delayed.
If I stop now, she'll tear me apart!
I wasted no time to pet her.
Monika then went back to my chest, siphoning all the comfort found there.
It didn't take long until Monika decided to pull away from me and rise up from the water.
She stood tall and proud, letting the mist cover her body almost completely.
I arched an eyebrow as to why she abruptly ended her head-pats and petting.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked.
She didn't respond, as I saw her steadily climb out of the tub and walking away from it.
I eyed her behavior.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Monika didn't respond, instead diving deeper into the mist.
I started to worry about her.
Ah...
She'll be fine, I am sure she's just getting something.
I closed my eyes and let my thoughts lead me to a calmer place.
The last remaining effects of Jasmine were finally beginning to wear off.
My head started to feel a bit clearer, in terms of other thoughts.
Before the effects of that aroma, all I felt was increased sexual drive.
But, somehow the water was able to completely nullify that drive and let me relax.
Do I have adverse reaction to it?
I know it's supposed to give me a clearer head as well, but...
I guess sexual drive can clog up the mind as well.
My thoughts distracted from the pitter-patter of the water.
And so, when I opened my eyes, I didn't expect a smiling Monika in front of me.
How did she get in here?!
Why is she so close all of a sudden?!
The sudden appearance of her made me back up to the tub, only for her to advance just a bit.
She wants something...
"Can you help me bathe?" Monika sweetly asked.
The fact that she was extremely close, made it difficult to move my hands close to me.
She was practically on me, beaming me with a cute smile.
"Pleasseee?" She begged.
I shook my head.
"Nah... you can do it yourself." I said, lying my back and closing my eyes.
She pressed closer to me.
"C'mon on! Please?"
"No."
She crawled onto me.
"Please?"
I opened my eyes at her scuttling.
"Pretty pleeeease?"
For fuck's sake!
She is definitely not going to let this up!
I don't blame her, the fact that we are bathing together allows for the perfect time for stuff like this.
I sighed.
"You didn't really answer my question from before, though. Why did you pull away from me so abruptly?"
She started twirl her hair and straightening it out.
"Well you were playing with my hair a bit, so I needed to fix it."
I didn't get what she was saying.
"I love my hair, that's why it's like this!" She explained.
With o-shaped mouth, I nodded at her.
"You didn't answer my question too, Val."
I transformed my o-shaped mouth with a reluctant frown.
"Fine." I uttered. "But no sexual things, alright? If I dare to touch you in anyway, you do not react to it with lust."
Her confident posture shrunk.
Monika gave a cute pout, clearly disappointed that her plan was foiled.
"Aw! Then what's the fun in that?"
I gave her a tired look.
Her pouting came to an end.
"Okay... I won't react to your touching."
She looked away to find her washing tools.
"But don't blame me if your hands manage to turn me on." Monika enigmatically stated.
I shrugged.
"Ah, you'll be fine. Besides, all you really need help on is the back, right?"
With the soap and scrub in her hands, she looked offended.
"Of course not! You're going to help bathe my entire body! That's the point of having someone to bathe with you!"
I widened my eyes.
"Wait, wait, hold up! What do you mean your whole body?!" I anxiously asked.
Monika gave an annoyed sigh and slowly advanced to me.
I retreated, moving towards the steps of the bathroom.
To which, I sat down on the steps, anxious from her retreat.
"We can talk about this... there's no need to act rashly!" I reasoned.
She totally forgot about the deal!
Monika slowly walked up the steps, the water dripping from her body.
She towered over me, putting her hands on her hips.
The mist wasn't there to cover her nudity at all, giving me full access to ogle.
My eyes immediately went to her breasts, they were completely exposed showing their full shape and pink nipples.
I didn't notice the malicious grin on her face, or the fact that I was getting turned on.
The water glistened throughout her body, allowing it to exude and radiate her beauty.
Slowly, my eyes went down her body, trailing down to her toned stomach and hips.
They found their way to her clit, to which was completely shaved.
"Having fun down there?" She smugly asked.
Her words caused me to wake up.
I was turned on by Monika and I needed to avoid all this.
I forced my eyes to look into the water, I tried to gather myself.
"I guess I will take your silence as a yes!"
I sighed from her statement.
"You really are pushing me to my limits aren't you?" I asked, without looking up.
The fact that Monika was standing in front of me, completely and utterly naked, made it difficult to gather my thoughts.
"Yep! Not only that, it's pretty fun to tease you, beloved."
"Well, you know what?"
I looked up to her, only to see her grinning down at me.
She's pretty toned...
Everything about her is above-average...
My eyes got distracted by her beauty.
My mouth quivered, struggling to find the right words to say.
I then gave up, as I gritted my teeth and stared at her.
"Two can play it that game."
I stood up as well, now standing tall in front of her.
There was an obvious height difference, as I was able to tower over her.
Monika attempted to regain her height by going on her toes, but to no avail.
"Jeez, Val! How tall are you, anyway?" She asked somewhat jealously.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Six feet? I am fairly average, I just keep my back straight all the time, Mon."
She gives up on gaining the same height as me.
"If that's the case, then how come Yuri is almost the same height as you? She's about five foot five!"
I raised my other eyebrow.
"She is? I never noticed that..."
I shook my head to regain focus.
"Enough about that! Don't forget about my deal! Now go back to your spot in the tub!" I demanded with authority.
As usual, Monika decided to rebel.
"No!"
She stayed in her spot, leaning forward with her hands on her hips.
I smirked, knowing that she was going to pull something like that off.
"I had a feeling that you were going to say that. So if you aren't going to respect our deal, then I am going to leave you and not give you a bath!" I countered.
