It Just Stops Moving

2:30 PM CST 12/27/17
Sup, /ddlc/?
11:08 PM CST 1/11/18
I'm finally writing again.
4:39 PM CST 3/14/18
Updated. For the first time in 2 months.
3:40 pm 10/2/2020
lmao hi clovie and mado and moon

From the wake of Hellthread, i give you my magnum opus.

-Chapter 1-

I swallow.
Sayori sure is a heavy sleeper.
I didnt want to have to enter her room like this...
Isn't it sort of a breach of privacy?
In any case...
It just feels right.
I take a deep breath, and--
THUD.
What?
I open the door.
I see Sayori on the floor.
he rope she tied broke off the cieling.
Oh no...
Oh no, oh no, oh no...
This can't be happening!
I run over to her, frantically searching for a pulse.

...

Oh thank god, she's alive!
I quickly untie the rope from around her neck, and clutch her unconsious, limp body in my arms.

I call the paramedics.

"Hello?"

A few hours pass.

I wait in the hallway, a nervous wreck.

The doctor comes out.
"It's okay to see her now."

"You're lucky you found her when you did. any longer, and she would have become permenantly brain damaged. Thankfully, she should just only have probems breathing for a little while, and nothing el¡¢£¤¥¦¬®¡¢¥¦©ª«¬®"

"£¤¥§¨©ª«"

"We're sorry, but..."
"She has severe nerve damage. Not only will she not be able to move like she used to, but she also... Lacks the abilty to express herself as well now. We are terribly sorry. If there's anything we can do to--"
"Just let me in that room." I say, voice trembling.

I enter to see Sayori, with bandages all around her neck and fingers.

I hold her hand.
She opens her eyes, and looks at me.
... But no words come from her lips.
just a blank stare.

Those half dead eyes...

"Sayori.."
"No matter what happens to me, I'll always take care of you from here on out! I..."

I choke back tears.
"I LOVE YOU, SAYORI!!!"

She gives a weak smile, before she falls back asleep.

-Chapter 2-

It's been almost one year since that day.
Yet, the crisp air of an autumn Saturday still blows, leaves still falling, as if that day never happened.
"Sayori..." I call out, entering her room.
She's sitting upright in her bed.
"You want breakfast?" I say, in a cheerful tone.
Sayori nods weakly.
I carry her to the table.
"I made the eggs in an omlette, just how you like it." I say, cutting it up for her.
"You wanna try again today, or do you want me to feed you?"
Sayori taps the table once, and slowly moves her hand to the fork.
Her fingers meekly and clumsily wrap around it.
she slowly presses the prongs into an omlette slice.
arm shaking, she moves the fork slowly to her mouth.
The fork falls out of her weak grip.
"Oh no!" I clean up the small mess.
"We can always try again tomorrow, Sayori. And don't you ever forget that. There's always a tomorrow."
I hug her, and pat her head gently.
She smiles.
"Atta girl. Alright, here's the first bite..."
I slowly feed Sayori her breakfast.
Afterwards, I change us both and we go outside.
"Today's the day, Sayori!" I say, as i set her into her wheelchair.
"We're going out to see everyone!

I should be sad right now.
Seeing my friend like this.
but that smile...
Getting to see Sayori's smile after that day is what keeps me going.
"Don't worry, it's walking distance from here. Aren't you excited to see the girls?"
she taps her finger in pulses of 1 the fastest I've seen in a while, which means yes.
She must be really excited if she is doing it that fast.
We enter the café.
Natsuki, Yuri, and Monika all sitting at a table.
"Hey guys!" I say, pulling out a chair from the table.
"You wanna sit in this chair, or stay?"
She taps her finger once.
Option one, then.
I lift her, gently placing her down on the seat.
I push it up so that she is a comfortable distance away from the table.
"Uwaaaa!~" Natsuki exclaims, half standing up.
"Monika, can we switch seats? I wanna be by Sayori!"
"Sure, be my guest, Natsuki." Monika says, getting up.
"So cute!!!" Natsuki squeals, as she hugs Sayori.
Sayori's arms slowly wrap around Natsuki.
"Protag, can I feed her today?" Natsuki asks, still hugging Sayori.
"I mean, it is about lunchtime..." I consider, before I come up with an idea.
"Actually, why don't you ask her yourself?" I suggest.
"Alright.." Natsuki says, priming herself.
"One tap is yes, two is no." She puts Sayori's finger on her hand.
"Do you want me to feed you?
One tap.
"Yay!!!"
"Great job, Natsuki!" Yuri says.
"You have been making great strides with her as of late."
"Yeah, I have! " Natsuki says, confident.
She moves the menu over to Sayori.
"Now point to what you want." Natsuki says, placing her finger on the deluxe parfait.
"This is what I'm getting."
Sayori moves her hand to touch Natsuki's.
"Parfait it is." I say, setting down the menu.
"I think I just need a coffee right now."
"Sayori had a nightmare last night, so i had to sleep in her room in a chair to make sure she didn't get scared."

After a few moments of silence...

"Say, Monika..." Yuri picks up.

