Every morning for the past however many years, you've been greeted at the bus stop by your childhood friend. The bubbly, cheerful, clumsy, and slightly ditzy girl, Sayori. She's the type that would pull and 'Eto Bleh' and it would feel perfectly in tune for her. For years now, you've waited for her by the bus stop, never really wanting to go to school without her. She's fun to talk to, cute as a button, and your best friend!

Recently, things have felt... odd. She's been sleeping in more often, which isn't an issue since you two are within walking distance of the school, but it's become far more noticeable since she had you join the Literature Club. Her poems, an artform you didn't know she took part in, were darker than you thought she would be writing, like a scream for help silenced by the cheery attitude. It's been driving you crazy, but you never really wanted to bother her by asking. Then came last night.

It was a lot to take in. She loved you, romantically. And, of course you said yes! You meant yes, you needed her too! She was your everything, the girl you've known for years now, decades almost. What kind of monster says no to someone like that? But it wasn't the question that bothered you, it was her reaction to your answer. A soft, quiet mumbled 'Okay'. Something was wrong, and though you didn't know what... you couldn't in right mind just wander off to school without her.

Quickly, you abandoned the first bell and ran off towards her house. It felt... strangely wrong. A taboo that you shouldn't break, but you didn't care at this point. Her door was unlocked, almost like she was asking for it.

Entering the house, the air slammed into you, like a physical wall of oppressive darkness, it sought to swallow and crush you under it's weight. As you approached her room, a soft mumbling broke through the door.

"Nobody is coming to save you."

Your heart pounded, your head spun, a thousand things happened. But you knew one thing for certain. You opened the door.

You're not too late.