He heard the knock on his door very clearly, but Ken still didn't answer. It was probably Jun or Jinpei with more heartfelt emotional pleas, Joe coming to smack him or Nambu coming to lecture him some more. He'd been up to his ears in that ever since his father's death and as a result almost wished he'd never have to see his cherished second family members again.

The knock came again, and Ken groaned.

"I'm sleeping, okay?"

"Sure you are." And Ken blinked at the unexpected voice.

"Ryu?" Out of sheer curiosity, he opened the door. "What're you doing here? Wait, let me guess, you're gonna deliver a beating from Joe or a weepy speech from Jun?"

"No..." Ryu looked down. "I came to see how you were doing cause I'm worried."

Ken shrugged and let the Owl enter the shack.

"You want the truth, or should I just tell you what I'm sure everyone wants to hear?" he asked. Ryu sighed.

"Look, Ken...I'm not gonna say I understand or anything like that, cause I don't. My dad's alive and he's never gonna be in a situation like yours was, and I'm glad for that," he said. "But dammit, Ken, I still feel terrible for you and I just want you to feel all right again!"

Ken sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Sure, I'll just snap my fingers and I'm over my dad sacrificing himself!" he said curtly.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Ryu shot back. "Look, no one's saying you've gotta smile and laugh it up at the bar like nothing happened, Ken, you've got all the right in the world to be upset. But you're letting it run your life and that's just no good."

"Because I'm Gatchaman, right."

"No." Ryu put his arm around Ken's shoulders. "Because you're our best pal Ken."

Ryu had always been the odd one out among the Science Ninja Team. A simple country boy with a good home life, virtually untouched by the horrors of war that Ken and Joe had scene or the tragedy of losing family like Jun and Jinpei. He could support and help them but never relate to them.

But right now, Ken felt like Ryu truly understood what he needed. He'd said what the others were feeling but hid behind puppy-dog eyes, tears, punches and lectures on obligation. He hugged his friend tightly, burying his face against his shoulder.

"Thanks, Ryu," he said.

"You gonna be okay now?" Ryu asked. Ken smiled a little even as a few tears slid down his face.

"I will be."