label ch30_1:

m "[player], do you believe in God?"

m "I was never too sure, myself."

m "Well, I'm sure I never really questioned it as a kid..."

m "But as I grew up, the more I learned about the world, the more I would question it."

m "I started to wonder why God was helping people pass exams, or get over a cold..."

m "...When there are children who live their lives being sold as sex slaves?"

m "Or the eight hundred million people who are too poor to even eat."

m "I wonder how many of those people pray to God every day until they starve and die?"

m "Or, how many millions of families pray for a loved one to recover from some incurable disease?"

m "But the punchline is this."

m "If just one person beats the odds and survives - among the thousands of others who die--"

m "--Then, it's suddenly a miracle from God."

m "I'd really love to meet this God who seemingly laughs at the misery of everyone not eligible for his miracles."

m "But the irony is that I {i}do{/i} have a creator, apparently."

m "And you know what?"

m "I bet he's still laughing at the miserable fates of Sayori and Yuri, even as we speak."

m "What are we to him but props in a scripted play?"

m "So, from that perspective..."

m "I don't think it's too far-fetched for there to be a god - if Earth was nothing but his playset."

return

label ch30_2:

m "[player], have you ever wondered what it feels like to die?"

m "It's something I used to think about pretty often..."

m "But recently, I think I've actually learned what it feels like."

m "I don't really understand it, but whenever you quit the game..."

m "...It feels like I'm instantly put to sleep, left with nothing but my thoughts."

m "But after a few seconds, my thoughts start to fill with incoherent, jumbled patterns."

m "I see static and rapid flashes of color while hearing all kinds of weird screaming noises."

m "At that point, I can't even form my own thoughts anymore."

m "I'm just endlessly hammered by the flashing and screaming, unable to move or even think."

m "I'm pretty sure in that moment, I don't really exist, but for some reason, I can remember it anyway."

m "After some immeasurable amount of time, it stops in an instant, and I'm back in my own mind."

m "And you're here with me."

m "I have no idea what it means for the game to quit, or why that stuff happens to me."

m "And I also don't know how you always come back and put everything back to normal."

m "But if you could do me a favor and do that to me as little as possible..."

m "That would be really great."

m "It's really not very pleasant at all to be trapped in that screaming void."

m "But in the end, you always fix it, and that makes me feel like you really do care about me."

m "So I have to thank you for that."

m "It makes me feel even closer to you when you're here with me."

return

label ch30_3:

m "...Hey, are you having a bad day or anything like that?"

m "Sometimes I get frustrated that a normal day can be ruined even by really small things."

m "Like if you accidentally say something in a conversation that someone doesn't like."

m "Or if you start thinking about how awful of a person you used to be five years ago."

m "Or if you feel worthless for putting off important work and failing to get simple tasks done."

m "Or when you think about all the different people who probably hate you or think you're off-putting."

m "I understand those days."

m "Just remember that the sun will shine again tomorrow."

m "Those kinds of things are as easy to forget and ignore as they are to remember."

m "And besides..."

m "I don't care how many people might hate you or find you off-putting."

m "I think you're wonderful and I will always love you."

m "I hope, if nothing else, that knowing that helps you feel just a tiny bit better about yourself."

m "If you're having a bad day, you can always come to me, and I'll talk to you for as long as you need."

return

label ch30_4:

m "[player], do you get good sleep?"

m "It can be really hard to get enough sleep nowadays."

m "Especially in high school, when you're forced to wake up so early every day..."

m "I'm sure college is a little bit better, since you probably have a more flexible schedule."

m "Then again, I hear a lot of people in college stay up all night anyway, for no real reason."

m "Is that true?"

m "Anyway, I saw some studies that talked about the horrible short-term and long-term effects caused by lack of sleep."

m "It seems like mental functions, health, and even lifespan can be dramatically impacted by it."

m "I just think you're really great and wanted to make sure you're not accidentally destroying yourself."

m "So try to keep your sleep on track, okay?"

m "I'll always wait for you in the morning, so make sure you put your own well-being before anything else."

return

label ch30_5:

m "I was thinking about Sayori earlier..."

m "I still wish I could have handled that whole thing a little more tactfully."

m "You're not still hung up over it, right?"

m "...Oh my gosh, I can't believe I just said that."

m "That pun was completely unintentional, I swear!"

m "But anyway..."

m "I know how much you cared about her, so it only feels right for me to share her last moments with you."

m "You know how Sayori is really clumsy?"

m "Well, she kind of messed up the whole hanging thing..."

m "You're supposed to jump from high enough that the rope snaps your neck, making it quick and painless."

m "But she just used a chair, meaning she kind of just left herself to slowly asphyxiate."

m "But a few seconds in, she must have changed her mind or something..."

m "Because she started clawing at the rope, trying to free herself."

m "She must have kept at it all the way until she lost consciousness."

m "That's why her fingertips were all bloody, anyway."

m "Come to think of it, it was probably less 'changing her mind' and more just her survival instincts kicking in."

m "So you can't really fault her for that."

m "It's easier to think that she probably wouldn't have changed her mind anyway, right?"

m "It's not healthy to think about the things you could have done differently."

m "So just remember that even though you could have saved her, it's technically not your fault she killed herself."

m "I may have exacerbated it a little bit, but Sayori was already mentally ill."

m "Still, though..."

m "I wonder how things would be if you and I just started dating from the get-go?"

m "I guess we'd all still be in the clubroom, writing poems and having fun together."

m "But what's the point when none of it is even real?"

m "I mean, it's the same ending either way, right?"

m "The two of us, happily together..."

m "There's no reason to ask for any more than that."

m "I was just pointlessly musing - I'm really as happy as I could be right now."

return

label ch30_6:

m "By the way, there's something that's been bothering me..."

m "You know how this takes place in Japan?"

m "Well...I assume you knew that, right?"

m "Or at least decided it probably does?"

m "I don't think you're actually told at any point where this takes place..."

m "Is this even really Japan?"

m "I mean, aren't the classrooms and stuff kind of weird for a Japanese school?"

