Kazuma took a few more days to rest, time which he admittedly relished both because of his returned freedom and being in good company. However, as the days churned by, the subject he wanted to avoid most continued to stew in the back of his mind: therapy.

On one hand, he was well aware that therapy could help him, or at the very least set him down a better path by allowing him to face his demons. However, there was also the dual issue of pride and doubt that kept resurfacing. Did he really want to spill so much trauma onto a stranger? Would it really be that helpful? Was Belzerg's equivalent even as effective as Earth therapy?

All these questions and more kept bouncing around in Kazuma's head as he blankly stared at himself in the mirror during his morning bath. While physically he was looking better compared to how he was when his girlfriends found him in that cell, he still didn't feel…completely right either. He was having some pretty intense nightmares the following days after his rescue, and that certainly didn't help his already atrocious sleep schedule. His eyes were bloodshot and the bags were heavier than usual. In all honesty, it really made him look…depressed.

And that was probably the main thing that was holding Kazuma back from wanting to go to therapy: the fear of being labeled. Who would want to dump all of their personal shit on some random person only to have said random person label you as this or that? Nobody, that's who, and Kazuma counted himself among them. Did he not want to go because he didn't want to feel patronized or was it because he was scared he would find something out about himself he didn't like? Kazuma didn't know, though if he'd have to wager a guess, he'd say it was a combination of the two.

Sighing heavily, Kazuma sank a bit deeper into the water, contemplating what was the right move to make. He really, really worried about the labels, the judgment, how a potential diagnosis on just what he was would change things...but was it really that much better if it remained unknown? Would he not at least have some form of clarity or closure if he got a proper answer?

Damnit, man, you've gone through hell way worse than this! He mentally argued with himself. All you do is walk in, talk about yourself for a while, walk out, lather, rinse and repeat. That's nothing compared to all the crazy adventures you've been on! How hard can it be really?

Ultimately bringing the mental debate to a close, Kazuma departed the bath and got dressed for the day before making his way to the kitchen, where all the girls were congregating. He cleared his throat as he approached, receiving all of their attention in response, and after another moment to steel his nerves, he spoke.

"I've decided to give therapy a chance."

Shortly after making his simple announcement, Kazuma received warming smiles across the board along with many words of encouragement from his girlfriends and housemates alike. It was exactly the kind of boost he needed to get through the rest of the day, and he would be remiss if he didn't greatly appreciate his family's full support on his decision. The young man felt he was going to need every last ounce of courage if he was really going to go through with this.

It took about another day to finish up all the paperwork with Sena, not that the forms were really that complicated, moreso that Kazuma kept stalling for time as his nerves faltered here and there. However, they finished eventually, and after delivering the forms to the guild hall, it was just a matter of waiting...which did little to calm him, naturally.

A week went by and Kazuma was having breakfast with everyone else when Aqua came back in with some mail in her hands. Ever since she made a mailbox for their mansion (which looked rather shabby in spite of her artistic talents), she insisted on being the "official mail fetcher" after enough pleading and begging. Seems she was quite proud of her little project, even if she had created way better things in the past. Still, Kazuma would be lying if he said he didn't find it somewhat endearing.

Aqua passed around an envelope or two to the rest of his house mates, before reaching the final piece she'd retrieved and cracking an even brighter smile, offering it to Kazuma with a dramatic flourish. Taking the apparent letter, Kazuma flipped it open and realized just what had the goddess so pleased. His application had been approved by the guild, and they had offered him a trial appointment with one of their best the coming Thursday.

Of course, Kazuma was less than thrilled about the sudden news. "Oh…that's this week? Damn, and part of me was hoping all that paperwork would get lost in the mail, heh. Guess I should give the postal service here more credit, huh?"

"C'mon, Kazuma! Keep your chin up, this is good news!" Megumin chided lightly, bumping her boyfriend's shoulder and offering him an encouraging look. "You won't have to stress about it any longer, and if you don't like it, it's not like we're gonna force you to go back. There's really no downside to trying it out, y'know?"

"She's right, you've already made it this far, and that alone takes a lot of bravery," Darkness added while rubbing her lover's tense shoulders. "Besides, we'll support you no matter what. Whether you decide to continue visiting after your trial run or drop it if you feel it doesn't help, we'll still be here, helping out in whatever way we can to the best of our ability."

