Ed stepped back underneath the shower spray, letting the water wash away the shampoo while he listened to Tamaki speak about his parents. It sounded painful to him, but also, to Ed's ears, a little naive. Wouldn't it have been better for them to stay together? Or to forget each other and find someone else rather than being sad for the rest of their lives? That was the trouble with forming attachments with people. They inevitably left and then it hurt.

He winced when he heard Tamaki say those words, homesickness welling again as he thought of his mother and Al. He reached out to squeeze Tamaki's shoulder comfortingly. "Me too," he said, giving him a lopsided smile.