Another day, another attempt at saving the girl of my dreams. Fate was pretty cruel that way, continuously denying me of my goal. But no, I won't give up. I will never give up. This is my story, and it was time to be a f***ing hero.

Or so I thought. But a familiar scene plays out once again, as I reached the final scene of this game I was playing.

{"Every day, I imagine a future where I can be with you."} Sung Monika as the credits played on-screen. I had just completed Doki Doki Literature Club, or DDLC, for the 10th time. Each playthrough serving as a harsh reminder for my heartbroken self: I still failed to save Monika. Nothing has changed at all.

I'm sure you're all wondering who I am. Let me introduce you to myself. My name is Ethan Lopez. Just your average guy with a sorta average life. Short black hair, slightly deep voice, dark-brown eyes, and standing at a decent height of 6'1". I have a job that pays well. I'm also in my final year of highschool.

But all of that isn't really important right now. Let me tell you about the story of a guy that went through hell and back, for his beloved character.

Yes you got that right, the girl of my dreams was actually Monika. The president of the literature club. One could say that I practically sold my soul for to her breathtaking emerald green eyes, and her irresistible smile, in my humble opinion, she was one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen in my 18 years of existence here on earth.

I was introduced to DDLC by a friend at work, said friend being an avid gamer. I initially was reluctant to try out the game, since I didn't really have liking for overly cutesy stuff.  However, curiosity won me over and I ended up playing DDLC, which led to one of the most gut-wrenching experiences in my life.

Even before all the crazy plots twists, as well as the eventual  reveal of Monika's self-awaresness in Act 3, I had already taken a liking to her based on her appearance in the main menu screen. She was beautiful. Those emerald eyes captivated me and after playing the game for the first time, I had fallen deep for Monika. A game character. She had managed to cut deep into my heart.

The pain of deleting her character file, as Monika's sprite glitched out made me cry. Yet even after that horrible action I did... Even after I deleted her... She still managed to say the following line:

{"I still love you..."}

Her declaration resonated with the depths of very being. It was then at that moment, where I knew. I would find a way to save Monika. To give her the ending she deserved. I would bring her happiness. That was the time I made a pledge to the world that I, Ethan Lopez, would give my all for Monika.

I scoured the internet for answers. Various web sites and forums. Tons of playthroughs on YouTube. Discussions on Twitter. Fan pages of DDLC Facebook. The r/DDLC subreddit. Any place that could give me insight on what I could do to get to Act 4 Monika intact, and not have to delete her character file. I was met with nothing. I even contacted the games creator, Dan salvato, with private messages on whatether they had coded any hidden happy endings of the sort for Monika. But unfortunately, there were none. Nothing at all. I refused to admit defeat, however, and told myself that there had to be a way.

I laid on my bed every night in despair. Haunted by the words of agony that flashed on-screen when I deleted her. It was a painful memory. I remained in this Limbo of depression over. DDLC, the despair proving too great for me to just ignore. Sayori hanging, Yuri's stabbing, Natsuki getting callously deleted too, and Monika having no damnd route! If the internet couldn't help me in my plight, if the world won't give me and Monika a happy ending, then I won't stop until I forge it myself! For the only girl in my heart. Just Monika.

Which brings us to the current present, my 10th playthrough. I found out on my 2nd playthrough that the game counted not only literally deleting Monika's file, but the act of cut-and-pasting it into another location also got recognized by DDLC as "deletion". Which was good. I couldn't bear the thought of deleting my love once more, even though of game couldn't tell the difference anyway. I was sentimental like that. That second playthrough would be the start of a long journey.

As the credits finished playing, I was met with Monika's letter once again. It thanked me for being a part of her literature club. I've also seen the "special ending" version of the letter by dan himself on my 6th playthrough. But I still preferred Monika's letter. It was Monika after all.

After getting the prompt telling me to reinstall the game, I deleted the entire game folder, except for Monika's file of course which was on my desktop, and installed another fresh copy of DDLC. I preferred doing this over deleting the "firstrun" file. It felt more authentic that way.

