That wasn't how it seemed to Ryusei, but he didn't know if Utahoshi would feel better hearing it, Ryusei thought as finally sat down again. Utahoshi, Kisaragi, and Yuuki had always seemed to stick together, from what Ryusei had observed, even for a little while after Ryusei had joined. That was only natural; they were in the same class so he saw them together more often, and Ryusei had been deliberately holding himself apart so until recently he hadn't counted himself among them. He still didn't, but for a different reason, now.

Even so, Ryusei was surprised at the admission that Utahoshi tried. Ryusei had always been under the impression that Utahoshi Did Things, and everyone followed. Utahoshi being the most competent person in the Club probably accounted for some of that, Ryusei thought with a sardonic smile he didn't show.

"What... line is that?" Ryusei had never made it seem as if he didn't want to be alone, had he? He'd wanted to join the Club, but he wouldn't have done anything about Zodiarts on his own, and anyway, Kisaragi had already befriended him (and had dragged Ryusei over to sit near him), so Ryusei wouldn't have been alone even if he'd wanted to. Was Utahoshi projecting his own feelings onto Ryusei? Impossible. Utahoshi not working alone was the reason he'd gotten angry at Ryusei and Kisaragi in the first place.

And... why did he think not eating would solve anything if Ryusei really had been mad? Wait, Ryusei was pretending that he was. Quickly, repair this. "I-it's not like I have a line or anything...." His nervous smile faded as he shiftily looked away.