Literature Club: Return to their reality

Chapter 17: Way out

It's been a few days since the picnic on Monika's islands, and the things have mostly been normal – at least as normal as can be in such a world.

Reading in the school yard between lessons, Yuri finds her thoughts drifting to the implications of living in a virtual reality. At least one good thing is rather obvious: whatever mechanism stands behind the reduced noticeability, it's clearly working – and it is really great to finally be able to just read in peace without being constantly picked on or having to hide. On the other hand, if it's possible to create pockets of reality only a few people can enter, moving to such a place could also be a great option – at least for introverts like her. Yes, Sayori's idea about a vacation on those islands might be worth it – it just takes some time to get used to such a different reality and what is reliable in it...

Yuri's thoughts are suddenly interrupted by way too familiar sounds of a scuffle. Even if it's not here, even if it's not with her... Wait, is that Natsuki they are bullying?! Sure, she might pack quite a punch, but not against such a crowd – and they really seem to be enjoying playing with her confrontational nature.

Yuri's fingers instinctively clutch onto the one source of confidence – the knife in her pocket. But she knows she can't do much with it – even if she really dares to actually harm anyone else. Her other hand reaches for the phone. Call Monika and ask her to use her powers? But then another thought crosses Yuri's mind – and her fingers press the buttons before she realizes it: two... three... seven... Her thumb stops just over the call button. Just need to somehow get to Natsuki. Oh, Yuri knows she's definitely going to regret it, whatever's the outcome...

"Keep your hands off her!" Yuri yells, swinging her knife – just enough surprise to make the bullies part.

"Hey, watch your knife – don't cut your girlfriend!" someone taunts.

"Or yourself!" another voice adds. "Or is that why you're carrying it?"

"You are only making it worse," Natsuki hisses as the bullies laugh around them.

"Press call!" Yuri pushes her phone into Natsuki's hand, and then hugs her with one arm.

Realizing Yuri is losing composure, Natsuki doesn't object or ask anything – but what can a phone call accomplish? And couldn't it be done without getting in the middle and provoking them even more?!

Yuri is still swinging her knife defensively. For her it all already starts turning into a blur, but Natsuki sees it clearly – the predators getting ready to outmaneuver their prey's last defense... and then in a flash the two of them find themselves sitting on the floor of a classroom, having lost their footing during sudden transition.

Confused, Natsuki glances at the phone in her hand. Three words: Emergency script activated.

Monika and I are sitting somewhere on a roof, looking at clouds. We've been researching various programming topics for a while, but now we've closed it all and are just sitting side by side, my arm around her shoulders, her head on my shoulder. Just chatting about random topics – like we've been spending our time together for... pretty much forever.

"By the way, darling, you've mentioned some peculiar detail a few days ago..."

"Which one?" I ask back.

"About your academic results outmatching both me and Yuri. That's quite a claim – or was that just to outplay Natsuki?"

"Technically, I've made the comparison without having much idea of the other side," I admit. "So we might need to build some frame of reference... which is already complicated with the difference in our primary fields of expertise."