And the counter was completely successful, as I started to see fear in Monika's eyes.
As a result she backed off.
"Wait... you're going to leave me...?" She asked with heartbreaking paranoia.
I nodded slowly, causing Monika to become increasingly hurt.
That doesn't look good...
"Yeah, as in staying in the living room and playing with my friends." I explained.
When Monika understood my explanation, she balled her fists up and pulled a punch.
*WHACK*
"Ow!" I yelped.
I rubbed the afflicted part of my chest.
"What was that for?!"
She gave a relieved sigh and glared at me.
"Next time, explain what your exact words means, idiot! I thought you were going to leave me!" She shouted, in anger.
I winced from her shout.
"Alright, my bad. I already promised that I won't leave you. But, you still need to uphold your part of the deal, Mon."
She started to shake in frustration, but gave up.
"Uuu! Fine! You're lucky that I have nothing to counter that!"
She begrudgingly walked back to her spot in the tub.
I followed to her spot, grabbing the soap and tools for bathing.
"Okay!" I started. "Where should I rub and clean first?"
She pointed towards her coral hair.
"You can start by washing my hair!"
I was unsure about that.
"I don't know how to do your hair... for guys it's just pour some water over your hair, smack some shampoo in and rub it off."
Monika rolled her eyes.
"I guess I'll have to walk you through it... Just follow my lead."
I nodded.
"Of course."
Monika pointed to the shampoo and conditioner conveniently placed next to me.
"Since my hair is damp enough, we can start off with the shampoo."
I reached for the shampoo and opened the cap.
It's aroma was a mix of apricot and pine-tree, which was a pleasing mix to me.
"So... do I just lather it up and wash it down?"
She looked offended and shook her head.
"No! As a girl, there is way more involved! I want to keep my hair colorful and pretty!"
I sighed.
"You really like having everything perfect, huh?"
That stopped her critique.
"Not everything has to be perfect... I just like to have my hair done in a really specific way!"
I snickered at her.
"Aaah... you wouldn't understand how some other ordinary guy would react if I told them that. They would just laugh it off, instead of taking it seriously."
"Wait... are you taking this seriously?"
I nodded at her quickly.
"Of course I am! Why would I mess up your appearance? You're beautiful and I intend to keep it that way!"
Monika blushed at my dedication.
"You're such an awesome guy, Val."
I smirked at her.
"I guess I am."
I followed Monika's instructions on washing her hair properly.
From the shampoo and the conditioner, everything was done in a very specific manner.
After I washed Monika's shining hair, I turned my attention to my body.
Monika's hair had been covered by a towel, in order to absorb the water from the wash.
I looked for any sources of soap or body-wash to help clean myself further.
Might as well, since I am going to the beach tomorrow.
My eyes searched the whole bathroom for any sort other sort of cleaning tool.
"Val, are you looking for something?" Monika asked.
I turned to her.
She was still in the water, only for a green towel to cover her upper head.
"Yeah, I am just looking for some body wash. Or maybe some soap, if this suite doesn't have any."
"Body wash?"
I nodded.
"I mean, I don't usual use body-wash in a bath... nor do I think you should, but it's worth a try."
Monika understood where I was getting at.
"There's a dispenser for that right here."
She pointed to the body wash dispenser nearby.
"Ah. Thanks."
I walked over to the dispenser, only for Monika to block it.
"Argh..." I groaned out, causing Monika to giggle. "What now?"
"I'll move out of your way, if you let me wash you. Since went through the... arduous task of washing and lathering my hair, I want repay the favor. And besides, you still need to wash my body later, so this can be a bit of a test run."
I pointed a finger at her.
"You can only wash my upper-body. The rest I can do myself, got it?" I reluctantly agreed.
That was more than enough for Monika, apparently.
She beamed her usual imperfect smile.
"That will do. And besides, I think you might want more later."
Monika then pumped the dispenser, allowing blue fluid to flow out of it.
I tried to relax as she approached me, but there was a lingering feeling of fear and unease.
What if she pushes it?
What if she tries to touch me?
I should just call it off now!
"Monika, wait-!"
It was too late.
Monika had her hands behind me, specifically my shoulders.
Her hands rubbed the body-wash on them.
I felt her hands have a strange intent with, as she was caressing them somewhat.
"Wow... you have really nice... shoulders." She complimented.
"Upper body day is the day where you work every part of arms, shoulders, and chest. Leave nothing behind and feel sore afterwards, knowing that you have done a great job on making progress." I preached.
...
"Man, it's been awhile since I went to the gym. When did I last go...?"
"Monday." Monika answered.
It was indeed Monday.
"Thanks. Wait a minute..."
Monika looked up to me with confusion.
"What?"
I sharpened my eyes at her.
"How did you know that I went to the gym Monday?" I questioned, somewhat suspicious of her.
She simply rolled her eyes and stopped her rubbing.
"Val, you complained about how sore you were Wednesday, remember? The way you were walking on Tuesday gave away the fact that you were in constant pain. So, if you did work out, then it has to be on Monday." She explained.
Monika's explanation and deduction skills impressed me greatly.
"Wow... that's really impressive. I didn't know you could think that critically and find an answer so quickly..." I complimented.
She started to rub my shoulders again, but in a repetitive fashion.
"Thanks, darling."
I didn't bother to call her out on the nickname.
"Wait, if you saw how I was walking... then were you checking me out?"
Monika stopped her rubbing once more and pressed herself against me.
I felt her bare breasts press onto my back.
It's so soft...!
She rested her chin on my right shoulder.
"Obviously! Didn't you know that you were the talk of school once you transferred?"
I wanted to know about the new information Monika was providing me.
"No... not really. Who was talking about me?"
