[ there's a bone tiredness that manages to supersede some of the violence and bloodthirst. ]

... There is always more meaning to be found. It just takes more and longer for some.

...Okay.

[ he really doesn't believe that, but he isn't going to say so. though there might be a hint of despair coming through in his emotions that gives it away anyway. ]

So you thought you could find it for yourself like this?

[ she is used to people not believer her. it's fine. ]

I don't think my situation is similar to yours right now, Mr. Todomatsu.

Well, I sure hope not. It doesn't mean I don't want to understand yours, though.

[ she is silent for a long while, and he can feel her emotions go haywire. the violence lashes out. the sadness bursts. the bloodthirst seizes. her grief surges. ]

I don't want to live as someone who betrays my ideals, but I don't want to die before knowing my brother is safe.

...Oh.

[ well. between those emotions and her words, that punches him in the gut pretty hard.

his brothers are the most annoying pieces of shit in the world, and he wants to kill them all the time, but...

he remembers waiting in his empty house for almost two months for them to come home when he was in that other world, not sure where or why they were gone. how much it felt like a part of him was missing. how lonely and out of place he still feels here without them. ]

Okay. I think I get that. Sorry.

[ she knows about his brothers, and she knows he's almost always been with them. they don't have quite the same relationship, but she does think he can understand what she's feeling. ]

... It's all right. I've accepted what's going to happen.

[ nods... ]

...Do you think we're still going to get out of here in the end? Everyone on both sides. You might still be able to find him.

[ something churns in her emotions. ]

We have a method now. We only have to go forward with it.

[ she purposefully doesn't respond to the last part. ]

[ he notices that, but won't mention it further. ]

...Mm. And hope we don't mess it up in the home stretch, yeah.