After Monika's sudden yet very welcome appearance here in the real world, I helped her to settle in. Monika being here still felt so surreal.

"This is all very new to me Ethan, so forgive me if I don't know about much yet on how the real world works..." She admits with a shy expression while pushing her index fingers together timidly. The gesture reminded me of Sayori. I did a double-take but quickly shrugged it off.

"It's fine Monika, I'll be here to help you every step of the way." I reassured her while taking her right hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. She returns the action and givese an expression of gratitude.

"Thank you, my love."

My house had three bedrooms, the first being my own room,  the 2nd one being my parents' room, and the other one being designated as a guess room of sorts. The guest room was formerly my sisters room and it had rarely been used except when I had friends over who slept for the night or whenever my older sister came to visit and intended on staying with me for a bit to hang out, most of the time though, it laid vacant.

I told Monika that she was free to use the guest room as she pleases and she gave me her thanks with a peck on my cheek. I loved the feeling of her soft lips on my skin . I spotted a faint blush at the sudden contact but I was smiling all the while. "I could get used to this...'

As for my next course of action, I gave her a bit of a tour around the house. It was a simple bungalow-type house that had the aforementioned three bedrooms, a medium-sizwd kitchen, the living area, and two bathrooms. The fist bathroom was near the living room while the other one was shared by my room and the guest room. The connecting bathroom to the other. It was pretty convenient.

"You've been living here by yourself, my love? All alone?"

"Yeah..."

"Awww... Well, I'm here now so you don't have to feel lonely anymore! I know all too well about the feeling of being alone." She earnestly tells me as she looks straight into my eyes with her own emerald green orbs. That's right, she did say in act 3 that she felt all alone and trapped in DDLC.

"Ethan... I might be overbearing at times,  but I hope we can get along. I'll make sure you don't feel sad anymore, ahaha~!" She smiled and I gave her a hug in return which we both deepened. Both of us blushed a bit at the closeness of our bodies. I let go of her and it was a barely noticeable but I could've sworn monika looked a bit disappointed at the hug being broken, but she just smiled at me and I returned the gesture with a happy grin.

It was true. I've already told her hours ago when she was still in the game about some parts of my living situation. My parents were both overseas due to work and my older sister was off living on her own, so the family house was left under my care. I'd call my parents every other day and I'd do video calls with my sister as well. As I mentioned earlier, she also comes to visit once in a while and we'd hang out.

Be that as may, and although I was used to living by myself, there were times that I indeed felt lonely. I hung out with friends on the weekends but eventually I had to return home by myself. I had no one to say" I'm home!" to.
That was about to change starting today.

Even though my parents sent me some spending money and supported my expenses in highschool such as tuition fees, I took it on my self to find a job in the mean time while continuing my studies. I was currently in my final year of highschool but at the same time I worked at this nearby tech and gaming shop as a store clerk. It was one of my fellow staff that introduced me to DDLC and I still count my blessings everyday that I was able to get past my hesitation and play DDLC. It was because of him that I met the love of my life, Monika. The words"Just Monika" never felt truer. She was the girl that had come to mean so much to me. I still remember like it was just yesterday. Well technically it was, hours ago even, but that's besides the point. Ahaha~! Great, now I'm doing the same laugh as her.

All those months of desperation I endured. All those those playthroughs and attempts in saving Monika. I had to overcome so much to get this happy ending. She was worth every minute of it. It made the end so much sweeter, since it all culminated in her freedom. Maybe that thunderstorm was heavens way of helping out a shmuck such as myself. She was here now, with me. It was wonderful. And I wouldn't have it any other way. The girl of my dreams was finally within reach.

"Are you ok Ethan? You were spacing out there for a bit." Monika asks me with a twinge of concern. Her voice snaps me out of my trance. I told her that I was merely reminiscing. She left it at that but told me to let her know of something was bothering me and I nodded in gratitude.

Since Monika didn't really have any personal belongings yet, I had to go out for some emergency shopping at the nearest mall. Good I think it was only 4 in the afternoon so I have plenty of time. The thunderstorm had already subsided as well.

I told monika to wait for me here at home while I went out to get her some necessities aside from clothes such as a toothbrush, foot wear, and other basic needs. Winter was nearing so I had to get her a coat, boots and a scarf at least. Might as well stock up on food too. She smiled and asked if I had some books for her to read while she waited.

"Hmmm... You were the president of the literature club after all Monika, so I guess it's not a surprise that you'd want to read. Let's see..."

"Yep! Reading is one of the two forms of recreation of my opinion. It helps a cultivateit's not my didn't develop your sense of vocabulary. Each book is basically a new world for the reader to explore! That's why I make it a habit to read books, as well as other forms of literature such as poems and even the newspaper whenever able to. I hope you like reading as well, my love. Ahaha~!" Monika proudly states with a confident smile.I'm not in this font with a smile as I handed in a book it was encyclopedia. Normally I'd start one of the various manga books I had, but that would might remind me of Natsuki be so I didn't.

as I want about to step out of the front of the door realizations on for me. I pulled my face in frustration. How could I miss such an important detail?

"I'm such a scatterbrain some times, damn it.how would I buy Monica's close if I didn't have exact measurements?" and with that, I went back to Monica, who is currently in my living room. She was reading the encyclopedia. Her face was currently sandwiched between the pages. Since in my presence, she looked up at me with an inquisitive look gracing her features.

"Did you forget something Ethan? Perhaps your keys?" She inquires as she closes the encyclopedia In order to hear me out.

"Monika, I'm sorry to interrupt your reading session, but I need you to come with me to the mall. I don't know your sizes after all." Her visage lights up as heard me

"Really? I can come with you Ethan?"

