I expected something to happen. Something like static noise, a pixelated picture of Sayori, a sudden change of the air…. But instead, I am greeting with absolutely nothing. I am still sitting on the sofa with Monika, the various objects are still scattered in the room, an eerie silence is still permeating the world, and there isn't the slightest trace of Sayori.

Monika has a perplexed look on her face.

Ethan: "Did you really restore her just now?"

Monika: "Y-yeah! Her file is once again in the character folder!"

Maybe she needs to restart the simulation, like it was the case in Act 4? But if she restarts it, then…

An incredible realization lights up in my brain.

If time is rewound back to the beginning of the simulation, could it mean I would have the opportunity to once again save the girls and return to my world? Would my death be rewound too in the real world?!

My neuronal activity is quickly increasing at this unexpected solution.

However, Monika interrupts my thoughts before I can plan further.

Monika: "Ah!"

Her face does a 'Eureka'-like expression.

Monika: "My bad...When I restored her file, she appeared in the void and was deleted automatically right away!"

I will think about that possibility later, for now I need to focus on the present.

Ethan: "...Then set her spawn point coordinates to where we are."

Monika: "You don't need to tell me. Okay...Here goes nothing."

I steady myself. The horrible glitches are still vivid in my memories.

And then,

A petite girl with peach colored hair appear in front of us. She is wearing the female school uniform and has a cute red ribbon on her head. That girl is unmistakably Sayori. Her morning-like cuteness isn't tarnished by any glitch.

Yet.

something,

is,

very,

WRONG.

Sayori is completely motionless. Her expression is inhumanly neutral. Her eyes stare at the same spot, her mouth remains closed and if her eyes didn't blink, if her belly didn't rise periodically, we would believe she was a likelike human doll.

A feeling of dread is starting to grip me.

I anxiously call out to her:

Ethan: "Sayori…? Can you hear me? Hello~~~~?..."

No reaction. Just the same automatic blinks and breaths. Just like yesterday morning when I saw her on her bedroom.

Monika is looking at Sayori with a critical and thoughtful expression. There is no hint of fear or worry on her face. Just curiosity, as if Sayori was just an experiment.

I ponder about what to do. Should I touch her? Then maybe she will glitch…

…

I have to try it.

Expecting the worse, I take a deep breath and strengthen my will into steel. I then carefully tap her shoulder. And then,

No reaction.

Nothing at all.

Her cheerful smile and her playful personality are nowhere to be seen. She is still perfectly motionless. Only blinking and breathing with the same exact frequency.

I shake her harder.

Monika: "It's no use Ethan. I'm reading her logs and there's nothing on them. It's as if she stopped thinking entirely."

I give up my pointless actions and crumble into the sofa, more and more hopeless.

Monika: "I found something. There's an uncountable numbers of errors written in another log: "KeyError: 'Sayori_house', KeyError: 'weather' and so on..."

KeyError, huh...This kind of errors happen when the script is trying to access undefined content of a 'dictionary'...It basically means the script is trying to access something that doesn't exist. Or rather doesn't exist anymore, like Sayori's house or the weather.

Monika: "Hmm...It looks like some key objects and functions need to exist in the simulation for Sayori's script to work. As everything fell apart, her script is broken…"

Her chin is resting on her chins, like her pose in the Just Monika ending.

Yeah...I think we need to either restart the simulation or make her become completely independent and sentient…

I thought that, but I didn't say it. I'm dreading Monika isn't going to like either of those solutions.

Monika: "What do you think, Ethan?"

She observes me analytically.

I must answer.

Ethan: "I think you're right...What about the other girls and MC? Can you try restoring them?"

Monika: "..."

Monika: "Okay, I will try it."

In the following minutes, Natsuki, Yuri and MC's bodies appear next to Sayori's statue. I was surprised by MC's appearance. As I hypothesized, MC is now an independent entity from me. His uniform is the same as mine and he has brown hair. His face is very disturbing: he doesn't any face, like the other students. The fact that only his back was shown in the game explains why his face is still undefined in this simulation. I tried to make the three characters react, but like Sayori, my efforts were pointless. All of them didn't show any sign of hearing me.

Suddenly I'm emptied of my strength, even though I was full of energy when I woke up, I let myself fall farther into the sofa, near Monika.

