<Alright, let's get started.

So...>

<In terms of a workflow, I was thinking that I'd take your illustrations, Enanan, and turn them into a video. How does that sound?>

<Yes, that sounds good!>

<Then, let's go with that.

Oh, however, I won't have much to do while I wait for you to complete your illustrations, so...>

<Would it be alright if I asked you to draw me a rough draft first? It should help me figure out what kind of video I want to make.>

<Like some sketches?

Yes, I can do that.>

<Oh, but we can always work together if you ever need any help! It's nice to sort of have free reign, but I'm the sort of person that needs some structure.>

<Hehe. I really appreciate it.

Fortunately, I have a good idea of what I want to draw, so I should be able to get a rough draft to you in fairly short order.>

<Really? Thank you.>

<Then, let me know once it's finished. In the meantime, I'll listen to that song again and try coming up with some ideas.>

<Okay, I'll do that!

For now, I'll be muting myself while I work.>

(Okay...

That clears up how we're actually gonna work together.)

(This feels kinda strange...

I'm so used to making videos by myself.)

(But I should brainstorm while I wait for her to send me that rough draft...)

(Man, this song's way too good...)

(This pain and suffering... You get such a clear picture... It's like K and Yuki have actually been to the depths of despair...)

It's like when you're unable to talk because you're in so much pain...

This mix of turbulence and silence really sticks out in my mind...

How do I turn that into a video...? Hmm...

<Amia, my rough draft's finished.>

Huh? Already...?

Oh, I need to unmute myself.

<That was fast.

I wasn't expecting you to have it ready so soon.>

<I think I have K's song to thank for that. I usually end up hitting a wall and have a hard time coming up with ideas... Oh, I'll send it over now.>

(What did she draw this time...?

I can't help but have high hopes since her last illustration was so good.)

<Oh...>

(It's a drawing of a girl screaming...)

(So this is her interpretation...

It's pretty different from what I had in mind...)

(But I really like it...

You can tell exactly what she's saying.)

<How is it...?

Is there anything that concerns you...?>

<No, not at all!

I think it's a really great drawing.>

<Y-You do? Thank goodness...>

<I'd like to take what you drew and start thinking about how to turn it into a video, so you can keep working on what you have.>

<Okay!>

Okay, I can throw in a wipe here for the first verse and...

Hm...?

But it doesn't really go well with the second verse... How do I deal with that?

Maybe some different effects?

That might change the feel...

(I could try an effect where the screaming girl gets filled in black...)

No, that won't work...

On one hand, I can try out some different things, but on the other, that might make it harder for me to tie this part into the chorus...

...

But it does kinda work...

(Why don't I feel as motivated as last time? Before, I was able to charge on ahead without even thinking about getting permission to use someone else's art...)

(Something's different this time...)

Maybe I should ask Enanan...

But she's probably hard at work drawing right now...

(Plus...)

There's something wrong with them.

(That's how things have always been...)

(Everything I believed, felt and wanted to do...)

<Um, Amia...?

Are you there?>

Huh? Oh...

<Yes, I'm here. Can I help you?>

<So, um...

About my rough draft...>

<Huh?>

<It's just... I noticed that you paused for a moment when you took your first glance at it.>

<And I began to wonder...

Is something about my drawing bothering you?>

<What...?>

<It's sort of easy for me to tell because I've been drawing since I was little. Based on your reaction, you seemed...confused...>

<Initially, I thought I was overreacting...

But I gave it some time and realized that I probably wasn't...>

<I was... Um...

I wasn't confused per se...>

<I really don't know anything about art...>

<That's perfectly fine.

I just want to hear about what you felt when you saw my drawing, Amia.>

<What I felt...?>

<I...>

<I mean, if something about it really is bothering you, can't you just tell me?>

<Yes, I really hate it when someone says that my art's garbage...>

<But I hate it even more when people treat me with kid gloves and tip-toe around everything!>

<Oh...>

(If she's willing to say that, then I should probably just honestly tell her what I felt...)

(Although, there's no guarantee that she'll understand my interpretation of this song...)

(Every so often, I'd meet people who understand the pain I feel...)

<This is just my humble opinion...>

<But something seemed odd about how this girl's screaming.>

<Why is that...?>

<So, when I listened to this song...>

<I felt this terrible pain. The kind of pain that keeps you even from screaming...>

<The kind of pain that keeps you from screaming...?>

<So, instead of having a girl shouting, I think it might be better to make it look like she's trying to smile even though she really isn't in the mood to...>

<Like she's forcing herself to smile...?>

<I'm not sure I get what you mean...>

(Yeah, I had a feeling...)

<Sorry, let's forget what I just said.>

<Why did you feel that way, Amia?>

<Huh?>

<I mean, when you feel emotional pain, you suffer physically too, right...?>

<This absolute unbearable amount of pain that you feel and want to do something about... But you can't, so you have no other choice but to scream.>

<That was my interpretation of why this song felt so turbulent.>

<I see...>

<I definitely understand what you mean by that...>

(Because there was a time when I also felt that pain...)

(Each time someone hurt me, I'd always ask myself, “Why me?” I was shouting that within my heart...)

(And I have a feeling that Enanan bears some similar scars...)

(But...)

