That's—

[ He wishes he could reach the answer. If he hears Kuroko's yelp above his own choked, labored breaths, he doesn't show it. Even as he commands the other boy to get back, Otonashi himself stays exactly as he is, compressing Akashi's chest despite the vines threatening to imprison him with their victim. It's only when they ensnare one of his arms that he recoils, pulling against the plant matter until he snaps his arm free.

As he backs away from the stirring, possessed remains of Akashi, Otonashi slips out of his jacket, handing it off to Kuroko and turning to face him directly for the first time. The dark, tired circles under his eyes look like firm, concrete lines, stark against the glistening in his eyes. ]

... I'd like you to take this and go. It- it has a container of water, spare bandages, and another weapon in it. Please use them. Find the others if you can. You need to be with them.

[ His words come with eerie, forced calm, directly contradicting the wavering and whimpering he'd succumbed to just moments before. ]

I promised you I would do my best, so I need to stay here. With him.