Chapter 28: Speak up for Hope

While everyone has fun at the arcade. The sun started to settle down. When they all had enough fun competing with each other they all decided to go to a nearby restaurant.

Sayori: "Aw man this burger is great!" She continues to stuff her face.

Natsuki: "Slow down or else you're going to choke."

Monika: "How's your food Yuri?"

Yuri: "I don't really eat burgers, but I could see why people like them."

Monika: "That's good to hear."

Yuri: "What about you? You normally don't eat meat."

Monika: "It's fine to cheat every once in a while. Besides, who can say no to a delicious burger for a good price." She smiles before taking another bite. While they eat Michael is seen eating his food very slowly. He hasn't said a word since they all left the arcade and only spoke when asked. "Hey Michael, how's your food?"

Michael: "It's good." He continues eating slowly.

Monika: (Wonder why he's eating slow? Could it be because of Sara beating him? I recall him drinking his juice very slowly when we visited him at his house. Poor guy's stomach can't handle it. No, I'm just being paranoid. Maybe he just likes to savor his food? Then again so does Natsuki now that I think about it?)

After they all ate, they headed out into the night again.

Sayori: "Man that was great. I had so much fun today."

Natsuki: "I have to admit it. It was pretty fun."

Sayori: "Aw, but you hardly ate your food."

Natsuki: "Hey I got full, ok? I'm eating this later." She holds up her bag of leftovers.

Yuri: "What are we going to do next? Tomorrows Sunday, so we don't have to worry about school."

Monika: "That's a good point, but I don't know what we could do next?"

Yuri: "Monika, if it's quite alright may I ask for a request?"

Monika: "Sure go on ahead."

Yuri: "Perhaps we could go back to the beach again? You know to listen to the waves again?"

Monika: "If that's what you want then sure. Come on everyone, let's go back to the beach again."

Sayori: "Alright!"

After hearing Yuri's request, they all headed to the beach. Due to the cold weather as the snow started to fall once again. They all went there to hear the calming waves.

Natsuki: "Check it out. It's snowing."

Sayori: "Pretty" She held out her hands to grab a snowflake.

Monika: "Great idea Yuri. You don't see this every day. The snow falling from the heavens, the calming waves of the beach, and the lights reflecting off the snow."

Yuri: "Th-thank you. M-Michael, are you having fun? Michael?" She looks behind herself to see he stopped walking to look out at the sea. "Michael? Is something the matter?"

Michael: "No, I was just looking out at the dark sea. It's beautiful, wouldn't you agree?"

Yuri: "Y-yes, it is. You know … maybe someday I would like to stare at this scene with someone I l-l-l-lo … s-someone close to me."

Michael: "Yeah, same here."

Monika: "Hey what are you two doing?" She walks up to them along with the others.

Yuri: "N-n-n-nothing, we were just looking at the moonlight reflecting onto the sea." She says nervously while playing with her hair.

Monika: "Makes sense. It is beautiful to see."

Yuri: "Indeed"

Natsuki: "Hey Michael what do you think about it?"

Michael: "Hmm?"

Natsuki: "You know … did you have fun today?" He looks to her then back to the ocean.

Michael: "… Yes … I did have fun today."

Natsuki: "Really? That's cool."

Sayori: (It's working. I'm glad to see MC having a good time.) She smiles to herself.

Sara: "So this is where you've been." Everyone looks behind themselves. "I should've known that you would sneak away from me and be with these whores. You cheater!"

Michael: "N-no, it's nothing like that. I was just …"

*Slap*

[Tragic Kind of Love by Saliva]

Sara: "No excuses. Come on. Let's get you away from them. They're only manipulating you, so they could hurt you more."

Michael: "Wait, but I don't …"

Sara: "Don't talk back to me! Don't forget that I'm the one who saved you from your despair! You owe me!"

Natsuki: "This bitch again? Why you?"

Sayori: "Meanie"

Monika: (No she's going to ruin our plan to help him.)

Yuri: (Now what are we going to do? He'll be taken away and get abused again.)

Sara: "Now come here!" She grabs his wrist.

Michael: "But …"

Sara: "These girls don't know anything about you. I'm the one who loves you. I'm the one who wants to help you. Don't you want to do better than your old man?"

Michael: "I … yes." He looks down in defeat.

Sara: "Good boy. Come on let's head to my place."

Sayori: (Oh no. She's going to undo everything we've done for him.)

Monika: (Not good. I need to say something, but what?)

Natsuki: (Can't let this bitch take him away. He'll get beaten if I let her take him again.)

Yuri: (I, I can't let her do this to him, but what can I say?)

Sara: "Let's go Michael. I'm going to have to discipline you about cheating."

Michael: "..." He winces.

?: "You don't deserve him."

Sara: "Hm? Ok, which one of you fuckers said that?" She turns around to the girls with a cold stare. "Which one of you had the guts to say that?"

One of the girls walks up and faced Sara head on.

Yuri: "I said you don't deserve him."

Sara: "Who gave you the right to say that? Bitch."

Natsuki: "Yuri?"

Sayori: (I didn't expect her to say anything.)

Monika: "Yuri"

Sara: "Mind repeating that again bitch?"

Yuri: "I said you don't deserve him." She places her hand on her heart. "Michael is a sweet individual. He deserves someone better than you. He doesn't deserve the beating you give him. He doesn't need your love. Michael deserves true happiness and not some bitch who treats him like dirt!"

*Pow*

Sara punches her on her on the cheek causing Yuri to fall to the ground. Not letting her off the hook. Sara followed her and attacked her furiously. Not letting her get the chance to get up.

Natsuki: "Why you!?" She gets ready to help but was stopped.

Monika: "Don't interfere."

Natsuki: "What why!?"

Monika: "Let Yuri do this."

Natsuki: "But?"

