[...And now that they're speaking frankly, he opens his eyes, and he smiles.]

Without me? Without me, you would be Ryoji.

Whatever you were before, it can't be denied that you're here now, and you're you.

And that can't be taken away forever, permanently. It's not possible.

[He tilts his head then, thought bubble flashing through images--a car crash, a shadow of something--]

Whatever you believe was meant to be...this is what happened. Doesn't that mean, that in a way, we made this to be what's meant to be?