Chapter 32: A life without you

*Flash Back*

A boy playing with a ball in front of his house. The yellow ball bouncing off the sidewalk as the boy with gold eyes continues to play alone.

?: "Hey what are you doing?"

?2: "Just playing."

?: "Alone?"

?2: "Yeah, there's no one else around to play with."

?: "Well today's your lucky day. I'll be your friend."

?2: "Y-you will?"

?: "Yup, me and my family just moved in, so I was hoping to meet someone to be my friend. What do you say? Want to have plenty of adventure?"

Young Michael: "Ok, my names Michael." He hands her the yellow ball.

Young Sayori: "My names Sayori." She takes the ball. "Let's have plenty of fun together." She smiles brightly.

Young Michael: "Ok" He smiles back to her.

*Flash Back Ends*

[One More Chance by Saliva]

Standing face to face. One near the edge of death and the other witnessing death in the corner. The two friends stood still as time froze all around them. Sayori just inches away from kicking off the stool holding her up as the noose is around her neck.

Sayori: "What are you doing here?"

Michael: "What do you think I'm doing here!? Get away from that noose and come down here!"

Sayori: "No! I have to do this. There's no other option."

Michael: "No I won't let you." He takes a step forward.

Sayori: "Don't come any closer! I'll jump if you do!"

Michael: "Sayori" He stops in place.

Sayori: "You're right, you're right about everything. There is no hope. There's nothing that can be done to change things. If I stop then I'll only suffer longer. Don't stop me from doing this. It's the right decision."

Michael: "No" He attempts to get closer again.

Sayori: "I told you to stay back! Get away from me! All my efforts, all of our efforts were meaningless! You should know this MC! Please just let me end this."

The both of them look into each other's eyes. Sayori seeing his lifeless eyes behind his hair, but when she saw them, she saw something else within those golden eyes. Michael took a step back and raised his head high.

Michael: "Then do it."

Sayori: "Huh?"

Michael: "Go ahead do it. Hang yourself. See if I care, see if anyone cares. I won't stop you, but before you do …" He pulls out his gun from his pocket and spins the barrel before pointing it at his head. "... Just know that I'll pull the trigger on myself as soon as her hang yourself."

Sayori: "What? No don't do it."

Michael: "I will. We can be together in the afterlife."

Sayori: "But what about the others? There'll miss you if you go through with it."

Michael: "There'll miss you if you hang yourself." They both look into each other's eyes almost staring into each other's souls.

Sayori: "No you can't. Please don't do it. Just go back to the club. I know you'll find someone new to replace me. Just forget about me. Go back and enjoy it with the others!"

Michael: "Not without you! The club won't be the same without you! My life won't be the same without you! If you die, then there will be nothing left for me to live for!"

Sayori: "MC? No, I know your bluffing. You just want to see me suffer. I bet that guns a fake."

Michael: "Am I?"

Sayori: "What?"

Michael: "It's the real thing. There's no bluffing, but just so you know it only has one bullet."

Sayori: "Then are you?"

Michael: "Yeah, if fate wants me to suffer then I have no one to blame but myself when I lose you. However, if I guess right then we can be together forever."

Sayori: "You wouldn't."

Michael: "I will … no more hesitation." He moves the gun away from his head and aims it on his right foot.

Sayori: "Wh-what are you doing now?"

[Song Ends]

Michael takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes. Images of his past started flashing before his eyes. All his memories came right at him. Not the ones that scarred him, but the ones that helped him keep on going up until now. Remembering the fun, he had with Sayori when they were young as he remembers the day they first met.

The time they spent adventuring. The time they worked hard to earn enough money for that Duel Disk. All the playthroughs they had Dueling with each other to when the both of them reunited. He began remembering the time he spent in the Literature Club. Reading Parfait Girls with Natsuki. Reading novels with Yuri despite the awkwardness. The friendly welcome from Monika and the warm smile of Sayori. The smile he wants to see again.

