That's a funny thing to say. [ Ann says this lightly, even as she makes sure to take slow, ginger steps towards the stairs and onto them so Akira doesn't have to suffer any more than he already is. ]

I'm pretty sure you've seen us in some pretty bad states too. You know, one Garu spell too many on Ryuji, or that time Yusuke fell in love with a Shadow, or that time I got turned into a rat--

[ She's inwardly cringing. MOVING ON. ]

You've held us up and helped us out so many times, you know? Maybe I've been bad at it before, but isn't friendship supposed to be supporting each other on either end? You're my friend before you're my leader.