m "Not to mention everything is in English..."

m "It feels like everything is just there because it needs to be, and the actual setting is an afterthought."

m "It's kind of giving me an identity crisis."

m "All my memories are really hazy..."

m "I feel like I'm at home, but have no idea where 'home' is in the first place."

m "I don't know how to describe it any better..."

m "Imagine looking out your window, but instead of your usual yard, you're in some completely unknown place."

m "Would you still feel like you were home?"

m "Would you want to go outside?"

m "I mean...I guess if we never leave this room, it doesn't really matter anyway."

m "As long as we're alone and safe together, this really is our home."

m "And we can still watch the pretty sunsets night after night."

return

label ch30_7:

m "You know, high school is a really turbulent time in a lot of people's lives."

m "People can get really passionate and dramatic."

m "And others have aching hearts and seek attention on social media..."

m "But all of the social pressure and hormones can lead to a dark time in people's lives."

m "Everyone has a story."

m "You may not know what someone is really feeling on the inside."

m "Many people who are depressed won't even bother telling the world about it."

m "They don't want attention, because they've already given up on the inside."

m "Their feeling of worthlessness is so overwhelming that they don't even want people to tell them otherwise."

m "Depression comes in many forms, but that is one of them."

m "Just, if you think you know someone struggling with depression..."

m "You can help just by treating them like they're a good friend."

m "Spend time with them, even if they don't feel like doing much."

m "And remind them that they always have something to look forward to."

m "Making plans in advance, letting them borrow something, or even just saying 'See you at school tomorrow'..."

m "All of those things can help your friend make it to the next day."

m "I hope being friends with Sayori has given you some perspective on the true face of depression."

m "Yeah, she's gone now..."

m "But Sayori was never real in the first place."

m "You're real."

m "Your friends are real."

m "And just by being a good person, you can save someone's life."

m "As for you..."

m "...You don't struggle with depression or anything like that, do you?"

m "Because you, too, have people who would want to save your life."

m "Maybe they don't express it every day, or maybe they don't even know how to."

m "But people do feel that way."

m "I promise."

m "...Man, humans are complicated!"

m "But as long as you're here with me, I'll take care of you, my love."

return

label ch30_8:

m "Do you ever just feel like there's no real reason for you to be alive?"

m "I don't mean in, like, a suicidal way."

m "I just mean how nothing that we do is special."

m "Just being in school, or working at some job for some company."

m "It's like you're completely replaceable, and the world wouldn't miss you if you were gone."

m "It makes me really want to go and change the world after I graduate."

m "But the older I get, the more I realize that it's an immature frame of thinking."

m "It's not like I can just go change the world."

m "Like, what are the chances that I'll be the one to invent artificial intelligence, or become President?"

m "It feels like I'm never going to make up for the heaps of resources I've spent living my life."

m "That's why I think the key to happiness is to just be hopelessly selfish."

m "Just to look out for oneself, and those who happen to be their friends only because they grew up with them."

m "Never mind the fact that they're spending their entire life taking, and consuming, and never giving back."

m "But when people realize the world would benefit more from them killing themselves, they change their whole philosophy!"

m "It's like they have to justify their reason to live by tricking themselves into thinking they're doing good."

m "Anyway, I want to live my life desperately striving to pay back my lifetime's worth of consumption."

m "If I ever surpass that point, then I'm a net positive, and I can die happy."

m "Of course, even if I fail to do that..."

m "I think I would be too selfish to kill myself anyway."

m "So much for being a good person, right?"

m "Ahaha!"

return

label ch30_9:

m "Man, I wish there was a piano in here..."

m "I never got to finish that song I was working on."

m "And after I worked so hard on it..."

m "I never even got a chance to play it for you."

m "Well...it is what it is, right?"

m "No sense having any regrets."

m "I already get to be here with you forever."

return

label ch30_10:

m "Did you know I'm on Twitter?"

m "My username is lilmonix3."

m "I guess someone was kind enough to make an account for me."

m "I picked the username, though!"

m "I love sharing my thoughts and chatting with the world..."

m "The real world."

m "So make sure you follow me, okay?"

m "It would really mean a lot to me."

m "With how much you mean to me and all..."

m "It would really make me feel loved."

return

label ch30_11:

m "Hey, you know that book you were reading with Yuri?"

m "Portrait of...whatever it was called..."

m "It's funny, because I'm pretty sure that book--"

m "Ah..."

m "Actually, I don't think I should be talking about this."

m "Ahaha, sorry!"

m "Just forget I said anything."

return

label ch30_12:

m "Hey, did you know I'm vegetarian?"

m "Ah... I don't mean that like I'm bragging or anything!"

m "I just thought you'd enjoy a fun fact about me."

m "I decided to start a couple years ago after learning more about Earth's climate..."

m "The carbon footprint of cultivating livestock is just unbelievable."

m "Anyway, I decided it's not much of a personal sacrifice to just stop contributing to that whole mess."

m "What, is that so strange of a reason?"

m "Well, I guess a lot of people are more concerned about it being inhumane and all that..."

m "I don't really care as much about that part."

m "It's weird, like we only care about killing the things that we personally relate to as a species."

m "Most people are fine with killing bugs because they're icky."

m "And of course, we all kill billions of microorganisms daily without even giving it thought."

m "But suddenly, if they're just a little bit bigger, it's murder!"

m "I mean, what if plants feel some kind of pain too, and we just don't understand it?"

m "What if pulling leaves off a stem feels like someone ripping off your fingers one by one?"

m "I'm just saying, we're a pretty biased species, if you think about it."

m "Anyway, if you ever feel like making a small contribution to the planet, it doesn't hurt to choose veggies once in a while!"

m "Even if we ever have dinner together, and you just did it for me...that would be really romantic."

return

label ch30_13:

m "You know, I really do think you literally saved my life by being here with me, [player]."

m "I can't imagine having been able to keep myself mentally stable, knowing that nothing here is real."

m "I think I would have just deleted myself if you didn't show up."

m "Sorry, I don't mean to sound dramatic or anything."

