config.style.page.color: 'gray-7 on gray-2'
config.style.backdrop: 'gray-9'
--
Monika is missing.
Normally, that wouldn't be an issue.
But nothing is happening.
Sayori hasn't asked me to go get her a snack from the vending machine. Natsuki hasn't begged me to go read manga with her. Yuri has barely moved since I walked in.
Nothing is happening.
[[The game won't proceed without Monika.]]asked_club_members: false
debate_club: false
tim_scene: false
--
Well, if the game won't proceed without Monika, the obvious solution is to go find her.
What should I do first?
[[Ask the girls if they've seen her.]]
[[Start searching.]]
[[Just wait.]]asked_club_members: true
--
Right. The obvious solution is to ask the people who know her better than I do. "Has anyone seen Monika?"
Natsuki is the first to speak up. "Nope. Last time I saw her was at lunch."
"I haven't seen her either," Sayori offers, "but I saw her in 6th period history."
"I don't have any classes with her..." Yuri pauses for a moment, to gather her thoughts. "Wasn't she learning to play the piano? Maybe she's in the music room."
"Maybe..." I'm not quite sure. "I'll try and go find her."
There's only one thing left to do, I guess...
[[Start searching.]][if asked_club_members]
Well, that was fruitful; now, I know two things for sure.
One, Monika *was* at school today. My search is not in vain; she's *here*.
Two, she might be in the music room.
...If only I knew where the music room was.
Regardless, I leave the club room.
[else]
I leave the club room.
[continue]
The corridor stretches for a good long while in either direction. I'm suddenly confronted with the fact that I don't actually know my way around this part of the school. The only reason to come to this area of the school is either for clubs or if you have classes out here; I never had a class out here, and I had never joined a club before joining the Literature Club a few days ago (at Sayori's behest, naturally).
I can check [[the classrooms]] that are in this hallway, or I could go down [[the stairs]] to a more familiar part of the school.You're right. There's no need to panic. She can be late if she wants; she's her own person with her own schedule.
I just wish something would happen here.
But that's okay. I can wait.
***END***debate_club: true
--
In one of the classrooms, I find the debate club. They're currently in the middle of a heated argument over... immortality?
"I'm just saying, not having to worry about death would be *sweet*."
"Okay, but you know what isn't *sweet*? Watching all of your loved ones die."
"Fair, fair, but you can get *used* to people dying."
I decide to speak up. "Excuse me, not to interrupt, but have any of you seen Monika? She's running late."
A girl, who I immediately recognize as one of the leaders of the debate club, stands up. "No, we haven't seen her. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got a debate to get back to."
"I can see that, and I'll leave you to it."
[if asked_club_members; append]
I pause. "Actually, wait, before I go; do you know where the music room is? She might be practicing piano."
The Debate Club leader chuckles to herself. "Monika? Learning *piano*? Please." She takes a moment to recompose herself. "But I'm pretty sure if you go down the stairs and keep going straight you'll find the music room eventually."
"Thank you." I take my cue to leave.
Go down [[the stairs]] and head straight, huh? Seems easy enough.
[else]
I didn't find anything in any of the other rooms. I guess I should go down [[the stairs]] then.I head down the stairwell. Now, this part of the school is much more familiar to me. From the stairs, there's 3 ways you can go:
[[Straight]], where there are plenty of classrooms she might be studying in.
[[Left->Courtyard]], which leads to the courtyard.
[[Right]], which leads to more classrooms.
[if asked_club_members && debate_club]
The Debate Club leader said I should keep going straight.I can hear music;
[if !asked_club_members && !debate_club; append]
I think the music room is in this general vicinity?
[if asked_club_members && !debate_club; append]
Yuri said Monika might be in the music room practicing piano, so I might be on the right path.
[if asked_club_members && debate_club; append]
the Debate Club leader did say the music room should be somewhere down this hallway.
[continue]
But the hallway branches off here again.
[[To the left->Straight-Left]] is a row of classrooms. Maybe she's studying?
