[ Orihime sucks in her lips as Ichigo speaks, feeling her heart clench in on itself as she swallows down her own insecurities. He's not wrong--there's a lot that matters, but she doesn't want him to worry about it. Because, at the end of the day, that he returned is what is most important. Ichigo always comes back. He always bounces back. He'll recover from this, too, and he'll be even stronger for it.

But she listens to each word, considering them carefully. Because these are his feelings and his fears and they deserve the attention and acknowledgment he's asking for. ]

Kurosaki-kun...

[ She breathes out his name finally. ]

Please don't blame yourself...you didn't make me do anything. I-I chose to be there.

[ She straightens a little, kneeling a little taller as if that will add weight to her own statement. ]

When I saw Monokuma announce your trial, I volunteered to be on that jury. Even before I knew what you were being accused of, I knew it couldn't be true. Kurosaki-kun isn't that kind of person and you proved that.

[ Orihime shakes her head, squeezing his hand back just a little. ]

...It bothered me a lot. It still bothers me. But I would rather it bother me and try to have stopped it than to have not taken that risk at all. It wouldn't have been fair for you to face that alone.

[ The sincerity in her voice and in her face should say just as much as her words alone. She shakes her head again, feeling new wetness form at the corner of her eyes. ]

I-I'm sorry that it wasn't enough...

[ She quickly starts to wipe away the building tears. ]

S-Sorry! I'm trying not to--