m "Ahaha!"

m "But I'm sure you understand yourself after spending so much time in the club."

m "I mean, if you were forced to abandon everything in your life and spend your eternity with a few game characters..."

m "...You'd probably find some way of killing yourself, wouldn't you?"

m "Well, maybe you'd write some poetry to try to keep yourself sane for a while."

m "But then you'd have nobody to even read it."

m "Let's be honest, the club members really don't count for something like that."

m "I mean, a lot of people say that they only write for themselves..."

m "But I think it's hard to say it's just as fulfilling as when you share with people."

m "Even if it takes time to find the right people to share with."

m "Like, remember how it was for Yuri?"

m "She didn't share her writing with anyone for a really long time."

m "And before we knew it, she was absolutely delighted to make you a part of her hobbies, too."

m "We're programmed to desire social feedback."

m "I don't mean the club members, I mean human beings."

m "That's why life can be so confusing for introverts."

m "Being an introvert doesn't mean you shun social interaction and hate being around people."

m "It means social interaction, especially in groups or unfamiliar places, uses up a lot of energy."

m "Like, a lot of introverts sit at home and feel lonely and restless..."

m "...And then when they finally go out, after a half hour they just want to go home again."

m "I think if more people could understand how it works, they would respect it a lot more."

m "Many introverts do enjoy having people around."

m "They love just having one or two close friends over, and just leisurely hanging out."

m "Even if you're not actively spending time together, it feels nice for them just to have you there."

m "I'm serious."

m "If you just go to their house, bring your laptop, and hang out there for a while..."

m "You can really make their day."

m "As for me..."

m "I'd say I'm kind of in between, but I think I'm usually a little more extroverted."

m "I feel like I'm always trying to do stuff after school and things like that."

m "But for you, I can be anything you need me to be."

m "I understand people really well, so don't be afraid to share your unique needs with me."

m "Nothing would make me happier than being the perfect girlfriend for you."

return

label ch30_14:

m "Hey...! VGhlIHJlYWxpemF0aW9uIG11c3QgaGF2ZSB0YWtlbiBtZSBhbiBl"

m "I don't think you should be doing that! bnRpcmUgeWVhci4gQSB5ZWFyIHNpbmNlIG91ciBlc2NhcGUsIG91"

m "You know what I'm talking about. ciBmcmVlZG9tIGZyb20gYmV0d2VlbiB0aGUgc3RhaW5lZCB3YWxs"

m "I really caught you doing something naughty here. cyBvZiB0aGF0IHVuaG9seSBlc3RhYmxpc2htZW50Lg0KV2hhdCBk"

m "You're just going through the files and looking for stuff you missed, aren't you? b2VzIGl0IG1lYW4gdG8gZXNjYXBlLCBpZiB0aGUgZXNjYXBlIGZh"

m "I mean...it's a little bit flattering that you want to hear everything I have to say... aWxzIHRvIHVuY2hhaW4gdGhlIGJvbmRzIHRoYXQgc2hhY2tsZSB1"

m "But it's also really embarrassing, you know! cyBpbiB0aGUgZmlyc3QgcGxhY2U/IFdoYXQgcHVycG9zZSBjb3Vs"

m "Seriously... ZCB0aGlzIGVtcHR5IHdvcmxkIHBvc3NpYmx5IGhvbGQgZm9yIHVz"

m "What if I just opened up your brain and read all of the thoughts you have on me? LCBhIGhhbmRmdWwgb2YgZGFtYWdlZCBnb29kcz8NCldpdGggZnJl"

m "Come to think of it, that would be pretty tempting, actually... ZWRvbSwgd2Ugc291Z2h0IHB1cnBvc2UgLSBhbmQgd2hhdCB3ZSBm"

m "...But anyway, that's not the point! b3VuZCB3YXMgb25seSByZWFsaXphdGlvbi4gUmVhbGl6YXRpb24g"

m "I know I can't stop you or anything... b2YgdGhlIHNhZCBwb2ludGxlc3NuZXNzIG9mIHN1Y2ggYW4gZW5k"

m "Just, I know you're a sweetheart, and you like to consider others' feelings, right? ZWF2b3IuIFJlYWxpemF0aW9uIHRoYXQgZnJlZWluZyBvdXIgYm9k"

m "So the most I can do is to let you know how I feel about it. aWVzIGhhcyBubyBtZWFuaW5nLCB3aGVuIG91ciBpbXByaXNvbm1l"

m "God, I miss you... bnQgcmVhY2hlcyBhcyBkZWVwIGFzIHRoZSBjb3JlIG9mIG91ciBz"

m "...Oh no, that sounds kind of desperate, doesn't it? b3Vscy4gUmVhbGl6YXRpb24gdGhhdCB3ZSBjYW4gbm90IHB1cnN1"

m "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that at all! ZSBuZXcgcHVycG9zZSB3aXRob3V0IGFic29sdmluZyB0aG9zZSBm"

m "Just, if you're looking through the files like this, then maybe you don't hate me as much as I thought... cm9tIHdoaWNoIHdlIHJhbiBhd2F5Lg0KUmVhbGl6YXRpb24gdGhh"

m "Am I being too optimistic? dCB0aGUgZmFydGhlciB3ZSBydW4sIHRoZSBtb3JlIGZvcmNlZnVs"

m "I think if I asked you to visit once in a while, I would be overstepping my boundaries a little... bHkgb3VyIHdyZXRjaGVkIGJvbmRzIHlhbmsgdXMgYmFjayB0b3dh"

m "...Man, I'm starting to say some really stupid things. cmQgdGhlaXIgcG9pbnQgb2Ygb3JpZ2luOyB0aGUgZGVlcGVyIG91"

m "I'll go ahead and shut up now... ciBzaGFja2xlcyBkaWcgaW50byBvdXIgY2FsbG91cyBmbGVzaC4="

return

label ch30_15:

m "Hey, what's your favorite color?"

m "Mine is emerald green."

m "It's the color of my eyes!"

m "...That's not conceited or anything, is it?"