The latter attempts to comfort me, cuddling me warmly. I can feel the warmness of her heartbeat through our clothes. I can see her genuine feelings for me from the way she is affectionately holding me. Yet, it barely brightens my darkening mood.

Monika: "It's okay, my love. They were never alive to begin with. They were just some elaborate scripts. But you and me, we're real. We're truly sentient and free. And I'll always be with you, you know?"

You're wrong Monika. They are more than that. Their reactions showed that. They can learn, adapt and react like any real human! If they were club presidents like Monika, they would truly become self-aware!

My broken hope is converting into anger. I need to lash out at someone, to vent my feelings!

Ethan: "No. You're wrong Monika. They are almost as alive as you. It's just that you got the privilege of being the club president!"

Her considerate expression is slowly disappearing.

Monika: "What are you saying...?"

When Sayori became the club president in the game, she became self-aware. She was able to manipulate the script and remember what happened even when she was deleted. Then, if one character becomes club president in the simulation, they would probably become as sentient as Monika.

Ethan: "When Sayori became the club president in the game, she gained self-awareness like you. It proves it's the position of club president that makes you different from the others."

My words strike Monika hard. She is relaxing the tension in her arms, hugging me. She is looking more and more unsure.

Monika: "No way...That can't be true. I must be special. They have to be just autonomous personalities…"

Ethan: "You're lying to yourself, Monika. You know it. If you don't believe me, then try making them club presidents…"

Monika: "..."

Monika: "I won't. Even if I manage to do that, even if they become truly self-aware like me, they will get access to the files and that's too dangerous."

I'm getting carried by the river born out of my accumulated frustration, anger and despair.

Ethan: "So? Worried they will delete you like you deleted them?"

Monika's hands are clenching me harder, but not out of love like before.

Monika: "They could delete everything, even you! That's reckless!"

Monika's pertinent argument calms me for a moment.

Sayori DID delete everything at the beginning of Act 1 if she became club president.

Ethan: "Then, what about restarting the game? You could also rewind time back to Tuesday, right?"

She bites her lips...but shortly after, her expression becomes determined.

Monika: "No, I won't do it."

Ethan: "Why?"

Monika: "..."

Ethan: "Eh, you're afraid I would get back the possibility of returning to my world?"

She asks me the next question with a hint of fear in her voice:

Monika: "If you had the chance to do it, would you do it?"

I will. Unless I have to leave Monika here. In that case, I would choose to stay here with her. My dearest wish is to go back to my world without leaving anyone behind. I want everyone, in both worlds, to be happy. But I am blinded by anger now, and I can't say my honest feelings.

Ethan: "Umm~ Yeah, I will!"

Her reaction is immediate. She holds my left arm and my right shoulder hard. Her knuckles are red from the effort. Her cheeks are quickly getting redder and redder, and all soft expressions are wiped off her face.

Monika: "NO!"

Her voice rings through the room. Never before had she spoken that loudly. The intensity of her outburst surprises even me.

Monika: "How can you think of leaving me AGAIN! Even after I gave my first time to you!"

Tears are beginning to appear in her eyes. I am beginning to regret purposely lying to hurt her.

Monika: "HOW DARE YOU!"

She doesn't hit me. Instead, she is glaring and holding me desperately.

Ethan: "Monika I…"

I don't finish my sentence. I don't know what to say. I am not even sure whether I want to apologize. After all, she still treated the other characters as if they were mere puppets. Why should I be the only one apologizing?

Monika: "..."

I am too speechless by her outburst, and confused by my own feelings to speak.

Monika: "I'm reading your logs…"

Her lovesick rage is coming to a standstill. Her hands aren't gripping me with as much as strength as before. Slowly but surely, her anger is being cooled down, leaving only sadness and regrets. Simultaneously, I am regretting more and more what I did. Getting angry solves nothing…

Thoughts of my first and second night surface in my mind. I remember how happy we were, both of us. I remember how we thought everything was going to be okay. I remember Monika's beautiful smile, the warm of her hug and kisses...How magically wonderful we felt when we both reached orgasm...I remember how I thought at those moments to forever love her.

Yet, on the other hand, I still remember Sayori's, Yuri's, Natsuki's painful agony when the ropes coiled around their delicate neck. I still remember how Monika promised to bring them back, only to give up that thought the next day…

I can't easily forgive her, but seeing Monika so vulnerable, so hurt…

It makes my anger melt away.

