[he blinks in surprise when rin places his hand on his shoulder, though it's not unappreciated.]

... Mm. My family has done much to wrong her and her clan, and I understand why she feels she must place Clan Mei above all. But she and I had both long since dreamed of a peaceful future, since we were children.

[the only difference is that hikari never resigned to the notion that those ideals were naive.]

I know she can move forward, much like how I believe that there is still hope for the people here.