[ Again, Mizuki shakes his head, picking it up briefly to place a very small peck against Ebalon's chin. He had no idea it would bother Ebalon so much, honestly. He didn't think Ebalon was as attached to home as he was — which, looking back, is foolish of Mizuki. He had been so set on "mashing the two Ebalon's together if he had to" and such. Even despite Mizuki's doubts, he was determined. This must've hurt him so much. He must feel that very same despair that Mizuki felt when he thought Ebalon and Natsuno were both gone for good.

After a brief moment, he reaches a hand up to comb through Ebalon's hair, fresh tears stinging his eyes. He doesn't want Ebalon to feel like that. Ever. ]

It's okay. You have me. Things might be hard, but I'll be right here, and we're gonna work through it together, alright? And then, when we're finally out of here, we can say that we ended the Captain's disgusting cycle a-and no one has to go through that stuff anymore.

And who knows, maybe once we're free of the Captain's hold, maybe we can figure out how to get to Elrios from there, b-but until then… can you be happy just… with me?