"You've been awfully quiet. Something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, Ahaha! I'm just... thinking." Monika says, flustered.

When it comes time to order, Monika just orders a water.

Yuri, gets a few small danishes.

Natsuki chooses Starwberry flavoring, and Sayori chooses Chocolate.

I, on the other hand, ordered the strongest coffee they had. Anything to keep me through the day until i can finally get some decent sleep tonight.

After some banter, the orders arrive.
two GIANT parfaits are placed down on the table.
"Sayori-- Are you sure you can finish that!?"
She gives taps in pulses of 1.
"Alright, but if you don't, I'm having the rest!~" Natsuki says in a sing-song voice.
At this point, Monika and Yuri had been talking for a while now..
"Monika, why don't you come outside to talk with me for a bit?" Yuri asks. I could hear the slight intonations of anger in her voice.
Monika agrees, and they leave the cafe for now.
"Well, here we go!" She says, putting the spoon into Sayori's parfait.
"Here comes the airplaaaane!~"
Sayori rejects it.
"Woah there, Natsuki!" I say, almost getting up.
"She doesn't like being treated like a little kid! You have to remember that she's just as mature as we are."
"Oh yeaaah! Sorry, Sayori!" Natsuki ruffles her hair.
"Actually, Sayori..." I say, setting myself back down.
"Why don't you try grabbing the spoon with Natsuki? It'd be great practice."
I take a sip of my coffee.
Natsuki's eyes light up.
"Alright Sayori, hold the spoon with me." Natsuki says, as she patiently waits for Sayori to get a proper grip.
"Here we go..."
Natsuki patiently and slowly helps Sayori eat her parfait.
She gets about halfway before she lets go of the spoon, and taps her finger in pulses of 2.
"Guess she's full." I say.
Sayori taps a pulse of 1 upon me saying this.
"Welp, time for me to start!" Natsuki says, taking a giganic spoonful of her parfait.
"Uwaaa!~ It's amazing!"
She then proceeds to scarf down both hers and Sayori's parfait.
I feel slightly concerned over the fact that she was able to eat both of those during what should be around lunchtime, but disregard the notion.
I for one, have already gone through my third mug. I feel less tired now, thankfully.
Suddenly Yuri walks in.
She has a small bruise on her left cheek.
Natsuki stands up, gasping. "Yuri, what Happened?!?"
"It's nothing. Monika just decided to leave early." She smiles a little.
After an hour or so of conversation, Sayori starts lightly tugging my sleeve.
"Welp, Sayori's getting antsy, so I think we'll be heading out, guys. It was nice seeing you!" I say, while unfolding her chair and putting her inside.
I hear them call out their goodbyes as we exit.
It's supportive friends like these that make us feel like nothing ever changed.


By this time, the sun was starting to set. As we walk to my house, I see Monika sitting on a bench in the park, hands on her face.

"Whuh--?"
I decide to detour with Sayori's permission.
I pull Sayori next to the bench and sit down.
"Monika, what's wrong?" I ask, concerned for her. She's one of my dearest friends, so it really hurts to see her like this.
"I'm fine."
"Go away."
She wipes her nose with her hand.
"Look, i'm not going to go until you tell me what is wrong, Monika."
"Something is happening to you, and I have to know in order to help."
Sayori begins tapping my arm.
She taps in the pulse of 1, slow intervals.
"See, Sayori doesn't want to see you like this, either."
"I said to leave."
"And take her with you."
"I just..."
"Want to be alone right now..."
"...Okay?"
"We'll talk later." I say, as we reluctantly leave the park.
I make a mental note to talk to her tomorrow.
As we enter the front door of our apartment, I change us both into our nightgowns.
Sayori signals that she wants to stay up and watch a movie.
She picks Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
It's always been one of her favorite movies, never failing to make her laugh before that day.
I decide "Why not?" and pop it into the DVD player.
I set Sayori onto the couch, make some popcorn, and get comfortable.
Throughout the movie, Sayori has the widest smile I've seen in quite a while.
After feeding her some popcorn, and finishing the movie, we both head off to bed.
The clock strikes 9 as I drift into slumber.

-Chapter 3-

It's 3 AM.

I wake up with a start.

I hear the sound of a service bell repeatedly ringing.

"Ah jeez..."
Looks like she had another nightmare again.

I walk into her room.
Sayori is still lying down face up, arm outstretched to the nightstand. her fingers clumsily tap the top of the bell.

"It's okay Sayori!"
"It's just a dream."
"It's just a dream." I say, kneeling down to her, and holding her hand.
"..."
"Do you want me to stay in here tonight again?"
She squeezes my hand weakly and nods.
"Alright, it's settled then."
I pull out the stool and place it in front of the chair. I grab a sheet from my bed and lie down in her room on the makeshift bed.
"Don't worry, Sayori. I'm here."

I slowly drift back into slumber...

-Protag's Dream-
I swallow.
Sayori sure is a heavy sleeper.
I didnt want to have to enter her room like this...
Isn't it sort of a breach of privacy?
In any case...
It just feels right.
I take a deep breath, and slowly open the door.
"..."
"... Sayor-"
"--"
What the hell?
WHAT THE HELL?
Is this a nightmare?
It has to be.
This isn't real.
There's no way this can be real.
Sayori wouldn't do this.
Everything was normal up until a few days ago.
That's why I can't believe what my eyes are showing me...!

