Sakamoto-kun...

[She takes hold of her right wrist in her left hand, massaging it gently in an absent gesture as he talks about damaging them. He might be right; she doesn't know enough about using any of these weapons to know for sure. A staff had seemed like the obvious answer to keep from hurting anybody, and keeping potential enemies at a distance, but...

It aches, right in the middle of her chest, to think of losing her ability to play piano. It's quite literally, on the deepest meta level here, all she has. So the thought of Ryuji losing his ability to run, if running is to him what piano is to her, then... she can't truly imagine that.]

I... [It hurts. She releases her wrist, presses a hand over her heart instead as she meets his eyes.] I can't lose my ability to play the piano, s-so... if you really think something like a whip would be better, I'll try it! I just...

[Kaede hesitates, fingers clutching slightly at the sweat-soaked top of her uniform.]

I really don't want to hurt anyone. Just stop them from hurting my friends.