The next day
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Vacant Classroom

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1

Mafuyu

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Alright, Hinomori, I'm ready to learn.
2

Shizuku

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Okay, I'm ready as well.
3

Shizuku

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Today, I'll be teaching you some simple sewing techniques. We'll try a few designs once you've gotten the hang of them.
4

Mafuyu

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Sewing techniques? As in the stitches you mentioned?
5

Shizuku

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Yes, in home ec, you likely learned them as “nami-nui” and “hongaeshi-nui”, which translate into “running stitches” and “back stitches” in English.
6

Mafuyu

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I see. You're so knowledgeable...
Like a real teacher.
7

Shizuku

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Oh, you think so...?
8

Shizuku

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Let's see... Then, why don't we begin by trying some outline stitches.
9

Shizuku

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You use them quite a lot to draw lines and fill in gaps. First, let me show you.
10

Mafuyu

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Okay, thank you.
11

Shizuku

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Once you have your thread knot and poke the needle back out, you'll stick it back in a short distance away...
12

Shizuku

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Next, you go back about half a step and stick the needle in at the midpoint of your previous stitch. By doing this a few times...
13

Mafuyu

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Oh, it's turning into a line.
14

Shizuku

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Yes, this is how you do an outline stitch.
Compared to a back stitch, the line you create ends up being a little thicker.
15

Shizuku

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Next, let's try doing it together,
16

Mafuyu

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Okay. So, start by making a thread knot and...
17

Mafuyu

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How does this look?

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18

Shizuku

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Yes, that's excellent!
Your line is very straight.
19

Shizuku

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You could try spacing your stitches more evenly to make it look cleaner, but that's just me splitting hairs.
20

Mafuyu

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Ah, thank you. I'll give that a try.

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21

Female Students

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Hey, have you decided what you're gonna do for Valentine's Day yet?
22

Female Students

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I have, but I'm keeping my present a secret until the day of.
23

Female Students

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Aww... I wanted to use your idea as a springboard.
24

Shizuku

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Oh...
25

Mafuyu

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The girls in the corridor seem to be having a fun conversation.
26

Shizuku

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They're already getting ready for Valentine's Day.
27

Mafuyu

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I'll need to start thinking about that soon.
28

Shizuku

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Do you plan on giving a gift to someone?
29

Mafuyu

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Yes, my groupmates are going to throw a Valentine's Day party, and they told me to bring something.
30

Shizuku

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Oh, with Ena and the others? That sounds like fun.
31

Shizuku

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I also plan on giving gifts on Valentine's Day to those around me.
32

Shizuku

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It's a wonderful opportunity for me to show my appreciation for them.
33

Shizuku

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They mean so much to me, so I want my gifts to them to reflect that fact.
34

Mafuyu

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Gifts that mean something. I like the sound of that.
35

Mafuyu

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But what would count as that?
36

Shizuku

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Well... Oh, I know!
You could give them accessories that you embroidered yourself.
37

Mafuyu

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Embroidery, huh... Yes, a gift does tend to feel more special when you know it's handmade.
38

Shizuku

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Right? This is just how I feel, but I believe quite a lot of emotion goes into every stitch.
39

Mafuyu

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A lot of emotion...?
40

Shizuku

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Yes. The process of choosing the right design for the person you have in mind, and carefully stitching it in, really allows you to channel in your emotions.
41

Shizuku

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Which is why, for those truly special occasions, I almost always give people things that I embroidered myself.
42

Mafuyu

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I see.
It's a wonderful reflection of who you are, Hinomori.
43

Mafuyu

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So, let's do our best to make gifts that our respective recipients will really enjoy.
44

Shizuku

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Yes, let's!

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45

Haruka

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Oh, Shizuku, there you are.
46

Shizuku

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Haruka?
47

Haruka

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Oh, Asahina, hello.
I didn't realize you were with her.

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48

Mafuyu

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Hello. Are you here for Hinomori?
49

Haruka

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Yes, I need to steal her for a minute.
50

Haruka

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Did you see the message in our group chat, Shizuku?
51

Shizuku

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What message? Give me just a second...

