[Well, you know her skin. That grip on her jaw is going to bruise something nasty for all of maybe a day. Maybe two? Her mouth twists into a wry smile at his expression, finally, something honestly, truthfully, completely familiar instead of just that face and body and voice and feeling, but his grip tightens and he uses her first name. Publicly at that, and that smile is twisted with pain. A bystander would think this was something deep and meaningful, but it's more like no, stop, you're embarrassing me.

Ah. That was what he meant. Fine. Maybe she's grown up a little. Maybe she was a bit of a kid then.

But she won't turn into someone she doesn't like. More importantly, she won't let him become someone she doesn't like. Being around him, especially now after so long, makes it harder to differentiate what she sees from reality, but if that aura completely disappeared, that'd be even worse. That's why it's so hard to tell if the hug is honest, though. Is it even actually happening? If he's been here for a month, what did take her so long?

She can make up for it though. She reaches with her hands to grasp his throat.]

You are the one that procrastinated in contacting me. I have said multiple times, Kumagawa, there is no need to feel so shy!