Monika: "Please, let Yuri do what has to be done."

Natsuki: "Tch!"

Monika: (Yuri, you made the right decision. Please let her actions convince you Michael.)

[Song Ends]

Sara continues to beat her down to the point where she grabs Yuri's hair to pull her back up for another punch. Just as Sara gets ready for another attack, Michael held her arm to stop her from beating Yuri.

Michael: "Just stop, you already won. Let's just go."

Sara: "Fucking bitch." She gets off of Yuri. "You're lucky that I'm letting you go. If I had a chance, you would've been fucking dead. Come on let's head back to my place." Both her and Michael walk away.

Before they left Michael looked back to Yuri laying on the floor.

Michael: (You're the one who deserves better.) He turns away and leaves with Sara.

As they both left the others go check up on Yuri.

Sayori: "Hey are you ok?" She helps Yuri sit up.

Monika: "Wait right there. I got a handkerchief." She helps wipe away the blood on Yuri's nose. "Are you okay?"

Yuri: "Y-yeah."

Monika: "You got some bruises. Come on let's get you home." Both Sayori and Monika help her up. "Don't worry. We're help you get home. You deserve a good rest." As they help lift Yuri up Natsuki watches by the side lines.

Natsuki: (Yuri, that's the first time I ever heard you speak up. After all these years since we first met, I have been trying to get you to speak up. To fight back whenever someone messes with you. I couldn't get you to do that and yet … Michael managed to do it. Maybe I'm just a bad friend to you. No, I am a bad friend to you. All I ever do to you is argue over every little thing, yell at you, and insult you. I can't even give you a proper apology when I do take things too far. Even after all that, you forgave me. Maybe it is you who is the strongest? Maybe I can open up if you're able to.)

She smiles to herself. (Guess that adds to the list of things I'm jealous of you for?)

After the long way back to Yuri's house. Monika knocked on the door rather than have Yuri use her key to open it.

Yuri's Father: "Yes may I help you? Yuri!?"

Yuri's Mother: "What's wrong? Oh my. What happened to you sweetie?"

Yuri: "Nothing … I …"

Monika: "She got into a fight. I'm sorry. I'm the one who should've helped end it. I accept full responsibility."

Yuri's Mother: "Never mind that. Could you help take her to her room. I'll get the first aid kit. Alvis, could you get something for her to drink?"

Yuri's Father: "Sure thing, Violet."

Monika and the girls help Yuri to her room while Yuri's mother gets the first aid kit and her dad gets something for his daughter to drink.

Monika: "There we go. Nice and comfy."

Yuri: "Thank you, but …"

Monika: "What's wrong?"

Sayori: "Woah? Look over there." She points to where Yuri keeps her knife collection. "You got some weird collection going on?"

Monika: "Uh, Yuri? Do you mind explaining this?"

Yuri: "I-i-it's my knives collection. I like to collect knives." (Kill me.)

Natsuki: "Woah, there's a lot of them."

Sayori: "Yeah but look how cool each of them are."

Monika: "Yuri, how come you never told us about this?"

Yuri: "Because I felt that if you guys knew about this, you'll never want to speak to me again or worst kick me out of the club." She looks away from Monika with an embarrassed look as she hides her bruised face.

Monika: "Oh Yuri, we're your friends. We accept you for who you are, so don't feel too embarrassed. There are lots of people who have different types of collections, so don't worry."

Yuri: "R-really?"

Monika: "Yeah, now come on and relax." She helps her lay down until her mother comes in.

Yuri's Mother: "Okay I got the first aid kit so let me help you."

Yuri: "Thank you mother."

Yuri's Mother: "So tell me? How did you get hurt?"

Yuri: "Well …"

Monika: "If it's alright with you, I could tell you?"

Yuri's Mother: "Yes please tell me."

Monika: "Well you see …" She tells the whole story of what's going on and told Yuri's mother about the fight she had with Sara. "... and that's what happened."

Yuri's Mother: "I see, thank you for telling me."

Monika: "I'm so sorry that I didn't do anything to help. I accept full responsibility."

Yuri's Mother: "No don't be. You all did what had to be done. If you didn't do anything to help this Michael boy, then he would probably be dead. It's only bad when good people do nothing."

Monika: "Thank you for understanding."

Yuri's Mother: "You're welcome. The three of you should be heading home now. Your parents are probably worried about you?"

Monika: "Yeah you're right. Bye Yuri. I hope you get better."

Sayori: "See you later Yuri."

Natsuki: "Take care or whatever."

Yuri: "Yes, see you soon." They all left for home. "Are you upset with me mother?"

Yuri's Mother: "No, how could I? You did what you felt was the right thing to do. I'm so proud of you."

Yuri: "R-really?" Her mother nods. "I … Th-Thank you mother, but-"

Yuri's Mother: "Tell me the truth. Do have feelings for this boy?"

Yuri: "Huh!? Well, I …" Her mom smiles.

Yuri's Mother: "Aw, my sweet little Yuri. You've grown so much. This Michael boy must be special for you to speak up? To have something worth fighting for." She pats her daughter's head.

Yuri: "Mother?"

Yuri's Mother: "Take it easy. Get plenty of rest. You'll feel a lot better after you get enough sleep."

Yuri: "Yes mother."

Yuri's Mother: "Night sweetie."

Yuri: "Night mother."

Her mother closes the door allowing her to rest and lets out a soft sigh.

Yuri's Mother: "Guess she's not my little girl anymore?" (I'm glad that you're becoming the woman I hope you be.)

As she thinks to herself, the next day has begun as Sayori stands in front of her old friend's house. One last chance to make a difference, one last chance to break the chains that bind him, but what will she do? What will she say to him? Can she really help him or is he far too gone to be saved? Only time can tell.

End of Chapter 28