DDLC Ex: Day After Fes

You wake up the morning after the festival. It happened again, that bad dream. But it was different. You could feel everything melting away, as if the dream never happened. Like something changed.

It fades even quicker this time. In fact, you suspect it won’t be coming back.

The festival yesterday had gone much better than you expected, especially with a sudden change in leadership. Not that Sayori isn’t a good club president, but it would be hard for anyone in her situation. Even still, she’s already proving that she can handle being club president.

Speaking of club president, you notice a text, from Monika.

“I heard all about the festival yesterday. Sounds like Sayori might even make a better president than me.”

“I’m not so sure about that, lol” you respond. “But in any case it sure isn’t the same with you there, I hope you’re doing well yourself.”

A reply back.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine.”

Anyways, it’s time to head to school.

You decide to go over to Sayori’s. As you get ready to knock on the door you hear a shriek that sounds like Natsuki’s!

“Sayori!!! Why would you do that?!” you hear Natsuki cry in distress.

You open the door and run in as quickly as possible. To your surprise you see Sayori sitting at her dining room table, an empty plate in front of her.

“I made those pancakes for both of us! I only looked away long enough to make an omelette!” Natsuki says, berating Sayori.

It takes them a few seconds to notice that you’re watching them. Natsuki’s face turns red and she silently returns to making breakfast. Sayori keeps pouting, looking at you like a puppy that just got told not to jump on the couch.

“Geez Sayori, you’ve got Natsuki playing personal chef, the least you could do is leave her something.”

Natsuki hears this, and out of the corner of your eye you see her playfully stick out her tongue and smile at Sayori, before turning back to her cooking.

“Well, you know I get really hungry at breakfast…” Sayori says, twiddling her fingers, trying to not make eye contact with you.

You pat her on the back, “I know, I know, but I mean Natsuki is a guest, and she’s cooking for you.”

“Oh, come on Sayori,” Natsuki says, “I’m not mad at you. It’s just... “

“Well…” you interrupt “I can’t blame Sayori, you two are already late and neither of you are out of your pajamas.”

Natsuki suddenly looks shocked. “Are you kidding me?!” she shouts, speeding up her cooking. In only a few brief minutes she finishes the omelettes for her and Sayori before scarfing hers down and running to the bathroom.

Sayori giggles to herself, looking up at you before she starts eating her breakfast.

“No need to wait for us, go on ahead, we’ll see you later today.”

You say your goodbyes to Sayori before heading out and making your way to school.

As you get to the school gates, you see a familiar face.

“Yuri!” you shout, to get her attention.

She looks confused and shocked for a few seconds, looking around, before she sees you and smiles.

“Oh, hi.” Yuri says, warmly. “Where’s Sayori, and Natsuki?”

“Oh, they were running a bit late, so Sayori told me to come along ahead of them.”

“Late?” Yuri asks, seeming confused. “But it’s barely even seven?”

Strange, you could have sworn it was almost eight. Though come to think of it, you don’t remember seeing any clocks since you turned off your alarm. You can’t think of any reason you, Sayori or Natsuki would have thought it was late.

“That’s strange. Guess my clock got messed up somehow. Makes sense though, I would’ve never figured you to be the type that comes in late.”

Yuri blushes hearing this, “Th-thanks, I think…” she mutters. “Oh!” she says, realizing something. “Were we supposed to write poems for Literature Club today?”

“You know, that’s a good question, I should have asked Sayori.”

“Well, I guess that just means I’ll have to write one during lunch just in case. I won’t say anything if you don’t” she says with a smile and what you swear is a subtle wink.

“Yeah, guess I’ll have to do the same. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Sayori will want to do something different this time.” you say, almost nervously.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around. Say hi to Sayori for me!” Yuri says with a calm smile before walking off towards her class.

You make it to your class and sit down. A few minutes go by before you can hear Sayori outside the classroom.

“Ok Natsuki, see you at lunch then!”

“Oh, hey Sayori!” you say, waving at her. She smiles and comes over to your desk.

“Hey, Anon!” she says back cheerfully. “Sorry we couldn’t walk together this morning, I hope you didn’t miss me!” she says, leaning in to you and rubbing shoulders with you.

