[ he's not exactly capable of answering you, battler, as he's currently crying into your shoulder. he's still covering his mouth, if only as a weak attempt at maintaining some semblance of control over himself.

but it doesn't last long. maybe a minute or two at most, before the doctor pulls back, his expression meek- like as if all the fight was about to leave him.

he's so close to giving up, after all...can he really do this for much longer? especially like this?

... ]

I'm sorry I...shouldn't have done that. [ he sniffles again, trying to compose himself. and he does so! rather quickly, too. compartmentalizing is something he's rather good at, even at the cost of his own stability.

not the point. ]

I actually...a couple days before that happened, I had spoken with Rin. I think that she expected what would happen on Saturday, because she gave me something that she said was for you. It's in my diary on the desk...the paper's sticking out. I promise I haven't read it.

[ and, just as he says, there's a diary that has a white, folded paper that's sticking out like a sort of bookmark. ]