[Matoba smiles. It is a shame, isn't it.] Yes... My family home is also in the mountains. They're quite forested. I think I would have enjoyed it, as well.

[When he leaves this realm, he will have to leave Chongyun behind. He will be able to handle himself just fine, Matoba thinks, but it will still be a shame to lose that connection.]

[Stickin his fork into another big chunk of ice cream, Matoba listens as Chongyun describes the nature of his condition. An inability to suppress one's aura had nasty drawbacks, such as being unable to conceal one's presence, but he supposes that overwhelming might meant that you didn't need to choose stealth. Perhaps it wasn't such a loss. But the burden of such an aura on the physical body must be immense. His own aura was strong, but it wasn't that strong- and it was evenly distributed.]

[He wonders if Chongyun wasn't always in pain, and hiding it with an excellently trained suppression. It makes him pause, and look at the boy anew for a moment.] ...I see. [He thoughtfully works at another small bite of cake.] ...Haha, my constitution at your age would have been put to shame.

Perhaps even now. [Such gloomy birthday talk. Such was a party with exorcists, huh? He almost has to laugh.] I still have to remind myself even now, sometimes, that I am slipping.

[Let's just. Hide that admission in more cake, shall we.]