Ena's Room
Ena
<Wait, that means...>
Ena
<We're gonna work on Nightcord while Mafuyu's at school during her lunch break...?>
Mizuki
<Yeah, exactly!>
Mizuki
<Based on what we know, Mafuyu's only directly being watched at night when she's at home, right?>
Mizuki
<So, why not just work during the day when she's at school?!>
Kanade
<I see...
That may actually give Mafuyu time to work...>
That may actually give Mafuyu time to work...>
Ena
<Oh, hang on...
I remember her telling me how busy she is when she's at school. She always seems to have her hands full with student council stuff.>
I remember her telling me how busy she is when she's at school. She always seems to have her hands full with student council stuff.>
Kanade
<Right...
There's no guarantee that she'd have time to get any work done...>
There's no guarantee that she'd have time to get any work done...>
Kanade
<But it might be worth asking her...>
Kanade
<Since she may actually start feeling better if we get to work together a little more.>
Ena
<Yeah, I agree...
I like this idea.>
I like this idea.>
Mizuki
<...!
Thanks, you two!
Then, I'll ask her right away!>
Thanks, you two!
Then, I'll ask her right away!>
Mizuki
(It's only gonna give her some temporary relief...)
Mizuki
(But it's also important for her to have that sort of time. So...)
Mizuki
<*Gasp*
She replied!>
She replied!>
Kanade
<Oh, you're right...>
Ena
<Is she hiding under her covers with her phone or something? I hope her mom doesn't find out...>
Mizuki
<That means we need to respond quick.
Let's see what she said...>
Let's see what she said...>
Mafuyu's Message
<I don't know if that's going to work...>
Mafuyu's Message
<Various people are always asking for my help during the day.>
Mizuki
<I had a feeling...>
Mafuyu's Message
<But thank you for making this suggestion.>
Mizuki
<Oh...>
Mizuki
(No, we can't give up yet...)
Mizuki
(There's gotta be a way...
There must be a place where Mafuyu can work in private...)
There must be a place where Mafuyu can work in private...)
Mizuki
<Wait, that's it!>
Mizuki
<What if you said you want to use your school's study room to work on your cram school assignments and stuff?>
Mizuki
<Can't you log into Nightcord on your phone and act like you're doing your homework?>
Ena
<At the study room?
Won't the other students find out?>
Won't the other students find out?>
Mizuki
<Yeah, so...>
Mizuki
<Mafuyu, you listen to us chatting while responding through text.>
Kanade
<Oh, I see...
That way, no one else would know...>
That way, no one else would know...>
Ena
<Alright, let's see what she thinks...>
Mizuki
<Oh, she replied!>
Mafuyu's Message
<It won't be easy.>
Mafuyu's Message
<But it could be worth a try.>
Mizuki
<...!>
Mizuki
<Yeah, that's totally fine!>
Mizuki
<Let's just try it once to see!>
Mafuyu's Message
<Okay...>
Mafuyu's Message
<Then, I'll talk to you all tomorrow.
We can talk again during lunch.>
We can talk again during lunch.>
Mizuki
<Okay! Night!>
Ena
<Thank goodness... We might actually be able to work together...!>
Mizuki
<Yeah!
I don't know if it's gonna go well, but it feels like we've managed to clear our first hurdle!>
I don't know if it's gonna go well, but it feels like we've managed to clear our first hurdle!>
Kanade
<I agree...
Thank you for suggesting this.>
Thank you for suggesting this.>
Mizuki
<Hehe. You're welcome!>
Kanade
<Oh, I need to set my alarm to make sure I don't oversleep tomorrow...>
Mizuki
<Right! You should as well, Enanan!
Otherwise, you'll definitely sleep through it!>
Otherwise, you'll definitely sleep through it!>
Ena
<No, I won't!
She said around lunch, so I should be fine.>
She said around lunch, so I should be fine.>
Mizuki
<Hehe.
Then, talk to you both tomorrow!>
Then, talk to you both tomorrow!>
The next day
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Class 2-B
Student
Class is adjourned!
Students
Ugh! That pop quiz! It had to be today, huh?!
Students
*Sigh*
Yeah, my stomach sank... I really don't wanna see what I got...
Yeah, my stomach sank... I really don't wanna see what I got...
Mafuyu
(I need to head over to the study room and...)
