Hermit Reverse - Akiyama Mizuki Ashiato Card Story (Translation)

Untitled Subs
TL: Pepe (https://twitter.com/pepe_mosu)
QC: Bon
TS: 5 (https://twitter.com/57747h)

Voices available at https://sekai.best/storyreader/cardStory/20/307

Untitled Subs - Main Stories Directory

---

---

Mizuki's Card Story - Part 1

Mizuki: Haah...

Flashback

Mizuki: —There's nothing.
Mizuki: There's nothing... that I can talk about.

Flashback Ends

Mizuki: Why'd I have to go and say something like that...
Mizuki: Even though Ena said she just wanted to help me out.
Mizuki: And to top it off, I ended up running away.
Mizuki: ... I wonder if I pissed her off.
Mizuki: My inbox is..., empty, huh.
Mizuki: ... I guess I should take a break today.
Mizuki: (But I'm sure when tomorrow comes... She's gonna come tell me off.)
Mizuki: (Well, I guess that's to be expected, since I'm the one who invited her out in the first place, then just selfishly left her there.)
Mizuki: I guess the issue is with me, then. If I could just respond to her how I normally would, then it wouldn't be a problem, but...
Mizuki: ... ...
Mizuki: ... I guess I'll go to school tomorrow.

Mizuki: G'morning~♪
An: Ah Mizuki! Morning! Great job not showing up late today!
Mizuki: Yuhuh-! Come on, keep the praises coming~♪
An: Ahaha! If you can keep it up tomorrow and the next day, then I'll think about it.
Mizuki: Hmph—
An: Oh yeah, I was so surprised to see you the other day! I didn't expect to run into you in a place like that!
Mizuki: Ah, yeah that~!
An: Kohane told me afterwards that one of your members is a second-year at Miya Girls'.
An: Kohane said she hasn't talked to her directly, but apparently she's supposed to be some sort of amazing honor student who excels at both studies and sports?
Mizuki: So it seems~
Mizuki: (Which I'm sure she only does because others depend on her and she has to live up to their expectations.)
Mizuki: (That's why she's still an honor student.)
Mizuki: (... But, wait a sec.)
Mizuki: (I'm pretty sure Mafuyu doesn't talk about our circle with her parents or her school friends...)
Mizuki: Hey, An. About that Kohane of yours...
An: Oh, it should be fine! She isn't the type to start spreading rumors or anything like that.
Mizuki: Ah...
Mizuki: Sure, that's great.
An: Oh right. We were lucky we got the chance to meet Akito's big sis!
An: I know she goes to the same school as us, but I don't think I'd ever seen anyone around who fit his description of her.
Mizuki: Oh, that's because Ena's enrolled in our night class.
Mizuki: By the way, now that you've met her, what didja think of her?
An: Hmm~. Well, she wasn't quite the type of person I expected Akito's big sis to be.
An: Based on what Akito told us, I thought she'd be this uptight, fussy kind of person.
Mizuki: Ahaha. I see—
Mizuki: (I think that's about right too, but I'll keep my mouth shut to protect Ena's honor.)
An: ... ...
Mizuki: ...An?
An: Ah, sorry 'bout that!
An: ... Now that you mention it, I was wondering if my answer to that thing she was asking was ok with you.
Mizuki: That thing... ...

Flashback

Ena: Shiraishi-san, you're Mizuki's classmate, right? Well, could you tell me about what they're like at school?

Flashback Ends

Mizuki: ... Aah! The one about what I'm like at school, was it?
Mizuki: Well—, aside from saying that I got good grades, it would've been nice if you didn't rat me out about always getting scolded by our teachers~
An: Eh—? But, it's the truth, isn't it? Ah, maybe I should have added that you skip classes even when you do come to school—
Mizuki: Urgh, way to rub salt in the wound, An.
Mizuki: Well, I came to school today right? I gotta change my image.
An: Ahaha. Shouldn't you come every day if you're changing your image? Plus, since you're so good at studying, you could help me out with our lessons more that way, couldn't you?
Mizuki: Eh~! Go study by yourself—
Mizuki: (I hope I made it clear that her answer to Ena was alright...)
Mizuki: (An really is such a nice girl...)
Mizuki: (... I bet she glanced at me first before answering Ena because she wasn't sure if the rest of them knew about me or not.)
Mizuki: (... Thank you, An.)

