[Well he couldn't argue with that, could he? Emi let out a light huff, almost a laugh.]

... Well. That'd be good then. You kind of look like shit.

[Just to be frank and all. He hated to think that part of that was his fault, but all they could do was move forward from it. Move forward and... Hope for the best? Something like that. The only thing Emi was super sure of was that tiny, persistent warmth had sprung back up behind his ribs, alight with a tentative hope.

I want to

The thought didn't finish before Emi was crossing the steps between them and wrapping his arms loosely around the other boy in one (admittedly unpracticed) motion.]

I meant it when I said we're okay, Eiji.