"Thank you. If I didn't have you guys by my side, I definitely wouldn't have the willpower to go through with this." Kazuma admitted with a slight chuckle, before scratching his cheek awkwardly as he continued. "I-if it's not too much to ask, could one of you come with me to the appointment? I'd just feel better if I had a friendly face nearby."

Aqua immediately raised her hand and said, "I'll go with. Plus, as an added bonus, I'll even take you out for ice cream afterwards, courtesy of your lovely goddess girlfriend and for being my brave, strong man!"

"Heh, thanks. That's very sweet of you, goddess of mine." Kazuma replied with a small smile, already feeling more relieved than he had previously. There was still that bundle of nerves that lingered in his chest, but even knowing that he'd have Aqua nearby for the process made things a bit easier to handle.

The days passed in what felt like minutes, and suddenly Kazuma and Aqua were headed into town for the appointment. As they left the mansion, along with the shouted wishes of good luck from the rest of his girlfriends, Kazuma decided to keep his focus on Aqua as they walked in order to distract himself, clutching her hand in what he could only hope didn't look like too childish a maneuver.

"Enraptured by my beauty, are we?" Aqua whispered to Kazuma the second she caught him staring at her. She then smiled and winked at him before he could make a sarcastic remark. "Just messing with ya! I know you're just nervous is all. But seriously, Kazzy, you have nothing to worry about. Anything you tell the therapist is supposed to be…shoot, what's that word again? It means secret and stuff?"

"Confidential?" Kazuma supplied, receiving an enthusiastic nod in confirmation. "I know, it's just...I still don't know how much I want some random person to know about. Unloading all of this onto a stranger feels bizarre, and...I'm a little nervous about what kind of answers I could get from this session, good and bad."

Nodding in understanding, Aqua gave her boyfriend's hand a gentle squeeze as she stared deep into his eyes, into his very soul. She told him, "Kazuma, if there's one thing to take away from all this, it's that no matter what they say you are or aren't, you'll always be Kazuma to us. We fell in love with you for just being yourself, and there's no information out there that'll change how we view you. You did the same for us and we'll do the same for you. Remember that during your session today, okay?"

"I'll...I'll do my best to keep that in mind, yeah." Kazuma replied quietly, barely restraining the brief wave of tears that nearly formed in his eyes before brushing them away with his free hand, composing himself once more. "I guess if there's one thing I can always take solace in, it's that I still have my charm, despite all my flaws, eh?"

"Aw yes, the fabled 'Kazuma charm' that swept this beautiful goddess right off her feet," Aqua sang with dramatic flair before giggling and planting a kiss on the boy's cheek. "You know it, stud. You'll do just fine in there. Consider it a blessing from me."

The rest of their walk was spent in comfortable silence, one that lasted until they arrived at the hall and were greeted by Luna, who informed Kazuma that the actual appointment would take place in a nearby office nearby, offering him a signed form to present to the other receptionist once he arrived. After that, it was all in his hands.

"Good luck with your appointment, Kazuma!" Luna called as they departed, her pleasant tone calming Kazuma's nerves a touch. She didn't seem particularly nervous, but then again, how much did she really know about the actual process? Apparently, the sessions weren't even held in the hall, which...probably should have been a given, admittedly. The place wasn't exactly a calm environment.

Still, the unexpected detour didn't prove to be much of a hindrance as the office where Kazuma's session would take place was only a couple blocks away from the guild. Once he and Aqua stepped inside the main building, the first thing he noticed was the comparatively calm, relaxing atmosphere of the waiting area. It honestly wasn't too far off from what he would expect from a normal Earth admin room. That, strangely enough, put him a little at ease.

That sense of ease wouldn't last for long, unfortunately, as the handful of guests already present consisted primarily of adventurers he faintly knew back at the guild. Of course, they were well aware of Kazuma and his exploits, for they all suddenly turned to look at him in surprise. It was almost as if they never would've expected him of all people to be in a place like this, and that alone was already giving him second thoughts.

However, as Aqua gave his hand a comforting squeeze and spared him a supportive look, he pulled himself together and walked up to the receptionist, who greeted him with a polite smile and nod.

"Hello, sir. Are you here for an appointment?"

"Uh, y-yeah, I am," Kazuma answered after clearing his throat. "I'm here for my 3:30 appointment. I'm Kazuma Satou, the one doing a trial run here?"

