[Twice. Twice in the span of that many months has he broke down crying in front of her, and twice already has she comforted him over it. Maybe he could take solace in the fact that he still hasn't technically run to her in tears since they've parted ways as Mentor and Mentee (in fact, he ran away from her this time!!), but it still didn't lessen the shame of it. If he wanted to prove to her that he was capable of spreading his wings and flying off on his own, he shouldn't be letting things like this rattle him so much!
But... that said, anyone would be rattled, when faced with what they were so desperately trying to ignore. When the night is over, and Amane has more time to think and reflect, he might realize how fortunate it was that he led Ai away from the tree during all of this. Of course he doesn't know the full scope of her own wants and wishes-- he's just a child, after all-- but it would be incredibly obvious to anyone who knew Ai Hoshino and her children what one of the things she'd want to see the most would be.
He allows himself to be pulled in for the hug, and while he still keeps his head ducked, it's easy to see the dampness upon his cheeks and the quaver on his lower lip as he shifts over. Amane doesn't quite lean into her just yet, but his hand reaches out to tentatively hold onto one of the ruffled peplums of her dress all the same, always the clingy one even when he doesn't intend to be.]
And acknowledging it is somehow gonna make me feel better instead? I already know wanting this stuff is pointless.
[He knows that, and yet... he can't help yearning for it all the same, quietly and with an urgency that hurts. But there's nothing he can do to change it-- he can't fix his health outside the Dream Sphere, he can't breach that wall between himself and his peers... and he can't turn back time and make Tsukasa a Dreamer. So why do this to himself? Wasn't it just easier to ignore it instead?]
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But... that said, anyone would be rattled, when faced with what they were so desperately trying to ignore. When the night is over, and Amane has more time to think and reflect, he might realize how fortunate it was that he led Ai away from the tree during all of this. Of course he doesn't know the full scope of her own wants and wishes-- he's just a child, after all-- but it would be incredibly obvious to anyone who knew Ai Hoshino and her children what one of the things she'd want to see the most would be.
He allows himself to be pulled in for the hug, and while he still keeps his head ducked, it's easy to see the dampness upon his cheeks and the quaver on his lower lip as he shifts over. Amane doesn't quite lean into her just yet, but his hand reaches out to tentatively hold onto one of the ruffled peplums of her dress all the same, always the clingy one even when he doesn't intend to be.]
And acknowledging it is somehow gonna make me feel better instead? I already know wanting this stuff is pointless.
[He knows that, and yet... he can't help yearning for it all the same, quietly and with an urgency that hurts. But there's nothing he can do to change it-- he can't fix his health outside the Dream Sphere, he can't breach that wall between himself and his peers... and he can't turn back time and make Tsukasa a Dreamer. So why do this to himself? Wasn't it just easier to ignore it instead?]