His voice cracked slightly as he continued, his tone softening, his earlier irritation giving way to a tired honesty. "I’ve always been inspired by people. By their resilience. By their capacity to grow and change and overcome." He let out a bitter chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "And even by those who think all hope is lost."
Maruki paused, exhaling deeply as his fingers loosened their grip on the table. He folded his hands together, staring down at them as his voice grew quieter. "What I said earlier was out of line. I let my anger get the better of me, and for that, I’m sorry. Truly. Not just for my words, but for... everything." His gaze stayed fixed on his hands, his voice heavy with regret. "I know I’ve caused pain. I’ve seen the suffering that’s come from my choices, and I can’t undo that. I want to undo it but not if its against any of your wishes. However if there’s even a small chance I can help—if there’s even the slightest chance that I can make amends—then I want to try."
He stopped again, his head lowering further. His shoulders hunched slightly, and his voice trembled as he admitted, "I’m tired, Drake. Of all of this. The debates, the back-and-forth, the endless cycle of trying to defend myself to people who’ll never believe me." He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "I wish I had a recording of my reality, some...proof to finally know the truth. This gaping memory- Because all of this, all of you... it’s making me question everything. Or did the phantom thieves do something to me-? I can't, I don't know. I will never know."
He cut himself off sharply, his hands tightening together as Azathoth’s voice slithered through his mind like a viper.
"Pathetic. Spineless coward."
Maruki’s breath hitched, and he clenched his teeth, shaking his head against the weight of the accusation. He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to straighten and meet Drake’s gaze once more, even if his eyes betrayed the cracks forming beneath the surface.
"I’m not asking for forgiveness. I don’t expect it. But... I want to help. Not because I think I’m better than you. Not because I think I know more. But because I still believe it’s worth trying, even if you think I don’t deserve that chance."
2/2
Maruki paused, exhaling deeply as his fingers loosened their grip on the table. He folded his hands together, staring down at them as his voice grew quieter. "What I said earlier was out of line. I let my anger get the better of me, and for that, I’m sorry. Truly. Not just for my words, but for... everything." His gaze stayed fixed on his hands, his voice heavy with regret. "I know I’ve caused pain. I’ve seen the suffering that’s come from my choices, and I can’t undo that. I want to undo it but not if its against any of your wishes. However if there’s even a small chance I can help—if there’s even the slightest chance that I can make amends—then I want to try."
He stopped again, his head lowering further. His shoulders hunched slightly, and his voice trembled as he admitted, "I’m tired, Drake. Of all of this. The debates, the back-and-forth, the endless cycle of trying to defend myself to people who’ll never believe me." He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "I wish I had a recording of my reality, some...proof to finally know the truth. This gaping memory- Because all of this, all of you... it’s making me question everything. Or did the phantom thieves do something to me-? I can't, I don't know. I will never know."
He cut himself off sharply, his hands tightening together as Azathoth’s voice slithered through his mind like a viper.
Maruki’s breath hitched, and he clenched his teeth, shaking his head against the weight of the accusation. He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to straighten and meet Drake’s gaze once more, even if his eyes betrayed the cracks forming beneath the surface.
"I’m not asking for forgiveness. I don’t expect it. But... I want to help. Not because I think I’m better than you. Not because I think I know more. But because I still believe it’s worth trying, even if you think I don’t deserve that chance."