Right, [ says charles, in the tone of someone who might say "i see" while very much not seeing, at all, actually. but the more he starts to puzzle it out — well, the thing is? he's a detective. you don't solve cases for thirty years without coming out on the other side with some actual deduction skills.

and from junpei's immediate horror at discovering charles there, to his tired appearance, to the haphazard explanation of a trap —

well. it doesn't take a genius to put together a semi-clear picture of what's going on. ]

Right, [ he repeats, before grabbing onto junpei's shoulders and spinning him around with ease, forcing his friend to actually look at him. only after that does charles say, far more calmly than he actually feels, ] Look, I don't know what's going on here, but I'm guessing you're infected. Well, good news, you can't kill me. You could literally stab me in the heart right now and I wouldn't die. So — no need to catastrophise about me being here, yeah? I've got you. Just... let me help? [ and unless junpei actually, forcefully pushes him away, he's going to step in to draw him into a tight hug. ]