Endlessly: Doki Doki Literature Club Oneshots

Empty Shell (Yuri/MC)

I would first off like to give a HUGE thanks to Fantris for giving me the idea for this Oneshot. Thanks for helping me out, friend! 😄

I always felt that the doors to a library were some sort of portal, and stepping through it would take someone to a completely different world. One that was quiet and serene, an annex of security. It was a place in which the silence wasn't loud nor quiet, but somewhere right in the middle, where it was most comfortable. It wrapped around you, and you wanted to keep quiet, even if your mind was bursting at the seems with colorful ideas and thoughts, you never wanted to disturb the void.

I experienced that sweet sensation of quiet as I walked through the rows and rows books. In a place as rambunctious and chaotic as the school, the library was a pleasant relief, what with it's absolute silence that no one, not even the most obnoxiously popular girls or the top-notch jocks would dare shatter-which was probably due to the fact that the librarian would have your head if you spoke out, and no one ever crossed her.

I let my gaze drift aimlessly over the books neatly positioned on the shelf, subconsciously considering each of the titles scrolled across their spines. I adjusted the strap of the book bag I had slung over my shoulder, keeping in mind that I had come here with the specific purpose of returning the book already amongst its many contents. Though, since I had joined the Literature Club, I had taken reading a bit more seriously, and therefore wanted to ensure I had a replacement novel for the upcoming meeting.

I reached the end of the shelf, and my gaze drifted lazily across the room in the wake which it could've filled had it continued, my eyes glimpsing a familiar river of flowing, violet curls. Following them upwards, I locked eyes with the tall, slender form of Yuri at the next shelf, her head tilted downwards, reading through the first few pages of a book in her hands.

I smiled. I hardly ever saw another member of the Literature Club outside of the clubroom itself, let alone have a chance to interact with them. I approached Yuri, leaning against the book shelf beside her. She, apparently so deep in the world her book was creating for her, didn't seem to notice. I waited for her attention for a moment, then spoke.

"Hey, Yuri."

Yuri jumped and slapped a hand over her mouth, muffling a squeak that could've easily been a shriek of surprise. "Anon!" she exclaimed quietly after a moment of recovery. "Oh... I... Goodness, you scared me... I-I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"It's nice to see you too," I said, my grin spreading farther. I nodded towards the open book in her hands. "Is that one at all interesting?"

Yuri blinked, as though she had forgotten exactly what she had been doing before I came. "Oh!" She said in realization, looking down at the book. "Not really. It's plays too much with common literature cliches." She gave a sigh of disappointment. "It's a shame, really. I do like to give certain books a chance at proving their captivity. This one didn't exactly hold out."

She reached up to the higher rows of the shelf, where an empty space where the book had obviously gone sat waiting to be filled. As she went to slide the book back into place, the one beside it fell on its side. Yuri reached up with her other hand to put it up right, and her sleeve slid down to her elbow.

I'm not sure what drew my gaze to her arm in the first place. Perhaps it was the curious discoloration of her skin, and how my eyes thought for a moment that they had glimpsed traces of red. But when I did, I saw her skin was peppered with small, pinkish marks.