[ Jaune crosses his legs underneath him as he glares at Aizawa, but the glare softens as he listens to the other man speak. It gives way to a certain heavy tiredness around his eyes that, at last, is an expression that suits his age. ]

I still don't understand what you're talking about with this place, or being not dead or alive.

But... [ He sighs, shoulders rising and settling into less tension. ] I'm sorry if I made it sound like I don't think you're working hard enough to leave. The tactics could be better - but that doesn't mean you aren't trying.

[ He looks down at the pie he's all but cradling, now hopelessly jiggled out of shape, but still edible, still a friendly, cheerful pale yellow topped with deflated clouds of whipped cream. ]

There are people I'm worried about too. They don't have anyone else. They're my responsibility, and I'm not giving up until I find a way back to them. If we have to solve a mystery or beat a game to do that? I'm going to do it.

[ There's no if. There's only when. The certainty comes from a place deep inside of himself he can't quite touch. He can touch the outside edge of the plate, hand cupping a protective wall around the toppled remnants of banana pie. ]

And maybe you don't have to care about pie. You certainly don't have to like it. But it wasn't doing anything to you. You didn't like how it tasted after you tried it? Fine. But...all it wanted was to fulfill its purpose. To try to be something you might like to eat. Just because you didn't like it - because you didn't like me - that's no reason to try to ruin it.

You shouldn't destroy things because you don't like them, or because they can't defend themselves. The next time you want to get angry, knock something down? You come after me.

[ The resolution in his eye as he looks up to meet Aizawa's eye isn't a threat. It's the calm shouldering of duty. ]

I can take it.