....You think... [ She tries to sift through his words, that Akira believes that Ryo would think he's crazy to suggest such a thing. ] That he might deny it, if you actually asked him outright.

[ Okay, she knows she got this because she asked about it and said she would listen, but that doesn't mean she's actually good at giving advice!

...Even if she really, really wants to help him with this, since he does seem very troubled by it all. Still, she can... kind of understand Ryo's position, of not being particularly good with emotions, and having only gained human ones recently. ] ....Maybe... he's scared of accepting them. [ She starts out, quiet. ] Especially with something like love and caring for someone-- those are... they're the scariest ones out there. [ From experience, anyway. ]

It's easier to deny them. [ Again, from experience. ] Or to rationalize them like "I only care so far as this person is useful to me" or "this person interests or amuses me, so I'll look out for them".

For someone who has never loved or cared for another before, love can be... something to fear.

[ All emotions and all actions ever is just the brain being... the brain, in her opinion. But maybe Ryo is secretly a romantic for singling out love! ] Hah, and if he does actually love you, then what makes him happy should be when you’re happy. [ Sighing, she decides its time to sit down by him upon the grass. ] It’s just the way things go.

[ She definitely sympathizes, though, with the both of them: Akira for not knowing exactly how to talk to his friend about something so important, and Ryo for not knowing how to deal with emotions. ] I.... wasn’t the best with emotions before.

[ Closing her eyes for a second, she recall’s someone else’s words to her from long ago: “Gradually, you become more and more human.” ]

Having them, much less caring for others, was an unknown territory.

[ Bringing her knees up to her, she leans forward and wraps her arms around them. ] I never got to say to others how much I cared for them because of it... And by the time I realized it, it became too late.

[ She’s not as expressive in her sorrow as Pyra, but in this instance her voice does carry a deep respect and sense of loss as she reflects upon her past. ] I hope that Ryo doesn’t make the same mistake I did, of denying emotions or waiting too long.

[ Her own story isn’t the point, however, so she continues: ] Back then... I think I would have appreciated someone [ She tilts her head, her long hair falling over her shoulder as she looks at him. ] ...who would have talked to me more about those things. Even if I would have been obtuse and stubborn in return.

It’s too late for me, but you may have the opportunity here to help him still.

[ She gives him an approving look when he says that he’ll at least try to talk to Ryo again. But if Ryo is anything like how callous Mythra had been towards humans, it’s probably going to take a lot more patience and persistence to get through to him than just one talk. Still if it’s anyone who can do it, it would be Akira...

As for his other question, she slowly exhales, looking back out towards the lake. She has to think about that for a moment, of what she wants to say. ]

I suppose you could say that I'm having friend-troubles... Or Pyra is. [ A pause. Again, coming back to Elysium always lets her reflect with a clearer mind, since the world just seems so far away. ] We told someone close to us about us being... a weapon. And dangerous. Wei Wuxian. Unlike you, though, we're certain he fears us... or, fears how we might react to things. What did he expect, that we'd blow up the world because we couldn't plan a damn wedding? [ Her smirk is self-depreciating, her tone ringing hollow with its lightness, but it fades quickly. ]

And yeah, yeah, I know, talking would help. [ Mythra leans back on one hand while the other lifts to give a dismissive wave as she watches a breeze ripple the surface of the lake. ] But you know that thing people sometimes do, switching from emotion to emotion? Like when they're trying to avoid something or hide something? [ Pyra is guilty of doing that, too, sometimes, so she absolutely knows when she sees it in others. ] He does that in spades, you can't get a decent answer out of him.... At least, Pyra can't. Ever.

[ Her hand lowers, her lips pressing into a thin line. ] It's... fine, I suppose, if he fears us. We don't expect to be accepted by everyone, after they know. But I don't want him to pretend that he doesn't.

[ a pyra-shaped seal

Mythra looks over at him, unable to hold back a small smile. ] Yeah.

Yeah, a little bit of time. Boys need that, right? [ In retrospect, she probably should also have given some other people time before coming to apologize to them.... Hah.

The fear she carries is great, and had been, in part, given to her from a man who had seen the horrors of a world already wrecked by a weapon like her before. He didn't want that to happen again, and, subconsciously when he had awakened her, her first human emotion that had imprinted from him was fear. So she can understand that, she thinks, when others fear her.

But she can also understand trust.

Another sigh, and she relaxes. ] And trust. It's important to believe in friends, and all that. [ All that, that sentimental stuff that Pyra's good at.

..... ] Thanks, Akira.

[ Dangerous things are more scary, to those who live shorter lives. And she knows all too well how-- despite how she believes humans to be extraordinarily strong-- are also quite fragile. It's a duality that she's still figuring out.....

But since he's mentioned their promise: ] ...But that would involve giving away your secret. [ Because how would anyone believe that Akira, without knowing he's a Devilman, could stop someone like her? ] I'm not going to do that, if it compromises you.