[ It's not so much that she's embarrassed, but she worries that she's overstepped a boundary. Her earnestness and honesty often has, with people, and she easily forgets sometimes that not everyone is ready for it. It has, in fact, driven people away before...

She simply watches him as he turns her words over in his head, wondering what could be going through it.

So long as I could be seen as useful to someone, huh... The words tug at her heart, at a part of her that, years ago, just wanted to be helpful. The part of her that nearly destroyed herself, if it meant being useful. ]

... But it's different now, isn't it...? There are more things that matter to you now, than being useful... And that's okay. You're allowed to grow and change, Otegine...