Highlands
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.)
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...)
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...)
Ena
Shizuku, is something wrong?
Shizuku
Uh, no... It's nothing.
Oh, that reminds me...! Do you think Airi and Mizuki are enjoying the Green Adventure...?
Oh, that reminds me...! Do you think Airi and Mizuki are enjoying the Green Adventure...?
Ena
They'll probably get along fine. I'm sure everything's going well with them.
Ena
But we still haven't been able to get any answers out of Mizuki yet...
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...
Ena
You noticed too, Shizuku?
Mizuki really seems a little off, right?
Mizuki really seems a little off, right?
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...
Ena
Why does Mizuki keep making that face...? This is so frustrating...! We're gonna run out of time before we get anywhere...!
Shizuku
I understand why you feel the need to hurry, but we may have more time than you think.
Shizuku
Our picnic won't be over for some time and I'll do what I can to help out as well.
Shizuku
Airi even said that we should just have as much fun together as we can. I say we do just that...!
Ena
Yeah, okay...
Shizuku
Also, Ena...
We've been walking for quite some time now. Would you like to take a quick break?
We've been walking for quite some time now. Would you like to take a quick break?
Ena
Sure, sounds good. I saw a rest area just over there too. I'm gonna go get something to drink...
Shizuku
Okay.
I'll be waiting right here.
I'll be waiting right here.
Shizuku
(I tried to cheer her up a little, but Ena still seems so worried.)
Shizuku
(I hope Airi has some better luck talking to Mizuki than we did...)
Climber A
Hey, uh... Do you happen to be Shizuku Hinomori...?
Shizuku
Huh?
Climber B
I knew it!
You looked way too pretty for a regular person.
You looked way too pretty for a regular person.
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!
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...
Ena
Thanks for waiting, Shizuku... Wait, what happened?!
Shizuku
Oh, Ena...!
Ena
Excuse me. What's going on here?
Climber A
Huh? Who are you? Does this mean you're an idol too?
Climber B
Then we should get a picture with all of us in it!
Ena
What?
Shizuku
Please, I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to do that right now.
Climber A
Come on, just one tiny photo...!
Ena
Hey, you heard her! Leave her alone!
This is her free time, so let her spend it the way she wants...!
This is her free time, so let her spend it the way she wants...!
Climber B
But...
Your fans are begging you. Just one picture...
Your fans are begging you. Just one picture...
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!
Just because you're her fans, it doesn't mean you can ask her to do whatever you want!
Shizuku
Ena...
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...)
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...
Ena
Shizuku!
Don't cave to these cretins!
Don't cave to these cretins!
Shizuku
It's okay, Ena.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Climber B
We can have your autograph?
Shizuku
Yes, I even brought the penguin notebook Haruka gave me the other day. Here, please have this...
Climber B
Awesome! Thanks, Shizuku!
Climber A
We'll take good care of these!
Time to tell my friends...!
Time to tell my friends...!
Shizuku
Thank you very much as well! Oh, and I hope you'll help support my current group, MORE MORE JUMP!
Ena
...
Shizuku
Thank you for what you just did back there, Ena. I really appreciate it.
Ena
You don't need to thank me. You managed to clear everything up all by yourself.
Ena
Actually, I might've ended up making things a lot worse for you...
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...?
Ena
The same goes for how I feel about Mizuki right now...
Ena
I want to help, but just rushing in headlong like that might end up making things worse if I'm not careful...
Shizuku
No, don't say that. I'm grateful for what you did for me just now...
Shizuku
I'm not sure I would've been able to act if you didn't step in there.
Ena
Shizuku...
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.
Shizuku
You won't be causing each other any trouble. You two really seem to understand one another.
Ena
You think so...?
Mizuki's Voice
Hey, there you are!
Over here...!
Over here...!
Shizuku
Oh, Mizuki! Airi!
Airi
We're back.
Get any good pics, Ena?
Get any good pics, Ena?
Ena
A few.
How'd you guys do?
How'd you guys do?
Airi
Great! Mizuki pretty much got every question right! I guess the only downside was that I hardly got any chances to answer...
Mizuki
You should've come with us Ena!
It was so much fun!
It was so much fun!
Shizuku
So Airi...
Were you able to talk to Mizuki?
Were you able to talk to Mizuki?
Airi
We did chat, but I ended up saying that talking with Ena is probably the best option...
Mizuki
Anyways, we should probably get going soon.
Airi
Right. We can have a relaxing stroll on our way back to the bus.
Airi
Hm? Hey, Ena, what's that on your head...?
Ena
Huh?
Ena
A bee! No, get away!!
Get away from me...!!
Get away from me...!!
Airi
Ena, calm down!
You'll scare it and make it sting you!
You'll scare it and make it sting you!
Ena
But I hate bees!
No, it keeps following me...!!
No, it keeps following me...!!
Mizuki
Okay, just settle down. Be still and...
Hiking Trail
Shizuku
Oh, the trail forks here...
Which way do we go?
Which way do we go?
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?
Shizuku
Oh, that sounds nice... But the sign looks old and worn away... The beginner route is... To the left?
Ena
Can we go already?
I'd rather not get eaten by bugs out here!
I'd rather not get eaten by bugs out here!
Airi
Okay, okay! We're going!
Just stop pushing me...!
Just stop pushing me...!
Nene
*Sigh*... That was more than I was expecting, but I feel more fit now.
Nene
Thanks, Rui.
Rui
You're welcome.
Rui
After we finish cooling off, shall we finish by taking a light hike around the mountain?
Nene
Okay. Hm? Wait, the trail forks here...
Where are we supposed to go?
Where are we supposed to go?
Rui
Let's see... There's the beginner route and the advanced route. They both appear to end in the same place too.
Nene
Then let's take the beginner route.
What does this sign say...?
What does this sign say...?
Nene
Hold on, it's too worn out to read what's on it. I can't tell which way the beginner route is...
Rui
Right, no? If you look closely, it says to go left for the advanced route.
Nene
You're right. Why did they make it so confusing?
Rui
The guide says that the advanced route is full of steep cliffs and ledges, so only seasoned hikers should go that way.
Nene
This sign isn't helping either, don't you think?
Rui
Yes, I agree. We should talk to the park rangers about this sign once we get back. Shall we, Nene?
Nene
Let's go.
Next Chapter: My Reason for Helping