I suppress the urge to vomit.
Just yester¥¦¬®¡¢¥¦©ª«¬®

I'm now in a room.
No, wait...
it's the club room, but it's empty.

What happened to the sky?
Wait...

Monika?

I try to speak, but no words escape my lips.
I try to scream.
Nothing.
Suddenly, Monika speaks.
"I know how much you cared about her, so it only feels right for me to share her last moments with you."
"You know how Sayori is really clumsy?"
Why do these words coming from Monika sound so familiar?
"Well, she kind of messed up the whole hanging thing..."
"You're supposed to jump from high enough that the rope snaps your neck, making it quick and painless."
"But she just used a chair, meaning she kind of just left herself to slowly asphyxiate."
"But a few seconds in, she must have changed her mind or something..."
"Because she started clawing at the rope, trying to free herself."
"She must have kept at it all the way until she lost consciousness."
Can Monika even hear the toxic things she's saying?
I want it to stop.
I WANT IT TO STOP!
"That's why her fingertips were all bloody, anyway."
"Come to think of it, it was probably less 'changing her mind' and more just her survival instincts kicking in."
Stop, Monika.
I don't wan't to listen to this!
"So you can't really fault her for that."
"It's easier to think that she probably wouldn't have changed her mind anyway, right?"
Please...
Stop.
I don't want to listen to you talking about that day as if it didn't happen the way it did.
"It's not healthy to think about the things you could have done differently."
"So just remember that even though you could have saved her, it technically not your fault she killed hersel-"
---

I wake up with a start.
"AH!"
I look around.
The sun has already risen.
Oh thank god, she's still there.
I hug Sayori tightly, accidentally waking her up in the process.
"Oh, sorry, Sayori."
"I had a really bad dream."
"You can go back to sleep."

And so she does.
As I get up from the rather uncomfortable chair, I feel my stomach churn with hunger.
So, I walk down the hall into the kitchen.
I open the fridge.

There's only like 1 thing of pudding, and nothing else.

Looks like it's time to stock up again.
So I get dressed, and head to the door.
"Sayori, I'm heading out to get groceries. See you in a bi-"
Her bell starts ringing again.
I walk into her room, to see her arms outstretched towards the door.

Looks like she wants to tag along.
I help her get dressed and into her chair, and walk to the nearby grocery store that's next door to the cafe in the strip mall.

As I walk in, it feels like hundreds of eyes are darting towards Sayori and I, as always.
I let Sayori hold onto the handbasket, like she requests.
She wraps her arms around the base, letting it sit on her lap.
I grab some cooking supplies and ingredients, some cereal (Sayori has always loved really loved cereals that contain half flavorless and half super sweet, like Captain Crunch or Lucky Charms), and some plastic ware (because, to be honest, I REALLY don't feel up to doing dishes right around now).
"Hey, Sayori... Thanks for coming along with me. Do you want a snack?" I ask.
She looks up at me and smiles.
Heart sufficiently melted, I hold the basket for her so that she can point to the one she wants, which is a small bag of sea salt and vinegar chips. Unusual choice for Sayori, but nonetheless, it's what she wants, so..
I give her the basket, and walk over there.
As I grab the bag, Another hand does too.
It's Monika.
"Oh, hey Monika! Glad to see you're doing better." I say, letting go of the chips for her, and grabbing another behind it.
"Oh, uh... Hey." She says, giving an awkward smile.
I want to bring up yesterday with her, but not in a place like this.
"Hey, uh Monika?"
"Is it okay if we can go somewhere and talk about yesterday?"
"I want to help in whatever way I can."
Monika rubs her arm.
"Oh, alright..."
"But..."
"But can it just be you and me?"

Chapter 4-
Sayori and I walk home, with me calling Natsuki on the way.
"'Sup?" Natsuki says casually.
"Hey, mind coming over and watching Sayori for a while?" I ask.
"I need to have a little bit of some time alone."
"Ehhh---" I can tell from over the phone that she's probably lighting up right now.
"Wh--"
"Wel--"
"Uh--"
"NO, I DONT!"
"Alright, jeez. Look, I just stocked up on groceries, so make dinner if you can, alright?"
"S-Sure thing!" Natsuki exitedly reaffirms.
I hear a "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!" in the background.
I shrug, and hang up.

