Chapter 25: We have the same goal

[Separated Self by Saliva]

It has been three days since everyone visited Michael's house. With regret in their hearts, they tried to talk to him again, but their last conversation with him was their last. For the past three days none of the girls were able to see him at home or at school. During the morning, lunch, and after school. He was nowhere to be found. When the girls realized this, they all started feeling guilty for just leaving him the way he is and wished they could go back in time to undo their choice of leaving him alone.

When they discussed amongst themselves about where he could be, they all started thinking that Sara is the one stopping him from seeing anyone. They all had the right to assume it's her as they recall how possessive she was with him. With that thought in mind, Monika and Sayori decided to ask around the school for info about Michael's whereabouts while Natsuki and Yuri do their own research about abuse victims. According to the info provided by eye witnesses some students would spot Michael around school grounds just walking about. Other eyewitnesses would say that off campus he would get into fights with other students from different schools.

Others would say that when school is over a random girl would show up at the front gate and wait for him to show up. Those were the only information's Monika and Sayori received since most of the students don't care about him or his existence. While they continue to gather more info, a boy can be seen nearby listening in on the conversation. During their info hunt, Natsuki and Yuri would use the school's computers in the library to search up any information's about abuse victims and what they experienced along with how they think.

With a ton of info, they found that the victim may blame themselves for being abused as they deserve it, depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood swings, anger to themselves or the abuser, self-harm, difficulties forming relationships with others, and trust issues all of which stays with the victim even after the abuser is gone. With those thoughts in mind, they also discovered why a victim stays. They either fear being harmed, belief that the abuser will change, belief that they made a mistake which warrants punishment, staying for the children or income, fear of isolation, lack of confidence, and/or desire the abuse as a high.

Yuri: "My God." She covers her forehead with her hands in stress.

Natsuki: "To think all that was caused by his dad."

Yuri: "I know. All this caused by one man's actions. It doesn't help with Sara taking advantage of him."

Natsuki: "What do you mean?"

Yuri: "It said that the victim may desire the abuse like a drug. Sara is giving him drugs by abusing him."

Natsuki: "I see and it doesn't help that everyone in the school hates him for something he didn't have any control of. No wonder he felt so lonely. Sara is the only one to not hate him. Even when he's getting hurt."

[Song Ends]

Yuri: "How much must he suffer to finally be at peace, to find happiness. It's not fair."

Natsuki: "That's life it would seem? People are just awful beings. All they ever want is to make themselves feel better even when others are suffering. To knock one man down and laugh at his expense."

Yuri: "People … people are just the worst. To make Michael feel so alone, to make him feel worthless for the crimes his dad committed."

Natsuki: "I know … I hate them too."

Yuri: (I'm so worried about him. I want to help him, but what can I do?)

After gathering all the information they needed. They all gathered at the club and discussed what they found. While they discuss amongst themselves, another character is seen walking by the club only to stop by and listened in. When the girls finished their discussion the mystery character leaves.

Monika: "Then it's decided. We're all go to his house one more time."

Sayori: "Then let's go then."

Natsuki: "Assuming he is home."

Sayori: "What are you saying?"

Natsuki: "It's just how I said it. For the past two days we went over to his place and every time we go, he's not home."

Yuri: "I agree with Natsuki. Even if we go to his house every day to check on him, he's most likely with Sara. I now believe he's avoiding us."

Monika: "You may have a point. Even if he's home, we know nothing about Sara and where she lives. Even with all the info you and Natsuki gathered about the victims we know nothing how he really feels or think. I have no choice but to admit it, but with how he is now. He's a lost cause."

Yuri: "No!" She slams her desk surprising the others by her sudden outburst. "S-sorry, but I don't want to abandon him. I can't just forget about him. I don't want him to suffer forever. I just … I just …"

Sayori: "Yuri" She says sadly.

Monika: "You're right, Yuri. I don't want to forget about him either, but what can we do? Sara is manipulating him so much that it's nearly impossible for us to undo it."

