What Lies Beyond Guiding a Lost Child - 2: A Very Loose Thread

The next day

Asahina Household - Living Room

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Mafuyu

Listen

Bye, Mom.
I'm off to school.

Mafuyu's Mother

Good luck.
Oh, you don't have cram school today, so will you be coming home early?

Mafuyu

Listen

No, so I'm planning on staying at school to study. I'll be home at my usual time.

Mafuyu's Mother

Hehe. Just as motivated today, I see.

Mafuyu's Mother

But try not to get too focused on studying and forget to come home before curfew, okay?

Mafuyu

Listen

Thank you, Mom.
I should get going now!

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Mafuyu's Mother

(Mafuyu's such a good girl...)

Mafuyu's Mother

Oh, I know. I should take this chance to clean her room...

Mafuyu's Mother

A clean environment will make it easier for her to study...

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Class 2-B

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Mafuyu

Listen

Hmm... That math study guide should be...

Classmate

Hm? Mafuyu, aren't you gonna go home? Your club's taking a break today, right?

Mafuyu

Listen

Yes, but I'd like to get in some studying before going home since I have a practice exam coming up.

Classmate

You're such a straight arrow, Mafuyu. You know it's important to take breaks from time to time, right?

Classmate

But at the same time, you're really smart, so I guess there's nothing to worry about.

Mafuyu

Listen

Hehe. I appreciate the concern.

Classmate

Oh, but I need to get to club soon. Bye bye, Mafuyu!

Mafuyu

Listen

Bye. See you tomorrow.

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Mafuyu

Listen

Time to study...

A few hours later

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Mafuyu

Listen

Oh, it's already this late...

Mafuyu

Listen

(I've done three passes of the problem sets for the practice exam, so I'm probably ready now...)

Mafuyu

Listen

(I should get the results I want since I've done the work...)

Mafuyu

Listen

And I should head home soon.
Mom's probably waiting for me...

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Mafuyu

Listen

I'm home.

Mafuyu

Listen

Huh...?

Mafuyu

Listen

(Mom's usually here to greet me...)

Mafuyu

Listen

Mom, is something the matter?
Is everything okay?

Mafuyu's Mother

Um, Mafuyu...
Is there anything you're hiding from me?

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Mafuyu

Listen

What...? No, nothing.
Why would I hide anything from you, Mom...?

Mafuyu's Mother

Are you sure?

Mafuyu's Mother

Can you say that while looking straight into my eyes?

Mafuyu

Listen

What...?

Mafuyu

Listen

(Am I hiding anything...?
What can't I tell her about...?)

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Mafuyu

Listen

(Wait...)

Mafuyu

Listen

No, I'm not hiding anything from you. Again, Mom, why would I ever do that...?

Mafuyu's Mother

Then, what is the meaning of this?

Mafuyu

Listen

...!

Mafuyu

Listen

(My synthesizer...)

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Mafuyu's Mother

I found it while cleaning your room just now. You have no use for it, so it's only going to get in the way, no?

Mafuyu's Mother

It must be because your father just let it gather dust after buying it. Anyway, I'm thinking about having it taken away tomorrow...

Mafuyu

Listen

Why...?

Mafuyu's Mother

Why? Because you don't need it, right?

Mafuyu

Listen

But... I...

The next day

Mafuyu's Mother

Ah, you must be the removers.
I've gathered everything out front, so if you don't mind hauling it away for us.

Mafuyu's Mother

There's no need for you to stay and watch, Mafuyu. Also, isn't it about time you headed off to cram school?

Mafuyu

Listen

Um, okay...

Mafuyu's Mother

Anyway, I need to go pass this circular on to our neighbors.

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Mafuyu

Listen

...

Junk Remover

Phew... That just leaves this synthesizer.

Mafuyu

Listen

Oh...

Junk Remover

Yes? Can I help you?

Mafuyu

Listen

I'm so sorry...
This got mixed in with the junk somehow. We can still use this synthesizer, so you don't need to take it away.

Mafuyu

Listen

I'll be sure to let my mother know.

Junk Remover

Okay, understood.
Then, we'll haul the other things away.

Mafuyu

Listen

Yes, much appreciated.

Mafuyu's Mother

I thought we'd gotten rid of this.
What was it doing in your room, Mafuyu?

Mafuyu

Listen

Um, so...

Mafuyu

Listen

I was thinking that I could invest in my future by learning more about it.

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Mafuyu's Mother

What do you mean...?

Mafuyu

Listen

One of my friends knows how to play music and I gained some interest after seeing what she can do, so I decided to study music a little.

Mafuyu

Listen

You've heard of music therapy, right? I thought it might help me in the future...

Mafuyu's Mother

Oh, I see...

Mafuyu's Mother

I'm so proud of you, Mafuyu.
You're taking the initiative by trying to learn new things.

Mafuyu

Listen

...!

Mafuyu

Listen

Thank you, Mom, so this synthesizer...

Mafuyu's Mother

However...

Mafuyu's Mother

Is this really all that necessary right now?

Mafuyu

Listen

Huh...?

Mafuyu's Mother

Yes, music is indeed a wonderful thing and music therapy may prove to serve you well when you do become a doctor.

Mafuyu's Mother

But I'm also worried.

Mafuyu

Listen

You're worried...?