I felt her arms wrap around the base of my neck.
"I thought you knew about this, Val. Every girl was checking you out ever since you arrived here. It's mostly because of the concealed muscles you were packing, the hot face, and the-"
"Alright, alright, alright! I get the point! Just stop complimenting me about my physical features! It just makes me feel weird..." I muttered.
"Jeez, Val... ever learn how to take a compliment?" She complained.
"I can! It's just that I cannot and will not accept a multitude of them! I just can't take it!" I countered.
Monika gave an annoyed sigh.
"If that's the case, fine... but the girls from all grades were talking about you though. Also, I remember how you beat up a bunch of scrawny idiots, just cause they wanted you to stop hanging around me! The girls were talking about that all day, that day, also talking about the fact that they were going gang up on me as well. And that, made you attractive in my eyes."
I felt her legs latch onto my back.
"You're a savant, darling."
I still felt a tinge of regret for fighting a bunch of students, as I thought I could've talked my way out of it.
"Maybe so, but I still could have done something else. Fighting is something that I save for a last-resort and in self-defense."
"But didn't they attack you first?" She asked.
I nodded.
"Yeah, but-"
"But what? You needed to defend yourself, because they wanted to hurt you! You did the right thing, Val! And you saved me in the process!"
I sighed, giving up.
"I guess I did. But that lingering feeling of regret will remain. Maybe it will go away later."
I turned my head to her.
"Are you going wash my neck and everything? Or am I going have to do it with you latched onto me?"
Her mischievous green eyes wanted to play for a bit, somehow understood the circumstances.
She nuzzled me on the crook of my neck before letting go.
"I am, don't worry, beloved." She assured, now rubbing the body-wash on my neck.
Her delicate touch made me yearn her even more, forcing me to close my eyes.
Once my neck was done being washed, she moved down chest.
Her hand glided through my chest, leaving seductive trail of want.
"Your chest is very well built..." She muttered.
Monika's rubbing started to become more courageous, taking greater strides in covering more of chest.
It was as if her hands were exploring territory unseen before, awing in its marvel.
"Yeah, upper-body day also includes chest, if I didn't say that before."
"Oh. So how long have you been going to the gym?" She asked curiously, diverting most her attention my chest.
I tried to answer her question, but suddenly Monika started to trek to my lower body, causing me to lock up.
"A-About 3 to 4 years..." I answered, still feeling a chill from the sudden touch.
Her hand wandered to my abdominal region, caressing the skin and muscle found there.
"Aw... no abs?" She bemoaned.
I chuckled.
"Having abs is way too overrated, Mon. There is almost no point of having them, besides to look lean and fit. Other than that, not much." I explained.
She stopped rubbing at me, and looked straight into my eyes.
Monika wanted to make a point.
"Val, I don't care if you are puny, strong, or even big-boned. At the end of the day, I still love you for who you are..."
I scoffed at her.
"That's nice and all, not to mention a bit cheesy, but I'm still going to keep my image of staying fit, Mon. Someday, the world is going to be against me, and I have going to have to fight back. Besides, a good workout is better than having sex!"
Monika, in return snickered at me.
"We'll see about that!" She challenged.
Her hands started to rub again, now starting to enter dangerous territory.
I grabbed her hand and stopped it.
"Ah, ah, ah. Now you gotta do my back." I stated, now washing away the body-wash.
She gave an annoyed groan, and shuffled around me.
With another pump of the dispenser, she started touch my back.
In an instant, I felt a chilling effect of her hands and the wash onto me.
Coupled with the soft touch of her hands, I shivered from her.
"You know... you also have a toned back, and not to mention pretty developed traps..."
"Yeah... I have traps, because whenever you do squats with a squat-rack, you're going to need put on your traps. That way you can hold it, not worry about it falling onto your neck."
Monika stopped rubbing.
"That sounds really dangerous... what does that even workout then?" She worriedly asked.
"Ah, don't sweat it. It's just for my legs and rectum. Can't have chicken legs and have a body... nope, never."
She started rubbing again, albeit a bit slowly to process the information.
Her hands started to move lower, and reaching my lower back.
"Wow, Val... you didn't miss a part of your body when working out, huh?" She amused.
I shrugged.
"I make the most of out my time in the gym. And then hate myself afterwards for causing myself such pain the next day. Though, I gotten used to it." I answered.
Monika was almost done washing my back and was just about to finish up.
I was almost done cleaning my frontal, and just waiting for Monika to finish up.
I noticed the warm water was starting to lose it's misty effect, as it was slowly becoming more clearer.
Wait...
That doesn't look good!
What if I get see her-
As a result, she gave a surprised gasp.
I turned my head to her, and saw her looking at my rectum.
Her eyes were staring at it with affectionate and pleased eyes.
"Awww! You have such a cute butt!"
My face flared red.
"H-Hey! Stop staring at my ass!"
I rush to cover it up, only for Monika to stop my hands by pinning them under her arm.
My forearm felt the side of her breasts.
"No! Don't you dare cover that up! It's sooo cute!"
She rushed to grope my butt with her other hand.
"Monika, I am very close to touching your-!"
I saw the rush in her eyes, desperately wanted to grab me, so in a last ditch effort I turned around almost immediately.
My plan was a bitter success.
She didn't touch my butt, but she managed to touch something else.
I did not think this through...
In Monika's hand was my shaft.
Her eyes widened as she saw the change of scenery, frantically searching every part of it.
I moved my hands to get her away from it, only for Monika to hold my hands once more.
"It feels... good to hold that in my..."
Monika's mouth was quivering, as she was shaking from an unknown feeling.
She stopped shaking and suddenly looked up to me with crazed, green eyes.