Sayori: "Then we need to show him how much we care and it starts by seeing him again."

Monika: "You're right about that. No more sitting around. Come on girls, let's head over to Michael's place again. We're show him how much we care even if we have to do this every day."

Sayori: "Yeah!"

Natsuki: "..."

Yuri: (Please fight it, Michael. Fight to live.)

With all that settled, they all headed to Michael's house once again to motivate him. To see him, to talk to him, to play with him. When they arrived Sayori took the lead and rang the doorbell. When she noticed that there was no response, she rang it again, but still no response.

Sayori: "Come on MC respond. Please respond." She rang the doorbell as much as she could, but there was no one around. "Come on. There has to be someone home?"

Monika: "Sayori, stop. There's no one home today."

Sayori: "But …" She looks at Monika's calm, but worried face. "..."

Natsuki: "Ga! This is hopeless! He's not home and we have no idea where this Sara bitch lives?"

Monika: "I agree with you, but we can't give up yet. We need to keep trying."

Sayori: "We're try again tomorrow then."

Monika: "That's the spirit."

Natsuki: "Tch! So annoying, but fine. I'll keep trying as well." Both Sayori and Monika smile at her. "Stop looking at me like that!" Both girls tease her some more while Yuri watches.

Yuri: (If only I could've been a bigger help. Then maybe things would turn for the best? I really am useless. Michael …)

The next day after their third attempt to visit Michael was a failure. After classes were over, everyone gathered at the club, but something was off today?

Monika: "..."

Yuri: "Uh, M-Monika … are feeling alright?"

Monika: "Y-yeah it's just … I'm not feeling well today."

Yuri: "Are you perhaps sick?"

Monika: "No it's just …"

Yuri: "Say no more. I understand."

Monika: "Does that make me an awful person?"

Yuri: "I don't believe so. We've been working so hard that we haven't had proper rest. Maybe it would be best for all of us to head home and have a goodnight sleep."

Monika: "Yeah you're right." She stretches her body.

Sayori: "Hey? What are you two talking about?"

Yuri: "Monika is not feeling well. We believe it's because we've been so worried about Michael and have been working so hard to help him that she felt ill."

Sayori: "Ah I see. Well, that's alright if you want to end today's club. We can always visit MC's place tomorrow."

Monika: "Are you sure?"

Sayori: "I'm sure. It's not going to help if we all don't go."

Monika: "You have a point. I guess it would be best to end today's club meeting."

Sayori: "Oh speaking of which, has anyone seen Natsuki?"

Monika: "No I haven't, but now that you mention it?"

Yuri: "F-forgive me for not mentioning this sooner, but she told me she had to head home early today."

Monika: "Oh I see, well that can't be helped."

Yuri: "Indeed"

Monika: "Okay everyone, I do believe it's time to end today's club meeting. I hope you all get a goodnights rest and hope to see you all tomorrow."

Yuri & Sayori: "Yes mam!"

With club activities over and done with earlier than expected, Sayori walks down the hallways lost in thought.

Sayori: (So it isn't just me. Monika is feeling sluggish too. Can't blame her for feeling that way. All that info hunting really tired me out. I didn't want to get out of bed, but then again that's nothing new. God I'm the worst friend he could ever ask for. I should've stayed with him, but instead left him alone at his place. If I hadn't left, then maybe I could've found out where Sara lived or maybe stopped him from going with her. Sorry MC I let you down.)

While she thinks to herself about her failures as a friend, the rain clouds above her head starts to form. (No, I can't give up yet. I need to make everyone happy again. I liked seeing everyone smile and without MC around there is no happiness, but what can I do? What could I say to him? For that matter where could he have gone?) She continues her walk taking the stairs, but when she reached the next floor down, she bumped into someone.

*Thud*

Sayori: "Ouch!"

?: "Oh shit I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." Said the man with dirty blond hair.