I schedule a meetup with Monika at this hole-in-the-wall cafe that she recommended, which is much farther than walking distance.
"Looks like it's time to break out the car again."
"Sayori..."
She's sitting on the couch. She hasn't touched the bell since we got back home from the grocery store, most likely because she's engrossed in this new TV show.
I go to my room, throwing on a pea coat, derby cap, and a scarf.
I come back, and sit down next to her.
"Hey, Sayori."
"I'm gonna be gone for a little while."
"Luckily, I've got someone for you to have some fun with."
Sayori slowly moves her hands onto mine, and patiently turns her head to meet me.
"You probably know who already, but I'd like to at least /try/ to keep it a surprise, you know?"
Almost perfectly in time, a knock meets our apartment room.
"Looks like that's them."
I get up and answer the door.
It's Natsuki, wearing these jeans with frayed edges, a light pink jacket with cat ears, and a small white scarf.
"Alright, I'm gonna miss you, Sayori. I'll be back as soon as possible, I promise."
I walk back over to her.
"Alright, Natsuki. Make sure to put her to bed at a decent hour. And don't forget dinner!"
"Oh, I won't!~" Natsuki cheerily exclaims.
"Alright, be good." I say.
I part Sayori's hair back, and give her a kiss on the forehead.
God, I even look, act, and sound like a parent now.
You know what? I decide to ease up the tension with a joke.
"You too, Sayori."
"Wait, are you implying tha-"-
"PPPFFFFttt!" Natsuki breaks into laughter.
It wasn't even that funny...
I try to shake off Natsuki's reaction.
"Night, guys." I say, half chuckling at Natsuki's burst into laughter.
I leave the apartment, and walk out to the garage.

You see, I usually prefer to walk now, as I just feel driving for 20 seconds for a place you can get to in 5 minutes is just impractical.
That, and Sayori's chair is a pain to get in and out of a modest sudan.
Nonetheless, I grab my keys and start the car.

"This must be the place..." I say, pulling in.
I walk inside, looking around.
Monika is at a window table for two, the late afternoon daylight lightly seeping in through the blinds.
I calmly set myself down.
"Protag..."

"You know the reason I called you here..."
"... Right?"
I reply. "Yeah, it's because of what happened yesterday, right?"

"No..."

"It's because..."

"I feel bad,"

"Anon."
Anon? I've never heard that name before.
"Who's--"
"Oh, Sorry! Tongue slipped. Actually, he has nothing to do with us anymore."

"But..."

"I agreed to come here to tell YOU I'm sorry."
"Not Anon, You."
"What are you talking about, Monika? You're making me concerned."

Suddenly, she grabs me by the shoulders.
"PROTAG!"

"Don't you understand?!"

"I want you to forgive me!"

"I WANT *HER* TO FORGIVE ME!!!"

"Who--"
"SAYORI!"
Tears form in her eyes, as she loosens her grip and sits back down.
Luckily, we're basically the only ones in here. Good thing Monika knows the staff, or else we probably would have been kicked out.
"Forgive you for what, Monika?" I begin to lecture her in that stern, yet caring tone that I'm prone to using.
"I've never seen you like this before, and you're the most caring person I've known."
"You always put your friends first."
"So, tell me, Monika."
"Tell me what you could have possibly done wrong."
"Let it all out not just for me, but for everyone."
"Even for Sayori."
She breaks down.
Between her sobs she says something.
"I..."

"I saw Sayori."

"I didn't even try to stop her..."

The tension in the air rises as my nerves drop.

"..."

"I... I saw it all..."

"... How?" I ask. I am trying to resist curling my hands into a fist. I'm shaking.

"I... Can't do it anymore, but.."
"I used to be able to see everything."
"I saw her struggle..."
"I saw the life escape from her eyes."
"I saw the rope snap."
"I saw her in your arms."
I take in her words. I want to call her bluff, call her out on this. Could she have actually prevented it?


Then why...


Why do I believe it all?

"I didn't stop her because..."
She buries her face in her arms.
"Because it meant I could have another chance to be with you."

"Monika..."

"AND I REGRET IT TO THIS DAY!"

"Do you know..."

"How many nights I haven't slept, because I SAW THE LIFE LEAVE HER EYES?"

"She's like this now because of me."



"And..."

"I hate myself for being happy at that moment."

"I feel sick."

"It was sick."

"I'm sick."

"I..."

"I..."



"I could have protected her smile."

I don't know how to respond.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I stare at this broken Monika for what seems like eternity, when I finally speak up.

"Monika..."
"I don't think that I understand half of what youre saying..."
"But the half I do understand shows me that you are clearly hurting about this."
"Please, know that no matter what, it technically wasn't your fault that she--" I fell like i'm quoting something word for word, but I've never heard this sentence in my life!
I clear my throat.
"-... Did what she did."
"We all need to remember that all we can do now is help Sayori."

All the while, a figure that has been seated in the dark corner of the room gets up and leaves the establishment.

"Hey, look. I think it's about time that you interract with Sayori proper. You haven't really paid her much mind this whole time."
Suddenly, Monika starts sobbing again.
"Alright, alright. Was it something I said?" I ask, pulling my chair up to her side. I decide 'why not, looks like she needs this deperately right now' and start consoling her again.
We spend an immesurable amount of time like this.
"Look, uhm..."
"How about you follow me home? If Sayori isn't tired out by Natsuki, you can finally get a chance to do whatever you need to in order to set your mind straight."
She sniffs, and wipes the last tear from her face.
"Yeah... You're right. I should go see her."
"Very well then," I pick up.
"Considering that you probably walked here, do you want a ride?" She does live in this area, so it would make sense for her to walk. that's probably how she even found out about this place.
The staff busses the table in the corner, which is a tidied up mess of pastries and tea.
We leave the cafe, and get in my sudan.
The tension rises again as she akwardly enters my car.
She sits down, and I procede to have the most akward drive of ny life. You know, the one that happens after a major conflict, but you have to go home together? That sort of air, but less hostile. More on good terms.

