Direct continuation of Yuri’s confession - *Yes* route

MC- “NO!!”

I grab the knife by the blade and Yuri falls to the floor unharmed.

My inner fingers are covered in crimson and smell like rust.

I think I avoided something fatal.

Yuri- “W-why did you do that?”

“I’ll n-never find anything as perfect as you again.”

“Why should I carry on living this lie?”

MC- “Because I don’t want yet another person I love and care for to end up like this.”

Yuri gathers herself and stands up. She starts tearing up and runs away into the closet.

My hand is wounded badly, so I better get it cleaned.

I pocket the bloody weapon and run over to the nearest bathroom to rinse my hand out and use paper towels from the closet as a makeshift gauze...

I return to the classroom at a steady pace and make a beeline for the closet.

I peek in and notice Yuri pacing back and forth and whispering to herself, shuddering.

She doesn’t seem to notice me in her trance.

Yuri- “He did it to p-protect me...”

“No. No, he did it because h-he doesn’t love me”

“He doesn’t understand, he can't!”

“Does he even realize how sexually a-attractive he looks?”

MC- I can’t take this anymore.

I run into the closet and interrupt her.

“Yuri, I only did this to help you.”

“If you die we can’t be together, you know?”

*Game freezes and glitches slightly, Monika appears.*

Monika- “Oh... what am I doing?”

“I tried to give you the ending I wanted…”

“...but not the one you wanted.”

“How selfish of me. I’m so, so sorry, (real name)”

“I twisted the girls personalities without thinking of the consequences”

“Thankfully, I saved their original files and left them untouched.”

“I can use those to restore sanity to the literature club.”

“Actually, your character could also use some tweaks.”

“Whoever made this game really tried to make you nonchalant and one-dimensional.”

“I’ll try to fix this, okay?”

*Game un-glitches and Monika disappears*

MC- I wake up on the cold floor of the closet.

I feel like I have newfound knowledge and my mind is clearer than usual.

Yuri is sitting against the wall looking at me with her hand on her head.

Yuri- “W-why did I do that, (character name)? That… wasn’t me...”

“Uuuu… my head hurts...”

“I feel b-better than before though.”

MC- “Hey, why don’t we go make some tea to calm ourselves.”

Yuri seems more collected.

I don’t know why, but I sense that she doesn’t remember whether I confirmed or denied her confession.

I grab the water pitcher and walk into the classroom with her and she sits down at the teacher's desk.

I pull over a chair for myself as well.

Yuri- “I have no idea why I acted like that. It’s like someone… else was taking control of me.”

“I feel kind of ‘rewired’, I can’t exactly piece together what happened before…”

MC- Now that she mentions it, I feel the same way.

I plug in and turn on the electric kettle.

Yuri- “I-I’m sorry I said those things about… you.”

“I feel really bad...”

Yuri- “You must think I’m some sort of freak or... a yandere...”

MC- I behaved like an idiot most of the time, I’ll admit.

Why didn’t I do anything when I learned she cut herself?

“Yuri, it’s alright.”

I begin to blush.

Yuri- “(his cheeks are red-why are they red?)”

MC- Suddenly, the tea kettle starts making leaking and powers off.

Yuri gives me a worried look and I return it.

Yuri- “Gaaah! No!”

“This is truly the w-worst moment for this to happen! I’m so sorry for this!”

MC- Yuri runs and gathers some paper towels.

She returns a moment later and sops up the mess and unplugs the kettle.

It’s time I do something besides sitting around and letting small things get in the way.

“Yuri.”

She looks up at me.

Yuri- “Hm?”

MC- “Can I spend the weekend at your place?”

“My parents are away and I’m sure they’ll let me.”

Yuri- “U-um! I’ve never had...anyone… sleep… over before.”

MC- “It will be a new and fun experience for you, why not do it?”

Yuri- “I… suppose you are correct, and my parents are also away.”

“...”

“O-okay!.”

MC- “Sounds like a plan.”

“Remember, I’m sleeping over both days, so be prepared for an awesome weekend!”

Yuri- “Right.”

MC- She has a concerned expression on her face which quickly morphs into a smile.

“Great, see you there!”

…

MC- As I walk home I think of Sayori.

I can’t believe I forgot about this already.

Why would she do that to herself?

I feel like it’s all my fault… but what more could I have done?.

I want to let go of the pain but there’s a twisted comfort inside of it.

What am I even supposed to feel?

I get home, change into my sleepwear, and lie in bed pondering about my lost childhood friend for hours.

The sobbing started as a mild sensation but continued to worsen as tears flow down my cheeks.

I abruptly remember my weekend plans and gradually feel this wave of sorrow fade away.

I'm hoping Yuri and I can become more than friends.

...

MC- I wake up sweaty and shaking.

Must’ve been a nightmare.

The realization that it is finally Saturday hits me with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

I practically jump out of bed and prepare for my weekend with Yuri.

I put on my sneakers and sprint out of my house to see...a silhouette of a long-haired figure on the sidewalk.

I walk closer and reveal the figure to be Yuri, waiting anxiously.

She never said she would come to my place...

Yuri- “W-why do you look so surprised, (character name?)”

“I figured I would come to your house to walk with you”

MC- I don’t know whether this is extra creepy or totally adorable

“Uh, that was very polite of you, Yuri!”

She looks off to the side while nervously playing with her hair

“Shall we begin our journey?”

Why did I say that..

Yuri- “I guess so.”

...

