Take My Hand

1: I'll Save You, Sayori

It had started out as a bright sunny day, the sky was clear, the birds were chirping, and everything was right with the world. Except for a small home near the outskirts of town.

Sayori's home.

The young teen had just finished hanging up a tight and thick noose on the ceiling when all of a sudden, she heard a knock on her front door. Thinking it was the 'friend' that was the reason she had the noose in the first place, she ignored the knocking. She didn't want to see MC. She didn't need to see him. Not like this. So, ignoring the knocks, she placed a small stool under the noose. Then, a few moments later, the knocking came again. Once again, Sayori ignored it. This was her time, and her time alone.

As she stepped onto the stool and prepared herself for the inevitable death that was to come after, she heard the person who had been knocking slam the door open and footsteps towards the stairs. Whoever it was had the intention of coming upstairs to see her.

"Nononononononono..." She breathed heavily, trying to think of a plan.

Suddenly, right as Sayori was about to tighten the noose around her neck, she finally realized who had been knocking.

Yuri.

"Y-Yuri.... W-What are you.....doing here!?" she asked, in a panic.

"I should ask you what in God's name you're doing, Sayori!" Yuri's voice was shaky, and she was on the verge of tears.

"I-I.... want to end it.... I can't handle this aching any longer.... This guilt..... is taking over me..." Sayori began to softly sob.

Yuri realized that she needed to do something, and fast. With a speed that surprised even herself, she rushed over to the bed, undid the noose, and gently sat Sayori on the edge of the bed.

"Now, Sayori, explain everything that's going on, as much as you can. I need to know what's wrong so that I can help you." Yuri spoke in a reassuring tone, smiling at her shorter friend with a kind expression.

Sayori took a deep breath. "Okay... Well, I've had depression....all of my life.. It feels like there's this aching in my chest, this deep pit of guilt and regret that won't disappear no matter how hard I try to make it go away. Not even MC could make it go away.."

Yuri listened to Sayori's story with a solemn expression, looking composed on the outside while her heart was shattering on the inside. She felt sorry for her, though she didn't want to make things worse by admitting it to her.

Yuri nodded. "Is that why you wanted to end it? Is that why you wanted to leave the club behind? Leave me behind? Leave Natsuki behind? Leave everyone behind?"

Solemnly, Sayori nodded. "I just need something to make the aching go away. It hurts, Yuri..." She choked up. "It hurts so much....." She began to cry, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks.

Unexpectedly, Sayori felt Yuri wrap her arms around her in a hug, the warmth soothing her, surprisingly calming her down.

"Let it all out, Sayori... It's okay...." Yuri whispered, her calm voice soothing Sayori.

Sayori realized soon enough that this is what she had needed all along. Nothing in the entire world could compare to the content feeling that she had right now, Yuri's warmth and affection distracting her from the aching in her chest, her heartbeat regulating her own erratic heart.

And the four words that Yuri spoke as the embrace ended were the ones she needed to hear all along.

"I'll save you, Sayori."