Where Does the Path of Thorns Lead To?/Story

== Chapters ==
== Side stories ==
Card 	Story 	Featured characters
What Has Been Lost 	Part 1	
What Has Been Lost 	Part 2	
In the Midst of Painful Dusk 	Part 1	
In the Midst of Painful Dusk 	Part 2	
Zero-Degrees Argument 	Part 1	
Zero-Degrees Argument 	Part 2	
Tasting the "Serious" Grilled Squid	Part 1	
Tasting the "Serious" Grilled Squid	Part 2	
What Was Somehow Forgotten 	Part 1	
What Was Somehow Forgotten 	Part 2	
== Summaries ==
=== Chapter 1: Trembling Hands ===
After the events of Reeling in the Lights, Mizuki is thinking about Mafuyu confining in her father. Mizuki decides she want to move forward as well, and tries to ready herself to tell Ena - who's been waiting the longest - about her secret. Despite that, she's scared, not able to stop thinking about being rejected. Mizuki starts typing a message to Ena with trembling hands.
A couple days later the group meets up in SEKAI to talk about their current demo. Kanade notices that something smells like a food stall, upon which Ena admits she's been grilling squid today - the school cultural festival is coming up, and she's considering attending it this year. Mizuki gets worried about what might happen if Ena ends up coming, and KAITO takes note of her weird behaviour. In the end Mizuki resolves herself talk to Ena on the festival day.
=== Chapter 2: The Ones Who Watch Over ===
KAITO comes to ask MEIKO about Mizuki's strange behaviour, but she tells him it's not her place to talk. KAITO decides to go confront Mizuki, but MEIKO stops him, and they get into an argument. KAITO walks away, and MEIKO runs after him.
Mizuki sits in her room. While she's still unable to send the message to Ena, KAITO appears, wanting to talk. Before he can get anything out, MEIKO appears as well, insisting he has no right to pry into Mizuki. KAITO understands, but still tells Mizuki that whatever she's hesitating about, she has to either proceed or back out, and asserts its necessary take the path the path that'll let her live. Afterwards, MEIKO tells Mizuki that she cannot intervene, but she'll watch Mizuki until the end, whatever it may end up being.
=== Chapter 3: A Friend’s Wish ===
It's the next day, and the day before the cultural festival. As class 2-B is preparing their escape room, Mizuki and Toya are tasked with setting things up. When they're finished, Toya leaves for library duty, and Mizuki is left on her own. Just as she starts to think about things to come, Rui calls out to her. They briefly exchange niceties, but Rui can tell something is on Mizuki's mind. They decide to go talk more in the courtyard.
After a bit of small talk, Rui asks Mizuki what's wrong. She admits that she wants to tell her circle about everything, but that she's frozen with fear. She's terrified of the possibility she won't be accepted, or that they'll treat her differently. Rui finds it frustrating he can't deny her fear, but sincerely hopes that her heart will be protected, and that she'll find joy. Right after, the school bell rings, and they part ways.
In her room, Mizuki is thinking about what everyone's been saying to her. Just then- she gets a message from Ena, telling her she'll be attending the school festival after all. Mizuki responds, excited to have fun with everyone, and asks Ena to talk with her during the closing ceremony.
=== Chapter 4: A Cultural Festival of Resolve ===
The day of the cultural festival has arrived. Mizuki, Kanade, Mafuyu and Ena meet up at the Kamiyama High School front gate. Ena notices that Mizuki's behaviour is different, but decides enjoy the day before they meet up to talk.
The group walks around the school, checking out various attractions. They come across 2-A — An's, Akito's and Nene's class. This attraction is a dress up photo shoot, and they pictures together. Next they watch the play made by the class 3-C — written by Rui, and the main star of the show being Tsukasa. Everyone seemed to enjoy it in one way or another. Ena suggests to check out Mizuki's class attraction next.
=== Chapter 5: Because You Were There For Me ===
Mizuki is worried as they're about to enter her classroom, but is instantly relieved when she finds out that Toya is at the reception right now, instead of one of her other classmates. He suggests that since Mizuki knows all the answers to the escape room, she could serve as her group's guide. Mizuki agrees, and they go in.
Mizuki welcomes her friends to class' 2-B escape room! They have 15 minutes to find the key and escape. The girls go through each of the puzzles, solving them at a swift pace, with Kanade and Mafuyu solving a couple based on their knowlage of the puzzle maker - Mizuki, until they get to the last puzzle. With 3 minutes left, Ena resorts to searching where she thinks Mizuki would hide the key, and starts looking around the plushies in the room. She finds a piece of paper inside one, but it turns out to be a fluke, and the time runs out. When prompted about what the answer actually was, Mizuki points out a plushie hanging from the ceiling.
As the group goes to claim their participation prize, Mizuki ruminates on how well everyone knows her. Originally, the place Ena searched was correct, but Toya suggested putting a twist on the answer, and the key was relocated. Being around everyone makes her happy, and she wants to stay together with them, from here on properly.
=== Chapter 6: Together ===
The festival is coming to an end, which means Kanade and Mafuyu have to leave the school grounds soon. Before they leave, Mizuki asks to talk to both of them the next time. They agree, and the group separates.
The hallways are desolate by now, painted over with warm evening light. Mizuki asks Ena to come to the rooftop with her, to which she agrees to. As the two are chatting on their way, Mizuki's classmate interrupts them, needing help. Mizuki asks Ena to go alone and wait a bit, and runs off with the classmate.
Ena heads to the rooftop by herself, and is struck by the sunset. She reminisces a bit on the last time she came up to the roof with Mizuki, and is happy she's ready to talk. She wants to accept whatever Mizuki's troubles may be. Just then, a couple of male students arrive to the rooftop.
=== Chapter 7: Your Face ===
Content warning: This chapter contains depictions of transphobia.
As the male students are chatting, they take notice of Ena. One of the boys asks her if she's close with Mizuki, to which she replies they've known each other for a while. He starts pestering her with questions, and asks if Ena is a guy as well. The question confuses her, and the boys start to panic as she seems to not be aware of something.
In that moment, Mizuki opens the rooftop door. She looks terrified. A moment later, she runs away, and Ena chases after her.
=== Chapter 8: I'm Sorry ===
Content warning: This chapter contains depictions of suicidal ideation.
Ena chases Mizuki through the school's hallways. When she catches up, she's at a loss for words. Mizuki says she knows Ena was just surprised, and knows that nothing in their routine will change, but can't stand that they will "have" to do that. That they will just make her think that. Mizuki breaks away from Ena, and apologises for not telling her sooner. She runs away again. Ena screams her name, and crumples to the floor, questioning herself.
The chapter ends in a black screen, with Mizuki saying she wants to disappear.
== Event story movie ==
<youtube>EkdM5lJZ3NA</youtube>
== Trivia ==
* In-game, before being allowed to read the last chapter of the story, the player would receive a pop-up warning, recreated on this page.
== Navigation ==