[Ryou doesn't want to look at Atem, but he has to open his eyes and look at him when he's pulled closer and their foreheads are touching, because a little of that terrible pressure is relieved when Atem says "I love you, too."

Atem is such a sweet person around him. And Ryou knows that it is for him, because he's seen the way Atem acts on the network, seen the facade he puts up in public when it comes to dealing with dangerous people.

With little warning at all, Ryou wraps both arms around Atem, holding him tightly. He's a precious part of Ryou's life who is putting far too much of himself into it.

He hates himself intensely when he finally speaks again.]

When I'm alone there's nothing but cold and dark inside. It isn't physical, but it still frightens me. I forgot to take care of myself over it. Then I realized that one emptiness relieves another. When I'm hungry, it's distracting, and then I can worry about something different.

So...it's okay! It's alright!

[If it's so okay, then why are his fingers curling in, gripping at Atem's shirt as if he doesn't want to let go? Why are his ears angled down, and his pointed teeth worrying the inside of his cheek?]

I don't want you to solve this puzzle. I have to...I have to do it myself! You're not my keeper, Atem. You're my boyfriend! I can't hurt you for making the only move you can, not again. You're the most important part of my life. D-do you understand?

[And there it is. In so many jumbled words, the problem was "I never want to fight with you again. I never want to be ungrateful."]