Kanaena

Ena cursed the day she went to that stupid, idiotic, impossibly terrible festival in Kamiyama. She should've stayed at home, just like she wanted! Then she wouldn't have gone up to that damn roof, wouldn't have heard the horrors from the day students and... wouldn't have lost Mizuki. That day did not leave her mind for a second: when she woke up, she remembered messages from Amia, when she ate — that damned fried squid, when she went to school — meeting those three guys, when she changed clothes — how she and Mizuki chose those clothes together.

The girl wanted to kick, throw or tear something, but instead she decided to log onto nightcord early and continue working. Despite the... temporary absence... of one of the members of their circle, the girls tried not to sit around, so that if 'No, no ifs! Everything will be fine!' when Mizuki returns, everything will be exactly the same. Every night they sat on the server and waited for the familiar sound of a person joining the call.

But no. For more than fourteen nights the profile picture with the letter "A" on it has not appeared online.

Ena sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and opened the drawing program. 'That's it, working mode. No thoughts about Mizuki. Stop.' The line, followed by another one: to get started, you need to paint, and for this you can sketch a little, just something that comes to your mind. A couple of curlicues here, a little sloppiness there…

Mizuki's smiling head was looking at Ena from the screen.

Damn.

One more second, and she'll jump o-

Ding!

"Enanan? You're on call early. Is everything okay?" 

'Oh, Kanade joined.' 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, K."

There was silence again. Ena was already looking at a new blank canvas, trying in vain to think of something to draw.

"M-m, you know, you can vent to me if something bothers you. You usually don't hold back your emotions, so I'm a little... worried about you." 

'Kanade is so kind. She deserves a quiet nightcord work, not this whole situation...'

"Sorry, I didn't want to worry you. I just can't stop thinking about Mizuki. I wish I went back in time and fixed everything..."

Kanade hummed thoughtfully.

"I get you, sometimes I also want to change the past. It seems like it'll make your life easier, yeah?" 

"Yeah... What a shame, that's impossible."

"But we can try to work hard now so that this doesn't happen again in the future", the girl smiled, leaning on her elbow.

"And when did you become so wise?" Ena smiled through her sadness.

"Well", Yoisaki laughed nervously, "I was trying to figure out the topic of the past and the future after Yuki started living with me. I studied a bit about fate, loneliness, friendship, and other... feelings. Mochizuki-san helped a little." 

Ena giggled and sighed again.

"I can tell you about that day, but I have no right to share Mizuki's secret. I hope you will understand", Kanade hummed in comprehension, and Shinonome shared, a little hesitantly, about how that unfortunate evening went. About the blinding red sunset, about the deafening pounding of her heart, about Mizuki's speechless reaction. About the chase. About fear. About regrets. "And now Amia is just ignoring us! I'm angry, of course, but, in fact, more at myself. I have to give them time, I have to accept the changes, I have to process all new information, but... it's so hard for me, K. It's just unbearable. I want everything to be the same..."

Kanade looked at the screen sympathetically, thinking how to help Ena.

"I'm sure Mizuki knows that we would never change our position towards them. Even if the secret turns out to be terrible. You just need to convey it somehow, convince them." 

"How, if Amia doesn't go online at all?!" 

Ena's resolve started to light down. She shouldn't have let her spirits drop: she needed to be strong to meet Mizuki and prove that she was a great friend who would take their side. That she, as promised, was ready to wait forever. That she can be there for Mizuki until they are both old and gray, spending every day together.

'Probably I shouldn't say that last part to them...' 

"Sorry, it's not your fault. I think I'd better continue working..." Ena sighed and took the stylus in her hand again.

"It's okay that you're upset, it's fine. By the way, I logged on to send a new demo. Do you wanna hear it?" 

"Of course!" 

Ena uploaded the file and immediately clicked on it, listening to the new melody. It was relatively short, but from the very first seconds it dragged into the abyss of despair and anxiety. The rhythm turned out to be very fast: they'll have to try their best to sing the song at the highest level, but Shinonome didn't mind. She wanted to work as hard as she could — and she could start with the illustration for the video. Thanks to the demo from Kanade, inspiration immediately pumped her up, and the girl almost jumped from overflowing emotions.

"K, this is wonderful! With each new melody I love you...r work more and more. Is that even possible?!" 

Kanade giggled, smiling gently.

"I can say the same about you, Enanan. I don't regret inviting you and Amia to niigo. And the four of us will definitely work together again." 

Ena let out a small squeak from excessive emotions, pressing her hands onto her chest. What was this girl doing to her mind…

"Thanks, K. Let's start working."

There are two hours left until 25:00.

To the third chapter>>>