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[ He's a little worried when he first sees the tears, wondering if he might've said something wrong. ]

I bet it did... Are you okay?

[ He can only imagine the things it could have shown Senjuro, even only knowing his mother and brother had passed. It had to be hard taking care of his father by himself. ]

... but that's why I'm hurt and not at the clinic. I was a bit desperate when I saw him.

I'm fine. Puck destroyed the illusion, and my brother said his vanished, too, so... [like he said, upsetting, but ultimately not real.]

... I understand. I would forget about myself, too.

[and as he moves on to the scratches on muichiro's face:] I'm sorry, this might sting... [logically, senjuro knows any hashira has endured pain far worse than a bit of disinfectant in a wound, but he hates inflicting any amount just the same.]

It's necessary to heal it. I don't blame you.

[ That's the best he can think to say to soothe Senjuro without brushing off his feelings. He just closes his eyes and lets Senjuro work, though he shifts just a bit to hold his hair out of Senjuro's way. ]

Who is Puck?

[ He hasn't heard that name before. A new friend from here maybe? ]

[still, his movements are careful and deliberate, not lingering any longer than he needs to to get the cuts clean.]

Oh -- he's my partner. [with everything he can see clean, senjuro places the rag down and looks up to the open shoji. there's a foot-tall shadow hiding outside of it, and a head of what looks like a miniature version of rengoku hair poking just around the corner.

senjuro dabs at his cheeks to get rid of any remaining stray tears, and that makes the ragdoll creature scuttle over to his side, where it rubs against him like an affectionate cat. its human pets it like one, too.]

I guess, if you're not familiar with his kind, the simplest description would be... an animal who is your best friend and companion, as well as an ally in battle.

He's a bit shy, but... It's alright, Puck, Mr. Tokito is a friend.

[ He's a little surprised at first-- of course he is. He's never seen a little creature like that before.

He just watches it for a moment before shuffling down to its level and offering a hand, like he's introducing himself to a wary cat. ]

He's adorable.

[ He's not gonna pet it unless it seems okay with that but the look in his eyes says he really super wants to. Buudha above look at this lil thing. ]

You can fight too, huh? You're an impressive lil guy then.

[oh... a polite and considerate young man. with good taste! even though puck's eyes clearly follow from the holes poked in the cloth of his "stomach," he still presses the fake head into muichiro's hand. he's a bit of an emotional support critter, too, a true little renaissance man, if you will, so he is happy to allow pets.]

Even though I'll never be as skilled as people like you or my brother... when I work with Puck, I feel like we can at least hold our own.

[ He will give the sweetie so many pets. But he's careful not to jostle the hair too much he wouldn't want to ruin it. ]

I'm not sure why you don't think you're skilled.

[ Even if he couldn't master flame breathing, that doesn't mean all the training he's done is worthless. Senjuro likely could hold his own just fine... but if having this little guy helped his confidence, he's glad for it. ]

From what I can tell, you're better than you give yourself credit for. But I'm glad you made such a good friend.

[it's... complicated.]

Oh, it isn't that I'm badmouthing myself... I've worked hard since I could even hold a shinai, but the reality is that my talents just don't lie in martial arts. [it's just something he's come to accept about himself.

but senjuro's insecurities are hardly the most important thing, right now.]

Did you need to see my brother, or can I help you back to the clinic? [he is Worried.]

[ He thinks he understands, then. Still, he thinks that hard work is worth something, even if Senjuro doesn't. ]

Mm. I came to talk to him about what happened, but it's alright. Talking to you helped.

[ There isn't much Kyojuro could have done either. He supposes it's the childish impulse of wanting the company of someone he can have a sliver of vulnerability around. ]

Did it really? [much the same, senjuro doesn't feel he did much at all to help, but he supposes it's best to take muichiro's word for it.] If there's anything else I can do, please let me know.

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