......

[Akihiko forces himself to maintain eye contact with her, but can't help the pain that flickers across his expression just then. Was that really her only goal up to the point of... her end? Minako hadn't even managed to accomplish it, given the fact that she instead saved the entire world at behest of her own life...] But you... couldn't even...

[He closes his eyes for a long moment, and exhales heavily. There is an uneasy tightness in his chest, one that he doesn't know how to get rid of. It's this same feeling of helplessness that he hates, being unable to do anything for the people he cares about.

When Akihiko opens his eyes again, his facial features don't look as strained as before, in spite of the phantom pains that still linger within him.] ...It'll be different here, Minako. You can make plans for the future, without having to worry about... that. [He pauses briefly to squeeze her hand in reassurance.] If you're not sure right now about what happiness means to you... maybe you can find out. You know I wanna help you. Everyone else feels the same way too.