Realization

I couldn't pinpoint the source of this sadness, and it left me bewildered. There was no reason for me to feel these emotions at the moment.

'Damn it.'

Then, a realization struck me.

'....Wait a moment'

Were these emotions truly mine?

With this thought in mind, I turned to the Great Sage, seeking answers.

"Great Sage, what the hell is happening with me right now?"

The response came swiftly, confirming my suspicions, But the answer was much more than that. 

<Answer: You are currently experiencing the emotions emanating from Individual Hiiro, leaking through Link as you draw near to him.>

'...What!?'

I recognized these emotions as not my own, and I was correct as they belonged to Hiiro.

But why?

What could be the cause of such a surge of emotions?

The intensity of his inner turmoil escalated with each passing moment, and I shared in it.

Everything he felt, perceived, and sensed was transmitted to me.

It was an overwhelming flood of information. My mind felt like it was about to explode, and yet none of these sensations belonged to me.

Yes, I was experiencing them, and yes, it freaking hurts, it was excruciating, damn it, as if someone were driving needles directly into my brain. 

But this meant there was an even more critical situation unfolding.

I was only receiving a portion of it, and it had already taken a toll on me. I was growing restless and concerned for him, who was directly experiencing this emotional maelstrom.

The reason behind all of this would have to wait for now, as a more immediate task demanded my attention.

'!!!....Wait'

However, an abrupt realization struck me.

"What the hell do you mean by 'leak'? "

"The Link is meant to share everything, be it thoughts, feelings, or perceptions, regardless of our distance. So, why would there be a leak now when I'm physically closer to him, especially when it's designed to transmit everything he experiences wherever he is?"

The Great Sage provided an explanation, shedding light on the situation which honestly enraged me.

<Answer: Individual Hiiro was undergoing an emotional development. However, unforeseen event triggered overwhelming surge of emotions that he had never encountered or experienced before. This, in turn, caused his to spiral out control. He is attempting suppress them order keep sanity and prevent from flooding through the Link you.>

'Fuck.'

This freaking idiot...

He was trying to do everything himself.

These are the times when you need support from others, not just burden everything yourself.

I understood he was doing this to shield me from the effect as well, but that didn't reduce my worries at all; rather, it increased by several folds more.

Also, What was that about insanity? 

How much time has passed anyways since this hellish torture began anyway?

<Answer: Individual Hiiro experienced this exactly twenty-three hours ago and has been suppressing it till then because if amount of emotions were to suddenly gush out from the link, would not only harm him but also receiving side Link, quite heavily in form Psychological Pain.>

Of course, it did.

Touché.

And, of course, this guy decides to suppress it.

I wanted to punch myself for my own stupidity.

While he was wrestling with this immense pain and enduring this torturous ordeal, I had been leisurely playing House.

Goddamn it.

Why? Why didn't I search for him as soon as I didn't sense him ?

I had been far too careless, no, arrogant because everything had been going my way.

I needed a wake-up call, a harsh one at that.

And it had come. Painfully...

Not to me, but to someone close, someone dear to me.

I had become quite attached to him, in this unfamiliar world. He truly had become my brother and right now he was suffering right in front of me. 

But this wasn't the time to dwell on regrets.

I needed to help him as quickly as possible.

As I approached him, the emotional turmoil became increasingly unbearable. I paid it no mind and pushed my Pain Resistance to the maximum. I knew it wouldn't do much, but it was better than nothing.