[Winter opens her mouth to argue, her eyes flashing. She wants so much to raise her voice, to tell Lily she's wrong, that it's the only way-

And then she catches herself. She's about to raise her voice to Lily because her girlfriend is objecting that she is trying to throw herself in harm's way. She is trying to say, with a completely straight face, that she's okay sacrificing herself for these people because it is her duty.

She lowers her head, laughing bitterly. She can feel tears running down her face, too, but she's not worried about that. There are more important things.]

Mm. You're... you're right. It's not okay, and I'm getting so frustrated I'm letting myself say stupid things. I'm not learning from all the stupid things I do, and it's going to get me killed one of these days. I'm more like Rikka's damned i-idol than Rikka herself.

I don't want to ask you to stand beside me. I'm too headstrong... I'll get both of us hurt that way. But... if you can put up with me, I think I need it. Maybe, if it's not just me, I'll think before I act.

[Winter sighs, leaning a little more heavily on Lily, one hand reaching out gently.] I'll be depending on you even more, you know. I don't want you... to be scared. Together, we can do anything, right? I just... I just have to believe in that. Believe in you. It'll all be okay. We'll make it okay, one way or another. T-too many people are depending on us for anything else to happen.