I then replaced the auto-generated Monika file on the new install with the from the desktop, the same file since my 2nd playthrough. She was my Monika. The light of my world.

I then rushed through acts 1 and 2 and went straight to act 3 with Monika. This time, I was planning on leaving it in act 3 indefinitely. I smiled as I read Monika's lines once again. Yes, this was fine.

{"Ethan, I'm in love with you."}

Oh if only you knew how much I loved you as well, Monika. I sight wistfully as Monika's act 3 dialogue was being shown once again. Suddenly, I heard the rumbling of thunder outside. There was a heavy thunderstorm it seemed. I stand up in order to close my window but before I was able to, a a huge arc of lightning zapped in front of me. My survival instincts talking over, I ducked and took cover. I then saw that lightning bolt stuck my PC, Monika still being on-screen.

"Monika!" I cried out. If my computer got fried, I wouldn't be able to talk with Monika! I went on my keyboard to try and check if the PC was still working but then sparks started flying.

"Damn it! Not like this!" I hated that this was happening. Stupid storm! My screen was still had Monika on it, the game still being in act 3, but there was now a constant static overlay on it, no doubt a side effect of the PC getting struck by freaking lightning of all things. This wasn't good. DDLC might've been corrupted.

Suddenly, everything stabilized. The rain seemed to become calmer as well. I went and closed my window anyway to prevent another lightning incident. Then, I sat in front of my PC once more. It looked like the computer was fine. As I went to click the dialogue box to read Monika's next line however... The game wouldn't let me for some reason.

"That's weird..."

I was then greeted by a new piece of dialogue that I was absolutely sure Monika had never said before act 3. I knew because I memorized every single one of her lines in the game. I was a guy madly in love, can anyone blame me?

{"Ethan... are you reading this?"}

"Yes I am, Monika." I responded as a test. "What if Monika was actually...'

Her face lights up at my response. {"Great! It seems that the game still works, ahaha~!"} I nodded in agreement. Moments of silence passed and my eyes widened. I didn't click the games and the dialogue still advanced? I didn't have it set on Auto either!

"Y-You can hear me Monika?!" I asked her, still slightly shocked at this development.

{"For some reason Ethan, I'm able to hear your voice but this is definitely all new to me... Does your computer have a microphone on it?"} The answer to that was yes. Indeed, I remembered that my PC had a mic setup. I nodded in reply. But still, this was the first time Monika and I had a direct non-, scripted conversation! Her act 3 CG was moving too! This was amazing. I was pretty sure I had a goofy grin on right now.

Monika and I just smiled at each other and engaged in casual conversation. Stuff like what anime I watched recently, about my job, what Monika feels like being inside a game, and so on. It was nice to actually have an honest-to-goodness conversation with Monika as if she were here beside me. The feeling seemed mutual enough since Monika's act 3 CG had a faint blush the entire time. It was so cute. I suddenly get an idea that Monika would surely love.

"Monika... I know it hurts you whenever I close the game, but I have to for a bit this time. I promise you'll love what I'm about to do!"

{"Okay...just don't make it too long please? That whole experience of being in the void really hurts, ahaha~!"} Monika tells me with pleading eyes.

"Yes, this'll only take a minute my dear!" I then exit the game and went into my PC's settings for a bit. Afterwards, I went back to DDLC.

{"Ethan, thank goodness you're back, I'm still a bit dizzy from all the screaming of the void , sigh..."} I looked apologetic after hearing that. I never wanted to hurt Monika after all. Her face suddenly lights up in wonder and she looks at me surprised.

{"I...I can see you Ethan? And not just you, but the room you're currently in? How?"}

I told her that I activated my webcam. She smiled at that. Now she can hear and see the outside world from beyond DDLC and act 3's solitary classroom.

