Everything went silent.
Seven's fingers twitched once, then twitched again. He stood rooted to the ground, staring at Ruri as though his muscles had completely forgotten how to function.
Her round eyes curved into innocent crescents. She looked at him expectantly, holding her position without a trace of hesitation as she waited for an answer.
Slowly, Seven's hands curled into fists until the leather around his palms creaked under the tension. Her smile wavered, a brief flicker of uncertainty crossing her features when the silence stretched too long.
"What do you say?" she asked, her voice dropping into a tender, hesitant pitch as she searched his face.
Seven held her gaze. A swarm of answers pressed against the back of his teeth, but he pressed his lips tightly together and swallowed them all.
He could not bring himself to say a word.
He watched her stare at him oblivious to the anguish tearing in his heart.
How could she be so blind?
