To the say the least, I didn't expect for Sayori to get the hang of running that easily. I usually run more than the average person due to my experience and faster too. Yuri had gotten worn out and she works out at least once a week. I expected Sayori to be worn out too, at least a little more than Yuri.

I didn't expect to be carrying Sayori in my arms.

"How do you do that and not feel like your legs are like jelly?"

"It wasn't that intense. You should see what a normal session is like." Sayori gulps nervously.

"You do... more?"

"Faster, yes. However, I tend to run the same mile every day."

"Monika, how?!" We laugh as I open the door. Just to see two expecting faces.

Natsuki smilies smugly, raising an eyebrow. She sits on the couch, sitting an arm on the armrest. Yuri was sitting next to her, her face filled with worry and anger. Anything but Natsuki's.

"Where were you guys! Wait oh! Fucking in the park again! I got you," Natsuki winks. Sayori's and my faces turn beet red.

"Natsukiiii!"

"We were running. Sayori's legs gave out and I had to carry her- WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'AGAIN'!?"

Natsuki and Sayori laugh in my flustered state. I tried to keep my heart rate under control.

Yuri hasn't said anything yet.

Normally she groans, blushes, or tell Natsuki her to cut out the dirty jokes this early in the morning. However, she sits still, her dark purple hair covering her face, brimming with her own emotions. Natsuki notices this and turns.

"Yuri, you doing okay?"

Yuri doesn't respond, her brow furrowing. Natsuki begins to say something before she gets cuts short by Yuri's hard gaze. Her gaze stares at Natsuki before gradually moving up to Sayori and me.

"Monika..."

"I'm sorry! I...forgotten." Sayori shoots me a confused look.

"You forgot?!" Yuri gaze pierces my eyes, making mine avert away. "You have forgotten how dangerous it could be now if we don't stay together?! You might have gotten yourselves killed!"

Sayori and Natsuki stared at Yuri and me in shock, not knowing the full context. I took a while gathering my thoughts before responding back.

"It isn't that serious Yuri! He isn't anywhere near here! For all I know he's on the other side of the world!"

"Listen to yourself! You really think that we are safe here. You saw the news broadcast. You saw what he did. It isn't long until he targets us."

"Yuri..."

"Don't 'Yuri' me! Don't you care what happens to yourself?! If you get taken or killed?!" Yuri was standing now, her hand on her chest passionately. Natsuki was sitting by her side, muttering her name to back down.

I avert my eyes, muttering a word that was inaudible for even Sayori to hear. Yuri's eyes finally soften and a gasp lets out from her fragile lips.

"Monika, don't you care?"

The air stills and silences as it waits for my reply. I bit my tongue. It's not getting one.

"Yuri, we need to talk. About this. About... them," I say after the brief but intense silence. Yuri's eyes widen as she registers the others in the room.

"I- Fine."

I close the door that was silently blowing wind inside, creating a draft. Sayori, still in my arms, gives me a look of concern but I laughed it off.

"I'm still keeping my promise," I whispered. "Just wait for me." Sayori nods, trust in her eyes.

I dropped off Sayori on the couch Natsuki was sitting on before going to my room with Yuri, closing the door.

"Monika what-"

"Yuri, please not now." Yuri's eyes grow concerned, but nods understanding and the topic was changed. "They want to know."

"I know. Natsuki told me. I only told her parts and bits because I thought to tell her when you're ready-"

"Same for Sayori. What are we going to do?"

"...Listen, Monika, we can't keep this a secret for much longer..."

I hissed under my breath. Is it really time? I... I wasn't ready.

"I can't Yuri, I'm sorry-"

"What are you scared of?"

I blinked. "What?"

"What are you scared of, Monika. They are your friends and they won't get mad at you for telling them stuff like this. Just... a little shocked."

"But... this nagging fear." I grabbed my running tee pulling on the fabric. "It claws up inside me, it makes me not want to do this."

"That's the anxiety. It will go away with time. It always did."

Yuri smiles, her eyes gentle. Her cheeks were slightly buzzed by embarrassment of what she said, but she ignored it. I could ignore my fear too, even if it's just for a while.

"Okay. Okay, I'm doinng this... I'm doing this!"

Yuri's smile grew wider as her eyes shone once again.

"Then, let's do this," Yuri says determined, holding out her hand.

I look at her hand and her eyes again. They look calmer now, purple veils filled with caring and warmth. I teared up from her caring nature.

"Moni-"

I rushed in to hug her, crying on her shoulder. The taller girl gasps in surprise but accepts the embrace.

"I'm sorry Yuri. I shouldn't go without your permission and I shouldn't lash out at you for that! I knew you were just caring for me especially of what happened just yesterday. I shouldn't have been so careless, people got killed! Your family members got hurt! I guess the danger of this situation is just-" I get cut off by the warmth of Yuri's arms pulling me in tighter. The love made me sob harder.

"It's okay Monika, I don't blame you. I was overreacting then too but I was so worried. " Yuri's last words choked out into the air as she pulled me even tighter. "Please, just tell me where you're going next time."

"I will! I will!"

Hopeless, I felt my knees gave out as I sank to the ground. Yuri's hug maintained, taking the purple hair girl with me, not that she minded. The taller girl stayed silent as I sobbed into her purple robe, comforting me.

