At the mention of the physical effects, Maruki's expression drops. He's reminded of the time when he had seen actualized persons and their cognition first hand through the eyes of Azathoth...it wasn't exactly a pretty sight.

He looks away, expression sombering as he goes over to lean on the railing again. "I know how the physical effects look," Takuto murmurs in a resigned tone. "His mind reflects that of a child...far before the years of adolescence. I know exactly what to avoid when it comes to fuelling the artificial intelligence so no need to worry there." His glasses reflected away the dazzling lights of his neighbourhood as he adjusted them before they got too clouded for Ichinose to percieve him.

"Besides," he straightens up- forcing himself to cheer up before he gets too wrapped up in his other self's mistakes. "I have you and your brain scan to keep myself in check, don't I? Not like I am saying we have to blend everything from the start, or even scan both of us. I just think... maybe we stay open to the idea that building something whole might take more than just the soft parts."

After all, pain isn’t just something I want to erase—it’s also something I’ve spent years trying to understand. The complexity of the matter might be worth it in the long run."