[NODDING ONCE Kaoru sure did... and is now a salty salty peanut because they brought back the cycles and it's a bigger one than before and still no Chizuru.

But!! That's something to quietly seethe over later in private, where there's no risk of accidentally murdering someone in a fit of rage. Kaoru smiles, reassured.]

I'm glad to hear that. [Yes, it's concern! Genuine, grown from the dirt and watered by hand concern!! Freshly farmed, freshly grown, local Grade A "I am so glad you weren't brutally murdered by Santa".]

I'll keep my distance from the Ferris wheel, in that case. I won't be of much use to anyone if I'm injured. [DEATH BY FERRIS WHEEL doesn't sound very elegant, either.]

Ah - but I was wondering if I had just been imagining that. The number being larger than usual, that is...