"Me. You. Bedroom. Now." She demanded.
I flinched from her unwavering strength and confidence, and backed off just a bit with her following me.
She was still holding on, slowly stroking it in her hands.
My body tingled from the touch she provided.
"Uh... isn't it rape, if I don't want to?" I meekly asked.
Her intense gaze was still on me.
"You're growing in my hands. If you really didn't want it, then you would have stopped me."
Oh.
I shrugged.
"Fair point. But I am still a bit unsure about all this."
My reluctance caused Monika to be infuriated.
"Then when do you want this?! Don't you love me?!" She yelled in anger.
"I do! I do love you! But I still don't know if we should go that far!"
"Then what do you want to do, if you don't want to make love with me?!"
I shrunk from her fury.
"Um... do 'virgin' things? Like watch a movie or just cuddle?"
Monika cringed from my suggestions and started pumping with more intensity.
I winced as she was stroking it.
"Are you kidding me? Here I am, practically begging you to make love, and you just want to sit around and do 'virgin' things?!"
I winced at her yell and nodded in fear.
"Y-Yeah...?"
She growled and squeezed it.
"For fuck's sake, Val! Can't you tell that I set whole thing just so you and I can do that?! I was just waiting for you to bust a move, and looks like you don't even want to that."
I put my hands up in an attempt to calm down the agitated Monika.
"Now, now... just calm down and just think for a bit. I think your lust is just talking..." I reasoned.
"My lust is completely under control, you moron! I am doing this all out of frustration! All you do is leave a girl behind, turned on, thinking all about you! And because of that, I put a large amount of effort to get this room with discounts, favors, and other things! This was all for you!"
Jesus...
Is it that bad?
"I'm sorry! Look, Monika... we'll do it today. But can we do it a bit later? I promise that we will do it today! I won't let this go to waste, just please!"
I pinned her against the tub and forced her to look at me.
Her grip on me loosened, as we both stared into each other's eyes.
"Just wait... okay?"
Her intense eyes didn't give up, as she just simply nodded at me.
"If you take too long, then will be too late." She stated, now looking away from me.
I release my pins.
"Do you still want me to bathe you?"
I expected to say no, due to the circumstances I placed her in.
But to my surprise, she had a different answer.
"At this point, I don't know and I don't care. Do what you want at this point." She dismissed, moving towards the soap.
I sighed.
"Let me help you bathe." I answered.
"Fine." She curtly replied.
With a small frown, I told her rules again.
"But, no sexual things, Monika. Please." I begged.
Monika looked indifferent.
"Yeah, I know." She muttered, still unhappy with my reluctance.
I waded my way towards her.
As I waded, my head started to berate me on my actions.
Oh God...
What should I do?
I just made everything between us so awkward!
And the worst thing is, is that everything before this was going smoothly!
Why am I still holding onto my morals again?
I thought I let go!
But, whenever I am around Monika, I feel the need to follow my brain!
My heart doesn't give the thoughts I want!
All because of this conditioning of being a savant and a good samaritan...
I am going to make this right.
If we are going to have our first time...
Together...
Then it's will come sooner than expected.
But...
I will be betraying Yuri!
Fuck!
"Val, are you okay?" Monika asked, with a monotone voice.
Monika just wants her first time to be with me...
But Yuri wants her first time to be with me as well...
What should I do?
I am going to feel guilty if I do have sex...
But...
I...
I should just follow my heart.
And listen.
But I feel afraid...
"Yeah, I am fine. I was just thinking." I replied.
She didn't say anything about that, continued to gather her things.
I know that she's doing all this just to make me feel bad.
And it's working!
Wait no...
Monika actually does look sullen.
I am seeing no senses of tricks or anything...
And, she is not taking this all to well.
Also, she did say she doesn't care at this point...
My silence and inaction didn't bother Monika much at all.
She only waited for me to look up at her.
"Val."
I looked up to her.
"Do you want me?" She asked.
I was confused as to what she meant.
"Yeah... yeah, of course, I want you! Why are you even thinking about this?"
Her gaze fell towards the water.
The water didn't feel warm anymore.
It felt cold...
"I am thinking about this because... I had a epiphany a while back."
Her epiphany?
"What does your epiphany have to do with this?" I immediately asked.
Monika took a deep breath.
"It's what changed me... It made me realize something..."
I moved closer to her.
"What did it make you realize?"
...
"That no matter hard I try, I can't force someone to love me. They will always find someone more worthy than me."
I widened my eyes at this.
"Wait... what are you trying to say? You're saying that I love someone more than you?"
She didn't respond.
Instead she gave a very weak smile.
"What... what am I trying to say is that I made a lot of mistakes trying to be with you. I manipulated you, blackmailed you, lied to you, and the list goes on. You really do deserve someone else."
Her smile was on the verge of completely shattering.
I failed to notice the changing style of the bathroom.
"Maybe I thought it was time for me to let go. Maybe I thought that I won't ever find true love."
She looked at me with weak and hurt eyes.
The bathroom was starting to glow in unusual areas.
"But all that changed when you came into my short life."
Monika took my hand and placed it against her cheek.
There was flickering in the distance ahead of me.
"When we first met, I felt that my epiphany was just an illusion... something that comes and goes. My heart started to beat with the same energy as before, and I felt..."
My eyes fell to quivering mouth, her weak smile now reinvigorated.
Blue bits of code started form around the lights, starting to slowly glitch.
"Alive."
But the grip on my hand was quickly weakening.
"I thought that maybe, I could finally be me. And actually who I really am inside. Maybe even love again..."
She looked down onto the clear water.