Finally, she lets herself fall into my chest while doing muffled sounds.

Her voice weakly reaches my ear.

Monika: "Sorry…"

That is all it takes for me to abandon my prideful anger.

I affectionately hug her back with my left arm.

She probably discovered my real feelings when she read my logs.

I hear the barely audible sounds of her tears...

Ethan: "I'm sorry too…"

I give her a loving kiss on the top of her head. She hides her face harder in my chest.

Ethan: "I will never leave you...I love you way too much for that. If I have to choose between my world and you, I will choose you…"

I feel like a wall is lifted off me and her. She is hugging me closer, but this time, with nothing but love. I hear her sobbing harder.

Monika: "Ethan..."

Deep feelings of sadness, of regret, of pain...are ascending inside me.

Ethan: "Monika…"

I finally let my repressed emotions out. Ever since I came to this world, I didn't cry. Not even when I fractured my arm, not even when I suffered the rollbacks, not even when I saw my real body dies. Monika's comfort and the greatness of sex covered those repressed memories with layers of drugged paint, but it was just a temporary fix. I never properly grieved over my fate, and the horrors that befell me.

So, when my dearest lover weeps inside my arm, when I realize how hard I tried to keep my composure, when I realize how hurt I was deep inside…I…

I…

I…

...

I sob, from the bottom of my soul.

…

I don't know how long we cried together.

In the middle of our tears, Monika declared she would restart the simulation, and see what happened with the girls and MC, as well as with my letter. She also acknowledged she was cruel to treat the other girls as scripts. She said she would find a way to make everyone happy, and that she was serious this time. Her confession blew away my last resentment against her, and we both cried even harder.

At the end, we were left physically and mentally exhausted. Our clothes got wet from our sobbing and Monika fell asleep peacefully. I would have slept too, if it hadn't been for my fractured arm that kept me awake.

The release of my suppressed negative feelings lifted an indescribably heavy burden off my shoulders. A strange feeling of calm peace floated inside me. I finally reached the fifth stage of grief: acceptance.

We are now lying on the sofa, with Monika beside me, her soft arms cuddling me tenderly.

Instead of sleeping, I am reflecting on the recent events. I am noticing some key questions that I didn't think about until now.

Who were the 'gods'? What were their goals? What could they do? More importantly, why did they change the rules suddenly Wednesday morning? It doesn't make sense for them to begin a simulation and then change the rules after just one day.

And here comes the key part: during that night, they mentioned they decided to continue 'my story' because it proved to be 'interesting' enough. But it should have been obvious for them to know whether my 'story' was going to be interesting 'enough' since the beginning. Thus, it is very likely my story was proven 'interesting enough' not for them, but for another group of 'gods'. The use of the term 'story' is also intriguing. It is as if they were two groups of gods. The ones making the simulation and the 'story', and the one observing the 'story'. Moreover, the second group of 'gods' can influence the decisions of the former group.

Let's think for a moment about the true power of the gods. They may seem omnipotent and maybe omniscient, but that clearly can't be the case. If they can know everything, if they can know perfectly the future, then making a 'story', or observing what is happening in the simulation, is pointless. Thus, they are far from being super-intelligent.

It is pretty clear their main motivation behind the simulation is having fun. It points out they have feelings: they are like sadistic humans who find their happiness in the misfortune of others. If they were omnipotent or omniscient, why would they care about the pain of a human? To emphasize with my pains and my feelings, they must themselves have their own emotions, which is very weird for a being that can create whole universe.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize they are way too human. Instead of 'gods', they look more like humans who got their hands on omnipotent powers, or rather, a super powerful computer.

Let's think about the simulation itself. How difficult would it be to create such a realistic simulation? If I remember correctly, the size of the world is about one zettabyte. In other words, 1E24 bytes. It's unimaginably huge...yet...is it truly impossible to create such a heavy file for an extremely advanced civilization? I can't remember well, but didn't I see somewhere that one gram of DNA could contain one billion gigabytes (1E18 bytes). Then, one ton of DNA could contain enough space to store one zettabyte, the whole simulation!

It may seem incredible, but it's not that much if we think about it. After all, in one cubic meter of air, there is 1 kilogram of air molecules. If we say the molar mass is 20 g/mol, then there are 50 moles per cubic meter of air. The Avogadro constant is about 6E23 molecules per mole. So, in one cubic meter of air, there are roughly 3E25 molecules! If an advanced civilization manages to store one byte for every air molecule, then one cubic of meter of air would be enough to store 30 zettabytes!

