[He exhales a quiet gasp at the sudden embrace, his hands shifting to hold them back, his face half-buried, tilted only so he can hear them clearly and speak. For now, this is no time for silence, even with the crying. He's done enough of both.]

You don't have to be your best every time. I'm trying, too. We can try together. I don't, um. [He falters, chewing on it for a moment first.] I don't want a perfect mom, I want a real one. With real feelings... even if they're scared or angry or need to yell and shake me for saying something terrible. Don't give me best, give me real.

[He doesn't even know if that makes sense. He hopes it does. He just doesn't want Rue to think they have to do everything perfect. Sensei didn't. He barely remembers his first mom but she was far from perfect. It made it more real to him. Helped him learn that he could be a screw-up, too. He's a mess, like his dad. And he loved his family anyway, warts and all. Just like they loved him.]