"Everything was going great in my head. I thought I had everything planned out, and made sure that I would get to know you without any interruptions."
Her grip tightened tremendously and she looked up with a glare.
With that glare, the room started to have multiple white orbs of light, all surrounding us.
"Until they came." She venomously muttered.
I knew well that it was Yuri and Natsuki.
"I saw them flirt with you, touch you, hug you, and all I could do was watch from my desk! They were growing on you, and I couldn't do a thing about it! What could I have done? Yelled at them to leave you alone?! Then they would think I would be jealous about all that, and they would grow more possessive about you!"
She gritted her teeth.
The room started tearing in itself, the blue bits now swirling around the glitches.
"And so, to secure you, I had to play dirty again. Change, reorganize, manipulate, and all that! All so I can show the worst of them! But all I did just managed to make you attracted towards them! You accepted all their faults without any hesitation! That's why I went to your house yesterday! I wanted to undo any progress those girls did to you, just so I can have a chance again!" She shouted.
Her green eyes glistened with tears.
There were static noises coming from behind my back.
"I tried, and tried, and tried just to get an edge between those girls, but everything I did just made things worse!"
The noises intensified, and the white orbs of light became more concentrated, revealing a white void.
Her grip loosened again, and this time for good.
She was about to drop onto the water, due to her weakened posture, but I managed to grab her.
I held her sides in my arms, to ensure that she wouldn't fall into the water.
In return, Monika held on by my shoulders, without looking up to me.
"I... I hated what I was doing, I knew everything I was doing was just morally wrong, but my love for you just blinded me. It made me do questionable things! I was transforming into a yandere, and I couldn't stop myself!"
She looked up to me with masked hatred.
The blue bits of code started to hover over Monika, giving her an aura.
"They took you away from me. You were the only thing that was real in my life, and all I see in my old friends is pure hatred, instead the care I used to have for them! It was wrong, but I couldn't stop myself, because my love for you was driving me insane!"
Monika squeezed her eyes shut, trying her utmost hardest to stop the floodgates from being released.
"I didn't want you to see me like this! I didn't want you see the worst of me! But everything started to leak out, ever since you went after them, instead of me! Just me! I was growing more jealous, needy, crazy, and everything! It's as if I lost everything that kept me sane! Love made me lose my personality!"
She started to shake, sobbing from apparent guilt.
The room was slowly starting to disintegrate and break away from it's foundation.
"O-Once I got the taste of being around you, I thought there was a way I could've stopped myself from following my epiphany! I was so love-struck to the point that I didn't realize that I was following the old route to the same conclusion..."
Monika opened her tear-glassed eyes.
The noises became more and more corrupted, as the room started reflect piercing white light from the void.
"No matter how I try, there is someone going to take you away from me. It's like fate has determined make me to alone, as always. But, it's not fair, though! Why can I love you and not have you?! Why do I have to suffer?!"
Her strength was quickly waning.
The room was too, as the white void started to display simple physics and geometries.
"I hate the pain and suffering just to fight for you! I feel as if I will explode if I do keep fighting for you! I know you promised that you wouldn't leave me and you would love me! But, I don't care anymore! I am done trying! I give up on pursuing my one true love!"
She points at me.
"You!"
The pointing melted something in me with the fiery pits of guilt.
I felt strange, as different memories that I didn't recognize at all started to flood me.
"Frank!"
"All it leads to is just pure pain and agony! If I was born to suffer, then I will suffer!"
Monika pushes me away with supernatural strength, as I was staggered from her.
I attempted to regain my balance, only for me to fall back onto the water.
With the corner of eyes, I saw Monika rushing out of the pool and gathering her belongings.
"Wait, Monika! No!"
I forced myself to stand up and rushed out of the pool with a towel wrapped around me.
I exited in time, the room now completely dissolved into code and physics.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
My name is Frank.
I took too long in choosing!
My mission is to save Tom.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
Tom, I promised you that I am getting you out of here!
Out of all the girls, Monika has been waiting for me the confess!
I'm Frank!
Out of all the girls, Monika was the one to understand what I went through!
Tom... you need to let go.
Out of all the girls, Monika is the one I...
I forced myself to come into terms with my feelings, as I hurriedly got my clothes on, despite how soaked I was.
I love.
She's the one I truly love.
Now it's all over...
The nightmare can finally end!
She stopped caring.
Now I can save Tom!
The stress of me choosing gotten to her.
I am now free!
Making love with her was the last ditch effort to seal my position as her lover...
She's insane.
But now that's all gone!
Thanks to my indecision!
It broke her, that's all I need!
I don't need her!
Tracy is waiting for me!
She's worried about me!
Come back to her!
If...
If I confessed to Tracy earlier...
Would she not betrayed me?
No!
Why am I thinking about her?!
Monika did everything she could just so she could be with me!
She poured her heart out to me, and I am thinking of that bitch?!
What does she have to do with this?!
Argh...
That doesn't matter.
I need to fix this.
I need to end this, once and for all.
I am going to make my choice, today.
She sold her soul just to have a chance with me, killing her sanity in the process.
She told me that her real personality was just being masked by all this competition!
She wanted me to be hers.
She wanted my love and I couldn't provide that to her!
And now...
She's a husk, on the verge of losing all sense of reality.
I know where this is going...
This is going lead to a depression.
A depression that will cripple Monika permanently.
And I have one last shot at making things right.
No more delays.
I want Monika.
I want her on my side.
If I need to lie to Natsuki and Yuri, so be it.
I can only wish for them to forgive me...
After all I have been through with them...
I feel as if it's all gone for nothing...
But I can focus on that later.
Monika is going to lose her purpose to live.
She gave up so much...
And now I need to give back.
