Maruki blinked, straightening up almost immediately at Hamuko’s concern, his free hand lifting in a quick, almost instinctive placating gesture.
"Oh, no, no, I’m fine—really. It’s just migraines," he reassured her, waving it off with a light chuckle. "Wouldn’t be the first time, honestly. Probably all the all-nighters catching up with me."
That wasn’t even a lie. By a long shot.
Between researching cognitive science, deciphering the layers of the mind, and now learning about yet another inexplicable reality, his sleep schedule had long since stopped being a schedule at all.
Still, the way Hamuko was looking at him, that sharp, assessing gaze—she wasn’t the type to just accept a dismissive answer.
So, after a beat, he exhaled and added, "That said… I do have a little mental training exercise I use sometimes. Helps when I’m jittery. Or, well, exhausted—which, I take it, is what you think I am right now?" He gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Doesn’t always stop the headaches, but it helps me stay on my feet," he added, his tone casual but pointed. He was fine. And more than that, he wasn’t about to be the reason they had to turn back.
His gaze softened just a little, though. It had been a while since someone had actively worried about him like this. It reminded him of Morning.
Still, there were more pressing things to focus on.
With one last steadying breath, he nodded toward her. "Alright. If the Forest is where we’re heading, let’s go before I actually do start getting exhausted."
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"Oh, no, no, I’m fine—really. It’s just migraines," he reassured her, waving it off with a light chuckle. "Wouldn’t be the first time, honestly. Probably all the all-nighters catching up with me."
That wasn’t even a lie. By a long shot.
Between researching cognitive science, deciphering the layers of the mind, and now learning about yet another inexplicable reality, his sleep schedule had long since stopped being a schedule at all.
Still, the way Hamuko was looking at him, that sharp, assessing gaze—she wasn’t the type to just accept a dismissive answer.
So, after a beat, he exhaled and added, "That said… I do have a little mental training exercise I use sometimes. Helps when I’m jittery. Or, well, exhausted—which, I take it, is what you think I am right now?" He gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Doesn’t always stop the headaches, but it helps me stay on my feet," he added, his tone casual but pointed. He was fine. And more than that, he wasn’t about to be the reason they had to turn back.
His gaze softened just a little, though. It had been a while since someone had actively worried about him like this. It reminded him of Morning.
Still, there were more pressing things to focus on.
With one last steadying breath, he nodded toward her. "Alright. If the Forest is where we’re heading, let’s go before I actually do start getting exhausted."