So Mizuki...

Something is bothering you, right?

Something really big.

Oh...

(She doesn't know yet...)

Haha. It's nothing, really!

I probably wasn't feeling great because of what's been happening lately.

You're not fooling me.

That isn't going to work.

I have been staying up pretty late, which could be irritating my skin, you know? At this rate, it's gonna be as bad as yours, Ena...

Mizuki...

I'm being serious.

What's with you today, Ena...?

Why are you all no-nonsense now...?

Let me be honest with you. I've been hoping that you'd talk to me about this ever since we went on that mystery tour.

Again, there's nothing to talk about...

Even if there was, it has nothing to do with you, Ena...

You're wrong!

...!

I don't want to keep seeing you like this, Mizuki, because whatever you're going through is starting to affect me too...

And you know exactly what I mean.

Huh?

Whenever Kanade or Mafuyu seemed like they needed help, you wanted to be there for them, right?

That's...

Exactly the same!

It's normal to want to help out a friend when they're in need.

A friend...

(Ena's really means that...?)

(I'm her friend?)

(Oh no...

I don't know what to say...)

(Maybe Ena will understand...)

(Will things stay the same afterward if I tell her...?)

(Can I just be myself...?)

I went to SEKAI on my own after what happened that day...

And MEIKO ended up telling me this...

What did she say...?

“Sometimes, talking can make things worse.”

...

And if that's what you're dealing with, Mizuki, I don't mind.

Huh?

You don't have to tell me if you really can't right now...

...!

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up!

I don't want to see you with that awful look on your face, and I want to help you in whatever way I can...

So please, tell me when you feel you're ready. I'll be waiting until then.

Until then...?

What do you mean by that...?

You're joking, right? There's nothing else to it. I'm gonna wait for as long as I need to until you're ready to talk to me about this...

As long as you need to...?

...

Mizuki?

It could be a really long time, you know...?

I'll just have to wait patiently by your side until then. Oh, FYI, I'm not letting you run away from this or me, okay?

By my side... Until then...?

Haha. Oh, Ena...

There's no way you're gonna be...

Oh...

(She's completely serious...)

(I want to tell her...)

(I have to tell her. She's genuinely worried about my well-being.)

(I need to believe in her, and find a way to tell her.)

(Ena might actually understand...)

...

Mizuki...?

Thanks, Ena...

Thank you so much.

I feel a lot better now.

I can't tell you right now, but when I feel ready... I hope you'll be willing to hear me out...

Would that work...?

Okay, I understand...

I'm the worst when it comes to waiting, but I'll make a special exception for you.

So promise to tell me when you're ready...

I will...

Good.

Oh, crap!

Class is about to start!

Huh? Really?

This is when your classes start? I never knew that!

Now I've done it.

I'm gonna be late...!

But you're always tardy.

What's one more blotch on your record gonna do?

No, I'm not! Shut up!

I don't have time for that right now! Where'd I put my bag...?

Haha! Hurry, hurry♪

(That's a lie...)

(I just lied to her.)

(The idea that she'd stay my friend forever if I never tell her actually crossed my mind...)

(No, there's no such thing as “forever”. But I want to enjoy every second of what I have now...)

(I want to keep having fun with N25... With Ena... So...)

(...)

(I'm such an awful person...)

(Haha. Ena's gonna be so mad when she realizes that...)

(She will... Right...?)

(*Sigh*)

(Isn't there anyone out there who can tell her all this for me?)

Okay, time to go. Oh, Mizuki!

Hm? Yeah?

See you later tonight!

Yeah, see you on Nightcord...!

Sorry, Ena...