[Hijikata frowns deeply at that outburst of pain. Just how much loss did Emet-Selch have to endure? It's a given that this apocalypse must have erased countless lives, but somehow it seems to go deeper than even that. He pauses for a moment before responding in a calmer voice than before.]

There's nowhere I could go. There's no safe space, right? But don't worry. I'll still be here when this is over, I promise you that.

[He feels confident in that assurance. Whatever happens next, they'll be back together on Avalon when they wake up... right? The dream feels so real, doubts are starting to gnaw at the edges of Hijikata's mind. He needs to keep it together, though, hard as it may be.]

Let's proceed.