He started remembering all the fun he had sharing poetry, helping the girls out with their tasks, partying with them, but most importantly. They defended him. They never once looked down on him for the crimes of his dad, but only saw what he truly is, a true friend. Seeing Sayori opening up to him by revealing a huge secret she hid from others and seeing Yuri speak up. It was enough for him to make his decision. He opens up his eyes and pulled the trigger.

*Bang!*

Michael: "GA!" He shot himself on the foot.

Sayori: "Michael!" She moves away from the noose and jumps off the stool, running to Michael whose foot is leaking blood. "Why? Why would you do this to yourself?"

Michael: "This … this is nothing compared to if I lost you. You mean too much to me. I'm sorry for being a horrible friend to you all these years."

Sayori: "No" Tears start to build up.

Michael: "I left you behind so you couldn't see me this way."

Sayori: "W-what?" She says as tears fell from her face.

Michael: "I left you behind to protect you from me and my family. I was always upset at Michelle bullying you. I feared that my family would cause harm to you if you were to get caught in the middle. That's why I drove you away. I didn't want you to get hurt by my dad, sister, and me. What I thought I made the right decision, turned out to be my worst mistake of my life. I'm sorry for making you suffer. I'm just a selfish person. More selfish than you. This is my punishment for the way I treated you."

Sayori: "No, no you aren't. You're my friend and here I'm the selfish one. Just hang in there. I'm calling for help."

Michael: "Sayori …" He slowly fades away due to the loss of blood. The darkness swallowing him as Sayori continues to cry for him.

Sayori: "MC!" Soon enough he couldn't hear her anymore.

*Flash Back*

Young Sayori: *Sniff* "Why are you doing this to me." She continues to cry.

?: "Because I felt like it. What of it?"

Young Sayori: "Meanie" She wipes her tears, but more would just come out.

?: "Cry baby. Can't believe he would waste time with you. Do everyone a favor and just die."

Young Michael: "Enough!" He tackles the girl. "I told you to leave her alone!"

?: "So what? What are you going to do about it?" She punches him in the nose.

Young Michael: "That's it! You've gone too far Michelle!" The two siblings fight as Sayori continues to cry.

Later on, that same day.

Young Sayori: "Are you ok MC?"

Young Michael: "Yeah, just a scratch."

Young Sayori: "But your nose?"

Young Michael: "It's fine. I'm more worried about you."

Young Sayori: "You shouldn't be. All she did was rip my favorite card."

Young Michael: "Don't worry little cinnamon roll. I'm sure we can find a new one for you."

Young Sayori: "Do you think you can?"

Young Michael: "Just trust me. I'll make sure to find you a new one no matter how long it takes." He gives her a friendly smile.

Young Sayori: "Then I'll wait until then." She gives him a smile back.

*Flash Back Ends*

Michael: "Huh? Where am I?" He sees nothing, but darkness. Slowly opening his eyes seeing some light. His vision was blurry, but slowly started to regain it. "Where am I?"

Sayori: "MC you're awake!"

Michael: "Huh? Sayori? Where am I?"

Dr. Feelgood: "You're in the hospital. You fell unconscious due to the loss of blood. Lucky for you, you didn't lose a lot of blood that could cost you your life."

Michael: "Oh right. I remember now." He tries to sit up.

Sayori: "Try to take it easy."

Nurse: "Mr. Conner you have another visitor."

Michael: "Who could that be?"

Mom: "Michael! My goodness what happened?"

Sayori: "Gabriella"

Mom: "Are you ok Michael?"

Michael: "I'm alright, I think?"

Dr. Feelgood: "Don't worry mam. He's on pain relief. He shouldn't feel any pain on his right foot."

Mom: "Thank you doctor." She looks back at her son. "What were you thinking!? Where did you get that gun!? How long did you have it for!?"

Sayori: "I'm sorry. It was my fault."

Mom: "Huh?"

Sayori: "He wouldn't have done it if I hadn't threatened to hang myself."

