Huh? Mafuyu...?
Did you say on Nightcord that you weren't feeling great today?

Shouldn't you be in bed right now?

Yes, but I took some medicine and my fever's gotten much better.

What are you two doing?

Mizuki got this new corsage and decided to put it on my skirt for some reason...

Hehe. Sorry, Rin.
The second it caught my eye at the store, I was sure that it'd do with your outfit.

But hearing that you caught a cold was a pretty big shock. I mean, if it were Ena instead of you, I wouldn't be surprised considering her lifestyle...

True...

Oh, did you want some alone time? Would it be better if I left...?

No, you can stay.

Great!
I never see you here this late, so I'm actually pretty glad that you came, Mafuyu.

Mizuki often comes here alone...

Really? Why's that?

Huh? Well, um...

It's nothing, really.
This place lets me get away from everything, you know?

Whenever I need some time to think of when something's bothering me, I usually end up here...

I see...

Anyway, whatcha got there?
Looks like a really big book...

It's an album...

An album? Why?

My mom and I were looking at some photos of me when I was little, and it made my chest hurt...

And I have no idea as to why.

I wouldn't have been able to think clearly at home either, so I came here...

Hmm... So seeing old pictures of yourself is what did this to you...?

...

Then how about you show me what you were looking at...?!

Huh?

Hey, remember what Kanade said?
We're supposed to help each other out!

That album you have there might give us a hint as to why you felt what you did, right? Which is why we should see what you saw.

Does we include me...?

Of course it does! You wanna see too, right?

I am a little curious...

Great!
So how about it, Mafuyu?

Okay...

Awesome! Alright, Rin, let's start flipping through this thing!

Hey, it's Mafuyu in her archery getup!

That looks so cool!
Oh that's right, you did mention that you were in the archery club.

When's this from?

That was taken during a prefectural tournament where we took second place, I think...

What?! You guys took second?! Look at you, Miss Overachiever!

It's nothing special, really.
I was just asked to be a substitute.

Asked to sub in...?
No, Mafuyu, you definitely are special.

Look, it's Mafuyu when she was little! You look adorable!

I do...?

Yeah! Your cheeks are all red in this picture too...

Hm...?

What...?

The girl in this pic seems a lot different from the girl sitting next to me.

Different how?

Yeah. I mean, this little girl looks so happy while eating her birthday cake. Like turning five is the best thing ever.

It's different from your good girl persona, you know?

It is...?

Do you know what Mizuki's talking about, Mafuyu?

No...
I've never thought about that before.

I don't understand either.

It's hard to describe, but it's like...

Maybe the Mafuyu back then was able to feel happy in a different way?

Feel happy in a different way...?

(Does that mean my past self holds the answer to why I feel the way I do when I listen to Kanade's song...?)

Uh...!

M-Mafuyu, are you sure you're all right?!

You lost your balance again...

Yeah, just because you took some medicine doesn't mean you're completely cured...

It's okay. I think I'm close to finding an answer...

But you don't have to rush like this. Why not go home and get some rest? We can try this again when you feel better!

But...

You know what'll happen if you keep pushing yourself like this, right?

Right...

Good. Now get some sleep.
Come back when you're all better, okay?

Okay. Good night...

I really hope she does get better soon...

Mafuyu's like Kanade. She doesn't know when to stop...

Yeah...

Also, Mizuki, how did you make that connection when you saw that picture of Mafuyu when she was little...?

Oh, that...?

I'm pretty good at figuring out what someone's thinking just based on their expression.

Although, I've taken it a little too far in the past, so I try not to do it too much...

How do you take that too far?

Um, for example...

People don't always say what they mean because they want to hide something from others, right?

But it's easy for me to figure out what's underneath that façade by taking a closer look.

I've taken that too far before and alienated a lot of people...

I see...

You've been through a lot too, huh?

Huh?

Wait...
Are you trying to be nice to me, Rin?

No, I have no idea what you're talking about. You just cramp my style when you act all mopey around me...

Haha! Really?

But thanks, Rin.
I'm much better now compared to back then.

Still...

Some people aren't able to show their real selves to others, while some wander in the dark as they struggle to find their real selves.

I hope Mafuyu discovers her real self soon...