Yep! Oh, and your current outfit is fine. There's lots students that hang out at the mall after all."she gives me a hug and and gets gitty with excitement. This was a side of her that I rarely see, during the times I've played DDLC. he was usually the calm and collected one, and had a more level-headed expression of Joy whenever she was happy. So this search of excitement was refreshing to see, to say the least. I must have been staring at her and speaking out against since she was now standing directly in front my face. Her warm breath when freezing my skin.

"Ethan?"

"Gah! M-Monika?" She steps back a bit as I tried to maintain my composure.

"Ahaha~! I know I did something similar inside the game where my sprite got zoomed in really close for you, I think it was during Act 2. The time when you were told by the game to choose between Yuri and Natsuki in their argument, but this feels different!" I chuckled as well at the memory. During my first playthrough that part creeped me out but several playthroughs later I was able to laugh at some of the "glitches" since I was hell-bent and focused on saving Monika.

"Sorry! I got lost in my thoughts again. I seem to be spacing out a lot these days."

"Geez... You weren't... Thinking about lewd thoughts just now "Ethan... Were you" I blush at that inquiry. Now she thinks I'm a pervert!

"W-What?! I wasn't thinking about anything like that Monika!"

"You don't think I'm attractive then, Ethan?" She suddenly looks at me with a slightly offended expression. "Well?"

"I...uh...I...T-Thats...er..." Before I could continue making a fool out of myself by being completely reduced into a stuttering mess, Monika interjected. She must've sensed my  discomfort.

"Relax my love, I was only kidding! It's okay for you to look at me like that, in fact, it makes me happy! Ehehe..." I sigh in relief but still give my apologies. She just winks at me and I swear I could feel a bit of blood dripping out of my nostrils...

"However, you're only allowed to look at me like that okay? No other girls! I'm your girlfriend after all." She says while sticking her tongue out flashing me a smirk. I'm gonna die of diabetes from all this, good Lord.

As Monika told me she was just gonna brush her hair and freshen up a bit, my phone which was in my pocket began to vibrate. I unlocked the screen and see that it was my sister who was attempting a video call. I immediately answered it.

"What's up sis?" I greeted as her face comes into view.

{"Hey there Ethan! Anything new today? I've been swamped lately due to college, sigh. I hope to you still aren't moping because of Doki Doki Literature Club?"} It was as she says. My sister, Yumi Lopez, was aware of my struggles regarding DDLC. I got her to play the game as well so she was aware of Monika and the games nuances. She didn't become as attached to it as I had been though.

"I'm doing great Yumi. As for DDLC, I'm doing so much better. You could say that I have.. a new lease on life!"

{"Well that's nice to hear! It wouldn't do good for my little bro to be all sad and brooding. That look doesn't fit you man."} Yumi teases we engaged in some small talk. Apparently her collage professor required her to do a very difficult thesis and she was stressing out about it. I wished her luck and we talked about other things like the latest anime. Sis was a big anime junkie.

"Ethan? Who's that on the phone? I'm hearing a girls voice?"

"Oh don't worry Monika, it's just my sister on a Skype video call! I told you about her, right?" I inform her.

"Oh that's right, my love. You did mention that your older sister was living on her own. Tell her I said hi!"

{"Ara, ara. Ethan, who's this girl? And don't deny that is a girl because I can hear her even from here!"

"Well... She's actually my..."

{"Wait! Don't tell me... She's your girlfriend? But I thought you were head over the heels for Monika, the character from DDLC." Wow, my little munchkin is growing up..."} Yumi pretends to wipe a tear from her eyes. This was embarrassing.

"Big sis..." I sighed.

{"Not denying it, are we? Have i hit the mark? Hue hue~"}

"Fine, I admit it. She's my girlfriend." There's no use hiding it anymore.

{"I'm so proud of you Ethan! You're finally experiencing the springtime of youth! I knew you weren't gonna waste away your life playing DDLC. This is making me so excited. She's there right now too!"}

"Yeah..."

{"Hey little bro, can I talk with her real quick? You've made your big sister curious, I wanna meet her!"}

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea Yumi." She might be shocked to see who it is. I mean, Monika looked exactly like she did in the game. Any sane person would be shocked, without the proper context.

{"Booooo... you're no fun Ethan. Let me talk to her!"}

"Big sis, I really don't think-"

{"Let me sis talk to the pretty girl already Ethan!"}

"No!"

{"Yes!"}

"Please Yumi, I'm being serious!"

{"Oh alright..."}

I breath a sigh of relief that she wasn't gonna push this matter. Or so I thought.

{"I'll buy you a Monika body pillow if you let me talk to your girlfriend."}

"YUMI!"

"Whats going on, my love?" Monika asks as she peers over my shoulder... Into the phone cameras view. Welp, I guess that settles it. Might as well go through with it.

{"Yay! I finally get to see the girl that got my silly brothers attention! You should know miss, this guy's been hooked on a game character from this game Doki Doki Literature Club named Moni..ka.."} my sisters eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as they saw the girl who was now beside me. I could already tell that this conversation was gonna start falling off the rails.

"Hi Yumi! Ethan told me about you, you're Ethans sister right? Pleased to meet you. I'm Monika. Ethan girlfriend! Let's be friends, Ms.Yumi!"

A moment of silence ensues. I was the first one to speak up.

"Do you see now why I was hesitant in showing you... Sis?"

{"..."} Yumi was in a state of silence. Her eyes were still widened.

"Sis... Are you okay?"/Ms. Yumi, is everything alright?" We asked out of concern for my currently petrified older sister. She was looking back and forth between me and Monika. The look of disbelief etched on her face.

{"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE ETHAN?! HOW?! MONIKA, HOW ARE YOU OUTSIDE THE GAME?!"}