Chapter 8: Choices

[...Honestly, I don't think there's even a correct answer to this problem.]

[Plus I don't think we should be sticking our noses into Mafuyu and her family's business...]

[...I agree.]

[So we were both thinking...]

[...To be honest, I think what you were thinking is for the best.]

[For both of them to truly confront their feelings and to move back in with each other...]

[Huh...?]

[Even if they hurt each other, being able to talk about it and move forward...that would be the best outcome, in my opinion.]

[But...]

[I think now isn't the right time...]

[What do you mean?]

[We've only heard about it, but...it seems like Mafuyu gets hurt every time she sees her mother...]

[But that's not the only reason...]

[I was thinking about us, about me and Mizuki, I mean.]

[Mmhm...]

[I was thinking about everything from back then...]

[Why couldn't I get ahold of Mizuki... I remember wishing that I could've at least told her something, anything.]

[Oh...]

[But... Now, when I look back on it, I'm glad I didn't say something I shouldn't have said.]

[What do you mean...?]

[Back then, my feelings were still...all over the place, you know?]

[I hadn't really considered Mizuki's feelings, and I understood my feelings even less.]

[So I'm sure...if I spoke to Mizuki when I was feeling like that, I would've just said something even more hurtful.]

[I might have said something I couldn't take back...]

[I feel the same way.]

[Back then, I felt so...messed up. Like I couldn't handle anyone else's feelings.]

[I think...if she said something to me, I wouldn't have taken it very well.]

[So... How should I put it...?]

[I think people need time to truly confront their feelings.]

[It'll give both people time to sort out their emotions and figure out what they should do.]

[I agree...]

[So... Maybe 'keeping some distance' is a choice...]

[Obviously we don't think it should be forever or anything!]

[But...I think rushing things will just make the situation worse.]

[I think having some time and space can help people sort out how they really feel.]

[Maybe while they're apart, they can both focus on themselves and grow...]

[Grow, huh...]

(It's true that Mafuyu's mother has changed a lot since I first met her...)

(...Maybe in the time they spent apart, her mentality changed a bit...)

(...But...)

[They want to be together and love each other again...]

[I'm sure they both want that, because they're family...]

[Yeah...]

[But...I think it's too hard to do that right now.]

[I'm pretty different from Mafuyu since I really hated my dad, but...]

[Because of that, there were so many things I avoided seeing, or just outright ignored... I finally realized that.]

[So... ...I think it's really hard to change the way you think.]

[... ...]

[And...I know Mafuyu and her mother are doing their best to confront their feelings...]

[But every time they try, they end up hurting each other...]

[...]

[Maybe if they confront it, things will actually change, but...]

[We can't know that for certain.]

[I just wanted you to know there are choices, and she doesn't just have to keep facing it forever...]

[I understand...]

(She's right...)

(Mafuyu is scared, but she cares so much about her mother too...)

(And those feelings are deeply embedded in her heart, so she can't easily change them...)

(Honestly... I was hoping they could still live together, as family...)

(I felt like if they loved each other, surely, being together would make them happiest.)

(But...)

(... ...What would be the best for them?)

(I...)

[Sorry for bringing this up to you...]

[Just remember that this was our opinion, so it's not the solution or anything.]

[Mm...I understand.]

[But...thank you for talking to me. When I was trying to come up with something by myself, I really wasn't sure what to do...]

[Though... I'm worried about whether or not we should tell Mafuyu about this.]

[...I think if we do tell her, her life will probably change...]

[But we wanted to at least talk to you, Kanade.]

[...Thanks.]

[I'm going to...think a little bit more about what to do.]

['Kay, we'll talk to you later! Ena and I have to get back to work, and I think Mafuyu's waiting for us.]

[Okay. Thank you, I'll see you later.]

[Oh, before you go...!]

[What is it?]

[...Don't push yourself too hard, okay?]

[I know you're working really hard to save Mafuyu, and I respect that.]

[It's just...]

[You should take care of yourself, too..]

[Because...your happiness shouldn't depend on just that.]

[Ah...]

[If anything comes up, just message me, okay? ...That's all I wanted to say.]

[See you later.]

I hope someday you can live life for yourself, Kanade-chan.

A life of your own, where you aren't bound to anyone else.

And if Mafuyu doesn't need you or your music anymore...what will you do?

(Me...and...Mafuyu...)

...I have to think.

(If I want to save Mafuyu, I have to come up with the best way to do it...)

(I have to consider what Ena said, what Mizuki said...)

(And what Luka said...)

(I have to think...so I can answer them.)