[her arms tighten around him a fraction, keeping him near, an anchor. she understands - she doesn't blame him. even if she hadn't agreed, it had been Subaru's choice, and she respected that. that Keigo had asked - oh, it broke her heart. how scared they must have been, to know that was a risk. how much they wanted to be with the rest of them. she remembers how tight they clung, being pulled from the void. that couldn't be misplaced.

her and Subaru, they have to be here to greet them when they come back.]

You've got pictures, and...I've got letters. We were exchanging them just for fun, but they told me about things they did, what happened daily, whatever they wanted to talk about. They can read them and see...but I have faith they won't have to. They'll see us...and they'll smile.

[she has to believe this. she has to hold steady, or everything will turn to dust.]