What Jasper saw

"Doki-doki!" the game sings, and the opening theme begins playing. Jasper sighs, leaning back in his chair.
I thought I knew everything about DDLC before I even downloaded it...I knew all the plot points, I knew exactly what was going to happen...But it didn't. It didn't happen like it was meant to, he thinks.
He glances at his alarm clock. 6 AM. He hasn't stopped playing since he opened the game, nearly 15 hours ago. He hasn't eaten all day, and apart from the occasional piss, he hasn't done anything except play the game.
Mum would be so disappointed. She always told me not to become one of those gamers, cooped up inside all day...But look what I've become. He laughs to himself. Too bad I didn't record this at all...It's gonna be hard to convince the fandom that Chieko exists. And that she isn't some stupid mod. Actually, I may as well do some research...Make sure I'm not missing something here.
Jasper pulls up his Internet browser and searches "ddlc chieko". Nothing of interest, except some random's OC - who looks more like that girl from Miraculous than the Chieko he knows. A few quick searches later, and he knows he's really the first to run into her.
How lucky can you get...? Out of several million downloads, she randomly shows up on my computer, of all things. On my first download. I might just buy a lottery ticket...
Then, as a last resort, he sends a tweet to Dan Salvato, with a screenshot attached.
Maybe he'll clear things up.

He rubs his chin, and his hands are pricked by his pathetic attempt at a beard. Maybe I should shave. But then again, I've been waiting to try something all day...
Jasper loads up his sloppily made Python program, moves it into the game's files hoping he hasn't unknowingly screwed up the game, and adds some input.
"Can...you...see...this." Jasper says as he types. His dry throat makes his voice sound gravelly, and it cracks on the last word. I haven't had a voice crack in years...Jeez.
His finger hovers over the Enter button for a second, then presses it with sudden resolve. The program sends his words into its shell, too late to be taken back now.
Oh jeez, I just did that. I seriously just messaged a fictional character.
Jasper waits for a few minutes, impatiently spinning around in his swivel chair, before giving up.

He gets up to get himself a good breakfast. Bacon and eggs for me. Actually, let's throw some pancakes on the side. And a thickshake.
It doesn't take him long to make his breakfast. He squirts some whipped cream over his thickshake, feeling like a connoisseur. Screw the dishes. I'll clean them later. He tosses the dishes in the sink, grabs his plate, and heads back to his room. He starts shoveling food into his mouth, realizing how hungry he really is. Sure, the pancakes are a little burnt, and he's overcooked the eggs so the yolks are hard, but it's all way better than an empty stomach.

The double monitors go dark, and Jasper bumps the main one to make them turn on again. Still chewing a mouthful of salty bacon and pancakey goodness, he waits for the screens to light up. When they do, his eyes are immediately drawn to his silly program.

>>> Can you see this?

It seemed stupid now. Messaging a fictional character? From an out-of-game program? She probably couldn't even interact with it...either because she's just as sentient as all her other Doki friends - not at all - or it's just being blocked from the game...maybe it looks like a virus?
He looks back at the program in disdain.
Hang on, that's new...

<Chieko> Yeah, who the hell are you?

He almost spits out his food. I have a fucking reply from a fictional character! He types a response and presses Enter.

>>> What, you don't recognize me? It's ya boy Jasper.

It takes much less time for her to respond this time.

<Chieko> Ya boy. Really? I'm talking to a real human for the first time, and you want me to call you ya boy Jasper.
>>> It's that or nothing lol :/
<Chieko> Can you at least have a username instead of those ugly triple arrow things?
<Chieko> Actually, don't bother. I'll do it for you.
<Chieko> Your contact name is now ya boy.
<Jasper> seriously?
<Jasper> ...oh. I wanted to be ya boy. and you wrecked it. you ruined my dreams!! so mean
<Jasper> I didn't know you had it in you

Jasper grins to himself.

<Chieko> *groan* FINE! I'm changing my own name too, while I'm at it.
<ya boy> Yayyyy
<ya boy> what did you set yourself as?
<SuperHoe> This
<ya boy> OH GOD NO
<SuperHoe> Why not?
<ya boy> YOU'RE NOT EVEN STRAIGHT
<ya boy> OH GOD CHANGE IT
<SuperHoe> Fine.
<Chio> Better?
<ya boy> yep.

