Simon sat on the edge of the plateau, knees pulled close, the cool night air brushing against his face. The stars stretched across the sky, faintly mirrored in the calm river winding through the valley below. The fire crackled beside them, sending flickering shadows over the rocks and Lagann resting a short distance away. A gentle breeze rustled the grass, carrying the faint scent of smoke and earth.

He hesitated, staring at the horizon for a long moment before speaking, voice quiet. “I… I don’t always know how to say this… but… being out here, after everything we’ve been through…”

He glanced at her, eyes catching the firelight. “…it makes me realize how much I… rely on you.” He paused, taking a deep breath, as if steadying himself against the vulnerability he felt.

“When I’m scared… or when I feel like I’m not… good enough…” His hands fidgeted in his lap. “…just thinking about you… or seeing you there… it gives me a reason to keep going. Not just for me… but… for us.”

He looked up at the stars again, letting the quiet of the night settle around them. “…I don’t want to mess this up.” Another pause, long enough for the soft rustle of the wind and the crackle of the fire to fill the silence. “I just… I want you to know that… you matter. More than I ever thought anyone could.”