[ Eren lays his head down, and Maruki follows, both of them curled onto their sides to look at one another. He strokes his fingers through Eren's hair, methodical, and considers it. ]

Do you remember the first night back after you returned? When you came to stay over at the machiya...

You told me that you weren't the same. I didn't want to argue with you at the time, so I tried to redirect that by telling you all that matters is that you're you.

[ Fingertips trace the delicate shell of Eren's ear. There are places still where he's just as fragile and human as anyone. Most aren't visible, and few seem to consider them. ]

But you are the same. You've grown up, and things have happened to you, but I've never felt like you were a different person. You always were you, and you always will be. If people don't see that, Eren...

[ It's an old ember of anger that lives deep in his soul. He can't breathe life into it. He already holds so much against people who will never understand Eren as he does. ]

It's not fair to you, but their perception of you is their own responsibility. It's their loss.