Doubt

p3
>Nozomi-chan!!

>What's up?

>There's a part I don't get from today's lesson...
>>Math

>Just leave it to me.

>You do this part like this
>Ah~ I see

p4
>If anything else comes up, just let me know.

>Nozomi-chan's smiling face is really healing.
>She's a good listener and a good teacher.


>We'll consult you the next time we struggle with something, Nozomi-chan.
>...

p5
>Thanks! See you later.
>Later~

>Did you hear that, Nicocchi?

>They said my smiling face is healing. I guess I really do smile that much, huh?

>Doubt.

p6
>Eh?
>I've never seen it once in my life.

>Your smiling face, that is.

>Wh-What are you saying, Nicocchi?
>That's a bad joke.

>Here. Should I heal you with my smiling face?

p7
>That's a really... ugly look.

p8
>I've never seen it once in my life.
>Your smiling face, that is.

>My smiling face... huh...

p9
>That's no good.
>I can't make such a face.

>Smiling face.
>Smiling face.

p10
>Nicocchi.
>Morning~

>Hey, you.
>Isn't your face kinda red today?
>Eh? Of course not.

>It's the same as always.

>...

p11
>Well,
>I'm gonna go on ahea-

>H-Hey!
>Get a hold of yourself!

>Do you have a fever or something...?

p13
>I-I'm just fine. Seriously.
>I ran all the way her so my legs are a little sluggish, that's all.

>More importantly, you better hurry up too before you're late, right, Nicocchi?

>Nozomi-chan, do you have a moment?

>What's up?
>Hey, wait!

p15
>Phew...

>I better get ready for the next lesson...
>>Toujou

p16
>Hey, you.
>Quit screwing around.

>Did you seriously think I wouldn't notice?

>What's up? You're making such a scary face.

p17
>You think you can fool me with that transparent acting?
>Transparent? What do you mean?
>I'm the same as always.

>More importantly, you better hurry up or you'll be late for class.
>Hold it right there!
>Nozomi-chan~

>We've got some errands we need to run today so
>could you take over our sweeping duties?
>We'll cover for you tomorrow~
>Alright.

p18
>No.

>Heh?

>You don't neccessarily need to rely on Nozomi for that, do you!?

>I'm sure your "errands" aren't so important that you can't even do a little sweeping.

>Wh-What's with you...?
>This has nothing to do with you, Yazawa-san...

p19
>That's right, Nicocchi. They asked me and I said "alright", so it's fine, right?
>Come on, you three. Don't make those faces...
>You be quiet for a moment!!

>What's this? What's going on here?
>A fight?

>Huh...? How did things turn out like this...?

>Just because it's Nozomi, you think you can easily rely on her?
>Because she'll accept everyone's requests with a smile on her face?
>Who the hell do you think Nozomi is?
>What!? It's not like we're ordering her to do it or anything!
>That's right!
>We said we'd take over for her tomorrow! It's just a small request, isn't it?

p20
>I just wanted to make sure nobody had any painful memories...

>No... This isn't how it's supposed to go...

>I'll... I'll do it more properly.

>Stop it.
>Please.

p21
>JUST STOP IT!!

p22
>Those two didn't mean any ill will...
>Huh...? That's strange...

>That may be, but...

>My vision...
>Nozomi...?

>is all warped...
>Nicocchi...

p23
>Nozomi!?
>Nozomi-chan!!

>NOZOMI!!

p24
>Back to your senses yet?

>Nicocchi...

p25
>Where am I...?
>>Nurse's office
>The nurse's office.
>I see...
>I collapsed...

>You're always like this...

>You put on a smiling face in front of everyone
>and then take on everything by yourself...

p26
>But that's who I'm supposed to be.
>I'm sure that's what everyone wants me to be.
>That's why I...

>So you're just gonna keep on pretending, Nozomi?
>Lying to yourself?

>I want my friends to smile.
>I can't let them experience painful or troublesome memories.
>That's why...
>That's why
>you're just fine with taking on everything yourself and bearing with it?
>What exactly is friendship to you?

p27
>A relationship where you curry their favor so they'll hang out with you?
>A relationship where you have to bend yourself just so you have something in common?
>A relationship where you have to force yourself to smile?

>Those are all wrong.
>That's just "pretend friendship"! Friendship for appearance's sake only.
>If that's what you call friendship

>then I don't need any friends.

p28
>So what? Am I supposed to just ignore them when they're in trouble?
>Am I supposed to just refuse them when they ask for my help?

>I can't do something like...
>You're wrong.

>That's not it.
>Everyone doesn't shoulder everything by themselves like you do.
>Friendship is a mutual understanding of something.

>They enjoy doing happy things.
>They grieve over sad things.
>They sometimes get into fights,
>but they make up with each other...


p29
>You're just backing away and hiding yourself while saying "friends this" and "friends that".
>You're scared of trusting someone. You're scared of showing your true self.

>You're always cooped up in your shell
>waiting forever for someone to break you out.

>Am I wrong?

>I'm not strong like you are, Nicocchi.
>If everyone saw the real me, they'd be disillusioned.

>My friends will stop being my friends...

p30
>I don't want that...
>I'm scared...
>I...
>I...

>Then if you did that to one of your friends
>you'd stop being friends, right?
>I-
>I would never...
>In that case...

p31
>In that case,
>you just need
>to believe in your friends too.

>Besides,
>even if you end up losing friends because of that...

p32
>I'll always be your friend.

p34
>Uuh...
>Nicocchi...

>Here.
>Get a hold of yourself.

>Hehe.
>Thanks.

p35
>That really is... an ugly look.

p36
>Sorry about yesterday, Nozomi-chan...

>We weren't thinking about your health...

>We'll pay more attention from now on.

>you just need
>to believe in your friends too.

>I'm...
>I'm sorry too! For trying to take it all on myself...
>I'll make sure to speak up from now on.

p37
>I might cause you worries, though...

>That's perfectly fine!
>We're friends, after all!

>Th-
>Thank you.

p38
>Oh dear... I put on a smiling face again...

p39
>Doubt.