I... [ Haruka exhales, fingers fastening and unfastening around the wheel. maybe it really would've been better if Michiru hadn't heard.

but as things are, she might as well be fully honest. ]

... It's funny. Just before you beat me, I thought to myself that I was being too soft. That even though I said I wouldn't, I was still holding myself back. And I told myself that from that point on, I won't hesitate, and fight with everything I've got. [ a small, dry laugh ] But I couldn't live up to it for even a second. It's like you saw right through the lie I told myself.

[ 'I know you better than you know yourself', the words float up from the back of her mind.

she's starting to realize just how true they may be. ]