No, ah. [He shifts his grip awkwardly, in the manner of which people who don't usually hold cats might hold a cat.] This was Akechi's cat. [And because he's fully aware of the implications, gently,] I'm sorry.
[He doesn't know precisely how close they were, but she'd come up before. If Akechi actually talks about someone in a positive light, he's learned the boy's affection runs much deeper than he'll say.]
no subject
[He doesn't know precisely how close they were, but she'd come up before. If Akechi actually talks about someone in a positive light, he's learned the boy's affection runs much deeper than he'll say.]