[With her kneeling and him now sitting, they're at the same eye level. Although she continues to spoil Ushi with attention, her strokes have slowed down.

She nods her head once.]

She told me about it in our notes... That is the fate of horned people in my world. If you're not killed at birth, at least. I spent three years in that shithole.

[She feels a cold pit forming in her stomach as memories of her time spent there begin to resurface. She didn't let them see that she was scared, but deep down, she'd been a terrified teenager.]

I didn't tell Nyuu right away because I'd rather she not remember such a horrible place. Even when I did tell her after that incident, I left out some details. It's a place that's best forgotten, especially since it no longer exists.

[That island was at the bottom of the ocean now. It couldn't hurt her or Nyuu anymore.]