Our Reality (Doki Doki Literature Club!)

The Only Part 4

"This is really getting sad..."

Monika heaved a heavy, depressed sigh.

"At least, I'm getting some exercise though, right?"

That seemed like the point she would let out a small laugh to fake some acceptance of what she has done, but she couldn't muster a single chuckle. There was nothing she could do but think about her earlier encounter with Mali.

Did I speak our encounter into existence? Even if that was really the case, I didn't expect it to play out that way. I expected Mali to taunt me, to deliberately make me feel even worse, but that actually seemed to be the last thing she wanted to do.

She scratched her right cheek, trying to think of every possible reason Mali could have had to confront her like that.

But why? Why would she-?

Monika let out another sorrowful sigh.

Never mind. It doesn't matter. Even if she got what she wanted, it wouldn't change things in the long run.

She sat up and bundled her scarf.

"Why am I even torturing myself considering something impossible?"

Monika looked up at the dark sky above her. Seeing the glittering lights shining down reminded her of the tail end of her summer vacation. Watching the sky light up with paper lanterns with her friends; at that moment, she was absolutely sure that there would be many more moments like that.

She believed that they would always stay like that.

I wanted to believe that.

Monika shook her head and forced herself to move. One step after the other, she began her trek home.

Looking around, Monika could see many smiling faces walking past her. Was it right to feel envious or was it a sign of that she was a bad person? She had been plagued by questions like this for days but never really had a concrete answer. It seemed like there was always something that kept her from-.

Eh?

She stopped right in her tracks as her eyes were suddenly drawn to one particular face in the crowd. It was a shock to say the least to see Shujinkou's father: Jomei.

What's he doing here?

Her feet once again started moving, her mind now focused on following him. One step after another, Monika subtly closed the gap between them, while still maintaining enough distance to not draw his attention.

Appearing now, not too long after the incident he was indirectly related to...

This can't be a coincidence.

She continued to tail behind Jomei until he suddenly stopped. He sat down on a nearby bench and, while still looking ahead, motioned her to come his way.

Part of her knew she shouldn't do anything on his terms, but she didn't listen. She cautiously approached him.

"How'd you know?" Monika asked.

"You learn to be acutely aware of your surroundings when you have experiences similar to the one you've just been through," Jomei explained.

"So, you're aware of what happened?"

"Yes."

"And that's why you're here?"

Jomei didn't say a word as he looked up at Monika. The eyes he bore were the complete opposite of his son's. They were cold and distant.