[ Right. They came here to talk. Apologizing over and over isn't going to serve either of them any good. Like Hide said: the scolding can come later.

But knowing that doesn't make the words any easier to get out. He wets his mouth, wets it again, looks away, looks back, looks away again, runs a hand through his hair, touches his face, rubs his neck, takes a short exhale--

God, he's dragging this out. ]

The thing is-- The reason why I disappeared-- I mean, even before that... Uh, a long time back--

[ This is going very badly. Where is he supposed to start from? ]

Hahah, I don't know where to begin...