Chapter 5: Because We're Friends
The Empty Sekai
Welcome, everyone.
What’s going on?
We just finished a new demo, so I wanted Miku and everyone else to hear it.
Wow… I wonder what kind of song it is? I’m excited to hear it.
Me too.
…Oh? It seems like Mizuki is absent again today.
Mm… It seems like she’s still busy.
I see…
… …
(Ever since then, I’ve been to all the places I could think of that Mizuki would go…)
(But… I still couldn’t find her…)
(…I wonder if she’s even left her house…)
(Shiraishi-san sending a message in my stead would be my last resort, but… …I wonder if I shouldn’t do that anymore.)
(But…)
…Ena? Is something wrong?
You seem kind of lost in thought.
Ah…
Uh, well…
…Did something happen between you and Mizuki?
Eh? Wh-why would you think that…
You’ve been acting like this ever since she stopped showing up.
… …Sorry.
Well, you’re right, but…
…I can’t tell you guys the details right now…
… …
…Hey, Ena…
…Is there something we can do…?
H-huh…?
Well, I don’t know what happened, but…
If you’re this worried about it, then I think it must be really important.
So… I want to help, too.
You and Mizuki are my precious friends from Niigo, after all.
Kanade…
…I want to help too.
If Mizuki doesn’t show up, it’ll be a problem.
I’ll go too.
I had a hand in things turning out like this, so I have to take responsibility.
We want to help too, if we can.
Everyone…
Thank you…
Then…can we go look for Mizuki together…?
I want to find her and talk to her…since she’s not responding to my messages…
Got it.
Though, how are you going to find her?
She isn’t reading her messages, right?
Yeah…
At least she’s been responding to one of her friends, it seems…
But… I don’t want to pressure her to respond to too many people…
…So the only thing we can do search in places where she might be.
In the end, that’s our only option.
(…Up until now, a thorough search wasn’t feasible for me…)
(But…)
(I’m not alone anymore…everyone is helping me now.)
(So…I’m sure…)
Please, I’m counting on you two.
Alright.
Shopping Center
The next day
[Is Mizuki not here?]
Nope… I remember that there’s a sewing lounge that she visits frequently, so I thought she might be here…
[I see…]
[Kanade, are there any fabric stores nearby?]
Eh? Huh…well… I didn’t check, so I’m not sure…
[She said to me once that there was a cute fabric store she wanted to go to nearby.]
Did she, now…?
Okay, I’ll look some up, so give me a minute…
Kamiyama High School Courtyard
A few days later
… …
[Hey, is she here?]
I’m not sure.
If she was on her way home, she’d be coming out now. Though she might have left earlier or she might not have come to school at all.
… …
Asahina-san?
Hm…?
Oh, Aoyagi-kun! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
Yes, it’s good to see you again. Are you waiting for someone?
Ah…yes. I was passing by and thought I should say hello to Mizuki.
Akiyama?
Unfortunately, she was absent today…
Oh, was she? Thank you for letting me know.
Actually, can I ask you for a favor, Aoyagi-kun?
Miyamasuzaka
A few days later
She’s not here either…
(…This brand is releasing their new line, so I thought she’d definitely show up…)
(…No, maybe she just hasn’t come yet.)
(She might come in the evening…So I’ll wait a bit longer.)
(Even then, if I don’t see her… Maybe she’s been alone all this time…)