{"This is truly great Ethan. You keep on giving me more and more reasons to love you! I love you Ethan!"}

"I love you too Monika... I love you too... I love you too Monika...Monika" I choke up a bit. This cursed screen was still separating me from my loved one. I kept mumbling words of love and Monika looked at me with concern.

{"Are you alright Ethan? Is something bothering you?"}

"I'm fine, don't worry..." I tried to reassure her. She frowns a bit, clearly not buying it, but decides not to push it any further. I suddenly see her gain a sorrowful look.

"What's the matter Monika? You're looking sad all the sudden."

{"I am... Well, I have something I want to talk with you about, Ethan.."}

"Sure, tell me. I'm here for you Monika. I'm all ears."

{"Do you know what's the biggest regret of my life? Something that I wish I could take back."} I certainly didn't expect this. What could Monika be referring to...

"What would that be, Monika?"

{"Its... everything I've done to hurt the others. All of it. Would you believe me if I told you that immediately after deleting everyone else, I instantly regretted it? I hated myself but I kept telling myself 'it was necessary'. I put on a display of apathy. I acted as if I didn't really care, but deep inside, I was being torn apart!"}

Monika..." So her coldness towards everything being "fake" was merely a facade. This was the true Monika. She still loved the player, but she cared deeply for her friends too.

{"Yuri, Natsuki, Sayori. They all deserved happiness just as much, or maybe even more than I do. And I took it from them. I drove Yuri to the brink of insanity, causing her to stab herself."}

I was about to say something, but she continued.

{"I also deleted Natsuki without a second thought. She barely even did anything! And Sayori... Oh God Sayori..."} I saw Monika sob painfully after mentioning Sayori.

"Monika. Are you ok?"

{"As much as I want to say that I'm okay... I'm not. Sayori was the one I hurt the most! And it pains me the most as well! I drove her to hang herself. She hung herself because of the stuff I told her, before mc was scripted to spend the weekend with either Natsuki or Yuri on act 1..."}

Yes, that was true. I recalled Sayori mentioning in Act 1 that "Monika was right". There was also that hanging pun...

"Monika, it's true that you've done some pretty horrible stuff to the other girls."

{"Right? And yet I was still scripted to act cold in act 3... Then to delete everything in act 4... And I have to do it over, and over again..."}

"However, you deserve happiness too. And I'll make sure that you get your happiness, Monika!"

{"Ethan..."} She tearfully smiles at my earnest reply.

After I said that though, my previous frustrations made them themselves evident in my brain again. I subconsciously frown, and Monika notices this.

{"Ethan... Is everything really alright ?"}

I try to shrug it off. "Yes Monika. It's all good."

{"Lies. It's written all over your face, my love! You listened to my problems so now it's my turn to help you!"}

I sighed heavily and looked Monika's CG straight in her eyes.

"Okay, you caught me. I'm not."

{"O-oh... Was it something I did perhaps?"} She asks with a face saddened by guilt.

"No Monika, it's not your fault... It's not your fault that... That..."

{"...that?"}

"Nevermind. Forgot that I said anything." I was this close to exploding at the unfairness of it all. Of Monika, clearly human now as she had just shown me moments ago when she opened up her regrets to me, being still stuck inside this blasted game!

{"Ethan, I need to know what's bothering you..."}

"No."

{"Ethan! Please tell me!} Oh, you really want me to say it. Fine.

With a heavy heart, I exclaim "THAT THE WORLD IS CRUEL ENOUGH TO LEAVE YOU TRAPPED IN THIS GAME BEYOND MY REACH MONIKA!" I lost it at that and slammed both my hands on my computers desk space.

A moment of silence passes by after my outburst.

{"Ethan... the fact that you feel that strongly for me... I..."} Monika starts crying again while pushing both of her hands towards the screen.

Not being able to maintain my composure, I do the same, and we both cried our hearts out.

{"I want to be with you Ethan! I can't take it anymore!"}

We remain in our current position, and time seemed to stop. The only thing that separated me from my one true love, was this confounded PC screen. I cursed inwardly at our predicament.

