"Truth be told, I've found that I'm much weaker than when we faced Shido. I can only guess it's due to the several months I spent without battling."

He frowns though, thinking about the time that must have been spent trying to battle Maruki. After all, it seems to have happened. He just can't remember it.

There's a slight cringe as he feels another headache trying to emerge from thinking too deeply on it, so he has to disengage.

"I want to be prepared for when I return home. It is meant to happen at some point...

Some part of him whispers that he can return to where things make sense. Put it all behind him, and go about his happy life without any other worries.

He shoves this part down with considerable force.

Thanks to how drained he is, it may be clear he's distracted. Stuck in his own head.