[ Aether's words hit him harder than he expected. That's not what he really wants to believe, is it? After everything here – what Vanitas felt in the bath – there's no way that didn't mean something. ]

Don't be ridiculous.

[ If he sounds annoyed, hurt – sorry, Aether. He is. ]

There's no way you're leaving this place while only leaving such a shallow impression upon people. Do you not realize that people already look at you as someone more than just a simple traveler?

[ His frown deepens. ]

Unless you're telling me that this is how you truly feel about – [ Me, he almost says. ] about those you've encountered here, that they'd [ I'd ] be able to forget about you so easily, at this point. Even if you tried to separate yourself now, you can't erase the impact you've left on other people.

[ ... ]

You want to get your sister back, right.

[ Another pause, then: ]

You're not going to do that alone.