"S-still... I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me. So I want to be able to do something. N-no matter how small," she insisted, a small fire burning in her eyes. "Y-you... understand, right?"

Surely, of any of them, he did. She had to believe that. Nobody else would understand this feeling. Certainly not her parents, who she couldn't even tell about any of this.

"I haven't... really wanted to go out before now. But if I t-tried to stay inside any longer... I'd go crazy."