A few days later
The day before the school festival

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1

Mizuki

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...

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2

Students

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Hey, did you manage to drape that cloth over it?!
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Students

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Yeah, we did!
4

Mizuki

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(Tomorrow's the day...)
5

Mizuki

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(And I didn't end up sending that message...)
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Mizuki

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(The festival's tomorrow...)
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Mizuki

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(Ena seemed pretty busy, so maybe she won't...)
8

Students

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Then, we'll start decorating the entrance.
Akiyama, can the puzzle team handle setting everything up inside?
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Mizuki

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Uhh... Yeah!
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Mizuki

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We already have the prompts written down and all the props we need, so we should be able to get everything set up pretty quickly!
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Students

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Great!
Then, you take it from here!
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Mizuki

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Roger!

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13

Toya

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Thank you for preparing these props for us, Akiyama. I feel a little bad for not helping out more.
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Mizuki

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That's totally fine! You did a great job coming up with a bunch of puzzle ideas for us, Toya!
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Mizuki

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And it was actually nice to be kept so busy...
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Toya

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Hm? Did you say something just now?
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Mizuki

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No, nothing...!
Anyway, we're short on time, so let's get everything set up on the double!!
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Toya

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Yes, let's.
I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone solves the riddles in our escape room.
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Mizuki

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Let's see... It looks like everything's where it needs to be, so I think we're done!
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Toya

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I'm inclined to agree after double-checking.
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Mizuki

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Okay. Then, let's start heading out!
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Toya

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Alright, I plan on stopping by the library before heading home.
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Mizuki

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Oh, right. You've still gotta do library committee stuff.
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Mizuki

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In that case, bye bye!
See you tomorrow!

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25

Mizuki

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Tomorrow...
26

Mizuki

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(Either way, I need to tell her...)
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Mizuki

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(If Ena does decide to show up, then before she...)

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Mizuki

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...
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???

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Mizuki?
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Mizuki

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Huh...?
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Mizuki

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Rui...
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Mizuki

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Hey, what's up...?!
Your class is doing that play, right? Are you guys all set up?

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33

Rui

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Yes...
We just finished rehearsing.
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Rui

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I had the cast go home in preparation for tomorrow, and was just handling cleanup.
35

Mizuki

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I see.
I might come check it out if I have time♪
36

Mizuki

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I'm glad you got to do a play this year, Rui.
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Rui

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Me too.
And I have my class to thank...
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Rui

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How have things been on your end, Mizuki...?
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Mizuki

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Us?
Our class is all set to go!
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Mizuki

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We came up with a really elaborate escape room. Even you might have trouble solving all the riddles, Rui. You should totally stop by and...
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Mizuki

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...
I guess that's not what you were asking.
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Rui

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We have known each other for quite a while now.
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Rui

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Why don't we talk in the courtyard...?
I should be done cleaning up soon.
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Mizuki

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Okay...
Courtyard

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45

Rui

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It's still very warm, despite being fall.
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Mizuki

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Yeah...
It's almost unbearable.
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Rui

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Hehe...
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Mizuki

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...?
Why are you giggling?
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Rui

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It felt like old times, is all.
Remember how we used to chat while watching the sun set after school?
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Mizuki

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Yeah... I mean, we didn't have much else to do back then.
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Rui

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True.
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Rui

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All either of us was capable of back then was aimlessly watching as time flew by.
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Mizuki

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...
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Rui

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Anyway...
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Rui

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What's bothering you, Mizuki?
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Mizuki

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...
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Rui

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Of course, if you don't feel comfortable telling me...
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Mizuki

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No...
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Mizuki

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I want to tell you...
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Mizuki

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I'm thinking about telling them everything...
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Mizuki

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About myself. To the others in my group.
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Rui

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...!
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Rui

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You are...?
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Mizuki

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Yeah...
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Mizuki

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But I'm stuck...
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Mizuki

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My mind is telling me to move forward, but I keep freezing up...
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Mizuki

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I'm so afraid.
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Rui

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...
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Rui

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What are you afraid of the most...?
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Mizuki

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A part of me is scared that they're going to reject me...
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Mizuki

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But what I'm most afraid of is...
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Mizuki

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How things might change...

