Yes, I -- ahem. [ He pauses to clear his throat. From his chest pocket, he produces a handkerchief, which he uses to mop at his brow while he offers Ryoji a wan smile. ] Perhaps I'm coming down with something. Hardly what you want to hear from someone providing healing tools, I admit.

[ He can barely see. The closer that Ryoji gets, the more the room begins to spin; he has to set a hand on the counter to steady himself, smiling through grit teeth and a throbbing head. He has never fainted before - lost consciousness, yes, fainted, no - but he imagines this is what it feels like.

Ryoji's promise that he's not a scary person falls flat, all things considered. More than that, this sensation feels... familiar. He'd sensed something similar in Minato, though he had quickly dismissed it. Now, it seems that his body will no longer allow him to deny the inevitable.

But that doesn't explain what about Ryoji feels so damn bad. His internal monologue, blurred and muffled by his aura though it may be, makes allusions to being Death, but -- no. That can't be. ]

Apologies. [ He swallows. ] If you don't mind my asking... if you're not human, then what are you?

[ And does whatever you are come with side effects? ]