With Our Wounded Hands

Kamiyama High School - Rooftop

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1

Rui

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...and you haven't been able to get a hold of Mizuki at all?
2

Ena

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Yes.
3

Ena

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We spoke a little during the school festival...
But we haven't talked since then...
4

Rui

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I see...
5

Ena

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But Shiraishi's gotten some replies back, so I guess that means I'm being avoided...
6

Ena

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And I have to think Mizuki doesn't want me running around playing detective like this...
7

Rui

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...
8

Ena

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But I can't just leave things be...
9

Rui

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Why's that...?
10

Ena

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Because if I do, Mizuki will...
11

Ena

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Disappear. Completely...
That's my feeling.
12

Ena

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That's why I want us to talk.
13

Rui

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I see...
14

Rui

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This is a tricky one.
15

Rui

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Unfortunately, I don't think I'm in a position to support or stop you.
16

Rui

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But if you'll allow me to talk about myself for a bit...
17

Ena

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Huh...?
18

Rui

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I've gone through a similar experience.
19

Rui

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Someone I had tried to distance myself away from forced his way through and broke down my walls.

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20

Rui

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There was a point when I thought his persistence and pushiness were irritating. And now, we're walking down the same path...
21

Rui

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Upon reflection, I think that was exactly what I needed.
22

Ena

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That really happened...?
23

Rui

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Yes.
However, at the time, I wondered why he was being so pushy.
24

Rui

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But I'm just speaking from my own personal experience. It may not entirely apply to what you and Mizuki are currently going through, Shinonome.
25

Ena

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...
26

Rui

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Particularly since the old Mizuki would've told anyone who tried to help to go away and severed ties with them.
27

Ena

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Wait, really...? Mizuki...?
28

Rui

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Yes.
29

Rui

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I don't know if I should be telling you this.
30

Rui

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But the old Mizuki... The person I met was always all alone...
31

Ena

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All alone...?
32

Rui

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Yes, Mizuki and I went to the same junior high school. We first met up on the rooftop.
33

Rui

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To be fair, I was also alone because I had trouble getting along with others...
34

Rui

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And Mizuki was in the same situation.
35

Rui

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Back then, unlike now, Mizuki did not like being around others. You could sense that there was this barrier...
36

Rui

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We'd speak whenever we saw each other on the rooftop, but only momentarily...
37

Rui

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Still, it was enough to give me an understanding.
38

Rui

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I could tell that the two of us were very similar creatures.
39

Rui

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Somewhere in our hearts, we felt this loneliness.
40

Ena

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Mizuki...? Feeling lonely...?

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41

Male Student A

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Does that mean you're also a dude?
42

Ena

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(What if...?)
43

Ena

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(What if others have been viewing Mizuki that way for years...?)
44

Ena

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(What if people have been saying mean things or asking insensitive questions all this time?)
45

Ena

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Just how much has Mizuki had to suffer...?
46

Rui

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...
47

Rui

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The old Mizuki likely would never have budged, no matter how hard you tried to help.
48

Rui

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But now...
I honestly can't say one way or the other.
49

Ena

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Huh...?
50

Rui

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Mizuki has changed since meeting all of you.
51

Rui

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I've seen real laughter. Nothing forced like before.
52

Rui

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Mizuki even told me that...
53

Rui

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“I've found real friends and a place where I belong.”

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54

Ena

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...!
55

Rui

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Which is why I think Mizuki...

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56

Rui

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...hoped for a future that includes all of you.
57

Ena

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...

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58

MEIKO

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At the very least, I know that this isn't what Mizuki wanted.
59

Ena

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...
60

Rui

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I don't know if that's all in the past now, or if it's still affecting things in the present.
61

Rui

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But I...
62

Rui

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As a friend, I want Mizuki to look forward to the future.
63

Rui

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I want to believe in your bravery and your wishes for Mizuki...
64

Rui

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And above all else, I want to believe that Mizuki still wishes for a future that includes all of you...
65

Ena

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Oh...
66

Ena

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(So, I have a chance...?)
67

Ena

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(If there's still a way for us to connect...)
68

Ena

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(Then I don't want things to end this way...!)
69

Ena

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(Because I still want us to be friends!)
Next Chapter: Solidarity