Empty SEKAI
Kanade
(Thank goodness she stopped crying for now...)
Kanade
(Still... Is she lost...?
More importantly, how did she get here...?)
More importantly, how did she get here...?)
Kanade
Um, so... Where did you come from?
Girl
I don't know...
Girl
I was taking a nap...
But when I woke up, I saw that my plushie was gone and started looking for her...
But when I woke up, I saw that my plushie was gone and started looking for her...
Kanade
I see...
Girl
*Nod*
Kanade
(I still don't understand how she got here, but I should try to get her home as soon as possible...)
Kanade
(But... How do I actually do that...?)
Kanade
(Would I be able to take her back by listening to Untitled...?
No, what if she wounds up somewhere unsafe instead...?)
No, what if she wounds up somewhere unsafe instead...?)
Girl
*Sob*
Girl
Bunny... Where'd you go...?
Kanade
Oh...
Kanade
(Right. She said that she lost her plushie. I should help her find it.)
Kanade
Um, about your plushie...
Do you know where it might've gone?
Do you know where it might've gone?
Girl
I don't know...
Kanade
Okay...
Kanade
So, um...
Kanade
Does this place not scare you at all...?
Girl
Yeah... This place felt scary at first...
Girl
But that music helped me feel better...
Kanade
Huh? Music?
Girl
Yeah, the music that's playing right now...
Girl
It feels so warm and cozy...
Kanade
...!
Kanade
I see...
Kanade
Oh...
So, did you also hear it when you first woke up?
So, did you also hear it when you first woke up?
Girl
Yeah. It was louder then.
Kanade
(If it was louder, then somewhere closer to the source may be where she woke up...)
Kanade
(Which means her plushie may also be waiting for us there.)
Kanade
Have you tried looking over there yet?
Girl
No, not yet.
Kanade
Then, shall we...?
Girl
Okay...
???
Kanade
This is...
Girl
...!
Kanade
This lake's beautiful. It's crystal clear...
But I'm not hearing any songs... Huh?
But I'm not hearing any songs... Huh?
Girl
...
Kanade
Is something wrong?
Girl
This place is scary...
Kanade
Wait, scary? Why's that...?
Girl
I don't know, but...
Kanade
I see...
Then, let's try going over that way.
Then, let's try going over that way.
Kanade
Oh, also... I'll try seeing if your plushie is somewhere around here. Give me one moment.
Girl
Okay...
Kanade
I'm not seeing her plushie anywhere...
Kanade
(Maybe this isn't the right place...
What if it's closer towards the lake...?)
What if it's closer towards the lake...?)
Kanade
(Also, she can hear my song coming from the lake. Could there be a music player or something down there...?)
Kanade
Oh...
Kanade
(What if her plushie fell into the lake...?)
Kanade
...!
What was that...?
What was that...?
Girl
Are you okay...?
Kanade
Yes, I'm okay.
I'm going to keep looking for a little bit longer.
I'm going to keep looking for a little bit longer.
Kanade
(Going in doesn't seem safe...
But I may also find a clue...)
But I may also find a clue...)
Kanade
(I'm not finding anything...)
Kanade
(But what I just saw...
If that was her plushie...)
If that was her plushie...)
Kanade
Just a little bit... Oh no...!
Girl
No, don't fall in!
Kanade
S-Sorry.
But I feel like I'm really close.
But I feel like I'm really close.
Girl
Really...?
Kanade
Huh...? Where'd that shadow I just saw go...?
Kanade
That's strange. I could've sworn it was just...
Girl
It's okay...
Kanade
Huh...?
Girl
I don't want you to get hurt because of me...
Kanade
No, I'm fine.
I did slip a little just now, but I'll be more careful...
I did slip a little just now, but I'll be more careful...
Girl
No, you can stop.
Girl
If she really is in that lake, then there's no point in you looking. I'm probably never gonna get her back...
Girl
We're never gonna find her.
Kanade
Oh...
Kanade
Don't say that...
Kanade
I'm sure she's here somewhere.
Kanade
There may be a way for us to look inside the lake. Even if she's not here, she could be somewhere else.
Girl
But...
Kanade
Don't worry. We'll find her.
Girl
What...?
Kanade
We still don't know where she might be... And I know finding her won't be easy.
Kanade
But that doesn't mean we can give up.
Kanade
If she's in the lake, then we'll find a way to save her.
Kanade
So, let's come up with a plan.
Girl
A plan...?
Girl
Okay...!
Girl
Thank you for everything you've done.
Kanade
What...?
???
Kanade... Kanade...
Kanade
Huh...?
Kanade
Wait, I'm back in my room...?
Kanade
(But how...?
Was that all a dream...?)
Was that all a dream...?)
Mafuyu
Kanade, is something wrong...?
Kanade
Oh, no... I think I fell asleep just now is all.
Kanade
Were you working?
Mafuyu
No, I just woke up.
I'll finish those lyrics now.
I'll finish those lyrics now.
Kanade
Okay, then I'll also continue working.
Would you mind letting me know when you're finished?
Would you mind letting me know when you're finished?
Mafuyu
*Nod*
Mafuyu
...——♪
Kanade
...!
Kanade
(This is the song I just heard in my dream...)
Kanade
Mafuyu, that song...
Mafuyu
Huh...?
Mafuyu
Oh, was I singing just now...?
Kanade
Y-Yes...
But why...?
But why...?
Mafuyu
...
Mafuyu
I'm not sure, but I thought I just heard it in my dream just now...
Kanade
What...?
Mafuyu
I was lost in a place that I'd never been, and I was looking for something. I also felt very scared...
Mafuyu
And then I heard this song playing.
Mafuyu
That made me feel a little better...
Kanade
Oh...
Girl
Yeah, the music that's playing right now...
Girl
It feels so warm and cozy...
Kanade
(Come to think of it, that little girl kind of looked like Mafuyu...)
Kanade
(What if...?)
Kanade
Mafuyu, do you remember what it was that you were looking for in your dream...?
Mafuyu
I don't...
Kanade
Okay...
Mafuyu
Why do you ask?
Kanade
Oh, sorry. It's just that I happened to have a similar dream.
Kanade
I was helping a little girl look for her plushie...
Mafuyu
Really...?
Kanade
Yes. How strange is that...?
Kanade
(That may've been just a dream.)
Kanade
(But if both Mafuyu and that girl felt that they needed to hear my song...)
Kanade
(Then, I have to keep composing...)
Kanade
In order to save Mafuyu.
Next Chapter: To Move Forward, Eventually