Sasori snorted and steered his mechanical legs clear of the flames. At the same time, he thrust out a mechanical arm toward Yuhi Shinku. "Courting death? You're the ones courting death! I'll deal with you first, woman, then that brat!"
When Kawaki Aoba saw Sasori reach for Yuhi Shinku, panic seized him. Ignoring his injuries, he teleported in front of Shinku again and took the blow with his own body. The mechanical arm slammed into his chest. He spat blood and staggered back several steps. "Shinku, go! Leave me! You're no match for him!"
"I'm not leaving!"
Yuhi Shinku rushed over and caught Kawaki Aoba. Tears finally spilled down his cheeks. "We're partners. We leave together, or we die together! Kawaki, I won't abandon you!"
"Partners?"
Sasori looked at them, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, as though the word were unfamiliar. Coldness soon replaced it. He sent his mechanical arm toward them again. "What a ridiculous bond.
"Before eternity, everything is nothing.
"You can both become my puppets!"
At the sight of Yuhi Shinku's tears, strength surged through Kawaki Aoba. He pushed Shinku's hand away and slowly straightened. His face was pale and blood still stained his lips, but determination shone in his eyes. He shouted at Sasori, "You'll never understand what it means to be partners! A partner steps forward when the other is in danger, gives them hope when they despair, and faces every hardship alongside them! Someone without feelings like you could never understand!"
Sasori faltered. A complicated emotion crossed his eyes, only to give way to madness. "The meaning of being partners? I don't need that! Eternity is all that matters to me! Since you care so much about your partner, I'll kill him first. Then you'll know what it feels like to lose