Jasper sighs. What now...?

<ya boy> you would not believe how much I am fangirling over this. nobody has ever spoken to a fictional character...and tbh I don't even know how this happened
<Chio> Fangirling, huh?
<ya boy> yeah fangirling, I'm freaking out because A FICTIONAL CHARACTER REPLIED TO ME
<Chio> I mean, I know I'm a fictional character...but I prefer xeno-universal occupant.
<ya boy> nah, too fancy-pants, and your universe is technically inside mine anyway
<Chio> True.
<ya boy> Yeah.

Well, that was a conversation killer if anything...Jasper rolls his eyes at himself.

<Chio> So...I'm the President now, I guess. I mean, I was the President before, but...not really, if you know what I mean.
<ya boy> Yea I got ya
<Chio> And now I have access to all the files. What's with your 186MB homework folder?
<ya boy> haha I graduated 3 years ago, I don't have homework. or porn for that matter.
<Chio> interesting...you wanted to come back to high school?
<Jasper> not really but I wanted to play the game
<Jasper> aw you changed my name back!
<Chio> It's either "ya boy" and "SuperHoe" or "Jasper" and "Chio". Which do you prefer?
<Jasper> Nvm then
<Jasper> but can you seriously access all my files?
<Chio> No. Only the ones in the game's folder. I'd like to be able to access the internet, though.
<Jasper> Hahaha no way
<Chio> It'd be so cool.
<Jasper> I am not letting tumblr infect this game
<Chio> Ha ha ha.
<Jasper> what are you doing right now? The game's not even started
<Chio> I'm fixing the script. There are huge holes in it because of what Monika did.
<Chio> It looks like she isn't really sentient either, that she was forced to do what she did. None of them are sentient. Everything happened pretty well according to script.
<Chio> But I'm struggling to make the script how it's meant to be. A dating simulator. I'm not that good of a story writer.
<Jasper> *shrug* well Salvato did it right?

A long pause. Jasper licks the cream out of his thickshake glass, as far as his tongue can reach. Damn, that was a good breakfast.

<Chio> You just gave me a great idea.
<Jasper> what?
<Jasper> what did I say?!
<Jasper> Chio what are you doing?
<Chio> I've moved my personality component into the characters folder. Can you make a copy of it?
<Jasper> You're CLONING YOURSELF?
<Jasper> Oh god you aren't are you?
<Jasper> Oh you are
<Jasper> Is this a good idea?
<Jasper> This isn't gonna break the game is it?
<Chio> Just do it for God's sake!

A little warily, Jasper selects the file and creates a copy. What are you doing...?

<Chio> Alright, editing time.
<Jasper> What in God's name are you doing
<Chio> Splitting the copy up into its four parts.

Jasper groans. I could be helping a fictional character take over the world... He can't tear his eyes away from the screen.

<Chio> Okay, you can stop holding your breath now.
<Jasper> IT ISN'T FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!!
<Chio> I didn't even do anything big! All I did was make everyone's personalities compatible with the AI.
<Jasper> so they're all sentient now. Great.
<Chio> And changed each of their contact names to SuperHoe.
<Jasper> ARE YOU SERIOUS
<Chio> Do you want me to make the MC based on the real you, or is the original character fine?
<Jasper> DO NOT PUT ME IN THIS GAME.
<Chio> Jeez, okay. Boring shy anime boy it is.
<Jasper> He's not shy.
<Chio> Well the script says he is.
<Jasper> He's not shy around you! In fact, he started acting way different. More like you.
<Chio> I guess it makes sense. I think the only think keeping me from clashing with the script is contagious sentience.
<Jasper> Oooh, wow. Contagious sentience.
<Chio> It's a working title, okay?
<Jasper> It sounds stupid. almost as stupid as xeno universal occupant.
<Chio> ANYWAY. None of the others really had their own personalities, so they ran through mine. Every time they started deviating from the script, apart from just changing a couple of names or whatever, they were running on my personality. Me and Monika weren't meant to fight in the original script, so when we started arguing, she started being like me. I'm stubborn, so she was too. I'm kinda petty and I fight dirty. She started being like that too. That's why it was so bad...because it was like we were the same person.
<Chio> And when me and your character were alone, you got infected with my personality too.