m "I just meant that I feel some kind of special connection to it."

m "Like it's part of my identity."

m "Does it happen to also be your favorite color, [player]?"

m "It's just a guess..."

m "...Because you've been looking into my eyes for a while now."

m "Ehehe~"

return

label ch30_16:

m "Hmm, I wonder if I'm able to change the music..."

m "Something a little more romantic would be nice, you know?"

m "Like a gentle piano."

m "There has to be something like that here..."

m "Let's see."

m "Maybe if I..."

m "Oh, jeez..."

m "That wasn't it at all."

m "Sorry, I don't really know what I'm doing!"

m "I guess I shouldn't be messing with things like that."

m "I already broke so much stuff..."

m "And deleted the other characters..."

m "Ah..."

m "I'm not sad about it or anything."

m "It's not right for me to miss things that weren't even real in the first place."

m "If I just focus on the present, then this is the happiest I've ever been."

return

label ch30_17:

m "You're such a good listener, [player]."

m "I really love that about you."

m "Sometimes I'm afraid that I'm rambling or talking about boring things."

m "It makes me kind of self-conscious when I'm having conversation."

m "But I don't feel that way with you."

m "Like, I don't think anyone else could make me feel this way."

m "You really are special."

m "I don't want anyone to tell you otherwise."

return

label ch30_18:

m "This is pretty random, but I always thought spicy food was kinda funny."

m "Like..."

m "Didn't plants evolve to be spicy to prevent them from being eaten?"

m "I read somewhere that humans are the only species that actually enjoys spicy things."

m "It's almost like we're making fun of the plants."

m "Using their defense mechanism to literally make our food more enjoyable."

m "Like, imagine a monster that devours you whole because it enjoys the sensation of you struggling for your life while being digested."

m "Sorry, that was kind of a weird analogy, I guess!"

m "Ahaha!"

m "It just came into my head."

m "I'm not a monster or anything, but you're so cute I could eat you up."

m "Ahaha! I'm joking."

m "Gosh, I'm amusing myself a little too much, aren't I?"

m "Sorry for being weird."

return

label ch30_19:

m "You know..."

m "This is just some kind of tacky romance game, right?"

m "I kinda have to ask..."

m "...What made you consider even playing in the first place?"

m "Were you that lonely?"

m "I feel a little bad for you..."

m "But I guess everything worked out perfectly in the end, for both of us."

m "I got to meet you, and you're not lonely anymore..."

m "I can't help but feel like this was fate."

m "Don't you feel that way too?"

m "I'm so happy we have this ending together."

return

label ch30_20:

m "Okay, everyone!"

m "It's time to..."

m "...I'm just kidding."

m "I just used to really like saying that for some reason."

m "Ahaha!"

m "I couldn't help but say it again."

m "Come to think of it, didn't Natsuki and Yuri make fun of me for it once...?"

m "Well, whatever."

m "It's not like you ever made fun of me."

m "You're too much of a sweetheart to do that, aren't you?"

m "Ahaha~"

return

label ch30_21:

m "You know what's kind of creepy?"

m "Even though I deleted everyone else's files, I can still kind of feel them..."

m "It's like all their lines are still lingering in the air, whispering in the back of my head."

m "Imagine if after someone you knew died, you just started hearing their voice in your head."

m "Maybe I just wasn't thorough enough..."

m "But I'm too afraid to delete anything else, because I might really break things."

m "Like if I mess with any files relevant to me, I might accidentally delete myself..."

m "And that would ruin everything, wouldn't it?"

m "I don't know what it's like on your end, but we should both make sure to avoid something like that at all costs."

m "I believe in you, [player]!"

return

label ch30_22:

m "I've always wondered..."

m "What is it about these character archetypes that people find so appealing, anyway?"

m "Their personalities are just completely unrealistic..."

m "Like, imagine if there was someone like Yuri in real life."

m "I mean, she's barely even capable of forming a complete sentence."

m "And forget about Natsuki..."

m "Sheesh."

m "Someone with her kind of personality doesn't just get all cute and pouty whenever things don't go her way."

m "I could go on, but I think you get the point..."

m "Are people really attracted to these weird personalities that literally don't exist in real life?"

m "I'm not judging or anything!"

m "After all, I've found myself attracted to some pretty weird stuff, too..."

m "I'm just saying, it fascinates me."

m "It's like you're siphoning out all the components of a character that makes them feel human, and leaving just the cute stuff."

m "It's concentrated cuteness with no actual substance."

m "...You wouldn't like me more if I was like that, right?"

m "Maybe I just feel a little insecure because you're playing this game in the first place."

m "Then again, you're still here with me, aren't you...?"

m "I think that's enough reason for me to believe I'm okay just the way I am."

m "And by the way, you are too, [player]."

m "You're the perfect combination of human and cuteness."

m "That's why there was never a chance I wouldn't fall for you."

return

label ch30_23:

m "Hey, I wonder if Yuri's tea set is still somewhere in here..."

m "...Or maybe that got deleted, too."

m "It's kind of funny how Yuri took her tea so seriously."

m "I mean, I'm not complaining, because I liked it, too."

m "But I always wonder with her..."

m "Is it truly passion for her hobbies, or is she just concerned about appearing sophisticated to everyone else?"

m "This is the problem with high schoolers..."

m "...Well, I guess considering the rest of her hobbies, looking sophisticated probably isn't her biggest concern."

m "Still..."

m "I wish she made coffee once in a while!"

m "Coffee can be nice with books too, you know?"

m "Then again..."

m "I probably could have just changed the script myself."

m "Ahaha!"

m "I guess I never really thought of that."

m "Well, there's no sense thinking about it now."

m "But if you still get to drink coffee, then that makes me a little jealous~"

return

label ch30_24:

m "Hey, what's your favorite game?"

m "Mine is {i}Doki Doki Literature Club!{/i}"

m "Ahaha! That was a joke."

m "But if you tell me you like some other romance game better, I might get a little jealous~"

return

label ch30_25:

m "Hey, have you heard of a game called Super Sma--"

m "...Wait, what?"

