[ mmm? mmmmmmmmmm? wataru tilts his head slightly, then turns his face to eichi's, not minding the closeness. ]

Why wouldn't they keep you forever? [ ? ] You've already surpassed the rest of your kind, haven't you!

[ never mind the effects of that on eichi, or the effects of getting to this point, or how costly it must be, or

wataru has a very limited amount of things he minds, really. ]

I won't let them throw you away. [ huffy. ] You're my playmate.

[ said distinctly in the tone a child uses for something that's Their Toy. ]