<Turn what I'm feeling now into song lyrics?>

<Yes, can you try that?>

<I think those lyrics will help me to get closer to you, like the time you were posting as OWN.>

<No. I can't do it...>

<Why not? When you were posting as OWN...>

<That was because the messy lump inside my heart forced its way out!>

<I can't consciously turn these feelings into lyrics.>

<Yuki...>

(What can I do if even Yuki doesn't understand herself?)

(But Miku said...)

(Oh, I get it...)

(If that marionette did remind Yuki of herself, like Miku said...)

<What about that marionette then?>

<What?>

<That marionette you saw at the doll exhibit made you feel sick, remember?>

<And then you had a dream about becoming one.>

<Could it be because you saw yourself in that marionette?>

<...!>

<So, Yuki. Try to remember what you saw in that marionette, and then turn those feelings into lyrics.>

<I can't...>

<Understanding your feelings may be the key I need to write a song that will save you.>

<So, please...>

<...>

<Fine, but I don't know how this will turn out...>

<That's okay...!>

That doll...

It made me feel sick because...

I don't know...

But why don't I know?

Why did it make me feel that way?

This is going to just end up like the last time...

But maybe...

Miku.

Hello, Mafuyu.

Hello...

Kanade visited a short while ago too.

She did?

Yes. She wanted to understand your feelings.

My feelings...

It's not like she can do anything even if she did.

I don't need something that's so unpleasant, painful and utterly useless.

They're not useless.

Huh?

Everything you feel is an important part of you. Even the things that are unpleasant and painful.

So they're not useless.

Everything... Is a part of me...

Why is there a doll here?

It's also a marionette.

But without any strings...

Miku, what's...

This doll has always been in your SEKAI.

You just never noticed it.

Really...?

Done. Look, Mafuyu...

I made a ladder.

I didn't know you could play cat's cradle.

Mizuki taught me.

It's fun.

I cut off the strings on the marionette and turned them into strings for cat's cradle.

...

Strings are so interesting.

You can use them to tie things together, do needlework or manipulate dolls.

And... You can also use them to make something like this.

A marionette without strings isn't a marionette anymore.

But...

It also means this doll is now free.

<Hm... It's already been an hour, but Yuki's not here yet. I guess she's still not feeling that great?>

<I just hope she doesn't suddenly vanish again like before.>

<I'm less stressed when she's not around.>

<You say that, but I know you're worried about her deep down. Enanan's a huge softie under that prickly exterior.>

<Excuse me?!>

<Anyways, K, did Yuki say anything to you?>

<Sorry, I forgot to mention. I'm asking Yuki to write some new lyrics based on how she felt when she saw that doll...>

<That doll?>

<Oh! So that's why she's not here.>

<Basically, you want her to turn the disgust she felt when she saw that marionette into song lyrics?>

<Yes.>

<Okay, but...>

<I don't understand what Miku was trying to say when she suggested Mafuyu could be seeing herself in that marionette. What do you think she means?>

<Hm, I can sorta understand why she thought they were alike. Kinda sorta.>

<Yuki pretty much does everything her mom says...>

<And a marionette is a puppet someone controls, right?>

<So she may have thought the marionette was just like her—always under someone else's control.>

<That's just silly...>

<If you don't like being manipulated, just speak up.>

<Yeah, true...>

<Sorry I'm late...>

<K, I finished the lyrics. Can you take a look?>