( It's.... strange, to see the girl smile. It doesn't feel like the right thing to see on her face, and Shinichi's a stark contrast to it, his own face falling sadly. But there's something stricken even further in him, because... her words.

'I did it trying to save the people I love.'

That's... familiar. It's so familiar it actually stuns him to the core, and he's just standing there in silence as he continues to listen to the girl. She doesn't even get to know if it worked...? That's horrible.

Just what is this place? Why would it bring someone here and then torment them like that? (Oh, he has no idea what's to come. Shinichi hasn't opened his slip of parchment just yet.) )

That's.... not fair at all. If you sacrificed that... sacrificed everything, and you don't even get to know if it worked...?

( He swallows hard, like the thought hurts him too. It does, and hearing her admit to feeling sad fuels him harder with the thought. )

Maybe there's a way to find out, here. This place.... I have no idea how it works, or why we're here, but... maybe I can help you find out.

...I'm probably not nearly as brave as you, but.... I know what it's like to try to protect the people you love. To try to save them.