Alright, we're here!

Where should we go first?
Any shops that you'd like to visit, Mizuki?

...

How about the decor shop we always go to? Oh, a new jewelry store seems to have opened up on the second floor. Why don't we go check that out?

Huh? A jewelry store...?

(I wonder what it's like...
Maybe they have some cute stuff.)

Oh...

No, I'll pass.

Okay...

Then, let's have something sweet to eat...!

I'll go buy us some crepes.
You sit tight here on this bench, okay?

Okay...

(I'm making Sis worry too much...)

(She brought me here because she noticed that I wasn't feeling great...)

(And yet, I...)

(But if I don't change...)

(Everyone's gonna keep saying I'm weird...)

(I don't want that to happen...)

(The way they tell me...
It's like me being different means I don't belong there with them...)

(That hurts so much... And it makes me feel so lonely...)

(So, I...)

Oh...

(The one-piece in that shop's window...
Is it new? It wasn't there when Sis and I went the other day.)

(It's got so many bows and frills too...)

It's really cute...

(No...)

(What I really want is...)

I'm back with the crepes!
I got you a strawberry one, Mizuki! I know it's your favorite!

...

Sis...

Am... Am I weird?

No, you're not weird.
Why are you asking such a thing...?

Then, why's everyone else calling me that...?

...
Oh, um...

The thing is...
I feel like I need to stop liking all the stuff that I think is cute.

What...?

Because everyone will stop saying that I'm weird if I do... I won't have to feel this way anymore...

But...

I really love those kinds of things...
And all the clothes that you make, Sis.

I don't wanna say the opposite of that...

Mizuki...

I'm so sorry...

I had no idea this was bothering you so much. I really need to apologize for that...

And I understand what you're saying...

Being put down by others...
Not being able to talk about the things you like... They both must be causing you so much pain.

...

But this is what I believe...

I think you should keep liking all the things you feel are cute...

What?

That's what makes up who you are, right...?

But... Then they'll...

I know...
They'll keep saying all those terrible things to you.

And to prevent that from happening, you might start to feel like you can't talk about the things you like as much...

But I don't think you should stop liking what you like to fit in with everyone else...

Because you're not weird at all, Mizuki...

I love how you love things that are cute.

Sis...

Which is why, Mizuki...
I want you to cherish your true feelings.

(So, it's okay...?)

(I can keep liking the things that I think are cute...?)

(I am scared of what everyone else is gonna say...)

(But if Sis says that I'm not weird...
If she loves me the way that I am...)

*Nod*

Alright...
After we finish eating our crepes, would you mind tagging along as I shop for a few things?

I've been looking for the right buttons to use for this new outfit I've been designing.

Huh? Buttons...?

Yes, it's going to be for myself...
But I also want to make it so you really like it too, Mizuki!

Which is why I need you to tell me more about all the things you like.

Oh...

Okay...!

(Some really awful things happened to me after that...)

(I even tried not being myself because they just kept sapping away at my energy.)

(But because Sis said back then that it's okay for me to cherish my true feelings...)

(Despite all the things that did end up happening to me, I still like all the cute stuff I did back then.)

Mizuki? Is something wrong?

No, nothing's wrong...!
I was just reminiscing about the past a little.

I always had so much fun going out shopping with you while wearing the clothes that you made.

Hehe. I did make quite a lot just for you.

Oh yeah, remember how you used to stare into my room while I was on my sewing machine? That was always so cute.

Wait, you remember that?

Of course I remember!
You made me so happy every time you told me the buttons and frills I chose to use were cute.

Well... That's enough about me.
Lemme hear more about what you've been up to, Sis!

I have so many questions that I wanna ask you! How have things been over there? What's work been like?

Hehe. Okay.
Where should I start?