[ raising his hands, palms out, as if to say hey, it's okay, take your time, charles just offers junpei a small smile as he waits for him to gather his thoughts. he ignores the returned sentiment, though, because somehow the fact it's bluntly delivered makes it mean more, and that's — well, that's not the point, right now.

when junpei finally sits up and finds the words, charles hums, waits for a moment and then simply walks up to where he is, sitting down next to him. ]

Hey, I get it. That's why I didn't push, yeah? You sounded... different. And you don't owe me any explanations. [ he tilts his head up slightly, as if there's something particularly exciting on the ceiling. ] It's not the same when you've got something to chase, is it? I mean... I'm fine, here, cause I know Edwin and Crystal are back home and safe. And I know I've said Edwin's the best person I know, and he is, but... he'd hate this. The way there's no logic, nothing makes sense. The way there's no routine, no cases, just — [ a pause, accompanied by a shrug, ] — and this'd remind him of Hell, too, so —

[ so. yeah, he sort of gets it. not in the same way, because what junpei seems to be saying is she'd hate it here and want to get out no matter what, whereas charles knows edwin would stay, just for him, even while hating everything... and maybe, maybe, if he feels a spark of anger that this akane person would consider any kind of a timeline more important than junpei, well — he slams a lid on that, right now. ]