[It does matter. It has to matter. It matters because it matters to Chara, it definitely matters to them, and anyone with a passing familiarity with their history can see that, but...

Chara lets go. Frisk decides to let go too. They push the door open gently, start moving through the hallway carefully, slowly. Going too fast might make their overtaxed, under-rested muscles ache, and if that's what it's like for them, they can't imagine how it must feel for Chara. Chara, who would push themselves to their absolute anyway and never admit to anyone that they were doing it.

They consider offering their hand, but Chara just told them not to touch them, so they don't. And that's fine.]

I don't know. I think...I think he's a lot more like us than we realized.

[Like us. As if that's a good thing. As if that can be in any way a good thing.]

I mean, he's - he's lived the same kind of stuff we have. And he still blames himself for it, even though he didn't have a SOUL as Flowey. 'S why he didn't wanna see anyone. Not Toriel, not Asgore, not you - just me, 'cause I guess he knew I could beat him?

[Ha. That wasn't even just Frisk. They'd had help. Of course they'd had help.]

I had to tell him it wasn't just me. He didn't know. He didn't know you were there for every one. I guess he just...couldn't see.