Monika flashes a small smile.
"Protag...Thank you for this."
"I really didn't think I'd ever get the chance to..."
"You know..."
"... Talk about this."
We get out in the apartment provided garage.
"I didn't think that you would actually listen to me all this time."
"Monika, you're one of my best friends. There is no way that I wouldn't trust you." I say, unlocking my door.
"Anywho, Natsuki is here, so I'll call you in. I have no idea what to expect behind this door."
"Sayori...~" I chime, slowly opening the door.
"I'm hom-"
I open the door to see...

A royal mess made out of my kitchen and living room.
Baking supplies, games, toys, and movies are everywhere.
Looks like Natsuki made cupcakes. Shocker.
Sayori is currently being fed hers by Natsuki, which has pink icing with a red fondent bow.
A chill goes up my spine, getting an odd sense of deja vu. Is this the only time she's made this?
The other cupcakes are designed to look like the other literature club members.
"Natsuki, I hope you realize that you aren't allowed to leave until you finish cleaning all of this up."
"Eh--" She stops feeding Sayori the cupcake out of shock, to Sayori's dismay. Sayori taps Natsuki's hand.
"Oh, yeah yeah yeah." She continues feeding Sayori.
"I will, I will." She says, not looking away from Sayori.
She gives her the last bite, and Sayori gives a wide smile. Well, wide for her, anyways.
Natsuki starts cleaning up the kitchen.
All the while, I walk back outside.
"Monika, you can come in now."
Monika reluctantly enters, to see Sayori sitting at the dining room table, seated away from the front door. Natsuki has somehow already finished the near unrecoverable kitchen, but seems to have a much harder time picking up the living room.
I ask Monika to hold on for a second, and if she can sit down. She reluctantly agrees.
I walk around to the dining room.
"Sayori..."
"I brought Monika."
"She wants to talk to you."
I pull out the chair the opposite of Sayori's, and gesture Monika to take it.
Once she does, I begin to leave the room.
"Alright, I'm gonna help Natsuki clean up the living room. Be good to eachother, okay?"
I exit the room.

-Chapter 5-
~Perspective: Monika~
I now sit in front of Sayori.
This empty husk of a person.
"Ah, jeez... Where do I start? Ahaha..."
I caused her to be like this.
"First off..."
Instead of him idealizing me over her...
"I'm sorry."
The fact that she lived cemented her position.
"I'm sorry for all the things I said."
"I'm sorry for not helping you."
"I'm sorry for..."
I feel like I'm choking.
Why can't I speak?
The one time i need to get this out and my lips refuse to move.
I get up and over to Sayori's chair on my knees.
"I'm..."
"I'm sorry for watching you do it!"
"I saw the whole thing, but I didn't help you. I was even screwed up enough to be happy the whole time."
"I know you probably won't forgive me."
"Hell, I can't even forgive myself."
"I'm a sick person. I ruined your life just for a cheap chance of personal gain."
"Ahaha..."
I finally got to let it out of my system, but... But why do I feel even worse?
"I should just stop trying anyways."
Suddenly, Sayori clumsily and slowly places the palm of her hand onto my head.
She stares at me with those eyes.
Those eyes...
They look empty, but...
they feel as if deep inside, the part of Sayori that has been unable to express herself is trying to show that she cares.
Tears start welling up in my eyes.
"Oh... There I go again."
"Leave it to me to be unable to keep a straight face, ahaha..."
I feel another hand touch my shoulder.
"Protag?"
"You good?" He asks.
"Oh, uh... Yeah."
"Actually, I think it would be best if I went home."
"I feel like I have the consolation I needed."
"Ah. Well, in that case..." Protag picks back up, "Hey, Natsuki. Mind dropping Monika off?"
"Oh, uh... Sure thing!~" Natsuki chimes.
and with that, I'm brought to Natsuki's car. Of course, it's her hot pink smart car.
We get in, and have yet another akward drive.
Suddenly, Natsuki chimes in.
"Sooooo... What did'ya talk about with Sayoriiii?~"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Cmoooon!"
"No."
"Telll meeeeee!"
"Fine."
"I was..."
I am in a corner. I can't lie. Natsuki always sees right through me.
"...Asking her for forgiveness."
"Oh, I understand! I tell Sayori about personal things all the time!"
"No, It's more like... Asking her to forgive me for not helping her."
Oh god.
Now i've gone and said it.
Suddenly, Natsuki pulls over.
"Hehehe... Can you repeat that? I'm sorry, I didn't hear it all that well."
"I... Didn't help her. I watched."
"That's what I thought you said." Natsuki smiles. How is she still happy?
"You know, in any other scenario, I'd probably be trying to clobber you."
"But I can easily tell that this has been causing you some pain just through how you've been talking. Look, if there's anything I can do to--"
"Nothing. Besides, I think I can move on from this now that I know Sayori still likes me."
"Very well!" Natsuki says, pulling back onto the road.
"Say... The festival is tomorrow." Natsuki chimes after a while.
"Don't remind me."
"Well, how about we get everyone together for it? I feel that this something everyone needs."
"Yeah, sure."
"Oh hey, we're here!" Natsuki says, pulling up to my house.
"Well, see ya!"
"Yeah, Bye."
I get no sleep that night.
So I decide to text everyone the plan for tomorrow.

