[A vague heaviness is better than murderous intent, since heaviness won't put him in danger, but it pains Chizuru to see even the slightest bit of melancholy in his smile when she looks up. She starts to say something (she's not sure what - something to reassure him, whatever it might take to do that), but he's speaking before she gets the chance to.
She listens quietly, and although part of her worries that he's offering far too much to a stranger - hadn't she been chided for that so many times in the past? What if he makes such an offer to someone malicious? - it does warm her heart to hear that, and when he glances over at her she meets his gaze with a soft smile.]
...I'll remember that. Knowing that a place like this exists, and that you would accept me if I returned... it will give me strength. Thank you, Kaoru.
[She can't, of course, come back here; the Nagumo clan would surely find a way to make Kaoru pay for it, if she ran to him. But just remembering that he considered it an option will help her to keep going.]
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She listens quietly, and although part of her worries that he's offering far too much to a stranger - hadn't she been chided for that so many times in the past? What if he makes such an offer to someone malicious? - it does warm her heart to hear that, and when he glances over at her she meets his gaze with a soft smile.]
...I'll remember that. Knowing that a place like this exists, and that you would accept me if I returned... it will give me strength. Thank you, Kaoru.
[She can't, of course, come back here; the Nagumo clan would surely find a way to make Kaoru pay for it, if she ran to him. But just remembering that he considered it an option will help her to keep going.]