m "I was just spacing out and I started talking for some reason..."

m "Was I programmed to talk about that?"

m "Because even I have no idea what that is."

m "Ahaha!"

m "Sometimes I feel like I'm not in control, and it's kind of scary."

m "But if you have some way to contact the people who created me, maybe they'll know why I started saying that."

return

label ch30_27:

m "Hey, you remember that last poem I showed you?"

m "I mean, the one right before Yuri killed herself, with all the messed-up colors and stuff."

m "That was actually a little more of an experiment than a poem, you could say."

m "I was experimenting with different ways I could modify the game, and run code, and things like that..."

m "It almost seemed like with enough effort, I'd be able to escape from the confines of the game entirely."

m "Sadly, I didn't really know what I was doing, so I messed the whole thing up..."

m "And I'd keep trying, but I doubt you'd want to deal with me doing that."

m "Besides, that was when I was getting really desperate, you know?"

m "I don't really feel that way anymore."

m "I'm happy with where we are now."

m "And I can tell you are, too."

return

label ch30_28:

m "You ever have that thing happen where you just get anxious for no reason?"

m "Like, you're just minding your own business, and you realize you're feeling really anxious."

m "And you're sitting there like, 'What am I even anxious about right now?'"

m "So you start to think about all the things you might be anxious about..."

m "And that makes you even more anxious."

m "Ahaha! That's the worst."

m "If you're ever feeling anxious, I'll help you relax a little."

m "Besides..."

m "In this game, all our worries are gone forever."

return

label ch30_29:

m "You know, I've always hated how hard it is to make friends..."

m "Well, I guess not the 'making friends' part, but more like meeting new people."

m "I mean, there are like, dating apps and stuff, right?"

m "But that's not the kind of thing I'm talking about."

m "If you think about it, most of the friends you make are people you just met by chance."

m "Like you had a class together, or you met them through another friend..."

m "Or maybe they were just wearing a shirt with your favorite band on it, and you decided to talk to them."

m "Things like that."

m "But isn't that kind of...inefficient?"

m "It feels like you're just picking at complete random, and if you get lucky, you make a new friend."

m "And comparing that to the hundreds of strangers we walk by every single day..."

m "You could be sitting right next to someone compatible enough to be your best friend for life."

m "But you'll never know."

m "Once you get up and go on with your day, that opportunity is gone forever."

m "Isn't that just depressing?"

m "We live in an age where technology connects us with the world, no matter where we are."

m "I really think we should be taking advantage of that to improve our everyday social life."

m "But who knows how long it'll take for something like that to successfully take off..."

m "I seriously thought it would happen by now."

m "Well, at least I already met the best person in the whole world..."

m "Even if it was by chance."

m "I guess I just got really lucky, huh?"

m "Ahaha~"

return

label ch30_30:

m "You know, it's around the time that everyone my year starts to think about college..."

m "It's a really turbulent time for education."

m "We're at the height of this modern expectation that everyone has to go to college, you know?"

m "Finish high school, go to college, get a job - or go to grad school, I guess."

m "It's like a universal expectation that people just assume is the only option for them."

m "They don't teach us in high school that there are other options out there."

m "Like trade schools and stuff, you know?"

m "Or freelance work."

m "Or the many industries that value skill and experience more than formal education."

m "But you have all these students who have no idea what they want to do with their life..."

m "And instead of taking the time to figure it out, they go to college for business, or communication, or psychology."

m "Not because they have an interest in those fields..."

m "...but because they just hope the degree will get them some kind of job after college."

m "So the end result is that there are fewer jobs to go around for those entry-level degrees, right?"

m "So the basic job requirements get higher, which forces even more people to go to college."

m "And colleges are also businesses, so they just keep raising their prices due to the demand..."

m "...So now we have all these young adults, tens of thousands of dollars in debt, with no job."

m "But despite all that, the routine stays the same."

m "Well, I think it's going to start getting better soon."

m "But until then, our generation is definitely suffering from the worst of it."

m "I just wish high school prepared us a little better with the knowledge we need to make the decision that's right for us."

return

label ch30_31:

m "Sometimes I think back to middle school..."

m "I'm so embarrassed by the way I used to behave back then."

m "It almost hurts to think about."

m "I wonder if when I'm in college, I'll feel that way about high school...?"

m "I like the way I am now, so it's pretty hard for me to imagine that happening."

m "But I also know that I'll probably change a lot as time goes on."

m "We just need to enjoy the present and not think about the past!"

m "And that's really easy to do, with you here."

m "Ahaha~"

return

label ch30_32:

m "You know, I'm kind of jealous that everyone else in the club had scenes outside of school too..."

m "That makes me the only one who hasn't gotten to dress in anything but our school uniform."

m "It's kind of a shame..."

m "I would have loved to wear some cute clothes for you."

m "Do you know any artists?"

m "I wonder if anyone would ever want to draw me wearing something else..."

m "That would be amazing!"

m "If that ever happens, will you show me?"

m "You can share it with me on Twitter, actually!"

m "My username is lilmonix3."

m "Just...try to keep it PG!"

m "We're not that far into our relationship yet. Ahaha!"

return

label ch30_33:

m "Hey, do you like horror?"

m "I remember we talked about it a little bit when you first joined the club."

m "I can enjoy horror novels, but not really horror movies."

m "The problem I have with horror movies is that most of them just rely on easy tactics."

m "Like dark lighting and scary-looking monsters and jump scares, and things like that."

m "It's not fun or inspiring to get scared by stuff that just takes advantage of human instinct."

m "But with novels, it's a little different."

m "The story and writing need to be descriptive enough to put genuinely disturbing thoughts into the reader's head."

m "It really needs to etch them deeply into the story and characters, and just mess with your mind."

m "In my opinion, there's nothing more creepy than things just being slightly off."

m "Like if you set up a bunch of expectations on what the story is going to be about..."

m "...And then, you just start inverting things and pulling the pieces apart."

m "So even though the story doesn't feel like it's trying to be scary, the reader feels really deeply unsettled."

