[ hiyori opens her mouth, ready to fight him on this physically if she has to by putting him in a cat submission hold (it won't work), but he snuffs out the argument before it can start with some placating words. words she knows he says just to keep her from saying anything else about it. she sets her jaw as emotion builds behind her eyes. too many to name for the moment.

in what way? in what way is it true? he hides too much from her, she'll let the other thing go about her, the thing he can't say, if he just talks to her about this. she'll--!

she'll get hugged. her eyes go wide, the fight bleeding out of her as she sags. only to tense up all over again, hearing what yato's seeing in these mirrors.

... that's why he said it may be true. he's been alone. nobody remembers. everybody has left him.

it's not true, anymore. ]

Yukine-kun isn't going to leave you. He's your hafuri. I'm not leaving you.

[ never, she wants to say but... that's childish. she's learned since. she's no different from other humans. there will come a time when she'll forget him. her little claws dig into his ice shoulders. ]

If it were up to me, it would never be my choice to leave you. And I can tell you for certain that the "me' in the mirror wasn't real. I'm right here, Yato. If Yukine-kun could, he would also be here to look out for you.