[ His expression softens a bit... ]

... Yeah. Kurama... was pretty insistent. He actually hugged me, and tried to reassure me that he cares...

[ Aiden's brow tenses. ]

I'm not used to anyone caring. From the time I was six, I've kind of just... been alone.

[ Oh... ]

... That school... After being trapped there, briefly, for a second time... they pretty much forced my memories back. I haven't been eager to talk much about it, since my memories being forced on repeat was... bad enough.

[ But... ]

Anyway, being isolated is what I'm used to. It's having people affected by it, that I'm not.