[Erhard was unconscious for the horrible discovery, but he knows who's dead now. He's had some time to grieve in his way. Now Ann needs all the comfort they can give her, because no one so young and kind should have to see what she saw.
He knocks tentatively on her door, part of him hoping the young woman is with someone she can trust so she isn't alone on this awful night.]
... Ann? [If he's comforting her as a friend, he should use her first name, right?] It's Erhard.
[it takes a while to respond-- and when she does, it's from... behind him? Like she's coming from another part of the mansion. Her eyes are red, and her face is puffy.
[He turns and sees the open grief in her face. The unfamiliar tightness in his chest is almost crushing this time. The pain of losing Akira and Ryuji... god, he can't even imagine how she's feeling right now. He's grieving, too, but it's nowhere near how much she must be suffering.
This is... empathy.]
Ann, I... I'm sorry....
[He falters in this foreign territory, but the ache in his chest keeps him focused. She needs to feel secure, somehow.
[she freezes for a moment. a hug? she wouldn't have expected that, not after everything. not after his own issues. but he's trying so hard to help her that she melts after a moment, and her head thunks lightly against his shoulder.
her breath hitches and she tries so hard to not start crying again.]
[His face is still bruised and puffy from his fall, that's why his eyes are stinging. That's the only reason. Of course they'd water, they did earlier when he woke up.]
No, it's not... but it will be. We'll make this right.
[He'll hug her as long as she allows it. She's the one who started this process on that first day, she deserves to reap whatever benefit he can offer.]
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Week 3, Friday, evening
He knocks tentatively on her door, part of him hoping the young woman is with someone she can trust so she isn't alone on this awful night.]
... Ann? [If he's comforting her as a friend, he should use her first name, right?] It's Erhard.
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she looks a mess.]
... Erhard-san?
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This is... empathy.]
Ann, I... I'm sorry....
[He falters in this foreign territory, but the ache in his chest keeps him focused. She needs to feel secure, somehow.
So he pulls her into a gentle, tentative hug.]
I'm so sorry....
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her breath hitches and she tries so hard to not start crying again.]
I-It's... it's okay.
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No, it's not... but it will be. We'll make this right.
[He'll hug her as long as she allows it. She's the one who started this process on that first day, she deserves to reap whatever benefit he can offer.]
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[she's having trouble speaking, she wasn't made for this. not again.]
I-I'm sorry. This just... was way too similar...
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[He's already asked before he realizes that might not have been a good idea.]
I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me.
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[There's a lot of things she could be referring to, but only one that would upset her this much.]
... you mean the cause of de-- ah, I mean... what happened to the boys.
[And now she's lost two more friends the same way? How is she not catatonic right now?]