[ Instead of pushing her away, he's only drawn her closer. He holds her, he kisses her upon her forehead. Gestures like these emphasize his words. He wants to know, and immediately she's hit with the same thoughts from before, how she should tell him, because to not do otherwise would be deceiving him. Should he enter her Crystal, no one will hear it except for him... and they won't be sitting in an adjacent room while still soaked from the pool.

But should he enter, he'll have to-- well, enter that crystal, which she knows is unpleasant for him.

She blinks back a few of her tears, looking at him. ] Noct--- no.... No, that's.... I don't want you to hurt yourself for me.

[ Her voice cracks, and distress paints wildly across her expression. ] I don't want that-- any more of that. No more suffering. It's so... It's so much. Everyone is hurting...

[ And she doesn't want to contribute to it. She doesn't want to cause it. She loves him, she wants to stay, but she can't bear the thought of hurting him more, too. ]