The next morning
Ena's Room
Len
<Zzz... Zzz...>
Ena
Oh, it's morning already...
No wonder I feel so sleepy...
No wonder I feel so sleepy...
Mafuyu
Oh, you're right...
I'll open the curtains.
I'll open the curtains.
Ena
No, don't...!
It'll be too bright!
It'll be too bright!
Mafuyu
The light will help you wake up.
Len
<Hm...? Is it morning already...?>
Ena
See? You woke Len up.
He was sleeping like a baby too.
He was sleeping like a baby too.
Mizuki
<Morning, Len!>
Len
<Mhm... Morning...>
Mizuki
<Also, today's been a lot of fun for some reason, and I got a ton of work done too!>
Kanade
<Same...
It was nice to see you really enjoying yourself, Yuki.>
It was nice to see you really enjoying yourself, Yuki.>
Mizuki
<Yeah, you haven't been able to log on much lately because you've been so busy.>
Mizuki
<Which made hanging out with you until the morning like this really nice!>
Mafuyu
...
Mafuyu
I haven't been able to work like this in so long...
Mafuyu
If I were at home, I probably wouldn't have been able to. So... Enanan, thank you.
Ena
Huh? Oh, um... You're welcome.
I mean, it was nice to get away for a bit, right?
I mean, it was nice to get away for a bit, right?
Mizuki
<Anyway, I've reached a good place to stop, so I'm gonna go to bed.>
Kanade
<Me too. I'll put on the finishing touches after a quick nap.>
Ena
Okay.
Night, everyone.
Night, everyone.
Mizuki & Kanade
<Night!>
<Good night.>
<Good night.>
Ena
Alright, I think I'll get to work on my assignment.
Mafuyu
Your assignment...?
Ena
Yeah, for art class.
I've got a good idea of what I wanna draw now.
I've got a good idea of what I wanna draw now.
Ena
All thanks to you.
Mafuyu
Me...?
But I didn't do anything.
But I didn't do anything.
Ena
You don't have to understand.
But thanks anyways.
But thanks anyways.
Mafuyu
Okay...
Len
<Good luck, Ena.>
Mafuyu
Then, I'm going home.
I have cram school starting around noon, so I need to head back and get my things.
I have cram school starting around noon, so I need to head back and get my things.
Ena
Oh, are you sure?
Shouldn't you sleep for a bit first?
Shouldn't you sleep for a bit first?
Mafuyu
I'm fine now...
Ena
Okay...
Len
<Alright, I think I'll head back too...>
Len
<Good luck to you both, Ena, Mafuyu.>
Mafuyu
*Nod*
Thank you, Len...
Thank you, Len...
Ena
Good night.
Ena
Len also seems to be feeling a lot better now.
Ena
And he really liked my portrait of you... Oh, I know.
Ena
Here, as a small token of my appreciation and since it turned out so well, you can have it.
Mafuyu
Oh...
Mafuyu
Thank you...
Mafuyu
Anyway, I'll see you later on Nightcord.
Ena
Alright, time to get to work...
Ena
(I wasn't sure what to do when I heard that our theme was “incubation” since I'd never tried to draw something based on that before.)
Ena
(But I think I know what to do now...)
Ena
Yeah. So, why don't you try telling your mom what you really want to do?
Ena
Including the part about your synth...
Mafuyu
I already told her that I don't want to stop...
Ena
What...?
Mafuyu
I told her that I know that I need to study but also want to keep making music...
Mafuyu
My mom knows that things will become much harder if I don't study and do well on the entrance exams...
Mafuyu
So...
Mafuyu
So... I...
Ena
No, I think I just realized how much making songs means to you.
Mafuyu
How much it means to me...?
Mafuyu
...
Mafuyu
I can't say for certain, but...
Mafuyu
Right now, I want to keep doing this with all of you.
Ena
(I know you can't do much right now since you're still stuck inside your shell...)
Ena
(But...)
Ena
(One day... I want you to break out of it with your own power.)
Ena
(I want to see you driven by your own free will to see the wide world that's out there.)
Ena
(And...)
Ena
And live your life the way you like, Mafuyu.
A few days later
Art class
Yukihira
I see.
So this is what came to mind when you heard “incubation”?
So this is what came to mind when you heard “incubation”?
Ena
Yes, what do you think of it...?
Yukihira
Well...
Yukihira
First, your brushwork for the background leaves a lot to be desired. I can see that you were trying to depict daybreak, but I'm seeing blotches of colors here and there.
Yukihira
As for your figure, their joints don't seem fully connected, which gives them an unbalanced appearance. They seem so stiff that it's hard to tell what sort of pose they're trying to do.
Ena
Right...
Yukihira
But you've done a good job with the irises. I can see from there that they yearn to break free from their shell and soar into the sky.
Yukihira
And how the artist wishes to do the same.
Ena
...!
Ena
Th-Thank you very much.
Ena
(He got it...! I didn't say anything, but he got my message...)
Yukihira
Unfortunately, Shinonome, I cannot give you a pass since you failed to finish it in the time allotted. Nonetheless, well done.
Yukihira
I hope you'll work to fix your mistakes and look forward to doing better next time.
Ena
Y-Yes, I will...!
Thank you very much, Mr. Yukihira!
Thank you very much, Mr. Yukihira!
Ena
(Thank goodness...
I managed to accomplish my main goal...)
I managed to accomplish my main goal...)
Ena
(She probably doesn't realize it, but I also ended up learning a few things from Mafuyu.)
Ena
(Still, I'm way behind the others.
I need to keep practicing for next time.)
I need to keep practicing for next time.)
Ena
(Someday, I'm gonna get really good, and draw something that properly illustrates the music Kanade and Mafuyu make.)