Her answer has him humming in thought - even as it cuts deep. He doesn’t let that show on the surface, acknowledging the feeling underneath… even as something unrecognizable flashes in his gaze.

“‘Who you want to be’… you almost make it sound like we have a future. People like you and me. That’s not possible.” After all… whatever choices they might be given now, they can’t impact what came before. Hanako knew: whatever you couldn’t accomplish in life, it couldn’t be accomplished here either.

His gaze locks on the dracolisks again. “What makes you keep trying? To ride one of them?” She had gotten knocked off pretty hard. Was it the lack of pain? Boredom? Something she simply wanted to do?