Sayori: "Oh no it's my fault for not paying attention." She gets off the floor and stands.

?: "You're not hurt are you?"

Sayori: "No I'm alright. Thank you for asking."

?: "I see?"

Sayori: "Is something the matter?"

?: "Hmm, blue eyes, pink coral hair, red bow? Are you by any chance Sayori?" He pushes up his glasses.

Sayori: "Yup! That's me. Do I know you mister?"

?: "No I just so happened to hear a lot about you from a friend of mine. My names Jason. It's nice to finally meet Michael's childhood friend."

Sayori: "Hey Jason how are you? Wait? You know MC?"

Jason: "Yeah and he told me a lot about you."

Sayori: "He has?" He nods to her question. "I see, so he has been thinking about me. Even after all these years."

Jason: "Sorry for interrupting you, but would you be kind enough to accompanying me? There's something I want to talk to you about."

Sayori: "Sure I don't mind, but just to be safe where are we going?"

Jason: "We're just going to a nearby park. There's something I want to talk to you about."

Sayori: "Well, ok?" (Hm, he seems nice, but at the same time? Ah who cares. If it's about MC, then I'll go for it. Just got to keep my guard up. Yes sir.)

Jason: (Wow … he was right about her being weird. Well, whatever.)

The both of them left school grounds and walked to the nearest park just like where Jason said. The two of them hadn't said a word to each other during their walk. During this, she would start to wonder how Jason knows Michael and if he had heard about his reputation? To her is he friend or foe? When they finally reached the park. They took a seat on a nearby bench as Sayori braces herself for whatever it is Jason is going to say. Her question finally being answered to who Jason is.

Jason: "Do you want anything to drink? There's a vending machine right over there." He points to one across from where they are sitting.

Sayori: "Sure thank you." He leaves to go get them some cold drinks.

Jason: "Here you go."

Sayori: "Thank you." They both open up their drinks and start drinking them before speaking.

Sayori: "So Jason, how do you know MC?"

Jason: "Well you see …"

Sayori: "Wait let me guess? You're going to tell me how awful MC is aren't you?" (Crud I should have waited until he spoke.)

Jason: "No as a matter of fact I want to thank you and the Literature Club for everything you've done for him."

Sayori: "... Huh?"

Jason: "Has he ever told you about his family life?"

Sayori: "Yeah he told us before." She starts remembering his lifeless eyes. "Why do you bring it up?"

Jason: "Just wanted to know if you did before we have our real talk."

Sayori: "Oh that's understandable?" She takes another sip of her drink. "Sooooo, how do you know him?"

Jason: "We met when we were taking dance classes together."

Sayori: "Dance class? I didn't know we had dance classes?"

Jason: "Well our school doesn't. I guess you could say our classes were held somewhere else where all could join. You see every year there's this place in town that teaches people how to dance. They were designed for us to improve our skills if we ever decided to go to broad way for entertainment or help us at social events. Everyone in high school is allowed to join. That's where me and Michael went to."

Sayori: "Really? That explains how MC could dance, but how come MC never talks about?"

Jason: "Same reason as everything else. He keeps his distance from everyone since people judge him because of his dad. They never bother to get to know him as Michael."

Sayori: "Then how come you aren't?"

Jason: "The reason I didn't was because my dad always tells me to never judge others until I get to know them, for you never know what they've been through or how they really feel. You could some it up as me being neutral."

Sayori: "So you and MC became friends?"

Jason: "In a way yeah. I talked to him, I brought him over for dinner, invited him to hang, I got to know the real him. I did manage to get him to opened up a bit, but I could tell it was hard for him, but he did. As a matter of fact, you and the girls got him to open up way more than I ever could. That's why I wanted to thank you."

Sayori: "Oh now I see." Silence between the two as they both drink. "Can I ask you something?"

Jason: "Go on ahead."

Sayori: "What was MC like there … during his lessons I mean? How does it work?" He smiles when she asked about the past.