“No big deal” you assure her. “Oh, by the way, I ran into Yuri earlier, she wanted to know if we needed to bring poems in, and since you’re club president now I figured I’d ask you.”

“Oh!” Sayori says, covering her mouth with her hands. “I completely forgot! I guess we’re all a bit worn out still from the festival. I guess it’s not a big deal if you don’t bring yours.”

“Well that’s good, but I didn’t ask for myse-” but Sayori interrupts you.

“It’s ok! I forgot to write one too, and I think Natsuki did too. You don’t have to worry.”

“Alright then, I’ll be sure to tell Yuri if I see her.”

The morning bell goes off as your teacher walks in. He begins to lecture, and you open your notes. Strange, your pen is missing. Why can’t you keep track of your pen these days. Thankfully Sayori notices and quitely lets you use a spare she has with her.

Eventually lunch time comes around. Everyone’s favorite part of the day. It would be yours too, if you remembered to bring a lunch.

“Hey Sayori, wanna head to the cafeteria?”

But before answering, Sayori has already packed her things and is standing up.

“Oh, I’d love to! But I promised Natsuki I’d help her out with something. Tomorrow though, ok?”

“Well maybe I can come with-” but Sayori cuts you off.

“Oh no, it’s fine, the two of us can manage on our own! Don’t worry, we still have class after lunch and Literature Club, I’ll see you soon enough.”

With that, Sayori heads to the door, where you see Natsuki waiting, arms cross, looking slightly impatient, until she sees Sayori. As soon as that happens she lights up and the two walk off together.

Well, looks like you’re having lunch alone today. At the cafeteria. Cafeteria food isn’t so bad, but Tuesday is when they seem to stop caring whether or not they’re feeding students or cattle.

“At least there’s a vending machine” you tell yourself.

On your way to the cafeteria you see Yuri. Before you can say her name she sees you.

“Oh, hey Yuri!”

“Oh hi.” she says with a smile. “Forgot lunch too?”

“Yeah, guess I did. Seems like all of us are a bit forgetful today…”

“Oh, I ran into Sayori a few minutes ago, she told me you asked about the poems.”

“Speaking of Sayori, you’re pretty good friends with Natsuki, you have any idea what she’s having Sayori help her with?”

Yuri looks nervous, almost as if she’s contemplating what to say.

“Oh yeah… that….” she says, hesitating. “Well, I don’t know how much I should say, but I think Natsuki wanted to get a few changes of clothes to bring to Sayori’s place…”

“Huh” you say, slightly surprised, but not entirely. “I mean I knew she’s spent a few days over, but-”

Yuri interrupts you. “It’s nothing that you should worry about. She just… likes it at Sayori’s.”

“I suppose I can’t blame her.” After a few moments of thinking about it, you ask Yuri, “So, you’re not a tardy student, but you’ll still eat cafeteria food?”

Yuri blushes slightly, avoiding eye contact. “I-It’s not like I eat here every day… I just forgot my lunch too…”

“Well, at least I won’t have to eat alone today.” you tell her, reassuringly.

Yuri stops looking nervous as soon as she hears that, and smiles warmly at you.

“I know Tuesday is slop day, but the secret is Tuesday has the best desserts.” Yuri tells you as you trudge through the cafeteria line.

You and Yuri find a table to eat at. No one seems to want to sit at the same table. In fact you feel almost as if everyone is avoiding doing so.

“So, Anon…” Yuri says, meekly, getting your attention, “did you read any more of that book I gave you?”

“Oh, that one? Yeah, I’ve gotten a few more chapters in, not too far though.”

“I see…” Yuri says, still nervous.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get to reading it some more later tonight.”

Saying that makes Yuri seem calm again as she smiles at you, continuing to eat her lunch.

“By the way, I found this..” Yuri says, handing you your pen that you had lost this morning.

“Thanks! I was wondering where that went.”

“I hope you don’t mind I used it a bit…” Yuri mutters.

“No worries, I’m glad you managed to pick it up for me.”

You look at the clock on the wall, almost time to head back to class. You and Yuri finish up lunch and head out of the cafeteria. You come to a split in the hall.

“Well see you at Literature Club, Yuri.”

Suddenly you feel Yuri embracing you.

“See you later…” she says calmly.

Feeling awkward you return the hug, thinking it would be rude not to.

