"I'll do my best," she promises, but it's said in the same sort of tone: the words are pointless, meaningless, because Haruka already knows that she'll keep up if she can. She isn't blind to the sense of urgency now, either - as little as she knows about what's going on, she can already tell that there is a timeframe that must be stuck to.

They should probably be getting a move on, but first? First she needs to scan Haruka's face, to search every inch of it in silent curiosity. What had changed while they had been apart?

"Haruka," Michiru prompts finally, tone a little more serious now. "Have you been alright?"