Cane stood alone in the quiet forest long after the portal closed. He could no longer sense Ai's presence in his vicinity, and his system chimed softly, telling him that he still had a message to look at.
He opened the message so that he could take a look at Ai's last words for him.
[You have received a private message from Ai.]
Cane… I'm sorry. I know this must feel sudden. I didn't want it to happen this way. But I had to go home, no matter what.
This wasn't something I could explain to you directly. If I did, you would have followed me again. But my home is no place for a human like you to visit. You don't know how much trouble that would bring you.
Also, I did like you. I wasn't lying. I liked you in a way I've never liked anyone else. But I have my own priorities, and my future is one where no one else can be with me.