In light of these analyses, it is clear no godly powers are needed to create this universe. A sufficiently advanced society could do it easily. The 'gods' said it themselves at the very beginning: the simulation theory is true. My own universe is running on an incredibly powerful computer, maybe a quantum computer or a new kind of computer using yet to be discovered physical principles.

I now understand that the 'gods' are actually human-like entities running the simulation on futuristic computers. I also know they are two groups of gods. The one making the simulation, and the one observing it. The second group can influence the choices made by the first group, just like how reviewers can influence how the writer writes their story . After all, it's surely thanks to the second group the simulation continued Wednesday morning. It shows the first group of egoistic sadistic gods still listen to the second group.

There is one huge question left: why Doki Doki Literature Club? Why me? In my world, according to the singularity hypothesis, the complexity of A.I will increase exponentially after one point, quickly exploding into a singularity of intelligence. At that moment, anything could happen. In particular, it is reasonable to think incredibly powerful computers would be built. If everything on Earth is converted into a quantum computer, its power would be...beyond words. Surely a billion of billion of billion of...Well anyway. The point is, it's not impossible that the human civilization in my reality becomes sufficiently advanced in just 100 years to make realistic simulations such as this one.

Now, let's imagine for a moment my world is very similar to the original world of the 'gods'. Let's imagine there was also the game Doki Doki Literature Club in their world. Let's imagine the game reached the hearts of millions of fans. Let's imagine some ardent fans still thought about this game 50 years later, when the singularity happened. Let's imagine they still remembered about the game when computers became more and more powerful.

Then, it makes sense for them to want to make simulations of DDLC and observe how their nostalgic favorite game would play out if it was more real. It would be especially interesting if a player of the game could be inserted into it. It would be the wish-fulfillment of their desire. Kind of like a fanfiction, but this time, with a simulation.

To sum up, here is what happened according to my theory.

The original universe of the gods was like my reality. Doki Doki Literature Club became extremely famous.

The singularity happened and some groups of fans still remembered DDLC.

To satisfy their long-yearned desires, one group made a simulation of DDLC and inserted me, wondering what would happen. Another group is following my story.

Now that the mystery is finally solved, one practical question remains: how can I use this information to make a miracle? Monika and I can't reach out to my original world. We cannot break the fourth wall. The computer running the simulation isn't even in my world anyway. To influence our fate, we need to reach beyond my world: we need to reach the world of the 'gods'. We need to break the fifth wall: the wall that separates the original world of the gods and my original world.

The idea seems crazy, but we can surely do it. Not with actions, but with words. What happened Wednesday already proved the second groups of gods are observing me, and could influence the first group to modify my 'story'. Then, at this very instant, are they observing me? Are they following my 'story'? If so, can they hear my wishes? Can they then convince the first group to grant my wishes?

I think they can.

Can you hear me?

Can you read me?

Can you see me?

Of course, it wouldn't be that easy…

I will ask Monika's help. If my hypotheses are true then both groups of gods should care more about Monika than me, because they were fans of DDLC. For them, I am surely just a blank self-insert nameless character.

I lovingly caress Monika's soft cheeks to wake her up.

Ethan: "Monika? Wake up, my love…"

Her eyes are slowing opening. Seeing her emerald eyes again warm my heart. To think I one time saw her beautiful orbs as uranium…Anyway, our quarrel is over.

Monika: "Darling…? Did something happen…?"

Ethan: "Nothing, but I realized something extremely important. I think I found a way to make of our wishes come true."

Monika is still half-awake.

Monika: "How…?"

Ethan: "We need to break the fifth wall. I think you're the one who can do it."

Seeing the seriousness of my voice, she yawns cutely and straighten herself.

Monika: "The fifth wall? You mean the fourth wall?"

Ethan: "No, I really mean the fifth wall. Let me explain. I believe the original worlds of the gods who created my world was exactly like my world. The game Doki Doki Literature Club was also very popular. In that world, there were also hundreds of thousands of DDLC fans."

She nods with a perplexed expression. Thinking about such complicated theories isn't a nice way to wake up.

Ethan: "In their world, technology eventually reached a point where lifelike simulations became possible. Then, one part of the society over there decided to run a simulation of my world."

