Monster

[You have chosen - When she decided to go talk with her special person]

That might be a reasonable choice. I don't really know anymore though...

[Sayori raised her finger sheepishly]

Sayori: Um, I like the part where she decided to talk with her special person! It may seem simple, but sometimes it takes a lot of courage to go up and talk to someone, especially if they care about them!

Yuri: Ah! That's my favorite part too!

Sayori: R-Really?

Yuri: Going up to talk to someone new... that sounds terrifying, but it is such a respectable thing.

...Why do I feel offended?

[Natsuki tilted her head to the side]

Natsuki: Are you guys going to continue after you're done with eating?

Yuri: Yes! Er... O-Only if you want to, Sayori.

Sayori: Oh, I would love to!

Natsuki: Well, if you guys are doing that, then I'll just do my own thing.

Sayori: Ah, but I'm sure it would be fine with you too!

Yuri: Y-Yes!

[Natsuki rolled her eyes]

Natsuki: It will be way too inconvenient to read with three people around. Plus, that doesn't sound like the book that I would enjoy that much anyway.

[Without waiting for a response, she had already left. Sayori turned to Yuri with concern.]

Sayori: Did I do something bad?

[Yuri shook her head]

Yuri: No, no. There really are things for her to do, so it would be best to let her do them.

Sayori: Ah, ok!

Huh? What could there possibly be for a ghost to do in a haunted mansion? Even if she wanted to scare people like a normal ghost, the only person alive here was Sayori, so she should've stayed in the room.

Reader, I'm not stupid, am I?

...Actually, don't answer that.

[Sayori finished eating rather quickly, especially because it was quite tasty to her. When she finished, Yuri already had the book open and was ready for them to read. Although Sayori was a little shy, she got up next to her like last time and the two of them continued reading.]

Ah, not this again! I at least want to know what happens in the story!

[...I suppose that's fair enough]

Wait, you're actually listening to me?

[It may be a bit annoying for the reader]

...I mean, I'm also reading the story, so I'm basically a reader too! You could take into consideration my fe-

[Sayori and Yuri continued through the chapters of the story. The girl ended up talking to her special person, and it turned out that person was actually extremely friendly. Just on their first conversation, the girl was able to exchange numbers and become friends with them.]

Sayori: I wonder who this special person is... we really don't get any description of them!

Yuri: Usually they will be an attractive guy, and they will probably have a pushy personality.

Sayori: E-Eh? How do you know?

Yuri: I've read a few of these, and it seems to be a common pattern.

Sayori: Ah, I see!

[The two then refocused on reading. The girl's relationship with that special person seemed to be going quite well. They went shopping together, went to the movies, and also went swimming.]

Sayori: Wow! I remember doing all of these things too! What a coincidence!

Yuri: Haha, I don't imagine these kinds of things are too uncommon, though.

Sayori: Eh? Really?

Yuri: W-Well, I've done all these with Natsuki before, except for the swimming.

Sayori: Hm, that's true!

Yuri: Though I suppose swimming is a little strange. How did you get in that situation?

Sayori: Eh?...

Yuri: Ah, if you don't wish to talk about it, that's alright.

Sayori: No, no! There's no problem. My friend just wanted to go swimming, so she bought swimming suits for us.

Yuri: Ah, that is quite similar to what happened to the girl, just that she was the one buying it. I take back my initial statement, you are correct.

Sayori: Hehe, it doesn't really matter anyway. Let's keep reading!

Yuri: Um, actually, do you mind if I go to sleep?

Sayori: Hm?

[It was a request that didn't make much sense to her, as it was still midday]

Yuri: Sorry, but for some reason, ghosts get really tired around this time...

Sayori: Oh, then it's fine! Do you want to continue later?

Yuri: Of course, of course. We were almost finished with chapter five, so we can just start there once we decide to continue.

[With those words, Yuri got up, though she was a bit shaky]

Yuri: Goodnight, Sayori.

Sayori: Ah... um, goodnight.

Saying goodnight when it's daytime?... I guess that's just ghost common sense.

[Yuri then left the room, leaving Sayori alone. Almost immediately, she began to feel quite bored. As such, she decided to explore the rest of the mansion to see if any of the ghosts were doing anything. However, the only populated place was now empty. All of the ghosts appeared to be sleeping.]

Sayori: Mm... where did everyone go?

They must be sleeping, didn't you hear what Yuri said?

[She continued to search the place, going through room after room, but there was nobody. Sayori had the mansion all to herself.]

Sayori: This is lonely...

Hm, but I'm technically here. But then again, I'm not really here. I guess this character can't hear me like the maiden in the main story.

[She can hear you]

...Huh? But she hasn't responded to a single thing I said.

[That is true]

I mean, I feel like she should've at least reacted to what I've said if she can hear me. So obviously, whatever system you made is bugged, so she can't hear me.

[She can hear you]

What? You didn't even deny all of the evidence I provided, in fact, you just agreed! She can't hear me!

[You are not wrong in your reasoning]

...Look, just because you messed up whatever system you have in place to pick up my voice, doesn't mean that I'm wrong. There's not even much of a point in defending yourself like this, it's not that big of a deal. Though, I really don't like the lack of control I feel.