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Mizuki

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My relationship with the others could morph drastically...
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Mizuki

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Including how we all spend time together...

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Mizuki

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I don't want that to change...
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Mizuki

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I know the others aren't like that...
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Mizuki

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I'm sure they aren't going to reject me for who I am...
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Mizuki

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I'm feeling all this because I'm overthinking things way too much... I know they'll be willing to accept me just for who I am like you guys, Rui...
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Mizuki

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But...
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Mizuki

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If I end up making them accept me for who I am.
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Mizuki

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If I force them to talk a certain way or treat me like a delicate flower...
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Mizuki

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If I start to feel like that's happening...
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Mizuki

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I... I don't think I can handle that...
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Rui

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Mizuki...
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Mizuki

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I know I sound really selfish right now...
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Rui

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No, don't say that...
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Rui

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Change is a scary thing, particularly if it involves someone you really care about.
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Rui

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It's a very scary thing...
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Mizuki

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...
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Rui

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Unfortunately...
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Rui

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I have no way of making the fear you're feeling disappear.
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Mizuki

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...
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Rui

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However...
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Rui

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I can hope.
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Mizuki

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Huh?
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Rui

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That you'll get to be yourself.

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Rui

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I can hope that you're going to experience true happiness.
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Rui

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That's my sincere wish as your friend.
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Mizuki

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Rui...

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Mizuki

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Oh...
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Mizuki

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Let's start heading home...
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Rui

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Okay...
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Mizuki

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Thanks, Rui.
Mizuki's Room
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Mizuki

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...

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105

KAITO

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<I don't care if you decide to run or move forward...>
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KAITO

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<But just know this... In the midst of this pain, you need to choose the path that allows you to save yourself.>
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KAITO

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<In order to keep on living...>
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MEIKO

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<I'll see this through with you.
No matter how things turn out.>
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MEIKO

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<Regardless of how the future unfolds, I'll be there with you until the end.>
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Rui

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I can hope.
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Rui

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That you'll get to be yourself.
112

Rui

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I can hope that you're going to experience true happiness.
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Rui

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That's my sincere wish as your friend.
114

Mizuki

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(This fear I'm feeling isn't going to just disappear...)
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Mizuki

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(But...)

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116

Mizuki

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(A Nightcord notification? Oh...)
117

Ena

<Amia, are you there?>
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Mizuki

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It's Ena...
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Mizuki

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<Hey, Enanan!
What's up? It still isn't time yet.>

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120

Ena

<Sorry for not messaging you sooner!>
121

Ena

<About the festival tomorrow...
I'm thinking I'll go after all.>
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Mizuki

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...!
123

Ena

<I was thinking about skipping, but I accidentally took home some of the spices and condiments we're going to use.>
124

Ena

<Just going to bring them back would be kinda lame, right? I also just finished my assignments, so I figure I'll actually stick around...>
125

Ena

<K and Yuki sounded interested too, so why don't we all check it out together?>
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Mizuki

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(I see...)
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Mizuki

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(Then...)
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Mizuki

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<Okay!>

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129

Mizuki

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<Then, let's check it out as a group tomorrow.>
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Mizuki

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<Also, Enanan... Tomorrow...>

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131

Mizuki

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<Can we talk tomorrow during the night festival?>

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132

Mizuki

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<I want to tell you...>
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Mizuki

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<Everything that I couldn't until now.>
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Mizuki

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...
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Mizuki

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(I finally managed to get that out...)
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Mizuki

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(But...)

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137

Mizuki

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<Then, let's check it out as a group tomorrow.>
138

Mizuki

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(I'm such a wimp, even though I'm this close...)
139

Mizuki

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(But...)
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Mizuki

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(This might be the last time we get to hang out together like this...)
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Mizuki

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(So...)