Asch frowned privately; dammit, why did this have to be so hard? He was different, he wasn't the same stupid naive little boy that followed Van around like a puppy dog. He wasn't like the dreck. But that didn't mean his feelings weren't there anymore. Why couldn't he just find the right way to say that?!

Hesitantly, he reached out, taking her hand into his like it was some delicate flower.

"...Some day," he began softly, "when we're grown up, let's change this county. Change it so that no one has to be poor. Change it so that war never happens. Let's work to change our country. For the rest of our lives. Together."