[When SHIRO returns to its base quarters, wherever those have ended up being, there's a data disc waiting for it. On the data disc is a recording of Naoki; the orange lights in the background indicate he recorded it sometime after the patch's mass distribution.]

Hey. I didn't want to leave you empty-handed this time. I mean, we couldn't really help it the first time, but on top of that I've got a better sense for when we're about to be pulled somewhere else now.

I don't know if we'll be lucky enough to come back here a third time. If we are, then obviously you can count on my help again, but... we have no way to predict it. You probably don't want to hear this, but you should fill my position with someone else. You have plenty of capable Programs and you need the help - if ERR-N hadn't already taken Levi's spot, I'd recommend him, honestly.

This might be harder, and I wish I could've done more on this front for you while we were here. You should talk to someone about the troubles you've been having since you were re-rezzed. I don't know what could be fixed, or how - that's not my field - but you won't find out if you keep pretending everything's fine.

You and your work mean more to me than I could possibly begin to say. I really don't think I'd be where I am right now without you, and I hope this doesn't turn out to be a final goodbye.