-Chapter 6-
~Protag~
It’s the day of the festival.
I wake up, and get into uniform.
I slowly help Sayori into hers, and we head off to our daily commute.
Usually, she just stays in the front office as a sort of office aid whenever it isn’t her teaching day. She’s almost just sort of a quasi-mascot for the school at this point.
 But since today’s the Festival, I think it would only be nice to let her tag along.
She gets a few waves and wayward glances as usual as we enter the school grounds.
“Now, let me see…”
I pull out my phone.
Monika is waiting for everyone at the old clubroom, according to her text.
We make our way to the third year wing, and enter the room.
Just like the times at the Literature Club, the desks are put together to make a long table.
Yuri and Monika are having a nice conversation about cold weather and spicy food.
“Oh, hey!” Monika says, waving a little. It is clear that she feels much better now that she’s been able to finally get out that whole years’ worth of pent-up emotions.
Yuri also shyly smiles and waves like she used to.
Sayori raises both of her hands while smiling, which is her equivalent to a wave.
“Say…” I pick up.
“Where’s Natsuki?”
“That is a very good question.” Says Yuri, a slight hint of concern gracing her body language.
“I don’t know. In any case, come, come!” Monika pats the seat next to her. There’s a chairless desk next to her on the other side.
After setting Sayori into her spot and sitting in mine, Monika and I start talking, but it’s clear that both of us are distracted.
“Actually, hold on. I’m going to go look for Natsuki.” Monika says, getting up.
“You must be careful. Who knows what will happen?” Yuri admonishes.
“Oh please, it’s the beginning of a school day, what can happen?” Monika says, doing her trademark skirtflip before exiting the room.
Ten minutes pass.
I attempt to text both Natsuki and Monika, but get no reply.
“Alright, I’m going to go look for Monika and Natsuki. This is getting concerning.”
“No, wait. We should all go together. We shall have strength in numbers, you see?” Yuri says, pulling Sayori out from the desk.
Sayori gives 1 tap.
“Alright, if it’ll make you feel better.”
We walk down the corridor.
We here a scuffling of feet in what should be an empty hallway.
“Protag. What could that noise b-“
I quiet Yuri as I peek behind the corner.
Natsuki is standing in front of Monika, arms crossed.
Monika is being restrained by a group of third years.
Natsuki inches forward.
“This is for all the things you said to her.”
She slaps Monika in the face.
I freeze in place, peeking through the corner.
I can’t move my body.
“And this… Is for the lives you ruined.”
She punches Monika square in the gut.
The way Monika reacts shows that Natsuki can throw a very hard punch, despite her petite frame.
She gestures, and the third years let go of her and leave.
Monika falls.
Natsuki puts her foot on Monika’s side.
“And this…”
She twists her shoe.
“THIS IS FOR SAYORI!”
She suddenly takes her foot off.
She kicks as hard as she can.
Kick.
Kick.
Kick.
All the while getting kicks in on Monika’s face, gut, and lungs.
I clench the wall.
I run into the hall to confront Natsuki, grabbing her and holding her back.
She flails around.
“LET GO OF ME!”
“DON’T YOU REALIZE WHAT SHE HAS DONE?”
“SHE DOESN’T DESERVE MERCY!”
Natsuki then proceeds to curse like a sailor until Yuri comes in and helps me restrain her.
Monika slowly gets up, and runs away, hands on her face.
“Protag, you should be the most angry!”
“She’s the one that essentially killed your girlfriend!”
“Natsuki, that is enough!” Yuri exclaims in a stern voice.
“Stop talking like this, Natsuki.” I say in a much calmer voice.
“Everyone deserves to be loved.”
I don’t know what happened, but when I said that, she froze up for a second, and then actually broke free from our grip.
Her expression is a mix of fear, hatred, and the urge to sob uncontrollably.
Natsuki runs off.
“Oh, goodness.” Yuri says as we walk back to Sayori.
“Don’t worry, Sayori. We’re heading back now.” Yuri smiles.
Sayori is frowning. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her frown.