Monika: "Okay…So, what about the fifth wall?"

Ethan: "I'm almost there. The DDLC fans decided to run simulations of DDLC and inserted me into it, to satisfy their curiosity. I think it's the same reason why some authors write self-insert fics or why some readers follow them. It's wish-fulfillment."

Monika: "Hold on a sec. If they wanted to that, why not go inside the simulations themselves, instead of putting a random character inside them?"

Ethan: "I think the majority did that. But there were surely some groups of fans who preferred to watch passively, just like how some people prefer to watch let's play of a game instead of playing themselves the game."

Monika: "Alright. It makes sense."

Ethan: "Then, one group of fans made this simulation, where we are now, and inserted me. Another group of fans is following my story. This group can influence the choices the first group is doing. That's why the rules suddenly changed Wednesday morning."

A growing look of realization is growing on Monika's face.

Ethan: "We can hardly change the mind of the first group. They won't listen to what amount to insects for them. But the second group might listen to us, and in return, the first group might listen to the second group. The wall separating this simulation from my world is the fourth wall. The wall separating my world from the world of the 'gods' is the fifth wall."

Monika: "So, we need to break the fifth wall and speak directly to them? But how? I can't see any function that could possibly do that."

Ethan: "That's the easy part. We just need to speak, just like that."

Monika: "Just like that…?"

Ethan: "Just like that. Both the creators and observers are following what is happening right now. I'm sure they can hear us at this very moment."

Monika: "..."

She sighs.

Monika: "Man, you're a genius Ethan..."

Ethan: "Ahaha, thanks for the compliment. But you know, I think given enough time, anyone would have thought of that."

Monika: "You know, saying things like that can make the others feel stupid? Modesty isn't always good."

Yeah...Maybe.

Monika: "Anyway. What do you want to say to them?"

Ethan: "My dearest wish is to return to my world with you, Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri and MC. I want us to study at the same high school and create once again the literature club, in my reality, a world of infinite choices. I want Sayori to be cured of her depression, Natsuki to have a loving family, Yuri to be cured of her self-harm habits. I also want MC to find his own happiness. What about you Monika? What is your dearest wish?"

Monika: "Let me think...Just being with you already makes me so happy...But if it's possible, I want to stay in this world with you and the other girls, and also with other real humans and animals. I want this simulation to become as realistic as your world. I still want to keep my powers and ability to edit the files."

Ethan: "You don't want to go with me in my world?"

Monika: "That would be nice too, but if we do that, I will lose my powers right? Then, we will have to abide by the rules of the society. We will have to go to school, graduate, and spend half of our lives working. Eventually we would die. Maybe we will die prematurely because of an accident or disease. Here, we are free and safe. We can do whatever we want. We are even immortal! Isn't it heaven?"

She has got a point. But I can't exactly give up my family and friends…

Monika: "I understand you're missing your world, [Player], so whatever your wish, I will support you."

Ethan: "Thanks Monika. Staying in this world with you, if it becomes as complete as mine, isn't bad either. I will accept either of those two futures."

She beams at me with her bright and warm smile.

Monika: "Great~"

Monika: "Then…"

She looks at the ceiling, fixing no point in particular.

Monika: "Can you hear me? Did you listen to what we said?"

She looks at me, asking me to confirm she is doing the right thing. I encourage her to continue.

Monika: "We're speaking to you, you, behind the fifth walls. You, who are observing our story."

Monika: "For you, our lives may be insignifiant...You may only see us like poems of flat sheets of paper...But we're real. We're thinking, and just like you, we can feel."

Monika: "What happened to us was horrible... I almost became mad with powers. I regret it, dearly."

Monika: "We want a happier ending. This simulation is incomplete. Barely any object is defined. All other humans except us are partially sentient. Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri...they deserve better."

Monika: "But we can't forge our happy ending by ourselves. I can't do it. That's beyond my powers. That's why we need you. We need you to make one of our wishes come true. Only you can do it."

Monika: "Please, I beg you. Convince the creators of this simulation to write us a miracle. Convince them to offer us our happiest ending."

Ethan: "We are counting on you. The creators won't listen to us, but they will listen to you. They listened to you Wednesday morning after all."

Ethan: "It won't be easy. It will probably take the majority of you to convince them, but the possibility exists."

Monika: "Please, do it for me. Do it for us. Show us true happiness can be found in the Literature Club."