Kyoko was saved from actually breaking down and sobbing by that kind touch to her back and that gentle shushing, as the ache in her chest pulled together into something hard and sharp. Her whole body tensed, and she went quiet, she still couldn't look at him; she was seething.

How dare he drag a confession out of her, turn her down, and then think he still had the right to be this soft with her. Did he think he was helping? Couldn't he have at least given her the dignity of privacy for her tears?

But before she could muster up the rage for another shove, Kaito's actual words made it through the storm clouds surrounding her head. Rage faded into confusion, and Kyoko's shaking calmed just a bit as she turned it all over in her head.

He wouldn't ask about... the person she loved? That was what he was saying? Which meant... it was still a mystery to him? The rejection? was? false?

Kyoko stayed hunched over, but after a very long silence, she turned her head up to look at him, brows furrowed, red eyes sharp with suspicion.

"In... what way... is this not terrible?"