"Ah, yes. One moment please." The receptionist chirped, flipping through a nearby stack of papers before making a triumphant noise and turning back to Kazuma. "Alright, Ms. Gray will be responsible for your trial appointment! She should be done in the next few minutes, so feel free to take a seat while she finishes up."

With a half-hearted thanks, Kazuma occupied an empty seat mostly away from everyone else while Aqua naturally took the seat right next to him. Glancing at his girlfriend, she offered him an encouraging albeit silly smile, which he gladly returned with a small smile of his own. The young lad counted his luck stat for having a ball of positivity like Aqua accompany him on this intimidating road for himself. Kazuma was convinced that he would never set foot into this building if she and the others hadn't offered their support and love.

No matter what happens, I'll still be loved by them, he thought determinedly. If they think this'll help me sort out my shit, then I'll do it for them if for nobody else. I want to be a better boyfriend, and hopefully this is the place to start becoming exactly that.

A few minutes passed, with other patients leaving and entering before finally, a sharply dressed woman entered from the nearby hallway, holding a notepad and scanning the waiting room with sharp eyes. Eventually, they landed on him, and Kazuma had to fight the urge to flinch under that gaze as she approached, despite the neutral smile she offered him once she came to a stop in front of him.

"Mr. Satou, I'd presume?" She asked, receiving a hesitant nod in response, prompting her to extend her hand. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Meryld Gray, and I'll be the one conducting your trial appointment today. Are there any questions you have right off the bat that you'd like me to try and answer?"

Still trying to will his heartbeat to slow the fuck down, Kazuma shook his and the licensed professional hummed in response.

"No? Alright then. In that case, we can start immediately. If you'll follow me to my office, we can get to know each other a little better. Sound good?"

Kazuma managed a quiet confirmation before giving Aqua a vaguely nervous look and following after Gray as she led him down the main hall. Near the end, she gestured into a large office-like room, with two chairs and a large brown couch in the center of the room. Entering, he moved over to the couch and took a hesitant seat, surprised to find that the furniture was actually pretty comfortable.

"Comfy, isn't it?" Gray asked followed by a small chuckle. "Yeah, I get that a lot from my patients. Sometimes I'm forced to roll them over just to get them off after a session!"

Kazuma managed an anxious chuckle at the joke, trying his hardest to relax, despite his body's instance that it was fight or flight time. Gray took a seat across from him, setting down her notepad on a nearby table, and leaned back in her chair with a relaxed posture.

"Well, let me know when you're ready to get started, Mr. Satou. As this is a trial run, you have full control of the pace and topics we discuss." She explained diligently, quirking an eyebrow as the young man continued to fidget across from her. "Would you prefer an icebreaker? Something to ease your nerves?"

"Huh? Oh, uh…yeah, that'd be nice," Kazuma mumbled with uncertainty. "I guess we could…take turns asking questions about each other? Just so this whole thing doesn't feel one-sided."

"That sounds like a good start, yes." Gray agreed, lacing her hands together. "If you'll allow me to go first, we'll start off simple: what's your favorite color?"

Easy enough.

"Green," Kazuma answered straightforwardly while tugging on his green mantle. "Don't have a fancy reason for why I like it, I just think it's a nice enough color I guess…So what about you?"

"Well, despite the assumption that might come with my name, I'm actually more preferential to yellow myself." Grey replied pleasantly, tilting her head. "Can't say I have a reason for it either. It's just always been my favorite. Now then, let's see...where are you from?"

So much for the easy questions…Thought Kazuma with no small amount of snark. He at least understood that for therapy to work, full context would be needed on his background and situation. So how does one do that without going on a one way trip to the nearest insane asylum?

After giving it some thought, Kazuma chose his next words carefully. "I'm from…overseas. In a country called Japan. It's, uh, relatively obscure and we mostly keep to ourselves. It's also something of a 'magic dead zone' if you will, so we learn to get by without it by inventing stuff to help out with chores and such."

"Mhm, I see. While I can't say I'm familiar with that country, what you've told me would certainly explain why." Gray remarked, briefly scribbling something down in her retired pad before turning her attention back to Kazuma. "Now, onto your question."

"Okay then…" Kazuma said, thinking of a different question to ask. "Did you always want to become a therapist when you grew up?"