Mafuyu's Mother

I'm worried that music will get in the way of your studies and even lead to less-than-ideal results by the time entrance exams roll around.

Mafuyu's Mother

Of course, you're smart, and a good girl above all else, so I'm sure you'll do just fine...

Mafuyu's Mother

But I can't help but wonder if this is going to end up limiting the choices that are available to you in the future.

Mafuyu

Listen

Mom...

Mafuyu's Mother

I'm sure you can learn all about music therapy in medical school... And if you wish to relax, I'm sure there are many other ways...

Mafuyu's Mother

Oh, why don't you watch more movies like you did last night? Didn't you say you want to improve your listening skills by turning the subtitles off?

Mafuyu's Mother

I'll ask this teacher I know about any movies that they think will help with that.

Mafuyu

Listen

Thank you, Mom...
I'm sorry for making you worry so much...

Mafuyu

Listen

But...

Mafuyu

Listen

(To me... Music is...)

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Junior High School Mafuyu

Listen

(And nothing's going to change moving forward...?)

Junior High School Mafuyu

Listen

(I have to keep wandering in the dark not knowing what I want or what's supposed to be fun?)

Junior High School Mafuyu

Listen

(Even when I become a high schooler, go to university and beyond...?)

Mafuyu

Listen

(I want to know...)

Mafuyu

Listen

(I want to know why this song has such a hold over me...)

Mafuyu

Listen

I'll start by copying the melody...

Mafuyu

Listen

I'm glad to see that you're so worried about me, Mom...

Mafuyu

Listen

But I want to try my hand at music...

Mafuyu's Mother

Mafuyu...

Mafuyu

Listen

Of course, I promise not to let it get in the way of my studies and will try not to be too much of a burden on my friend...

Mafuyu's Mother

Is this friend of yours the same age as you...?

Mafuyu

Listen

Huh? Yes, just about...

Mafuyu's Mother

I see...

Mafuyu's Mother

That's so marvelous, Mafuyu. I understand why you're so interested in the arts since they can do wonders for your mind.

Mafuyu

Listen

So, does that mean...?

Mafuyu's Mother

But is this friend in the process of getting ready for entrance exams...?

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Mafuyu

Listen

Huh...?

Mafuyu's Mother

If this friend of yours was actually studying for exams and aiming for high-level goals like you, Mafuyu, then I'd be more than happy to let you take this on as a nice, relaxing hobby...

Mafuyu

Listen

Studying for exams...?

100

Mafuyu's Mother

Ah, I see...

101

Mafuyu's Mother

Mafuyu, I know it's important to be exposed to different kinds of people, but networking with the right people is just as important.

102

Mafuyu's Mother

So, what you need right now are peers who are studying just as hard as you for entrance exams. Am I wrong...?

103

Mafuyu's Mother

You surely stand to benefit much more from having friends who are trying to achieve the same kinds of goals as you, Mafuyu.

104

Mafuyu

Listen

Yes, I understand that, but...

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105

Mafuyu

Listen

I...

106

Mafuyu's Mother

Mafuyu...

107

Mafuyu's Mother

What's gotten into you today?
Did I do something that wasn't to your liking...?

108

Mafuyu's Mother

All I'm trying to do is make sure you have the best future possible...

109

Mafuyu

Listen

Oh...

110

Mafuyu

Listen

I-I'm sorry...
I didn't mean to step on your toes...!

111

Mafuyu

Listen

I know you're always putting serious thought into my future, so I apologize for making you worry so much...

112

Mafuyu's Mother

No, that's okay.
If there's something you truly wish to do, I plan on being there to support you.

113

Mafuyu's Mother

I'm worried about you, so I can't help but state how I feel... However, Mafuyu, it's ultimately your life to live...

114

Mafuyu's Mother

So you're free to do whatever you like...

115

Mafuyu

Listen

Huh...?

116

Mafuyu's Mother

If you truly wish to do something, Mafuyu, you're free to do it...

117

Mafuyu's Mother

Just don't regret your decision, okay...?

118

Mafuyu

Listen

...

119

Mafuyu

Listen

I... I want to...

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120

Mafuyu

Listen

I'm sorry, Mom...

121

Mafuyu

Listen

I'll give up on music...

122

Mafuyu

Listen

And I'll use that time to prepare for exams, so you don't have to worry so much about me.

123

Mafuyu's Mother

You're sure about that...?

124

Mafuyu

Listen

Yes, since my studies come first.

125

Mafuyu's Mother

Good...
I'm so relieved.

126

Mafuyu's Mother

That means you don't need this synthesizer anymore, right? I'll hold onto it for now.

127

Mafuyu

Listen

Yes, okay.
I'm sorry for saying what I did.

128

Mafuyu

Listen

I'll be in my room studying until it's time for dinner...

Mafuyu's Room

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129

Mafuyu

Listen

Huff... Huff...

130

Mafuyu

Listen

(My chest... It feels so... cold...
And painful... My mind feels so overwhelmed...)

131

Mafuyu

Listen

(The way Mom said that remark... I can't get it out of my head...)

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132

Mafuyu's Mother

Just don't regret your decision, okay...?

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133

Mafuyu

Listen

A notification...?
It's from Mizuki...

134

Mizuki

Listen

135

Mafuyu

Listen

SEKAI...

136

Mafuyu

Listen

I should go to SEKAI...

Next Chapter: SEKAI's Newest Arrival