Chapter 9: Advice



It’s the fourth day. This concerns you a little. The fourth day is usually when things start to go downhill: Sayori begins to reveal her depression, more drama and whatnot. It was when the neighborhood that appeared on your screen, as opposed to the classroom, that you hoped any of those weren’t going to happen. It looks like it’s too much to ask for, unfortunately.



You step outside the fence of your house, starting your trip to school. You expected Sayori to approach you, as friends always do. This time, though, you see her stroll by, looking down. This was different from her jumpy demeanor and you knew exactly what was happening.



You approach her instead, asking, “Hey, Sayori?”



“Oh—yes, Riko?” Sayori said, a little startled by your calling.



“Are you okay? You don’t look so well.” You said.



“Oh, no! It’s fine,” she smiled, trying to prevent you from worrying any further. “I’m okay, see?” She smiled more.



“Aite, sorry… It didn’t look like that a moment ago…” You commented.



“Jeez… you worry about me too much,” she sighed, “Don’t get concerned, okay? It’ll just distract you from having fun with everyone else.”



“If you say so.” Your walk with Sayori to school wasn’t much of a walk together, more so just two people who happened to walk in the vicinity of each other. It was quiet and the only music that played was silence, which made the mood a little eerie and unsettling. You were worrying about her a lot, but you made sure she didn’t notice.



You arrived at the schoolyard twenty minutes before the bell could ring. This meant a lot of time for students to converse with each other outside. The sounds of many voices resonated throughout the area. Among the students was Harumi. What was noteworthy was the absence of Yuka and Yuri, who were presumably somewhere else.



Harumi was leaning by a wall, one foot laid against it while she crossed her arms. She was looking down with her eyes closed with a frown. She wasn’t feeling well either. It’s as if no one wants to be happy today. You went up to her to see what was wrong.



“Harumi?” You called for her.



“Hm?” Harumi opened an eyelid and noticed you. “Oh, umm…”



“What’s up?” You continued.



“…Riko, was it?” She asked.



“Mhm, that’s me.” You nodded.



“Ah, right. Sup.” She said, smiling a little.



You glanced to the right to see Sayori facing her back at the conversation, standing in place. She was eavesdropping, but you didn’t mind.



You glanced back at Harumi. “I saw that you were feeling a bit down here. Is there something bothering you? Where’s Yuka and Yuri?” You asked.



She sighed. “I decided to come early to school today to think a little, so they’re still takin’ their time to come here, and yeah, there is.”



You continued to ask, “What is it?”



Harumi continued her answer, “Let’s just say, I feel kinda’ bad for tryna’ get homework answers from Yuri. She… has a situation and Yuka and I want to do our best to make it up for her. I had to force myself to do my homework all alone last night!” She yawned and stretched her large body. “It’s more tirin’ than a workout. I’m also here thinkin’ of more ideas that could make it up for Yuri.”



“Oh…” You knew what Harumi was talking about when it came to Yuri, so you asked her about it. “What’s going on with Yuri?”



Harumi slants her brows at the question. “That is private information, dude. You’re gettin’ nothin’ from me about it. You’re gettin’ none from Yuka. It’s Yuri’s choice if she wants to share it.” She sighed, realizing something. “Great, now I’ve attracted your attention towards it.”



“Ack…” you scratched the back of your head, “sorry, I was just curious.”



“It’s fine, dude.” Harumi assured. “It’s my fault for bringin’ it up. Just don’t go comin’ around and pressure her to do so.”



“It must be that bad then.” You said.



She sighs, “Yeah, it is.” She postures herself on the wall and puts her hands on her lap. “Let me just tell ya’ a good piece of advice.”



You lounged your head a bit closer to listen to what Harumi has to say.



“If ya’ ever hear bad voices in your head, throw ‘em away. They’re a god damn problem in every step of the way and they’re not there to help ya’.”



That piece of advice caught Sayori’s attention.



“I never had any particular issue like it, so I don’t know if that’s the right way ta’ say things. All I know is that those voices need a stick up their ass,” she sighed again, “and we all got family and friends. Leavin’ them is one of the worse things we can do.”



Harumi looked over and spots Yuri and Yuka arriving into the schoolyard. “It’s about time they arrived.” She smiled a little. “I’ll see ya’ later, Riko.” She walks over to her friends.



She walks past Sayori, who was gazing at her. Harumi noticed and gave her a big smile and a thumbs up before meeting up with Yuka and Yuri. Sayori couldn’t help but smile little as well.



Sayori finally speaks to you. “Wow, she really is a good friend.”



“You were listening on us?” You asked.



“Eheh… sorry, Riko.” She replied.



“It’s whatever.” You said.



“I know this might be a coincidence, but I felt like some of that advice was aimed for me. I’m glad that there’s a person like Harumi.” Sayori said.



You nodded in agreement. “What she said is what everyone needs to do, really.”



Sayori giggled. “Like putting a stick up the voice’s—,” she pauses, “oh no, that’s a bad word.”



You laughed with her when she said that.



“Y’know what, Riko?” Sayori suggested, “Let’s help Yuri with whatever she’s going through. Let’s be good friends for her.”



You agreed to it, now walking to your first class of the day with Sayori with only ten minutes remaining before the start of school day.