Empty SEKAI
1
Ena
Nope, not here.
2
Ena
(Mizuki... What are you doing right now?)
3
Ena
(I wonder if you're keeping in contact with someone else...)
4
Ena
(Or are you all alone...?)
5
Ena
(If Mizuki quits being a member of N25 and stops showing up in SEKAI...)
6
Ena
(We might never see each other again.)
7
Ena
But most of all...
8
Ena
I'm worried sick about you, Mizuki...
9
???
You're back again today.
10
Ena
Oh...
11
Ena
MEIKO...
12
Ena
Yeah, I was hoping that Mizuki would be here.
13
MEIKO
I see...
14
Ena
Have you seen Mizuki at all...?
15
MEIKO
No, I haven't...
16
MEIKO
I caught a glimpse of Mizuki's face a couple of times when I went over to see what was going on...
17
MEIKO
But I keep ending up somewhere pitch black. I think that phone's been put away in a drawer somewhere.
18
Ena
I see...
19
Ena
...
20
Ena
Um, MEIKO?
21
Ena
Did you know this was gonna happen?
22
MEIKO
No.
23
MEIKO
I doubt anyone did.
24
MEIKO
However...
25
MEIKO
At the very least, I know that this isn't what Mizuki wanted.
26
Ena
Yeah, I agree.
27
Ena
(Mizuki just wanted to...)
28
Ena
To be with us like always.
29
Ena
We'd have pointless conversations, smile, laugh and just have fun together...
30
MEIKO
...
31
Ena
But I...
32
Ena
After hearing the truth, I choked up...
I didn't know what I should say.
33
MEIKO
Ena...
34
Ena
I keep asking myself.
35
Ena
What if I was more mentally prepared?
What if Mizuki was the one who told me?
36
Ena
But...
37
Ena
I don't think that would've made a difference.
38
Ena
That time, if I just replied, “I didn't know that,” or, “Thanks for telling me.”
39
Ena
I mean, what happens when we try going back to our normal lives? We could talk online as N25 and go out shopping together...
40
Ena
But a part of me would always be wondering...
41
Ena
Can I ask? Should I ask? Would bringing it up hurt Mizuki in any way?
42
Ena
I wouldn't be able to get it out of my mind...
43
Ena
Which would be the worst thing for Mizuki...
44
MEIKO
...
45
Ena
So, MEIKO, I have a question to ask you...
46
Ena
What if I asked for us to meet and talk once more?
47
Ena
What if I said that I still want us to be friends?
48
Ena
Is me just thinking that only going to hurt Mizuki even more...?
49
Ena
Because I honestly don't know...
50
MEIKO
Ena...
51
MEIKO
If you want to talk, you should talk.
52
MEIKO
Or rather...
53
MEIKO
I want you to say what's on your mind.
54
Ena
What...?
55
MEIKO
I'm also in the dark here.
56
MEIKO
No one knows the answer to this question. Actually, you probably won't find it anywhere...
57
Ena
...
58
MEIKO
However, the person you're talking about is in a fragile state. One wrong move could cause an irreparable break.
59
MEIKO
In truth, I don't want anyone to take that risk.
60
MEIKO
But...
61
MEIKO
If we just let things proceed as is, then that's it.
62
MEIKO
That is why your feelings may be the last bastion of hope for Mizuki.
63
Ena
MEIKO...
64
Ena
Is it okay for me to...?
65
MEIKO
You should just do what you feel the need to do.
66
Ena
Yeah, I guess so...
67
Ena
Then, I'm going to meet with Mizuki.
68
Ena
We're going to meet and I'm going to say what's on my mind...
69
Ena
I'm going to say that I want us to keep being friends.
70
Ena
So, MEIKO, please let me know if you hear any news.
71
MEIKO
Okay, I will.
72
Ena
Thanks...
Next Chapter: Conflicted