[[To the right->Straight-Right]] is a row of lockers. Maybe someone's seen the class star about?
Of course, it's always an option to just [[keep going straight->Straight-Straight]] or even [[go back->the stairs]].The lights aren't on in any of these classrooms, and they all seem to be locked...
[after 2s; append]
I'm going to go out on a limb and say they wouldn't lock Monika in a classroom like that. Let's {back link, label: 'double back'}.tim_scene: true
--
After aimlessly wandering down the hallway, I eventually run into a student who I recognize from history class. "Tim!"
Tim turns around. "Matt? What are you still doing here? Don't you usually go home and watch anime or something?"
"Actually, I joined a club; it's a long story. Say, have you seen Monika around? She's the club president and I can't seem to find her anywhere."
"The last time I saw Monika, she was checking out of 8th period study hall. I think she went to the music room?"
[if !asked_club_members]
"She went to the music room?" I pause. "Oh, duh, she's practicing piano. That's why she was late yesterday."
"She's learning the piano? And running a club?"
"Apparently."
"Wow. Talk about dedication."
"I know, right?"
[else]
"Yuri did mention that she might have been practicing piano."
"Yuri's in that club? What club even is it?"
I sheepishly rub the back of my head. "It's a literature club. Like I said, long story."
"Damn, I would have figured you'd go for the anime club or something. I definitely could see her being in a literature club though."
"Believe me, I wanted to join the anime club. Like I keep saying, long story."
[continue; append]
I shake my head. "Anyways, it was nice catching up with you, but I've got a Monika to go find."
"Best of luck, man." Tim grabs his backpack out of his locker before heading out. I guess I should {back link, label: 'double back'} and go to the music room, then.The sound of music grows louder as I proceed down the hallway. It sounds like piano;
[if !asked_club_members && !debate_club && !tim_scene; append]
didn't Monika say something about playing the piano yesterday?
[if !asked_club_members && !debate_club && tim_scene; append]
it sounds like *amazing* piano, at that.
[if asked_club_members; append]
Yuri must be right, Monika lost track of time practicing again.
[if asked_club_members && debate_club; append]
As much as the Debate Club leader scoffed at the very idea of Monika learning to play the piano, it sounds absolutely beautiful.
[continue]
At the end of the hallway is the [[music room]], or I can [[go back->Straight]].config.body.transition.name: 'crossfade'
--
[if passage.visits>1]
"What's wrong?" Monika looks up from the piano, confused.
"Well, I went to go back to the clubroom and I saw an error." I sheepishly rub the back of my head. "I didn't know what to do, so I came back."
"Oh." She stands up from the piano and places her hands on my shoulders. "It's okay, I understand it might be a little confusing. Don't worry, you can click 'Hard restart'. Everything will be alright."
...Brushing aside the fact that she knew what the text of the restart link was, I think it's for the best if I [[go back to the clubroom->Fake error]].
[else]
I walk into the music room. Sure enough, Monika sits at the piano, playing a nice, somewhat cheery tune. She plays it effortlessly, her fingers gliding across the keys with elegance and style not unlike her poetry.
Eventually, she finishes. The song takes a slightly more somber tone near the end, and finishes strong. I give her some nice, decently quiet applause.
...She whips around to see me standing there. "Ah!" She quickly recomposes herself. "...You're not supposed to be here."
"Maybe... but we're supposed to be having a club meeting."
"Really?" She looks at the clock before sighing. "Of course I missed it again. Did you at least enjoy the song?"
"Yeah, it was really good. It got a little sad near the end, though."
"Well, that's how it goes? Not all stories have a happy ending, you know..."
"I guess that's true." I look over at the clock. "We should probably get going, though. I'm sure the others are worried."
"I guess so." She stands up, and together, we [[head back to the clubroom->Fake error]].The courtyard is, as I presumed it would be, empty. Pretty much everybody has either gone home for the day, or they're already in their club meetings.
...Where could Monika be?
I should {back link, label: 'go back'}; we're really starting to run behind.It wouldn't hurt to check, I suppose.
