Literature Club: Return to their reality

Epilogue: Brave new world

Sitting on the roof of an empty school, looking at the surreal landscape, gentle breeze playing with our hair. The best girl ever is sitting on my lap, her arm wrapped around me, her head resting on my shoulder, her forehead pressed against my cheek. I'm supporting her with one arm wrapped around her shoulders, my other hand caressing her long hair. Just sitting there wordlessly, enjoying each other's company, being lost in the moment. Then she shifts slightly and reaches for my lips...

And I finally get to experience the tenderness of her lips on mine. Yes, my virtual girlfriend insisted on sorting the tactile interfaces out before doing anything else. Totally worth delaying our grand plans for a few days. (I agreed that those would feel shallow, if we can't really experience the little things together.) Ah, my love, do we ever need anything more than this? (Actually, no perfectionist can sit idle for too long, when there are such great plans waiting... but we can always enjoy each other a bit longer, can't we?)

It feels like eternity until our lips part and we return to wordlessly staring at the aftermath of our pyrrhic victory. If the suddenly abandoned school doesn't remind enough of a ghost city, the hole-ridden glitchy landscape totally reminds of a certain game series set around such a hastily abandoned place. Maybe we could play it together some day? Sure, there might be a bit too much shooting for Monika's taste (and I'm not really a fan of virtual violence, either), but that's quite an interesting setting... But first we have this post-apocalypse to patch up.

"I didn't think there would be so much collateral damage," I mumble, looking at the sky below us through a hole in the ground.

"I wasn't sure even this much would be left," my beloved replies.

"I guess, we'll have to make sure it's safe before bringing the others in."

"But after that, where do we even start with rebuilding the world?"

"Maybe we could ask Yuri," I suggest. "She seems to be good with designs."

"You weren't kidding about wanting their input?"

"Why would I lie to them?" I shrug. "Besides, if this world is to be for everyone, it's only fair that it would be made by everyone."

"You're right. It's selfish of me to impose my vision."

"You are just the kind of leader who leads by example: if you want it done right, do it yourself... and maybe let the others assist here and there."

"Is it really that bad? Maybe Sayori is a better leader then."

"Just a different one. The really best leadership is when the two of you work together."

"Ah, thank you for letting me see that," Monika says sadly and clings to me tighter.

"You're welcome. So that's the plan then: patch it a bit, then start bringing everyone in?"

"Yeah, let's start with Yuri for designing things. Natsuki would probably decorate everything with pink ribbons and cute kitties."

We both chuckle at the thought of Natsukitown.

"We'll give her a bakery to set up," I propose. "And a grocery store. And a cute little cafe."

And we'll totally need to borrow some tools (and maybe a few assets) from other games and design programs... Why not just copy half a city from somewhere? That's boring when we can tap into the girls' creativity. Besides, if they can't have a home they've grown up at, let them have a home they'll make for themselves.

"Are you thinking of the same things as me?" Monika asks after a while.

"Maybe." I shrug. "What's on your mind, darling?"

"The best home is the one we build for ourselves."

"Totally. Great minds think alike." I kiss her on the cheek. "Shall we get to work?"

"My love... can we stay like this for a bit longer?"

"Of course, my love."

"And one more thing."

"Yes?" I turn to her – and our noses almost touch.

She leans in and we share another sweet long kiss.