"I worried about that too," Devero admits. His voice is very quiet, as if maybe he's afraid that saying out loud will make it happen retroactively. "I was r-really-- really worried."

His eyes are half-closed and fill suddenly with hot tears as the weight of that fear looms close to him again. He inhales shakily and bends his head again, until his forehead thunks into Koumyou's. "But you're here. Vice and virtue, you're still here."