It’s okay if you don’t fit in. I don’t think you should have to change, Howard-san. I don’t know why Retrospec chose us, but they shouldn’t have made you come here.

[Atsushi reaches into his pocket, fingertips brushing over the smooth surface of the tiny, heart-shaped stone he’d come in possession of. Little does he know that the stone is now radiating empathy, specifically Atsushi’s empathy towards Howard’s feelings. He can’t control it, but it’s not such a bad feeling.

He blinks in surprise when Howard says that he doesn’t blame Atsushi or the others for wanting to help, and it feels like a massive weight has been lifted off his shoulders.]

You don’t? [His voice wavers. It looks like he might cry, but he manages to fight back the tears to avoid awkwardness.] I thought...I thought maybe you’d hate me for trying to help the town...I was afraid I was going to lose a friend...