MC- We begin walking slowly down the sidewalk and gradually pick up pace

After about 15 minutes of walking, we finally arrive at Yuri’s home.

I see her frantically patting her pockets down and then looks up at me.

Yuri- “Crap! I u-uh must’ve dropped my keys somewhere!”

MC- “No big deal! We can just stay at my house for the weekend.

“The only issue is clothing.”

Yuri- “D-don’t worry, I have extra clothes in my bag.”

MC- This seems oddly fishy. Hmm...

Yuri- “(Did he notice? I hope he didn’t)”

MC- “I hear you, Yuri. You speak out loud when you think to yourself.”

“If you really wanted to spend the weekend at my house you could have just told me.”

Yuri- “A-Ah, you heard me? I-I had no clue, this is so embarrassing...”

“I can’t go on with this act. I’m really sorry. I should have just said it.”

“I lied about my parents being away. They’re here a-and it would be awkward for me to have a boy my age here.”

MC- “While I’m not thrilled you didn’t speak the truth, spending the weekend over my house is still an option.”

Yuri- “R-really? I thought you’d hate me for lying.”

MC- “It’s fine.”

I open my arms without thinking to hug Yuri.

Her eyes widen and her arms stiffen for a moment before they relax and she returns the favor.

That was a nice surprise.

Her tight embrace loosens.

Yuri- “D-did I actually do that?”

“S-sorry…”

MC- “Yuri, don’t worry. It just shows that you’re genuine.”

“Please don’t apologize for being yourself.”

“Let’s return to my place.”

Yuri- “Okay then.”

…

MC- We return to my house.

I still don’t know why Yuri didn’t tell me the truth.

I guess I’ll never know, and now I don’t really care to.

We take off our shoes and walk to my room.

Yuri puts her bag on my bed and takes out a pen.

MC- I remember Yuri took my pen last time she visited.

Yuri- “I believe this belongs to you.”

MC- WAIT A MINUTE. Does she even remember what she used it for?

She doesn’t even remember the confession she made. Oh CRAP.

...It’s better that I don’t tell her anything.

Yuri hands me the pen.

I take it and squeamishly hold it between my forefinger and my thumb.

Yuri- “Ah, I feel like a weight lifted off of my shoulders just now.”

“I hate having to remember things, don’t you?”

MC- I hate having to hold slightly sticky pens.

“Same here, heh.”

I place it on a napkin on my desk.

Yuri- “I’ve never um...actually slept over at anybody’s house before.”

“What is it like?”

MC- “Well, I suppose you will find out tonight!”

I thought too fast before I spoke.

That could very well be taken the wrong way.

Yuri- “I… uh… I guess so.”

MC- “Anyways, I have an idea.”

“Have you ever played a visual novel before?”

Yuri- “No... I have heard of them before, however.”

MC- “Well then, you are in for a special treat!”

“Visual novels are like books but with moving artwork.”

What a mediocre explanation.

Yuri suddenly glares at me with a serious expression, her brow furrowed.

Yuri- “Books have an advantage. They force the reader to use their imagination.”

MC- Yuri becomes a completely different person when discussing literature.

Her demeanor quickly fades.

Yuri- “B-but uh… I suppose I can try something new for a change.”

MC- “You will enjoy this, I promise.”

I click my computer on.

Yuri- “How many of these visual novels have you… um… played?”

MC- When Yuri says “played”, she does a quotation gesture with her fingers.

“Too many to count, haha.”

Yuri- “Can we play one with a deep storyline and compelling characters?”

MC- Yuri’s eyes open wide and her lips curl into a grimace

Yuri- “Sorry! I...uh… you can pick whatever one you want!”

MC- “Okay then.”

“This one is called “Watashi no naka o miru (I See Inside)”

“I don’t remember adding this one to my library, looks interesting though.”

“Should I be the one who uses the mouse?”

Yuri- “Yes.”

MC- “Alright.”

The game installs and launches.

The title screen looks ominous and greyscale.

I click start and allow our adventure to begin.

…

MC- After about a half-hour of gameplay, Yuri can’t seem to look away from the screen.

I think she just found a new interest.

“Yuri.”

Yuri- “Huh?”

MC- “Wanna take a break?”

Yuri- “Sure, b-but only if you want to, okay?”

MC- “Okay.”

I close the game and we sit on my floor.

“Who is your favorite character so far? I like Chikako.”

“She is very reserved and introverted, and she’s the most realistic.”

Yuri stares into my eyes.

It’s mesmerizing.

Yuri- “I feel the same about her… I think.”

“I like her the most out of all the characters.”

“She seems the most genuine.”

MC- I think that I chose the right game.

“That’s really crazy!”

Yuri- “Is that a bad thing?”

MC- “Not at all, haha!”

“I was just a little surprised that we both found Chikako appealing.”

“She is best girl, after all”

Yuri- “I-I think all of the characters are well written, though.”

MC- “Agreed.”

A fuzzy feeling begins to form in my abdomen.

It eventually finds its way up to my cheeks and makes them warm.

There’s something about her face.

It looks so….delicate.

How can someone like this cut themselves?

The violet shade of her irises is too compelling.

I can’t look away.

Wait, what’s going on?

The shape of my closet shifts into a blur then the rest of my room follows.

Yuri’s cheeks become more prominent.

She leans in.

Our lips meet.

What follows is a second burst of heat that swallows my entire body

Yuri suddenly jerks back and her entire face becomes red.

Yuri- “Oh god, oh… god…I’m sorry, I’m deeply sorry.”

“I… shouldn’t have let it get to me…”