He paused, searching for the right words in the dim light.
"You always surprise us," he finally continued, voice thick with emotion.
"With your knowledge, with your predictions... Now if even those cores transform into eggs, I won't be able to help it anymore. And now, with my beetle's cultivation, I..." Tears began forming in his eyes…
The mushrooms pulsed gently as Ren watched his friend struggle with his doubts.
"I'm scared," Taro admitted in a whisper that barely disturbed the night air. "Scared that this hope will turn into disappointment. Everyone says it's impossible, that I should be content with bronze rank 2 at most."
Ren sat up in his bed, ignoring the protest of his aching muscles.
"I promise you that won't happen."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because," Ren smiled with quiet confidence, "I see what others can't. And you have potential you can't even imagine..."