I ran into the bedroom, hoping to find Monika.
I still failed to notice the rifts in the simulation.
They were shifting and tearing itself apart, showing the white void of the outside.
But she was nowhere to be found.
"MONIKA!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, desperate to find her.
My eyes were looking around the room, frantically, in an attempt to find her.
The tearing glitch and the static noises from the bathroom started to manifest in the bedroom.
How did she even manage to clothe herself so fast?!
Her bag was not in the room, meaning that has most likely left.
No...
She can't leave.
I need to tell her.
I charged into the living room, escaping the corruption that lurked behind me.
I saw a door that was completely open.
The corruption was hissing behind, inviting me to join the ever growing mess.
I still failed to notice it, despite it's overwhelming presence.
It was starting to creep into the corners of the living room, enveloping everything it's way.
No...
She did leave!
No!
My legs bolted to the door, granting the speed to reach it in a second.
The stampede of glitches was quickly catching up to me.
I exited the suite and looked to my left and right.
The hallway was dead silent, with no one in sight.
The noises apparently stopped buzzing.
But the silence was tempered by the small sounds of footsteps to my right.
I turned to the right and saw a feminine figure with shining, light brown hair, walking down the hall.
Monika.
I felt relieved when I saw Monika, still in the building and relatively close by.
But that relieved feeling was completely replaced by fear.
If she leaves this floor, then it is all over.
Nothing will be the same without her.
I need her!
I tried to call out to her, but my mouth refused formulate any words.
There was something stopping me getting to my true love.
And I didn't know what it was.
Whatever it was, it also held me in my place.
The static, white noises started to catch up.
With overwhelming effort, I forced one leg to take a step.
My apparent restraints were becoming more and more loosened.
"Mon..."
I felt sweat starting to form across my forehead.
The restraints were getting tighter.
The noises were getting louder.
"Monika..."
I fell to my knees, as I felt my back being crushed by an unknown force.
No...
Don't leave me!
Please don't go!
If she leaves...
Then I will have nothing left!
With an roar, I forced the force off my back and started to take large steps to catch up to her.
My mouth was now working normally, as I started to breathe once more.
"Monika!" I called out once more.
I saw the figure pause for a second.
She had a change of heart...
Yes...
She didn't turn to me, instead she started a dead sprint to the nearest exit.
No! No! No!
"Monika, don't go! Please don't leave!" I begged, now sprinting to catch to her.
Somehow, Monika always seemed to be ahead of me by a fair distance, enough for me not being able to tackle her.
I didn't catch any breaks either.
The hallway seemed to go on forever, and each turn was replaced by more hallway.
Static noises and ruptures in the hallway started to manifest once more.
Memories of Tracy started to replay in my head.
From the start of how we first met...
And the end of how we last saw each other...
It gave me the motivation to chase her down.
I was now in tackling range of our flight.
I could've done so, but I didn't want to hurt her.
Instead, I let the hatred of both Tracy and Astillas flood my body with energy.
My legs screamed for a break, and yet the adrenaline allowed me to press on.
Within seconds, I started catch up to her.
Her light brown hair was flowing in the wind, scenting the air with her exotic pine tree aroma.
I was breathing heavily, as my body was starting to fail me.
In an last ditch effort, I tackled her anyway.
I jumped towards her, pushing my body against her.
However, due to the distance we had, it was a much safer tackle than the one I had in mind.
With this tackle, I managed to get Monika out of harms way by allowing me to take the brunt of the impact.
It hurt somewhat, due to the speed we were running in.
After taking damage, I wrapped my arms around her body and caught her in a tight hold.
I tried to catch my breath, but Monika tried to break free of my hold.
"Let me go! Let me go! I don't want anything to do with you! I had enough of waiting to make your choice!"
I tried to speak, but my exhaustion got the better of me.
From refusing to let go of her, she started to struggle.
"Stop it! I don't want to wait anymore! I don't want to hear your excuses, just so you can make me suffer! Let me go!"
I didn't respond to her.
Monika started to elbow me, trying whatever she can to get away from me.
"Stop it! Let go! I'm sorry that I kept you here! I'll let you go!"
I gritted my teeth at her, as the static noise came closer and closer.
"Monika, listen to me!"
She managed to get one arm free, although her other arm was encased in my arms.
"No! I don't want to hear it! Let me go! I am done with you! I am done with love!" She screamed, tearing her throat out.
Monika then turned started to stand up.
I followed her up and tried to pin against the wall.
Unfortunately, she knew my motives and countered by slugging me at the face.
"Argh!" I grunted.
My face stung from her punch, but I managed to hold on and pinned her against the wall.
Monika's eyes were still glassy, showing that she was still crying from all this.
She looked into my eyes and saw something.
Something that made her stop her assault.
I took a deep breath.
"Just hear me out... Please." I begged.
Monika looked away from me, sporting a weak and neutral expression.
I took a few seconds to find the right words to say.
Everything I say now will change things between us forever.
And I have no regrets for what I am about to say.
"I made my choice." I finally said.
She didn't look up to me.
I wanted to her to look into my eyes as I finally confessed.
The static white noise was now starting to lessen to the point I can hear the silence.
My hands found their way to her cheeks and I pulled to look at me.
Tears started leak once more.
"It's not me, is it?"
I shook my head to affirm a "no".
"Then who is it?" She asked.
I was just about to answer, until she cut me off.
"No... I already know. I know for a fact that it could be Yuri or Natsuki..."
I let her continue her reasoning with reluctance.
"And... it can't be me."
I looked at with shock.
What is she talking about?
"It's that Tracy girl, huh? I know you still have feelings for her..."
Wait...
What the fuck?