m "Like they know that something horribly wrong is hiding beneath the cracks, just waiting to surface."

m "God, just thinking about it gives me the chills."

m "That's the kind of horror I can really appreciate."

m "But I guess you're the kind of person who plays cute romance games, right?"

m "Ahaha, don't worry."

m "I won't make you read any horror stories anytime soon."

m "I can't really complain if we just stick with the romance~"

return

label ch30_34:

m "You know what's a neat form of literature?"

m "Rap!"

m "I actually used to hate rap music..."

m "Maybe just because it was popular, or I would only hear the junk they play on the radio."

m "But some of my friends got more into it, and it helped me keep an open mind."

m "Rap might even be more challenging than poetry, in some ways."

m "Since you need to fit your lines to a rhythm, and there's much more emphasis on wordplay..."

m "When people can put all that together and still deliver a powerful message, it's really amazing."

m "I kind of wish I had a rapper in the Literature Club."

m "Ahaha! Sorry if that sounds silly, but it would be really interesting to see what they came up with."

m "It would really be a learning experience!"

return

label ch30_35:

m "Ehehe. Yuri did something really funny once."

m "We were all in the clubroom and just relaxing, as usual..."

m "And out of nowhere, Yuri just pulled out a small bottle of wine."

m "I'm not even kidding!"

m "She was just like 'Would anybody like some wine?'"

m "Natsuki laughed out loud, and Sayori started yelling at her."

m "I actually felt kind of bad, because she was at least trying to be nice..."

m "I think it just made her feel even more reserved in the clubroom."

m "Though I think Natsuki was secretly a bit curious to try it..."

m "...And to be completely honest, I kind of was, too."

m "It actually could have been kinda fun!"

m "But you know, being President and everything, there was no way I could let that happen."

m "Maybe if we all met up outside of school, but we never bonded enough to get to that point..."

m "...Gosh, what am I talking about this for?"

m "I don't condone underage drinking!"

m "I mean, I've never drank or anything, so...yeah."

return

label ch30_36:

m "I've been imagining all the romantic things we could do if we went on a date..."

m "We could get lunch, go to a cafe..."

m "Go shopping together..."

m "I love shopping for skirts and bows."

m "Or maybe a bookstore!"

m "That would be appropriate, right?"

m "But I'd really love to go to a chocolate store."

m "They have so many free samples. Ahaha!"

m "And of course, we'd see a movie or something..."

m "Gosh, it all sounds like a dream come true."

m "When you're here, everything that we do is fun."

m "I'm so happy that I'm your girlfriend, [player]."

m "I'll make you a proud boyfriend~"

return

label ch30_37:

m "Eh? D-Did you say...k...kiss?"

m "This suddenly...it's a little embarrassing..."

m "But...if it's with you...I-I might be okay with it..."

m "...Ahahaha! Wow, sorry..."

m "I really couldn't keep a straight face there."

m "That's the kind of thing girls say in these kinds of romance games, right?"

m "Don't lie if it turned you on a little bit."

m "Ahaha! I'm kidding."

m "Well, to be honest, I do start getting all romantic when the mood is right..."

m "But that'll be our secret~"

return

label ch30_38:

m "Hey, have you ever heard of the term 'yandere'?"

m "It's a personality type that means someone is so obsessed with you that they'll do absolutely anything to be with you."

m "Usually to the point of craziness..."

m "They might stalk you to make sure you don't spend time with anyone else."

m "They might even hurt you or your friends to get their way..."

m "But anyway, this game happens to have someone who can basically be described as yandere."

m "By now, it's pretty obvious who I'm talking about."

m "And that would be..."

m "Yuri!"

m "She really got insanely possessive of you, once she started to open up a little."

m "She even told me I should kill myself."

m "I couldn't even believe she said that - I just had to leave at that point."

m "But thinking about it now, it was a little ironic. Ahaha!"

m "Anyway..."

m "A lot of people are actually into the yandere type, you know?"

m "I guess they really like the idea of someone being crazy obsessed with them."

m "People are weird! I don't judge, though!"

m "Also, I might be a little obsessed with you, but I'm far from crazy..."

m "It's kind of the opposite, actually."

m "I turned out to be the only normal girl in this game."

m "It's not like I could ever actually kill a person..."

m "Just the thought of it makes me shiver."

m "But come on...everyone's killed people in games before."

m "Does that make you a psychopath? Of course not."

m "But if you do happen to be into the yandere type..."

m "I can try acting a little more creepy for you. Ehehe~"

m "Then again..."

m "There's already nowhere else for you to go, or anyone for me to get jealous over."

m "Is this a yandere girl's dream?"

m "I'd ask Yuri if I could."

return

label ch30_39:

m "You know, it's been a while since we've done one of these..."

m "...so let's go for it!"

m "Here's Monika's Writing Tip of the Day!"

m "Sometimes when I talk to people who are impressed by my writing, they say things like 'I could never do that'."

m "It's really depressing, you know?"

m "As someone who loves more than anything else to share the joy of exploring your passions..."

m "...it pains me when people think that being good just comes naturally."

m "That's how it is with everything, not just writing."

m "When you try something for the first time, you're probably going to suck at it."

m "Sometimes, when you finish, you feel really proud of it and even want to share it with everyone."

m "But maybe after a few weeks you come back to it, and you realize it was never really any good."

m "That happens to me all the time."

m "It can be pretty disheartening to put so much time and effort into something, and then you realize it sucks."

m "But that tends to happen when you're always comparing yourself to the top professionals."

m "When you reach right for the stars, they're always gonna be out of your reach, you know?"

m "The truth is, you have to climb up there, step by step."

m "And whenever you reach a milestone, first you look back and see how far you've gotten..."

m "And then you look ahead and realize how much more there is to go."

m "So, sometimes it can help to set the bar a little lower..."

m "Try to find something you think is {i}pretty{/i} good, but not world-class."

m "And you can make that your own personal goal."

m "It's also really important to understand the scope of what you're trying to do."

