Something about James so bluntly telling him the truth paradoxically relaxes Togusa. His shoulders stop tensing up, and he lets out a sigh. "Matters to me," he mutters, a small griping objection.

But the corner of his mouth slowly turns up, mimicking James's smile. "There are so many other things that you can say that about. I just don't get to join the cyborg club."

"I'm sorry." Said with enough emotion that he can show that he means it. But not to belabor the point. "And I'm going to work on doing better by you."