Talk To The Voices

[You have chosen - Talk to the voices]

E-Eh? Are you sure about that decision? If she starts talking to the voices in her head doesn't that mean she's completely lost it?

Sayori: Yes... yes I have...

...

???: Run away! Run away!

Sayori: But I've already been running! Running for so long! I don't want to run anymore.

Wh-What? Why do you have to run away? If you're not even slightly afraid of ghosts, then what could possibly scare you this bad?

Sayori: Why are you asking that? You already know! You're just trying to make me remember again!

H-Huh? Um, sorry

???: Ahaha, you can't even recall the memories without breaking down?

Sayori: Yes... I can't even remember... just because of a few thoughts I'm like this...

Er- well, thoughts can be a little hurtful sometimes, I don't think feeling a little bad because of that is anything wrong.

???: Weak! Worthless! Stupid!

Sayori: I see now...

...

Sayori: I really am worthless. Just this is enough to render me useless... can I even do anything?

???: Of course you are! How wasn't that obvious from the start?

...

Sayori: Yes... it-

No.

Sayori: ...Huh?

That makes no sense at all.

Sayori: Why doesn't it make sense? Haven't you been saying it all this time?

No, I don't know who in the world is also talking to you, but I'm not them.

Sayori: ...So what? It can't change what's true.

What's true? Please explain to me what exactly you believe that is.

Sayori: ...That I can't do anything. I can't save anyone, the only thing I can do is run.

Look, I don't know what you've done before or how you've lived your life, but you're still alive right now and trying to live. It's clear as day that things aren't easy for you right now, yet you're still here trying to fight it.

Sayori: I haven't fought anything...

But you're fighting right now.

Sayori: ...How?

I can see you right there. I see you breathing, and moving. You've been stronger than you could ever imagine by standing right there.

Sayori: Hah. You say some really ridiculous things.

Yeah, maybe they are kinda ridiculous, as so many other people do the same things without so much as batting an eye. But it's different.

Sayori: Oh really?

Yes. Just think about it for a moment. Compare how easy it is to lift something for a healthy young man versus a sickly old man. What the young man can do easily is nearly enough to make the old man fall over.

If you see both of them holding up that weight, it's the old man that's doing something far more impressive, since his physical capabilities don't let him do that easily. It's the same thing here.

Sayori: ...But so many people are dealing with things like me. Thinking that I'm being strong is just a sad excuse when there are others dealing with things they deserve to be upset about.

What? No, no, no. Sure, there are most probably people dealing with harder things than you, but since when did that matter? Nothing will change the fact that you're dealing with something difficult, regardless if it's light or worse than someone else's.

Sayori: Ok, ok, I get it... but with that same logic, the old man is still incapable. If you needed something done, then everyone would desire the young man over him.

Yeah, but that doesn't matter either! Sure the old man can't do nearly as much as the man. Maybe even his best effort will be insignificant to the young man's, but that old man is trying. There will always be people that are better than others.

I know that all too well.

But calling someone worthless because they aren't as good is just going too far. Maybe what they're doing isn't much, but they are doing something, aren't they?

Sayori: ...T-Then what am I supposed to do?

...I don't know.

Sayori: ...

I've been trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do too. Frankly, nothing has been working out for me. No matter what I do, there's always someone better. I've been told time and time again not to compare myself to others, but it's just so hard to follow that even if I know it's right.

Sayori: If you don't know, then isn't it all pointless?

...Maybe.

But I'm still trying, and I know that it's not going to be easy. I'm just hoping one day I'll find out.

Sayori: I'm just... so tired. I'm so tired of running away.

Then just stop running away.

Sayori: But then I'll have to... I'll have to...

Face it, I guess. It's kinda hypocritical of me to say this since I still haven't done it, but that's the only real way to solve it.

Sayori: ...

[Tears overflowed from Sayori's eyes, but she did not make any noise. After they fell, she lightly brushed them away with the palm of her hand and washed her face.]

Sayori: I don't know who you are, but thanks.

Er- don't mind it too much. It kinda just came out uncontrollably.

Sayori: Haha, then I'll go do what you told me to.

Ah. I don't mean to pry, but how will you do that?

[Sayori looked at the mirror with clear eyes]

Sayori: I'm going to read the rest of the book.

Huh? I don't really get it.

[A bitter smile formed on Sayori's face]

Sayori: Why are you so clueless now when you seemed to have all the answers before?

Wh-

Wait a sec, I even said that I don't know! What do you mean I have all the answers?

Sayori: Ah, I guess you did say that.

Exactly! I want an apology, how dare you say that about me!

[Sayori promptly ignored the strange voice in her head, before leaving the bathroom]

...Wow. Just, wow.