[My Prerogative by Bobby Brown]

Jason: "Man that takes me back. Remembering it surely brought back some good times. It's just like I said. They would teach us lessons on how to dance, but sometimes we would go for a field trip and show off our skills to a crowd. As for Michael he was one of our best dancers. You could say that he adapted very quickly and developed his skills faster than any of us could. I remembered back then he didn't really interacted with anyone. Always alone, keeping his distance from everyone, never wanting to be near anyone. I didn't understand why? At first, I always thought he was just being a jerk thinking he was better than everyone else, but that all changed when we actually talked. It was quite funny how we started talking.

Sayori: "How so?"

Jason: "Heh, when we went to perform for an audience, I somehow lost my hat like an idiot, so when I went searching for it. I couldn't find it anywhere until I bumped into him. When I realized that, he offered his hand to me and I accepted it. When he helped me, I noticed he had my hat. I asked where he got it from and told me he found it in the bathroom. I was so embarrassed about it that my face turned completely red. I always considered myself a smart guy, but to lose my hat in the bathroom, I felt like a complete idiot.

Sayori: "What happened next?"

Jason: "Well things started to turn natural and we both started hanging out. During that time, he told me about his past bit by bit. The only reason he joined was to help improve himself."

Sayori: "Improve himself?"

Jason: "He wanted to make a name for himself. To undo everything his dad did to him and others. Seeing him wanting to do better was inspiring, but the way people labeled him. It really pisses me off." He looks at the orange sky. "Just thinking about how things were back then. It gives me a rush nostalgia. The only reason I joined was because my dad thought it would help me with my social skills.

At first, I hated it. I always messed up with the rhythm, tripping, stepping on other's feet. I just couldn't get the hang of it, but after forming a friendship with Michael. I felt I can do it. After that I had nothing, but good memories with the class. The skills we showed to the audience, dancing for the crowd to enjoy. Hearing them cheer for us. My dad was right about it. It was fun.

Me and the boys gave it our all during the performances. It was a bit embarrassing with some of the moves we did. Us moving our arms and legs. Swaying our hips, the amount of twirls we did. I honestly thought I was going to puke. The outfits we had to put on. I wore some pretty uncomfortable outfits. When I wore them, I felt stupid. The only outfit I ever enjoyed wearing were the suits. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't like wearing them. When I wore them, I felt like a boss." He starts chuckling.

"Ah, I remember one time when the music was reaching its climax Michael would just strip off his jacket and the crowd just roar with excitement. It was because of that one act that our instructor decided to make him the lead. It was the one time I saw him smile. But to be honest I knew that I wouldn't always do this forever. I have my own goals and that's to be a neurologist, but it was fun moving my body around."

[Song Ends]

Sayori stares at Jason. "Oh, sorry I was rambling too much."

Sayori: "No as a matter of fact I'm happy to hear that. It's very cool that the two of you had so much fun. I would have loved to see you two perform."

Jason: "Thanks, but my days are over and I'm not sure if Michael wants to do it anymore?"

Sayori: "Oh you be surprised."

Jason: "What was that?"

Sayori: "Oh nothing."

Jason: "Right?"

Sayori: "Hey Jason … Do you know anything about Sara?"

Jason: "Sara, never liked her."

Sayori: "So you do know her?"

Jason: "Yeah, she was also part of the gang. Both her and Michael would often pair up for the partner lessons."

Sayori: "What do you know about her? Please tell me."

Jason: "Well first of all she's not in the same high school as us. She attends to another school on the other side of town, though I did hear she's a bit of a troublemaker often skipping classes or getting into fights with others."

Sayori: "That could explain why she shows up at our school as soon as it ends. What else do you know? Do you know why MC would date her?"

Jason: "That's something I don't know. All I know is that she said something to him and after their little conversation he's been taking orders from her since. Clearly she's black mailing him."

Sayori: "Oh I think I know what she said to him?"

Jason: "Really, what?"

Sayori: "I heard from MC that she promised to him that she will always love him and to prevent him from becoming his dad."

