[He thinks of Frey, insisting that he wanted to help Kaori, claiming to be friends with her... A knot in his stomach: danger, danger. Then he thinks of Sayo, whom he hadn't been able to bring himself to contact in the wake of Martel's absence, because he just didn't know anymore.] I know what you mean...
[Her answer, though... Sometimes. It isn't definite enough; it leaves too much room for fraying and unraveling. More urgently:] But...you would rather be here, right? [he hasn't noticed that he's holding her hand more tightly]
[action time]
[Her answer, though... Sometimes. It isn't definite enough; it leaves too much room for fraying and unraveling. More urgently:] But...you would rather be here, right? [he hasn't noticed that he's holding her hand more tightly]