Literature Club: Return to their reality

Chapter 6: Sunshine

The next afternoon, I meet Monika next to Sayori's house. The club meeting was cut short since everyone was still exhausted from yesterday, and so it's a perfect opportunity for another smaller meeting. Finally, we see the lovebirds coming home: now he walks her up to her house and only then turns back home.

As MC leaves, we come to the door from the other direction. I knock – and the door opens. Does she ever lock it? Monika just walks in and calls her friend – and judging by the barely intelligible reply, Sayori is in the kitchen with her mouth full. Yup, chewing on sugary snacks instead of making dinner (I'm not the one to judge, but Monika looks disappointed).

"Monika? You could have just asked me to stay at the club a bit longer," she says, and only then notices me. "Wait, is this your boyfriend? So the rumors were true!"

Has anybody measured the speed of gossip in high school environment?

"It's a bit complicated," I reply, "but that's somewhat related to what we came to discuss."

"I just hope this wouldn't disturb you too much," Monika adds. "You've already been kind of down lately."

"Don't worry about me," Sayori replies with a sweet smile.

"Do you really think this would work after yesterday?" I ask, causing Sayori to switch her gaze between the two of us. Of course, she's now wondering how much I've been told.

"Just sit down, both of you." Monika takes charge. "I'll make coffee."

"Isn't it a bit too late for caffeine?" I interject.

"No decaf?" Monika asks.

Sayori just shakes her head.

"Fine, tea it is, then."

"So, are you joining our club?" Sayori asks. "As the Vice President, I welcome you."

"Probably," I reply, "but it's not what we came to discuss."

"What's then?"

"Would you believe in magic?" I ask, causing Monika to mumble something.

"You are funny!" Sayori replies. "Know any tricks?"

"Fine, maybe I phrased it wrong. What about something that truly contradicts the laws of physics?"

"Sounds like something Yuri would read about."

"And what if I tell you it's possible... because this world isn't fully real?"

Sayori gives me a concerned look. "Are you sure everything's alright?"

"Not really. Have you had things vanishing without a trace?"

"What... what do you mean?" Sayori starts nervously fumbling with her fingers.

Monika comes back to the table with a pack of tea and turns it upside down. Teabags fall onto the table and the labels fly all around, since none of the teabags have the...

"Rope," Monika states nonchalantly.

"I should have predicted this outcome..." I mutter, looking at the sight. "Of course, it would do this."

"G-guys, did you rob my house?! Even stole the shoelaces?"

"Not stole," Monika replies, "deleted".

Sayori moves away, pushing herself into back of the chair, as if trying to phase through it. "Stop it! This joke has come a bit too far!"

"Sorry, but this isn't a joke. Let me just demonstrate something." I pick a teabag and quietly mutter as I enter console commands: "get object handle... check the identity... yes, should be right... delete object."