"Not at first, no. I actually wanted to be a knight. I grew up in the capitol, you see, and I always found the idea of being a noble warrior serving the kingdom fascinating." Gray answered diligently, a wry smile growing on her face. "However, as it turned out, I didn't have the heart for such work, so I instead decided to try and help people on a more personal level. Therefore, therapy."

"Wow…that's really inspiring," Kazuma commented with an honest smile stretching his face. He couldn't help but draw parallels to Gray and Darkness, mainly with what they wanted to do with their lives when they got older. To Kazuma, it was almost like speaking with a Darkness from an alternate timeline, and the outlandish thought helped to calm his jittery nerves somewhat.

"Thank you. While it's not why I do what I do, it is nice to be appreciated." Gray replied with a small smile, before gesturing to Kazuma once more. "Let's ask one more question each, then see how we're feeling then, alright?"

Kazuma nodded, admittedly feeling a little more at ease than when he first came in. The quality couch he was sitting on might've also played a factor in the equation too.

"Alright then, let's see…" Gray hummed, drumming her fingers for a moment as she pondered before snapping. "Ah, I got one. What do you currently consider to be the happiest moment of your life?"

"Hmm, that's a toughie," Kazuma relented, leaning forward and closing his eyes to think for a minute. Eventually, though, he came up with an obvious answer. "I guess it would have to be the day my party members confessed their feelings for me. Oh, and, uh, I should probably clarify that my party consists of three girls and we've been living together and going on adventures for quite some time, and…"

Unable to bring himself to look at Gray anymore, Kazuma looked down at his lap. "…And now you probably think I'm a perv who deserves to die. Don't worry, I get it. I've gotten that from plenty of girls around here so it's nothing I haven't already heard."

"I don't think anything of the sort, I assure you." Gray replied evenly, her eyebrows furrowing as Kazuma raised his gaze back to her own. "You're not the first person to have a polyamerous relationship in Belzerg, let alone Axel. It's nothing to be ashamed of, so as long as the relationship is genuine. And considering the answer you just gave me, I have to assume it is."

"Yeah, it's genuine alright," Kazuma reiterated with a reserved smile as he thought of his family. "Although I couldn't fathom the idea at first. I think part of me kinda knew they had feelings for me but I just brushed it off until they had to be upfront about it. Then again, you have to be upfront with me about a lot of things since it's sometimes hard for me to take a hint, y'know?"

"I can understand that, it's usually a lot easier to not have to look for signs where there well could be none. No reason not to confront some things head on, right?" Gray replied with another small smile. "Now, the moment of truth. Last question, the floor is yours. Ask away."

Rubbing his chin for a bit, Kazuma settled on another relatively simple question. "So how long have you been a therapist? The notice I got in the mail said you were one of the best, so I take it that means you've been at this for a good long while?"

"About five years now, I believe. Give or take a month or so." Gray replied, rubbing her own chin as she hummed in consideration. "Sometimes I forget how long I've been doing this myself. All the same, I suppose it's nice to be referenced as 'one of the best', isn't it?"

"Yeah. I suppose it is." Kazuma confirmed with a short nod, completely unaware of just how much his nerves had settled from the brief conversation he'd just had. Suddenly, therapy wasn't quite so scary anymore!

"So, how are you feeling now? Any better than before?" Gray asked diligently, retrieving her pad and regaining some of her previous professionality. "That game typically tends to help ease the nerves of new attendees."

"I can see why, it's pretty effective," Kazuma commented before providing the professional with his answer. "And…yeah, I'm feeling a little bit better about this now. I think I might be ready to get some of this weight off my shoulders. Before we begin, just to make absolutely sure, anything I tell you will remain confidential, correct? I'd rather not have any more rumors about me spread throughout the guild; although, I'm pretty sure me coming here will be enough to get people talking regardless."

"I can assure you that this session is entirely confidential. Only you and I will ever know what was discussed in this room, no exceptions." Gray explained, before tilting her head back in forth in consideration. "Unless you tell people yourself, of course. Point is, no information leaves this room if you don't want it to."

"Good, good," Kazuma sighed in relief while allowing himself to sink a little further into the comfy couch. "Can never be too sure. Alright then, let's get this therapy thing started already. So…lead the way, I guess. I don't really know how these things start."

"Well, like I said before, as this is your first session, you really have the reins here. We move at your comfort level." Gray repeated, offering Kazuma a patient smile. "What would you like to start with? It can be anything at all, we'll just...build up from there."

