(It was just another day in the clubroom as any. But there was one thing missing from the normal experience here - Sayori. She had always been there for me. I could see Monika working on a new poem. Even though I was 5 months pregnant, I felt a sense of worry. Just then, Yuri approached me.)

Yuri: “Is everything okay, Natsuki?”

(I turned towards her - the weight of my pregnancy obvious. Just then, Sayori entered the room.)

Sayori: “Hey, guys! Sorry I’m late! I was getting stuff ready for Natsuki’s gender reveal.”

(She had brought all the things needed for my gender reveal - pink and blue balloons and everything. However, she brough two black balloons with her - which puzzled me, since I thought she’d only bring one black balloon for me to pop to reveal the gender of my baby.)

Monika: (finished with her poem) “Wait, why did you bring two black balloons? I thought you were only bringing one black balloon for the reveal.”

Sayori: “Oh, um…well, I thought it would be a good idea to have a backup, just in case something went wrong or if Natsuki wanted to have some fun popping more balloons!”

(I looked at Sayori, a mix of confusion and curiosity filling my expression. Sayori’s normally bright and cheerful demeanor seemed slightly off today, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on.)

Natsuki: “Well, okay, I guess it can’t hurt to have a backup. But what made you think something might go wrong, Sayori?”

(Sayori hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around the room before she finally spoke.)

Sayori: “Well, you know, sometimes balloons can be a bit unpredictable. Pop before we even have a chance to start, you know?”

(Yuri stared at Sayori with a raised eyebrow, clearly not buying her explanation. Before anyone could press further, Monika stepped in with a reassuring smile.)

Monika: “Alright, everyone, let’s not worry too much about it. Sayori probably just thought it would be fun to have an extra balloon. Besides, we’re here to celebrate Natsuki and her baby, so let’s focus on that!”

(I nodded along, accepting Monika’s explanation. However, a part of me couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to Sayori’s actions. But I brushed it off, deciding to enjoy the day instead of dwelling on uncertainties.)

(The gender reveal began, and the room filled with excitement as I popped the first balloon. A cloud of pink confetti burst out, confirming that I was having a baby girl. The atmosphere was filled with congratulatory cheers, and I couldn’t help but feel blissful in that moment.)

(I popped the second balloon, and a small piece of paper fell out. It read “Meet me in the park at 10:00 PM. I’ll tell you my surprise. - Sayori”. What kind of surprise did she have in store? That night at 10 PM, I headed to the park to see Sayori.)

Sayori: “Ah! Hello, Natsuki! It’s about time I told you about my surprise.”

(She was holding a wine glass with a strange, dark red liquid. To my knowledge, Sayori didn’t drink wine.)

Natsuki: “Sayori, what’s going on? Why are you holding a wine glass? And what’s in it?”

Sayori: “Oh, this? It’s not wine at all - it’s actually related to my…‘unique’ heritage. I’m actually a lot different than my parents.”

(She drank the mysterious liquid, and surprisingly felt fine. I was a little worried. But then, she ran off quickly and came back with a very different look - her skirt and two layers of her outfit were black, the normally orange part of her outfit was blood red, and her skin was pale white.)

Sayori: “Surprise! What do you think?”

Natsuki: (Taken aback) “Sayori, what did you do to yourself? Is this some kind of prank or a costume?”

Sayori: (Smiling mischievously) “Oh, it’s not a prank, Natsuki. This is the real me, my true form, if you will. I’ve been hiding it for so long, but now I finally have the courage to embrace who I truly am.”

Natsuki: (Confused and concerned) “But Sayori, why would you hide something like this? You’re always so happy and cheerful. I don’t understand.”

Sayori: (Her smile fading slightly) “I know I’ve always come across that way, but underneath it all, there’s a darkness within me. I’ve always felt different, like an outsider. I wanted to fit in, to be ‘normal’, so I hid my true self. More importantly, hiding my true self renders me immune to the sun’s rays - which would otherwise make me feel like I was on actual fire.”

Natsuki: “Sayori, this is a lot to take in. I never would have guessed that you had a hidden side like this. But what’s the strange liquid in your glass?”