I finally reach Sayori's bedroom door. Without hesitation, I open it wide open and…

Sayori is still alive.

She's sitting on her bed, with her back against the wall. She is wrapped in her blanket and is hugging a big yellow bird plushie closely to her chest.

It's just like the one that was on Sayori's bedroom window in the game.

Her face and her eyes seem devoid of any emotion at first glance but, on a closer look, I can see that they are expressing deep sadness. She is staring at a picture that she is holding on her hand.

Ethan: "Sayori?"

I try to call her gently, but she doesn't seem to hear me.

This scene was never shown in the original game. Could it be why she doesn't reply? Because this scene is outside of the script, and thus is undefined?

I slowly move inside the room. I walk over to Sayori and look at the picture.

It's a picture of a boy with Sayori. The boy looks exactly like me when I was in middle school. Sayori is seen holding the yellow bird with a cheerful smile. The boy has a triumphant expression. They are inside an arcade center and in front of a machine where you insert coins to move a robotic arm in the hope of catching something.

The boy must be the original protagonist. But why does he look exactly like me? It cannot be a coincidence, can it? More likely, he was created to resemble me when this world was made. The picture shows that the plushie Sayori is holding right now was won and given to her by the main character. Considering how dearly she is hugging the plushie, and how deeply she stares at the picture, that plushie must be very precious to her…

Sayori…

Sadness is slowly replacing the fear I felt moments ago.

But I'm not him. The original protagonist is gone and will never come back.

I'm sorry…

…

I need to go back to Monika. I told her I would be back in 5 minutes and it has already been 4 minutes. But can I really leave Sayori alone?

I come closer to Sayori and move my arm to gently touch her shoulder.

Ethan: "Sayori…?"

The moment I touch her…

A loud white-like noise erupts in my ears. But it's not coming from outside but from the inside of my head. It resonates inside each of my brain cells. As for what I see…

A gruesome and bloody mess of body parts. A jumbled massacre of boxes, darker than the deepest darkness. An incomprehensible sight. A beating heart cut in half, overflowing with blood. A sickening, light pink intestine cut into several pieces. One quarter of a brain where her right hand should be. Ear instead of mouth, eyes instead of ears. Organs and blood floating in space, with pixelated black boxes between each part.

This horrifying picture was like the one in DDLC, at the beginning of Act 2, when Sayori's sprite tries to show up even though she was completely deleted. Except in this more complete world, the anatomy of her body is realistic, so we can see the inside of her body between each black box. Worse, we can even see the blood flowing, her muscles contracting and her heart beating…

The view is too horrible. Too sudden. Too incomprehensible. Too gruesome.

All thoughts stop. Pure terror paralyzes every one of my muscles.

And then the abomination moves.

Toward me.

SayORI: "(3th4n)?! wHy Ar3Y0u H3rE?"

Her voice is monstrous.

I can barely understand it.

Survival instinct kicks in.

Adrenaline rushes into my brain.

I finally break through my paralysis.

I run away. As fast as I can.

I don't know. I don't understand. What was in front of me. What happened.

That's why I run. I run because I cannot comprehend the thing in front of me.

Thus, I perceive it as an unstoppable threat.

I leave the room and go downstairs but…

I'm too fast, too careless and trip midway.

My body violently hits the stairs. Instinctively, I protect my head with my arms. I roll several times before stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

…

I'm still conscious, but stunned.

I'm still overwhelmed by dread.

I order my body to get up. I try to use my right arm to support myself, but it's not responding. I cannot feel it or move it.

I ignore it and use my other members to get up.

Sayori: "Ethan!"

I hear Sayori screaming my name. I look at her and there isn't any glitch anymore.

She quickly runs downstairs.

Sayori: "ARE YOU OK?!"

She stops in front of me. I use the wall to support myself.

Now that the incomprehensible threat has disappeared, the terror is fading, and my muscles are somehow beginning to lose strength.

I become increasingly aware of my pain.

Ethan: "Sayori…"

I weakly call her.

Sayori: "I…I'll call an ambulance!"

I can't let her do that.

Ethan: "Don't! I... I'm fine…Just a bit shocked. That's all. There's no need to call …. them."

I need to meet Monika and check on Yuri and Natsuki. I can't be stuck in the hospital now.

I hear another girl calling me from behind.

Monika: "Ethan! What happened!?"

Monika's at the front door and is holding her phone. She's coming closer and looks very worried.

Ethan: "Monika...don't worry, I'm mostly fine. I just fell off some stairs…I think I should sit down…"

Sayori: "There's a sofa in the living room. This way!"

Sayori guides me to the living room. Monika follows us.

As we go inside the living room, I notice there is indeed a sofa. However, the room is completely empty besides it.

How come the sofa is the only thing there? There was no CG of this living room in the game, so that would explain why it's empty, but in that case, why is there even a sofa?

Sayori asks Monika:

Sayori: "Why are you here Monika?"

Monika looks at Sayori and then at me, expecting some kinds of tips from me to provide a good reason, but I can't seem think straight right now.

