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W-well, of course I was! You were dragged off deeper into the maze and badly wounded and then all of that happened--!

[He thinks he had very good reasons to be worried.]

But you didn't think I was unreliable, right? Because I had certain things surrounding my happenstance.

[ Tsukasa can worry all he wants. Hien won't stop him, and can't either. ]

I feel the same way. It's not about being unreliable. I worry because I don't want something worse to happen to you.

[... Ahhh.. That's right. He wasn't worried because he thinks Hien is unreliable. It isn't a reflection on him--probably--that Hien worries about him the most.]

I... very little has actually happened to me here, comparatively...

[But it's said almost a little ruefully, like he knows it's hardly even worth arguing.]

But--no, I suppose instead I should say I'm grateful that you care that much about me.

It's not about what you should say. I'd rather hear what you truly feel all the time, even when you're offended, think I did something shitty, or whatever else.

[ flashbacks to I will know.

But the puppy in front of Tsukasa just sits with a little blep. ]

It doesn't matter if a lot or little happened to you directly. A single event can traumatize someone for life, and I'm not playing the contest of who has the bigger trauma. It's different for everyone.

And I care a lot about you, Tsukasa. I just want to see you grow up to the best person you think you should be. And if I'm the one that holds that back for whatever reason... of course I wouldn't like that.

[It really is wild to hear all of this from a puppy whose tongue is out in a little blep.

Just. Tsukasa feels like he should be used to this, maybe, given his SEKAI--but at least the plushies sound like he'd expect them to sound. Hien sounds like a full grown man like this.]

I'm not--I'm not traumatized. I'm fine. And! You're the one who--

[--died. And Soo-won--in his memory, it's just part of Soo-won left, and so much blood, and Tsukasa's free hand, the one not resting lightly on dog Hien's head, curls into a tight fist.

It's not as satisfying as he wants it to be. His nails are too well-tended even now to bite into the skin.]

... Hien, you aren't the one doing anything to hold me back. I don't think you did something shitty, I think this place has been picking at us and what makes us ourselves for weeks! And that isn't anyone's fault, but I--

[A shaky breath in. There isn't anything he can do about it. And no matter what, he has to keep going, because Saki is in the depths of this maze.]

--I'll keep going. No matter what.

Mm. I know you will.

[ Hien nuzzles against Tsukasa's hand. ]

But I'm really glad to hear that. I really am. Thanks, Tsukasa.

[... And at that nuzzle, the tension drains out of his shoulders, and he huffs out a breath, ruffling Hien's doggy fur.]

Honestly, you have nothing to thank me for. Once again, I was being looked out for by you, even though I came here to try to do the opposite.

[ me forgetting i uploaded the dog icon last night ]

That usually seems to happen with a lot of people... I wonder why.

[ It's fine. ]

Anyway, I'm good. Again, I'm more worried about others, especially Hak. And I'll give him the space he wants if he needs it.

[PUPPY!!!

...

Tsukasa just heaves out a sigh at that, and pushes himself up to stand. Yeah. Hak. Hien. Everyone here is weird (affectionate).]

I've been meaning to go check on him anyway, so... I'll at least try to do that. And everyone else, of course!

I feel... more motivated than ever!

[CAN'T CATCH HIM SCARY THOUGHTS.]

Yeah? Do your best. I'll be rooting for you.

[ His tail wags. Yap.

Frees u ]

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