“Y-yeah, see you later.” you say as Yuri releases you. She smiles as she turns and walks away.

Weird.

You come back to your class room, just in time for the bell. You look around and notice something, or rather the lack of something. Sayori is nowhere to be found. Strange, this has never happened before.

As class goes on, Sayori still doesn’t return. Afternoon announcements come on.

“Attention all students, all after school activities today are cancelled due to festival clean up taking longer than expected.”


Also weird, it didn’t seem like there was much of a mess. Maybe you just didn’t see it. Either way, it works out since Sayori isn’t here to hold the Literature Club meeting.

On your way out of the school building you expect to see Yuri, but you find yourself walking home in solitude.

Almost home, you decide to check on Sayori.

You knock on the door and come in on your own as you normally would. You come inside to see the living room dark except for the television. On the couch you see Sayori and Natsuki. Sayori is in her pajamas and Natsuki is wrapped in a blanket. Sayori has an arm around Natsuki. Looking closer, you can see Natsuki’s hair isn’t quite right and she looks dejected, almost depressed.


Sayori sees you coming in, and gives you a light smile. “Oh hey…” she says, trailing off. “Sorry I didn’t come back…”

Natsuki, upon seeing you, throws the blanket over her face, as if to hide herself from you.

“What happened?” you ask, concerned.

“Oh well, Natsuki needed help getting some stuff from her place, and her father was there…”

You notice in the dark Sayori has a bruise on her arm. Not only that, but her voice sounds hoarse.

“What… What happened…”  You can hear Natsuki sobbing under the blanket.

Sayori starts to tell you.

“Well, we got there, and I guess her father was still home. He was angry that she hadn’t been home in days. Then he started accusing me of being her lover or something, and got even angrier.... I don’t remember exactly what happened, but I never knew Natsuki had that kind of strength in her…”

“So what’s going to happen now…”

“I’ve already called my parents, they’re fine letting her use the spare room. We talked with the police as well. So tomorrow I’ll be out of school helping Natsuki move her things over….”

You’re shocked. You’d heard rumors that Natsuki had home issues, but you never imagined something like this happening. It takes you a few moments to gather your thoughts.

“Natsuki, if you need my help, I can-”

But before you finish, she peaks her face out of the blanket wrapped around her.

“We’ll be fine… Sayori is already helping me enough… I don’t want to bother you too…”

“Well, maybe I can stay over for a bit…” you suggest.

“Actually, I think it’d be best if it was just Natsuki and me…” Sayori says, giving you a warm smile.

Without any objections, you say goodbye, and Sayori gives you a hug.

As you’re about to open the door, you feel an embrace. It’s Natsuki. She has her face buried in your chest for a few seconds before she looks up.

“Thanks…” she says, softly. You’ve never heard Natsuki like this before.

You lightly pat her on the back. “Don’t worry about it, I’m here for the both of you.”

Natsuki sniffles and releases her grasp on you. In the low light you can almost make out a smile on her otherwise distraught face.

You get back to your room, still processing everything you heard. It might be shocking, but at least Sayori managed to deal with it.

“She really is a lot stronger than she gives herself credit for” you think you yourself, “I guess making other people feel better is what she’s always been good at…”

You finish up your homework rather quickly. Still a few more hours before you go to bed. You think what to do to kill those few hours.

Oh right, Yuri gave you that book to read. Truth be told, you haven’t even started on it, but you didn’t want to disappoint Yuri when she asked.

“Now’s a good a time as any to start.”


…….

Portrait of Markov.

Chapter I: Siberian Summer

“Is it not right that we deliver ourselves from this modern Gomorrah!” the bearded priest roars to his congregation. “Why, Moscow today is no different than those twin cities God smote with fire and brimstone! And why should we, those who stay His righteous path, stay to be swept away in the coming tidal wave!”

The crowd is awe struck and totally enraptured by the sermon being delivered.

“So, all who follow me in His light, I beseech you to follow me away from this decadent and sinful land! We shall go far off, into the frozen wilds where sin shall not follow! We shall become a beacon of good and in time He shall reward us!”

The crowd is now roaring in applause and agreement.


“Come my brothers and sisters, tonight we leave!”

……

It starts to get late. Your mind doesn’t notice, but your body does, and after a few chapters you drift off….