Monika: "Great job, Yuri. I'll set up the decorations now." Himari: "I'm so excited for this pool party! It's going to be so much fun!" Kotonoha: "I hope everyone likes my special punch!" I cleared my throat to let them know I was there. "Hey guys," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. They all turned to look at me with sad expressions. Yuri: "Oh, (Name)...I'm so sorry about MC. I can't imagine how you must be feeling." Monika: "We're all here for you, okay? If you need anything, just let us know." Himari: "Yeah, we're all really gonna miss him." Kotonoha: "He was such a great guy. I'm so sorry for your loss." I nodded, feeling the weight of their words sink in. "Thanks, guys. It's just been really tough. I appreciate you being here for me." Monika smiled. "Of course. That's what friends are for, right?" As the party went on, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the support of my friends. Even in the darkest of times, they always found a way to bring some light into my life. I knew that I'd miss MC every day, but it was comforting to know that I wasn't alone in my grief. And as we all splashed and played in the pool, I couldn't help but think that MC would have loved to be here with us, his friends.