So, yes, then? Did that response mean Kengo wanted Ryusei here for longer than Ryusei's question implied? Ryusei didn't want to ask. He had to remember that Kengo didn't—had said he didn't—trust anyone. Maybe he just wanted to keep Ryusei close to monitor him.

Did Ryusei really want to think that way? This was getting dangerously close to distrusting Kengo. Ryusei was getting confused. He needed to stiffen into someone who could handle all of this, but— But he couldn't stiffen so much that he'd be easy to break. He had to remember that. It was adapting that he had to do, not—

"I won't get in your way," he said, head down. "I'll just... be around," he finished lamely.