[ Yeah, good luck with those jokes, Hot Pants' sense of humor is already really, really bad (as in practically non-existent) but with their kind of jokes she will probably just stare and judge.. although she's keeping quiet about it for now as to not ruin the mood. Instead she focuses on his other words, that he really thinks that stuff about her, that he thinks she's strong.. she's not fully convinced of that fact herself, but the fact that he thinks she is is already good enough. It fills her chest with a strange warmth that it has lacked for so many years now. She came to this race to earn her salvation, but maybe she's gotten it in a completely unexpected other way, huh.. ]

Me too. I.. love you. [ It's strange to say it, it really is. Partly it still feels like she's betraying her brother and the memory of him by saying it, by daring to move on and be happy, but maybe it's time she finally makes that choice and actually starts living her life again. ]

That's why.. I want to stay with you, Johnny. No matter what the end result of this race is going to be, I just want to be by your side. [ She's quiet for a moment, pondering the words, but then she looks at him again. ] .. Is that strange?