Doki Doki: A Typical Romance

Chapter 3

MC opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented as he took in the cream-colored walls around him. Rows of desks filled the room, and after a second, he recognized the setting.

This is the literature clubroom, he realized, his brow furrowing. But... why am I here?

He pinched his cheek, expecting a jolt of pain, but felt nothing. A dream, he thought, a little thrill running through him. A lucid one, too.

Lucid dreams were rare for him, and he felt a flicker of excitement at the control he'd just gained over this strange, nostalgic setting. Wandering around the familiar room, he couldn't help but wonder why, of all the places in his mind, he'd found himself here.

"MC."

A voice, familiar and unmistakable. Sayori's voice.

He turned, smiling in anticipation of the coral-haired girl's warm, cheerful face, but the smile froze as he took in what was really in front of him.

Half of the clubroom was gone, replaced by a jagged cliff that dropped into a dark void. Sayori stood at the very edge, her back to him, her shoulders slumped. When she turned to face him, her eyes were bloodshot, her gaze empty and cold.

"S-Sayori? What are you doing?" he stammered, trying to step closer. But his legs felt like lead, refusing to move. "Please... don't stand there. It's dangerous."

"But that's what everyone wants, isn't it?" she murmured.

A chill ran down his spine. "What are you talking about?"

"It hurts, MC." Her voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and raw. "To know that everyone's just... putting up with me. That I'm dragging down everyone's happiness."

"N-No, that's not true!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "You're not a burden, Sayori! Please, just come back."

A faint, sad smile tugged at her lips. "It doesn't matter anymore."

She took a step back, her foot hovering over the cliff's edge, her expression softening as a single tear traced down her cheek.

"Now... everyone can be happy."

His eyes widened, panic flooding him as he ran toward her, his hand outstretched, fingers reaching, desperate to grasp hers before she slipped away.

"SAYORI!!!"

MC jolted awake, gasping for air, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself. His body was drenched in cold sweat, and his hand was still outstretched as if trying to reach someone. Blinking, he took in his surroundings: his bedroom, the morning sun shining through the window. He was safe, sitting on his bed.

He covered his face with his hands, inhaling deeply, forcing himself to calm down.

"It was just a dream... just a dream..." he whispered, his voice shaky.

But it had felt so real, so vivid, more like a memory than a dream.

After a moment, he lowered his hands and grabbed his phone, glancing at the time.

[7:37 a.m., Sunday.]

Right, he'd stayed up late playing games the night before. Setting his phone aside, he lay back, hoping to drift off again. Maybe he'd just sleep in today.

Yet, the image of Sayori falling off the cliff replayed over and over in his mind.

He opened his eyes with a sigh, realizing it would likely haunt him all day.

Come to think of it... wasn't he forgetting something?

Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization.

Monika's surprise!