Kazuma scratched his head, wondering where to start himself. Ultimately, he decided to begin with something relatively light and, as Gray put it, build up from there. Test the shallow waters before going into the deep end if you will.

"Well…I've been having more trouble sleeping lately. I mean, I've always been somewhat of an insomniac, but nowadays I find it increasingly harder to fall asleep, even with my girlfriend's pet cat."

"I see. When exactly did this problem start?" Gray asked, scribbling a quick note down in her book before returning her full attention to Kazuma. "You said you are having more trouble lately, so you've dealt with insomnia before?"

Kazuma cleared his throat before daring to elaborate, "Yes, that's right. See, growing up in Japan, I developed a bad habit of staying up late at night to play video games, which is a form of entertainment we invented over there. Sometimes I was so busy with schoolwork that I barely had any time for myself, save for weekend nights when I didn't have school. So I'd stay up late to have a little fun, y'know?"

"Understandable. However, such habits do bring the risk of health issues, such as insomnia in your case." Gray replied, tilting her head thoughtfully as she tapped her pen on her notepad. "You mentioned that it was worse as of late, or that it was harder. Can you think of anything that's happened in your life recently to cause this shift?"

Exhaling heavily from his nose, Kazuma locked his hands together over his knees and stared down at the ground in consideration. This was already getting a touch too personal. However, the scarred teenager was equally as determined to better himself through this service. He had to make a start somewhere, and no time like the present, right?

"Um…w-without getting too into the specifics just yet…let's just say I was kidnapped by a demon patrol and left alone in a dark cell for over a week with no way of telling the time. I'm pretty sure that has something to do with it, especially if the recurring nightmares have anything to say about it. Heh, heh…"

Gray paused at that, not quite starling but definitely hesitating before she spoke again, her voice soft but concerned. "That...certainly sounds like a traumatic experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that, Kazuma, I can't imagine what such treatment was like."

"…I mean, I've technically gone through worse, but…" Kazuma trailed off after that. His voice may have been barely above that of a whisper, but his words alone spoke volumes as far as Gray was concerned.

"What exactly qualifies as worse, Kazuma?" Gray asked carefully, setting aside her pad as she leaned forward slightly, not missing how the young man refused to meet her gaze. "I understand that this is hard to talk about, but I can't help you if I don't know what you've been through. Please be honest with me."

Gulping down his uncertainty with divulging sensitive information with someone outside of his support group, Kazuma hesitantly relented. "W-well, um, f-for context, one of my girlfriends is a powerful archpriest who knows the spell Resurrection. It's a, uh, a really handy spell for one of your party members to have when you're as prone to dying as I am. Decapitation, disintegration, arrow to the neck, it isn't so bad when you have a teammate who can revive you on the spot. Not that I'd put those activities anywhere on my fun list, but still, it's…it's a good spell, Resurrection…"

At this point, Gray did admittedly blank, actually floundering for a moment as she hastily attempted to recompose herself. She's heard of healing spells and similar magic that could prevent fatal wounds from claiming their victims, but what Kazuma suggested…

"Kazuma, h-how many times has this 'Resurrection' been cast to bring you back?"

"…8 or 9? I've kinda lost track at this point. I think the last time Aqua used it was when she and the others confessed their feelings and accidentally gave me my second-ever heart attack. But hey, at least that death was one of the tamer ones; gotta find that silver lining somewhere, huh?"

Gray just gawked for a few moments, making Kazuma shift slightly on the couch under her gaze. Eventually, she pulled herself together, clearing her throat and leaning back in her seat, releasing a deep sigh.

"I'm terribly sorry, that was...unprofessional of me." Gray hastily amended, sparing Kazuma another bewildered look. "In all my years, I've never come across a case quite as...unique as yours. That said, I'd be a failure of a therapist if I didn't try to help the best I can, so...please tell me all you can about this spell and how you feel it's affected you."

Furrowing his eyebrows in shame and disgust, Kazuma mumbled, "I shouldn't have told you that. You're more interested in a rare spell than you are of me, I can tell. This was a mistake, I should just go- -"

"I don't care about the spell, Kazuma, I'm worried about the effect it's had on your mental state!" Gray amended hastily, temporarily convincing him not to leave quite yet. "From what you've described so far - hell, how you've described it - I'm seriously worried about the ramifications this has had on your mental health! While I understand the importance of saving a life, the consequences of such powerful magic cannot be overstated."

