Chapter 5: A Place to Call Home

(Being afraid of losing the place you belong...)

(If that's really what's going on, then what can I do to help Mafuyu and her mother come to an understanding...?)

...Huh? What's everyone doing here...?

Hiya, Kanade~ I didn't know you were visiting the Sekai too!

We just got here a bit ago. Mizuki and I stumbled on some interesting sweets while we were out, so we wanted to come and share them with Miku and the others.

We got some for you and Mafuyu too, so we can all chill and eat together!

Thank you...

Kanade...did something happen?

Why?

I mean...you seem kinda lost in thought...

Yeah...and it's different from when you're thinking about music. What's wrong? You can tell us.

Well...

Kanade...Why don't you share what's on your mind?

About what you were talking about with your grandmother before.

Oh, you saw that...?

But... ...you're right. Thinking about it by myself won't get me any closer to an answer.

So...

To protect the place they belong, huh...

Yeah...

...I kinda get how that feels, honestly.

You do?

...Yeah... Though I think mine and Mafuyu's situations and perspectives are totally different.

But when I thought I was losing a place I called home... I really dreaded it...and I was so afraid...

I thought that...maybe if I just keep quiet, that if I don't tell anyone the truth, then maybe things could stay the same forever--

So I shut up, I avoided everyone, and just hid myself away.

And once the pain became too much for me to bear, I thought...I don't have a choice but to run away now.

Mizuki...

So I think... Mafuyu is really incredibly strong...

She must be suffering so much, even now...

Even after she ran away from home, she's been thinking and thinking of what would be the right thing to do, hasn't she?

...I wonder if Niigo really can't be Mafuyu's home...

Niigo is deeply important to her.

I think for her, it's become a second home... And it's thanks to all of you that she can endure these circumstances...

But...

I think family is more important to her. It's a place so deeply entwined with her sense of self.

At least, that's how I think she feels.

...I guess friends aren't a substitute for family, huh...

... ...

But everything's so complicated... I feel like they'll just repeat the same mistakes if things stay the way they are now.

I think that if Mafuyu goes back to her mother, to her home, I think it'll just happen again...

(...What is...the right thing to do...?)

(Mafuyu doesn't want to lose her "family"...)

(And her mother feels the same way... They're both afraid of losing each other, but that's why they're in so much pain...)

... ... ...

...Kanade.

Hm?

What are you thinking about?