[ It's not the first time that Maruki has thought Eren is a far better friend than he deserves. The level of understanding they've reached is unique to them. There are few who simply accept Maruki's neuroses, lightly challenge them simply by virtue of listening and validating. Maruki can count those who can do that on one hand, really, and one of those people isn't even here.

It's also not for the first time that he's wished Akira and Eren could meet. ]

That's exactly it. Thank you...

[ Gratitude isn't enough. He doesn't know what would be enough.

Eyes back on the pans, spatula gently testing the edges to see if they're ready to flip. ]

Can I be honest with you? [ It's rhetorical. ] I worried that something went wrong every night. It was such a helpless situation, it was driving me crazy.

[ If anyone, anyone will understand the unique lunacy of being toyed with by reality and being unable to toy with it back, it will be Eren. ]