[ It's obvious that she's still not quite her usual self. The way she hesitates like that, her tone wavering.. sure, he always tries to project a tough attitude and there's a part of him that prefers it if people are just scared of him and stay away, but she's never been like that. She saw through him right away, when they met before he even joined Sakura and then again when they talked here.. so why would that suddenly change?

There's a moment of hesitation born more from embarrassment than anything else, but then he decides to say screw it since there's no one else around anyway and he gently grabs the hand she's reaching out with, enveloping her hand in his own larger one. ]

Don't say stuff you don't believe. [ His voice is low, quiet - despite the fact that Kiyomi's Messiah isn't here, he still speaks as if someone could overhear them. ] I mean.. you don't really think I'm here to do something weird, right?

[ Sure, Itsuki knows what men are like. It's not like he's completely oblivious as to how sexual desire works, after all. But seeing Kiyomi so weak and frightened absolutely kills all thought of that - if it had even come to him so easily with how tsundere he is to begin with. ]

I just..

[ He swallows thickly. This is so hard for him to say, but she seems like she needs reassurement more than anything, which means he has to confess his reasons for coming here, no matter how hard it is. ]

.. I wanted to see you..

[ Saying that feels like plunging a dagger into his own gut, and to hide his embarrassment (especially with how close their faces are and how she's staring right at him) he leans forward to bury his face and curls in the crook of her neck. ]