---

Mizuki's Card Story - Part 2

Mizuki: ... I wonder if Ena made it to class on time.

Flashback

Ena: I don't like seeing you look so glum. Every time I do, it makes me feel uneasy or something...
Ena: But, I mean, don't you feel the same way?
Ena: Whenever Kanade and Mafuyu are struggling, you want to help them, don't you?
Ena: It's natural to wanna help a friend when they're struggling with something.

Flashback Ends

Mizuki: A friend, huh...
Mizuki: (I was so happy to hear that from Ena.)
Mizuki: (And yet...)
Mizuki: The thing that's troubling me... I can't tell you what it is right now. But if I can someday... I'd like you to listen.
Mizuki: (I lied to her...)
Mizuki: (I'm just taking advantage of Ena's willingness to wait until I'm ready to talk about it...)
Mizuki: Haah...
Mizuki: I just really don't play fair.
Mizuki: ... Ah. I can hear footsteps..
Mizuki: (Could it be, Ena is coming back...)
Rui: Hey there, Mizuki.
Mizuki: ... Why, if it isn't Rui!
Mizuki: What're you doing here at this time? Aren't you supposed to be rehearsing for your shows with Tsukasa-senpai and the others or something?
Rui: I've already told them I'll be running late, so there's no need to worry about that. Incidentally, you seem to have been here since morning, which is quite rare for you.
Mizuki: Ah, didya see me through your drone?
Rui: I just happened to catch sight of you while doing a test flight.
Mizuki: Sure, sounds legit. Dontcha think that's why people are spreading rumors that you're spying on the school?
Rui: Hehe. I'm not particularly hurt by those kinds of rumors, so I don't pay them any attention.
Rui: At any rate, I believe this is the first time we've been able to have a leisurely chat since the school festival.
Mizuki: Yeah, that seems about right~
Mizuki: I remember the last time you called me out for something, all you did was make me laugh out loud with one of those toys that plays Tsukasa-senpai's voice.
Rui: Hehe, you're right about that.
Rui: ... By the way, Mizuki. Do you remember that play I wrote that I told you about back in middle school?
Rui: That play about earnestly waiting for someone...
Mizuki: Ah— yeah. I sorta remember it. That's the one that people had pretty mixed opinions on, right?
Rui: Yes, that's the one. Although in that play, the person the main character is waiting for never comes at the end...
Rui: It seems that somehow, for me at least, that person did come.
Mizuki: Are you talking about Tsukasa-senpai and the others?
Rui: Yeah.
Rui: Even up to now, there were countless times where I thought that "It'd be nice if it were them," or "There's a chance it could be them."
Rui: But now, I'm sure of it.
Mizuki: ... ...
Mizuki: I see.
Rui: If you were to tell me back in middle school that something like this would happen, I'm sure I'd be shocked.
Mizuki: Rather than be shocked, he just wouldn't believe it, right?
Rui: Hehe, that's also a possibility.
Rui: ... So, how about you?
Mizuki: Eh?
Mizuki: Me, huh...

Flashback

Ena: — If opening up is painful, then you don't need to say anything.
Ena: But that doesn't mean I'm giving up, you know!
Ena: It doesn't change the fact that I hate seeing you look glum, and it doesn't change the fact that I want to help you. So...
Ena: If someday — you feel like you can tell me, then tell me. I'll wait until then.

Flashback Ends

Mizuki: I'm...
Mizuki: I think... I've become someone who's being "waited for."
Rui: ... I see.
Rui: Well then, it's about time for me to go.
Mizuki: Yup. Good luck with your rehearsal~♪
Rui: — Mizuki.
Mizuki: Hm?
Rui: I expect that for both of us, it's difficult to continue being the people we want to be.
Rui: But..., I like how you keep trying to be yourself, Mizuki.
Mizuki: ... ...
Rui: And, while I may no longer be your companion in loneliness, know that I will continue to be your companion who knows loneliness.
Rui: Well then, 'til next time.
Mizuki: Rui...
Mizuki: And yet you're the one who said it wasn't so bad to be lonely...
Mizuki: One way or another, it looks like Rui isn't going to leave me alone.