Guest, I am very aware of how long this took. And I am sorry for not posting an update sooner, but writing is something I do for fun. I simply got burned out on this story. Now I feel burned out on writing in general, and it's not something I have a drive to do anymore, at least for my current stories. I'll still update, but it isn't a priority in my life. I'm sorry, again, but that's how it is.

I don't own Doki Doki Literature Club or any of the characters portrayed in this story.

_

At the end of the school day, I exit my classroom and meet Sayori soon. She's apparently still excited about the date, as she happily clamps to my arm upon seeing me.

"Hey Anon~" she giggles as she presses her lips to my cheek. "How was class?"

"Good," I smile before kissing her back on her temple. "How was yours?"

"Eh, I dunno... Wasn't paying too much attention," she admits.

"Sayori, I really don't want you falling behind in class," I sigh.

"I know, but I was too busy thinking," she pouts.

"Well you should be thinking about your school work."

"Ehhh, but there's no way I could focus when we have our date tonight!"

"Well... Not that I don't understand, but you really should stay focused on your studies," I say with a chuckle.

"Well, sorry," she sighs. "But give me a pass for today!"

"Alright, you get a pass," I smile and roll my eyes.

We reach the clubroom soon enough, and Monika greets us at the door.

"I heard about Natsuki from Yuri," she sighs. "I thought that we might all visit her after the meeting, if everyone would be alright with it."

"Sounds good to me," Sayori smiles.

"We were planning to visit anyways," I say. "Yashiro is already going to visit I think."

"Skipping out on the club, eh?" she sighs with a light laugh. "I do put effort into these meeting you know."

"I'm sure he's appreciative," I chuckle.

"Ah, one second Anon," Sayori says, letting go of my arm. "I'm gonna go chat with Yuri a bit."

"What about?"

"Nothinnggg~" she giggles as she walks away.

"Actually, that works out," Monika says. "I've been meaning to have a conversation with you Anon. You know, privately."

"Oh, sure. What's up?" I take a glance inside the club room to see that Sayori is talking to Yuri and Kaitaro, then look back at Monika.

"Well, it's about Sayori... I understand that you two are very close, and that she needs a pillar of support right now, but... Well, are you just doing this to help her? Or do you really... love her?"

"Hm? Of course I love her," I say. "I know it might sound sappy or whatever, but she's more important to me than anything and I wouldn't want to leave her side for anything."

"Ah, I see," Monika says with a glance down at the floor as she takes a little step to the side. Then she looks back up at me and smiles, "Well then, I'm glad you're planning to take it seriously. I'll support you two all the way!"

"Yeah, thanks," I nod with a decidedly uncomfortable chuckle. "Is that all, or...?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah! You can go in," she waves her hand and laughs. "I'll... be another moment, okay?"

"Alright," I nod before turning around and walking into the classroom. That was weird. I wonder why she was acting so strange?

"U-Um, hello Anon," Kaitaro says as he walks up to me. "Yuri suggested that I get to know some more club members, so... I thought we could talk a little?"

I glance at Sayori again, who is still talking to Yuri, before nodding, "Sure Kaitaro, what should we talk about?"

We end up talking for a while about classes, plans for the future, that sort of thing. It seems Kaitaro is really set on becoming a writer. Not creative writing like Yuri seems to be into, but argumentative writing and essays. I, myself, am not at all that certain about my future. Something creative for sure, since math was never really my thing, but I have nothing very specific planned. He tries to suggest a few things, but I really have no inclination. Huh, I should fix that...

Sashi arrives soon and joins Yuri and Sayori in their conversation, then Monika comes back holding a couple of folders and vehemently apologizing for taking so long. We almost immediately start reading, Sayori reclaiming her spot at my side as we do. Since Natsuki is absent again, along with Yashiro, we only read one chapter. It's mostly set-up for the actual plot of the novel, showing the background of the main protagonist's life and setting up his motivations. Nothing about finding the stowaway yet, but it's easy to assume what will happen given what the story's back cover summary says.

