Even if only barely, there was a tint of hope in Ookurikara's train of thought that Mitsutada was trying to pull some sick prank a la Tsurumaru, considering how much the three of them had bonded together. Sure, he'd hate him so much for pulling such surprise, but honestly, he would kill an entire platoon of those historical revisionists by himself just for that to come out true.

The ticking of the clock pauses. The sands of time stops. The cube of time is breaking. Everything seems to be put on halt.

What's happening right in front of his face is shattering everything about Ookurikara. As in literally everything; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Any sign and prospect of staying composed quickly left the inside of his brain as his eyes scans over for what in the world is happening behind Mitsutada's face. In fact, thanks to what he's witnessing, he can't even bring himself to put any strength in his legs as he falls to his knee. Rather unceremonious of him to show that kind of weak action. But such thing matters not to him at the moment.

Mitsutada... Mitsutada is... His best friend is...

"...How...?"

His take on his tone is not that different that the other tachi's. A confirmation, or at least a short explanation of this... He's going to appreciate them. A lot. Lest the tachi with the dragon carving will never be able to understand, let alone accept what is he looking at.

This is not happening.