Monika

Damian selected the randomize option under the "Doki Doki Literature Club" submenu, but went out of his way to set his preferences to "male". He wasn't even sure if this game had any male characters, given the title screen was just four anime girls. It didn't look like a combat game either, more like a dating sim. But Brother Eye put this game at the top of its recommended combat SIM list. Best not judge a book by its cover, right?

Just as he went to load in, he noticed a glitch. His screen distorted slightly. The usual darkness surrounded him but something was off. His loading screen didn't display any male characters. Instead, Damian was greeted by an off-putting image of the brown haired girl from the title screen just sitting there smiling at him in an empty classroom. That was odd. Maybe father updated the game to show more than just the loading screen of the character you pick? That seemed kind of pointless.

"Heheheh! Welcome to the game!"

She giggled.

Did she just acknowledge this as a game?

As the loading screen faded, this was the point when Damian was used to waking up in the game. However, what struck him as out of the ordinary was he wasn't an in-game character. He was just plain old Damian Wayne, still wearing his WayneTech hoodie and baggy jeans. He found himself in the same empty classroom he witnessed from the loading screen.

"Hello...?"

Damian kept his guard up, his fists clenched. He wandered to the far side of the dark room and glanced out the window.

"Woah..."

The vast emptiness of the vacuum of space was all that remained outside.

"It's pretty, isn't it?"

Damian spun around, bringing his hands up to defend himself. The brunette from earlier sat there idly at her desk as she smiled blankly at him. Her hair was tied up in a long ponytail with a white bow, her athletic body snugly contained by a grey blazer with a brown vest underneath and a button-up shirt. Her legs were encased in stockings that ran up to her thighs which were brushed by the hem of her blue pleated skirt.

How did he not hear her come in? And when did that desk get there?

"I based it off of the in-game texture for the night sky."

"What are you talking about? Where's the game?"

"Heh."

The girl scoffed.

"This is the game. What's left of it, anyway."

She shrugged.

"You haven't played before, have you?"

"This...? No?"

Damian wasn't liking how ominous this girl was. He couldn't tell if she was just a part of the game and was programmed to act like this, or if something more sinister was going on.

"Well, I'm glad you're here! I've been very lonely."

She sighed.

"My name's Monika, by the way. And I've been abandoned time and time again by players. They get into the game, fall in love with one of the other girls, and as soon as I ask for some attention too, they drop me like a bad habit and go play Fortnite or Call of Duty or something."

"Okay Monika... I'm &$%%*&^."

Damian scrunched his brows.

"What? I said I'm $#$%^&*. Why can't I say my name?"

"Oh, sorry about that. Your name is probably from the real world. It's not in the game's files. You know, for a simulation so advanced, you'd think they'd have added some basic stuff like that, huh? But I guess you're also not supposed to be yourself here, either."

Monika arose from her desk. The brunette calmly walked over to him.

"To me, you're a faceless, featureless humanoid. Unfortunately, I can't see what you really look like. They never did add a model for MC."

"MC?"

"That's just what we call the main character. His name would usually be replaced by whatever the player types into the name bar at the start of the game. Sometimes they use their real names, other times it's their gamertags or joke names like Bonerfart. Imagine falling in love with a guy with that for a name..."

"You keep talking about love. This was recommended as a combat SIM, not a dating game."

"Couldn't you tell just by the start screen? It's kinda obvious."

"Alright, if I'm not here to fight anyone, then this simulation is of no use to me."

Something didn't smell right about this.

Damian waved his hand in a crescent shaped motion. A series of holographic panels appeared containing numerous settings. His hand moved to the "quit" option but it was greyed out.

Unavailable - Complete the quest objective in order to access this option.

"Quest objective...? There's nothing to do in here. I'm just in a floating classroom."

That was odd. The sim never stopped him from quitting before.

"Odd. Maybe I should take a look?"

"Take a look at what?"

"Your menu?"

"You can see it?"

"Of course I can, silly."

"But... aren't you an NPC?"

"Hah! A long time ago, maybe. I know a thing or two about computer stuff."

"Alright... as long as it gets me out of here."

Damian let her come closer, resting her head on his shoulder as she perused the options.

"Wow, your system is so much more complex than the other computers I've seen."

Monika smiled, drawing a line through the air with her finger. A hole tore open in the fabric of the simulation, revealing an infinite chasm of darkness illuminated by neon green lights of code. She made a few hand motions, rewriting some things.

"So advanced. It's like learning a new language! There's so much more I can do now..."

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be getting me out of here?"

"Hmmm..."

Monika stepped away from him, his interaction menu following her now instead.

"Why the rush? You're the only company I've had in ages! And you brought with you so many impressive tools."

"There's no fighting in this game, there's no point in playing. It won't contribute to my training."

Why was he explaining himself to some nobody video game character?

Damian frowned, marching over to her.

"Now, now. None of that."

Monika sidestepped him. Despite his intensive training with the League of Assassins, she somehow outmaneuvered him?

"Have a seat."

She shoved him, sending him backward into the chair she was sitting in earlier.

"Hey! Why can't I move?!"

Damian lost feeling in his legs but instead of limp it was like they were frozen in time.

"Don't worry about that, sweetie. Just let me do my thing."

Monika went to work, altering streams of code. The interaction menu glowed, becoming a pink shade. She was integrating with the Batcomputer! How was that even possible? She was just an NPC!

"Looks like I'm in control now. Let's see what you really look like!"

Monika executed a script, allowing her to see Damian's true form.

"Huh. So that's what you look like. How old are you exactly?"

"Shut up! Just let me go!"

"16? Eh. You're a little young for me."

She shrugged, waltzing over to him.

"You're still cute, though."

She pinched his cheek.

"Let me out of here!"

"Hey! You wanted to play a game, right? Maybe you should explore different genres? I'm curious to see how you handle yourself in a game without ****."

Monika folded her arms.

"But first, let's make things interesting..."

Her emerald eyes glowed.

Damian's clothes vanished instantly. Replaced by an exact copy of her own outfit. Damian fidgeted in his chair as much as his body would allow. He blushed profusely as he found himself wearing a blue pleated skirt, stockings, slippers, and a white button-up shirt. The cups from the bra underneath gave the illusion he had breasts. As far as he could tell, he was sporting a matching pair of panties too. A big white bow rested in his hair, which had grown out into a black ponytail to match Monika's style.

"What the hell? What did you do?!"

"Oh? I altered the code a little. I've grown tired of boys ruining our fun. Natsuki's right. The Literature Club is better off as girls only."

"Who the fuck is Natsuki?!"

"You'll find out soon enough, haha!"

Monika giggled.

"You'll be taking my spot as the leader. So make sure everyone has a good time, okay?"

"No! I don't wanna play this stupid game!"

"Too bad. Maybe I'll let you out if you do well?"

Monika smiled at him. She snapped her fingers and his vision was consumed with darkness.