-Chapter 7-
The three of us sit awkwardly in the clubroom.
It's been dead silent ever since that happened.
After a few minutes, I decide to address the elephant in the room.
"Okay, we can't just leave Natsuki like that.
Yuri, we have to go find her."
"Oh." Yuri says.
She sits there, brooding before slowly finishing her tea.
She sighs.
"Very well then.
It is just that I feel like nothing good will come out of it." Yuri states, staring into her empty mug.
We start combing the halls, looking in other parts of the festival.
After a full 45 minutes of searching, we find her on the second floor in an obscure wing, crying underneath some water fountains.
"Here, watch her for a second." I tell Yuri, giving her Sayori's chair.
"Natsuki..." I say, walking over and crouching down.
"Go away." She murmers, curled up against the wall.
"Not until you tell me what's been bothering you, Natsuki.
You know I can't stand to see you like this."
"You stand seeing Sayori being as miserable as she is every day." Natsuki snaps back.
That took me off guard. Needless to say, she put me on edge with that comment.
My mind is trying to scrape together some form of reply...
"Hey. Leave her out of this, Natsuki. We're talking about you here." I sternly remark.
I suppose now is the time for another one of my lectures.
"Now, I'm sure Monika isn't as bad as you've been making her out to be. I talked to her a few days ago, and she sounds like she has been really beating herself up over what she's done. The last thing she needs right now is--"
"--Is someone kicking her in the face because of it, too." Yuri cuts me off.
"Sorry Yuri, but you aren't exactly helping right now." Natsuki says, snapping at Yuri.
"Okay, look. I can tell that there's something that you haven't been telling us. You're clearly hurting, Natsuki, and I want to change that." I say, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She pushes it off defensively.
"--I... I'm sorry. I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because... It's personal."
"..." I sit there, stumped.
How am I supposed to help her if she won't tell me?
"One second." I say, standing up.
I walk over to Yuri.
"How about you two look for Monika while I talk to Natsuki? I'm gonna be a while."

As they file away, My brow furrows into an expression of concern and sternness.
"Natsuki," I say rather bluntly, "You're gonna have to tell me what's up."
"No! I don't have to tell you SHIT!" She barks out, agitated.
"You should, though. Look around. Nobody else is here. Nobody else will know."
"Why would I have to? I said it's personal, and that's final!"
"Look, I'm not saying you have to."
"Yes, you are!"
"Look, do you want me to start guessing? Because I will." I say, agitation hinting my voice unintentionally.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Let me guess... You're being bullied?"
"No."
"Someone mugged you?"
"NO."
"Um..." I tug at my collar. "Were you raped or someth-"
"OH, FUCK YOU!" She yells, socking me in the face and pushing me away. "You're such an insensitive prick! YOU DON'T JUST FUCKING JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS LIKE THAT!"
"Get the fuck out of my sight, you creep!" She screams, trudging away.
...
That could have gone...
A lot better.

-Chapter 8-

--Part 1--
Protag huffed. "You know what, why don't you two just--" He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, "Why don't you two start heading back to the club room? I'll meet you back there eventually."
"But--" Yuri started to call out.
But it was too late. He already vanished in the general direction Natsuki sped off in.
"Oh my..." She commented, "That's Protag, for sure. He just never knows when to quit, does he?"
Of course, this was more her talking to herself than to Sayori, as she began to push her crippled friend back over to the club room.
As she did so however, Sayori visibly was becoming distressed. She began squirming a little, gripping her arm rests and twisting her head slowly, which slumped over like a small baby who didn't have the ability to hold their own neck up.
Yuri took alarm to this. "A-- Are you alright?" She asked, beads of nervous sweat trickling down her forehead.
Two taps.
"Are you wanting me to stop?"
One tap.
And as such, she promptly stopped.
"... You want me to turn around and follow Protag, don't you?" She asked, sighing lightly.
Sayori simply slumped her head back to make eye contact with her friend. Her otherwise typically deadpan and emotionless face seemed subtly tinged with distress, her eyes lazily scanning around.
One tap.
"Hhh... I just can't say no to a face like that."
Yuri began to turn around, trying to find the two.

--Part 2--
"Look, Natsuki-- I know you're over there." Protag sternly said, peering over the corner into a darkened classroom.
He was given a "Fuck off..." In response. Despite it still being hostile as ever, it was weaker, pained slightly.
"Just hear me out, oka--"
"I said FUCK OFF, you insensitive prick!" She snapped, clearly being agitated again.
"Hey, I didn't do anything wrong, so--"
"You literally claimed I was raped, asshole."
"Okay, but--"
"No! No 'okay, but--'! That was inexcusable. You should be ashamed!"
"But--"
"I said leave me alone!"
They went back and forth like this for a few minutes, before Protag got a tap on the shoulder.
It was Yuri, handing Sayori and her chair over to him. "She wanted to see you, so we found you."
"Ah, great. Just what I needed--" He sighed.
"Oh, yeah! Because all the sudden your girlfriend is some HUGE FUCKING BURDEN TO YOU!" Natsuki hissed.
This caused Sayori to begin to cry.
"Hey, you take that back." He began to walk forward, but Sayori began reaching her hands out towards Natsuki. "What, do you wanna talk to her or something?"
One tap.
He sighed. "I have no clue if you're gonna listen to her, considering how you're listening to me. But whatever, she wants to talk to you, that's what she'll get."
Protag began to push her chair over to the darkened corner where Natsuki was sitting, before slowly fumbling around to try and find her with her hands. She's practically blind in this low lighting.
This caused Natsuki to loosen up a little, but still a little angered. "What do you want, even?" She asked, glancing up, initially in a dismissive manner.
As she stared at Sayori, her eyes widened as she was overwhelmed with a variety of emotions.

