[He knows Juudai is listening, but he doesn't know what to say. He thinks of telling him more about that first night, that first duel, but he feels like that would just make it worse. He thinks about telling him what to do, what to expect, but he doesn't want to think about what they're going to have to do. He thinks about trying to tell him it's okay, it'll be fine, but he doesn't even know that, can't guarantee that, can't make him safe.

He holds him tighter and shuts his eyes.]

I wanted you to stay at the Academy.

[His voice is carefully even, and keeping it that way is hard enough that he wants to fall silent, but--]

You deserve better.

[That's all he can take. He stops speaking, and something strange happens to him.

He's still, stable, but every so often his grip tightens, his chest shakes, there's a wet, sharp breath.

It might take Juudai a while to realize that this what it's like when Kaiser cries.]