SITTING HERE GRIPPING TH TABLE CLENCHING MY TEETH TRYING TO BREATHE AND FAILING THIS WAS SO SICK OF THEM TO KILL ME LIKE they did it TWICE in OC chapter 2 where the flame of his cigarette is lit and YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW IT WAS GUDA WHO LIT THAT FLAME (idk if guda did that actually in the part where it was a voiced line in the end by nobu but my extreme delusion tells me its fujimaru ritsuka bc why not light his cigarette one last time?). but especially where guda who came for the avengers just as the king of the cavern came for them during temple of time. then gakutsuou told them theyve grown and that was the same case as now as they face cagliostro like theyve been through so much together ohh im in tears im just sobbing please help me please please save me and it was also none other than a call back to the final singularity where he helped his accomplice, came for his accomplice and supported them and he did it again in shimousa and the lostbelts with aphrodite and in lostbelt 2 and even events like the summer camp and you can also see in some interludes and rank ups that he's helping with guda's trash heap by burning these residues that cling to them, that weigh them down even as they overcame them years ago i feel sick he lives in guda's shadow and in their mind protecting them almost everywhere they go and in this story that is about to end, i will light your cigarette one last time.

i ask that you lend me your flame just as you have borrowed mine. this is a goodbye. just as we met in that apartment, just as we met in that prison, this place is where we say goodbye. but this is for now. simply for now. it's been a long... long journey for us, ritsuka. but for now, this will be the last time i- no, we will push your back so you could reach that destination. all the stars under the heavens are watching. know that there is light wherever you go. so wait... and hope, my accomplice.