Imprisoned Marionette - 7: Unpleasant and Painful

Mafuyu's Room

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Mafuyu

<Turn what I'm feeling now into song lyrics?>

2

Kanade

<Yes, can you try that?>

3

Kanade

<I think those lyrics will help me to get closer to you, like the time you were posting as OWN.>

4

Mafuyu

<No. I can't do it...>

5

Kanade

<Why not? When you were posting as OWN...>

6

Mafuyu

<That was because the messy lump inside my heart forced its way out!>

7

Mafuyu

<I can't consciously turn these feelings into lyrics.>

8

Kanade

<Yuki...>

9

Kanade

(What can I do if even Yuki doesn't understand herself?)

10

Kanade

(But Miku said...)

Sound Effect: Play

11

Miku

Maybe the doll reminded Mafuyu of herself.

12

Kanade

(Oh, I get it...)

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13

Kanade

(If that marionette did remind Yuki of herself, like Miku said...)

14

Kanade

<What about that marionette then?>

15

Mafuyu

<What?>

16

Kanade

<That marionette you saw at the doll exhibit made you feel sick, remember?>

17

Kanade

<And then you had a dream about becoming one.>

18

Kanade

<Could it be because you saw yourself in that marionette?>

19

Mafuyu

<...!>

20

Kanade

<So, Yuki. Try to remember what you saw in that marionette, and then turn those feelings into lyrics.>

21

Mafuyu

<I can't...>

22

Kanade

<Understanding your feelings may be the key I need to write a song that will save you.>

23

Kanade

<So, please...>

24

Mafuyu

<...>

25

Mafuyu

<Fine, but I don't know how this will turn out...>

26

Kanade

<That's okay...!>

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27

Mafuyu

That doll...

28

Mafuyu

It made me feel sick because...

Sound Effect: Play

29

Mafuyu

I don't know...

30

Mafuyu

But why don't I know?
Why did it make me feel that way?

31

Mafuyu

This is going to just end up like the last time...

32

Mafuyu

But maybe...

Empty SEKAI

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33

Mafuyu

Miku.

34

Miku

Hello, Mafuyu.

35

Mafuyu

Hello...

36

Miku

Kanade visited a short while ago too.

37

Mafuyu

She did?

38

Miku

Yes. She wanted to understand your feelings.

39

Mafuyu

My feelings...

40

Mafuyu

It's not like she can do anything even if she did.

41

Mafuyu

I don't need something that's so unpleasant, painful and utterly useless.

42

Miku

They're not useless.

43

Mafuyu

Huh?

44

Miku

Everything you feel is an important part of you. Even the things that are unpleasant and painful.

45

Miku

So they're not useless.

46

Mafuyu

Everything... Is a part of me...

47

Mafuyu

Why is there a doll here?

48

Mafuyu

It's also a marionette.
But without any strings...

49

Mafuyu

Miku, what's...

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50

Miku

This doll has always been in your SEKAI.

51

Miku

You just never noticed it.

52

Mafuyu

Really...?

53

Miku

Done. Look, Mafuyu...
I made a ladder.

54

Mafuyu

I didn't know you could play cat's cradle.

55

Miku

Mizuki taught me.
It's fun.

56

Miku

I cut off the strings on the marionette and turned them into strings for cat's cradle.

57

Mafuyu

...

58

Miku

Strings are so interesting.

59

Miku

You can use them to tie things together, do needlework or manipulate dolls.

60

Miku

And... You can also use them to make something like this.

61

Mafuyu

A marionette without strings isn't a marionette anymore.

62

Mafuyu

But...

63

Mafuyu

It also means this doll is now free.

The next day - 2:00 AM

Mizuki's Room

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64

Mizuki

<Hm... It's already been an hour, but Yuki's not here yet. I guess she's still not feeling that great?>

65

Mizuki

<I just hope she doesn't suddenly vanish again like before.>

Sound Effect: Play

66

Ena

<I'm less stressed when she's not around.>

67

Mizuki

<You say that, but I know you're worried about her deep down. Enanan's a huge softie under that prickly exterior.>

68

Ena

<Excuse me?!>

69

Mizuki

<Anyways, K, did Yuki say anything to you?>

Sound Effect: Play

70

Kanade

<Sorry, I forgot to mention. I'm asking Yuki to write some new lyrics based on how she felt when she saw that doll...>

71

Ena & Mizuki

<That doll?>

72

Mizuki

<Oh! So that's why she's not here.>

73

Mizuki

<Basically, you want her to turn the disgust she felt when she saw that marionette into song lyrics?>

74

Kanade

<Yes.>

75

Ena

<Okay, but...>

76

Ena

<I don't understand what Miku was trying to say when she suggested Mafuyu could be seeing herself in that marionette. What do you think she means?>

77

Mizuki

<Hm, I can sorta understand why she thought they were alike. Kinda sorta.>

Sound Effect: Play

78

Mafuyu's Mother

You'd be better off spending time with people who can challenge you rather than those who always need your help. That way you'd actually be learning something as well.

79

Mafuyu's Mother

Make sure you're valuing your own time.

80

Mafuyu

Okay, I will.

81

Mizuki

<...>

82

Mizuki

<Yuki pretty much does everything her mom says...>

83

Mizuki

<And a marionette is a puppet someone controls, right?>

84

Mizuki

<So she may have thought the marionette was just like her—always under someone else's control.>

85

Ena

<That's just silly...>

86

Ena

<If you don't like being manipulated, just speak up.>

87

Mizuki

<Yeah, true...>

Sound Effect: Play

88

Mafuyu

<Sorry I'm late...>

89

Mafuyu

<K, I finished the lyrics. Can you take a look?>

Next Chapter: Even Though I Don't Know