<But I believe it's possible to be stricken with so much pain that you can't even scream.>

<What?>

<After feeling an incredible amount of pain for a really long time, there comes a point where you stop caring about anything.>

<And you try to do something fun to forget about that pain... But it doesn't go away...>

<How would anyone have the energy to scream at that point...?>

<...>

(Oh...

I might've taken that a little too far...)

<Doing something fun to forget about that pain, huh...?>

<I-I'm sorry...

That was all just my opinion...>

<I think I know what you mean...>

<What?>

<But let me ask you this. How did you interpret this really turbulent melody? I thought it was about wanting to scream or shout out.>

<Oh, um...

I saw that as a violent storm raging inside your heart.>

<Even though there's something you want to scream, you don't because you feel that no one will get it.>

<And yet, it lingers and persists...

Because it's what you truly feel.>

<...

I see. I never would've seen it that way...>

<But I think I understand what you saw now... I would've drawn something fairly different if I had earlier...>

(She understands...?)

(Come to think of it, even though Enanan and I didn't interpret this song the same way, I understood her...)

(Still... What is this I'm feeling...?

Enanan and I felt different things, but...)

(Oh, is that it...?)

(We both arrived at different interpretations, but neither is necessarily right or wrong.)

(We led different lives until this point, so it's only natural for us to interpret the songs K makes with that person in different ways.)

(At the same time... I get the feeling that Enanan went through a really tough time like I did...)

(So, we may actually think alike.)

(Which means...)

<What if we tried to express what we both felt? You know, together...?>

<Wait, together...?>

<Yes, um... I can make this music video by using your art to show what's happening during the song while animating the lyrics and stuff...>

<I'm guessing that we both felt a complex mix of emotions after listening to K's song, and even discovered some new feelings...>

<It's hard for me to describe...

But I have a feeling that the music video isn't gonna turn out very well unless we get on the same page.>

<By putting our heads together and talking things out like this, we should be able to come up with some good ideas.>

<Some good ideas...>

<Yeah, I agree...

For K's sake, we've gotta make this video a good one...>

<*Nod*

Huh...?>

<I'm sorry. I just realized that I stopped being formal there for a second.>

<Oh, me too...

Actually, this might be easier, you know?>

<Yeah, let's just talk like this!>

<So, are we good in terms of our theme?>

<A silent scream, right...?

Yeah, I think I can work with that.>

<But I'm gonna have to change her expression and everything since she's just letting everything out into the open right now...>

<Yeah... I hate to ask you this, but would you mind drawing it again?>

<Okay.

Also, you don't have to feel bad...>

<Huh?>

<There's nothing wrong with asking for a redo if it means the final product is gonna look better, right?>

<Yeah, I guess so...>

<Oh, there's something else that we should talk about before you get back to drawing...>

<Hm? Discuss what?>

<How we're actually going to present the pain this girl's feeling as she screams in silence.>

<Of course, we can use your first sketch for that, Enanan... But videos allow you to animate things, so I was thinking that we could give her more of a backstory...>

<Yeah, that does sound like a good idea...>

<When we were discussing our interpretations just now, Amia, I realized that you probably weren't feeling the same things as me...>

<But I'm also starting to think that our feelings share the same root. Like something we each care about is being rejected by others...>

<So, if we can represent that visually, then I feel like the end result will make a lot more sense. In terms of motifs...>

<I know...!

What if we made it so this girl's holding a box?>

<A box?>

<Yeah. It'll represent what she cares about most.>

<While others will try to take it away from her, smash it to pieces or call it worthless.>

<Oh, I see...!

And the viewer gets to decide what's inside!>

<Yeah, exactly!>

<That's an awesome idea!

And people who've experienced the same sort of rejection will immediately understand... Oh, wait...>

<Hm? What's wrong?>

<So, um... Just a small suggestion... Can we give this box a nice ribbon with a bow?>

<A ribbon?>

<Yeah. This box is supposed to be extremely precious to her, right?>

<And wouldn't a ribbon make it a little cuter...?>

<But that's just my personal opinion...>

<Hmm... A ribbon...>

<Yeah, I like it!>

<Alright, so... I'll draw another sketch... But do you think we should discuss beforehand how the animation's gonna look?>

<Yeah, I can try coming up with a storyboard based on your sketch, and you can complete your illustration after that...>

<Right...

Then, let's give that a try.>

<Thanks.

I'm looking forward to seeing your next sketch.>

(If our music video is gonna do the pain and kindness from K's song justice...)

Hm...? The door to Mizuki's room is open...

Mizuki...

<How is it...?>

<I wasn't expecting to see anything like this...>

<I think it's incredible...

The last one was also good, but this one really blew me away.>

<...!>

<Th-Thank goodness...!

We did it, Amia!>

<No, Enanan, you deserve the credit!

Thanks for doing all those redraws!>

<Hehe.

You two seem so close now.>

<Oh, um... That sort of just happened on its own as we worked...>

<Speaking of which, is there anything you'd like for us to fix? It shouldn't be too hard to adjust the coloring and such...>

<No, that's okay.

This music video... It's a clear expression of everything that you both felt after hearing our song...>

<Thank you very much...>

<Um, K...>

<Right...

So, there's actually something else that I'd like to discuss with you...>

<...?>

<Amia, Enanan...>

<Would you like to keep making these with us?>

<What...?!>