[Johnny is actually listening to all of these encouragements, even if it doesn't seem like he is. But accept this side of himself goes against everything he's spent a lot of his life ignoring or denying this side of himself. Even when indulging in it, he'd convinced himself he was better than that. Filtered through that, the words of his friends get bent. He is his own person, not this awful demon in front of him.]

If-- If I accept him, it means driving you all away. It means ruining even more. I-- I won't be like him! I won't...

[Johnny stepped away from the group a bit. He knew he should have come here alone. He shouldn't have brought anyone into this. Maybe his Shadow was right; he ruins everything on everyone. His existence was a curse.]

You all should-- should go. I'll handle this. This is on me.

[The Shadow laughs again, so very amused by how far off the mark his actual self is from all of this. Well, that's good news for him! Because this way, he gets to take over. He quickly steps forward to Johnny, and before he can react, the Shadow is looming over him, grinning.]

Man, you just don't get it.

Heh. Good.

[The Shadow suddenly vanishes, but it doesn't take long for everyone to figure out where it went. When Johnny turns back to face everyone, his grin mimics the one his Shadow self had been displaying.]

But I guess you guys need a little more convincing yet.

[Calamity Johnny opens with a Dragon Breath aimed at everyone.]