It is not entirely horrible— painful as it is, and as cautious as she has to be in which details she speaks…it’s also almost therapeutic, in a form of getting some of the weight off her back. Perhaps you’re helping yourself here, perhaps you’re hurting someone else here— maybe both of you, really ( but she never realizes these things until too late, foolish girl who insists on retreading the same paths like something will change ). It’s…okay, talking about these things; she’s strong, or at least she can act like she is, and this pain isn’t really much in comparison to…other matters. She can get through this.
Ayano is relieved that his immediate questioning isn’t about the story she weaves, even if the topic at hand is perhaps still not any easier. “Why would I…?” Tinge of curiosity, a gentle smile that does not wait for any answer as she resumes speaking. “People may hurt and be hurt, but…that doesn’t mean that the people should be unkind, right? Maybe I’m a little biased here, but…all I’ve ever wanted is to see people be happy. My personal, uhm, philosophy. That doesn’t mean always being kind, but that it’s okay to be that way. Even if everyone else thinks that I’m a fool…I can help people that way, so it’s okay.” With a question like that, she can’t help but wonder if they’re kindred spirits in that way, she can certainly understand where he’s coming from: regardless, she’d like to think that her words are of help to him ( she’s kind enough to avert her gaze whilst he wipes his glasses ).
She’s pleased by how much he seems to put together, even with how careful her wording is. “Correct. That person has always gone after those she’s close to, but…someone with awareness to the situation would have a higher risk. Er, at least, that’s what I’d speculate…for the sake of that ‘potential’ though, I’m not entirely sure if it’d make any difference. In any case, that’s why you can’t get involved, if it ever happens here. Not only for your own safety…but for Marry’s sake too.” Indeed, if nothing else— she has to think about prioritizing things in terms of Marry’s actions ( she’s not sure how cleanly her powers would work here, after all; if they worked at all ).
Hah - such a pure, almost naive mindset, to simply want others to be happy. He’s glad that he and her did not meet back when he first arrived here, when his mask was still very much up out of self-defence: the old Klug would have said what a foolish venture that was and how likely it was to lead to her being ‘used’ for someone else’s advantage, because he knew - he knew how important it was to keep one’s guard up - that might have hurt her. He’s glad that he has made those changes: while he’s reserved and prefers smaller groups, the fact of the matter is that perhaps that mindset and his want to protect those friends he has made are not so different after all logically.
“I really hope...the people you’ve helped keep your own spirits up, too. Such open kindness is a rare thing, you know?” A soft, thoughtful statement, before he moves on, sadly, to more serious matters, frowning as he takes it all in. Of course...Mary would be the most upset at the people she had befriended being targeted, given how lonely she was before: he wants to avoid her having to be alone again as much as possible, so it’s clear that he can’t know any more, for her sake as well as his own.
Aya wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if he got himself into a mess while his back was turned, too... “Right...I promise I will try to keep my distance, she’s been through far too much already and I don’t wish to add to that, but - forgive my bluntness, but you seem....to carry a lot of troubles yourself. I won’t pry to those, myself, but...” He recognised the ‘trying to stay strong’ look, because his sold mask had given much the same airs. “Any friend of Marry’s is my friend too. If you ever need to talk like this, I’ll listen, ok?”