How did she...?
"I can see the confusion in your eyes..."
Monika smiled weakly.
"You might be thinking how I even know about her in the first place..."
I shook my head at her again.
"It doesn't matter." I said, trying to redirect the focus at her. "She's not my choice, either.
She looked surprised.
"Then who? Sayori?"
I couldn't help but scoff at her.
"Sayori? I see her as the sister I never had! She's an awesome friend! And besides, I am pretty sure that Sayori is very content on being with Tom, since they know each other from childhood."
Monika giggled weakly from my reasoning.
"Ahaha... that... does make sense."
With stronger eyes, she looked straight at me, sniffling.
"Then who's the lucky girl, Val? Yuri or Natsuki?"
She tried to keep her smile as best as possible.
"Is this how... Sayori felt when she...?"
Monika shook her head to focus.
"Never mind that, whoever the girl is, I will be the first congratulate her." She declared with a fake smile.
It was the same smile from when we first met.
Perfect.
Heartwarming.
Fake.
In return, I smiled at her, wanting her to be happy.
I wanted her to remember all we have been through with my beaming.
It was because of her why I started to smile more often.
It was because of her why I became more confident.
It was because of her why I fell for her.
"You."
...
...
...
"M-Me?"
Monika started to laugh.
The static noises started to creep towards us slowly.
A laugh that soundly slow, weak, and sullen.
As she started to laugh, tears started fall once more.
"I-I can't believe it! Me? Out of all the girls, me? Hehehe..."
Her laughing started to worry me.
"I... I don't deserve you. After all I have done? I don't. I know you don't want me."
I frowned at her.
"Monika, there's a reason why I chose you." I explained.
Her laugh started to be replaced with choked sobs.
"Why? Did you forget what I did? I blackmailed you, lied to you, and I did the same for the girls. I don't deserve you. I deserve absolutely nothing."
I sighed at all this and gave her kiss on the forehead, halting her hurt cries.
"Even though you did all that, there's a certain reason why I chose you."
Monika simply looked up to me.
"Say why you want me." She simply requested.
I started to smile at her.
"Well, to start off... you're one of the few girls I have actually talked to in a while. The fact that you make me smile more often, way more than I used to is something. I simply feel happier to be around you. Also, when you actually was concerned enough to ask how I was feeling is impeccable. It meant a lot to me when you asked more about my friends and past."
She started smile back at me.
"Besides the fact that you are attractive all around, no wonder you're a sought after girl, Monika. The fact that I needed to fight off multiple people just so I can speak to you is saying something. But I am not in it for your looks."
I sighed.
"I'm in it because I love you. And I know I said this already, but saying it this time means a lot."
I looked deep into her eyes before continuing.
They looked as if they went through years of torment, pain, a recent feeling of being heartbroken...
"And finally..." I started to say.
"I want you because your will is what has attracted me all this time. I am very impressed by the fact that you went through all the effort and just to be with me."
Her smile started to weaken.
"Even though it's wrong to do all that, it doesn't overshadow your personality. You say that your personality has been masked by this madness, but that isn't necessarily the case. I still see your real personality time to time, beneath all that cunning and clever brainpower, I see a girl who just wants a chance at love. The tremendous effort on securing your place as my lover is commendable. Love is something you have been deprived of, and it is something you yearn for. You're a very interesting and sweet girl inside, Monika. And I want to give you the love you so desperately want and need, but you need to let me in."
I leaned in.
"Let me into your heart, one more time."
...
...
...
Monika reached for my hands pulled them down.
We both looked down at saw our hand holding.
The static noise of corruption grew closer, to the point where it inches away from me.
"You won't let me go, will you?" She quietly asked.
"No, never. I will never let you go. You are mine. And will always be mine." I proudly declared.
The noise stopped.
The roaring sounds of the rifts stopped.
Monika pulled her hands away and lunged at me with a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank you..." She whispered. "Thank you for choosing me."
I beamed at her as I hugged her back.
"You're welcome, beloved."
We hugged each other, enjoying the warmth we both provided.
I then shot my eyes up.
"Wait a minute... are you even wearing a bra?!" I asked, trying to pull away from the hug.
"Shhh... just a bit longer... you're really warm..." She cooed in response.
"I won't stop hugging you, but are you wearing a bra?"
She nuzzled the crook of my neck.
"No... why are you complaining about that?"
"I don't! I am just a bit surprised, that's all."
Monika starts licking my neck.
"M-M-Monika?! What are you even doing?! Why are you acting so weird all of a sudden?!" I asked with haste, rubbing the side of my neck.
She pulls away from me.
"I feel... really, really happy now. As if all the stresses I was carrying are all gone! I finally got my goal in getting you as my lover, and that feels great."
I nodded in understanding.
"That does sound reasonable..."
Monika smiles at me.
I smile back.
"No more blackmailing and stuff like that, right?"
She shook her head.
"Mmph, mmph! No more of that! Well... if I need to make a point then I might need to..." She reasoned.
I rolled my eyes and put my arm around her shoulder.
"I'm fine with that, it's a part of you anyway. Let's go back to our suite, I am exhausted." I said, walking with Monika.
She pulls on my arm as we walk.
I look towards her.
"Can we have sex now?" She cutely asked.
I sighed.
"Argh... screw my morals. If you want to have that so badly and the fact that we are now an official couple, then I might as well go along with it. But..."
I looked towards her with fear.
"It's my first time..."
She shared the same amount of fear.
"It's my first time, too. But after our confession, I think we deserve to make some love."
I took a deep breath at the thought of sex.
It scared me, since I didn't know what to expect.
"Um... how we start off...? Condoms?" I asked with a red face.
