[ Renji felt the aftershocks of that tremor as Keigo finally allowed himself to cry. They spread through his body and shook his heart, a ripple of dismay as the tears began to flow. Renji did ask for this. He did want Keigo to be honest with him, to unburden himself of the worries he usually locked up and downplayed. But it pained him nonetheless seeing his eyes glossy and brimming and hearing his voice cracked and threaded with sorrow. His grip around his shoulder tensed.

Keigo held Renji's gaze when their eyes met, and he stumbled looking for an explanation he didn't have. ]

Maybe because I'm not human. [ Although that didn't seem right when not being human didn't make him immune from being taken on a multiversal ride the same as the rest of them. ]

Or 'cause we came at the same time. [ Although that implied that if they didn't, at least one of them would forget, and Renji didn't want to believe that. ]

...I don't know. [ The truth, coming after some deliberation and said as softly as a man like him could say it. ]

But I do remember. [ The emphasis was strong, unwavering, as solid as his arm around Keigo. ] And even if he doesn't, it ain't as if it didn't happen.