If it'll make you feel better, you can talk to her. [Hisui was awake again by now, so it was probably be fine. Aoi hopes Duster's smart enough to have the conversation somewhere that they're not in reach of any sharp implements, just in case.]

[He's silent for a moment, mulling over Duster's words. The musician hit the nail on the head. If he thinks Aoi deserves an apology, then he probably deserves the truth in return.]

Ok, yeah, I was a little pissed. Akane and I could've taken care of you, same as Sparks. But you're stupidly trusting of everyone, so I should've figured you wouldn't do it. And it turned out... ['Fine' wasn't the right word...]...well, you didn't get blamed, so what does it matter?

[If Aoi dwelled on every possible outcome of every alternate timeline, he'd have gone crazy long before now.]

We got through it. You're ok, I'm ok, Akane's ok, that dumbass she likes is ok. So it doesn't matter what happened along the way, as long as we're all here now.