Slowly sitting back down in his seat, Kazuma didn't meet Gray's eyes after her minor outburst.

Once again, Satou, you completely misread the room and made a jackass out of yourself. Idiot, he scolded internally before speaking once more. "Okay, so maybe I'd be lying if I said all those deaths didn't bother me sometimes…But, in my defense, my work environment doesn't really allow for me to have a good cry when I need it. That and my detractors would have a fucking field day if they found out I had PTSD or some shit!"

"I sympathize with your plight, Kazuma, but detractors or no, you need to seek counseling for your trauma! Whether you have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or another condition, or even no condition at all, your well-being needs to take precedence, especially if you're in a relationship." Gray insisted, some of her inner therapist finally showing. "You cannot truly love another until you love yourself, and proper mental health is part of that. You need that support in your life, and your girlfriends cannot be the ones to provide all of it."

With his heart rate increasing by the second and his breathing threatening to become shallow, Kazuma was hit with a question he didn't think to ask up until now: could he honestly say that he loved himself? Gray did make a valid point about being able to love yourself before loving anyone else, and that made the young man's skin crawl. If his old childhood friend/crush nor his own parents could bother to love him…who's to say Kazuma himself couldn't be bothered to do the same?

He closed his eyes for a moment, gripping the edge of the couch as he tried to pull himself together, dangerously close to hyperventilating. Gray quickly stood up moving across the room and kneeling next to the young man, putting a hand on his shoulder and bringing him back to reality.

"Easy, Kazuma. Easy. Just breathe." She stated calmly, before demonstrating with a series of deep breaths. "Just do what I do. In and out. Nice and easy. You're alright, I promise."

Kazuma followed along with the woman's demonstrated breathing technique, in through his nose and out through his mouth. The two of them did this for a solid minute or two before Kazuma felt steady enough to speak his thoughts.

"Sorry 'bout that...I don't know what came over me. That sort of thing has only ever happened back when I was attending school. I thought I'd finally moved past that."

"It's alright, perhaps I could have been more careful with how much I was demanding of you. This isn't even your first session, after all." Gray replied, a sad smile rising on her face. "Speaking of which, I'm officially recommending you make that decision at the first opportunity. It doesn't have to be with me, or even this clinic, but I strongly recommend attending a form of therapy to help you temper your work life and past. As I said earlier, a healthy mindset is very important, even as an adventurer."

"Right," Kazuma mumbled while nodding, mind still dwelling on that damn question. Sighing, he said to Gray, "So, um, what you said earlier, about how you can't love another until you love yourself? Well...that's what made me freeze up like that. It might've put some things into perspective for me. Things I'd rather have been left ignorant of."

"I see. What might these things be, then?" Gray asked, backpedaling to her chair and taking a seat before dutifully turning back to Kazuma, patient as can be as he tried to formulate his thoughts.

Steeling himself, Kazuma drew in one last shaky breath before saying what had likely always been on his mind, just heavily repressed and ignored until prompted by the right set of circumstances. "I…I don't think I love myself. In fact, on some level, it might be more accurate to say I kinda hate myself, actually."

Gray's eyebrow furrowed instantly, but troubled as she was, she motioned for the young man to elaborate before speaking. She needed a full picture if she was going to be of any actual use, after all.

"My parents, they…I only found out last year that they…" Kazuma faltered, finding it increasingly difficult to get the words out while also providing enough context that didn't reveal his true origins. "When I had my first death, my first heart attack, word of it somehow got back to them, excluding the following Resurrection. I learned that their reaction to their one and only son dying was laughter. Sure, we didn't always see eye to eye and we butted heads more than once, but I didn't realize my death was so funny to them. I guess that was the moment I put together that they never really loved me all that much."

For the second time in a single session, Gray blanked for a moment following this confession. However, she recovered much faster this time, though her professionality waned slightly, giving in to genuine concern. "I'm so sorry, Kazuma. I...I don't know what to say, other than you deserve infinitely better treatment than that. I know that revelation must have been heartbreaking, but you must remember that there are people in this world that care for you, that love you. And people like your parents, who clearly felt so disconnected that they would...that they'd…"

For the smallest moment, rage flared in the therapist's chest as the true weight of his parent's reactions hit her in full force. She pushed through the anger, however, keeping her tone level and composed.

