[ The real reason is that if the other boy knew about this function in particular, he would take the ring off whenever he was about to do something that he thought would alarm Megumi. Like right now, with how intense the sparring had become. He would probably also take it off when he isn't feeling too great so that Megumi wouldn't worry about him. The thing is, Megumi wants to know when he isn't feeling good, or when he's hurting or in trouble. How else is he going to protect him?
But he's not going to tell the other boy the extent of it, so... ]
You could've mentioned it when you said it was a tracker thing!
[ Yuji isn't sure how he feels about this. He can understand why Megumi might want to do this, but at the same time... He doesn't want his friend to be able to pick up on his emotions or how he's feeling, not even a little. The discomfort coils inside of him, and he grips at nothing, flexing his fingers. ]
[ There's definitely some guilt around this now, not telling the other boy. He can understand why he would find it uncomfortable. Megumi still thinks it's necessary however, because he doesn't feel like he can trust this boy to keep himself alive. Not when he's the biggest threat to his own life on most days. ]
[ It's not that he minds too much in practice, he'd have just preferred to have been told beforehand. He doesn't take the ring off right away, but he is twisting it on his finger. ]
[ He's definitely feeling more guilty about it now. ]
I wasn't trying to spy on you. [ But he kind of was, in a way, wasn't he? He knows he can be intense about certain things, but it's necessary. He just cannot trust this boy to stay out of trouble and keep himself safe. He's so afraid of losing him that it's become a daily anxiety. ]
It's ... just to make sure you're okay. Because you never ask me for help.
[ It's pretty... Is this their first real argument? Yuji's still trying to dissect how he feels and he's not entirely happy about this.
He keeps his emotions close to his chest for a reason, and while he'd admit some things when he's ready... Sure, he understands why Megumi did this, but it still makes him uncomfortable. He doesn't want Megumi to know these things. ]
[ He knows there is a reason for that. He knows it's because the other boy doesn't want him to worry, doesn't want to burden him that. If only he could understand that he's never once felt like Yuji was a burden. If only the other boy could also understand the anxiety of not knowing whether or not the other boy was okay, whether or not they would see each other again, and other or not he's going to suddenly learn something that makes it more worth his while to kill himself rather than keep on living. That stresses him more than any 'burden' Yuji could put on him by depending on him.
But does the other boy sound ... genuinely angry? That's a rare thing to see. ]
[ There's definitely some guilt he has around that, but he also doesn't feel sorry, so he doesn't apologise again. It would be more insulting to give an insincere apology if Yuji is expressing how he's genuinely feeling. ]
I would do the same. [ If he were hurting, in pain, or about to give up his life through summoning Mahoraga, he wouldn't want the other boy to know. He would take it off so Yuji couldn't come and attempt rescuing him or start worrying about him. He's starting to sound hypocritical, and he's realising that now, but he still doesn't regret what he had done even if he does feel guilty for it. Megumi's learned to live with other hypocrisies, so what's one more? ]
But it's different ... [ He's never been good at communicating, so he doesn't know how to explain why that is so. ]
[ Yuji is taking the ring off and shoving it in the drawer of his room now, hiding it away. He's really mad, it seems, and kind of wants to ignore it for as long as he can. Useful for the mission, but... ]
I'm really mad at you, Megumi, so I'm gonna hang up for a while.
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Were you in a fight with someone?!
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But it felt like you guys were going overboard a bit ... [ But how does Megumi know that. ]
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[ He frowns, thoughtful. ]
-- Wait. Were you watching or something?
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[ He frowns, and he's quiet for a moment, before - ]
Why didn't you tell me?
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But he's not going to tell the other boy the extent of it, so... ]
It didn't come up.
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[ Yuji isn't sure how he feels about this. He can understand why Megumi might want to do this, but at the same time... He doesn't want his friend to be able to pick up on his emotions or how he's feeling, not even a little. The discomfort coils inside of him, and he grips at nothing, flexing his fingers. ]
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.... I didn't think to. Sorry.
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[ It's not that he minds too much in practice, he'd have just preferred to have been told beforehand. He doesn't take the ring off right away, but he is twisting it on his finger. ]
Like you were spying on me or something.
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I wasn't trying to spy on you. [ But he kind of was, in a way, wasn't he? He knows he can be intense about certain things, but it's necessary. He just cannot trust this boy to stay out of trouble and keep himself safe. He's so afraid of losing him that it's become a daily anxiety. ]
It's ... just to make sure you're okay. Because you never ask me for help.
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He keeps his emotions close to his chest for a reason, and while he'd admit some things when he's ready... Sure, he understands why Megumi did this, but it still makes him uncomfortable. He doesn't want Megumi to know these things. ]
There's a reason for that, you know.
[ Oh, does he... Sound angry...? ]
This really wasn't fair, Megumi.
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But does the other boy sound ... genuinely angry? That's a rare thing to see. ]
... You're angry.
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[ Feeling the frustration inside of him, Yuji breathes out sharply. ]
You were spying on my feelings! I didn't know anything about it, so when I was... Megumi, that wasn't cool.
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[ There's definitely some guilt he has around that, but he also doesn't feel sorry, so he doesn't apologise again. It would be more insulting to give an insincere apology if Yuji is expressing how he's genuinely feeling. ]
If I told you ... you would just take it off.
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[ He huffs, scowling even if Megumi can't see it. ]
Wouldn't you do the same, if the roles were reversed?
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But it's different ... [ He's never been good at communicating, so he doesn't know how to explain why that is so. ]
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[ Yuji is taking the ring off and shoving it in the drawer of his room now, hiding it away. He's really mad, it seems, and kind of wants to ignore it for as long as he can. Useful for the mission, but... ]
I'm really mad at you, Megumi, so I'm gonna hang up for a while.