Mom: "What?"

Sayori's Dad: "Hey I came as soon as I heard. Is everyone ok?" Said the man with light brown hair, black eyes with a bit of a chubby figure, but built. Along with him was a woman who looked similar to Sayori.

Mom: "Oh my. How long has it been since the last time we last saw each other?"

Sayori's Dad: "Hey there Gabriella."

Sayori's Mom: "How have you been?"

Mom: "Not well, you know since my son made a dumb decision."

Sayori's Dad: "What happened?" He looks towards Michael and his daughter.

Sayori: "Well you see …" She tells everyone what was going on and revealed to her parents that she's been going through depression. "... And that's what happened. I'm sorry everyone. I caused trouble for everyone."

Sayori's Mom: "Oh my sweet little girl. Why haven't you told us anything?"

Sayori: "I was scared that the both of you would be disappointed in me."

Sayori's Dad: "How could we? We're just glad you told us the truth." Both her parents hug her. "Don't worry my little cinnamon roll. We're get you the help you need. Promise."

Sayori: "Thank you mommy and daddy."

Mom: "It's nice to see the three of them happy."

Michael: "Yeah"

Mom: "Michael I just want to tell you something."

Michael: "I know I'm in trouble."

Mom: "Not that. I just want you to know that I love you that's all son." She pets him on the head.

Michael: "Same here mom."

Sayori's Mom: "My how long has it been since all of us were in the same room together?"

Mom: "I know right? I'm so glad to see the both of you are doing well."

Sayori's Mom: "Seems to me you're doing well too. How's work for you?"

Mom: "Aw man I could tell you stories Selene." She wraps her arm around her old friend's neck and they both walk out of the room.

Sayori's Dad: "Chatty as ever those two. Sayori could you please make sure they don't cause any trouble? Whenever they have a conversation something bad always happens."

Sayori: "Ok daddy."

Sayori's Dad: "Before you leave here's some cash. Get something for yourself to snack on." He hands her some money.

Sayori: "Ok thanks daddy." She walks out of the room.

Sayori's Dad: "Michael"

Michael: "Yes sir?" He gets intimidated when he saw his black eyes.

Sayori's Dad: "Come on, don't be so formal? You can call me by my name."

Michael: "Yes sir, I mean Samson."

Sayori's Dad: "I just want you to know that I appreciate your efforts in stopping my daughter. If you hadn't had done that then who knows what my life would be like if I lost my only daughter. You really are a good person."

Michael: "No sir I'm not."

Sayori's Dad: "If you aren't then you wouldn't have gone through with it. I know what happened to you was tragic, but I know you won't let it keep you down."

Michael: "Huh?"

Sayori's Dad: "You're always welcome to visit our house."

Michael: "Oh no I shouldn't. I don't want to be a bother with everything that's happened and sorry about the door."

Sayori's Dad: "None sense. You can never be a bother to us. Selene and I always considered you a son to us."

Michael: "You do?"

Sayori's Dad: "Yeah and don't worry about the door. We can always repair it. Whenever you need help you can always see us or call us." He says with a smile.

Michael: (A son to him? A father figure?) Sayori's dad places his hand on Michael's shoulder.

Sayori's Dad: "It's never too late to change."

Michael: "... Maybe you're right?"

Sayori's Dad: "It was nice seeing you again, even though I wish we could have met at a better place and time."

Michael: "Sorry about that."

Sayori's Dad: "It's no problem. I better go check how the others are doing. Be back soon."

Michael: "Take your time sir, I mean Samson." Sayori's dad waves to him before leaving his hospital room.

As he walks down the hallways of the hospital a single thought and memory appeared in his head.

Sayori's Dad: *Sigh* (You're not the only one who has regrets. I have my own.) He starts remembering the day that changed everyone's lives. The sound of police sirens in the background. (If only I'd known sooner. If only I called the police a lot sooner, then maybe you wouldn't have suffered.)

End of Chapter 32