[Ooooh, I'm glad you're enjoying it, it can be a rough ride.

Zagreus smiles. He'd hate for Fukawa to think it was a terrible experience to kiss someone like him, so seeing her smile like that is a relief.] Good. I'm glad.

[He clasps the hand that the writer rests on his shoulder with his own.] I'm sorry that these circumstances are terrible; no one should be forced to kiss anyone for fear of consequences. But I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Because, really, that's the worst part of it. Not how good or bad the kiss is, but how it takes away a lot of agency from people. Sure, it may spur some relationships along, and he does respect the rituals of these little sprites, but a belief system is a belief system, even if it wasn't based on myth alone. Achilles had told him how some city-states would discriminate against each other in the surface, and he hoped at least this place wouldn't do so.

So much for that. He looks up at the sprites.] There you have it, then. Happy? [They wave their little fingers goodbye as they carry the mistletoe away.

Looking back down at Fukawa, he sighs.] Will you be alright?