He keeps his eyes on Tsumiki, leaning back slightly as his palm lies on her head ー his go-to beginner move, headpats. This time, though, he doesn't just keep it there, his thumb rubs against her scalp gently, slowly moving the palm against her hair. His hand then slides to the base of her head, thumb brushing away tears on her cheek. ]
Aren't cha plenty strong now?
[ It's not so much a question as much as a statement. ]
I haven't known you for that long yet, but even I can see the difference. [ The first time they met, she stuttered with her every word, making a huge mess of everything. And now, even if she does still panic and cry, she's making progresses at being more confident, at believing in herself, especially in recent months. He doesn't think those qualities of her are something that need to go, even if it'll be nice if it's lesser in frequency. ] Let people say whatever they wanna say. You're improvin', on yer own pace. There ain't no use rushin' it.
[ Out of everyone, he'd know how it feels wanting to be stronger. Feeling pressured to be stronger, fast, now. ]
I did what I did 'cuz I cornered myself, y'know? I kept tellin' myself I gotta be stronger than anyone else. It's goddamn stupid, thinkin' back.
[ He knows he doesn't need to specify what it is. Even if Tsumiki doesn't know the details, it was clear what happened, she saw the execution. He had done something that he couldn't take back ー even if he spent the whole of his Wonderland life atoning ー a crime. ]
But I realised, bein' here... though I'm still weak, I'm slowly gettin' stronger 'cuz you guys got my back. If I try to make it alone, I'll just lose it.
[ It sounds so uncharacteristically cheesy coming from him, but it's the truth, and he's got no problem admitting it. ]
That's why... you don't gotta do it on yer own, y'know?
[ His hand moves to cup her cheek, lifting her face tenderly.
mild dr1 spoilers
He keeps his eyes on Tsumiki, leaning back slightly as his palm lies on her head ー his go-to beginner move, headpats. This time, though, he doesn't just keep it there, his thumb rubs against her scalp gently, slowly moving the palm against her hair. His hand then slides to the base of her head, thumb brushing away tears on her cheek. ]
Aren't cha plenty strong now?
[ It's not so much a question as much as a statement. ]
I haven't known you for that long yet, but even I can see the difference. [ The first time they met, she stuttered with her every word, making a huge mess of everything. And now, even if she does still panic and cry, she's making progresses at being more confident, at believing in herself, especially in recent months. He doesn't think those qualities of her are something that need to go, even if it'll be nice if it's lesser in frequency. ] Let people say whatever they wanna say. You're improvin', on yer own pace. There ain't no use rushin' it.
[ Out of everyone, he'd know how it feels wanting to be stronger. Feeling pressured to be stronger, fast, now. ]
I did what I did 'cuz I cornered myself, y'know? I kept tellin' myself I gotta be stronger than anyone else. It's goddamn stupid, thinkin' back.
[ He knows he doesn't need to specify what it is. Even if Tsumiki doesn't know the details, it was clear what happened, she saw the execution. He had done something that he couldn't take back ー even if he spent the whole of his Wonderland life atoning ー a crime. ]
But I realised, bein' here... though I'm still weak, I'm slowly gettin' stronger 'cuz you guys got my back. If I try to make it alone, I'll just lose it.
[ It sounds so uncharacteristically cheesy coming from him, but it's the truth, and he's got no problem admitting it. ]
That's why... you don't gotta do it on yer own, y'know?
[ His hand moves to cup her cheek, lifting her face tenderly.
I'm here. ]