[ It's easier to maintain some distance like this, so he's grateful. Unfortunately, Accelerator hits the nail on the head with that comment; Harold lets out a tense breath, letting some measure of grief openly wash over him. ]

... It's strange. I should be overjoyed to see him, but I just keep thinking that we'll never be in New York again together.

[ There's a real loss, a real death that Harold is mourning, and he's struggling to rationally accept that while also staying present in Etraya as it is. ]

I'll need to commit to staying in Etraya if I don't want to lose him again, [ he adds, the natural conclusion that's been swirling around in his mind. He doesn't know what to do with it yet, but it keeps taunting him like a loose tooth. It's so radically different from his previous perspective on Etraya, which was innate suspicion, wariness, reluctant acclimitization to his fate. ]