Well, that's probably because I'm still me.

[She says it so simply and with such surety. That's right. They had been friends and they'll still be friends no matter what.]

No matter if I'm older or younger, whether I remember or not, I am still Akashi Kaoru and I will always be your friend. [She pulls back, just enough to wink at her.] Try not to forget that, okay?

((Continued from here.))