Ishiki scratched the back of his head awkwardly, searching for anything he might have done to offend her.
Their last conversation had been warm, hadn't it? He had promised they would defeat the dragon and return home. He'd patted her head and she smiled
So what—
'Ah.'
Understanding dawned slowly.
She'd probably been looking for him and maybe wanted to spend time together or needed reassurance about something. And instead of being where she could find him, he had been standing here alone, staring at cathedral ruins and planning dangerous explorations.
She felt left out.
The realization was simultaneously touching and painful. Touching because it meant she genuinely cared about him, wanted to be part of his life in whatever capacity he would allow. Painful because it reminded him of how young she really was—still capable of getting upset over perceived slights, still needing attention and validation.
