[If Emi was unpracticed, then Eiji was completely uninitiated. He froze awkwardly when the hug encircled him, forgetting even to breathe for a moment.

Deep in the pit of his heart, he wanted to recoil at the sudden gesture. It was new and different and intimate and it made him uncertain of what to do or say. Despite being a near universal display of care, there was nothing about it that felt comforting at all to him - just strange.

But he didn't recoil. He forced himself to breathe again. For Emi. Lamely, Eiji lowered his head to rest it on the other boy's shoulder. Was he ever going to not feel tired?]

I know, but...

I'm sorry.