A few days later
Cafe

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1

Mizuki

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Alright, let's get “Operation: Embroidery Gifts” underway!
2

Haruka, Shizuku & Mafuyu

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Yeah!
3

Shizuku

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Today, we'll be choosing our embroidery designs.
4

Shizuku

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Let's begin by jotting down ideas in our notebooks.
5

Mizuki

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Roger!
6

Haruka

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What should we keep in mind as we come up with our designs?
7

Shizuku

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Good question...
If you make your design too complicated, then actually embroidering it won't be easy. So, I recommend keeping things simple.
8

Shizuku

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Also, you'll need to transfer the design in your notebook over to your fabric, so you'll need to get the size right.
9

Shizuku

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For example, for your makeup pouches, Haruka, I recommend going with slightly larger designs since you have quite a lot of space available.
10

Shizuku

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As for you, Asahina, I recommend smaller designs for the corners of your handkerchiefs.
11

Mafuyu

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I see...
In other words, you need to think about what the finished product is going to look like.
12

Shizuku

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Yes. I even brought along books about embroidering accessories, so you can see how big their designs are.
13

Shizuku

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Anyway, let's do our best to come up with designs that everybody is going to love.
14

Mizuki

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Yeah!
15

Mafuyu

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...
16

Mafuyu

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(Designs that everybody is going to love...)
Several dozen minutes later

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17

Mizuki

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Oh, are you making a flower? It's so cute!
18

Haruka

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Thanks. This is for Minori's pouch...
I'm thinking about making a whole flower field.
19

Shizuku

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Hehe. That's just perfect for Minori's personality.
20

Shizuku

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As for me, I'm thinking about making her an embroidered keychain of Samo.
21

Haruka

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Oh, she'll definitely love that.
22

Mafuyu

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...
23

Shizuku

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Do you know what you'd like to do, Asahina?
24

Mafuyu

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No, not yet...
I've never designed anything like this before, so I'm finding it a little challenging.
25

Shizuku

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That's perfectly understandable. I'm no expert either, so I also become stuck for ideas sometimes.
26

Shizuku

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But I do find it helpful to think about what your recipient likes or enjoys.
27

Mafuyu

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What they like or enjoy...?
28

Mizuki

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Hmm... For example, in Kanade's case, would that be music? Although, her relationship with it is a bit complicated.
29

Mafuyu

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Yes, she does take her music very seriously.
30

Haruka

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In that case, what if you included some musical notes and symbols in your design?
31

Mizuki

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But just musical notes might look a bit sterile.
What else does Kanade like? Instant noodles, I guess...?
32

Shizuku

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Yes, but...
Actually embroidering that may prove difficult.
33

Haruka

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Yeah, I'm not sure instant noodles are the best choice...
34

Mizuki

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Haha. You're probably right...
Coming up with a good embroidery design for Kanade that's gonna look good is really hard.
35

Haruka

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Oh... What if you thought about Kanade's personality instead?
36

Mafuyu

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Her personality?
37

Haruka

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Yes. I decided to embroider a flower field based on who Minori is as a person.
38

Haruka

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Flowers are even a part of her last name. And just like real flowers, Minori Hanasato has a talent for making others smile.
39

Mafuyu

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I see. Which is how you arrived on your design...
40

Mafuyu

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Who Kanade is as a person...
41

Shizuku

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What is your perception of her, Asahina?
42

Shizuku

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Does having her around make you happy or feel at ease? That may be a good place to start.
43

Mafuyu

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Right...
44

Mafuyu

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I don't know if this is the right answer...
45

Mafuyu

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But I feel this warmth whenever I'm with her or listen to one of her songs.
46

Mizuki

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Yeah, I totally know what you mean!
She's also been a huge source of support for me.
47

Haruka

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I see. She sounds like a wonderful person.
48

Mizuki

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She is! Kanade's songs are like these rays of light poking through the darkness... They always hit me really hard when I listen to them.
49

Mizuki

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They have a way of getting you to look up and move forward...
50

Mafuyu

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Oh...
51

Mafuyu

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(Rays of light poking through the darkness...)

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52

Mafuyu

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You're right.
53

Mafuyu

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Kanade...
54

Mafuyu

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She's always there to help whenever I get stuck...

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55

Mafuyu

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She's the person that's always there to tell me that everything is going to be okay. That we can move forward together.
56

Mafuyu

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I think that's who Kanade is to me.
57

Mafuyu

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I'm sorry. I know that sounds very abstract.
58

Shizuku

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Not at all.
I think I have a much better understand of what Yoisaki represents in your mind.
59

Shizuku

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(A light that guides the way when you find yourself stumbling around in the dark...)
60

Shizuku

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(A design which embodies that warmth would be...)
61

Shizuku

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Oh...
62

Shizuku

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How about a candle...?
63

Mafuyu

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A candle...?
64

Shizuku

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Yes, because candles can aid you by illuminating darkened paths, right?
65

Shizuku

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Also, having even just a small light can be a source of encouragement when you find yourself stuck in the dark. Is that close in feeling, maybe?
66

Shizuku

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Oh, I'm sorry if I'm wrong...
That was what immediately came to mind for me, that's all...
67

Mafuyu

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No, you aren't wrong...
Somehow, it fits perfectly.
68

Mizuki

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Yeah, that's also sorta how I see Kanade!
69

Shizuku

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Really? Thank goodness...!
70

Mafuyu

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Then, I'll work on my design using what you and the others just said.
71

Mafuyu

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Thank you for your help.
72

Shizuku

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You're welcome. And please feel free to ask again if you need my help.
73

Mafuyu

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Okay.
74

Shizuku

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Phew... I think we're all set with our designs now.
75

Haruka

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Yes. Also, thanks to Shizuku, we know which stitches and techniques we'll each be using. Now we just need to start gathering materials.
76

Mizuki

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Okay, let's do our best to make sure that our gifts turn out really amazing!
77

Shizuku, Mafuyu & Haruka

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Yes!
Yeah!
Next Chapter: Grandma's Treasure