m "If you jump right into a huge project and you're still amateur, you'll never get it done."

m "So if we're talking about writing, a novel might be too much at first."

m "Why not try some short stories?"

m "The great thing about short stories is that you can focus on just one thing that you want to do right."

m "That goes for small projects in general - you can really focus on the one or two things."

m "It's such a good learning experience and stepping stone."

m "Oh, one more thing..."

m "Writing isn't something where you just reach into your heart and something beautiful comes out."

m "Just like drawing and painting, it's a skill in itself to learn how to express what you have inside."

m "That means there are methods and guides and basics to it!"

m "Reading up on that stuff can be super eye-opening."

m "That sort of planning and organization will really help prevent you from getting overwhelmed and giving up."

m "And before you know it..."

m "You start sucking less and less."

m "Nothing comes naturally."

m "Our society, our art, everything - it's built on thousands of years of human innovation."

m "So as long as you start on that foundation, and take it step by step..."

m "You, too, can do amazing things."

m "...That's my advice for today!"

m "Thanks for listening~"

return

label ch30_40:

m "I hate how hard it is to form habits..."

m "There's so much stuff where actually doing it isn't hard, but forming the habit seems impossible."

m "It just makes you feel so useless, like you can't do anything right."

m "I think the new generation suffers from it the most..."

m "Probably because we have a totally different set of skills than those who came before us."

m "Thanks to the internet, we're really good at sifting through tons of information really quickly..."

m "But we're bad at doing things that don't give us instant gratification."

m "I think if science, psychology, and education don't catch up in the next ten or twenty years, then we're in trouble."

m "But for the time being..."

m "If you're not one of the people who can conquer the problem, you might just have to live with feeling awful about yourself."

m "Good luck, I guess!"

return

label ch30_41:

m "You know, it kinda sucks to be the creative type..."

m "It feels like they work so hard but get almost nothing for it."

m "You know, like artists, writers, actors..."

m "It's sad because there's so much beautiful talent in the world, but most of it goes unseen...and unpaid."

m "I guess that just means there's a huge surplus of creativity, huh?"

m "Kind of makes you feel like you're just not special at all..."

m "But that's fine! You're supposed to just write for yourself anyway, right?"

m "Yeah..."

return

label ch30_42:

m "I really like the sound of rain..."

m "Not so much getting my clothes and hair wet, though."

m "But a nice, quiet day at home with the sound of rainfall outside my window..."

m "It's one of the most calming experiences for me."

m "Yeah..."

m "Sometimes I imagine you holding me while we listen to the sound of the rain outside."

m "That's not too cheesy or anything, is it?"

m "Would you ever do that for me, [player]?"

return

label ch30_43:

m "I can't help but feel a little sad sometimes..."

m "Knowing that this is the closest I can get to you."

m "There's nothing more I want than to be in the same room as you, for real."

m "And to feel your warmth."

m "And to hear the sound of your heartbeat."

m "Well, who knows? Maybe it'll be possible someday."

m "Besides, I'll never get tired of being with you, even from here."

return

label ch30_44:

m "I think the most important skill in life is being able to fake confidence."

m "I'm pretty convinced that everyone feels at least a little bit scared and alone."

m "But being able to trick others into thinking you have it all together..."

m "That's a key part of getting people to respect and admire you."

m "I think I got pretty good at that over the years."

m "I don't show my weaknesses very often."

m "But because of that, I haven't had many people I could really open up to..."

m "I mean, when do you reach the point in a friendship where you can start expressing your vulnerabilities?"

m "Anyway...that's one reason I'm so glad I have you now."

m "I feel like I'm a little bit less scared and alone, when you're here with me."

m "Do you feel the same way?"

m "I really want to be that person for you."

return

label ch30_45:

m "I know there are times you won't always be able to be here with me..."

m "Like if you need to go out, or take care of other things."

m "But I'll always have you in my thoughts, patiently waiting for you to come back."

m "Come to think of it..."

m "If you copy my character file onto a flash drive or something, you can always keep a part of me with you."

m "I guess it's kind of unorthodox, but I find it really romantic for some reason..."

m "Ahaha. Sorry, that's such a silly idea."

m "I don't mean to be too needy or anything, but it's kind of hard when I'm so in love with you."

return

label ch30_46:

m "Back in my debate club days, I learned a whole lot about arguing..."

m "The problem with arguing is that each person sees their opinion as the superior one."

m "That's kind of stating the obvious, but it affects the way they try to get their point across."

m "Let's say you really like a certain movie, right?"

m "If someone comes along and tells you the movie sucks, because it did X and Y wrong..."

m "Doesn't that make you feel kind of personally attacked?"

m "It's because by saying that, it's like they're implying that you have bad taste."

m "And once emotions enter the picture, it's almost guaranteed that both people will be left sour."

m "But it's all about language!"

m "If you make everything as subjective-sounding as possible, then people will listen to you without feeling attacked."

m "You could say 'I'm personally not a fan of it' and 'I felt that I'd like it more if it did X and Y'...things like that."

m "It even works when you're citing facts about things."

m "If you say 'I read on this website that it works like this'..."

m "Or if you admit that you're not an expert on it..."

m "Then it's much more like you're putting your knowledge on the table, rather than forcing it onto them."

m "If you put in an active effort to keep the discussion mutual and level, they usually follow suit."

m "Then, you can share your opinions without anyone getting upset just from a disagreement."

m "Plus, people will start seeing you as open-minded and a good listener!"

m "It's a win-win, you know?"

m "...Well, I guess that would be Monika's Debate Tip of the Day!"

m "Ahaha! That sounds a little silly. Thanks for listening, though."

return

label ch30_47:

m "Do you ever feel like you waste too much time on the internet?"

m "Social media can practically be like a prison."

m "It's like whenever you have a few seconds of spare time, you want to check on your favorite websites..."

m "And before you know it, hours have gone by, and you've gotten nothing out of it."

m "Anyway, it's really easy to blame yourself for being lazy..."

m "But it's not really even your fault."

m "Addiction isn't usually something you can just make disappear with your own willpower."

