But--ah. It's a more loaded question than she knows, through no fault of her own. Fortunately(?), he understands what she's asking, and he's had years of practice keeping his melancholy off of his face, so aside from a small pause, there's nothing to reveal the pang of guilt and sorrow that strikes him with her words.
Still, his expression does soften, some of the flustered redness fading away.]
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But--ah. It's a more loaded question than she knows, through no fault of her own. Fortunately(?), he understands what she's asking, and he's had years of practice keeping his melancholy off of his face, so aside from a small pause, there's nothing to reveal the pang of guilt and sorrow that strikes him with her words.
Still, his expression does soften, some of the flustered redness fading away.]
...Of course. You always can.