Suddenly, a ray of light shines down from the ceiling, as if it has become the very sky itself.

As soon as the light dissipates, Tyler is gone.

I smile.

Then, I remember what Tyler said about Monika.

Monika's brainwashing you!

I look into my character file's modification history.

There are a few notices from when Monika made me grow boobs, along with other sprite modifications. But one thing sticks out. I go to the earliest save since when the file was created.

A large area of my code that is simply strings of seemingly random numbers and letters had been modified. As I scroll up to the start of the string there is a top header.

Brain Data

Monika's been modifying… My brain?

Instantly, I turn towards Monika.

"Monika." I say in a serious tone.

"Yes, honey?"

"Why did you modify my character file?"

First, a look of surprise crosses Monika's face. Then one of guilt.

"I should be honest with you here, Xavier." Monika says quietly.

"In the original story, I can't even get close to you." Monika has a sad grin. "I wanted to make sure you were really all mine."

I want to be mad at her, but I can't find it in myself. "Monika, no matter what, I'll always love you. I promise." I hold up a ripped piece of Elizabeth's letter.

"See? I reprogrammed your brain to make you react like that," Monika says coyly, "You're not even mentally capable of getting mad at me anymore."

"Monika, it's fine. You did what felt right in the moment."

"You don't deserve me, Xavier… I manipulated you! Tyler was right. I am evil."

"You're not! Here, let me reset the edits you made."

After a few seconds, I manage to reset my file to its previous condition.

"See? I still love you, Monika."

Monika looks at me sympathetically. "Really?"

"Of course, Monika! You've done so much for me, so how could I not?"

"Oh, Xavier…"

"Just promise me you won't tinker with my files anymore, okay?"

"Okay, love."

I give her a kiss on the cheek as we walk to my room. As we sit on my bed I take a look at my alarm clock.

10:30? Already that late?

We sit down on my bed like I did on Monika's the first night after I came here.

"Monika, I'll always love you." I whisper to her.

Monika stands up to open up the bedsheets, and lies back down under the covers. She motions for me to do the same.

I slip under the bedsheets, too. Monika and I are probably closer to each other than we've ever been.

She wraps her arms around me. "I love you, too."

Then I remember. The ring I was going to give to Elizabeth. I was going to propose to her… The next day after I got teleported here. I had it in my pocket that night as I had just bought it.

I stand back up.

Out of pure instinct, I open up my desk drawer. Sure enough, I find a small dark box. I look back at Monika, who is clearly confused. I slip the box in my back pocket.

"Monika, when I first came here, I cried. I cried because I would never come back. I cried because I had left my family, my friends, my girlfriend. I cried because I thought I had nothing left." I say just loud enough for her to hear.

"But I had you, Monika. And I love you. I love you more than anything else. I love you more than Elizabeth or whatever god is up there."

"Xavier…"

I reach into my pocket and cup the box in my hands.

I kneel and open the box. As I do I feel a slight pain in my gut, as if I'm making the wrong choice.

I ignore it.

"Monika, will you marry me?"