[And there it is. The bomb has dropped. Both in the conversation and in Takemichi's chest.

Yes. Takemichi was there. Mikey had entrusted his precious little sister to him, and yet he hadn't been able to do anything when Kisaki struck her. He'd walked with Mikey all the way to the hospital, even though her body had grown cold partway there. He'd seen the look on Mikey's face, the utter defeat that had clouded his eyes.

Emma is dead.

Michi's hands clench beneath the table, squeezing the color from his fingertips. He decides his course of action.

Emma is dead. Draken's dead too. Izana and Kaku-chan... They're all gone, but if Takemichi succeeds in this new mission, they don't have to be gone forever.

Mikey can be happy this time. Takemichi can protect him from those deaths.

He never has to know.]

Yeah... [He mumbles under his breath before catching himself, sitting a little straighter, forcing the energy for a smile.] Yeah! I just didn't know how much you remembered. I didn't really know how much I remembered. It was two years ago.

Then- You don't remember winning the fight, or even stopping Kisaki? That's pretty weird. I don't think anyone else in Toman could ever forget the way you saved us!