It put a fresh ache in her heart to hear what she'd sort of naturally assumed--of course they'd be afraid too. But it was easier to feel so tender and fragile now that she had all this warmth to lean into.

"O-oh?" Blinking the tears that still lingered in her eyes, Kyoko admitted, "That was a just-in-case kind of thing, but... I'm glad I did it, then. I was really... really scared too, but I just couldn't let myself think I wouldn't find you both."