-Chapter 9-
-Perspective Shift: Natsuki-
I initially began to think about what I did to get me to the point where I ended up sitting in this corner, faced with this... Thing. This husk, a shell of a person that used to be my friend. As much as I try to take care of her, try to put on a smile... This isn't her. This isn't Sayori. This /thing/ isn't the Sayori I knew.
As she gracelessly set her hand on my head, I finally got a good look at her face. I don't know how I didn't see it until now, maybe the darkness of the room highlights it somehow, but... Those /eyes/...
Those eyes are deeper than I could have ever imagined.
Despite her loose, unchanged face, I can feel the emotion behind this long stare. I feel concern, appreciation, and the desire to convey such, as Sayori tended to do before you-know-what.
I can't help it, but I feel pity oozing from her stare, her emotions glossed over in her seemingly foggy, unfocused eyes, as if the flame of her soul was snatched from Death's lantern, but only a fraction of it survived.
I feel her stare. It feels like she's ashamed of me. She's heard everything I said. She knows everything I did. It's warranted, really.
"I-... What gives, huh?! What's the meaning of this?" I belt out, as I felt like I had to say something, /anything/ to break up the tense silence.
"If you're trying to make me feel shitty about myself, then you're doing a really good job right now."
I feel her hand hesitantly begin to pull back a little after I said that, her eyes still transfixed on mine.
"Ah--" I start trying to backpedal, but I cut myself off. There's no point, really.
Ngh... Those damn eyes feel like their burning holes into my forehead, even if she looks like she's staring at something 100 feet behind me.
As we keep this long silence, I feel like she's planning something, or like she wants to say something to me oh so desperately.
Keeping this silence unbroken, it finally dawns on me as to what feels different.
I feel like Sayori is slowly moving her upper body in some direction, I can't tell in the dark.
"Are you good?" I pick up, slightly concerned. I realize I'm supposed to be pissed off right now, but this whole situation is so jarring and surreal I don't know how to feel anymore.
"Do you ne--" And just like that, I was cut off. Sayori had leaned herself forward so far that she fell off her chair, and straight onto me. I'm taken aback by just how heavy she is, the breath knocked out of me for a second as i instinctively caught her to the best of my ability.
I hear Protag shout something in shock, standing up from the other side of the room. I couldn't hear him though, so I disregarded it.
My current situation is a bit more important: I'm stuck here in the corner, arms wrapped around Sayori.
"Are you okay!? How did that-... Even..."
My voice tapers away as she slowly began to wrap her arms around me. I realize now that she did this on purpose. Her head hung heavy on my shoulder as she stayed dead quiet.

"... Why? You still like me?" I ask. I'm genuinely curious as to how she could still think of me in a positive light after all this.
... I feel a singular tap on my back.
"But you saw what I did, I-- I don't get it! Even after that?"
One tap.
"... You're just saying this to make me feel better, aren't you?"
Two taps.
I still don't believe it for some reason, even though Sayori isn't one to lie.
I huff, giving into her embrace.
She's cold to the touch. Like a corpse.
I can't help but try and keep this moment going, however. A hug, of all things... The last thing I thought would calm me down.
"... I really needed this."
One tap.
I don't know why, but tears begin to roll down my face. I can't stop crying for some reason...
Why am I crying? I don't want to, I'm better than this.
The biggest blow to my conscience is how Sayori is beginning to idly move her finger around on my back, as if drawing in no particular pattern.
I can't hold it back anymore. I start sobbing, whimpering.
"Hhh--wh--hhgg-ohh god... You're still here-... Y-you never left--"
I take a deep breath, face contorting to a pained expression against my will.
"Pl-please-- don't leave me... Don't go, Don't ever go... Hhh-gggod-- please, please..." I can't stammer out anything coherent. I'm trying to hard to tell her how much I love her as a friend, how much she means to me, but I can only spit out these incoherent babbles.
I just give up, repeating "I'm sorry-- so, so s-sorry..." over and over quietly.
I feel like i'm trapped in my own body.
I just...
I can't describe it, really.
As the tears flow, It slowly dawns on me that they were for myself as much as they were for Sayori. It's not /entirely/ her fault she's like this. It's not her fault that I've been acting terribly the past few days. It's not Monika's. It's nobody's.
"Mmgh-- I-... Pll--please-" I stammer, sniffling and sharply inhaling, "I doohwa-idonwanna--"
"Khhh--"
I jolt as I feel someone's arms wrap around me from behind.
Daddy?
I sharply turn my head to get a better look at them.
"Phh-protagg--hhn--nnnuuhhgnnngh--" I whine. My eyes are squinted so tightly from the tears i might as well just have them closed.
He runs a hand down my forehead, parting my hair back gently as he quietly shushes these sounds coming from my lips. Protag guides Sayori's arms into his own as their embrace to me becomes one.
"It's okay," He says, "We both forgive you."

"Wh-- Uhh-..." Yuri, not really knowing what to do, gives me a flustered pat on the head.
"M-me too!"