Deep breaths. He can hear mutters from his bag, and the ponyta as well. Deep...deep...

"...I know... ...I know she's strong. I know she c'n duel," he adds, quietly. "...an' I know...'f there was a world where she entered tha' tournamen' herself...'f there was a world where she didn' have t' think she'd be blind f'rever, tha' there'd be no money for th' surgery, she could've gone real far..."

"...But tha' tournamen'... ...tha' thing tha' was only goin' t' buy time for escape..." He takes a shuddering breath. "...'s bad 'nough, imaginin' her in my shoes w' what happened...but y' add all that..?" he asks, voice breaking. "You're tellin' me, we all watched her bleed up there?"

A few minutes, they said.

He swallows. "...guess it pays," he manages. "...not havin' monsters w' gian' swords pointed f'r yer lungs..!"

oh