Sparrow stares, again frozen, again cast back into his own worst memories. His own Ren, curled on the floor in his new apartment, as he and Shrike tried to calm him. As if Sparrow had seen anything like it in his life, the way Ren's own emotion turned to acid.

Powerlessness beats in his throat. Then, from somewhere lost to him, he pulls up a calmer, steady voice. "Not Amamiya? My apologies. Then—it's Kurusu-kun, right?"

Easy, lilting words. Why couldn't he begin to do this for Ren? "Either way, you are safe, though I know it doesn't feel that way. Nothing can happen to you here."