Oh no... this is always the harder part, for Ryoji. He's never sure which is kinder- to let them think that they're still alive and all his well, or to remind them of the truth. Ignorance can be bliss, but... he's not sure if that makes it better. (...And why does that stick in his mind the way it does?)'

"Sir..." he says, gently as possible, "I think the workers have been gone for a really long time."