"Bullshit," Kou snarls, "if you think you can deceive me with your holier-than-thou act, you're even more deluded than I could've ever imagined!"

Palnatoke roars in the back of his mind, echoing Kou's fury, his grief. Unresolved pain? As if it isn't this clown's fault that-

That-

Kou's breath hitches despite himself, his eyes wet, but he angrily blinks the tears away before they can fall. Fury mixes with anguish, angry at himself that he's showing this fucking weakness in front of Maruki, of all people. The first time he almost cries in this godforsaken place, and it's like this.

"I don't need your pity or your help!" he growls.