[ She studies him closely for a second and then looks away again with a small sigh. She wraps her arms a little tighter around her stomach, like that will make this easier. ]

...

It's my fault, what happened. The mountain where I lived--there was a pond where Tokoyami lived. [ She pauses. ] By then, I had lived there a long time, I knew the risks. I should have sent you away as soon as your foot was well enough, but it was...difficult.

In the end, I tried. But you came back as I...

[ She stops, is quiet again, trying to figure out how to explain without exposing herself too much. ]

As the Ginko appeared.