Monika: "After our meeting yesterday, Ethan and I decided to meet each other this morning to discuss about literature. I was on my way to his house when I saw him running into yours…"

Monika: "Anyways, Ethan, what happened, exactly? I sensed something changed with the files."

I sit down on the sofa.

Sayori: "'The files'? What are you talking about?"

Monika and I ignore Sayori for now.

Ethan: "There was a glitch. An absolutely terrifying glitch. I panicked, ran away and tripped. What about Natsuki and Yuri?"

Monika: "Yuri didn't answer, but I managed to get in touch with Natsuki and convinced her to go early to school while her dad was still sleeping."

I breathe a sigh of relief.

At least, Natsuki is safe for now.

Ethan: "Thanks. Yuri shouldn't be in immediate danger for now."

Yuri's self-harm is mostly triggered by her sexual excitation. I don't think she will seriously harm herself spontaneously.

Sayori: "What are you two talking about? What do you mean by glitch?"

We both don't know what to answer.

Sayori: "What happened with Natsuki and Yuri?"

Sayori's voice is getting more and more worried.

Sayori: "Why did you suddenly come to wake me up and ran away terrified when I touched you?!"

Finally, Sayori asks us in a louder voice mixed with tears and anger:

Sayori: "What are you two hiding from me!?"

…

Monika and I are looking at each other and Sayori. What should we say? Should we make up a lie? Should we say the truth?

We cannot mess this up.

Sayuri slumps into the sofa, right beside me. She's facing me.

Ethan: "It's... complicated…"

Sayori: "Since yesterday, things have become so strange...First, you acted very weird yesterday morning, then you and Monika know each other…then this morning, it looks like Natsuki and Yuri are in serious dangers…"

It will be very difficult to make up a convincing lie…But I'm afraid about what would happen if I tell her everything is only a simulation.

Monika: "We will explain everything later, Sayori. For now, we need to take care of Ethan's wounds."

Good move Monika, that will leave us more time to think.

Ethan: "I think I'm mostly fine, except for my right arm. I fear it might be fractured. I can't move it well now…"

Sayori: "I think…I have some ice in the fridge."

Monika: "Please get them. We need to reduce the swelling as much as we can."

Sayori goes to the kitchen. Monika and I are left alone for a moment.

Monika whispers to me.

Monika: "Should we tell her the truth?"

Ethan: "I…I'm not sure. Maybe not…"

There is one major reason why I don't want to tell her the truth. Telling her that everything is a simulation is certainly bad enough, but telling her that the boy she loves no longer exist, or rather never existed, is one hundred times worse. She'll probably not be able to climb back from the pit of despair.

Monika: "I see. I'll try making up a lie. Leave it to me."

Sayori comes back with a bag of ice.

I pull up my sleeves and show her where my right arm was hurt the most.

She wraps the bag of ice around the part.

It HURTS! I cannot help but let a small shriek.

Sayori: "Sorry…"

Ethan: "It's ok, it's not your fault…I'm the one who stupidly tripped…"

Monika: "Sayori, I'm sorry for lying to you recently but the truth is, something grave happened in our club. It's very hard to believe, but please trust us."

Sayori: "Monika, I've always trusted you. You're one of my best friends! So please, tell me. I'll always believe you!"

Monika: "Thanks Sayori."

She takes a deep breath.

Monika: "My father works in a chemical laboratory that produces artificial aroma for food. I frequently visit him, and when I do, I'm used to bringing back samples of the latest aromas. I then give them to Natsuki for her cupcakes. The day before yesterday, I brought two new vials of a new delicious aroma for Natsuki to make yesterday's cupcakes. But my father made a mistake. Instead of giving me the aroma, he gave me two samples of an experimental drug. I only learnt about this yesterday evening. The effects of the drug are not well known but they are thought to amplify the person's already existing psychological disorder. The drug was used in the cupcakes so me, you, Ethan, Yuri and Natsuki are probably affected by it. And it's probably the same for Natsuki's family."

Monika pauses for a moment.

Whoa, that might be a very good lie, albeit, a bit unbelievable. As expected of Monika.

Monika: "I told Ethan this information earlier this morning, and we decided we should meet each other. That's why I came here, and that's why he came to see you."

Sayori: "I…I need a bit of time to understand…So basically, we were mistakenly drugged? Our psychological problems were amplified?"

Monika: "In short, yes. But please, you cannot tell anyone about that, not even a doctor. If this information becomes public, my father and my father's laboratory will have huge problems. He may even be sent to jail…"

Sayori: "Okay… I believe you…But there's something I don't get. Ethan, why did you scream when you touched me?"

I expected this question. Fortunately, Monika's story left me enough time to come up with a good explanation.

Ethan: "Sayori, I know you've been hiding something from me for a long time. You're suffering from depression, aren't you?"

Sayori: "How…how did you know? Did Monika tell you?"

