Whither This Path of Thorns

1

Male Student A

Listen

Man, I'm beat.

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2

Male Student B

Listen

Same here. I heard there's an after-party later, but I dunno if I'll go.
3

Male Student C

Listen

Yeah, me neither. I'm kinda tired.
4

Ena

Listen

(Are they...daytime students...?)
5

Ena

Listen

(If there are people here, maybe we should find somewhere—)
6

Male Student A

Listen

By the way, was that Akiyama running in the corridor just now?
7

Male Student B

Listen

Yeah, I think so.
8

Male Student C

Listen

Akiyama'd be pretty cute if it weren't for...y'know.
9

Ena

Listen

(Are they talking about Mizuki...?)
10

Ena

Listen

(I mean, Mizuki is good-looking, you'd have to admit.)
11

Male Student B

Listen

Ugh, cut it out man...
12

Male Student C

Listen

C'mon, am I wrong?
13

Male Student A

Listen

Hm? Is somebody there...?
14

Male Student A

Listen

Oh! Weren't you going around with Akiyama today?
15

Ena

Listen

...!
16

Ena

Listen

(Shoot, they're talking to me.)
17

Ena

Listen

Um, hello. Yes, I was...
18

Male Student A

Listen

See? I was right!
19

Male Student B

Listen

Cool it man, what are you doing getting in her face like that? You're weirding her out.
20

Male Student A

Listen

C'mon, where's your festival spirit?
I haven't seen you much around here. Are you a pal of Akiyama's?
21

Ena

Listen

Well... We've known each other for a while now.
22

Male Student A

Listen

Wow, really? Oh, then...
23

Male Student A

Listen

Does that mean you're also a dude?
24

Ena

Listen

...
25

Ena

Listen

Huh?
26

Male Student B

Listen

Hey, quit it...!
27

Male Student A

Listen

C'mon, it was just a joke. Hahaha, sorry.
28

Ena

Listen

What's your problem?
29

Ena

Listen

A joke...? It wasn't funny at all.
30

Male Student A

Listen

Hey, I said I was sorry. I'm sure you're actually a regular girl—
31

Ena

Listen

...?
What's that supposed to mean?
32

Male Student A

Listen

Huh...?
33

Ena

Listen

What do you mean, “regular”...?
34

Male Student C

Listen

H-Hey, I think she seriously doesn't know...
35

Male Student B

Listen

I told you to cut it out!
36

Male Student A

Listen

B-But, she said they've known each other for a while. Why wouldn't she know?!
37

Male Student A

Listen

It's not like Akiyama hides it!
38

Ena

Listen

Wait...
39

Ena

Listen

(It's not...a joke...?)

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40

Ena

Listen

(Wait... What...?)
41

Ena

Listen

(So...)

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42

Ena

Listen

(That means...)
43

Ena

Listen

(The thing Mizuki wanted to discuss...)

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44

Male Student A

Listen

Ack...!
45

Ena

Listen

...?!
46

Mizuki

Listen

Oh...
47

Mizuki

Listen

...

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48

Ena

Listen

...!
49

Ena

Listen

Wait, Mizuki!!!

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Next Chapter: I'm Sorry