Teacher
Asahina, do you have a minute?
Mafuyu
Oh...
H-How can I help you?
H-How can I help you?
Teacher
It's about the guidebook for the school trip that's coming up. Do you have some time to discuss it...?
Mafuyu
Oh, um...
Mafuyu
I'm sorry.
Mafuyu
There's something I need to do right now. Would you mind if we discussed this after school?
Teacher
Oh, of course.
Don't mind me. I was just hoping to hear what you thought was all.
Don't mind me. I was just hoping to hear what you thought was all.
Mafuyu
Thank you. If you'll excuse me.
Mafuyu
I need to hurry...
Study Room
Mafuyu
(There's so few people here during lunch...)
Mafuyu
(Mizuki's idea might actually work...)
Mafuyu's Message
<I'm ready.>
Mizuki
<Oh, there she is!
Yuki, can you hear us?>
Yuki, can you hear us?>
Mafuyu's Message
<Yes.>
Kanade & Ena
<...!>
Mizuki
<Awesome!
Hehe. It actually worked!>
Hehe. It actually worked!>
Mizuki
<I know not being able to talk is gonna be tough, Yuki, but let's try to get as much done as we can!>
Ena
<She'll be fine.
I mean, she doesn't talk much to begin with.>
I mean, she doesn't talk much to begin with.>
Mafuyu's Message
<Conversely, Enanan, you don't know when to stop.>
Ena
<Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!
We need to communicate if we want to produce good content, right?!>
We need to communicate if we want to produce good content, right?!>
Mizuki
<Hahaha!
I missed this so much.>
I missed this so much.>
Kanade
<Hehe...>
Kanade
<Anyway, shall we get started?>
Mafuyu's Message
<Okay.>
Kanade
<The lyrics for the bridge could use a little more work. Yuki, this part about “pulling your hand away”... I'd like you to use stronger language here.>
Mafuyu's Message
<Okay, I'll try thinking of something for that.>
Ena
<Oh, Amia!
I recolored that thing I showed you before. Do you have a minute to look at it?>
I recolored that thing I showed you before. Do you have a minute to look at it?>
Mizuki
<Again? Really?>
Mafuyu's Message
<I couldn't even tell what fixes you made last time.>
Ena
<Some people can tell!>
Mizuki
<Okay, okay. Relax.>
Mizuki
<Oh, Yuki, that reminds me. The lyrics for the chorus are all set to go, right? It's this song's big moment, so I wanna do something that gives it impact.>
Mafuyu's Message
<That's fine. That section won't be changed any further.>
Mizuki
<Okay!
Then, I'll start looking for some good fonts for it♪>
Then, I'll start looking for some good fonts for it♪>
Mafuyu's Message
<Thank you.>
Mizuki
(I can't hear her voice. I can only see what she's writing...)
Mizuki
(But she seems to be enjoying this...)
Several minutes later
Kanade
<Okay...
I really like these lyrics. They're exactly what I had in mind.>
I really like these lyrics. They're exactly what I had in mind.>
Mafuyu's Message
<Thank goodness.>
Mizuki
(Hehe. We're getting so much done!
Alright, let's keep this up and...)
Alright, let's keep this up and...)
Mafuyu's Message
<Sorry, I need to head back soon. Lunch is almost over.>
Mizuki
<Oh, right...>
Kanade
<Yuki...>
Kanade
<I'm really glad we got to do this.
I hope you can join us again sometime.>
I hope you can join us again sometime.>
Ena
<Actually communicating with one another definitely does make things go smoother.>
Mafuyu's Message
<I agree.>
Mafuyu's Message
<I'd also like to do this again.
I'll try to make room in my schedule.>
I'll try to make room in my schedule.>
Mizuki
<...!>
Mizuki
<Great!
Let's do this again, Yuki!>
Let's do this again, Yuki!>
Mafuyu's Message
<Thank you.
Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow.>
Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow.>
Ena
<Is it just me, or did Yuki seem kinda happy...?>
Kanade
<Yes, she must've enjoyed getting to work as a group.>
Mizuki
<Thank goodness...>
Mizuki
(It's only for a short time, but I think we have a way to give Mafuyu a safe place to work.)
Mizuki
(I hope this helps her feel a little better moving forward.)
Next Chapter: Oppressive Footsteps