[A giddy joy manages to touch Mami beneath the resignation enveloping her. She can't help it - she's longed for months, as she would have longed for years, to have her hands held like this and to hear Utena say things like I love you and We can find it together. Words just for her, just for Mami, and no one else. As heartwrenching as it is that this moment is doomed to be short-lived, Mami has finally learned how to draw comfort and happiness from such fragile things all the same.]

I wish that was true, Utena, I-

[She stops, then, at a sharp twinge in her heart. Her expression goes completely blank for a minute, the gold eyes wide and unseeing; a jolt, a shudder - a warning. There isn't much time. Then Mami recovers and gives a soft sigh as she shakes her head.]

I'm afraid that there isn't any other way, even if we had years to spend searching....and we don't. So...I wanted to ask you just one, last thing.