[ Maybe it's the beer but he actually laughs at that. His laughter going silent after a few moments as Max continues to speak. ]

I-I understand. [ He purses his lips and looks away towards the fire glowing brightly in the shrine's hearth. But what if they could have more than that? He blinks surprised at the mentioning of Elise. ]

You're absolutely right. She...wouldn't have wanted me to-to be this lonely or sad with or without her. She'd p-probably tell me to-to go for it to be honest. [ Here he might flush a little at that very direct statement. He knows that she would never be replaced and that he was never going to replace her. And that Max wasn't trying to replace er in those regards. But maybe is was...time to perhaps move on. ]

I think it'll be alright then. Most things usually turn out that way, don't they? M-Moving on is just...something I've never thought about doing. I've never really thought of myself deserving a second chance because of what happened. But maybe it would help if I did try. I-I'm certainly not the man I was upon arriving here after all. And that is-is perfectly fine too. People change and without you and everyone else I don't think I ever would have. [ He'll turn back and smile. ]

Happy endings aren't just for, um, fairy tales I suppose.