[Regardless of what you believe, I am simply stating the truth. She can hear you.]

Ok, whatever. Hey, Sayori, do you hear me?

...Yeah, I thought so.

[After exploring all of the rooms, she didn't know what to do. As such, she decided to go outside and meet with the rest of the town. Upon opening the door, she was immediately greeted by a person outside.]

Some Guy: Hey! Why are you leaving?

Sayori: Eh? I'm just taking a stroll. I'm allowed to leave the house, right?

Some Guy: Well... yes, but you have to be back into the house before the sun sets!

Sayori: Ah, I was going to do that anyway.

[With that Sayori began walking, but the guy called out to him.]

Some Guy: Wait! You agreed to live in the house, remember?

Sayori: Yes, and I have no plans to abandon it!

Some Guy: ...Really?

Sayori: Why does everybody think I'm just going to run away?

Some Guy: You aren't?

Sayori: ...Um, no. Can I just walk around the town now?

Some Guy: Well... yes, but I have to follow you to make sure you keep to your word.

Sayori: Mm... ok then.

[Sayori proceeded to walk into the town, while the guy followed behind him. He would've looked like a creepy stalker, but the way he looked at Sayori was both disdainful and fearful. It was almost as though he believed that she was a ghost pretending to be a human. As for most of the other people in town, they had a similar look when they realized that Sayori was an outsider.]

Sayori: Hmm... people in this town seem a little gloomy.

[She attempted to approach several people to talk, but before she could, they would leave. A lady quickly tidied up their laundry and closed the door behind her once she noticed Sayori getting close. Another man that had opened the door and was planning to take a walk saw Sayori, then promptly closed the door.]

...I really don't like how these people are looking at her. It's not even me that's being looked at this way, but I still feel really uncomfortable.

Sayori: ...

Damn, and she's still keeping her smile too! Gosh...

[Eventually, Sayori came across someone that didn't run away from her the moment she got close. It was a little boy playing by himself in a sandbox. He was attempting to make castles, but they became pyramids instead.]

Sayori: Hi, what are you doing?

Little Boy: Making sandcastles!

Sayori: Can I join?

Little Boy: Sure!

...Huh. It feels like she's also a kid or something.

[The two of them played for a little while, and the man watched with an awkward expression the entire time. It looked as though he wanted to say something, but he didn't in the end.]

Little Boy: Wow! You made such a big castle!

Sayori: Hehe, maybe it's because I live in one like it too!

Little Boy: You do? I wanna see!

Sayori: I'll take you there then! There are many friends for you to meet, but I think they are sleeping right now.

Little Boy: Sleeping?

Sayori: Hehe, they are a little strange. They go to sleep after morning passes, but they are all good people!

Little Boy: Oh, ok!

[The man opened his mouth, about to say something, but he stopped himself. However, his body did tense up considerably, as though he was ready to jump out at any moment. As Sayori and the kid made their way back to the mansion, he only seemed to get more and more worried.]

Sayori: We're almost there! Just a little bit more, and we'll be at the mansion!

Little Boy: Wow! I can't wait!

Some Guy: ...

[Soon, they came across the mansion. Sayori pointed towards it with a bright smile on her face.]

Sayori: It's right over there! Do you want to come in with me?

[The little boy's excited expression froze on his face once he saw the building that Sayori was pointing to. It wasn't as though it was a decrepit place. In fact, it was quite well maintained considering nobody in the village dared to go near it.]

Little Boy: T-That's the place?

Sayori: Yeah, let's go!

[The little boy's expression immediately warped into one that was horrified. He immediately turned tail and began running as fast as possible, screaming as he went.]

Little Boy: MAMA! MAMA HELP ME A GHOST IS TRYING TO KILL ME!

...I feel like this was expected.

[Sayori stood rooted at the spot, stunned at how strong his reaction was. As for the man, he looked at her with a conflicted expression.]

Some Guy: Why are you trying to lure people into the mansion anyway?

Sayori: I'm not trying to lure them! It really isn't as bad as everyone thinks in the mansion, they just aren't giving it a chance!

Some Guy: ...Almost everyone in this town has experienced being in the house. All the children are warned about it too.

Sayori: What? You all just got the wrong impression.

[The guy let out a sigh]

Some Guy: I thought everyone else was just being a coward, being scared because other people were. So when they asked for people to live in the mansion, I readily agreed.

[His frown deepened]

Some Guy: There are some ruthless people in there.

...They didn't seem all that ruthless.

Sayori: It's just a misunderstanding!

[The guy slowly pulled up his shirt, revealing a nasty gash]

Some Guy: They were the ones that did this to me.

Sayori: ...W-What? Really?

Some Guy: I was able to find out that they desperately want to cause fear into the person that resides in the mansion, which is a far greater priority than killing or harming them realistically.

[He took in a deep breath]

Some Guy: So I took advantage of that, standing up to them, right to their faces. They didn't like that, and the weapons they wield were very real.

...Wait seriously?

Sayori: T-There must've been some sort of misunderstanding.

Some Guy: You can say that all you like, but I know what I experienced.

[His eyes narrowed]

Some Guy: It just makes me wonder what kind of monster you are, to be completely unfazed by them.

Sayori: ...