[The moment Sayori got back, Yuri looked at her with a slightly concerned expression]

Yuri: Ah, you're back! I-I thought you might've been tired of reading with me...

Sayori: No, no! I really do enjoy reading with you.

What the- it's like she reverted back to normal completely!

Yuri: Ah, that's a relief. There aren't too many chapters left, how about we finish them together?

Sayori: ...Ok.

[They sat back down and continued flipping through the pages once more. The scenes described only became more and more deranged. The special person tried their best to repair their relationships with the others, and due to their naturally friendly personality they were on the verge of succeeding.]

Yuri: Um, are you ok?

Sayori: I... think so.

[The girl dropped all pretense at that point. She directly began killing the people close to her. But the strangest thing about it was that it attracted no attention from the police. In fact, other than the girl and the special person, everyone else seemed to have forgotten about them.]

Yuri: This story... is secretly a thriller? They kept that secret for quite a while, considering that it only happens in roughly the last third. I wonder why they decided that.

Sayori: ...

[The girl was pretty ecstatic at this point. She continued to erase people from the special person's life, which included her parents. Soon enough, there was nobody that even knew the special person existed other than the girl herself.]

W-Wait, if you're saying that if this is a story about you, then...

[The special person was captured by the girl, tied up. Despite supposedly loving the special person, she had done several sick and twisted things to her that made her look like she was a torturer.]

...Holy shit.

[After several months, the special person finally escaped. And now, the girl is looking for that special person. That was the very last entry in the diary, and the girl closed it. She continued to look out the window, where one last cherry blossom slowly fell to the ground, and the sky was now clear. And with that, the book was finished.]

Yuri: Eh? That's the end? But the story basically just started here!

[She sighed]

Yuri: There must be a second book that ties it all together. I really hate it when authors write books without even the slightest semblance of closure!

...H-Hey, I'm trying, alright?

Sayori: But it can't be helped.

Yuri: Eh? What do you mean?

[A small smile formed on Sayori's face]

Sayori: Because the next part of the story is in the process of happening, so it can't be written about.

Yuri: Um... sorry, I'm not following you.

...

Sayori: Ah, I guess I should say, it's a story about me.

Yuri: Eh? You are the girl in the story?

Sayori: ...No, I am the special person.

Yuri: S-Seriously? Are you ok?

Sayori: I'm probably not ok, but I think I'll be fine.

[A small smile formed on Yuri's face]

Yuri: I guess that's why you have that kind of look.

Sayori: Eh? What do you mean?

Yuri: ...Everyone in this mansion has been through at least something unfavorable. For some, it was just an unlucky death, while others have been suffering dearly, but all of them have some sort of regret or grudge.

Sayori: O-Ok?

Yuri: By now, we can identify people like us just by looking at their eyes, and you have that same look.

Sayori: I-I do?

Yuri: Yes, eyes that have seen too much.

Sayori: So everyone is just like me?...

Yuri: Haha, do you feel a little more welcome now?

Sayori: No, it's just... I feel that's so sad.

Yuri: ...What happened, has already happened. But now, we have each other. There's no need to worry about the past anymore.

Sayori: But...

Yuri: Even if you do have problems, I promise I will be there to support you the entire way. I owe you at least that much for buying that book and reading it with me.

Sayori: E-Eh? But I really did enjoy it too!

[Yuri placed a hand above her chest with a soft smile on her face]

Yuri: If you really did, then that just makes me want you to accept my gratitude even more.

Sayori: Yuri...

[Their conversation was cut short by a clear knock on the door. Yuri widened her eyes in clear surprise.]

Yuri: A knock?

Sayori: Hm? Why is that so strange?

Yuri: ...It's just that there's nobody that ever knocks on these mansion doors. They are normally too scared to even approach.

I mean, it can't be too bad. It may just be the guy giving Sayori the money for staying in the house.

[Sayori felt that something was wrong, but decided to be brave and go up to answer it. With a firm grip, she slowly opened the door, and behind it was a girl with long brown hair, one that was awfully similar to the one on the cover of the story.]

Girl: Sayori... so you were here!

Sayori: Monika.

Monika: Ahaha! You finally said my name! I can't believe it! Does that mean you are finally going to accept being with me forever?

Yuri: I-Is something wro-

Sayori: No, I can deal with this.

[Sayori looked towards Monika with a gaze filled with conviction, while she stared back with a strange smile.]

Sayori: I'm never going with you. That's final.

Monika: ...Is that so?

Sayori: Yes.

[Acquired Ending - Strong]

What? That's it?

[No, there's still the epilogue, did you already forget?]

...N-No.

[Starting Epilogue: Strong]