[Cain's expression is fighting for calmness, hit with a sick sense of guilt as those last few words process. And then we would go home. His gaze lowers into his lap.]

Fuck, I'm sorry, I should've... said something. I just let you think I ditched you, didn't I?

[How could he have been so stupid? At the time, he was swept up in the tedious revelry of too many drinks and too much attention. Still sharp enough to know what he was doing as he coaxed Hideki back toward the Maeda household, to try and accomplish what he and Prompto had set out to do, to uncover kernels of insight or information to inform their position here in this world. And then move on. Take it where it's needed, apply himself to doing what is... supposed to be the right thing. He hopes.]

It wasn't my birthday. It was just a party, a stupid one, he was spending so much money it almost made me angry. Nobody in the colonies could ever afford that kind of shit, you know? And he was throwing it out on drugs, alcohol, fancy fuckin' ice cubes... [In memory of the globe-like ice he'd had in some of his whiskey drinks.] Not how I really wanted to spend it. Guess having you nearby felt good. Like I knew you'd be there just in case even if we didn't get to talk.

[But that's selfish, he knows Abel doesn't like Hideki. Cain drags a hand through his hair.]

You think you're a distraction? That it'd bug me if you wanted to leave?