Emu really just left.

I wonder if she's okay...

With her gone, we can't actually do any talking.

Yes. I suppose we should call it a day as well then...

Okay...

Oh, excuse me. I think I left something at the Wonder Stage...

Nene, would you mind going ahead without me?

Uh, sure...? I'll be fine by myself.

Bye.

...

(What part of that is okay?)

(Why won't she tell us anything...?)

*Sigh*...

(What am I supposed to do?)

Oh...! Kusanagi?

Oh, uh... Hoshino...

Good evening. Are you on your way home from PXL?

Yeah, I am. Is that your guitar case, Hoshino? So that means...

I'm heading home too. We rented a studio for our practice today.

I see...

...

Um, excuse me if I'm mistaken but...

Did something happen?

Uh...

Well...

If... If you don't mind, would you like to sit down and talk at the park?

This is nice and quiet.

...

Um, I'm not trying to force you into talking or anything but...

If it's alright with you, I thought I'd lend you an ear so that you might feel a little better.

...

(She seems so worried. Maybe I should tell her...)

(Oh, but... She goes to the same school as Emu...)

(I don't want her to worry about Emu either, so maybe I can tell her in a way that it's not obvious who I'm talking about...)

Um... There's just something I heard about this girl I know...

She's always being obnoxious to her friends, but usually has a lot of energy and a smile on her face...

Okay...

But lately, she's been preoccupied with something having to do with her family...

And her friends feel like they're not really in a position to say anything or butt into their business...

In the end, I... They just haven't been able to help her at all...

I see...

This girl means a lot to... Your friend.

...

Conversely, you may want to think about what exactly you want to do instead of how she feels...

Huh? What I want to do?

Yes. Um, this is about... Someone I know too.

This person has these friends they've known since they were little and were very close until middle school.

But around their second year, one of these friends started to feel really down or depressed.

So this person asked their friend if something was wrong, but they were just told it was nothing...

And then...?

(The same situation as us...?)

They were so worried about their friend, but weren't really able to muster up the courage to do much in the end.

And they felt so sorry, so much regret over letting their friend go through that on their own... A lot of regret...

...

Kusanagi... I understand why someone in that position would hesitate the way they are...

But if you do nothing while they remain lost... Who might feel the worst in the end?

...!

(Emu...)

(She always says or does weird stuff, and gets everyone mixed into her antics...)

(But I've enjoyed every minute of it so far...)

(I want Emu to keep doing outrageous things with Tsukasa. I want her to keep concocting crazy ideas with Rui. And...)

(I... I want her to laugh and smile like always...)

(I'm not sure what I should be doing right now, but I think I have an idea...)

Hoshino, thank you for listening. And for telling me about your friend too...

You're very welcome.

I hope you'll be able to help your friend.

Me too.