Chouji's grip tightens on her hand as realization dawns. Of course. There was one reason, a completely obvious one, that Katniss would volunteer for the games. They called Prim's name.
While Katniss was gone, Prim had to wait at home. Chouji knows her well enough to know that in addition to the possibility of loss, Prim would have borne a burden of personal responsibility for her sister's fate throughout it all. And Katniss... Katniss went through all of that for Prim's sake, only to lose Prim in the end.
He closes his eyes against the thought for just a second before facing Prim again. "I don't have a sister," Chouji says, tension audible in his voice, "but I can see why you love yours so much." He'd do the same for his teammates without a second thought, and they for him. It's the closest he can come to understanding the strength of the bond between Prim and her sister.
August 13th
While Katniss was gone, Prim had to wait at home. Chouji knows her well enough to know that in addition to the possibility of loss, Prim would have borne a burden of personal responsibility for her sister's fate throughout it all. And Katniss... Katniss went through all of that for Prim's sake, only to lose Prim in the end.
He closes his eyes against the thought for just a second before facing Prim again. "I don't have a sister," Chouji says, tension audible in his voice, "but I can see why you love yours so much." He'd do the same for his teammates without a second thought, and they for him. It's the closest he can come to understanding the strength of the bond between Prim and her sister.