Once we finish reading, we decide that we all want to visit Natsuki in the hospital. So we all pack up and head over there together.

"What were you talking about with Yuri and Sashi?" I ask Sayori as we walk.

She laughs and hugs my arm closer, then leans against my shoulder and sighs, "Ehehe~ We were talking about tonight!"

"Tonight? What, were you asking for advice or something?"

"Yeah, sorta," she nods. Then she lets out another giggle, "Ehehe, I'm so excited about tonight! I just can't get over it~!"

"Haha, well I'm glad," I chuckle as I look down at her. Then I lean down and peck her lips. "Love you babe."

Sayori gets into another giggle fit, and presses her face against my shoulder before mumbling "Love you too."

Sayori is just so damn cute sometimes. But she hasn't acted this... well, sheepish since we first started the relationship. Maybe she's just nervous about the date. She does seem to think of it as a big deal, so that could be it.

Once we reach the hospital, we talk to a receptionist that tells us which room Natsuki is in. We're allowed to visit, thankfully, so we all make our way there then stop outside.

"Really, I mean it," I hear Natsuki say inside.

"I know you mean it, but it sounds weird coming from you," Yashiro's voice laughs in reply.

"Oh, just shut it!" she groans. "I guess I'll keep my thanks to myself from now on!"

Sayori is the first of us to open the door to the room, exclaiming, "We're here!!" as she does so. She rushes to Natsuki's side and grabs her hand, asking, "Hey, how're you doing? Any better?"

Sayori is too occupied to notice, but I take specific note of the fact that Natsuki's other hand is being held by Yashiro.

"Everyone?" the small girl asks with a smile. "Hey, you all came to visit!"

"Of course we did," Yuri says as she holds both of her hands up in front of her chest. "We wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Not just physically," Monika says as she kneels next to Sayori. "I know this kind of thing is, well, traumatizing, but we want to support you through it."

"Guys..." Natsuki looks around at everyone, almost seeming touched for a moment. But it only lasted for that moment. "You think that old geezer could do anything to me?! I don't need your worry! I can deal with it myself!"

"Except we had to call the cops to save you," I point out.

"I meant the recovery part!" she exclaims. Then she sighs, "But I really do appreciate your help, Sayori, Anon. And I'm glad you stopped this moron from doing something stupid." She juts her thumb at Yashiro (hey, they stopped holding hands. must be because we're all here).

"Hey, I wasn't going to do anything!" Yashiro says, putting his arms up.

"But you wanted to fight him," Sayori tilts her head.

"Yeah, but I wasn't gonna," he sighs.

"The only reason you weren't gonna was because we were there," I say.

"I..." Yashiro started, but couldn't come up with the words.

"Okay, let's all calm down about this," Monika laughs. "We're just here to visit, not remember the... incident."

"Ugh, don't coddle me," Natsuki grumbles and crosses her arms. "I'm fine."

"But you're just so cute, I can't help but want to hug you and surround you with warm fluffy things!" Sayori exclaims as she hugs her tight.

Natsuki pushes against her, grunting, "I am not cute!"

"You kinda are," Yashiro says.

"Don't take her side!" the pink haired girl yells.

"P-Please, this is a hospital," Yuri reminds them.

"Yeah," I nod. "Sayori, don't hug her if she doesn't want to be hugged."

"Aww, but I..." Sayori looks at me with a pout before releasing the girl in the medical bed. "Sorry... Natsuki..."

"It's fine," she says.

"I actually think we should give Natsuki some more space than just avoiding hugs," Sashi speaks up. "After all, she probably wants some alone time with Yashiro, right?"

"S-Sashi!" Natsuki gasps as a blush appears on her cheeks.

Sashi is incredible perceptive... if simultaneously incredibly blunt.

"Well I actually should get going," Monika says.

