Yūto interrupted the excited Yahiko, then said, "Yahiko, take me to see Nagato."
Yahiko nodded, a hint of worry on his face. "Please follow me, Mr. Yūto."
The two walked down the corridor and stopped before a door.
Yahiko knocked softly. "Nagato, it's me. Mr. Yūto is here too."
There was no response from inside, only deathly silence.
Yahiko glanced at Yūto. Seeing his calm expression, he carefully pushed the door open a crack.
The room was dim. He could barely make out Nagato curled up on the bed in the corner, his back to the door, like a puppet that had lost its soul.
"Mr. Yūto would like to speak with you alone."
Yahiko spoke softly once more to that silent figure, but Nagato still did not move.
Yūto reached out and patted Yahiko's shoulder. "I'll talk to him alone."
Yahiko looked hesitantly at Nagato, then at Yūto.
In the end, his trust in Yūto overcame his misgivings. He nodded. "All right, Mr. Yūto. I'll be outside."
With that, he slowly backed out of the room and closed the door.
As the door closed, the room fell completely silent.
Yūto walked over to Nagato in a few strides and sat cross-legged on the floor.
He looked at Nagato and said with a hint of mockery, "Well, if it isn't our great savior, who vowed to end war with the power of a god. What's wrong? Why do you look like a frost-wilted plant?"
Nagato's body tensed, and his head, buried in his arms, seemed to sink a little lower.
Yūto noticed that tiny reaction. Seeing that his words had an effect, he thought he could keep going.
Yūto dropped his teasing smile and spoke with a touch of seriousness. "Nagato, do you want to know why your parents were