Shotaro doesn't have an explanation for her strength, though he'd probably lay that blame squarely on her stubbornness. Narumi Akiko couldn't give in out of her sense of pride, so she didn't, or something like that. "You're tellin' me," he says, a little bitter. He wasn't even sure what he'd have done about the rent, if she hadn't shown up when she had. Lost cats were best found with the threat of the Wrath of Slipper.

That hits like a blow, despite the fact that Terui says it plain as day. "Yeah, I know," he admits, small. At least a dummy version of her dead family hadn't been attacking him, at the time? "Woulda liked to be able to sit her down for it, though." If nothing else, in order to confirm where she was, where she was going, after she was made aware of the truth.