"You say that as if you're a remotely trustworthy person," Dia counters, carefully stepping around a puddle. She can't help but note, internally, how familiar this all feels -- just how little seems to have changed, when not ten minutes ago Mari was earnestly sobbing in her arms and her own heart was threatening to beat out of her chest.

But she can't let herself relax too much just yet-- right, she owes Mari a proper confession. A straightforward one. As they walk, she tries to piece the words together in her head... and if her pace slows and she begins lagging behind, she doesn't seem to notice.