As we parted I saw that Yuri's eyes had tears in them too, one escaping as she tried to wipe them. However, the feeling inside them was the same as earlier.

Caring, loving dark purple veils that always seemed to shine when they landed on me.

I guess mine tends to shine when they are on her, too.

We walked out of my room in silence, occasionally giving glances of warning and reassurance. I readied myself for what to come. The guilt in my stomach building up.

This is not going to be sweet.

Soon as I got downstairs, I saw Sayori and Natsuki again. Sayori was still at her place on the couch, an ice pack on both of her legs. She pouted, pointing at the ice packs. Natsuki was beside her, her brow knitted close as she talked.

As soon as they saw us, I knew they were going to say something about Yuri's light tear stains and my very obvious red eyes but I cut them off first. "I- um- we... need to tell you guys something." They nodded.

It was beginning.

Yuri and I sat on the couch with Natsuki and Sayori. They tense, knowing its something serious. I bit my tongue, turning away. A pain of guilt was sent soaring through me when Yuri had to speak for me.

"Well... it all started yesterday morning. Monika was out for her morning run and you guys were still sleeping. Knowing I won't disturb anyone, I turned the tv on." Her eyes cast downwards as she plays with her hair, unable to face the others anymore. "It landed on a random news station, on a breaking news segment.." She stops to breathe, tears threaten to stream down her face again. "It... It was about him..." She puts her hands on her face, unable to talk anymore. I braced myself.

"He...um... killed Yuri's father and pained Yuri's mother very bad," I say cautiously. The girl beside me posture slackens more, causing me to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. I gripped my own shirt with my free hand, wanting to release all this guilt.

"He also was connected with four other murders in that same week. I-um..." I look up at their faces, wide with fear. I take a breath, hissing. I was so close, I can do this!

Just two sentences. You could do that, Monika.

So, taking every once of confidence and effort I somewhat have left, I whispered," Your mother is dead Natsuki. As for Sayori... her whole family is gone."

"I'm so so sorry."

Sayori and Natsuki eyes widen as they realized the truth. I avert my eyes and prepare for the worse.

"Is this a joke?" I look up to see Natsuki standing, her smile faltering in disbelief. "Because I think this is all just one fucking stupid joke we could just all laugh about!" She laughs loudly as the tears streamed her cheeks, the cheerful sound spoiling once it reaches the air. She laughs alone. Yuri puts her hands on her face, crying softly. Sayori still stares at nothing in shock. I look at Natsuki, my eyes full of sadness.

"Natsuki..."

The laughing suddenly stops like a broken CD player. The poor girl was trembling, her small figure unable to take the emotional overload. She physically crumbles. Then, all at once, she gets her bag and runs to the door. I ran over and grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going."

"GET OFF ME!" She turns around, smacking my hand away. "I'm going to Papa's, telling him the news."

"You know that..."

"DO I LOOK LIKE I FUCKING CARE!" Natsuki points to herself. She was trembling tremendously, tears overflowing her face. "I just... need to get out-"She regains her posture and turns for the door again.

"I'll be back soon."

And then she leaves, slamming the door behind her. I stared wide-eyed, unable to compute what just happened. By then, Sayori shifted. She wasn't trembling as much as Natsuki but was still shaken up. Tears line her eyes.

"I need some time alone. I'll be in my room." I nodded. When she reaches the staircase she calls out to me.

"Hey, Monika?"

"..?!"

She runs over and kisses me on the cheek, a tear escaping.

"Thank you."

I watch in silence as the girl ran up the stairs with her ice packs and slammed her door. A series of yells were followed after, muffled enough to not make any sense. I sighed.

"Yuri, we finally did it." The girl in acknowledged turned towards me.

She sits in silence, looking at the ground before turning to me. "That was harder than expected. I'm sorry for not backing you up."

"It's okay Yuri. I barely could speak anyways."

Silence. "I'm going in my room to rest." I nodded.

"Thank you."

Yuri's face gets flustered yet again, causing her to hide it with her hair.

"No problem."

And then she leaves.

Leaving me.

Alone.

I stared at the staircase before feeling my own tears fall. Why are they falling? Why can't they stop? I covered my head with my hands, sinking to my knees again.

I feel sad and guilty and hurting and scared...

But I'm also... proud?

I chuckled, double checking my feelings. After all that, I deserve to be proud.

I deserve to.

I lay on my bed, unable to think of what to do next. Sayori's yells have stopped, leaving me in complete silence. I look up at the ceiling but all I saw is the boring green wall. I sigh.

I did it.

I should be celebrating right now. Getting over my fear. Not having a panic attack. Getting out of there. However, I just lay here, drained of purpose. I can't be happy while my friends are suffering.

I feel proud of myself a little, but that's all.

To stop dwelling on negative thoughts, I try to plan. I know that the trip is confirmed. My trip is confirmed. The faster I plan the faster I could go.

I looked up the next flight to Florida that is in my budget. Two weeks from now. I am worried, my aunt can get killed any second, but it means more time with the girls. Plus, I can't take their money to go an earlier flight. This trip is my responsibility and my responsibility only. I buy the plane ticket, hissing through my teeth. Why do I feel like this is the wrong idea?

Why do I feel so guilty?