Act 2: *you are filled with BRAVERY…?

Ughh… I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock going off.

Maybe just a few more minutes…

No… You have to get to school, remember?

Ughhhhhhhh… Fine. I groan as my drowsy eyes peel back from their restful state. I sit up and get out of my bed.

As I look around my room, I glance at the small sticky note on my desk. It says to not forget to join a club. Sayori, a good friend, had made me write it when she found out I'm not in one. I made the note a year ago.

We used to walk to school together, as we had been childhood friends, but then she started waking up later and later. I eventually stopped waiting for her.

On this particular morning, I pay no heed to my slightly messy room as I-

*you walk out of your room, to probably get ready for school, nerd.

Ok, who the hell was that?

I look around the hallway just outside my room. Several paintings my oldest sister- who had left the nest some time ago- had created, adorned the walls. One of them looks like someone sprayed spaghetti sauce on it.

I must be-

*you decide that you are hearing things.

*pondering this fact, you start down the stairs of the house you are currently residing in that you do not own, as you are broke and could never get a job with that abomination of a face.

"Ok, who's there? Am I crazy? Did I finally go over the edge?"

*you ask who's there. nobody answers. wondering if you've gone mad, you reach the bottom of the stairs. you're quite the weirdo.

"Ok, you got me guys! This is creepy!"

Wait, hold up. There's not supposed to be anyone else in the house right now.

*you ready yourself for combat.

*you look as stupid as that one time when yo-

Shut!

*no lo- i mean- you transmit the thoughts 'shut up' to absolutely no one. how much more stupid can you get?

*bozo.

Wait, normal people can't read thoughts.

Maybe I'm hallucinating. Maybe it will go away on its own.

*you wish it were so.

Annoyed with… whatever this is, I walk through the living room, into the wood-tiled kitchen. Various cooking knives line the beige colored wall above the far left counter next to the pristine white cabinets where our family keeps the cups, plates, bowls, and cutting boards.

I walk past the pantry and fridge to the right of where I came in, and sit at the round table in the middle of the room temporarily. Pots and pans hang from a rack directly above.

In between the two sides of the kitchen counters, lay an oven. Directly over the oven, was a small microwave.

*you approach the microwave.

*there seems to already be food inside left by your parents. you're not to be trusted with anything in here other than the microwave and the fridge.

*god forbid you try to cook something.

Hey!

Although, technically this thing wasn't exactly wrong, it still hit me where it hurts.

*you open the microwave. inside it sits an absurdly small stack of pancakes. The syrup seems to have already been applied.

*you got the soggy pancakes.

As I begin to devour the pancakes mercilessly, I question the nature of this new voice in my head. I silently freak out.

The fact that there was something even in my head that wasn't me was slightly- no- greatly alarming.

Having seen several psychology videos that have dealt with the thought of other personalities or intelligences within one body, I tried not to self diagnose myself as I could quickly spiral.

I didn't have time for this, I had to get to school!

With the way my grades were, I couldn't afford to be late today.

*nerd.

Removing myself from the table, I quickly began to clean up before making the journey back to my room. My eyes land on the TV in the living room before quickly turning away again.

*the TV seems to call to you. A new video from xXw_rizzYTXx came out.

There's no time for that!

*an opportunity has been discarded.

Back in my room, I start getting dressed in my outfit. The top consists of a white button-up with a gray sportcoat and an orange and red striped tie. The bottom is just some plain old denim jeans.

*not really the best combination.

Agreed.

*you inspect the note on your desk. 'join club soon.' it's crudely written. your handwriting is as garbage as your chances at ever getting a girl.

And now I hate you again.

*you walk outside the room.

I walk downstairs, to the front door. As I open it, I am greeted with birdsong and a cool, gentle breeze.

I take two steps an- I nearly forgot my backpack! Returning briefly to snag it, I continue on my harsh and painful journey to school.

*you got the spine-breaking backpack.

Walking down the street, I take in the scenery around me. Houses, both short and tall, line the roadway almost like lights guiding an airstrip. Cherry trees are dotted along the various lawns, covering them in light pink leaves. I brush off a few of said leaves.

The sun is just now rising in the distance, as the-

*you observe your surroundings. they look lame.

Damnit! I was enjoying this!

*screw you

Wha-

*someone seems to be running behind you. you turn your head to see who it is.

"Heeeeyyyy!"

*an annoying girl seems to be running toward you.

*sayori - atk 2 def -1

*the brightest raincloud.

"Haaaaahh… haaahhh…"

Sayori takes a breath as she steadies herself.

What was that supposed to mean?!

*you continue to be stupid and transmit thoughts to a nonexistent being. oh look, the girl is looking at you weird. better get going.

"Huh? Heellooooo?" Sayori questioned when she got closer.

As confused as I am when I get above 80% on my math test, Sayori continues to wave in front of me.

"Oh. Hey."

"I overslept again! But I caught you this time!"

"Only because I waited for you."

*heh. you really suck at this.

Wait what do you mean by that?

*;)

How does that even work?

*you ponder how said nonexistent being can wink without a fa-

"Hello! Heeeyy! Stop ignoring me!"

Sayori see-

*ms upset. dont try that again bucko. this is MY job.

Wha-

*nothING QUICK TALK DO SOMETHI-

"What?" I *you replied.

"You were ignoring me! That's mean!" *sayori contorts.

I respond by say-

*ok i'm done with this. get out.

No

*bro we finna box

Excuse me, what is happening?

Doesn't matter.

*just talk.

-ing, "Well I don't want people to look at us and think we're a couple."

Why am I hearing sounds of a scuffle happening?

"Fine, Fine. But you did wait for me after all. You don't have it in your heart to be mean to me, do you~?"

"Whatever you say, Sayori."

"Ehehe~"

*ah. so uhh. you suddenly feel the 'voices in your head' return.

Good to know.

We cross the street onto a sidewalk on our journey to school. As we draw near, the streets become speckled with other students, all with their own lives, dreams, stories, each taking another step in their journey.

It's strange to think about this topic.

*you ponder the thought of people who will never cross paths with you. they will never meet you, and they will never be influenced by you. it would be as if you had never existed to them.

*the thought of never being known or acknowledged by these people…

It terrifies me.

*It Fills You With The Bravery To Meet Each And Every One Of Them.