Jason: "I see, so that would mean she got him to tell her his family life. After knowing about his abusive dad, she decided to take advantage of him. An abusive relationship."

Sayori: "Yeah and my friend Yuri did research about why he would stay with her."

Jason: "The belief that he deserves it or perhaps an addiction to pain? She really is a horrible person."

Sayori: "I know right? What a big meanie."

Jason: "My question is how did she get him to open up?"

Sayori: "You're right about that. If MC is so distant from everyone, then how could Sara get him to talk about his past."

Jason: "There is a possibility that she could've been very nice and sweet to him? You know butter him up?"

Sayori: "Butter, but that's used for toast, but go on."

Jason: "She probably acted that way to get to him and with that Michael thought he found the woman who could love him when everyone else didn't? However, there could be a chance that she did care for him at one point, but after hearing his story she decided to have complete control over him?"

Sayori: "Poor MC. He deserves better."

Jason: "Well either way, we need to help him. We both want what's best for him, right?" He gets off the bench and Sayori does too.

Sayori: "Right"

Jason: "Then we got to find a way to help him."

Sayori: "But we already tried. Whenever we go to his house to see him, he's never home and we don't know where Sara lives. What can we do?"

Jason: "Don't know, but it wouldn't hurt to keep trying. Maybe he needs to see it. The truth and determination." Sayori looks away to stare at the sky.

Sayori: "The truth and determination?" (Could I really do that? Could I really save him by baring my soul to him?)

Jason: "Well hopefully we figure out a way to help him. For now, it's best to head home and rest."

Sayori: "You're right about that. I'm tired."

Jason: "Well it was good talking to you. Sorry for wasting your time. I'll be taking my leave now. Take care." He waves before leaving.

Sayori: "No thank you for being a carrying friend to MC. Bye Jason." After having a conversation with Jason. Sayori left for home still thinking of what to do to help Michael. As she lays silent on her bed a thought finally occurred. (I need to know more about MC, but how? He told us enough about himself, so who else could I ask? Wait! There is one person who knows MC more than any of us.) "I need to get the others, for this is something they also need to know." She grabs her phone and made some calls.

Meanwhile at Jason's house. After dropping off his belongings. He went to the garage to go see someone.

?: "Hey welcome back kiddo."

Jason: "Hey dad."

Jason's Dad: "Is something the matter?"

Jason: "No just thinking."

Jason's Dad: "Well you know you could always talk to me when something is bothering you."

Jason: "Thanks dad. How's that project of yours going?"

Jason's Dad: "Well I'm still working out on some of the kinks before I continue on the next portion of the gaming world."

Jason: "Well hopefully you manage to finish quickly. I want to test out this new gaming world you're working on."

Jason's Dad: "In due time. You hungry?"

Jason: "Yeah I could go for something to eat. What do you have in mind?"

Jason's Dad: "How about pizza?"

Jason: "Yeah I'm fine with that. You want me to make the call?"

Jason's Dad: "Please if you would?"

Jason: "On it." A couple of minute later after ordering. "Hey dad, so what kind of game are you planning to use first in this project of yours?"

Jason's Dad: "Oh well, I was thinking a dating game?"

Jason: "Really? What made you decided that?" He says disappointingly.

Jason's Dad: "Thought it would a great starting point before any other, not to mention it's easy to code it in the Virtual World."

Jason: "Ok, so what are you going to call it then?"

Jason's Dad: "That's a good question. I haven't thought about it. Hmm? I know how about I call it Doki Doki?"

Jason: "Doki Doki?"

Jason's Dad: "At least for now until I come up with a better name for it."

Jason: "Well it does sound kind of dumb, but it's your project so I'll support you until the end."

Jason's Dad: "Thanks kiddo." Jason leaves the garage and heads to his room until the pizza arrives.

Jason: "Doki Doki? Well, it's not the worst thing I heard." He smiles.

End of Chapter 25