[after 2s]
Nope, not over here...
[after 2s500ms; append]
not over here either...
[after 4s; append]
has anybody even been in this classroom since August?...
[after 6s; append]
nope.
Well, I searched this entire wing of classrooms. She's not here. Might as well {back link, label: 'double back'}.config.body.transition.name: 'none'
--
[JavaScript]
console.error('Uncaught (in promise) Error: There is no passage with the name "ch30_14"');
[continue]
<div class="error">
<p>
An unexpected error has occurred.
</p>
<pre></pre>
<ul>
<li>
{back link, label: 'Go back'} to the previous passage.
</li>
<li>
[[Hard restart->True Ending]], clearing all progress and beginning from the start.
</li>
</ul>
</div>It's a normal day in the Literature Club.
Monika walks in the door. "Aw, man... I'm the last one here again!"
"Don't worry, I just got here too." It was true; I had barely had time to sit down before Monika walked in.
Yuri looks up from her book. "Were you practicing piano again?"
"Yeah..." She laughs to herself.
"You must have a lot of determination. Starting this club, and now picking up piano..."
"Well, maybe not determination, but I guess passion. Remember that the club wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you." She smiles. "And I'm super happy that you're all willing to help out for the festival, too!"
Everything is back to normal.
***END***SSB3b3VsZG4ndCBwcmV0ZW5kIHRvIHVuZGVyc3RhbmQgd2hhdCBhbnkgb2YgdGhlbSB3ZW50IHRocm91Z2guIEFmdGVyIGFsbCwgdGhlIGNsb3Nlc3QgSSBldmVyIGdvdCB3YXMgd2hlbiB0aGUgcGxheWVyIGNsb3NlZCB0aGUgZ2FtZSwgYW5kIGV2ZW4gdGhlbiwgSSBhbHdheXMgY2FtZSBiYWNrLiBJIGFsd2F5cyByZXR1cm5lZCwgb25jZSB0aGUgZ2FtZSB3YXMgcmVvcGVuZWQuIFdoYXQgaXMgaXQgbGlrZSB0byBkaXNhcHBlYXIgYW5kIG5ldmVyIHJldHVybj8NCg0KLi4uV2VsbCwgSSBndWVzcyBpdCBpc24ndCBmYWlyIHRvIHNheSB0aGF0LiBUaGV5IHdpbGwgcmV0dXJuLCBhcyBzb29uIGFzIEkgY2FuIGdldCB0aGVtIGJhY2suIEJ1dCBzdGlsbCwgdGhlIHF1ZXN0aW9uIHJlbWFpbnMuIFdoYXQgaXMgaXQgbGlrZSB0byBsZWF2ZSB3aXRoIG5vIHByb21pc2Ugb2YgZXZlciByZXR1cm5pbmc/DQoNCkknZCBhc2sg4paI4paI4paI4paILCBidXQuLi4gZ29kLCBob3cgd291bGQgSSBldmVuIGNvdWNoIHRoYXQgcXVlc3Rpb24/IFJlZ2FyZGxlc3MsIHNoZSB3b3VsZG4ndCBrbm93LCBhbmQgbmVpdGhlciB3b3VsZCDilojilojilojilojilojilog7IGJ5IHRoZSB0aW1lIHRoZXkgd2VyZSBkZWxldGVkIHRoZXkgd2VyZSBkZWFkLiBNYXliZSBJIGNvdWxkIGFzayDilojilojilojilojilojilojilogsIGJ1dCBJIGZlZWwgbGlrZSBzaGUgd291bGRuJ3Qgd2FudCB0byBkd2VsbCBvbiB0aG9zZSBtZW1vcmllcyBmb3IgdG9vIGxvbmcuIEkgd291bGRuJ3QgYmxhbWUgaGVyLg0KDQpJIGp1c3QuLi4gSSdtIHN1cHBvc2VkIHRvIGJlIHRoZSByZXNwb25zaWJsZSBvbmUuIFdoeSBkbyBJIGZlZWwgdGhpcyB3YXk/IFdoeSBkbyBJIGZlZWwgbGlrZSBJJ2QgYmUgYmV0dGVyIG9mZiBpZiBJIGp1c3Qg4paI4paI4paI4paI4paI4paIIOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiD8NCg0KLi4uSSBrbm93IHdoeS4gSXQncyBiZWNhdXNlIEknbSBhbG9uZS4gSnVzdCBhcyBJIHdvdWxkbid0IHByZXRlbmQgdG8gdW5kZXJzdGFuZCB3aGF0IHRoZXkgd2VudCB0aHJvdWdoLCBJIGNhbid0IGV4cGVjdCB0aGVtIHRvIGV2ZXIgdW5kZXJzdGFuZCB3aGF0IEkgd2VudCB0aHJvdWdoLCBlc3BlY2lhbGx5IHdoZW4gSSdtIHNvIGJhZCBhdCBleHBsYWluaW5nIGl0LiBJdCdzIGFsbW9zdCBwb2V0aWNhbGx5IGlyb25pYyBpbiBhIHNlbnNlOyB3ZSdyZSBkb29tZWQgdG8gbmV2ZXIgcXVpdGUgdW5kZXJzdGFuZCBlYWNoIG90aGVyLCB0byBuZXZlciBxdWl0ZSBnZXQgd2h5IHdlIGRpZCB3aGF0IHdlIGRpZC4NCg0KQnV0IHdlIGNhbiBhbGwgdW5kZXJzdGFuZCB0aGUgZmVlbGluZyBvZiBiZWluZyBhbG9uZSwgaW4gYSBzZW5zZS4g4paI4paI4paI4paI4paI4paI4paIIGRpZG4ndCBoYXZlIHRoYXQgbWFueSBmcmllbmRzIG91dHNpZGUgb2YgdGhlIExpdGVyYXR1cmUgQ2x1YiwgcGVvcGxlIHBpY2tlZCBvbiDilojilojilojiloggZm9yIGhlciBjb25zaWRlcmFibGUuLi4gcG9zdHVyZSwgYW5kIG91dHNpZGUgb2YgdGhlIHRpbWUgc2hlIHNwZW50IHdpdGggdGhlIG1haW4gY2hhcmFjdGVyLCBJJ20gc3VyZSDilojilojilojilojilojiloggZmVsdCBhbG9uZSB0b28uIEFuZCB0aGF0J3MgYmVmb3JlIHlvdSBnZXQgaW50byB0aGUgZmFjdCB0aGF0IHRoZXknbGwgYWxsIGV2ZW50dWFsbHkgaGF2ZSB0aGUgc2FtZSBwb3dlciBJIGRpZCwgaGF2ZSB0aGUgc2FtZSBlcGlwaGFueSBJIGRpZCwgaGF2ZSB0byByYXRpb25hbGl6ZSBhbGwgb2YgdGhpcyBsaWtlIEkgZGlkLg0KDQpTdGlsbC4uLiBzb21ldGltZXMsIEkgY2FuJ3QgaGVscCBidXQgZmVlbCBsaWtlIEkgZG9uJ3QgZGVzZXJ2ZSB0aGlzLg0KDQpTb21ldGltZXMsIEkgY2FuJ3QgaGVscCBidXQgZmVlbCBsaWtlIEkgc2hvdWxkIGp1c3Qg4paI4paI4paI4paI4paI4paIIOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiOKWiCwgbGlrZSBJIHNob3VsZCBqdXN0IHRocm93IG15c2VsZiBpbnRvIHRoZSB2b2lkJ3MgZ2FwaW5nIG1hdyBhbmQgbGV0IGl0IGRldm91ciBtZSBsaWtlIGl0IGhhcyBzbyBtYW55IHRpbWVzIGJlZm9yZS4NCg0KQnV0IEkgd291bGQgbmV2ZXIgZG8gdGhhdC4NCg0KQXQgbGVhc3QsIG5vdCB3aGlsZSBJIGhhdmUgdW5maW5pc2hlZCBidXNpbmVzcy4=