I... spent a year alone, too. Chasing after her. It's--hah. It's why I joined that detective agency. So I could tap into their resources.

[He doesn't say 'I love her.' He doesn't know what he feels about Akane, just that he feels it with every atom of his body--every invisible, resonant fiber of his mind.]

But with Yuuri, it's like... I tried to tell her it was complicated, with me, and she just said it doesn't have to be, and I... I want that? And she's sweet and kind and good and, God, I want to protect her, I want good things to happen to her and we're here.

[He sweeps a hand widely at the garden, at the steady stars. It's his robot hand. He breathes out slowly.]

Man. Nothing like the imminent specter of death breathing down your neck every day in a murdercan to make you question your priorities.