"Yeah, Sayori and I have to go too," I say.

"Ehh? We don't have more time?" she frowns at me.

"No, we have to go."

"U-Um, actually," Natsuki says quietly. "There's another thing to get sorted out..."

"Hm? What's up?" Sayori asks.

"I... don't have anywhere to go once I get out of here. I don't know if I'll be allowed to stay in my house, since my dad pays the bills and he's, well, y'know... S-So I was wondering, if I need to, could I stay with one of you?"

"OF COURSE!" Sayori exclaims quickly. "I'd love to have you over!"

"Um, Sayori," I say and clear my throat. "I think your house is a little, uh, crowded."

"Hm?" Sayori tilts her head at me. "What do you mean? We have the spare room since you don't use it, right?"

"I didn't mean sleeping space," I quickly insist, but it's too late. She already said it.

"What do you mean he doesn't use it?" Natsuki asks. "Sayori, why would Anon be using a bedroom in your house?"

"Ah? Ah... A-Ah!" Sayori suddenly blushes as she realizes the position she's gotten herself into, since we haven't told anyone that we're sleeping together (even Yashiro, who we only told that we're living together).

"Wait, you didn't know that they're living together?" Yashiro asks. "They said it's a part of Sayori's therapy."

"Why would she need that to deal with her depression?!" Natsuki exclaims.

"Wait, she's depressed?" Sashi asks.

"U-Um, yeah," Sayori nods.

"But you two are living together?" Monika asks.

"The therapist said it's best for me to stay close to her," I explain.

"Okay, but what's this about not using the guest bedroom?" Yashiro ponders aloud. "Ah, I get it! You're sleeping together, huh?"

"WHAT?!" half of the club members exclaim.

"There's no way you dumbass," Natsuki insists. Then she turns to Sayori, "Right?"

"A-Ah, I, uh," Sayori stammers and trembles. Then she hugs me and cries, "I-I don't know what to say! Anon, help!"

I reply, "Well I don't know either–!"

"Anon," Monika says, gripping my shoulder and showing an obviously fake smile, "what did you do to Sayori?"

"Yeah, what did you do?" Sashi asks, gripping my other shoulder.

"U-Um, guys," Yuri says from The sidelines.

"N-Nothing! We did nothing!" I insist. "We slept! That's it!"

"G-Guys, he didn't do anything!" Sayori exclaims. "Really!"

Natsuki and Yashiro are both laughing really hard, while Yuri and Kaito have no idea what to do. Finally, Monika and Sashi let me go (though Monika has an obvious frown as she does so).

"I-I would offer my house for you Natsuki, but it's a bit crowded as well," Yuri says in an attempt to change the subject of the conversation. "My family is a bit hectic."

"You could stay with me," Monika offers. "As long as you keep that manga stuff out of my house."

"Bleh, no thanks," Natsuki crosses her arms.

"I think I could let you stay, at least for a while," Sashi says. "Even though we don't really know each other that well, I... I'm gonna be honest, I don't know anyone that well."

"Me neither," Natsuki says. "A-And I hope I'll be able to go to my own home, but I guess I'll let you know."

"Or you could stay with me since Anon and Say– OOHF!" Yashiro is punched in the gut.

"Yeah, and how long have they known each other?!" Natsuki growls, clenching her fist. "Since damn birth or something!"

"Y-Yeah," he mutters as he holds his stomach. "I was just joking..."

Once we inform the absentees about where we stopped reading, we all say our farewells to the other club members with the insistence that everyone would have a nice weekend and that we would see each other on Monday. Then Sayori and I finally get home to get ready for our date.

_

(Notes: I'm back guys. Yeah, like I said above, the updates aren't going to get any more frequent. I know you'll understand, but I've been having a block on all of my stories recently. On top of that I have less time to write anyways, since life is happening. But hey, I'm not gone! Yet.

As always, feedback and input are greatly appreciated and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!)