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52

Shizuku

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Oh no...!
I'm so sorry! My phone's battery ran out...!
53

Haruka

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Hehe. I had a feeling.
Anyway, please take a look at it when you get a chance. It details our activities for the near term.
54

Shizuku

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Okay. Thank you for taking the time to come to tell me, Haruka!
55

Haruka

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You're welcome.
Also, what were you two doing just now?
56

Shizuku

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Embroidery practice.
57

Mafuyu

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Hinomori agreed to teach me how to embroider after I told her that we were assigned a project for home ec.
58

Shizuku

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We were just working on some basic stitches, but we'll be putting them into practice in a little bit.
59

Shizuku

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For example, by making these flowers.
60

Haruka

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Wow, they're beautiful...
You can embroider these yourself?
61

Shizuku

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Yes, these sorts of designs are perfect for accenting handkerchiefs and socks. I actually embroider these quite a lot.
62

Haruka

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Really? Putting in your own designs like that does sound like fun.
63

Haruka

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This might be worth streaming...
64

Shizuku

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Wait, like an embroidery stream?
65

Haruka

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Yeah. Remember how Airi streamed a cooking lesson the other day?
66

Haruka

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That got a lot of positive feedback, because it's such a useful life skill. I have a feeling that a lot of people would be interested in you teaching them how to embroider too.
67

Shizuku

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Yes, I see your point!
The segments that allow our viewers to follow along and participate have been very popular...
68

Haruka

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Oh, I'm sorry...
I didn't mean to turn this into work talk.
69

Mafuyu

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No, that's okay.
I can tell that you both care very deeply about your fans.
70

Mafuyu

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I also think that's a good idea for a stream.
I mean, Hinomori, you're such an incredible teacher.
71

Shizuku

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You think so? It's very encouraging to hear you say that, Asahina.
72

Haruka

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Then, let's ask Airi about this.
73

Haruka

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Oh, also... Would it be possible for you to teach me how to embroider sometime too? That should help us put the plan for our stream together.
74

Shizuku

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Of course.
I'll make sure to set aside some time for that.
75

Haruka

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Okay, thanks.
76

Mafuyu

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In that case, Kiritani, why don't you join us now?
77

Haruka

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Huh? But...
78

Mafuyu

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Don't worry, we've only just begun. Oh, unless you have a prior engagement...
79

Shizuku

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What a good idea!
What do you say, Haruka?
80

Haruka

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Then, if you don't mind me jumping in...
81

Mafuyu

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Yes, let's practice together.
82

Shizuku

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Then, Haruka, I'll also start teaching you some basic stitches.
83

Haruka

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Thank you, Ms. Shizuku.
84

Shizuku

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Of course♪
85

Haruka

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Shizuku, can you take a look at my lazy daisy stitch? Did I get it right?
86

Shizuku

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Yes! Your spacing is perfect, and you also made sure not to pull too hard as you sewed. Next, let's...

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87

Shizuku

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Oh, lunch is about to end...
88

Mafuyu

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You're right. We were so focused that the time just flew by.
89

Haruka

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Thank you for teaching us all this, Shizuku.

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90

Haruka

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I know we only got to practice doing a couple stitches today, but seeing my work slowly come together was really fun.
91

Mafuyu

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Yes, I know what you mean.
It's always nice to see the effort you put in bear fruit like this.
92

Shizuku

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Hehe. I'm glad you both had so much fun.
93

Shizuku

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To be honest, I was hoping to get you two to embroider some flowers...
94

Haruka

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Yeah, that would be fun to do during our stream.
95

Mafuyu

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Then, since we couldn't quite finish today, why don't we meet again sometime?
96

Shizuku

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Yes, let's do that!
97

Shizuku

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Oh, I know...!
Why don't you try embroidering some penguins, Haruka?
98

Haruka

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Wait, you can embroider penguins?
99

Shizuku

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Yes. I have a book of animal patterns at home, so I'll bring it with me next time.
100

Haruka

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Thanks...!
101

Mafuyu

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Hehe. I'll be looking forward to our next embroidery lesson. When should we meet next?
102

Shizuku

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Well...
We could meet again in one of the classrooms during lunch...
103

Shizuku

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Or this other place I really recommend.
Would you both be okay with that?
Next Chapter: A Fun Sewing Session