"Regardless of their reaction, they are clearly not in any position to be near or interact with you any time in the future. While I am not your therapist officially, I urge you to distance yourself from those people to the best of your ability. Cut them out of your life entirely. They are not good for you."

"The distancing isn't the problem, it's the cutting them out part that is," Kazuma admitted, breaking slightly as his voice hitched and stray tears threatened to spill from his eyes. "Everyone else gets to have parents that love them, so why can't I? Even if they didn't love me, at least they gave me the impression that they did, r-right? Why can't I just be proud of where I came from just like everybody else? I…I just…I- -"

Kazuma trailed off, desperately trying to keep from breaking down. He couldn't afford to keep doing this, not anymore. He needed to move on, but he just couldn't see how. He looked up to Gray, desperate for some form of guidance, or at least reassurance. Luckily, she was more than willing to provide both.

"You've endured a lot, Kazuma. More than any average person your age deserves too. You deserve better, and I think that you can reach it as well." She supplied, her tone measured with both compassion and wisdom. "The road is going to be long and hard, but it is a path you have to travel if you want to be truly happy one day. That said, you don't have to take it alone, or rush through it. You have people by your side, people who actually love you and will support you. As long as you have that strength, you can face your demons at your own pace. As long as it happens, you're doing the right thing."

Kazuma rubbed his damp eyes with his sleeve and sniffled embarrassingly. In spite of the sadness that festered in his heart, he managed to find a reason to smile. Gray was right, he was doing the right thing all along by seeking therapy, even if he didn't have the strength to do it alone. And for that, he owed his girlfriends a huge thank you once he got home. Reopening old wounds might be painful, but it can always be numbed with the right people by his side.

"Th-thanks, doc," Kazuma murmured sheepishly, not knowing or caring whether therapists counted as doctors. "And you're right, I need this, bad. If I want to be a better boyfriend, I can't keep living like this. I just want to live the rest of my life without being weighed down by abusive parents, backstabbing friends, or gruesome deaths. I just want the family I have now to not have to worry about me breaking on them. But most of all?"

With a pleading glimmer in his puffy eyes, Kazuma willed himself to look up at Gray and say:

"I just want to be happy…That's it."

"I'd say that's a fair goal, and one that you're more than capable of reaching." Gray replied with a small smile, before rising to her feet, an action mirrored by Kazuma. "Unfortunately, we have officially reached the time limit for our trial session. However, if you have more you'd like to discuss, I can always push my next appointment back a few minutes."

"Well, there is one thing I wanted to ask real quick," Kazuma stated before scratching his neck, a nervous tic which did not slip past Gray's analytical, therapist eyes. "Do you think I should let the girls in on the 'semi self-loathing' thing? Because they're already worried enough about me as is and I don't know if I can bring myself to drop that kind of bomb on them right now. But I know it's important to be honest with those you love and be upfront with them about serious issues like that and- -"

"Take a breath, Kazuma. Relax." Gray chided lightly, continuing after he did as she instructed and calmed down slightly. "I think that you should tell them. As you said, it's important to be honest with your loved ones, and hiding it from them isn't healthy or productive. There's no shame in asking for help when you need it."

Kazuma rubbed his arm and grimaced slightly before saying, "God, I feel like a dork for asking this, but…do you think you could relay what we discussed today to Aqua before we leave? You did say I didn't have to walk this road alone, and I feel like I can trust you now, so…?"

"I'm honored that you're putting your trust in me, and I can assure you that I won't waste it." Gray replied with a small smile, nodding in confirmation as she moved to the door. "I'll pass along what we discussed today in private, so she can get a good feel of where we stand. I assume this means you'd be open to continuing therapy?"

"Yeah, I am," Kazuma answered with a single nod. "Gotta rip the band-aid off now more than ever; I'll only be driving myself crazy if I keep bottling all this angst inside of me. Therapy sucks, but I can at least recognize that it's gonna be better for me in the long run if I keep attending it."

"Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that. I'll be sure to assemble the paperwork for your next session before you and I speak to Ms. Aqua." Gray conceded, opening the door and stepping out into the hall, waiting for Kazuma to join her. "I really think that this is the start of an important journey for you, Kazuma. Are you ready to take your first steps?"

Kazuma took some controlled breaths, just like the ones Gray showed him earlier, and stepped out of the room with her in spite of the small surge of fear. "Let's get this show on the road."