"-een Sayori the last couple days?"

I look up from my desk, dazed… must have spaced out again. The rest of the classroom is empty, and Monika is poking her head through the open doorway. "Wha-?" I manage to stammer. If she didn't know me better by now, I'd be concerned Monika might think I was as airheaded as- "Sayori?"

"Yeah, have you seen her lately? I thought maybe she had caught a cold or something, but it's not like her to go so long without even saying she's okay…" The club president looks me dead in the eyes as she says this, her expression a familiar mix of worry and determination that only seems to show up when something important is happening, or about to. It makes my heart skip a little, and I look away, hopefully before my cheeks flush.

"I… no, I haven't. Not since Friday." And today is Tuesday. Monika's right, it isn't like Sayori to miss more than a day or two of school at a time. Even then, I usually go check on her, or one of the other girls will if I can't. It's been a few months since she first opened up to the club about her struggle with depression, and although there have been a few bad days since, she seems to have been doing better since she started seeing a therapist.

"MC-kun…?" My heart had almost gotten back to its normal rhythm, and I can feel it start to beat a little faster. At the same time, it feels like something in my stomach is trying to burn its way out. I take a deep breath and try to collect myself (Natsuki would be upset if she thought I couldn't keep down the cookies she made for the club today…), still unable to meet Monika's gaze- she gets a little intense when things get serious.

I slowly get up from the desk, and it helps a little with the sudden sickness. I can't shake the feeling that something terrible has happened, or will soon. "MC-kun, are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine, Monika. Sorry, it's… I hadn't really even thought about Sayori since before the weekend. Feeling a little guilty now." Not completely untrue, that. I don't want her worrying about me too, though, so I take another deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before letting go, trying to push the sick feeling away until I can leave the room. "I'll go check on her. It'll mean missing the club meeting today, but I think-"

"It's more important." Monika nods as she completes my sentence, stepping fully into the room for the first time. "I was thinking maybe we could all go, maybe pick up some snacks on the way, to cheer her up. But if she's…" Suddenly our roles reverse, and she looks away from me, like she's trying to make sure she words what she's thinking exactly right. It's a feeling I know all too well when it comes to Sayori, unfortunately. "Not okay… it might be best if you just go alone. You're… tell her we're all wor- thinking of her, okay?

"Sure. Tell Natsuki and Yuri I'm sorry I can't be here today?"

"Of course. I'm sure they'll understand, anyways." Monika retreats back into the hallway, letting me pass. As I go by, she gently squeezes my shoulder; when I look up, she smiles, her way of trying to reassure me, I guess. "I hope you don't need it, but… good luck, MC-kun."

Good… luck? What the hell is that supposed to mean? My mind races in several directions- this wouldn't be the first time Monika knew something I didn't, and chose not to share it because of reasons know only to her. As if she can read my thoughts (or more likely, because I must have made a face) she adds- "… okay, sorry, that might have been a weird turn of phrase, ahaha. It's just… not the easiest job, you know? Being her confidant. I'm sure there are secrets only you know."

"Yeah…" No, it's not. It's not easy, at all. There's an obvious reason I'm the one who does the majority of our random "checks" on Sayori, not that I could ever get any of the other three club members to come out and say it. "Well, I guess I'll text you if I find anything out."

"Okay!" Monika flashes a smile again, although there seems to be something… almost sad behind it. It's an expression I'm more used to seeing from Sayori, and for the third time in ten minutes, a chill crawls through my veins as my pulse starts to quicken. "See you tomorrow, MC-kun. Hope it goes well."

"I, uh… yeah, me too. See you tomorrow, Monika."

Jeez, that was kind of ominous…