Ethan: "She didn't need to. I understood by myself recently. Why you were always late. Why you never paid attention to your appearance. Why your room was messy. Why you seemed so tired when I was not around…It's because of that, isn't it?"

Sayori's body posture slightly collapses and tears are beginning to appear in her eyes.

Sayori: "Why…is everything going downhill…? I tried to my best to hide it from you. You were the last person I wanted to learn about my problem. And yet…"

I hold Sayori's left shoulder with my only available arm. I try to make her look at me.

Ethan: "Sayori, listen to me. I think I know what you're thinking right now and no, you're not a bother. You're not a burden. You're my dearest friend and I didn't think any less of you when I understood your disease. Worrying about you is my job, and I don't mind it in the slightest."

I lock my eyes into hers.

Ethan: "You may be thinking you should disappear to stop us from worrying about you, but that's the absolute worst thing you could do."

I put more strength in my left hand, but not so much I would hurt her.

Ethan: "I will be honest. I became more and more anxious about the possibility of you committing suicide. Yesterday, probably under the effect of the drug, I had a terrible nightmare about you. When I woke up, I immediately rushed to your house. There, I saw you lying in your bed. But you didn't answer my calls. I panicked. Fear overcame me, and I had a terrible hallucination. I thought you were already dead. So, I ran and…Well you know the rest."

Sayori: "I see…So you were hurt because of me…If I had answered you when you called me, you wouldn't have had that hallucination and fallen off the stairs…"

Ethan: "Maybe. But Sayori, don't blame yourself. The one at fault here is the drug, and also me."

One part of me wishes I could hug Sayori now. But the rest of me doesn't allow me to do that. I'm not the one she spent her childhood with. I'm not the one who caught her precious bird plushie. I don't want to get too close to her because that would be like deceiving her. There's also the fact that I already like Monika.

Monika: "Ethan is right. It's not your fault at all. If anything, it's mine. If I didn't give that drug to Natsuki, then none of this would have happened."

Sayori: "No Monika, it's not your fault too! You didn't know the samples were the wrong ones. You're innocent."

Monika: "Even so, I'm still responsible... We need to confirm that Natsuki and Yuri are safe. I'll ask Natsuki to find Yuri and bring her here."

Sayori: "I think it's better if you go to school to find them. I'll take care of Ethan."

Monika: "I'm staying here. I'm also worried about you two."

Sayori: "But what if Natsuki or Yuri has a problem?"

Monika: "It should be ok. I called Natsuki earlier and she seemed fine. Let me call her again."

If only I didn't hurt myself…I would have gone to school myself. It's so frustrating that I'm stuck here. Well, I could still walk to school but there's no way Monika or Sayori are going to let me.

Sayori: "Okie."

Monika takes her phone and calls Natsuki.

After five seconds or so, Natsuki answers. Monika tells her to find Yuri and to come together to Sayori's house. She tells her it's urgent and that they should skip school. Thanks to her wise choice of words, she manages to convince Natsuki.

Ethan: "Wow, your persuasion skill is really impressive Monika!"

Monika: "Ahaha! Well, I am not that good, really. I just got a lot of experience thanks to the debate club and the literature club."

Sayori: "Monika is really amazing, isn't she…?"

Now that the drama of my fall has settle down, I can clearly see Sayori is going back to her self-depreciated mood…But what can we do? Her depression is due to a chemical imbalance in her brain. I think. I'm far from a specialist, and I have never suffered from it.

Sayori: "Ethan, do you want something? I can get you water and I think there is some ice-cream left."

Ethan: "Then I would like some water please. And an ice-cream too."

Monika: "Let me go with you, Sayori."

They both leave, and I'm left alone.

I push my back against the sofa and relax.

I was worried Sayori would see through our lies, but it seems it worked out at the end. Still, I don't know how long it'll stay this way. Before going back to my world, I still need to wait 4 more days without anyone dying...Sayori's depression looks as bad as it was in the game on Sunday, but as long as I'm here, I won't let her hurt herself. Natsuki should be safe as long as she stays far away from her father. The problem now is Yuri. I don't know how yandere she is right now…Ah, I forgot about Monika. For now, she still sees the others as her friends but there's a possibility she would just delete the others to protect me and be with me. And what about the letters? I still need to hide mine…Now that I think about it, where's mine?!

I check my trousers in a hurry to confirm if the letter is still there. Fortunately, it seems to be the case.

I just dodged a bullet. Had the letter fallen from my trousers when I fell on the stairs…

...

Let's focus. I also must discover the letter they gave to one of the girls. The question is who might be that girl. Probably not Monika, or she would have told me. Same thing goes for Sayori. No, wait. It could by anyone. If the letter says: "If someone other than yourself reads this letter, then that person will die.", then it makes sense for even them to hide it…In that case…Ahhh there are too many possibilities! "The bad news is that we decided to make your story much more unpredictable!" They weren't kidding when they said that…There are probably still some surprises left…

…

I won't give up. No matter what. I will create a happy ending for Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri and Monika. I will return to my world.

…

I wasn't sure if I truly desired the last sentence.