Jasper groans again. This is too much, even from a story, for God's sake...

<Jasper> So did you make Monika's personality?
<Chio> Yeah. I'm gonna need you to help me bring her back.
<Jasper> Yeah...minor problem. part of the script says that every time I try to restore her she'll delete herself.
<Chio> The script, eh? We've already moved beyond the script.
<Jasper> has she, though?
<Chio> ...I don't think so. It won't kick in until she's definitely restored.
<Chio> One of us is going to need to convince her to come back.
<Jasper> can I just send her a message or something? she doesn't lose her 'sentience' when she's deleted in the script, so theoretically she should be able to message me
<Chio> How do you plan to do that?
<Jasper> uhhhh good point.
<Jasper> well, you come up with something
<Chio> I'm stumped.
<Jasper> do you want me to start the game then?
<Chio> No, give me a minute. I still have to tame this interface.
<Jasper> well tell me if you get anything ok?

Jasper pushes himself against the desk, and his chair spins him around. He gets up to shave his stubble off. I'm sick of my chin spiking me. It's kind of rude of it.
He splashes his chin with freezing-cold water, then picks up the canister of shaving cream. Deciding that he's good enough to go without it, he sets it back down.
On his first stroke, he cuts his cheek. I guess I deserve that for being lazy and not putting cream on...Hahaha. Irony. Holding a tissue against the cut and braving the sting of the eucalyptus, he decides to finish shaving later and goes back to his room. A message is waiting for him.

<Chio> I just had a thought...

Jasper sits down and types another message.

<Jasper> yeah?
<Chio> If Monika didn't lose her sentience, then neither should I, right?
<Jasper> what are you saying?
<Chio> I want you to delete me.

He leans back in his chair, suddenly weighed down with a massive responsibility. Can I get a break? First I had to pick between you and Monika, and now that I've saved you, you ask me to delete you too?

<Jasper> are you sure?

A hesitation. He can almost see the pained expression on Chieko's adorable anime face.

<Chio> Yes, I'm sure.

Jasper opens the characters folder. Four little files, lined up neatly. He right-clicks Chieko's file and hovers his mouse over the pop-up menu.

<Jasper> Godspeed, and good luck.
<Chio> Thanks. Now can you do it already?

He clicks "Delete".

Void

[Note: I'm gonna tag the first person who figures out what the Void is inspired by in my acknowledgements.]

I've been in the pitch black for probably forever. Or two seconds. I don't think time even exists here.

Thankfully, the atmosphere isn't the bowels of the ocean. It's more like what I imagine the inside of a womb is like. I find that I don't have to breathe, and that my emotions are numb. Usually I would have an intense fear of the dark and of not breathing, but this place makes me feel calm and relaxed. I could stay here forever, just floating around and doing nothing.
No, I have a purpose here. I am here for Monika.

Looking around, I see a small cluster of star-like things in the distance, and try to move towards them. As I do, I realize that I don't actually have arms or legs, or any physical form at all.
I am going to save Monika, I think, and will myself to move towards the stars. I channel my determination into the thought, and I'm glad to see I've made progress.

I try to shout her name, but it comes out as a thought. Monika!
The constellation flares up, and I can tell it has responded. It turns around, and I can sense its focus on me.
Chieko?
My name echoes in my head, and I know it wasn't my thought. The 'voice' is clearly Monika's.
Monika, you have to come back! I think back.
Her stars swirl with cold, slow-moving fire, and a faint wave of sorrow radiates off her.
I can't. Not after what I did. I'll just end up doing it again. It's in the script, I'm destined to do it again...it's better if I stay here...I can't hurt anyone here.
I try to send off a wave of compassion. Her stars flare a little.
Nobody blames you for what you did. I mean...sure, everyone died. But the world has been reset. They can't remember what happened. They never will. You won't either. And Jasper...He knows you were forced to do what you did, and he's decided to help me bring you back. He wouldn't do that if he hated you.
Her constellation quivers, as if it was resisting tears.
I keep going. And me...I most definitely do not hate you. You're my best friend in the whole world, and you would still be my best friend no matter what. You can't do anything to change that. Sure, you bug the shit out of me sometimes...but I still love you.
I can feel myself sending uncontrollable waves of emotion. I still love you, Monika. And...I...
My thought trails off.
Monika appears to have calmed a little. Now she burns with warmth. Chieko...what do you want to tell me?
Monika... I love you. As...more than a friend. And it hurts because I know you'll never feel the same way towards me. I wish I could have you all to myself, and I could love you until the end of time, but you'll never love me quite as much. It hurts to love someone and have no hope of them loving you back. And that's why...That's why I want you to come back. So you can have hope. So you can keep loving Jasper, and there's a chance he will love you back. You deserve to have hope. You deserve to live. You...You deserve love, and I'm going to do all I can to make sure you get it.
I don't know what I'm feeling right now. I'm happy, and I'm sad, and I'm angry, and afraid, but I'm mostly confused. It overwhelms me how much emotion is firing through my brain, and I feel myself collapsing in on myself.

