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There was a silence that hung heavy in the air as Genba finished his tale. He wasn't surprised by any means. Who would react to this in any other way? Maybe the silence was the best reaction to have considering how most Earthlings would probably treat someone like him.
Genba startled as two arms wrapped around him from behind. Taiya. He knew the feeling of the man's embrace well..
It wasn't what he had been expecting. Why was... Taiya hugging him?
"That's a heavy burden to bear on your own for so long." Taiya spoke softly into his ear.
Genba didn't trust himself to speak. He could feel his throat tightening and his eyes trying to water. He couldn't. He couldn't cry. Not like this.
Taiya backed away, surprising Genba. He felt emptiness where that warmth had just been. At least the coldness didn't last for long. Before he had much time to ponder the change, there were a new pair of arms wrapped around him.
"You should've told us sooner. We could've helped you more." Ishiro spoke, pressing his face against Genba's neck.
Genba clenched his pants tightly in his hands, trying desperately to not let a single tear fall from his face. And then he was embraced by another set of arms, Mira's face making its way into his sight.
She gave him a warm smile as she pressed up against his body. "You got us to help you. I don't know why you didn't want to tell us, but now that we know, I swear we'll help make things right for you. You aren't alone."
Well... he gave it a good shot. Hearing Mira's earnest words coupled with everyone else's actions already, even he couldn't hold back his emotions forever. A few tears fell from his eyes. He still refused to speak. He didn't trust his words to come out the way he wanted them to yet.
"That bastard is going to pay for what he did to you and your kind." Jou spoke, finding a spot to hug him now as Ishiro backed away.
Genba didn't even know how to begin to say anything. He wanted to thank them. Wanted to discourage them from helping. Wanted their help. His feelings kept conflicting with each other. He didn't know what he wanted anymore.
There was a hand on his shoulder. "You're our comrade. This is our fight now. For you, for everyone who can't fight back anymore. We're in this together."
Sakito didn't seem to have any intent to give much more affection, but somehow he got coaxed into it. Genba couldn't see, but assumed Mira kept nudging him onward as she did let go of him before Sakito filled her spot.
The hug ended a few moments after. Genba immediately hid his face in his knees, trying to hide how emotional that had made him. Someone's hand began rubbing circles on his back.
"Thank you for telling us... I'm sorry this was how we had to find out. But, it's going to be okay. We're not going anywhere." Taiya spoke again.
Genba wanted to trust his words. He really did. But... there was a part of him that refused to let everyone else bear the burden with him. He had hurt them by accident once. What if it happened again?
This may be a time he had to reject their help as much as he wanted to let them in.