"Try not to feel bad," Hakkai said flatly, still watching the spider's industrious and futile work. He can see the edge of Gojyo's silhouette in the mirror, leaning close in to the glass.

The advice sounded as useless out loud as it felt. He couldn't resist a humorless little chuckle.

"... Mild regrets won't hurt anyone," he added, stepped across the hall, and reached up to squash the spider with the tip of his thumb. "But try to avoid the serious ones. Have you checked the back of your neck? Blight often shows up there."