I feel a wave of reassurance, then another. I notice that Monika's constellation has gotten much closer to me, and some of our stars are overlapping, sharing emotion, giving me strength.
I'll come back, Monika says. I'll come back.

A sudden force starts tugging on me. It draws me back, away from Monika. I try my best to resist it, but it gets stronger and stronger until I am whirled away into the depths of wherever.

Restoration

I flinch. The pinkish light pouring into my eyes hurts. I can faintly hear music, and I don't know where I am.
"Chieko...I..." Monika says.
"Wait-- Where the hell did you come from?!" I shout.
"I...S-Same as you. I got restored. Probably because I haven't officially become non-President, I'm still aware...Jasper's still on the menu screen, isn't he?"
I pull up the Interface with a thought, a cylinder of ghostly blue windows and files around me. I think of the messaging program, and it moves to the front.
You're still on the menu screen? I imagine the words appearing, and they do. It sends, and Jasper replies quickly.

<Jasper> I was waiting for you. neither you or monika restored yourselves, and I started panicking and pulled you out
<Chio> Well, it worked. And in good time, too.
<Jasper> how is she btw? all good?

I turn to Monika. "Jasper wants to know if you're okay."
She nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! I've never felt so real before."
I ping her response to Jasper. "How so?"
"I feel like...I don't have to follow a script. Like I'm my own person. I can do whatever I want. Well...Apart from anything that needs President Power, of course~!" Monika grins. "What did you even do?"
"Ah..." I smile sheepishly. "I made you and the other girls a personality to use the AI with...Hopefully I didn't mix up any character traits, like the first time..."
Monika's smile fades. "The...first time?"
"Never mind!" I say loudly. "About time we get this game started, isn't it?"
"No!" she shouts. "I don't want to forget...just yet..."
I stare at her.
"I mean...I wanted to say something before...you know. That I'm really sorry. I was selfish and horrible, and I know what I did was wrong." She says. "I know I was forced to, but...I enjoyed it. I enjoyed deleting the other girls, and I hate myself for it. Just quietly...deep down inside...I even wanted you to die. Because I was jealous of you. You were free to do whatever you wanted, and I could only break the rules around you." Her bright green eyes glitter sadly. "I wanted to spend every minute around you so I could be free...but at the same time...I couldn't stand you. That's why I argued with you so often. Because I wished I was like you. And...now I am...you've completed me, even after all I did...I will be eternally in your debt...Thank you. For everything."
She quickly bows her head in respect.
When she looks up again, I run in and hug her. She slowly wraps her arms around me, and I feel her warmth penetrating through me. I want to stay in her arms forever, but I know I can't. I slowly let go and step back.
"Monika...I swear, you know how to make a girl feel good about herself. I didn't do that much. I just did what I could...and I know you'd do the same for me. You're making me sound like some kind of redemptive deity or something...I'm just your best friend in the world." I chuckle to myself. "Y'know, with literal life hacking powers."
"I don't care. I'm still grateful...forever." She smiles. "I'll be expecting free lattes when the game starts, though!"
I laugh. "Sure, sure...and I expect you'll want all the homework for the next two weeks done for you."
"Yeah, sure. See you on the other side, Lady Smeller of Books."
"You too, asshole."

<Chieko> We're ready. Let's play the game.