"I'm really sorry," Nozomi repeats, smoothing one hand down Eli's back in hopes of quelling her sobs. She doesn't know what Eli's trying to say at the end of that sentence, and she decides it's best not to press her for it. Right now, all she wants is for Eli to stop crying.

"You're my best friend, Elichi."

Words of comfort, but they're genuine; no matter how different her feelings are, that's one thing that won't ever change. Eli is the one person most precious to her in the world, and staying by her side is so much more important than getting to kiss her would ever be. Nozomi always knew that -- she just let herself slip. It was a mistake she won't repeat.

Without letting go a second time, she asks in a cotton-soft voice: "Why don't we wash our faces and get ready to go home?"