[His immediate thought was that Josh managed to fish out something from his thoughts. And if that laugh wasn't enough of an indication, the moment the other boy moved and started approaching him - or was he about to leave? - it made him freak out on the inside even more.]

...Worried?

[...Oh. --OH. Oh god, Josh, why were you staring at him and smirking like that? This was just like his conversation with Hanekoma all over again. Josh, you knew Ryoji was lying from the start, and you were just going along with it all this time, weren't you?

He seriously wanted to bury his face in his knees for the little comfort that would give. But he knew that wouldn't really fix anything. And really, what was the point in hiding from someone who could read your thoughts like from an open book? Ryoji was pretty much cornered from the moment he'd come here.]

Okay, I admit... I wasn't completely honest with you earlier. This isn't actually about anyone leaving, nor dying, nor...

[And then there was a defeated sigh as Ryoji's gaze traveled away from Josh all of a sudden.]

...It's about me. Or about you, depending on how you look at it, I suppose.