[Reassurance is hard right now. He’s obviously getting a lot; there are shinki and gods talking to him, plenty of them agreeing with him, some encouraging in their own ways, gods reminding him not everyone (in fact, most gods here) is like the god who stole him and used him, shinki asking and generating conversation. It really should all be very reassuring.

It is. But he’s still very frustrated. Frustrated that he’s vulnerable and the victim. Angry he couldn’t rely on himself. Sad that his god has to deal with this now. He knows he ultimately has to stand up and move on because challenge doesn’t always crumble and he can’t sit here and flounder.

But a wound still bleeds.]

If you have ideas, I’ll listen. Right now, I can only think of suggestions.

[Makoto goes on about “friends” again and Sousuke has to bite his lip a little. Mostly because he figures Makoto’s talking about “friends” in general and not saying he and Sousuke are friends. They’re acquaintances on good terms, he’d say. But… friends? Sousuke already knows he has a different definition of “friend” than most people.]

Some gods won’t want that bond. It wouldn’t help them.

[He can almost feel Makoto’s eyes trying to see him off screen. Silently he shifts to the side, away from the camera that isn’t even facing him. He doesn’t want anyone to see him right now.]

What do you think?