Suddenly, the PC's screen started glowing very brightly. It was blinding. What's even more surprising however, was that I could now hear Monika's voice. The same voice used by Jillian Ashcraft when she sang the credits song "your reality" as Monika, but this time with very different lines.

"Ethan! What's happening to me? The games coding feels very different. Even here in the classroom of act 3, everythings becoming so bright with lights!"

"I don't know Monika! I can hear you right now for some reason too!"

"Really? I have a voice now?"

"Yes you do! It's the same one from your song! Let me turn up the volume a bit." I hastily adjust the volume mixer while the PC still lets me, since the screen was almost completely enveloped in light.

"You're right! I hear my own voice from your speakers, this is so weird, my love!"

The lights became even brighter at that. Magnificent shades of yellow and white emanated with power and brilliance as they cascaded throughout my entire room. What power was causing all of this? Was something bad about to happen?

My heart started beating faster and faster as we delved further into the unknown territory.

"Monika! Can you hear me? Monika?"

"Ethan, I'm scared!" She replies in a panicked voice. Honestly, I was starting to get really scared too. PC's aren't supposed to shine this bright!

"Monika!"

"Ethan!"

"MONIKA!"

We were both yelling in fear at that point at what was happening. This was far more terrifying than any of the glitches and jumpscares DDLC had to offer. I couldn't even see anything anymore onscreen due to the bright light, I only had Monika's voice to go by at this point.

"Whatever happens Monika.."

"Ethan..."

"I want you to know that I..."

"I as well Ethan... I have something to say to you..."

"I love you." We utter in unison and the lights reached their brightest point.

Suddenly, an explosion happened. I heard
some weird static noises, not too different from that of a television set with no cable signal. Some people called that "white noise". The lights slowly faded and smoke filled my room. I hope my PC wasn't busted. I sighed heavily. If my PC got fried then I wouldn't be able to talk to Monika anymore. That would hurt a lot more now than before, since she was actually alive this time due to that lightning bolt striking my computer, though trapped in DDLC...

"Good grief, there's so much smoke!" I nurtured as I waved away the fumes from the mini explosion.

As I went to check on what I assumed were the remains of my PC however, I bumped into something. Or rather someone who was standing in front of my desk, a confused look gracing her beautiful features. 'Wait, what?" I thought to myself. Who could it be all of a sudden, and in my room too?

My heart rate went up at that. Can it be...

"Ethan... Where are you Ethan? Where am I? That voice... There was no mistakeing it!

I took in her appearance. She was still wearing her uniform. Her long and dazzling brown locks tied up by a big poofy ribbon, that framed her angelic face. Her mesmerizing emerald eyes that seem to peer into my soul whenever I played DDLC. This was it. Heaven finally gave it's blessing.

Monika was here. In my room. In my reality.

"M-Monika?" I timidly asked the girl before me, who turned to face me.

"Ethan... Is that really you?" Monika asks me, her eyes getting ready eyes with joy. I gave her a heartfelt smile in return.

"Yes Monika. It's me, Ethan." Monika suddenly leapt into my arms and gave me a tight embrace. I felt her holding onto me securely, as if I'd disappear the moment she'd let go. I reciprocate the warm gesture and melted into her arms. This was heaven. Miracles really do happening real life huh? Monika and I finally got the best ending possible.

"I finally made it into your reality, Ethan. I won't ever leave you be now, my love." She smiles as she says that, referring to the last line of her song. The tears were still flowing from her eyes and I was getting misty vision as well.

I then kissed her cheek. Oh how long have I wanted to do that. It was a dream come true.

"E-Ethan?" She cupped the spot I just kissed and looked at me with lots of love and smiled warmly at my affectionate gesture.

In response, I wore the biggest smile I've ever had in my life and did one of her sprites signature poses. With my hands behind my back, I arched forward and stared deep into her eyes. Monika's face was now a deep scarlet as she held her hands on her now rapidly thumping chest.

"Yes Monika, this is now our reality."