[And this is where Souji's comfort and understanding comes to a complete, sudden, abrupt halt. His entire bodies freezes as he studies Ian's face for the answer to his question, wondering if he even wants to speak the words that rose up as soon as he heard the confession.
Torin...?
Souji knows Ian would never lie to him about this, not after everything else they'd just talked about. Death was never a light topic. It would do no good to ask if Ian was serious, because Souji already knew the answer to that, but the next question stumbles out of his mouth before he can stop himself.
Torin is his teacher, his mentor, their leader. And...]
... he comes back, right?
[Souji can't even get the question out before his voice cracks and his eyes start filling with tears. He's sure he already knows the answer. If it had been anything else, Ian would have told him already. Ian wouldn't have given him a moment to think anything else. Ian would never do that to him.]