Maruki’s shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of Kou’s fury bearing down on him like a physical force. His sigh echoed in the vastness of the hall, a low sound of resignation, like a teacher disappointed with a student who refuses to listen. But his posture stiffened when Kou’s Metaverse outfit began to materialize fully, the sharp edges and imposing gauntlets a clear declaration of intent.

So, this was where it was heading.

Maruki met Kou’s blazing eyes, his expression caught somewhere between sorrow and guarded resolve. He raised a hand slowly, a calming gesture, though his body tensed, ready for the worst.

“I will return the tape, Ko-" he grits his teeth. "Corvus-san,” Maruki said, his tone calm, though there was a subtle edge to it now. A hint of caution. “I had no right to look at something so personal, and for that, I truly am sorry. But...”

He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to gauge Kou’s volatile stance. “Before I do, I need to ask something of you. A small favor—something that could help both of us.”

Maruki stepped down one more stair, still keeping a safe distance. His golden eyes glimmered faintly, the Lab itself responding to the tension in the air. The hum of the environment grew louder, almost like a heartbeat.

“There’s a gap in my memory,” he continued carefully, his voice tinged with a genuine desperation he couldn’t hide. “Something I can’t piece together. What I saw on that tape—it wasn’t the first time I’ve encountered it. The contents, the feelings, the events—they feel familiar, like fragments of a puzzle I can’t solve. All I ask—”

But Maruki didn’t get to finish.