Chapter 37

Monika walked the Halls of the nearly empty school, smiling slightly as she appreciated the sounds of silence around her.

"Mrs. Ayase!" Monika said, finding the teacher she was looking for.

"Monika!" the blonde woman smiled, her grey blue eyes twinkling as she gazed at her favourite student.

"I came by to give you the classroom key before summer. Just to be sure it stays safe over summer." Monika explained, holding the object out towards the slightly older woman.

"Thank you! Do you have any plans for letniy otpusk?" Mrs. Ayase said, her native tongue slipping.

"I'm sorry... How do you say it again? Summer vacation?" she corrected, blushing softly.

"Correct. And nothing much. Maybe take my girlfriend to the beach. I don't have any set plans." Monika shrugged, "And you?"

"My wife Yukiho and I were going to visit her sister and her wife, Tsubasa, in Tokyo." Mrs. Ayase's eyes shone with passion as she spoke of her lover.

"That's good. Or I should say... It's khorosho." Monika said with a grin.

The teacher nodded, giggling.

"Well, enjoy your let- summer." Mrs. Ayase waved as she turned down the hall.

"Do svidaniya, goodbye!" Monika waved as well, turning down the hall.

~~~

Monika knocked on the door of Sayori's house, waiting patiently for the girl to open it.

"Sayo?" Monika called after a few minutes, knocking again.

She slowly turned the knob as it clicked open, allowing Monika to easily step inside.

"She has got to start locking that door already..." Monika muttered to herself as she glanced around for the girl in question.

"Sayori?" Monika called up the stairs, hearing no answer.

Monika slowly opened the girl's door, seeing Sayori at her little desk.

The girl appeared to be asleep, but as Monika came closer, it was evident that she had just finished crying or maybe still was.

"Sayori!" Monika gently rubbed her back as Sayori stirred slightly.

"Oh hey, Moni... When did you come in?" Sayori asked drowsily.

"I've been here for a few minutes..." Monika said hesitantly.

Didn't she notice me? I looked into her eyes and everything...

"Are you okay, raindrop? You're eyes are red and puffy." Monika said, crouching to be eye level with her.

"Oh sorry... I guess I dozed off sitting here..." Sayori said, giving a tired smile.

I don't think so... Her eyes were clearly open and blinking...

"It's okay. Did you want to take a nap? It's summer now, after all, so I understand." Monika smiled sweetly.

"Um, no thanks... Or... Actually... Yeah... Sorry.." Sayori mumbled.

Monika helped Sayori stagger to her feet, watching the girl sway a bit with each step.

"Are you hurt? You're walking kinda funny.." Monika inquired.

"Huh? Um.. No. I'm good." Sayori offered the same, tired smile.

"You sure?" Monika said.

"Well... My chest hurts a bit, but I think that's from sitting like that for a while." Sayori nodded.

"If you say so.." Monika said.

She watched carefully as Sayori pulled the blanket over herself, before turning to the door.

"I'll come by tomorrow to check on you, alright?" Monika said gently.

"Mhm... Night, petals..." Sayori said with a yawn.

"Night." Monika clicked the door shut.

~~~

Okay, something is definitely going on with her.

Monika opened her laptop, clicking out of her recent tabs to pull up a fresh one.

Depression Symptoms.

"I hope I'm not right..." Monika said under her breath as she clicked a link.

Ten symptoms of Depression include:

10. Lack of Motivation.

Well she does kinda fight me when it's time for homework... But so do other people. Let's keep looking.

9. Indecisiveness

Didn't she just have trouble deciding whether to nap or not?

8. Low Self-Esteem

Oh gosh...

7. Excessive Guilt

Could she...

6. Irritability

She doesn't really like the sound of markers on whiteboards...

5. Anxiety

That... That could be unrelated... I mean.. Yuri has it and she doesn't have depression..!

4. Irregular Menstrual Cycle

When was her last period? A month? Two? I know she can't be pregnant...

3. Disturbed Sleep

She has trouble waking up sometimes and likes naps... But I wouldn't say that's from depression..!

2. Pains (typically back, chest, head)

She... Oh gosh...

Monika froze on the final one, releasing a shaky breath.

1. Suicidal Thoughts

I don't think she's had any yet... If she really does have depression... I... I have to stop that from happening!

Monika felt her heart beating faster, blinking rapidly as her breathing became quick and heavy.

"Shit!" she cursed, slamming the laptop closed and startling Ludwig.

"What am I gonna do?!" Monika wondered aloud, burying her face in her hands.

Can I... Can I make it go away..? Yeah... I think... I think that's possible, right? It's gotta be...

"I... I have to try..." Monika whispered.

"I'll try... I'll help Sayori... I'll make her okay again..." Monika nodded, already set in her ways.

~~~

"Moni? Is it tomorrow already?" Sayori's groggy voice answered with a yawn.

"No, Sayo. It's still Friday." Monika giggled a bit.

"Oh... Hey, Moni? Why're you calling at like..." a pause, "five minutes to midnight?"

"Sorry, pumpkin. I just had a last minute idea, is all." Monika answered.

Sayori hummed for her to continue.

"What if I got Yuri and Natsuki... And we all spent a few days in a hotel? Maybe drive around and see what there is to do?" Monika suggested.

"What about school?" Sayori wondered.

"Baby, it's summer." Monika laughed.

"Oh. Okay, then. That sounds like loads of fun!" Sayori let out another, longer yawn.

"Okay. I'll let the others know. You can go back to sleep now. Sorry I woke you." Monika apologized.

"It's okay... Night, flower." Sayori called.

"Night, my little cloud." Monika cooed before the line clicked.

~~~

"Monika? Why on Earth are you calling me during the witching hour for fuck's sake?" Yuri groaned.

"Sorry. Last minute idea." Monika laughed at her cousin's response.

"Okay, what?" Yuri said, her voice squeaking as if she were stretching.

"Would you wanna come on a bit of a road trip starting tomorrow?" Monika asked hopefully.

"I guess I don't have much else to do... Sure." Yuri agreed.

"Great! I'll come pick you up around noonish." Monika said.

"Okay. Bye." Yuri hung up abruptly, apparently still pissed about being woken up so early.

Monika chuckled before dialing the final number.

"What the fuck, Nik?!" Natsuki said, her voice hushed.

"Why hello to you, too, Natsuki." Monika rolled her eyes.

"Jeezus, what do you want at almost fucking four in the morning?! You know it's summer, right?!" Natsuki whisper screamed.

"Sorry, I just had something to ask you." Monika apologized quickly.

"For the love of- What is it?" Natsuki sighed.

"Wanna go on a road trip starting tomorrow- er- today?" Monika rubbed her forearm with her free hand.

"I'll need permission. I'll text you at a decent time if I can or not." Natsuki said bitterly.

"Thanks! Love ya, Ski~!" Monika joked.

"Fuck off." the line clicked dead.

Monika laughed, laying back as Ludwig crawled onto her chest.

"Oh yeah! I have to find a kittysitter for you." she booped his nose, making the cat sneeze.

"I'll ask our neighbor Mr. Kaneki before I leave." Monika told her trusted cat.

"Goodnight, Ludwig." she stroked his ash grey fur as she dozed off.

~~~

(It is with a heavy heart that I say there are only a few chapters left of this book.
Also for those of you wondering yes, these are legitimate symptoms of depression. How do I know? I suffer all of them.)