<Wow, that's so cool...
You really are drawing her.>

Ena, what sort of expression do you need me to make...?

Your usual one should be fine.

Okay.

(Honestly, I wasn't expecting to actually do a drawing of her...)

(She's so expressionless... It's like I'm drawing a sculpture.)

<You really are a good artist, Ena...>

<And it's so admirable how you're still trying to get better...>

I'm not good or anything.

But I do want to get better.

To be fair, each day feels like a struggle since no matter how much I draw, I keep getting told how awful my drawings are.

<Ena...>

But this is what I want to do.
This is the path I've chosen.

I don't care what anyone says.
I'm not gonna stop drawing.

...

I know me doing this makes my mom really worried sometimes.

But I honestly think that doing art is what suits me best.

What suits you best...?

Yeah. So, why don't you try telling your mom what you really want to do?

Including the part about your synth...

I already told her that I don't want to stop...

What...?

I told her that I know that I need to study but also want to keep making music...

Wait, you did?!

(She already tried...?)

And she said that I'm free to do as I wish...

Really? Then...

But she also told me to not regret my decision...

What...?

She was telling me to think about my future and not make regretful choices...

Huh? What's she talking about...?
Why would you regret making music?

I don't think that's what she was talking about...

Knowing her, she was probably more focused on my future...

By becoming a doctor, I'll be able to help many people and live comfortably...

Yeah, you're not wrong. But...

My mom knows that things will become much harder if I don't study and do well on the entrance exams...

So...

So... I...

I said that I'd step away from music...

...!

What?! You actually told her that?!

Yes...

And you're really okay with that...?
None of this bothers you?

...

If I study and bide my time, by the time I'm in university... I might be able to pick it back up...

So, for now...

And yet, you're still here making music with us...

That's what I still don't understand...

The other day, Ena, when you said, “You wouldn't be in SEKAI if you thought your mom was right.”

I agree with you.

It made me wonder why am I doing the opposite of what my mom is telling me to do...

Because that's what you wanted to do, right...?

You want to make music and go to SEKAI. It doesn't matter what she says. You're not willing to give those things up. You want to be a part of N25. Am I wrong?

It's only natural for you to feel that way.

It is...?

Yeah.

Just look at me. I draw because I want to draw, and I believe I'll be rewarded in the future.

So, I would think that there's a part of you that knows what would truly make you happy. And it's not what your mom decides...

What makes me happy...?

But I...

<Mafuyu...?>

(This is a tough one...)

(I get that her mom means a lot to her... But why can't Mafuyu just say what she wants to do.)

(I mean, based on our conversation, it's clear that her heart lies elsewhere.)

(Hmm... What if it were me in her shoes? Would things have turned out differently...?)

(If my parents constantly pushed their ideals onto me because it's “for my sake”...)

(Would I have turned into Mafuyu...?)

Let's take your mom out of the equation for a second, Mafuyu. What do you want to do?

I don't know...

But I want to make music with all of you...

Mafuyu...

Okay...

Then, as a fellow member of N25, I'll do what I can to help.

At the same time, “being yourself” is probably easier said than done in your case.

So, why don't you use today to practice doing just that? It'll be your chance to do whatever you want...

What...?

Wait, it's already 25:00?!
I need to get to work! I totally lost track of the time while drawing...!

Work...?

On N25 stuff! Don't you also have work to do?

Am I allowed to...?

Huh? You're kidding, right?
Kanade's probably done polishing up her song, which means Mizuki and I need you to finish writing your lyrics.

Anyway, lemme open up Nightcord.

Okay...