[ Too bad, this doting nobody is still going to make him that cup of tea – much later tonight, long after Akechi's stomach is settled. Just as a friendly peace offering between housemates. Get used to it, punk.

Maruki huffs a sigh at the same musing that keeps circling his head. ]

I have a hard time believing that anything that would happen here is random. Even you and I – there must be a reason for it, as there is for everything else. I know I haven't been here long, but the things I've been hearing...

[ He shakes his head and looks sidelong at Akechi. ]

I hope to uncover some of the answers to that mystery through my counseling. If this reality is influenced at all by our cognitions, then the patterns are likely to lie much deeper beneath the surface.

[ Emotional wounds, pains of the heart. Same as it ever was. ]

I could be chasing after the wrong idea, of course. But this does all seem a little t– oh, wow.

[ They're close enough now that the size of the castle becomes clear. Maruki lets the train of thought drop and laughs, a hand through his hair. ]

I know you said it was something out of a fairy tale, but you weren't kidding! And there are really only three of you living here? What do you even do with all of that space!?