Togusa huffs a breath out quietly. On some level, he realizes this is heavier than James probably signed up for with this conversation, and a flare of guilt comes to life. He’s supposed to be the one worrying about James. But at the same time, over-worrying and smothering James never helps. So, maybe just this once.

“I get it. The consequences of the choices they made, intentional or unintentional, come through to our lives. And then we get to use that to make our own choices. And I still believe that.” He stuffs both of his hands into the pockets of the parka he is wearing. “I’m not losing hope. I just.”

And there’s that guilt again. But he can finally look up at James fully. “It’s just, is it- hypocritical? That I have the gall to be afraid of the exact same thing that I- I was telling you to just chin-up and deal with? It feels that way.”