What's on your mind? Exciting Picnic! - 5: An Unsettling Departure

Highlands

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1

Shizuku

(I'm glad that the weather turned out so nice today. Such a lovely day for a picnic and a verdant landscape to match.)

2

Shizuku

(Oh, Ena's turned the other way too. This may be a good chance to give Luka a glimpse of this beautiful scenery. Let's see, I need to...)

3

Shizuku

(Oh dear... My phone isn't behaving the way it should. This is unfortunate. Even after she showed me what I'm supposed to do too...)

4

Ena

Shizuku, is something wrong?

5

Shizuku

Uh, no... It's nothing.
Oh, that reminds me...! Do you think Airi and Mizuki are enjoying the Green Adventure...?

6

Ena

They'll probably get along fine. I'm sure everything's going well with them.

7

Ena

But we still haven't been able to get any answers out of Mizuki yet...

8

Shizuku

Yes, you're right. Mizuki seemed a little down too when we were having lunch. I was hoping that we could talk a little more then...

9

Ena

You noticed too, Shizuku?
Mizuki really seems a little off, right?

10

Ena

It looks like we're having fun, but also like something's missing or not quite right... I can't put my finger on what it is though...

11

Ena

Why does Mizuki keep making that face...? This is so frustrating...! We're gonna run out of time before we get anywhere...!

12

Shizuku

I understand why you feel the need to hurry, but we may have more time than you think.

13

Shizuku

Our picnic won't be over for some time and I'll do what I can to help out as well.

14

Shizuku

Airi even said that we should just have as much fun together as we can. I say we do just that...!

15

Ena

Yeah, okay...

16

Shizuku

Also, Ena...
We've been walking for quite some time now. Would you like to take a quick break?

17

Ena

Sure, sounds good. I saw a rest area just over there too. I'm gonna go get something to drink...

18

Shizuku

Okay.
I'll be waiting right here.

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19

Shizuku

(I tried to cheer her up a little, but Ena still seems so worried.)

20

Shizuku

(I hope Airi has some better luck talking to Mizuki than we did...)

21

Climber A

Hey, uh... Do you happen to be Shizuku Hinomori...?

22

Shizuku

Huh?

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23

Climber B

I knew it!
You looked way too pretty for a regular person.

24

Climber A

What are the odds that we'd run into you in a place like this?! Can we take a picture together? I really want to tell my friends this!

25

Shizuku

Oh, I'm sorry. We decided as a group to avoid taking pictures with our fans until we've gained a little more traction...

26

Ena

Thanks for waiting, Shizuku... Wait, what happened?!

27

Shizuku

Oh, Ena...!

28

Ena

Excuse me. What's going on here?

29

Climber A

Huh? Who are you? Does this mean you're an idol too?

30

Climber B

Then we should get a picture with all of us in it!

31

Ena

What?

32

Shizuku

Please, I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to do that right now.

33

Climber A

Come on, just one tiny photo...!

34

Ena

Hey, you heard her! Leave her alone!
This is her free time, so let her spend it the way she wants...!

35

Climber B

But...
Your fans are begging you. Just one picture...

36

Ena

You're still going on about that?
Just because you're her fans, it doesn't mean you can ask her to do whatever you want!

37

Shizuku

Ena...

38

Shizuku

(What should I do...? I shouldn't force Ena to talk to them for me like this. There's no way it can end well...)

39

Shizuku

U-Um, since I'm not allowed to take pictures for the time being, would an autograph work instead? If you don't mind telling me your names, I could...

40

Ena

Shizuku!
Don't cave to these cretins!

41

Shizuku

It's okay, Ena.
Thank you.

42

Climber B

We can have your autograph?

43

Shizuku

Yes, I even brought the penguin notebook Haruka gave me the other day. Here, please have this...

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44

Climber B

Awesome! Thanks, Shizuku!

45

Climber A

We'll take good care of these!
Time to tell my friends...!

46

Shizuku

Thank you very much as well! Oh, and I hope you'll help support my current group, MORE MORE JUMP!

47

Ena

...

48

Shizuku

Thank you for what you just did back there, Ena. I really appreciate it.

49

Ena

You don't need to thank me. You managed to clear everything up all by yourself.

50

Ena

Actually, I might've ended up making things a lot worse for you...

51

Ena

I've sort of always been like this. The kind of person that just says or does what's on their mind, you know...?

52

Ena

The same goes for how I feel about Mizuki right now...

53

Ena

I want to help, but just rushing in headlong like that might end up making things worse if I'm not careful...

54

Shizuku

No, don't say that. I'm grateful for what you did for me just now...

55

Shizuku

I'm not sure I would've been able to act if you didn't step in there.

56

Ena

Shizuku...

57

Shizuku

And I'm sure things between you and Mizuki will turn out alright. That's the impression I got from the two of you today.

58

Shizuku

You won't be causing each other any trouble. You two really seem to understand one another.

59

Ena

You think so...?

60

Mizuki's Voice

Hey, there you are!
Over here...!

61

Shizuku

Oh, Mizuki! Airi!

62

Airi

We're back.
Get any good pics, Ena?

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63

Ena

A few.
How'd you guys do?

64

Airi

Great! Mizuki pretty much got every question right! I guess the only downside was that I hardly got any chances to answer...

65

Mizuki

You should've come with us Ena!
It was so much fun!

66

Shizuku

So Airi...
Were you able to talk to Mizuki?

67

Airi

We did chat, but I ended up saying that talking with Ena is probably the best option...

68

Mizuki

Anyways, we should probably get going soon.

69

Airi

Right. We can have a relaxing stroll on our way back to the bus.

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70

Airi

Hm? Hey, Ena, what's that on your head...?

71

Ena

Huh?

Sound Effect: Play

72

Ena

A bee! No, get away!!
Get away from me...!!

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73

Airi

Ena, calm down!
You'll scare it and make it sting you!

74

Ena

But I hate bees!
No, it keeps following me...!!

75

Mizuki

Okay, just settle down. Be still and...

Hiking Trail

76

Shizuku

Oh, the trail forks here...
Which way do we go?

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77

Airi

The map says that the beginner route takes you on a scenic loop around the mountain. Why not get a look at some nice views as we head back to the bus?

78

Shizuku

Oh, that sounds nice... But the sign looks old and worn away... The beginner route is... To the left?

79

Ena

Can we go already?
I'd rather not get eaten by bugs out here!

80

Airi

Okay, okay! We're going!
Just stop pushing me...!

Sound Effect: Play

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81

Nene

*Sigh*... That was more than I was expecting, but I feel more fit now.

82

Nene

Thanks, Rui.

83

Rui

You're welcome.

84

Rui

After we finish cooling off, shall we finish by taking a light hike around the mountain?

85

Nene

Okay. Hm? Wait, the trail forks here...
Where are we supposed to go?

86

Rui

Let's see... There's the beginner route and the advanced route. They both appear to end in the same place too.

87

Nene

Then let's take the beginner route.
What does this sign say...?

88

Nene

Hold on, it's too worn out to read what's on it. I can't tell which way the beginner route is...

89

Rui

Right, no? If you look closely, it says to go left for the advanced route.

90

Nene

You're right. Why did they make it so confusing?

91

Rui

The guide says that the advanced route is full of steep cliffs and ledges, so only seasoned hikers should go that way.

92

Nene

This sign isn't helping either, don't you think?

93

Rui

Yes, I agree. We should talk to the park rangers about this sign once we get back. Shall we, Nene?

94

Nene

Let's go.

Next Chapter: My Reason for Helping