Monika was also red from the thought of discussing such a topic.
"I... I am safe, so we don't need condoms. We can do it..."
She gulped from all this.
"Raw..."
We were growing increasingly nervous from all this.
It was ironic, due to the fact that we almost crossed the line.
However, we stopped because of a distraction or by me.
Now that we were alone, and my morals not holding me back, there was now no way to stop this happening.
"Monika... I'm still kind of nervous to do all this, though." I muttered.
"Me too..." She agreed.
We walked in awkward silence, quietly praying that we would the strength to pull through.
We were almost to the suite, until my phone rang.
I pulled out my phone and saw that it was from Home.
Oh no...
I totally forgot to tell them where I was!
I hurriedly picked it up.
Monika looked at me with a bit of confusion and suspicion.
"Hey, Mom..." I greeted.
"Don't hey Mom me, mister! Where are you?! I have been trying to reach you many times!" She yelled.
I winced from my mom's yell.
"Um... I am with Monika." I said, hoping that it would work as an excuse.
Fortunately it did, as it pacified my mother.
"Oh... I see. What are you doing so late with her? Oh wait..."
Whenever my mother thinks of something or says "oh wait" there is suspicion involved.
"Oh my... are you...?"
I didn't know what to feel as this point.
Should I feel ashamed for taking things too quick?
Should I feel proud that I am taking the step with my new girlfriend?
Should I feel nervous and ask for some advice?
I let my mom finish.
"Are you taking the next step, Vally?"
I let the thought of taking the next step seep into me.
Words came and went as I tried to think of a proper sentence.
"I...I am going to do it with my girlfriend." I declared.
The word girlfriend felt fresh and new, something that didn't have a negative connotation to it.
My heart jumped as I said that word.
I heard my mom give a sharp gasp.
"Mom?"
...
"I can't believe it..." I heard her mutter. "My little baby..."
I bit my lips in understanding of how my mom is feeling right now.
"I know that we taught you that having sex before marriage is bad, but... the love you two share is almost out of a romance novel. I can only wish that me and Harold had met in more romantic and fulfilling way..."
There was a pause on the other side of the phone.
"Is deary near you?" She asked.
"Yeah, let me give it to you."
I looked back to Monika and she had a good understanding of what was going on.
I handed her my phone and she placed it on her ear.
"Hello, Deborah." Monika greeted.
"Deary! It's nice to hear from you again. I just wanted to ask you a few questions."
"Of course! What would you like to know?"
Monika looked at me endearingly, to which I held around her.
"As proud I am for my child, is he forcing you to do this?" She shrewdly asked.
I tensed up from the question.
"No, not at all Deborah! We both agreed to do this!" Monika defended.
I heard a breath of relief from my mom.
"As embarrassing to ask this but, are you two protected? I wouldn't mind raising my grandchild when you two are-"
Monika cut her off.
"Yes, we are protected, Deborah! There is nothing to worry about! We are still too young to support a child!" She exclaimed.
I heard my mom chuckle from this.
"I see, but I like I said, I would love to have grandchildren! Oooh! I wish I can the cries and coos of a newborn again!"
We felt really rigid and uncomfortable from my mother's request.
"Ah! What am I saying? Take the time to have fun! Just tell Vally to come home early tomorrow, so he can continue the fun later!"
Monika was just about to say something, but was cut off the beep of my phone.
I took the phone away from her.
"Sorry about that..." I muttered.
She wasn't all too bothered by it, however.
"It's okay, Val. I can understand what your mom is getting at... I guess when you get to that age, you'll start to want grandchildren."
Monika shrugged.
"But enough about that. Your mom told you that you need to come early tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Yeah, to get the car running and everything."
I tapped my chin.
"I should text everyone the address of my home..." I thought out loud.
"Already did!" Monika beamed.
She took my hand in hers.
"Now come on, Val! Let's go have fun!"
I smiled back at her.
"Alright, fine. Let's go."
We ran back our suite and entered the room.
With a happy sigh, I closed the door leading to the outside.
End of Act II
AN: Yeah, this pretty much sums up the choices he made, and I think there is still too many faults. Any errors and plotholes you guys can point out, I will fix when the next chapter review is up, as I need a fresh pair of eyes to take a look at this. I am sorry if this chapter is not up to par or well-written as the others, I really wanted to move on from this arc and enter the fan service.
You may be wondering, how will Yuri and Natsuki react to Val's choice, despite everything he has done with them? Do not worry, a lot of those tensions will be addressed during the beach chapter, and it will be one of the driving forces to cause him actually leave the simulation and gain his sentience once more.
Unfortunately, because of Monika's unique use of manipulation and such, this story has been set to her "route". Were it not for this characteristic, I wouldn't have allowed for this choice to be made, and the competition would have been much more intense and difficult to choose.
Again, someone needs to point out any errors on this chapter may have, so I can fix them.
Anyway, onto reviews.
Boi, agreed. Most people who are new, that play the game have no idea what they are doing. And they tend to panic from the hordes, causing them to abandon their teammates.
The plot will change right after the Beach, and luckily the next chapter is that.
Thanks for the review.
Ryustorm, I am sure that I am going to bring in the water-Malone references. It shouldn't be difficult to include, since this is a bit of a fan service and fun chapter. I looked up what an RTX is, and I gotta say it's like a much more explosive E3, lol. It looks pretty fun, btw. I hope you enjoy it.
Yuh, I guess it has been. I may or may not make a one-shot on the lemon, though, as I left it there. But there is in the beach chapter.
That's all the reviews. I appreciate the long journey that you have accompanied with, I am looking forward to finally letting this piece rest.
Thank you all, and have a great afternoon.