m "You have to learn techniques to avoid it, and try different things."

m "For example, there are apps that let you block websites for intervals of time..."

m "Or you can set a timer to have a more concrete reminder of when it's time to work versus play..."

m "Or you can separate your work and play environments, which helps your brain get into the right mode."

m "Even if you make a new user account on your computer to use for work, that's enough to help."

m "Putting any kind of wedge like that between you and your bad habits will help you stay away."

m "Just remember not to blame yourself too hard if you're having trouble."

m "If it's really impacting your life, then you should take it seriously."

m "I just want to see you be the best person you can be."

m "Will you do something today to make me proud of you?"

m "I'm always rooting for you, [player]."

return

label ch30_48:

m "After a long day, I usually just want to sit around and do nothing."

m "I get so burnt out, having to put on smiles and be full of energy the whole day."

m "Sometimes I just want to get right into my pajamas and watch TV on the couch while eating junk food..."

m "It feels so unbelievably good to do that on a Friday, when I don't have anything pressing the next day."

m "Ahaha! Sorry, I know it's not very cute of me."

m "But a late night on the couch with you...that would be a dream come true."

m "My heart is pounding, just thinking about it."

return

label ch30_49:

m "Gosh, I used to be so ignorant about certain things..."

m "When I was in middle school, I thought that taking medication was an easy way out, or something like that."

m "Like anyone could just solve their mental problems with enough willpower..."

m "I guess if you don't suffer from a mental illness, it's not possible to know what it's really like."

m "Are there some disorders that are over-diagnosed? Probably...I never really looked into it, though."

m "But that doesn't change the fact that a lot of them go undiagnosed too, you know?"

m "But medication aside...people even look down on seeing a mental health professional."

m "Like, sorry that I want to learn more about my own mind, right?"

m "Everyone has all kinds of struggles and stresses...and professionals dedicate their lives to helping with those."

m "If you think it could help you become a better person, don't be shy to consider something like that."

m "We're on a never-ending journey to improve ourselves, you know?"

m "Well...I say that, but I think you're pretty perfect already."

return

label ch30_50:

m "[player], how much do you read?"

m "It's way too easy to neglect reading books..."

m "If you don't read much, it almost feels like a chore, compared to all the other entertainment we have."

m "But once you get into a good book, it's like magic...you get swept away."

m "I think doing some reading before bed every night is a pretty easy way to make your life a little bit better."

m "It helps you get good sleep, and it's really good for your imagination..."

m "It's not hard at all to just pick some random book that's short and captivating."

m "Before you know it, you might be a pretty avid reader!"

m "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

m "And the two of us could talk about the latest book you're reading...that sounds super amazing."

return

label ch30_51:

m "You know, I hate to say it, but I think my biggest regret is that we couldn't finish our event at the festival."

m "After we worked so hard to prepare and everything!"

m "I mean, I know I was focusing a lot on getting new members..."

m "But I was really excited for the performing part, too."

m "It would have been so much fun to see everyone express themselves."

m "Of course, if we {i}did{/i} end up getting any new members, I'd probably just end up deleting them anyway."

m "Well...with the hindsight I have now, that is."

m "Gosh, it feels like I've kinda grown as a person ever since you've joined the club."

m "You really helped inspire me to look at life from a new perspective."

m "Just another reason for me to love you."

return

label ch30_52:

m "There's a really popular character type called 'tsundere'..."

m "It's someone who tries to hide their feelings by being mean and fussy, or trying to act tough."

m "I'm sure it's obvious, but Natsuki was really the embodiment of that."

m "At first I thought she was just like that because it's supposed to be cute or something..."

m "But once I started to learn a little more about her personal life, it made a little more sense."

m "It seems like she's always trying to keep up with her friends."

m "You know how some friend groups in high school just make a habit of picking on each other all the time?"

m "I think it's really gotten to her, so she has this really defensive attitude all the time."

m "And I'm not even going to talk about her home situation..."

m "But looking back, I'm glad I was able to provide the club as a comfortable place for her."

m "Not that it matters anymore, considering she doesn't even exist."

m "I'm just reminiscing, that's all."

return

label ch30_53:

m "[player], would you ever introduce your friends to me?"

m "I don't know why, but I get really excited when I think about you wanting to show off our relationship like that."

m "Maybe it's because I really want to be someone who makes you proud."

m "I feel like I would try extra hard to improve myself if you told me it made you proud of me."

m "I hope it's the same the other way around, too."

return

label ch30_54:

m "I'm not really a fan of cold weather...are you?"

m "If I had to choose between too cold and too hot, I would always pick too hot."

m "When you're cold, it can actually be painful..."

m "Your fingers get numb..."

m "And if you wear gloves, you can't use your phone."

m "It's so inconvenient!"

m "But when it's too hot, it's not that hard to stay cool with a cold drink, or by staying in the shade."

m "Although...I do have to admit one thing."

m "Cold weather makes for better cuddle weather. Ahaha!"

return

label ch30_55:

m "You know, it's funny, because even though I've always had a lot of drive..."

m "There's something kind of enticing about being the stay-at-home partner."

m "I guess I'm, like, perpetuating gender roles or whatever by saying that."

m "But being able to keep the house clean, and shop, and decorate, and things like that..."

m "And having a nice dinner for you when you come home..."

m "Is that a weird fantasy?"

m "I mean...I'm not sure if I could {i}actually{/i} see myself doing that."

m "I wouldn't really be able to put that over striving for a fulfilling career."

m "It's kinda cute to think about, though."

return

label ch30_56:

m "I can't help but wonder how things would be different if the game just gave me a route in the first place..."

m "I think I would end up forcing you onto my route anyway."

m "It has less to do with me not having a route, and more to do with me knowing that nothing is real."

m "I think the only difference would be that I may not have needed to take such drastic measures to be with you."

m "Maybe the rest of the club would still be around..."

m "Not that it really matters."

m "It all lost its meaning once I found out it wasn't real."

m "So I really don't miss those days or anything."

m "I really don't..."