It's not more important than you. The words lodge in his stomach, behind his breastbone between them, and high in his head as high as birds fly. His hands don't still for more than a split second.

"Then can you trust that I'll abide by whatever decision you make, after the Palace?" Look at that, his voice doesn't even shake. "I mean for you to come out of this as yourself, Ren. Reconciled with your Shadow. With your Personas again. And if you say it then—if you freely choose it, not from fear or a distorted view of the world, but—"

He takes a deep breath. Drake belongs with them. With him. "If you still think it's what's necessary, then I'll respect your choice."